Tracy Hopkins

@tracyshopkins

Bookworm, editor, children's book enthusiast, School Library Assistant, blogger, Londoner, mum. All views my own. She/her

1.044 Folgt816 Follower578 Posts

Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir tracyshopkins.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jul 19

Yes, I’m 2 days late. And yes, everyone’s already shared lots of great books, but I really want people to know about this fab book! The Book Cat by Polly Faber & Clara Vulliamy! A great intro to WW2 (& publishing), my son loved this book & it’s filled with gorgeous cats #KidsBooksFriday #KidLitUK

Cover of historical children’s fiction book ‘The Book Cat’ by Polly Faber & Clara Vulliamy. Cover illustration shows a black car on a roof with a small kitten leaping towards him. The skyline in the background is tinged pink & shows 1940s London with a plane & searchlights in the sky.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jul 16

Beautiful morning for walking the dog (earlier) today. #JoydensWood

Photo of sun-dappled woodland, blue skies and pine trees (I think Corsican or Scots pines)

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· May 7

I don’t know how accurate Pollcheck’s predictions are, but they’re scary / incredibly depressing for my area… #London #UKElection

Screenshot from pollcheck.co.uk showing local election predictions for Bexley in London. Predicting 36.1% for Reform, 35.1% for Conservatives, 15.3% Green (good news!), 7.8% Labour (big drop), 5.7% Lib Dem.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Apr 19

Katya Balen’s The Light in Everything is a fantastic example of dual perspective in #KidLitUK & just a beautiful, beautiful book. (I’m sure there are others; I’m thinking…)

Cover of MG children’s book The Light in Everything. Cover illustration shows a boy & girl by the sea, with a folded paper crane in the water in the foreground.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Apr 13

I’m making good progress with the #Carnegies2026 shortlist. Currently reading Birdie by @jprosewriter.bsky.social - loving in so far. #MondayReads #KidLitUK

UK cover of children’s book “Birdie” by J.P. Rose showing an illustration of a girl standing confidently in the foreground and a pony and purple/grey hills in the background.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jan 20

Preston.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jan 12

Repost this with your home river. Mine is the River Shuttle - small, but oh so special to us.

Photo of a small river or stream winding through a small British woodland. Sunlight filters through the full, green trees which are reflected in the water. The river banks are mostly brown dirt.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jan 3

This afternoon, I wrapped up warm, dragged out a teenager & enjoyed a walk & mug of tea in the glorious (but freezing) winter sunshine. #WinterWalk

Not-great landscape photo of the fine view from the cafe in Oxleas Woods, Greenwich at the top of Shooters Hill. One of my fave places. Picnic tables & benches (some occupied) in the foreground, then bare trees to the sides & a vast space of green grass, sloping downhill to meet bright blue sky & a woodland of trees in the distance.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jan 2

Ooh, I really hope this is an accurate description for my 2026 (because 2025 - and 2024 - for that matter kinda sucked)

Screenshot of Webster dictionary offering ‘Your 2026 Word’ - blissful (for me) 🤞

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Dec 28

Finished my new Christmas jigsaw puzzle (started it yesterday, clearly haven’t been out enough).

A completed Christmas-themed jigsaw puzzle showing a festive scene complete with Santa, a train, snow, Christmas trees, children etc

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Dec 23

“Please, Sir, I want some more.” - our doggo channelling Oliver this afternoon. #Sheltie #DogsOfBluesky

A gorgeous sable Sheltie (Shetland Sheepdog) sits with a small bowl in his mouth and an imploring look in his eyes. (Background is a kitchen, window & garden beyond)

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Dec 2

Oh, and The Bog Baby is picture book perfection! 🎉#UKKidLit

Blue and white cover of Jeanne Willis and Gwen Millward’s picture book Bog Baby. In the centre of the cover, is a small, blue, cute, round-ish big-eyed little creature.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Oct 28

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Oct 17

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Oct 2

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

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Oct 1

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Sep 25

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Sep 24

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).

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Sep 23

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Sep 23

“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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Aug 30

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Aug 17

Start a baby apple sauce empire like Diane Keaton in Baby Boom?

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jul 30

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jul 27

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)

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jul 14

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jul 11

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!)

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jul 10

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jul 5

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.

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jun 17

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.)

Tracy Hopkins@tracyshopkins· Jun 17

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