❄️✨ The 12 x 12 Winter Illustrator Challenge is here! ✨❄️ Members—you can submit artwork Sept 1–Oct 15. Draw a 12 x 12 character doing a winter activity. 🎨 All entries will be featured on our social channels. Check email/forum for the link! #12x12PB #kidlit

How is it almost September? But that means it's time for one of my favorite themes for #diversifymyart! This month is Style and Bling! Celebrate how we decorate and express ourselves through fashion, jewelry, tattoos, hair, makeup, and more! #kidlitart

School barely begun. Kids mingle, share germs, and then… Sniffle, cough, AH-CHOO! #dailyhaikuprompt barely

Nothing refreshing about a Monday morning. I need more coffee. #dailyhaikuprompt refreshing

The bell rings. I’m late, still in my PJs. They laugh. Back to school nightmare. #DailyHaikuPrompt late #haikusaturday

Latest version has more details, inspired by #DiversifyMyArt @larissadelliott.bsky.social Procreate brushes used are by @planetsmudge.bsky.social because new brushes can also help during uninspired times. Website updated! catarinaoliveirastudio.com #kidlitart #picturebooks #nonfiction #t2agency

I realized I missed sharing the #diversifymyart theme for this month. August's theme is "Bandages and Boo-boos"! #kidlitart

Yellow, orange, red. Their faces follow the light. Sunflowers blooming. #haikusaturday

I recently discovered "False Prince" by Jennifer A Nielsen and the masterful twists she pulls (in all of her books) would make good movies. I'm mad that it was optioned and then dropped! #kidlitchat

Boom! Sizzle! Kapow! Bursting with celebration? Fight for our country. #haikusaturday

MG and YA Writers: Offering Giveaway! Free critique of query, synopsis, or first pages! Please RT and F! mspitzerfranklin.wixsite.com/mysite/criti... #MG #YA #writers #kidlit #writingcommunity

Rereading "Anne of Green Gables" and it was IMMEDIATELY apparent that Anne has #ADHD. When I was reading as a kid, she just seemed like a quirky character. Now that I'm diagnosed with ADHD, I recognize so many signs! #kidlit

Eyelids heavy Curl up on the couch Afternoon nap #haikusaturday

The #DiversifyMyArt theme for June is Diversity of Size and Shape! Time to be unique and thoughtful about your characters height, weight, and literal shape! Triangle shaped bodies anyone? #kidlitart

Emily’s Bird: The hope in my soul Sometimes sings soft, sometimes loud, And now bursts with song. #haikusaturday

The biggest turning point for me was winning a critique in the PB Critique Fest hosted by Brian Gehrlein. This wasn't a contest you had to "earn" with an already great manuscript. I was able to get a fantastic critique on my early-career attempt. It taught me so much and saved me years. #kidlitchat

It's National Poetry Month! Try this exercise for your WIP. If you're struggling with a scene, write haikus that crystalize this moment in your story. The condensed #haiku structure forces you to sharpen your writing and could clarify aspects of your project that you're stuck on. #poetry #amwriting

For those who would like to learn how to write rhyming picture books, years ago I created a free presentation on it: michellewitteliterary.com/writing/rhyt... There are 3 videos, about half an hour long each. It goes over cadence, meter, rhythm, rhyme, rhyme schemes, etc. #kidlitchat

I’ve only ever written contemporary novels but I have an idea to make my mg into spec fic. Should I or shouldn’t I attempt? I read spec fic so it’s not too much out of the blue.

Despite her sparkles, Outside she cannot resist The allure of dirt! #haikusaturday (My daughter bedazzled her bandaid to match her butterfly dress.)

We’re not fooling… Kidlit Haha Week kicks off one week from today. See you on the first!

Hey #kidlitart, if you want to incorporate #diversifymyart prompts into your projects, the theme for April is “Diversity of Mobility”. Try to switch up how some of your characters get around. And pretty please get more adventurous than just a manual wheel chair (though they would be great too).

iykyk

They seem much too far, but I stretch ever higher, reaching for the stars. #haikusaturday #mypublishingjourney

More disappointment. Through tears, a small step onward. Hope for the future. (My publishing journey) #haikusaturday

If you want to add #diversifymyart to the art you're making in March, this month's theme is Diversity of Hair! Go out of your comfort zone and spice up the variety of hairstyles you represent in your art. #kidlitart

Thanks, Larissa, I just used your reminder and drew a hearing aid for a character. 🤗 #kidlitart

A reluctant child But I lift my voice and sing Then she sings along #haikusaturday in honor of a sweet moment I had with my daughter this week

I thought I'd share one of my pieces for #DiversifyMyArt with the theme of increasing representation of vision differences.

