Reviewing this BEAUTY of a book, Island Storm, for the episode of the podcast that comes out tomorrow. So impressed with everything about it. Color and light, mottled painting style, but really the way it’s less about navigating a storm and more about sibling love and independence and exploration. ❤️

I'm agog! FORTS is one of @usatoday.com's bestselling #picturebooks this week! Thank you to all the indie bookstores who believe in this book and have been sharing it with their customers. ❤️💙📚 #kidlit www.usatoday.com/booklist/gen...

@asiqueira.bsky.social’s and my agent @joycesweeney.bsky.social feature big in this one! Another example of their amazing support and sensitivity for their clients. Ana is amazing. Go listen!

Happy #VerseShow #kidlit #podcast day! Today @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat with @asiqueira.bsky.social!! jmonken.podbean.com/e/ana-siquei...

#kidlitmegafeed It's Tuesday and that means a new #podcast Verse Show episode with your hosts me and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and special guest @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social!! jmonken.podbean.com/e/jenna-elys...

So great to be on the Verse Show podcast and chat with @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social - check it out! Thank you for having me! 🍦🙌🏾🎉

#kidlitmegafeed New Verse Show #podcast today! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat with @carriefinison.bsky.social about rhyme, her newest book Pigs Dig A Road and she even shares part of the story that got her agent AND the query letter! jmonken.podbean.com/e/carrie-fin...

Ask the Agent Question of the Day: What do people mean when they talk about their "Dream Agent"? I've just been querying agents who seem reputable and who do my kind of book -- should I know MORE about them? My answer: www.tumblr.com/literaticat/...

Anyone else know of PB agents who ask for multiple manuscripts in your initial query? Add them to the thread! And check out the podcast to hear why @brennajeanneret.bsky.social, @joshmonkwords.bsky.social, and I think this should be the industry norm. 👀

Loved this ep of #VerseShow & had to comment that the agent I signed with asks for PB queries with multiple MSs!! I think I sent her 3 stories when I queried. Makes SO much sense. @brennajeanneret.sky.social @joshmonkwords.bsky.social @chiaracolombi.com #kidlit www.podbean.com/ew/pb-jsr94-...

This was such a fun conversation! Thanks for having me, @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social!

#kidlitmegafeed First Verse Show of 2025 is up! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I had the chance to chat with @chiaracolombi.com about her book Rocket Ship, Solo Trip illustrated by the amazing Scott Magoon, marketing and we reinvented the query process! jmonken.podbean.com/e/chiara-col...

Look what came in the mail!!! So excited to share this awesome #PB!! Thanks @joshmonkwords.bsky.social The #kidlit #WritingCommunity is truly THE BEST

Thank you, @joshmonkwords.bsky.social, for sharing this amazing PB by @neighkid.bsky.social with illos by Gabi Moraes. 5 Stars on Goodreads and what an awesome book!!! Snatch it up, peeps!

Up until yesterday I don’t think I met a single #kidlit person in real life, not even @brennajeanneret.bsky.social. Finally got a chance to meet @jesstownes.bsky.social when we chatted about bookstores and shelving and marketing. But now back to my less awkward screen-based cave #KidlitMegaFeed

New Verse Show #kidlit #podcast is live! This week @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat with @phaeacrede.bsky.social about pizza dresses, being weird and coming soon OH, DEER and PRINCESS BATTLE ROYALE jmonken.podbean.com/e/beep-bop-b...

It’s only called Black Friday if it comes from the Bentonville region of Arkansas. Otherwise it’s just ✨ sparkling capitalism ✨

Good morning, #kidlitmegafeed! New Verse Show #kidlit #podcast is up! Today @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat to author Kat Chen about her super prolific career spanning romance novels to board books, oh my! jmonken.podbean.com/e/everything...

Been playin' around with the idea of bringing the PBChat weekly chats back temporarily (under the hashtag, #kidlithive) while the Bluesky #kidlit community grows. Anyone interested?

Listened to this awesome episode today!! Loads of great #kidlit info! #VerseShow @brennajeanneret.bsky.social @joshmonkwords.bsky.social

#kidlit #WritingCommunity With the election upon us @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I are STOKED to bring you this chat with Martha Brockenbrough!! jmonken.podbean.com/e/kidlit-for...

I absolutely love You May Contribute a Verse with @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social. Kidlit creators sharing their journeys with so many helpful insights along the way thanks to the wonderful hosts' questions.

Very happy to announce that I am now repped by @joycesweeney.bsky.social of The Seymour Agency. They are a passionate advocate for children’s literature, a powerful writing partner, a really great agent, and most importantly an absolute blast to talk to. Can’t wait to make books together. #kidlit

Big thank you to everyone out there who is still listening and tuning in, we couldn't do this without you ❤️

#kidlit #writingcommunity New Verse Show #podcast featuring @stephlupohenson.bsky.social and her newly released #picturebook NO SCHOOL MY RULES published with @tielmourpress.bsky.social!! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social @jseymour.bsky.social jmonken.podbean.com/e/like-a-goo...

It was such a delight to chat with @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and @brennajeanneret.bsky.social!

I sure hope some bold and enterprising writer is working on a picture book based on the Kamala Harris quote “you exist in the context of all in which you live and all that came before you.” It needs to be the She Persisted of this election cycle. #kidlit

#kidlit #writingcommunity New Verse Show #podcast episode dropped today! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat with @treniseferreira.bsky.social! jmonken.podbean.com/e/tf-sabin-t...

