Reflecting on an appalling week, having watched 100s of psyched-up thugs descend upon a grieving town. Cannot forget the ghoul who stepped in to comfort sobbing woman at the floral tributes. Friend?Neighbour? No.She was a YouTuber from Stoke concerned about "illegal immigration."

"He’d tried to troll everyone else … but in his hate, he’d trolled himself.” Smart, sweet and very timely. 'Troll' by Frances Stickley and Stefano Martinuz is The Times children's book of the week. Magic Cat Publishing thetimes.com/culture/books/…

Who's the best talking dog? a) Brian from Family Guy b) Bluey's dad c) The stray dog with the pituitary gland + testicles of a dead Russian criminal in Bulgakov's Heart of a Dog? OR d) new entry: Rebel from this new children's book by Ross Montgomery ?? thetimes.com/article/048719…

Songlight by Moira Buffini is TheTimes children's book of the week. Lark has a secret-she's a telepath. But in the far, distant future, freedom of thought can you get killed. Superb dystopian thriller inspired by 1955 sci-fi, The Chrysalids. Faber Books thetimes.com/culture/books/…

A bookshop story that just happened: A man in his late 70s came in. German (rough English). "Do you sell very old comics?" "Not very old." "Do you know about old comics?" "A bit. What are you after?" "Over 20 years ago I had a practice [Dr?] & somebody stole a book." cont...

My feature on children’s books about time travel in The Sunday Times. Times Books. Let me know your favourites. thetimes.com/culture/books/…

The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera is being added to the list of Puffin Classics. PuffinBooks Do you prefer the book or the Oscar-nominated film? It's a peculiar novel, but almost 40yrs on, still greater than the sum of its parts. My review here: thetimes.com/article/0c9709…

'Giant' at the Royal Court Theatre - Rehearsal Images Released - John Lithgow stars in Roald Dahl antisemitism drama MORE INFO 👉 wp.me/p2HOoN-XgA #Giant

How deep did Dahl's darkness go? A fascinating new play explores the anti-semitism scandal that, today, might have sunk his career. Playwright Mark Rosenblatt on cancel culture, complexity and why it's vital we are able "to hold two truths at once" : thetimes.com/culture/books/…

The Times children's book of the week: 'Oliver's Great Big Universe', a funny whizz through the many mind-bending facts about Planet Earth, by engineer-turned-cartoonist, Jorge Cham. Toilet humour has never worked so hard. PHD Comics Simon & Schuster Children's Books thetimes.com/culture/books/…

The basic, BASIC failings of Metropolitan Police in the preventable murders of these two women are almost beyond belief. Exactly how many red flags do the police need? Shocking report by Fiona Hamilton thetimes.com/uk/crime/artic…

Thrilled to be The Times and The Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week with GHOSTLINES! Less thrilled to have my own face loom so large, but what can you do? 👻🌊