Crazy-busy week, just sent in more concept sketches for the Judy Blume covers. Fingers crossed very hard!

Merriam-Webster’s human editors have chosen ‘slop’ as the 2025 Word of the Year.

For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift: bsky.app/profile/debb... Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • crafty • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text

Overheard in the supermarket. Two teenagers. 1: 'Where's Dad?' 2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'

Good morning. We are open. 📖☕️🎄

My friend Reid was diagnosed with glioblastoma in Feb. Thankfully, he's still doing ok but we are all hoping for new treatments to become available. Donations help support critical research as well as patient programs: www.braintumour.ca Thx to my friends' son for this photo yesterday! #BrainCancer

I *love* hearing when educators and librarians use my books in the classroom, do readalouds with students etc. If you are one of these, please do tag me if you post about it? #EduSky #PrimarySky This is the one thing I really miss from the Other platform. cont'd

To illustrators out there who have *one* printer: What printer do you own and do you like it? I've gotten rid of my big Epson 2000 printer: I rarely used it, cartridges kept malfunctioning & were expensive. My regular printer is breaking down. Looking for an all-in-one printer w/ small footprint.

You never know what will come out of a broken crayon. #Uplift More broken crayons, classroom activities: debbieohi.com/resources/re... #EduSky #FoundObjectArt

Any other illustrators who find having something playing on another monitor helps them focus on intense detail-oriented work for longer? I can't do this for creative brainstorming stages, but do for inking & more mechanical stages. Right now on my 2nd monitor: episodes of Angel. 😁

Continuing to find @obsidian.md super-useful in my creative work. Not only am I using Obsidian for my novel writing, but also for my book illustration projects. For the Judy Blume covers, for example, I can easily access my art director's notes & feedback, reference images, sketch thumbnails, etc.

I'm all about JUDY BLUME these days. Sent 1st round of sketches for new covers last wk. Great feedback yesterday, need to send next round of sketches by end of the week. Intense, but having a ton of fun. If you're wondering why I'm scarce online, tho, this is why. bsky.app/profile/debb... #KidLit

Educators: You can help show next generation the value of HUMAN creativity. When talking about illustrated books, pls mention illustrators by name? Display student artwork on your walls w/credit. Discuss illustrators w/your class. Invite illustrators to visit your school! #PicturesMeanBusiness

To publishers, authors, & others posting about illustrated books, including covers that have illustration: Please credit the ILLUSTRATOR. This not only helps boost the illustrator, but also shows that you value HUMAN illustrators. #PicturesMeanBusiness

Thanks as always for joining in at #kidlitchat and keeping us all up to date on what you're up to. Chat is all about the collective us, and I know I have and will continue getting to know you all! See you here next week....

For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift: bsky.app/profile/debb... Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • crafty • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text

WKLY POLL: List something you enjoyed doing or learning recently that has NOTHING to do w/work events, politics, or self-promo. Hobbies? Food? etc. #CommunityPolls #Uplift I did my first creative ART collaboration in Togethercraft.online (safe, inclusive #Minecraft server for grown-ups).

Pro tip for people who post too much on here (like me): you can put: from:me in the search bar, along with keywords, to search back through your own posts.

14-year-old invents emergency origami structure, all manta and devil rays get protections, 100,000 free school lunches in London, turning hopelessness into kind deeds… How are you making the planet better?

Excited to announce that my wife Karen has taken up the bagpipes

Books Unbanned has helped over 51,000 teens and young adults across the country to read what they like and form their own opinions. Since 2022, Books Unbanned cardholders have checked out over 1 million items!

WKLY POLL: List something you enjoyed doing or learning recently that has NOTHING to do w/work events, politics, or self-promo. Hobbies? Food? etc. #CommunityPolls #Uplift I did my first creative ART collaboration in Togethercraft.online (safe, inclusive #Minecraft server for grown-ups).

Bread tag Santa. #FoundObjectArt

For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift: bsky.app/profile/debb... Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • crafty • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text

If you know someone who enjoys audiobooks, consider gifting them (or credit bundle) thru Libro.fm. Schedule a notification email for the date of your choice! libro.fm/referral?rf_... I switched from Audible to Libro.fm. Better for me, better for local bookshops. #ShopIndie

Hope you’re all having a good day. I had like a post flu depression thing but I feel better today. This is a cat riding a thing I just drew.

