Nicolette Jones
@NicoletteJones
Followers
7,375
Following
1,210
Media
1,059
Statuses
9,159
Hon FRSL. Writes of Passage/American Art Tapes/Raymond Briggs/Plimsoll Sensation. Sun Times Children's Books Critic #NewIllustrationoftheDay #FirstLineoftheWeek
Joined February 2014
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
#JUNGKOOK_IAMSTILL
• 249768 Tweets
CENTURY OF LOVE EP2
• 183542 Tweets
Shelley Duvall
• 97901 Tweets
Fenerbahçe
• 80798 Tweets
FB X THE STARDARD POP
• 75742 Tweets
Moses Kuria
• 64368 Tweets
TheWallSong x EarthMix
• 55537 Tweets
Kindiki
• 53861 Tweets
The Shining
• 35768 Tweets
Servet Yardımcı
• 34165 Tweets
3 Women
• 29537 Tweets
BODA FURICHA EN SE PICO
• 28058 Tweets
Paolini
• 25790 Tweets
Abin
• 25314 Tweets
Ali Koç
• 22770 Tweets
#トークィーンズ
• 21316 Tweets
為替介入
• 18645 Tweets
GONGON
• 16465 Tweets
JOSHCULLEN GRAMMY DEBUT
• 14867 Tweets
#JCSonGrammysGlobalSpin
• 13939 Tweets
ダチョウ
• 13542 Tweets
Vekic
• 10945 Tweets
$RECORD
• 10938 Tweets
A year ago we lost Judith Kerr. In case anyone thinks over-60s are dispensable: she published 10 picturebooks over the age of 80, had her first number 1 bestseller at the age of 93, and with it raised £1.5m for Save the Children's Literacy Fund. And she made every day joyous.
52
835
5K
Trick or Treaters at ours tonight get to choose a book, as well as chocolates. Till both run out.
82
171
1K
So thrilled that Judith Kerr, still producing new children's books at 95, has been honoured as the Illustrator of the Year at the
#Nibbies
.
Winner of Children's Illustrator of the Year is the wonderful Judith Kerr OBE who has played an integral part of children's bedtime reading for over 50 years 🐅
17
217
833
14
187
1K
William Blake's new grave, identifying precisely where he is buried. Unveiled this afternoon in Bunhill Fields.
14
314
1K
70+ books and all sweets gone in two hours. “You gave me my favourite book last year.”
48
88
876
Children's authors and illustrators who are offering online drawalongs/storytimes/entertainment, let me know what, where, when for a mention in the Sunday Times. Please RT so I reach all who deserve a plug, and to help get the kids connected.
135
568
723
Books all gone. 27 found readers. Handful of sweets left. Children walking down garden path saying: 'What book have you got?'
Trick or Treaters at ours tonight get to choose a book, as well as chocolates. Till both run out.
82
171
1K
42
89
701
Judith Kerr. We lost her 22nd of May 2019, Here she is a couple of years earlier at 93 and a half, just polishing off a glass of wine after an event. Today is a day to raise one for her.
9
27
390
Anyone remember this Tweet from last year? Giving books away with sweets at Hallowe'en. Will do it again this year, and lots of you promised to join in. Let's make this a thing.
#halloweenbooksgiveaway
#trickorbook
Trick or Treaters at ours tonight get to choose a book, as well as chocolates. Till both run out.
82
171
1K
16
95
279
Bowl of sweets, check.
Jack-o'-lantern, check. (Book character.)
Matches, check.
Spare candle, check.
Sixty children's books about ghosts, witches, vampires, skeletons and monsters, check.
All set for tonight's
#halloweenbooksgiveaway
#Halloween2018
20
42
276
From
#MichaelBond
's memorial service: "As we remember with fondness the characters that sprang from Michael's imagination and recall their capacity for doing good, so let us give thanks for a bear called Paddington who fitted our world perfectly because he was different."
2
93
231
Happy Birthday,
#JudithKerr
. 93 today.
Make her trend on Twitter?
@lasparrow
's photo taken
@TheStoryMuseum
, Sunday.
10
254
227
I’d be so glad if everyone who sent me books followed
@LittleTigerUK
’s splendid example.
#Authors4Oceans
. Reused envelopes + paper tape ideal. Plastic envelopes, tape + gifts not great. (I recycle all I can.) Thank you for RTs & any changes you can make.
5
77
199
A website of my father’s work is in the making. While we’re waiting I’m thinking about Tweeting a work a day. Might keep us entertained for a few years. Here’s an early J E Jones.
