Tracy Hopkins
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tracyshopkins.bsky.social
Tracy Hopkins
@tracyshopkins.bsky.social
660 followers 930 following 440 posts
Bookworm, editor, children's book enthusiast, School Library Assistant, blogger, Londoner, mum. All views my own. She/her
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tracyshopkins.bsky.social
The relief when we finally found the source of the weird ticking noise in 12yo’s bedroom! I originally thought it was coming through the wall from next door & that he’d never sleep in his own room again…
A large green toy spaceship - Thunderbird 2 from the TV series Thunderbirds - sitting on the carpet. Found at the back of a cupboard, not played with in years. It is now weirdly ticking away to itself under a beanbag downstairs in the empty lounge.
October 28, 2025 at 10:33 PM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
This puzzle book is great for #KidsBookFriday - 20 mysteries to solve (different difficulty levels & types of puzzle, plus fun comic illustrations). #KidLitUK
Cover of Victor Escandell’s book Sleuth & Solve. Black hardback with title & artwork in gold & white; illustration on front is a block of flats & there’s a sinister-looking moustachioed detective with a magnifying glass.
October 17, 2025 at 8:51 AM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
Shout out to former librarian Julia from Winchester for asking “Who will run our primary school libraries?” in this letter in The Guardian today. #SchoolLibraries #UKKidLit
A good old-fashioned clipping from the Guardian newspaper - from the letters page (text below): Who will run our primary school libraries? children and young people in UK school and public libraries. I worked with four authorities over Axel Scheffler, quoted in your article (Pledge for all primaries to have a library, 29 September), says: "A school library is more than just a room full of books ... It's a place where imaginations grow, confidence builds, and a lifelong love of reading takes root." This is, of course, true. And Rachel Reeves can be applauded for her pledge. However, she makes no mention of who will coordinate, run and refresh the items in this space. Will it be a newly labelled "teacher-librarian", already frazzled as a classroom teacher with little spare time? Or will each school employ a qualified librarian? Who will fund this? School library spaces can look sad and uninviting without regular care and attention. I was once a librarian, supporting 17 years. Falso worked abroad. I remember, long ago, when there was funding for school libraries, especially at secondary level. Now it is precarious. Good luck, Ms Reeves, but you need to ensure that these primary schools have the money to resource more than a basic stock of books. Julia Edwards Winchester
October 2, 2025 at 8:50 PM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
I’m often sceptical of prequels, but had to read SoTR- it did not disappoint! There’s plenty of action & suspense to hook teens, but it still has the political commentary & emotional depth of original trilogy. Collins writes with a lyricism & skill not expected in dystopian YA Recommended #UKKidLit
Photo of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games hardback book, “Sunrise on the Reaping”. Cover is dark purple & black, with a gold-looking pendant / amulet type thing in the centre, which has the heads of a snake and a bird.
October 1, 2025 at 5:59 AM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
All book lovers know how hard it is to get rid of our books, but I’m determined to make some room on my shelves - should I let these (fab) books go? (My youngest child is 12)
Basic photo of two book covers - “The Rough Guide to Pregnancy & Birth” and “The Rough Guide to Babies & Toddlers” - both by Kaz Cooke with her fab cartoon illustrations on the front showing a pregnant woman and a mum holding a baby, respectively. Great books, but at least 12 years old.
September 25, 2025 at 8:50 AM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
But there are no historical inaccuracies in my childhood fave, Maid Marian & Her Merry Men…. right?
Promo shot from 80s/90s British kids’ TV comedy series in which Maid Marian leads a band or idiotic merry me & Robin was a vain buffoon. In the photo Marian & 4 men wear bright green, the black character is a Rastafarian, they hold child-like bows & are sitting in front of a tent in the woods (the anachronisms show it is clearly a spoof).
September 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
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Chilly, but very beautiful on our walk at Five Arches this morning. #Sheltie #Bexley
A landscape photo of a sable Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog) on a bridge over a wide expanse or river. The small dog is sitting proudly looking straight at you, ears up, fluffy belly still white. The sky is very blue and clear , the water is calm and still, reflecting the weeping willows and other green trees around it. It looks like a lake, but is actually the River Cray in Bexley, SE London. You can’t see the ducks and swans in the photo, but they were there. You can see the v-shaped wake left by a duck on the water. Calm and beautiful.
September 23, 2025 at 8:49 AM
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“If I sit here, breakfast will magically appear; that’s how it works for the small humans.” #Sheltie #DogsOfBluesky
A sable Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog) sits up on a dining chair at a small kitchen table looking imploringly straight at the viewer with his ears pricked up. A box of cereal and carton of milk can be seen on the table.
September 23, 2025 at 5:48 AM
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Collecting our online food shopping so the doggo can come for a ride in the car. #Sheltie #DogsOfBluesky
A blue merle Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog) sits up, bright and alert, on a car seat, ears up, beseeching eyes looking straight at the viewer.
August 30, 2025 at 8:05 AM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
Start a baby apple sauce empire like Diane Keaton in Baby Boom?