#kidlit #WritingCommunity Check out the latest #podcast episode of the Verse Show where @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat to @chloeitoward.bsky.social !https://jmonken.podbean.com/e/writing-for-little-me-with-chloe-ito-ward/

💥THE QUACKEN PRE-ORDER GIVEAWAY💥 PRIZES: [1 prize per winner] Manuscript critique, 30-min Zoom chat, query letter edit TO ENTER: 1) Pre-order The Quacken (illustrated by Pablo Pino) 2) Upload proof of receipt to the form linked below ENTRY LINK: forms.gle/8BXY7ra84a3X... DEADLINE: July 5

Well after a FOMO-inducing trip to #ALAAC24, @brennajeanneret.bsky.social is currently in the air and on her way home to chillax. So it is my pleasure to introduce this hilarious chillax sesh to you today, featuring none other than #kidlit agent James McGowan 👀 linktr.ee/verseshow

My publisher @tielmourpress.bsky.social said I had to start promoting my book Neigh Kid on social or else. So here goes ya boi Alan Mayfair, #kidlit community 👀

Good morning BlueSky! I'm heading to ALA this weekend to celebrate I'd love to #giveaway a free signed copy of my #kidlit #picturebook The Law of Birthdays illustrated by Marina Kondra! To enter request a copy from your library and post proof of request in the comments! Contest ends 6/28!

Say the kind thing. I have never attacked #kidlit revisions on manuscripts like I have when I have been encouraged that they are worthy to pursue. Thanks to my amazing CPs and to the entire community for keeping the positive light on!

Weekend = library = a fresh #kidlit stack! This one includes a number of @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social's, inspired by this week's awesome #VerseShow from @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social. Highly recommend giving the podcast a listen while I go give these books a read! 📚👍🏻

Are there any #kidlit #pitch events here at Bluesky, yet? I will be pitching tomorrow on the very last #PBPitch event on X tomorrow. I am hoping there will be a good showing for the founders, @debrakshumaker.bsky.social and PJ McIlvaine working tirelessly for the #kidlit community for 9 years!

Hello #kidlit #writingcommunity #authors #illustrators! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social @jseymour.bsky.social and I are stoked to share our newest #podcast episode featuring @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social! jmonken.podbean.com/e/one-of-thr...

I am absolutely here for the way @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social describes the absolute heat that @charlessantoso.bsky.social brought to his work on their book Dear Unicorn. Dueling Joshes on #VerseShow #kidlit #podcast tomorrow! It will be one for the ages!

Reading this? Kidlit? Reintroduce yourself specifically for the new #kidlit MEGA feed (bsky.app/profile/did:...). Hi! My name is Brian LaRossa. I’m an executive art director at Scholastic, overseeing Branches, Acorn, nonfiction series, and many titles for Orchard Books. www.brianlarossa.com 💙❤️

Hey #kidlit! I never post here but gosh would I love to build a better Bluesky habit. Did you know that @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and I do a kidlit podcast? linktree.com/VerseShow Gosh would I love for you to listen to it.

Followed & Pinned bsky.app/profile/did:... #kidlit

I had a great conversation with @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social. Learn how my bad handwriting in sixth grade set off a chain of events that eventually launched my writing career! jmonken.podbean.com/e/falling-ou...

It occurs to me that the ant that I just carelessly blew off my table outside worked really hard to get to where he was and if that isn’t a really good analogy for capitalism I don’t know what is. Really empathizing with the proletariAnt today as I avoid working this afternoon.

I’m going to be on several hours of flights tomorrow. 💡 Who wants a PB critique? ✔️ First 5 to DM me get guaranteed crits. After that: wait list depending on time. No rules, but caveat that I don’t write NF. If you can give me a week (while I’m on spring break) I would love to give back! #kidlit

#kidlit #writingcommunity New #VerseShow episode with fellow @pbspree.bsky.social member @jstremer.bsky.social! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I chat with Jessica all about her incredible writing journey, NF and finding your voice! jmonken.podbean.com/e/just-the-f...

Dreamt we booked a podcast interview with an author whose anxiety prevented him from coming on. Just so happened he had a biopic in the works and was being played by Josh Brolin. So we booked him instead. He flew in for the interview. Walked toward me, hand outstretched,

Today's episode is a special one! We dive behind the scenes with @tielmourpress.bsky.social @jseymour.bsky.social AND announce our very own @joshmonkwords.bsky.social debut PB NEIGH KID!! #kidlit #WritingCommunity jmonken.podbean.com/e/behind-the...

I'm so proud to have co-founded Authors Against Book Bans, the strictly single-issue author army to be deployed to fight for the freedom to read nationwide! Are you traditionally or indie pub'd? Do you have a book forthcoming? JOIN US! sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/1F1G...

Big congrats, @birthdaygirl.bsky.social! Please contact me with your snail mail details via my website (www.troystory.ca). And big thanks again to @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and @joshmonkwords.bsky.social. It was a joy to chat with you both.

Happy Valentine's Day!! Thank you so much for showing the our #podcast #verseshow some love by sharing our episode with @troystory.bsky.social! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I would like to announce that @birthdaygirl.bsky.social is the winner of the Perfect Man giveaway! Contact Troy for details ❤️