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Stephen Dilley

@stephenjdilley.bsky.social

English teacher & HoD, bookworm, UKLA Book Awards team, Branford Boase Awards 2026 judge, Just Imagine reviewer, primary school governor and very amateur musician. All views my own.

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Stephen Dilley@stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 6d ago

It was such an honour (and a joy) to judge this award - congratulations to Asli and Shalini on your very well-deserved win for the remarkable Love On Sight, and to all the shortlisted & longlisted authors and editors!

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Branford Boase Award@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 6d ago

Congratulations to Asli Jensen & her editor Shalini Vallepur, 2026 Branford Boase Award winners for outstanding debut novel for young people with LOVE ON SIGHT @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social. Thank you to supporters @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social & @alcs.co.uk branfordboaseaward.org.uk/2026-winners/

Photograph of editor Shalini Vallepur and author Asli Jensen holding their Branford Boase Award trophies. The Branford Boase Award is supported by Walker Books and ALCS and was set up in memory of author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase of Walker Books who both died in 2000. It is awarded to author and editor of the year's outstanding debut novel for children/young people.
Stephen Dilley@stephenjdilley.bsky.social · last wk.

I only predicted one correctly (Strout - delighted she has been included) and have read and enjoyed three others (Perry, Riley, Goodman). Looking forward to exploring the rest - have just picked up a copy of The End of Everything so will read that next!

The Booker Prizes@thebookerprizes.com · last wk.

‘We are confident that our longlist of books has something for everyone’ We are delighted to reveal the Booker Prize 2026 longlist. Huge congratulations to the authors who make up this year's Booker Dozen. ➡️ Discover the full list: thebookerprizes.com/bp2026

Stephen Dilley@stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 2w ago

For adults: The Kites by Romain Gary, The Fortnight in September by RC Sherriff, Brotherless Night by VV Ganeshananthan For children/YA: Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D Schmidt, Tremendous Things by Susin Nielsen, In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner, The Cats We Meet Along the Way by Nadia Mikail

Louie Stowell@louiestowell.bsky.social · 2w ago

What are the books you yammer on about to anyone who'll listen? In the kidlit sphere it's Boss of the Underworld, The Boy to Beat the Gods, City of Stolen Magic and Donut Squad for me!

UKLA@uklitassociation.bsky.social · 3w ago

UKLA Members, repost to be in with a chance of winning this month's #lucky13 A funny and sublimely ridiculous pacifist story about playground squabbling and peace – and a first children’s book from a bestselling author and world-renowned French illustrator. 5 signed copies are up for grabs!

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UKLA@uklitassociation.bsky.social · 2mo ago

GIVEAWAY TIME! UKLA Members, repost to be in with a chance of winning this month's #lucky13 From the brilliant @mattgoodfellowpoet, the bestselling author of The Final Year comes Six Weeks - a story of love, loss, family, repair and hope. 5 signed copies are up for grabs!

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UKLA@uklitassociation.bsky.social · 3mo ago

GIVEAWAY TIME! Excuse earlier's preview of next month's Lucky 13th. This month's is... The Shipwreck Atlas: an immersive, expert, accessible guide through 50+ shipwrecks lost to the treacherous seven seas. UKLA Members, repost to be in with a chance of winning a copy!

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Andrea Reece@reeceandrea.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Hats off to the @branfordboaseaward.bsky.social for putting editors and the work they do in the spotlight 👏And to @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social and @alcs.co.uk for supporting it. #BookSky

Branford Boase Award@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The #BranfordBoaseAward honours editor as well as author, highlighting the importance of editors in nurturing new talent. Huge congratulations to this year's shortlisted editors 👏#BookSky #KidLitUK Find out more about the shortlist on our website now branfordboaseaward.org.uk/shortlist-20...

Graphic showing the editors shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award which recognises author of the outstanding debut novel for children and their editor. The editors are Cathy Liney, Anne Marie Ryan, Bella Pearson, Shalini Vallepur, Katie Jennings, Emma Jones & Charlie Castelletti, Natasha Brown and Jenny Glencross. The Branford Boase Award is supported by Walker Books and ALCS.
Letterbox Library@letterboxlibrary.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The editors! (Because #BranfordBoaseAward recognises their unique talents as well) #KidLitUK #BookSky

Branford Boase Award@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The #BranfordBoaseAward honours editor as well as author, highlighting the importance of editors in nurturing new talent. Huge congratulations to this year's shortlisted editors 👏#BookSky #KidLitUK Find out more about the shortlist on our website now branfordboaseaward.org.uk/shortlist-20...