15
20
194
I wrote a book about Raymond Briggs in 2003 ('Blooming Books'). I've now written another, out in October, for
@thamesandhudson
's The Illustrators series. Glad to reflect again on his skill. So much still to say. And it's a beautiful object, with images from Raymond's originals.
16
39
190
If you love Paddington, spare a thought for Peggy Fortnum (d 2016), illustrator, who 1st showed us what he looked like
#picturesmeanbusiness
1
66
192
Recent signs of inclusive publishing of picturebooks.
12
61
190
Hooray. In today's New Year's Honours
@ShirleyHughes_
, first recipient of
@Booktrust
's Lifetime Achievement Award & formerly OBE, is now CBE
4
64
162
My late father John Jones's painting of
#JamesJoyce
making Molly Bloom out of his wife Nora. Happy
#Bloomsday
.
8
51
156
If you aren't buying a beautiful picturebook for a child this Christmas, why not? Don't you know any children?
Don't worry, you can buy one for an adult.
9
53
158
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
By Pam Smy. 'The tink tink tink of iron radiators/waking in an old house .../beneath blankets ...' From Neil Gaiman's What You Need to Be Warm from the 2024 Empathy Collection. Empathy Day 6 June.
@EmpathyLabUK
@KidsBloomsbury
@neilhimself
Supports
@UNHCR
6
42
148
A year ago today, we lost Raymond Briggs. It has been one of the honours of my life to write about him. Thank you, Raymond, for the laughter and the tears. And an amazing amount of brickwork.
4
30
142
Since
@clpe1
's
#ReflectingRealities
revealed that only 4% of children's books out in 2017 featured BAME characters & only 1% as the main character, I give you these imminent/just published picbooks as seeds of hope: just out, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, 4 Oct. Watching out for more ...
6
80
140
Please RT if you think
@RoyalMail
should restore this postbox tribute to the late Judith Kerr to Barnes.
Dear
@RoyalMail
#JudithKerr
was the pride and joy of
#Barnes
#SW13
. She was part of our family, and her books made her part of so many others. Please please can we have our beautiful
@WorldBookDayUK
#postbox
back?
Love
@kidslitfest
@HarperCollinsCh
6
87
179
2
151
139
Hooray for Raymond Briggs's CBE, after his
@Booktrust
Lifetime Achievement Award. Happy Blooming Birthday Honours (vested interest declared)
0
57
135
I have exercised my democratic right.
With gratitude to all those who marched, went to prison, starved, endured, died in order that I might do so.
2
13
134
Just been sent this photo, taken by KT Bruce at the
@oxfordlitfest
(
@RandolphHotel
), of me giving Judith Kerr the hug everyone wants to give her.
7
12
135
E(dith) Nesbit died 100 years ago today. It was a revelatory job to explore her fascinating life and most famous work, Five Children and It, for the exquisite, pocket-sized Macmillan Collector’s Library edition. I hope all your wishes are granted today.
@panmacmillan
8
26
133
In celebration of
#BlackHistoryMonth
every weekday this October I shall draw attention with a Tweet to a children’s book either about Black experience, or written and/or illustrated by a person of colour. (Painting by John Jones from .)
2
31
126
'Do it not for the awards, but because the child you write a book for or publish a book for, or give a book to, may someday be a politician with a Twitter account.' Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give.
#WCP10
@waterstones
@angiecthomas
The incredible speech that made everybody cry last night!
@angiecthomas
accepting the
#WCBP18
@Waterstones
👏👏👏👏
#thehateugive
2
69
167
1
57
124
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. One more nostalgia trip from just published 50th anniv edition of Cars and Trucks and Things That Go. Loving detail with a fine pen and flat colour, displaying wit, imagination and feminism from father of Search-and-Find Richard Scarry.
@HarperCollinsCh
16
13
126
In memory of Michael Bond: Please Look After A Person.
0
49
116
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. By Britta Teckentrup. An almost abstract image from a picturebook out today: When I Feel Brave - a little girl, the moon, a Jackson Pollock tangle of branches, and thoughts about fear and courage. And, on other pages, a very big bear.
@Prestel_pub
9
30
115
The enthusiasm for last night's
#Halloweenbooksgiveaway
was amazing: "This is so cool!" "Books! OMG!" After 2 hours some 65 books had found readers (& the sweets had run out) & we had to take in the jack-o-lantern. Here, with permission, a few souvenirs with the books they chose.
14
15
111
Congratulations to Judith Kerr
Judith Kerr was awarded Honorary Membership to the Gesellschaft für Exilforschung (Society for Exile Studies)
@wienerlibrary
yesterday. Excellent and very fitting speeches. Thanks to
@GermanEmbassy
@TheAJR_
@NicoletteJones
and all others involved.
