Shoutout to my critique partners- they really are the best! And thanks @12x12challenge.bsky.social for introducing me to them, and helping me learn & grow. #kidlit

The news is out! I'm starting a new book blog called PICTURE BOOK POSTCARDS. If you have a recently published or soon-to-be-published picture book, please consider featuring your book on my new blog. More details: aprilberrybooks.com/send-me-a-po...

Writing highlights of 2025: *Wrote more PBs *Revised, revised, revised *Enjoyed time w/ my critique partners *Got comfy in the query trenches *Got my first champagne rejection *Got my first requests for more work *Signed with my agent! Tell me yours. #kidlit

I know the feeling ❤️📚

All of my daydreams, drafts and deep edits of picture books just got the best plot twist… I now have a literary agent! I am thrilled to announce that I am represented by @katieerickson.bsky.social of @JDLitAgency. #kidlit

Whipped up a little #kidlitchucklechallenge story today! You’ve got a couple hours left to do so too.

A few #picturebooks I’m loving lately. #kidlit

Hey #educator friends! This would be a great #PB to have in your classroom, especially for any students affected by a disaster or painful move. And for my #STEM friends, an engineering challenge to see how many “things” your robot chipmunk could carry? susannahill.com/2025/03/18/t...

#kidlit friends, you’ll want to watch this. This PB is soooo good! Heartwarming & I giggled out loud. A chipmunk’s home is destroyed so he stuffs his cheeks with his remaining possessions— and in time, he finds that it’s okay to let go of his tight hold on the past so he can smile again.

Flying in just under the cutoff, my #50PreciousWords entry, Pelican Plunge, was inspired from this beach scene I captured last weekend. viviankirkfield.com/2025/03/02/5... #kidlit

Newly discovered faves from my lastest #kidlit library haul… 📚

Hot chocolate + Snuggles w/Grandpa = Happy place. When Coco learns a fun trick to drink in the calm when anxiety heats up, he realizes it not only soothes him— but brings his family closer together. HOT CHOCOLATE IN YOUR POCKET #P2Ppit #PB #Q #SEL

#PB While M mutters 𝑚𝑚𝑚 while munching macaroni & P sings 𝑝𝑢ℎ-𝑝𝑢ℎ-𝑝𝑢ℎ while popping popcorn, C is quiet. From A to Z, all of the letters find their sound– except C. LOST AT C, he learns to follow his joy. With K & S, C finds a way to have not 1 sound, but 2! #P2Ppit #Q #Phonics

#PB Benny wants to put on an art show. But can he? He zips & zooms. He flits & flies. When Benny’s energy buzzes out of control, he becomes a MOSQUITO IN A BURRITO! Tightly wrapped in a blanket, he quiets the buzz... & gets to doing what he loves: ART! #P2Ppit #Q #Neurodiversity

Super cute!

I have a post up today on @janefriedman.com 's blog, on picture book structure: janefriedman.com/the-surprisi...

Mojo... let's go!

Writing highlights of 2024: * Wrote more PBs * Attended 1st #kidlit conference #MMW * #PitchMe finalist * #KidLitChuckleChallenge winner * #BooksThatHelp runner-up * #SpringFlingKidLit HM *Query Milestone: 100 all-time sent * #12x12 & #SCBWI learning Tell me yours.

A few 2024 PBs I loved… #kidlitchat

I just hit # 100! I have now sent 💯 queries to agents and publishers since I started writing picture books. That's 100 knocks on doors of opportunities looking for my just-right-goldilocks door that gets my stories in the hands & hearts of kids & families. #kidlit #amquerying

I've got a fiction picture book manuscript that weaves a phonics lesson into a hero's journey. There may be publishers w/ a focus on education that I can submit this to that are not yet on my radar. Any recommendations? #kidlit #phonics #educationalmarket #readingeducation #readingresources

#kidlitchat A couple years ago, I reread my favorite book from my pre-teens. I wonder if anyone else has ever paired Christopher Pike with a Pinot noir. 🍷

It’s all fun and ghouls with these #Halloweensie stories. I just voted for my favorite. #kidlit

I'm on this list. Come follow fellow picture book writers like me! #kidlit #12x12 #picturebooks

This cheeky little chipmunk is adorable! I just pre-ordered my signed copy of READY TO SMILE AGAIN by Katie Reinert from her local, indie bookstore.

👻🎃Happy Halloween🎃👻 I hope you all get a jumbo Reese's- or whatever your favorite candy is to sneak! Here's my #Halloweensie entry- a teensy weensy Halloween story in 100 words or less using the words tiptoe, goblin and chill.

