How to support the freedom to read and anti-book ban advocacy through holiday giving. A roundup of over 10 ideas that include more than buying banned books–this is the "and" part that follows: bookriot.com/gifting-with...

Happy Wednesday #KidLit friends. Tomorrow (through Friday) is #KidLitArtPostcard day! I'm extending the event a bit to account for the Yom Kippur holiday. www.ginaperry.com/postcard

BUTTERFLIES ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL by Annie Silvestro @anniesilvestro.bsky.social (& Dream Chen @dream-chen.bsky.social ) A girl. School. Butterflies. Oh, yes! Precious. (2019, Union Square Kids) #PB #kidlit #librarians #teachers #illustrators

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day and also #happypride ! 🌈 I love to draw with bright colors, rich textures, whimsy and joy. I’m excited that this is my first postcard where I’m now represented by the lovely Jordan Hamessley @thejordache.bsky.social at JABberwocky @awfulagent.bsky.social 🩷🩷 #kidlitart

This Thursday, May 1st is the next #KidLitArtPostcard Day. Learn more here: www.ginaperry.com/postcard Art directors, editors, and agents can browse by that hashtag all day across social media, but Bluesky is usually the most active! #kidlit

🎨 Illustrator Spotlight on @shellyswann.bsky.social 🎨 Shelly's Illustrator Page Shelly is represented by @jemiscoe.bsky.social and is passionate about illustrating diverse and inclusive picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels. Discover incredible artists in your inbox nearly every week!

Need an excuse to buy more books? Now you have one! Saturday is Indie Bookstore Day! Show your favorite indie some love.

Workers who track data on car crashes, drownings, traumatic brain injury, falls in the elderly, and other perils lost their jobs. Advocates worry life-saving work will stop.

JKR is 🗑️ and Harry Potter is not worth the nostalgia if it hurts trans folks… So try one of these (even better) books to fill that hole in your heart! Similar vibes (magic, friendship, found family, and/or boarding school) but significantly more inclusive!! About 2/3rds of these authors are queer:

All, a little busy at work, but we should all be reading this. wapo.st/4jEmUJI (Gift link)

Quick vocabulary lesson for those who get caught up in acronyms and forget... Diversity means welcoming & valuing people from all different backgrounds. Equity means fairness. Inclusion means not leaving kids out. And providing for those with special needs.

Wow! Way to go 👏@booker.senate.gov and all who have kept this filibuster going. It matters. #keepgoingCory ➡️➡️Watch and share: www.youtube.com/live/v2utlMx...

SIGNS OF FRIENDSHIP, written by me and illustrated by Ziyue Chen, is out today with @simonkids.bsky.social ! Please join me at one of my upcoming story times! 🎉

Okay, all. I have a call to action for all CA residents. If you're not a CA resident, please help share and boost? 1. Most of you know what happened to me last month. If not, my @calmatters.org op-ed was posted this morning. I'm working on changing the penal code.

Their silencing must be our speaking. Words to encourage in our homes, institutions, and neighborhoods. Source: NYT

Got a printer? You can start fighting fascism. Here's a thread of things you can print and distribute. 👇 I promise doing something--even this--feels better than raging silently. And maybe it'll show you that standing up is possible and open you up to more things you can do.

👇

Most banned books feature people of color and LGBTQ+ people, report finds

Here are the states proposing anti-book ban bills in 2025 so far. These are where you need to direct phone calls and letters–and there are a lot of unexpected states included. That, plus this week's extensive book censorship news: bookriot.com/anti-book-ba...

These are the words of former NFL player Chris Kluwe to the Huntington Beach City Council before he was arrested for his act of civil disobedience. We must speak out. We must show up. Courage is contagious.

SHAMEFUL! Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Cut From Indiana Republicans’ Proposed Budget. The program promotes childhood literacy by sending one book a month to kids from birth up to age five. #Thisiswhywefight #Bluecrew #Resistance #Resist #Booksky www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

I think there needs to be a full campaign to elevate and celebrate public service and the work that people do on our behalf for the public good. We need to know what Musk's cuts will cost us, and the best way to do that is through story. Public service is beautiful! Let's talk about it!