0
19
66
0
20
111
#NonFictionNovember
Am offering c400 non-fic children's books to highest bidder by end of Nov in aid of
@EmpathyLabUK
. To collect from N4.
11
131
106
My Children's Book of the Year in
@ST_Culture
:
@hilary_mckay
's moving, witty, beautifully crafted The Skylarks' War.
10
32
102
Had the pleasure of interviewing Sir Quentin Blake for today's
@thesundaytimes
about his isolation drawings featuring rainbows.
@QuentinBlakeHQ
4
34
105
Memories of Judith Kerr being shared tonight at JW3, 7.30pm. With me and
@MichaelRosenYes
and Sarah Lawrence of
@7Stories
. Be part of the tribute.
5
14
101
Local elephant hedge trimmed today.
http://t.co/tzTGjsPU2t
@IslingtonLife
@finsbury_pk
@StreetGardenN4
@Outofmyshed
http://t.co/SdjjQZUlFg
6
118
95
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. Another old one in honour of wonderful Judith Kerr, who left us five years ago today. A member of the audience at one of our events once pointed out that the tiger looked like a self-portrait. It was true. ��
@HarperCollinsCh
4
12
96
#Newillustrationoftheday
: The Oak and the Jay by
@ANGELACHARDING
from the inspiring Wilding by
@isabella_tree
(
@panmacmillan
). I’ll be posting for your delight a deserving illustration from a new children’s book on this hashtag regularly - if not EVERY day.
4
19
93
Another
@hedgecutterman
fan: MT
@k9
There's an elephant family living just south of Finsbury Pk stn.
@FieldsHighbury
http://t.co/il3AT5Rjhg
9
112
91
Delighted to report that The Sunday Times has put all this year's children's books of the week on one link, along with earlier features recommending children's books. You can browse by age group and find an archive of my recommendations easily.
@ST_Culture
3
49
90
My dad.
In 1965 John Jones spent a year recording interviews with American artists. Hear
#Rauschenburg
,
#YokoOno
& more in
#AmericanArtTapes
@BBCRadio4
@Underthecranes
@NicoletteJones
2
12
18
8
18
89
This picture of 14 boxes in an unidentifiable context is more exciting than it seems. The boxes contain picturebooks & the setting is
#Oxford
’s fabulous
@TheStoryMuseum
to which I’ve just donated them. It’s a picture of 500 stories waiting to be shared with visiting children.
8
10
86
I am absolutely overwhelmed by the quantity of free activity you are mustering for children. Absolutely fantastic. I now have 26 pages of posts and a few paragraphs to be written urgently. Hoping something may also go online. Perhaps stop RTing for now. THANK YOU ALL and BRAVO.
Children's authors and illustrators who are offering online drawalongs/storytimes/entertainment, let me know what, where, when for a mention in the Sunday Times. Please RT so I reach all who deserve a plug, and to help get the kids connected.
135
568
723
5
11
88
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
by German author/illustrator Philip Waechter. Finely drawn and painstakingly detailed outdoor scene from his picturebook about animal chums having an adventure, Around the World with Friends, out on 1 July from
@geckopress
. Find the frog, mouse and birds.
2
20
88
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. A child’s perspective tells the story in this strong collage from Matt Hunt’s Up High, about a boy who notices things from the vantage point of his dad‘s shoulders (and later close to the ground). Out 23 May. One for Father’s Day?
@NosyCrow
3
19
84
Another Hallowe'en coming up, and another
#halloweenbooksgiveaway
. Offering Trick or Treaters books as well as sweets. This year a small difference. Apart from books about ghosts and witches, will offer books whose authors or illustrators are European.
Anyone else joining in?
6
17
83
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. An expressive delight by Rebecca Cobb from
@mariesadulak
's rhyming There's a Tiger on the Train. What parents might miss while on the phone. Shortlisted for the
#IndieBooksAwards
. Winners announced 20 June.
@FaberBooks
@rebecca_cobb
@booksaremybag
4
15
84
The pea that chose a princess is on display in the wall outside
@TheStoryMuseum
, Pembroke Street, Oxford. Mini Grey
@Bonzetta1
helped find it.
3
18
81
Bags, paper, ribbons all reused from previous presents. Tags made out of previous years’ Christmas cards. OK, some of the paper is a bit creased. But there is no planet B.
@Authors4Oceans
#reuse
5
11
83
Pleasing news: print children's book sales are up 11% on last year, & one in three books sold are children's books (worth 24% of the market)
1
39
82
As strong as Pippi. Though much younger. (She's 75 next year.)
