For today’s #NationalPoetryMonth pick, here’s a poem from John Himmelman’s brilliant book THE BOY WHO LIVED IN A SHELL. These story poems are some of my recent favs — imaginative, whimsical, & full of quiet charm. 🐚✍️ #kidlit #poetry #childrensbooks

Today’s #NationalPoetryMonth pick: “The Sahara” by David Elliott from IN THE DESERT, illustrated by @gordywright.bsky.social 🦂 A beautiful example of how poetry & vivid art can bring an ecosystem to life — great for classrooms exploring nature, geography, or imagery in verse. #kidlit #poetry

I have a new blog post about celebrating #NationalPoetryMonth with kids! Poetry activities & shoutouts to poetry heroes @jessicawhippl17.bsky.social, @brianmosespoet.bsky.social, @kennnesbitt.bsky.social, & @shaunjexauthor.bsky.social! Read here: stefankarlssonwrites.wixsite.com/author/post/...

For today’s #NationalPoetryMonth pick, it seemed appropriate to choose this luminous poem by Terry Webb Harshman! 🌖 It appears in the brilliant anthology THE POETRY OF SCIENCE from #PomeloBooks, edited by Sylvia Vardell & Janet Wong. #kidlit #poetry #artemis2

Today’s #NationalPoetryMonth pick: a fun found poem by Laura Purdie Salas from THE ARROW FINDS ITS MARK, edited by @georgiaheard.bsky.social 💘 I love how found poetry invites kids to look closely & discover poems hidden in the world around them! #kidlit #poetrycommunity

Middle Grade Verse Novel Stats 2026 It's my favorite month. National Poetry Month! And of course, I have updated middle grade novel-in-verse statistics to share. In 2025, I included verse novel awards as part of my infographic. This year, I'm not doing that here, but I will be posting each of the…

Finding their footing, a wobble here, waddle there— plucky ducks branch out. #haikusaturday #haiku

Today’s #NationalPoetryMonth pick: GOLDFINCHES by Mary Oliver, with breathtaking illustrations by Melissa Sweet 🐤🪽 A beautiful picture book that will inspire kids to go on nature walks & birding adventures! #kidlit #poetrycommunity

Poetry & percussion -A video for my book and poem: On Poetry Street www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/kids-zone/vi...

For Day 2 of #NationalPoetryMonth, here’s “Lights” by @reneemlatulippe.bsky.social ✨💛 I love how this concrete poem captures the hush, the glow, and the magic of the theater—and with a wonderful sense of humor! #kidlit #poetry

I am thrilled to announce that my book, A Catalog of Curious Creatures, is now available! If you or your young reader has an interest in mythical creatures, folklore, or spooky stories, I think you'll enjoy the poems in this book! #poetry #kidlit #writingforchildren www.amazon.com/dp/B0GVN76ZC...

Kicking off #NationalPoetryMonth with gratitude! 💛 Here’s a poem by @charleswaters.bsky.social from THANKU: POEMS OF GRATITUDE, ed. by @mirandapaul.bsky.social w/ wondrous illustrations by @mylesdesigns.bsky.social. Thankful for @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social for supporting inclusive #kidlit!

Tomorrow kicks off #NationalPoetryMonth! All April I’ll be sharing recent favorite children’s poems & books, new blog posts, poetry videos, & some original poems of my own. If you love poetry for kids, I hope you’ll follow along! 😊 #KidLit #poetry #KidLitCommunity

Thrilled that my #50PreciousWords entry BACKYARD FOSSIL FINDER was chosen as an Honorable Mention! 🦖🪏 Congrats to the winners & thank you to @viviankirkfield.bsky.social & all the judges! I read so many excellent entries this year. I hope everyone will keep going & keep growing! 💚 #KidLit

Green pattern for St. Patrick’s Day 🍀 Wishing you a happy Marbled Monday! 💚 #papercrafts #craftsky #marbling

Delighted to have two new poems for kids flying in The Dirigible Balloon! Thank you to @northernjim.bsky.social for giving children’s poetry the gift of flight! 🎈 🐢🕰️: dirigibleballoon.org/poem/In-My-O... 🦹🥫: dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Step-Ri... #KidLit #Poetry