For anyone who wants to consider adding #diversifymyart to the art you're making in February, the theme is "Sight and Sound", increasing representation of people with vision or hearing differences. #kidlitart

I always try to think about how the #diversifymyart prompts can apply to animals. This month is "diversity of skin". We illustrators sometimes default to white versions of animals but why not brown or black or spotted? Are you being intentional about your color choice for your animal characters?

Orange is named all the time as being a word without rhyme. But haven't you heard the non-rhyming words like: music, arugula, oink? #limericksunday

Family game night! Gibberish, blindfolds, and spoons. Make your own pizza. #haikusaturday What a great night we had with extended family! Silly sounding out gibberish board game, blindfolded scoop the ball into the bucket, and the card game spoons. Finished with making individual pizzas. Yum!

I'm trying something different with #diversifymyart for 2025! Themed months! This month's theme is "Diversity of Skin". In the art you create this month, focus on celebrating what makes skin unique and beautiful! #kidlitart

I'm trying something different with #diversifymyart for 2025! Themed months! This month's theme is "Diversity of Skin". In the art you create this month, focus on celebrating what makes skin unique and beautiful! #kidlitart

Year in review! Here is my #artvsartist2024. Lots of art to choose from thanks to the encouragement of the #diversifymyart challenge. Very pleased with my progress! Previous years in the thread. #kidlitart

We rush to the window, excited to watch winter’s first flakes! #smallpoemsunday

Estoy estudiando español.

It’s the playoffs at my school! Temperature “feels like” 23F.

Hey #KidLit community (esp #horror writers): I had an idea for a project to keep my creative juices (ew) flowing. Then I thought it would be even more fun with friends! Please share to spread the word & consider joining me this Sunday for the inaugural #KidLitSundayScaries! image alt text in 🧵

When I was a buyer at a large indie, my rule of thumb was: 1 preorder: huh, let me take a closer look at this one 2 preorders: we need to stock this book 3 preorders: we should order enough to face this out 4+ preorders: this should be on front-of-store display

Hey #kidlitchat, if you are also an illustrator, we have a chat for #kidlitart this coming Thursday (it's once a month). Follow @kidlitart.bsky.social for more info.

#kidlitchat HOT TIP: copy/paste the hashtag so you don't mess it up in the moment. Also, consider pasting it before you type your message so you don't forget it.

At the suggestion of @jessicavitalis.bsky.social (thanks Jessica!) I turned my fairly popular old Twitter list, Kidlit Creators, into a Blue Sky starter pack! There you'll find #kidlit writers and artists you know and love--and others you really should get to know. go.bsky.app/JMsbRr4

It feels like a good time to share about #diversifymyart, an art challenge I started to help increase representation of diversity in illustration. Whether or not you are an artist, we should all be advocating for diversity in illustration! #kidlitart larissaelliottbooks.wordpress.com/diversifymya...

Hi everyone! I often introduce myself by saying I'm a music teacher by day, a mommy by night, and a writer in the spare moments. I'm also an ADHD writer which means I write a little of everything and I bounce back and forth between projects. #kidlitchat

The “Harold and the Purple Crayon” movie wasn’t half bad. My 6yo loved it. She is now drawing in her sketchbook with a purple crayon.

#HaikuSaturday has inspired my writing. My mojo is back! I have had a productive couple of weeks with my writing and I think writing haiku jump started the creativity. It’s a nice feeling after over a year of kind of blah writing mojo.

Unpopular motivation hack for drawing: Start drawing immediately, even if it feels impossible. After 15 minutes, your brain will recognize the difficult task and create dopamine to help you keep going. Agonizing endlessly before the drawing doesn't help your creative process.

Planning to participate in #skypitch later this week? Be sure to grab the #12x12PB Guide to Online Pitch Parties! juliehedlund.lpages.co/12-x-12-guid... #picturebook #kidlit #kidlitart #amquerying