@pippiandfriends
#kidsconf19
#pippilongstocking
2
4
80
This petition is now over 10,000. But if it had100,000 signatures it would have to be debated in Parliament. Keep going.
@publiclibnews
#libraries
Please sign and RT.
How much do you value public libraries? This petition has, basically, stalled at just over 7k. It needs less than 3k more to force a response. Your option is to either let it die or sign it and retweet. Over to you.
78
1K
710
3
89
81
@hazelglasgow
@OFOCBrexit
@JuliaHB1
@Femi_Sorry
All I can say is thank goodness for the Spanish gastroenterologist who diagnosed and cured my daughter's illness after six hospital stays which mystified all her British colleagues. And the Dutch surgeon who just repaired my mum's difficult fracture so you can't see the join.
#NHS
2
7
78
Just because I think this book has not yet reached everyone who would enjoy it. And because my heart is in it.
#WritesOfPassage
is an inspiring collection of over 100 pieces of writing, expertly selected and with thoughtful commentary by
@NicoletteJones
. ✒️
With a stunning neon and foil-stamped cover, this gorgeous hardback would make a perfect gift! 🎁
Out now:
0
7
22
5
29
79
Always fun talking to Lauren Child about her brilliant books. Thank you
@kidslitfest
for the chance. And also the delightful audience.
3
9
80
Curtains constructed out of pieces of fabric designed by J E Jones. Image no 18 in this thread.
4
3
79
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. A break from the Empathy Collection books today to acknowledge the great achievement of P J Lynch, who just received the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Honour Award for illustration for
@EoinColfer
's Three Tasks for a Dragon.
@PJLynchArt
@WalkerBooksUK
6
15
79
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
by
@SarahMassini
. Delicate, decorative storytelling. From The Girl and the Mermaid, a picturebook with rhyming text by Hollie Hughes, about living in a lighthouse, a grandmother's dementia and an undersea adventure.
@KidsBloomsbury
.
4
16
78
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. Great use of scale in a daring and dramatic image by Iranian artist Reza Delvand from Champ by Payam Ebrahimi, translated by Caroline Croskery.
@GreystoneKids
. A picturebook for anyone who has ever felt the weight of family expectations.
3
18
78
1
7
76
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. Fourth and last example from the
@klausfluggepr
longlist of 17 books. Shortlist announced 15 May. By Kate Winter, with ink and watercolour conjuring seaside light. From The Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Unearthed the Truth About Dinosaurs
@PuffinBooks
6
20
73
Today’s children’s book to watch out for in the Sunday Times: The Star Whale by Nicola Davies and Petr Horacek.
@nicolakidsbooks
@TheTimesBooks
@OtterBarryBooks
5
26
72
'Tis the season for splendid non-fiction. Here is a selection notable for beauty and interest.
#backtoschool
.
1
28
73
Gotta love a publisher who sends flowers on publication day. Thank you,
@NosyCrowBooks
.
#WritesofPassage
. ❤️
4
5
73
'Nicolette Jones brings the government to book over libraries'. This week's
@thesundaytimes
children's books video.
8
86
67
Happy
#internationalchildrensbookday
. 'Like' if you've read (part of?) a children's book today to yourself or a child. (Or to another adult)
1
7
68
For the record, I will forever think these are labels to be proud of: 'liberal', 'expert', 'intellectual', 'actor', 'feminist'
#MerylStreep
0
10
66
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. By
@ed_vere
. Mostly muted primary colours and lovely detailed drawing in various media on brown paper. From his book The Elephant and the Sea, now in paperback. About an elephant who realises his ambition to be a lifeboatman in Cornwall.
@PuffinBooks
1
20
69
Daily storytime for 6 weeks raised reading age by 10 months. Think
#statutorystorytime
is a good idea? Sign the petition:
6
42
68
Made wonderful discoveries reading for
@EmpathyLabUK
. I think we have an inspiring selection, with input from a panel experienced in classrooms & libraries. Children's authors & illustrators who think about kindness, inclusion & tolerance our best hope for a better future.
4
32
66
In the light of the
#booktrustrepresents
initiative to support BAME authors & illustrators till they reflect the proportion of young BAME readers in the UK, glad to see more diversity in the children's books sent for review. At least in the characters, and sometimes the creators.
4
26
67
Male writers (especially, but not exclusively, of children’s books): if you have a female villain must her defining characteristic be red lipstick? Also elegant clothes and high heels? Apparently all smartly dressed women are evil and terrifying.
#tiredoldcliche
.