Loved this new MG graphic novel by @mikelawred.bsky.social! Such a fun D&D-inspired fantasy adventure story with excellent world-building, unique magical characters, and compelling family dynamics. Not to mention the artwork is amazing! #kidlit #graphicnovels

Some recent favorite #PictureBooks! 🧌Rumpelstiltskin by Mac Barnett + Carson Ellis 🤖 The Future Book by Mac Barnett + Shawn Harris 🐋 The Great Escape by @deborahmarcero.com 🐈‍⬛ What a Small Cat Needs by Natalia Shaloshvili 🐤 The Rare Bird by Elisha Cooper What are your recent favs? #kidlit

Dead end. Scratch head. Map says, “Straight ahead.” Off-road?! Scratch head…to no end. #haikusaturday #haiku #poetry

Very excited to see that the poetry zine I made with @carlburkitt.bsky.social has made it all the way to Trinidad! 🇹🇹💛 #kidlit #poetry

Just posted my entry for the #50PreciousWords Writing contest! Thanks so much to @viviankirkfield.bsky.social for this wonderful #kidlit writing opportunity! Find my entry here: viviankirkfield.com/2026/03/02/t...

2 days left for my Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition fundraiser! I’m donating 50% of all Etsy sales this month to support PIRC’s fight for immigrant justice. Order notebooks, bookmarks, zines, or wall art and support a good cause! #WritingCommunity #Etsy #Handmade

Upcoming opportunities for #kidlit writers! @TheToyPress.bsky.social opens March 1. Theme: Celebrations The Dirigible Balloon open from March 1-14. Open theme. @littlethoughtspress.com w/ special guest editor @steenahernandez.bsky.social from March 1-April 10. Theme: Traditions & Rituals (1/3)

Happy Friday everyone! Hip hip hooray - our 'celebrations' edition opens for submissions on 1 March! #submissionscall #kidlit #writingcommunity #poetrycommunity #illustrations

New theme just dropped 👀 🥳 Issue 14 opens for submissions on March 1st with special guest editor @steenahernandez.bsky.social! And the theme will be... TRADITIONS & RITUALS (🧵 for full description.)

Messy heart marbling 💗🌀 Pink and red suminagashi swirls layered over a ghostly sumi pattern for Valentine’s Day 🎨 #crafts #suminagashi #ValentinesDay

50% of my Etsy sales this month will be donated to the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition to support their fight for immigrant justice. Order notebooks, bookmarks, zines, and wall art and help support an important cause! Link in bio, thank you! #Crafts #WritingCommunity #WritingLife

Marbled revolutions 🎨🌀 Taking some retro colors for a spin around the marbling tray. Wishing you a happy Marbled Monday! #papercrafts #badbunny #marbling

Last night I got to see Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis read and talk about their new retelling of Rumpelstiltskin and my heart is full from hearing them share about this incredible book 💜

I wrote a blog about #StoryStorm, picture books, poetry, and the benefits of creative challenges! Check it out here: stefankarlssonwrites.wixsite.com/author/post/... #KidLit #PictureBooks #PoetryCommunity

This was my second year completing #StoryStorm, and it’s become my favorite annual tradition. Thank you to @taralazar.bsky.social and all of the guest contributors for offering inspiration and encouragement 💜 #KidLit

Here are the picture books I read for this January’s #StoryStudy reading challenge that I started, inspired by @taralazar.bsky.social’s #StoryStorm writing challenge. Thank you for following along, & a BIG thank you @mlapointemalchik.bsky.social for joining me in sharing wonderful PBs! 💜 #KidLit

Melted ice marbling pattern 🌀Cool colors nonpareil marbled paper 🎨 Throughout February, I’ll be donating 50% of all proceeds from my Etsy shop to Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, a non-profit org that fights for immigrant justice in Oregon. Thanks for your support! #marbling #art #crafts

It's finally here!🎉 My new book CHASMS is now available. A special thank you to my editor Red & to the Alien Buddha Press. 'Chasms is a soul steeped in sunlight.' #booklaunch #Chasms #Poetry #NewRelease #CarmelladeKeyser #intersections @alienbuddhapress.bsky.social www.amazon.co.uk/CHASMS-Carme...