10% OFF everything at gricklemart.com right now! Don't be a Scrooge! Buy art directly from your favorite artists this holiday season! #grickledoodle #cartoon #holidays #gifts #krampus #cartoon #art #drawing #funny

Love this. 📚🩷

For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift: bsky.app/profile/debb... Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • crafty • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text

Listening to the soundtrack to "Maybe Happy Ending" while I work on Judy Blume cover sketches and holy cow, I really really really want to see this on Broadway someday.

Hung out with people last night who make me laugh so hard I feel like my abs are gonna fall off. Finding your freaks is such a gift.

The joy of bookish gifts. 📚 #BookSky #KidLit #Uplift

Writers (and illustrators!): Take regular breaks away from the keyboard. HERE'S WHY. #WriterSky

It's the last #KidLitArtPostcard of the year! You can count on this Aye Aye (inspired by a dad joke in my lovely critique group). I’m Brian, an author/illustrator repped by @kaitlynleann17.bsky.social & @bradfordagents.bsky.social - working on humorous pbs. Check out BrianKirbyStudio.com

I strongly identified with this video. I am an introvert, but most people (outside of close friends and family) who see me at work events assume I'm an extrovert. To those who think introvert = shy, I recommend Susan Cain's "Quiet: The Power Of Introverts In A World That Can't Stop Talking."

I love that Maggie chose the layout based on rolling a d6 (see thread below). 😁 Also love when my #BoardGaming and #CraftSky worlds collide here on Bluesky. I'm not a quilter, by the way, but I thoroughly enjoy peering over the (virtual) shoulders of those who are, to see what they work on. #Uplift

Hey, language nerds. Nothing has names for edge cases like a linguist. What is it called when you "me Tarzan" language? Examples: "Am blonde." = "I am a blonde." "Am sleep." = "I am going to sleep." "Was store." = "I was already at the store."

Today! Make sure you use the correct hashtag (don't forget the ART part in #KidLitArtPostcard). Also try to remember to use alt-text! Not only does it help those who use screen readers & neurodivergent but it can help your post get discovered.

Just had the BEST brainstorming phone session with Lauren Rille (art director, Atheneum / Simon & Schuster) about the new Judy Blume covers. FYI, Lauren & I did a guest post for the Nerdy Book Club yrs ago abt creating a new look for Judy Blume classics: nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/c...

POLL for book creators out there: How do you find Bluesky in terms of book promotion? #WriterSky #BookSky #KidLit My take: Bluesky remains my fave platform for funstuff, casual conversation, interesting content, & because I can curate what I do/don't see. However.... (cont'd)

🌲 THE BIG CHRISTMAS GIFT THREAD! 🌲 If you are a creator or small shop/business, reply to this post with: - pics and a brief description of what you do (don't forget the alt text!) - a link or details on how people can buy I will boost you! Everyone else: buy the cool things! Repost this post! ⛄

TOPIC: It's quarterly check-in time! Time to bask in the accomplishments of the last three months--or breathe a sigh of relief that you've managed to *get through* the past three months. Either way, share what's been going, career-wise, since September! #kidlitchat

Did my first creative art collab with someone in Togethercraft (whitelisted Minecraft server for grown-ups). I designed the original art, and my friend Io converted it to mapart. Mapart: huge image built at massive scale in-world, which can be "photographed" via tiny map that can be carried, etc.

For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift: bsky.app/profile/debb... Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • crafty • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text

Is #kidlitchat as inevitable as the tides? No. But it does happen every Tuesday at 9PM Eastern/6PM Pacific here on Bluesky, and since this is Tuesday, that means I'm hoping you'll join me and your #kidlit friends and soon to be friends for an hour of chatting tonight. Hope to see you then!

Last call--this ends tonight! Book bundles, critiques, consultations still available....

I am *thrilled* to announce that I'll be illustrating the covers of two more Judy Blume books being reissued by Atheneum/Simon & Schuster! debbieohi.com/2025/12/exci... #KidLit #JudyBlume #EduSky #LibrarySky

Title of this piece: "Hope." As I recently told @smacquignon.bsky.social (thx for the reminder, Stephen), I've been obsessed with red balloons since watching Albert Lamorisse's 1956 film, The Red Balloon, when I was a kid. #KidLit #RedBalloon