RIP to the endlessly magnifique and iconic Maggie Smith 💔 She had so many stand out roles in her incredible career, but we especially loved her as Daphne Castle in Evil Under The Sun (1982)

I'm finding it very hard to comment on events in the Middle East. The indifference and even enthusiasm towards the indiscriminate bombing of Arabs and Muslims speaks to something deeper and dark. It never went away. But I never thought I'd see it presented so unapologetically.

It's publication day today for Birdie & I'm overwhelmed with all sorts of feelings. Thanks to all the authors & wonderful people who've already taken time out to champion her & of course, thanks to Keith Robinson for his beautiful vision of Birdie. Andersen Press Clare Wallace

This is a really important report about the state of children's fiction for the under 9s done by the brilliant @IBCplatform, I recommend people read it.

You can find the full report here inclusivebooksforchildren.org/excluded-voice…

In a heroic move, Gisele Pelicot fought to make public the videos of her unconscious rapes at the hands of over 50 men and won. She wanted the public “to look rape straight in the eyes.” Shame, she said, must change sides —from the victims to the perpetrators. Police found more

Israel has published more videos of its own airstrikes than any other modern military - boasting precision in its campaign in Gaza. But who was really killed? A new Airwars visual investigation in collaboration with Sky News idf-tweets-gaza.airwars.org

Today we released our first ever short film - a result of the continuous ambition and innovation in our small investigative unit, tirelessly working with our casualty recorders to hold the powerful to account. idf-tweets-gaza.airwars.org

Tomorrow's front page of The National. We publish a timeline of a year of Israel's bombardment of Gaza. It's all here in black and white - the war crimes, murdered journalists, flattened hospitals, orphaned children. 7567 words, 42,000 deaths. Don't look away.

Report finds ‘shocking and dispiriting’ fall in children reading for pleasure theguardian.com/books/2024/nov…

Oh really, publishers? If you were really "committed" to publishing books for all children as you say, with racially minoritised characters, then the report by CLPE would read differently. It's just BS. Plain and simple.

Today Guardian & Observer journalists are on strike for 48 hours over plans to sell the Observer to a loss-making digital start up and put its journalism behind a paywall.🧵 How can you support us? SHARE our posts WRITE to [email protected] JOIN US - there's cake!

The actual perfect delivery to receive on the most miserable day - thank you so much Quercus for Booksellers !!!

TOMORROW I’ll be signing Skandar books at Waterstones Kensington from 4pm onwards 💚 This is my last event of the year and it would be lovely to see you there! waterstones.com/events/meet-a-…

I wrote about Neil Gaiman, and the women accusing him of sexual assault, coercion and abuse. vulture.com/article/neil-g…

The Vulture piece on Neil Gaiman is paywalled, but here is a non-paywall link. Also: Fuck Neil Gaiman. archive.is/W1arC

After 15 months of genocide in Gaza, a ceasefire has been declared — but the US, UK & others must be held accountable for arming these atrocities. We’ll keep speaking out until the siege lifts, aid flows, schools & hospitals are rebuilt, the Occupation ends & Palestine is free.

Join us next month at our Waterstones Children's Book Festival in Lincoln for a super exciting Skandar Fan Event with A.F. Steadman! Bring your burning questions and join us as we learn about the phenomenal series! Tickets: waterstones.com/events/skandar… Simon & Schuster Children's Books

With less than one month to go until our first ever Waterstones Children's Book Festival we're getting SUPER excited! Find tickets for events with Rob Biddulph, Louie Stowell UPDATES ONLY NOT REALLY HERE, Serena Patel and many, many more of our favourite authors here: waterstones.com/category/cultu…