Happy Lunar New Year from Hong! (Illustration from Zhen Yu and the Snake, written by me, illustrated by Renia Metallinou, Kar-Ben/ Lerner, 2023)

Since it’s Thanksgiving in the US, I was searching for a photo of my daughter with turkeys. This one came up instead. It’s me and definitely not with turkeys! Any way, happy, happy 🦃 day!

Today’s #ILoveMyLibrary includes new books and a few by friends & favorite authors 😍📚😍 @kristimahoney.bsky.social @lisaljrogers.bsky.social @marianarios.bsky.social @ericalyons.bsky.social @ruthspiro.bsky.social #kidlit #Library #Edusky

Soooo, apparently CLOUDS IN SPACE has a starred 🌟 review from the School Library Journal!! Thank you, @blueslipmedia.bsky.social , for letting me know! #kidlit

My office mates having a water cooler chat. (It’s the first time the 16+ year old has tolerated her 11 month old sister for even a moment.)

11 y/o asked why I always use the expression “I’m in France”. 🤷🏻‍♀️I never have. She was meant to text me a/f school today. She said she did, but that, as usual, ‘I’ said, “Do what you want. I don’t care. I’m not your mother. I’m in France.” Turns out she’s been messaging a woman in France for months.

Not a problem. I’ll just work around you. #proofofcats #cats are a #writersblock

No thoughts, just thinking about Slimey, his adventures in Paris, and him getting to meet the GOAT herself

Exactly two weeks (September 1 3, 2024) until ON A CHARIOT OF FIRE, written by me, illustrated by Siona Benjamin, published by Levine Querido, is out in the world! I can’t wait! #kidlit #picturebooks #kidlitart #diversekidlit #childrensbooks #jewishkidlitjoy

Add together a great text and art from an illustrious artist and you’ve got on your hands a librarian biography that’s a cut above the rest. I review Go Forth and Tell by Breanna McDaniel and April Harrison (and go into a long spiel on nonfic too): #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2024/08/18/r...

Posting a #CoverReveal or #BookBirthday? Credit the ILLUSTRATOR. Not only are you helping boost the artist but it shows people that you or your publisher hired a HUMAN artist. Others to credit: book designer, translator. #PicturesMeanBusiness art by @sarahmcintyre.bsky.social #KidLit

My author copies arrived! Mixed-Uo Mooncakes will be out in the world on September 10, 2024. I can’t wait for very w to meet Ruby and see how she celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival and Sukkot when they fall on the same night! 🥮❤️🥮 #kidlit #picturebooks #unboxing #kidlitsky

Happy #InternationalCatDay ! Pls give all your feline 🐱 friends an extra pet, hug or snuggle today! #CelebrateCats #cats #kidlitart

Unlike you, I get my news from a reliable source.

Happy International Cat Day! #kidlit #catday

Deal Announcement! @aaliyamj.bsky.social @andreabrownlit.bsky.social

I tried asking this on Threads & didn’t really get any replies. Maybe here? 👉Just wondering about the calls for illustration <from YA authors> - do you mostly want styles that look realistic, highly rendered and polished (e.g like Magic the Gathering art)? #books #booksky #kidlit

I was never very good at Twitter, should I try harder with Bluesky? Say hi if you want to be friends here! I make comics for middle grade! I made a comic memoir about having a baby. I just started a re-watch of LOST. I love loud music. I wear a lot of hats (metaphorically and literally). HI! #kidlit

Hey #kidlit book creators! I'm creating a list/feed of BOOK LAUNCH author/illustrator groups on Bluesky whose members provide mutual support & collaborate on promo (esp #debut). If you have one, pls reply with your group Bluesky acct and hashtag (but PLEASE read thread 🧵 first, thanks). 👇🏼

I'd love to start a book launch group with authors/illustrators who have a picture book or board book for babies and/or toddlers coming out in 2025. DM me with your info. Traditionally-published only.

Ask the Agent Q: What's the difference between different publisher imprints? Are some better/worse than others? Are the ones named after the larger publisher the best? My answer: www.tumblr.com/literaticat/...

Our school held their annual Book Cafe. This year, all the books were donated second hand books (many still were new) . I’m obsessed with this second graders art using an old book that wasn’t sellable.

