I call this: monkeying around. - #kidlit #visualhumor #characterdesign #art

Everyone, meet Melly! She begged me for a job and now she’s my sales rep. Keep an eye out, she’ll be popping up across my socials and website (www.menalkhan.com), pretending she runs the place. Please don’t encourage her. - #KidLit #Illustration #CharacterDesign #KidLitArt #comic #PictureBook

Birbs love eyewear. #kidlit #birds

Like many Milennials I watched the towers fall on live television. I saw the Islamophobia that ensued. There is something so powerful and healing about Mamdani's win tonight. I'm watching from far away, but I have tears in my eyes for the Big Apple.

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 5: A book doesn’t need a “serious message” to be worthwhile. Joy is a legitimate end in itself.

Let kids draw and doodle! It helps many kids concentrate.

Writing is great. You invent a little guy, you can even make him a nice little guy. And then you shake him as hard as physically possible and give him the worst day of his life. Love it.

dog-earing pages is good and i like to do it

Being an artist trying to talk with other artists is just embarrassing. "I like your shapes and colours!" Mortifying playground shit

It gives me immense joy when I discover an artist I admire has a Bluesky account I can follow. I’ve stopped following people on IG (won't see their posts anyway), and yes, I bookmark their websites, but this is my happy place to stalk people and their art :) #kidlitart

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but your belief that a bookshelf with a rolling ladder will fix you is a valid one. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not worthy of your friendship.

when you put off everything til tomorrow it really frees up your day nicely.

In honor of the late Dr. Jane Goodall. “Each one of us must take responsibility of our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other.” Rest in peace 💚 #janegoodall #rememberingjane #kidlitart #kidlitartist

Scrolling through #kidlitartpostcard feels like wandering a digital museum where every wall bursts with whimsy, color, and pure kidlit magic. Love this time of month.

Sometimes it feels like everything in the world is sliding backward, and it gets overwhelming. And then I think about the art community—the people making and sharing work, supporting each other, keeping creativity alive. I’m just really grateful to be here with all of you.

My writing career summed up in one image:

Writing history on one image.

PSA: If you're an author & you get a chatty email from a marketer, or book club that praises your book & bashes Amazon's algo before offering to 'help', usually with 500 to 10,000 reviewers, it's just a ChatGPT automated marketing scam. It's the new Nigerian prince email, brought to you by 'AI' 🙄.

Fun fact: When I became agented I immediately told my family they had to go through official channels. Want to talk to me? Agent. Want to blink in my direction. Agent. If I’m not being insufferable at home AM I EVEN LIVING?

I wish I had enough lifetimes to write all the stories inside me.

I’d tell younger me: ‘Practical’ doesn’t always mean fulfilling. I traded crayons for spreadsheets, but a decade later found my way back. Now every book I create is proof that 5-year-old me was right all along. #kidlitchat

Curious why a standard picture book is 32 pages in traditional #KidLit trade publishing? And why NOT all 32 pages are for story content? In this #PictureBooks101 post, I explain picture book format & construction: debbieohi.com/2025/09/pict...

The worst part about being an ADHD bookworm is when you figure out a twist before you get to the reveal. #booksky

Robert Munsch was instrumental in my becoming a writer. His books were some of the first ones I can remember reading as a child, and “I’ll Love You Forever” comforted me when my Mom passed away. Saddened to hear of his battle with dementia but grateful he’s able to go out on his own terms:

#Kidlit community! Hit me with your funniest picture book recs - I need laughs & inspiration. My current faves are: Don't Trust Fish by Neil/Dan The Most Serious Fart by Mike/Chuck

Diving into the works of others (watching a movie, reading a book, going to a museum or concert, etc) — inspiration is all around us! #kidlitchat

For those confused or concerned about the new Procreate update - you can toggle from the new brush library to your “classic library.” And create a new library with your fav brushes from both by importing the brush files. Nothing is lost in the update as far as I can tell…?

Are you an author, illustrator, or other kind of book creator? Do you want to support the freedom to read? Join Authors Against Book Bans at www.authorsagainstbookbans.com #FReadom #freedomtoread #firstamendment @authorsabb.bsky.social

Creative people are always working, even at a subconscious level. Reading books, watching movies and TV, and playing video games are not wastes of time for artists. It’s how we stay inspired and refill our coffer of ideas.

Teachers: Please name the illustrator when you read to students. Discuss the art. Invite illustrators to visit. Show next generation that art in book was created by a HUMAN, that their work matters. www.picturesmeanbusiness.com/teachers/ #PicturesMeanBusiness Art @sarahmcintyre.bsky.social #EduSky

This week, try writing a scene that’s just for you. No pressure. No audience. No goal. Just joy. That’s how you reconnect with the reason you started. #WritingCommunity

I can go months without reading a single book, and then suddenly read five books in a week.

I usually never give myself props & just sprint to the next to-do. But this weekend? I: – Finished the second draft of my PB – Whipped up an illo for my agency’s mailer – Prepped for/survived a job interview – Tidied up – Walked 15k steps/day So this is me, actually pausing to say: I did that. ME.

“To write, your heart has to be absolutely tender and you have to have the skin of a rhinoceros.” -Katherine Paterson

Been juggling editing manuscripts, portfolio updates, a couple personal projects, and job interviews… not to mention my everyday tasks and full time job. Long story short, I am one email away from Ctrl+Alt+Deleting myself 🙃

Deeply touched to receive an Honorable Mention for my picture book manuscript with @pbrisingstars.bsky.social I’m proud I showed up, shared my vision, and was recognized. That’s its own kind of win. 💫 #PBRisingStars #kidlit

PRESENTING: the 2025 PB RISING STARS mentees, runners up, and honorable mentions! 🤩🤩🤩 We’re thrilled to work with our 28 new mentees, and we’re so proud of our RUs and HMs. CONGRATS TO ALL! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

If a story I wrote ever led to an outcome as beautiful as this, I’d simply cry myself to sleep every night like a Victorian widow. Just clutching my chest, whispering, “My work here is done.”

One of the great privileges of being a writer is that I always have something meaningful to turn to when I want or need to turn away from the world

I'm not an agent. I know very little about selling books. But I AM a lifelong #reader, and I know a heck of a lot about what makes a good story. 📖 Readers are the end goal and you know them (because you are one). Stop doubting yourself! You can do this writing thing! 😘 #writers #authors #books

Behold the fantasy writer's most priceless asset:

Check out these exciting new children’s books below to celebrate #Ramadan to honor the culture and traditions of the Muslim faith. www.kidlit.tv/2025/03/pict...

“32 pages is our absolute max for picture books.” Me: Okay, no worries! Narrator: She was, in fact, drowning in worries.

#BlueskyAppreciation post! Every time I open this app, I’m met with stunning illustrations, exciting publishing wins, helpful tips, relatable quotes, & so much love. And when I post my unfiltered thoughts? Pure support. It’s rare to find a space that feels this real. Love the community I’ve found 🫶🏼

We're finally here! And while you're here, please check out this wonderful list of authors and illustrators 💚 go.bsky.app/Uw5hJaE

Nothing humbles you faster than thumbnailing a scene labeled ‘GIANT PILE OF UNDERWEAR.’ This is my legacy now. This is who I am. #DummyBook #kidlit

In a world where 15 plot beats can be arranged in, literally, 1.3+ trillion way, sometimes you need to write them down, give them a shuffle, rearrange, rearrange, and rearrange and… Voila!