11
4
67
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
. The
@KlausFluggePr
shortlist for new illustration is announced on 14 May. So till then some choices from the longlist. Image of a tree full of wildlife (and a little girl) from Sarthak Sinha’s exuberant Farah Loves Mangoes
@FlyingEyeBooks
1
12
66
NewIllustrationoftheDay. Michael Foreman’s composition uses minimal colour to create a sense of place and atmosphere - and emphasise the poppies - in Finding Alfie: A D-Day Story by Michael Morpurgo. Out 9 May for the 80th anniversary of D-Day on 6 June.
@scholasticuk
1
18
66
My children's book round-up for Christmas in
@thesundaytimes
including link to vlog with other Christmassy books …
4
56
65
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
Sunlit kitchen by Sydney Smith from My Baba's Garden by Jordan Scott. In the run-up to Empathy Day, 6 June, this daily post will include some images from empathy-building books in the 2024 Empathy Collection.
@EmpathyLabUK
@BIGPictureBooks
@sydneydraws
1
14
66
We talk of sunshine after rain as a metaphor for happiness. Turns out it is not a patch on the exhilaration of rain after prolonged sunshine.
1
13
66
"It doesn't matter what children are reading as long as they're reading for pleasure." On
@thesundaytimes
website .
0
59
65
When I was a child, I spent a year in the US while my father, John Jones, interviewed 110 artists. I've edited 20 of the interviews (from Duchamp to de Kooning, Oldenburg to Ono) in this tribute to that year.
@Tate_Publishing
#TheAmericanArtTapes
Out 23 Sep.
PR:
@tomeacornelius
.
7
16
62
Celebrating the work of Raymond Briggs at the Ditchling
@museumartcraft
. Exhibition curated by
@katiemccurrach
(right), co-curated by me (left), supplemented by the Ditchling team with treasures from Raymond’s home eg cupboard doors, desk, armchair, paper-mache dog.
4
14
63
‘Neglect your children, lose touch with your friends, live in disorder, get into debt; only when these things happen do books get finished.’
I stumbled upon this
@royallitfund
recording of some years ago with my 4 mins of writing advice. Mostly for myself.
8
15
62
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
‘ Every year they honoured their son by decorating his skull.’ By master of the surreal Shaun Tan from
@JosephACoelho
’s Ten-Word Tiny Tales which uses 20 illustrators. Shortlisted for the
@EnglishAssoc
prize announced later today.
@WalkerBooksUK
4
16
62
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
.
@BrionyMaySmith
brings cosiness, firelight and togetherness to the usually bleak tale of the short lives of the Bronte siblings. The Little Books of the Little Brontes by Sara O'Leary is about how they made tiny storybooks in childhood.
@BIGPictureBooks
2
9
60
So honoured to have had the chance to speak of memories of my friend, Judith Kerr, and of her legacy.
A wonderful celebration of the life and creativity of Judith Kerr on what would have been her 100th birthday, hosted by her publisher,
@HarperCollinsUK
. Judith was a wonderful supporter of
@Literacy_Trust
- she believed in our mission and made our parties fizz with fun.
0
3
27
1
6
59
Today’s Children’s Book of the Week in the Sunday Times. Allan Ahlberg and
@BruceIngman
’s Under the Table. Imagine going on holiday with an elephant, a kangaroo, two penguins, and some ambulatory kitchenware.
@TheTimesBooks
@BIGPictureBooks
What could be better than a new book from two picture book legends,
#AllanAhlberg
and
@BruceIngman1
, set under the table! Hold on tight for a quirky, magical and fun family adventure for all children to cherish 🐧🐧🐧
2
8
39
1
14
60
#NewIllustrationoftheDay
(or at least 3 times a week). By
@OliverJeffers
, showing that less can be more, and doing his thing with light. 'A place to stay when all is lost', from his What We'll Build: Plans for Our Together Future, just out in paperback.
@HarperCollinsCh
2
8
60
Available FREE online today (
#WorldSightDay
) for the
#GlassesinClasses
campaign.
#ThroughtheLookingGlasses
, my anthology of illustrations and bedtime stories from wonderful children’s writers and illustrators from around the world. On . Please RT.
4
47
59
Dismaying. But well done those authors, illustrators, publishers working on that 1%. Keep at it. Others, be inspired.
@_KnightsOf
@TinyOwl_Books
@UKLaureate
@rosswelford
@malorieblackman
@csoundar
@kwebberwrites
@yaba_badoe
@HelenOxenbury
@Poetryjoe
@Kiran_MH
@LawrencePatrice
...
1% of children’s books published in 2017 had a BAME main character
We want to work together to change this – Read our full report and recommendations: (working link)
38
736
630
1
21
59