THE EFFECTS OF PICKLED HERRING has been out just over 2 months! “Provocative”~ @derfbackderf.bsky.social “Wonderful”~ @oneofthejohns.bsky.social “Must-read”~ @ericalyons.bsky.social “Heart-warming hoot”~ @juddwinick.bsky.social “Touching”~ @davidbooher.bsky.social “Moving”~ @realmarkrez.bsky.social

Spending the weekend getting my school visit talks and IWD talk ready for the Hong Kong Literary Festival next week! (My kids have their @dansantat.bsky.social books ready to be signed!)

Memory Garden is here!! It’s a picture book about immigration & the gardens we grow up in. About sharing stories as a way to grow your imagination. About getting to know your culture through your senses. Written by my mom, illustrated by me — a dream that it exists. bookshop.org/p/books/memo...

With little imagination, this sinking boat looks an awful lot like a shark (especially without my glasses).

This week on Kidlit Survival Guide, @christinenevans.bsky.social and I talk book contracts. bit.ly/48veHRY

Press release for THE EFFECTS OF PICKLED HERRING courtesy of @graphicpolicy.bsky.social! graphicpolicy.com/2024/02/18/g...

Padme Amidala has managed to sit next to her new little sister Spicy for 5 minutes without trying to kill her!

Happy Random Acts of Kindness Day! In Alone Together on Dan Street, Mira is able to bring her entire neighborhood together with an act of kindness that leads to another and another and another… She finds a way to make sure no one would be alone even when they couldn’t be together.

I AM A PB RISING STARS MENTOR along with 31 other incredible mentors! See the website (pbrisingstars.com/mentees) for information on how to apply to be a 2024 Mentee. Also, look for information on how to sign-up for Meet the Mentors on March 7 and for application information. #pbrisingstars

I’m so excited for this! Thanks to @debbieohi.com for posting!

Y’all!!!!!! IT’S LIVE!!! The 2024 #PBRisingStars Mentorship program is lucky enough to have 32 mentors this year!!! AND we are lucky enough to announce them on Debbie’s blog!!! RUN TO MEET OUR MENTORS!! debbieohi.com/2024/02/pb-r...

Happy Valentine's Day! We can all use more love - especially now! ❤️ I love the fairy tale feel of this image from Zhen Yu and the Snake- words by me, art by Renia Metallinou.

Hi PB Pals @cindyschrauben.bsky.social @heatherstigall7.bsky.social @nancytupperling.bsky.social @robincurrie.bsky.social Great to see you all today!

This was from a conversation on bowl cuts. My dad used an actual bowl to cut our hair (mine and my brothers). Eventually he graduated to the Scotch tape method. He taped our hair to our heads, tried to cut along the line, and then ripped the tape off.

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy Lunar New Year!

Out on sub with another picture book. Whatever the outcome, I still can’t get over the thrill of seeing that my manuscript is actually being read by top editors in the industry.

Hoping today is more productive. Our new fur baby (that the shelter said is afraid of people and contact) fell asleep on my legs. I couldn’t reach my pen so there went editing for the day.

To those disheartened by publisher rejections: I started submitting queries & manuscripts to kidlit publishers in 1995. During the 15 yrs before my first children's book contract, I sometimes felt like giving up. Take a break if you need to, but PERSEVERE. Your time will come.

Woohoo! Sent in final art for my solo picture bk w/Simon & Schuster, I WANT TO READ *ALL* THE BOOKS. In celebration, I'm giving away original art! POLL: Do YOU want to read all the books? #CommunityPolls To enter the giveaway, share this post. Randomly picked winner announced Thu. Jan. 25th.

The world is a dumpster fire. I adopted a rescue kitten today! I’m in love.

It’s Tu Bishevat! Happy trees everyone. #picturebook #illustration #illustrator

Are 3 slides of cat photos too many for a presentation that isn’t about cats? Asking for a friend. Excited for my school visit today where I get to talk to kids about Zhen Yu and the Snake and other traditional tales/ folktales!

Here's everything you need to know about the 2024 #PBParty contest for unagented PB writers & author/illustrators. We have 65 amazing agents, editors & art directors participating so far. It's going to be another epic year! The judges & I can't wait. mindyalyseweiss.com/2024-pbparty...

Teachers, librarians, educators, parents, & readers! It’s #giveaway time! I need to find these 11 picture books a new home! Follow, ❤️, RT/QT, and/or Comment+Tag a friend to enter for a chance to add these books 📚 to your collection! Winner selected 1/28.

There are many ways you can support a creative. How many have you done? (You can also buy our books :-) @12x12challenge.bsky.social

Padme Amidala is getting a fur sister! We’re approved! It wasn’t easy. Getting a rescue cat has become a multi step process here. Names are still being debated, but we can bring our new kitten home Thursday!