Graphic showing the editors shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award which recognises author of the outstanding debut novel for children and their editor. The editors are Cathy Liney, Anne Marie Ryan, Bella Pearson, Shalini Vallepur, Katie Jennings, Emma Jones & Charlie Castelletti, Natasha Brown and Jenny Glencross. The Branford Boase Award is supported by Walker Books and ALCS.
Stephen Dilley@stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 3mo ago

So immensely proud to be one of the judges for this year’s #BranfordBoaseAward and very excited about this wonderful shortlist we have chosen - congratulations to all the authors and editors!

Branford Boase Award@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The shortlist for the 2026 #BranfordBoaseAward is out! Discover the 'magnificent' debut novels on this year's shortlist. Congratulations to these talented authors & editors 💐 & thank you to @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social & @alcs.co.uk for supporting the award. branfordboaseaward.org.uk/shortlist-20...

Graphic showing the seven books on the shortlist for the Branford Boase Award, which recognises author and editor of the year's outstanding debut noves. The books are: Tart by Becki Jayne Crossley, edited by Cathy Liney (Bloomsbury) How to Roller Skate with One Leg by Ella Dove, illustrated by Jennifer Jamieson, edited by Anne Marie Ryan (Orchard Books) Evie and Maryam’s Family Tree by Janeen Hayat, edited by Bella Pearson (Guppy Books) Love on Sight by Asli Jensen, edited by Shalini Vallepur (Chicken House) Gloam by Jack Mackay, edited by Katie Jennings (Rock the Boat) The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn, edited by Emma Jones and Charlie Castelletti (First Ink) Augmented by Kenechi Udogu, edited by Natasha Brown and Jenny Glencross (Faber)
Stephen Dilley@stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Just finished reading this year's excellent #WomensPrize longlist - such a wonderful selection of books, many of which I would never have discovered otherwise. These would be my shortlist picks but lots of other strong contenders - The Correspondent, Gloria Don't Speak, Paradiso 17, Moderation...

A Guardian and a Thief Flashlight The Benefactors The Others The Mercy Step A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing
Women's Prize@womensprize.bsky.social · 4mo ago

There’s just one week to go until we announce the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist! How much of the longlist have you read so far? #WomensPrize #WomensPrizeforFiction

Stephen Dilley@stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 4mo ago

A wonderful selection of articles, as ever! I really enjoyed writing an Emagplus piece for this issue exploring possible comparisons between A Streetcar Named Desire and various post-2000 novels by Sally Rooney, Maggie O’Farrell, Zoë Heller and Miriam Toews.

Barbara Bleiman@barbarableiman.bsky.social · 4mo ago

A fabulous new issue of emagazine is now up online and will be in schools after Easter. Subscriptions for next year & renewals start on April 1st! If you're not yet subscribing, do take a look & think about taking out a subscription for next year. www.englishandmedia.co.uk/emc-magazine...

Stephen Dilley@stephenjdilley.bsky.social · 4mo ago

These are terrific shortlists chosen by our wonderful teacher judges - “the only CPD about reading where the books are in the hands of children!” I had a great time chairing the info books shortlisting with such thoughtful and insightful deliberations about what all the books mean to young people.

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UKLA@uklitassociation.bsky.social · 4mo ago

The time has come to bring you the 2026 UKLA Book Awards Shortlist! This year's list features a range of accessible and inclusive titles that really encourage reading for pleasure. Find out more here: ukla.org/ukla-book-aw... #kidslit #bookawards

UKLA@uklitassociation.bsky.social · 5mo ago

LUCKY 13th! WIN a signed copy of The Story of Art Without Men Illustrated Edition by Katy Hessel & Ping Zhu. This informative and accessible publication allows children aged 8+ to discover a new way of looking at art Members, RT to be in with a chance of winning a copy!

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Branford Boase Award@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Last chance to support #ReadItForward today! Stock up on great books and support @booktrust.org.uk & @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social with @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social 📚#booksky

Branford Boase Award@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Support #ReadItForward in February! Buy any (all?!) of the children's books on this year's #BranfordBoaseAward longlist through @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social. You'll support indie bookshops AND 10% will go to @booktrust.org.uk and @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social uk.bookshop.org/shop/branfor...

Graphic illustrating Read It Forward! explaining that 10% of Bookshop.org children's book sales will go to BookTrust and Scottish Book Trust in February 2026.