When the rejection comes (and it comes quite often) on the #kidlit path to publication, I give myself like 15 mins to stare off into space and question my own skills. Then I make a list of things I can do immediately to improve. The list is always refreshing. Onward! #picturebooks #amquerying

Are y'all ready to bring a dead manuscript back to life? #KidlitZombieWeek officially kicks off in just a few more hours. Join me and all of the cohosts this week for blog posts, discussions, and great #prizes. kcstrocchia.com/upcoming-eve... #WriterSky #KidLit #WritingCommunity #KidLitArt

Remembering W. Heath Robinson, English cartoonist, artist, and illustrator of #childrensbooks, including the 3 he wrote. He's best known for his delightfully whacky machines. #kidlit

#OTD in 1910 🎈Margaret Wise Brown🎈 was born—“a genius”—according to #UrsulaNordstrom. Ursula had been born earlier that year. They met in 1936 and Ursula edited many of her books. I described the making of The Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon in my book: BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit

Today I thought about the ridiculously silly videos I’ll make when I eventually have a picture book to promote. Did it include costumes? Probably. Will my dog be present? Perhaps. Will the clips be studied as peak comedy for future generations? It’s best we leave that to the historians. #kidlit

It’s Tuesday! It’s #kidlitchat day! Come join your #kidlit pals and soon to be pals for an hour of chatting here on Bluesky at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific. 15+ years now we’ve been talking about books, creating, and the biz, and we would love to have you join us! See ya soon, I hope.

#VerseShow hosted by @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social is one of my favorite podcasts out there. Great #kidlit interviews and so much useful info. Yeah, that’s it. Okay bye.

Life's single lesson: that there is more accident to it than a man can ever admit to in a lifetime and stay sane. - Thomas Pynchon, V. born on this day, 1937 #BookSky #ThomasPynchon

The talent in the #pbparty showcase is incredible. Writers. Illustrators. Wow. As a #kidlit writer, I’d be over the moon to work with any of the illustrators selected. Agents & editors, snatch these folks up!

#pbparty I will see you next year. Watch out though, I’m comin for you. With words, of course. Better words, hopefully. #kidlit #picturebooks

@nancyhudgins.com has written one of my favorite books of the year so far. Please read “Books Good Enough For You: The Storied Life of Ursula Nordstrom”. The masterpieces that Ursula shepherded into existence is astonishing. One right after the other. This book is a seminal #kidlit text!

So fantastic to hear that Jon Klassen won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. I highly recommend listening to the phone call posted on their site of him being told he won. Beautiful. Jon is a genius! #kidlit #picturebooks

Day 6. Funny picture books. From my shelf. THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko. The princess is just way cooler than the prince and the dragon. And much smarter. Couple of bums in this story. The princess ain’t one of them. #kidlit #picturebooks

Day 5. Funny picture books. From my shelf. DON’T EAT EUSTACE by @liantomato.bsky.social makes me wonder why I even bother not living in a lighthouse. Also, don’t trust herons. I should’ve known. Friends share tomato soup. Everybody knows this. #kidlithahaweek #kidlit #picturebooks

1 - Ficciones 2 - Ayoade on Ayoade 3 - The Phantom Tollbooth 4 - Fortunately 5 - Cabin Head and Tree Head

Day 4. Funny picture books. From my shelf. DOODLE FLUTE by @danielpinkwater.bsky.social Spoon has pro running shoes and a VCR (amongst other things). Mintz has a plaid hat and doodle flute. A must read for budding flautists or amateur hat makers. #kidlithahaweek #kidlit #picturebooks

Day 3. Funny picture books. From my shelf. THE BIG BABY by Anthony Browne. The picture book equivalent of hearing your Dad say “that’s fire”, even though he was born in the 1960s. Grown man’s head on a baby’s body still haunts me to this day. #kidlithahaweek #kidlit #picturebooks

Day 2. Funny picture books. Located on my shelf. THE BUREAU OF MISPLACED DADS by Eric Veille and Pauline Martin. A tale as old as time. Fathers that blend in with the furniture, faux organizations and the mustache as crumb catcher. #kidlithahaweek #kidlit #picturebooks

Who wants a post everyday in April dedicated to funny picture books on my shelf? The response has been overwhelming (me) and everyone (just me again) is demanding it. So - first one. CHEZ BOB by @bobshea.bsky.social a classic take on evolution and French prepositions. #kidlithahaweek

Quick reminder to stick out your chin and grin because… Kidlit Haha Week starts TOMORROW!

🎈🎈🎈PUBLICATION DAY!🎈🎈🎈 Happy Book Birthday to BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU! I had so much fun researching this book and learning about #UrsulaNordstrom and the creative people she met and collaborated with. I hope you enjoy it. #nonfictionkidlit #abramsbooks

Finally read SPIDER IN THE WELL by @jesshgn.bsky.social and boy was it great. Funny, macabre, and such a fresh style. Brilliant. Every book she puts out is now an automatic buy. Really inspiring work. #kidlit #picturebook

Poems inspire children to play, imagine, and explore. 🌈📚 For World Poetry Day (21 March) discover our collection of poetry books for readers aged 5+, with something for every kind of mood and moment. Explore the list: buff.ly/VrzfGpd

Can’t wait to read this.

Did you know there will be a #kidlitchat today at 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific here on Bluesky? Come on by and cool off or warm up or stay dry with your #kidlit friends from every weather zone around. Plus there might be pie! See ya soon….

For those who enter #PBParty I wish you the best of luck! Pressed the submit button myself a little bit ago. Very grateful to @mindyalyseweiss.bsky.social and all those involved in creating such a great opportunity. What a joy the #kidlit community is.

Have you entered the #PBParty contest yet? I love how people join from around the world. Where do you live and what genre did you submit? What else do you write or illustrate? You have until 8 pm Eastern to enter. Good luck. :) mindyalyseweiss.com/...

Who is ready to enter the #PBParty contest? The submission window opens in two hours. Wahooooo! mindyalyseweiss.com/...

The #PBParty contest starts in 24 hours. Wahoooo! Enter between midnight and 8 pm Eastern on March 17. Don't wait until the last minute--there's a lot of info needed & you don't want to risk tech issues - especially with 44+ agents/editors! mindyalyseweiss.com/...

2 days until submission day for #pbparty! I continue to be impressed at how much work @mindyalyseweiss.bsky.social, @sylviaichen.bsky.social and the other judges put into this event. #kidlit

I don't remember who said it, but in one of my picture book mentor sessions at the Big Sur Children's Workshop in Feb., I wrote this down... Think of picture book endings as: Awww Ah ha Ha ha How does your story end? #amwriting #picturebooks #kidlit #BigSur26

I've been sending picture book manuscripts to my brother-in-law so he can share them with my nieces. They've requested more work. Watch this space for updates on if they successfully start a #kidlit agency or publishing house in the basement next to the bean bag chairs and strobe light.

Oh hello. #PBParty brought me here, and this is my first post. There will be quips and there will be nonsense. In between that will be other things as well. I write picture books, by the way. They are occasionally funny. #picturebook #SCBWI #kidlit