For the month of February, I’ll be donating 50% of all proceeds from my Etsy shop to Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, a non-profit org that fights for immigrant justice in Oregon. Order notebooks, zines, bookmarks, and/or wall art and support a good cause! Link in bio, thx! #Portland #craftsky

For Day 31 of my PB reading challenge, I read THE LIBRARY IN THE WOODS by Calvin Alexander Ramsey & R. Gregory Christie. A poignant, award-winning book about family, libraries, & the Black community creating real-life magic. The best ending to my month-long reading challenge 💜 #StoryStudy #KidLit

For Day 30 of my PB reading challenge I was deeply moved by MAMA’s NIGHTINGALE by Edwidge Danticat & Leslie Staub, a story of family separation that shows the harm of inhumane immigration practices & also the power of the imagination & collective action to overcome them. #StoryStudy #KidLit

#NationalShutdown #IceOut

For Day 29 of my PB reading challenge I enjoyed BEAR by Natalia Shaloshvili, a funny & relatable #PictureBook about sharing & bottling up emotions. I was inspired to read it after seeing @mlapointemalchik.bsky.social share a different bear PB for today’s challenge! 🐻🧸😊 #StoryStudy #KidLit

For Day 28 of my PB reading challenge I was moved by Angie Kang’s Caldecott Honor book OUR LAKE. A deep & poignant portrait of family & loss. Such a beautiful book 💙 #StoryStudy #KidLit

For Day 27 of my PB reading challenge I took flight with BLUE and A FRIEND FOR GHOST by @suzannekaufmanart.bsky.social. I love these beautifully illustrated & magical stories of unlikely friendship 🪽💙👻🎈 #StoryStudy #KidLit #PictureBooks

Thrilled to appear alongside @stefankarlsson.bsky.social @attielime.bsky.social & Jacqueline on @brianmosespoet.bsky.social blog celebrating reading @nationalliteracytrust #goallin @booktrust.org.uk brian-moses.blogspot.com?m=1

For Days 25-26 of my PB reading challenge I read WHAT IS A REFUGEE? and KILLER UNDERWEAR INVASION! by @elisegravel.bsky.social. I love Gravel’s commitment to social justice & whimsy, and I wish more adults would read these powerful children’s books! #StoryStudy #KidLit

I’m honored to have a poem for kids about a bookish superhero alongside poems by real-life poetry superheroes @attielime.bsky.social, @robwaltonwriter.bsky.social, Jacqueline Shirtliff, & @brianmosespoet.bsky.social on Brian Moses’ poetry blog page! 🦸📚 Check it out: brian-moses.blogspot.com?m=1

For Day 24 of my PB reading challenge I was wowed by FIREWORKS by @matthewburgessj.bsky.social & Cátia Chien. I love the kid’s eyes view of the city’s everyday wonders & the glorious illustrations—& that jaw-dropping “finale” page, WOW. A memorable & mesmerizing PB! 🎆💜 #StoryStudy #KidLit

For Day 23 of my PB reading challenge I was inspired by DREAMERS by Yuyi Morales. Lyrical & beautifully illustrated, this memoir PB about immigrating to the US from Mexico shares a powerful, much-needed message: “We are resilience. We are hope. We are dreamers.” 💜 #StoryStudy #KidLit

For Day 22 of my PB reading challenge I was deeply moved by Allen Say’s classic Caldecott Medal-winning GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY. A poignant book that feels personal like a family album yet universal & epic in scope, spanning generations & two countries divided by an ocean & a war. #StoryStudy #KidLit

For Day 21 of my PB reading challenge I was in awe of CAT NAP by @brianlies.bsky.social. This book is a monumental work of craftsmanship! Very inspiring to see the dedication to making the illustrations. Not to mention a fun story with a hungry cat 😸 So much to love here! 🎨🐈‍⬛ #StoryStudy #KidLit

A new episode every Wednesday, The Ditty Bag is a lovely little pocket of poetry joy in the week ❤️ A small but perfectly formed poetry podcast for those of us who are big on poetry love but short on time.

All day crows have been gathered around my place so for Day 20 of my PB reading challenge I returned to I AM WE by @lesliebarnardbooth.bsky.social & Alexandra Finkeldey. This PB gem is lyrical, informative, & visually stunning—will change the way you look at these clever birds! #StoryStudy #KidLit