While M muttered 𝑚𝑚𝑚 while munching macaroni & P made 𝑝𝑢ℎ-𝑝𝑢ℎ-𝑝𝑢ℎ while popping popcorn, C was quiet. From A to Z, all of the letters found their sound– except C. While LOST AT C, he learns to follow his joy and finds a way to have not one sound, but two! #skypitch

Hot Chocolate ➕ Snuggles with Grandpa 🟰 Happy Place Coco learns how to pull this feeling out anytime he’s anxious with a cup of imaginary ☕ and 3 breaths to cool it. When Grandpa has a hospital stay, Coco finds even more solace with HOT CHOCOLATE IN YOUR POCKET. #skypitch

Preston devours towers of garlic bread but refuses to eat pasta. He hides oodles of noodles under his bed until a monster of a meal comes to life:  a giant NOODLE POODLE!  Strung along on a wild rampage, Preston must confront his spaghetti secret before 🍜🐩 gobbles up the neighborhood. #skypitch

Who me? Funny? Okay! I'm excited that my #kidlitchucklechallenge story is a winner. ON THE HAUNT FOR PANTS was a fun one to write!

My critique partner is on 🔥🔥🔥! @katieleereinert.bsky.social is a talented #kidlit writer to keep your eye on. Her first 2 picture books are on the way!

I’m buzzing to share that my picture book MOSQUITO IN A BURRITO is a #PitchMe finalist! 🤞that this zany & zippy read aloud with a sensory strategy is 1 step closer to being in the hands of kids.

I’m all smiles for this cover reveal! My super talented critique partner, @katieleereinert.bsky.social, has her 1st picture book coming out this spring!

Wow. An honorable mention as a "queen of creativity" for my #SpringFlingKidlit story! I tip my crown to all the winners. 👑 Thanks @CiaraLovesBooks & @kaitlynleann17.bsky.social

The SCBWI Marvelous Midwest Conference was great! I loved learning from breakout sessions, connecting with fellow @12x12challenge.bsky.social members, & meeting #SCBWI writers, illustrators & publishing professionals. #mmw2024 @juliefhedlund.bsky.social @elisehderstine @melissachupp.bsky.social

Meeting one of my Zoom critique partners @EliseHDerstine in real life is so fun! Thanks to @12x12challenge.bsky.social we met virtually, and thanks to the SCBWI Marvelous Midwest Conference we met in person! #MMW2024 #12x12Challenge #kidlit

I’m excited to be named runner up for the #BooksThatHelp mentorship by @clarehelenwelsh.bsky.social & @LittleTigerUK and to be part of this winning selection of empowering stories for kids. Read about winner Flora Cruft, runner up @its_Jo_Dearden & more: booksthathelp.co.uk/writers

I had submitted my #SpringFlingKidlit entry just as April showers turned into snowflakes out my window. And now it’s back to ☀️! Oh, spring….

I was so impressed with the incredible beauty so many of you weave into just #50PreciousWords! Here is my first go at this fun contest by @viviankirkfield.bsky.social

The kid judges are going to have a blast! …I submitted my entry today.

What a great 📚day! It started with an inspiring talk by @PatZMiller at @ArtLitLab. I made a couple new picture book writer friends there too. Then I crossed the street to go to the Grown-Up Book Fair to soak up the 80s/90s nostalgia and browse books from indie bookstores.

I just registered for the #SCBWI Marvelous Midwest Conference this April in Davenport, Iowa. It will be my 1st #kidlit conference. Who else is going? www.scbwi.org/events/marve...

I have plenty of picture book ideas with a brilliant start. I can clearly visualize the characters, their world and their problem. But things usually get wishy washy when I try to come in for a landing. I'm interested to see how it goes working this muscle daily for #Storystorm.

Writing highlights of 2023: *wrote PBs *joined SCBWI and @12x12challenge.bsky.social *joined critique groups *3 X pitch parties & got 3 ❤️s *2 contests & got HM in 1 *queried agents for the 1st time *got my 1st rejections -which means I’m really in the game now! Tell me yours.

I started my picture book writing adventure a little over a year ago. It’s fun to get little nudges now & then from people enjoying my stories. ☺️ The latest nudge: My story won an honorable mention in the 2023 Halloweensie writing contest!

I was happy to wake up today and find that my Halloweensie story won an honorable mention for great ending! Congrats to all the spooky-good stories that won & a big thanks to Susanna Leonard Hill for running the contest! #kidlit

🎃I'm having fun reading all the #Halloweensie entries! 100 word Halloween stories with the words werewolf, superstition & fright. This link will take you to my story, titled Tricks Or Treats: bit.ly/49baLr3

feeling like a fairytale during golden hour at the UW Arboretum…

I got the #Halloweensie #kidlit contest email before bed and now it’s time to see if any of the late night story idea notes I jotted down in my phone make any sense!

🍁My #FallWritingFrenzy story