The Stonewall Inn released a response to the National Parks Service removing the word transgender from the park outside of the Inn. A great reminder that we have to look after each other

Some further thoughts at Ye Olde Blogge as to why you have to talk about your art, and why sharing it is not trivial:

Special delivery! Advance copies of our new book, SIGNS OF FRIENDSHIP, illustrated by Ziyue Chen, arrived today! Pub date 3/25/25 with @simonkids.bsky.social

ICYMI, we spotlight two illustrators a week here & in email blasts! 🎨 Here's @michellieart.bsky.social She is represented by @jemiscoe.bsky.social and is interested in picture books, non-fiction, black and white interiors, and covers. Michelle's Illustrator Page Get Spotlights In Your Inbox

It should not be radical for the American Bar Association to say that it supports the rule of law. But right now, it is. Let's see some other orgs taking a similar stance.

B&N member preorder sale with code “preorder25” for 25% off all preorders, including our book SIGNS OF FRIENDSHIP, out 3/25/25!

All, please be aware of this. The Trump administration has offered a buyout to the entire CIA, and I can't even begin to tell you how dangerous this is: www.cnn.com/2025/02/04/p...

Supposedly we are in a 24 hour news cycle, but this breaking news isn't being covered by CNN, NBC or anyone else. Why the hell not?

Urgh. Let’s be honest all, we’re witnessing a coup happening in the government. Call your reps.

This looks like a hoot.

We bombard our electeds offices with calls. They need to hear from us, and the phones cannot stop ringing. Email if you can't call. Write letters if you can't email. Request district office meetings. Our electeds CANNOT rest.

Congratulations, @amedyckman.bsky.social and Mark Teague!

So uplifting to watch the ALA Youth Media Awards this morning. A beautiful celebration and much-needed affirmation of good in the world. Books make everything better. Congrats to all the winners!

Thrilled for all of the #ALAYMA award winners & honors so far, even though I'm not keeping up with congrats on social media! We're lucky to have so much amazing stories for kids - if you want to watch, too, you can join the webcast here: www.ala.unikron.com?fbclid=IwY2x...

Btw Authors Against Book Bans ( @authorsabb.bsky.social ) might seem kid lit driven bc so many challenges are happening in schools, but I think every author should consider joining. Book bans are bad for everyone. www.authorsagainstbookbans.com

🎄❤️🚂

Big thanks to @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social and @ala-booklist.bsky.social for their starred reviews of A POCKET FULL OF ROCKS (illustrated by E.B. Goodale and written by me 🙂)! It's being published by Knopf on January 28, and is available for pre-order now! @prhlibrary.bsky.social

Thrilled to share the wonderful Kirkus review for our book SIGNS OF FRIENDSHIP, illustrated by Ziyue Chen, out with S&S kids March 25, 2025! www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

"I don't know what to do to end book bans and save democratic cornerstones of America!!" Here's a LENGTHY LIST, put together over the last many years, that offer ways anyone, anywhere, can do something besides "let me read and buy the books!"

An Open Letter to our Publishers has been sent to over 90 Publishing CEOs this morning in response to the concerns of our members. 1/4

So much fun signing books with Beth Ferry (and Pete the Cat) at the Grand Opening of our new & fabulous local B&N!

Excited to help celebrate the Grand Opening of our new & improved B&N in Eatontown, NJ this Wednesday!

go.bsky.app/SerEDfN Here’s my first starter pack to share with the #kidlit community…picture book people with new books coming in 2025!

Going to the library last night immediately improved my mental health!! (And my TBR pile)

We need this energy in every town across America. The tone here of love and joy compared to the T rallies is just… remarkable and inspiring.

Hello #kidlitartpostcard ! I am Charlene Chua & I illustrate books for kids. Interested in board book, picturebook, chapter book projects! Portfolio - charlenechua.com Agent - Tracy Marchini, BookEnds Literary #kidlitart 🎨