Image from the film Baby Boom of actress Diane Keaton in an apron, holding a toddler-age girl (also in an apron) in front of a tower of jars of baby food. Behind them is a promotional sign saying “Country Baby” (the name of the baby food brand the character created in the film).
August 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM
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Trying to change the bed sheets, but these 2 floofy helpers aren’t making it easy… #Shelties
Two bright, alert Sheltie dogs sit proudly on a half-made bed, after having fun and making a mess by getting inside the duvet cover instead of the duvet I was trying to put on.
July 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
I wonder if our Sheltie has been reading Jill Murphy’s Whatever Next? #DogsOfBluesky
A gorgeous sable Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog) sits proudly in a cardboard box, with just his head and shoulders visible, and his ears up. Background is a typical family living room. (Reminds me of a picture book cover, as mentioned in the main text)
July 27, 2025 at 7:56 PM
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Today, I finished the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Trying to read a few adult books this summer, as a change from my usual kids’ & YA books. #MondayReads
Cover of Rachel Joyce’s The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - simple design with beige-ish background, a pair of beaten-up black boat shoes & a crow.
July 14, 2025 at 9:36 PM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
Right now enjoying sitting in the shade of a tree with this gorgeous doggo watching the butterflies. (It’s been a tough week, but some crises have been averted & we’ve pulled together for the others - nature & a breeze & dog make a Good News Friday!)
A small, gorgeous, blue merle Sheltie (Shetland sheepdog) sits in profile with ears pricked up, listening to the wind, in a shady spot. In the background there’s grass, trees (mostly willows) & small steam you can’t see & glimpses of houses.
July 11, 2025 at 10:24 AM
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Enjoying the cool of the river in the woods - the dog’s favourite place is the same the toddlers’ was. #DogsOfBlueSky
A small stream trundles through a clearing in an old English woods. Patches of sunlight filter through the trees dabbling the stream and woodland floor. A large, sable Sheltie (Shetland sheepdog) stands in the water, wagging his tail & barking at us to come and play.
July 10, 2025 at 10:39 AM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
Dog-sitting this gorgeous snuggly floof for a few days. #DogsOfBluesky
A small blue merle Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog) snoozes contentedly, but with her ears pricked up. She leans against a person’s leg in navy trousers (mine, the OP) and is lying on an old blue blanket on a sofa.
July 5, 2025 at 6:58 PM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
Today I read a lovely, thoughtful MG book: Feather by award-winning Welsh author Manon Steffan Ros from @fireflypress.bsky.social - family, friendship, connection, forgiveness, WW2, dementia, bravery, strength… A great shorter read for 10-13 year olds #KidLitUK
Cover of middle grade book Feather by Manon Steffan Ros. Dark blue cover with image of a large white feather, a small simple house & the title in gold lettering. (Designer unknown - apologies, I don’t have the book to hand.)
June 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
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Just 2 days to go until the announcement of the winner of #Carnegies2025 Book Award. Any predictions? Any favourites? So many great titles, judging must have been so tough this year! #KidLitUK
Graphic with Carnegies logo & 8 books shortlisted for 2025 Carnegie Medal for Writing: All That It Ever Meant; Glasgow Boys; King of Nothing; Play; Little Bang; The Final Year; The Things We Leave Behind; Treacle Town.
June 17, 2025 at 9:25 AM
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Checking the duration of this morning’s GCSE maths exam, but Google AI tells me there isn’t an exam today! Is #AI ever right?! People trusting this nonsense could lead to serious real-world consequences.
Screenshot of a Google search for “GCSE maths exam today” with AI wrongly answering “No, there are no GCSE Maths exams today, June 4, 2025”.
June 4, 2025 at 7:44 AM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
In the beautiful bluebell woods of Bexley. I wonder if I’ll find a Bog Baby? #bluebells
Photo of English woodland, showing scattered bluebells, fallen logs, green foliage, a few tree trunks further off & beautiful late afternoon sunlight filtering through the trees to the bluebells & ground below.
April 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
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Bluebells, daisies and the parent that said their child loved the book I recommended!
April 25, 2025 at 8:24 PM
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Finally, finally saw My Neighbour Totoro at the theatre tonight - absolutely amazing!! The music, sets, puppets were all wonderful & the story, spirit, characters & magic were so true to the original Ghibli film. Utterly joyful! #FindYourSpirit #Totoro
Outside the Gillian Lynne Theatre London at night showing the green sign for the magical show My Neighbour Totoro @totoroshow.bsky.social
April 4, 2025 at 11:01 PM
tracyshopkins.bsky.social
Things that made me smile today: this beautiful blossom. #Spring #TTMMST
Close up of pink cherry blossom flowers growing on a tree branch in the sunshine.
April 2, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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Things that made me smile today: dog sitting this gorgeous boy. #TTMMST
March 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM
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Caitlin Moran said on news yesterday that in recent years there had been loads of inspiring books & role models for girls (50 Women Who…), but nothing for boys, which simply isn’t true!
March 20, 2025 at 10:28 AM