Lydia Monks
@lydiamonks.bsky.social
Children’s book writer & illustrator best known for illustrating Julia Donaldson’s books. #kidlit www.lydiamonks.com
![[Title panel]:
A-LEVEL RESULTS COLUMNS DAY
[Scene is a TV news type report about A Level results day]
REPORTER [talking to camera outside a school where students are crowding outside the hall to get in]:
Well, it's that day again
When A-Level students across the country finally get to find out
What Britain's newspaper columnists think about their results.
[show the interior of the school hall, with long tables, but instead of results papers on them, loads of middle-aged newspaper columnists are all laid out]
[Close up on the COLUMNISTS lying on the table, talking up to a gaggle of excited students desperate to find out what they say]
PETER HITCHENS:
I remember when A-Levels meant something
CLARKSON:
I got a C and two U's
[Cut to outside the hall, the REPORTER is talking to a student]
REPORTER:
And did you get the middle-aged opinions you wanted?
STUDENT:
Yes!
I got one ‘There's Too Much Humanities’,
and two Oxford graduates telling me they went to Oxford.
REPORTER [now doing a voiceover, as we see the students in the school hall next to the columnists on tables, and the students are preparing to jump in the air for a photographer]:
And then the annual photo shoot…
[PHOTOGRAPHER]
One, two, three...
[One of the columnists on the table pipes up with]:
What's The Point Of University in 2026?
[The students all jump for joy]
STUDENTS:
HOORAY!
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiauzow46czexl5p6tdraopiegsutr63pkiar6cescidhxaluclska)
@mrjamesob.bsky.social Please watch The People’s Emergency Briefing, before discussing the benefits of climate breakdown again. 🐢🔥
Our core text this fortnight is 'What the Ladybird Heard' by Julia Donaldson & illustrated by @lydiamonks.bsky.social This sparked an interest in maps. The chn looked at local and national maps and drew their own. "Fish" "Car went in the pond" "I live here" "I go Burgess Park. I play my friends"
Today the CBNN Prize judges Lydia Monks, Dapo Adeola, Emma Layfield and Ness Wood gathered at Waterstones Manchester to select the shortlist! It was such a tough decision as so many great entries from unpublished picture book illustrators across the North. Shortlist to be announced early June! 🏆
My Grandfather had Tourette’s. I know that he experienced prejudice and attempts to bully him. I’ve been pretty stunned that in the reaction to the Davidson episode, we’ve seen a lot of the ignorance that he, a man living his life in the mid 20th century, would have recognised only too well.
First book sales of the day (sort of)! We put the remaining @lydiamonks.bsky.social sold at Saturday's event through our till this morning. These copies are signed by Lydia and with a little drawing to suit each title, available in store while stock lasts! #booksky
I'm at Barnsley Library for the first event of Barnsley Book Festival. Photo from the start of the event with @lydiamonks.bsky.social in front of a room full of families! Stories, demonstrating artwork on the big screen, toddlers crawling in front of me, lots of fun! #booksky
Barnsley Book Festival starts on Saturday and we are pleased to be supporting a number of events, starting with Lydia Monks, art and storytelling, and more storytelling from Richard O'Neill on Tuesday. Plenty more to come, go to the Barnsley Libraries website for more info and to book! #booksky
Relatedly, if you have young children, there's a lovely book entitled, 'Adoette' by @lydiamonks.bsky.social that I highly recommend. ❤️
Happy Publication Day to the 15th Anniversary edition of The Rhyming Rabbit from @lydiamonks.bsky.social and #JuliaDonaldson!🥳 Featuring bonus content, including a make-your-own rabbit ears activity, hop along with Rabbit to rediscover this brilliant rhyming adventure! 🐰 #MacmillanKidsBooks
Spoke to Shleagh Fogarty yesterday sbout why the Chancellor is wrong: our “student loan” system is not remotely fair. It’s regressive and embedding inter and intra generational wealth inequality. It’s not a loan system, it’s a bad grad tax in all but name. youtu.be/uOC6Arrf2us?...
Student loans are 'fair', says Rachel Reeves, amid backlash | LBC
YouTube video by LBC
youtu.be
A bit surreal to find myself on the cover of Richard Hawley’s new album! Thanks to Richard, and Chris Saunders for the great photos. 💕
Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ much-loved book The Singing Mermaid comes to life on stage. When - 16/17 Feb Where - London Cost - From £15 disabilityarts.online/events/the-s...
@mrjamesob.bsky.social Such great programmes this week - especially today. Hope you have a big drink in hand now xx
What brilliant drawings! 😍🐞
P2 Dunipace@mrssigurdssondps.bsky.social · 8mo agoWe read What the Ladybird Heard by Julia Donaldson this week 🐞 We predicted what would happen from the front cover. After reading, we discussed setting, characters & illustrations. Then we made our own story maps of key parts of the story before re-telling it to a partner🐞🐄🦆💦 #DunipaceLiteracy
Submissions for the CBNN Prize close 26th February and our judges can’t wait to meet up in Manchester and look at the entries together! If you are an unpublished illustrator living in the North, please do enter! For all the info, go to: childrensbooksnorth.co.uk/cbnn-prize 📚
Bestselling children’s author David Walliams has been "dropped by HarperCollins" over allegations of "inappropriate behaviour", according to a report in The Telegraph.
David Walliams 'dropped by HarperCollins' over allegations of 'inappropriate behaviour'
ebx.sh
I will be at Waterstones Doncaster on 4th December 5.30 - 7.30, storytelling, drawing and signing. See you there! 🎄🤶
What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas, illustrated by @lydiamonks.bsky.social and written by #JuliaDonaldson, is #24 in the Official Top 50 and #1 in the Children's Pre-School and Picture Book charts!🐞🎄 @panmacmillan.bsky.social @thebookseller.com #Christmas2026 #FestiveReads
A Christmas card for Grimm & Co. All proceeds go towards this magical place getting children excited about reading and stories. Cards can be ordered from their online shop. shop.grimmandco.co.uk/products/lyd...
What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by me, is the UK’s bestselling picture book! 🥳🐞
What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas, illustrated by @lydiamonks.bsky.social and written by #JuliaDonaldson, is #1 in the Pre-School and Picture Book charts AND has entered the Official UK Top 50 Charts this week!🐞🎄 @panmacmillan.bsky.social #Christmasread #Booksky
I will be at Waterstones Doncaster on 4th December 5.30 - 7.30, storytelling, drawing and signing. See you there! 🎄🤶
#BookReview What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks - The crime-busting ladybird is back - this time to save #Christmas Read our full review: youngpageturners.co.uk/what-the-lad... #ChristmasBooks #JuliaDonaldson #PictureBooks #YoungPageTurners
What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks Review - Young Page Turners
What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas, by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, is a charming, rhyming crime adventure that blends mischief, teamwork and the holiday spirit into a delightful read.
youngpageturners.co.uk
@mrjamesob.bsky.social. I love you but feel dejected after your dismissal of the threat of AI on careers of creatives. Easy to say, “that’s life” when illustrators and photographers lose their jobs. And when authors and musicians lose theirs? Scriptwriters and filmmakers? Is that the life you want?
Bluesky
himrjamesob.bsky.social