It's official!

In case anyone is interested, made it through TSA precheck in 3 minutes at LGA, terminal C.

Hi kidlit people! The publishing world is getting tougher out there; imo the best thing we can do is to lean into our own communities. Are you an Asian American kidlit creator looking for one? Well @debbi_michiko_florence and I have been trying to foster one!

Love this interview about this very charming book, out next week!

Great piece on how book bans function (and how they've gotten worse) by @authorgracelin.bsky.social gazettenet.com/2026/03/09/g...

A new #BookFriendsForever podcast episode is up! @authorgracelin.bsky.social is traveling, so I had two Minnesota-based editors on as guests to talk about what has been going on there. Thank you to @carolhinz.bsky.social and @andrewkarre.bsky.social for joining me! youtu.be/rA8Ep2M13kE?...

100 girls are dead because of generative AI

Hi all! We're keeping the survey up for another week if you haven't had a chance to fill it out. Thanks to all who have already!

Bidding ends tonight!

Calling all Book Friend Forever listeners! (Even if you've only listened to one episode). Please answer this survey for us! It's just 12 questions and should take you more than a couple of minutes. @authorgracelin.bsky.social and I thank you in advance! www.surveymonkey.com/r/STP3PCF

Hi all! Excited to be a part of the Book Lovers for Liberation auction to raise money for nonprofit organizations that are providing legal aid for immigrants and protesters, supporting food banks in affected communities, and standing up against the harmful impacts of ICE.

Grace Lin and I are planning to have an Ask Us Anything episode to celebrate our 7-year Book Friends Forever podcast anniversary! So, feel free to ask us anything in the comments, or email [email protected]!

Kwame Alexander was chosen for the 2026 Children's Literature Lecture Award! Congratulations! 🎉

GO TELL IT by Quartez Harris and illustrated by @gordoncjamesart.bsky.social is a Sibert Award Honor Book! Congratulations!

THE UNDEAD FOX OF DEADWOOD FOREST by Aubrey Hartman is a 2026 Newbery Honor Book! Join us in congratulating Aubrey!

Congratulations to @johnpicacio.bsky.social, Pura Belpré Illustration Award Honoree for THE INVISIBLE PARADE!

Congratulations to Tasha Spillett and Daniel Ramirez, creators of RAVEN'S RIBBONS, an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor book!

Congratulations to 2026 Stonewall Book Award Honorees THE INK WITCH by @stephcherrywell.com and HE'S SO POSSESSED WITH ME by Corey Liu!

We are thrilled to celebrate 2026 Coretta Scott King Book Award Winner @jewellparkerrhodes.bsky.social, author of WILL'S RACE FOR HOME!

Congratulations to Marie Arnold, author of SPLIT THE SKY, a Coretta Scott King Award Honoree!

The Coretta Scott King Author award goes 'Will's Race for Home' by Jewell Parker Rhodes #ALAyma

Best roundup I've seen of organizations working to support the people of Minnesota - all accepting donations. If you're feeling helpless right now, something is better than nothing. www.standwithminnesota.com?fbclid=IwY2x...

NEW Statement from the family of Alex Pretti:

"They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take care of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mr Rogers said look for the helpers, & right now the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mr Rogers would be here right now too, so I'm here."

Yes! You can also bid to be a guest on @authorgracelin.bsky.social and my #BookFriendsForever podcast! We’d love to have you!

BREAKING: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race, NBC News projects. nbcnews.to/4nIzNUC

Childhood besties → Author & Editor dream team 💕 @authorgracelin.bsky.social & @alvinaling.bsky.social talk 9 years of patience, Chinese folklore, and creating the most beautiful book possible. New #GrowingReadersPodcast episode live now! 🎧 All platforms: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

We built a calculator that doesn't work, but don't worry, it's also a plagiarism machine that will tell you to kill yourself. It runs on the world's oceans and costs 10 trillion dollars.

ALA attendees: you won't want to miss @authorgracelin.bsky.social's Featured Speaker address on Monday, June 30! She will also be signing copies of THE GATE, THE GIRL, AND THE DRAGON following her talk; more details here: www.littlebrownlibrary.com/landing-page... #ALAAC25

This spring is whirlwind! On June 14, a retrospective exhibit of my art will open at the Carle Museum! To celebrate @alvinaling.bsky.social and I will be recording a live episode of our BFF podcast there! Do you have any questions for us? Let us know! carlemuseum.org/explore-art/...

🌈 super exciting news!! I'm so thrilled to be illustrating THE HOUSE THAT FEELS LIKE ME with Sasha and @alvinaling.bsky.social. It's such a needed book right now! Huge thanks as always to Naomi Davis at @bookendsliterary.bsky.social!! Coming Fall 2026! #kidlit #picturebooks #kidlitart

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.

Excited to be on @alvinaling.bsky.social and @authorgracelin.bsky.social’s Book Friends Forver podcast with @editorsangeeta.bsky.social to talk about freelance editing (my first podcast!). Would love to hear what you think if you check it out (link below)! 1/2

Powerful segment with @samiraahmed.bsky.social on the Velshi Banned Book Club talking about her book INTERNMENT and book banning. "Young people are just fighting for their future." youtu.be/m6TGQ4TFLAw?...

I found this essay by Eddie Huang quite moving. Also, I learned something about working dogs! "I’d rather people just assume I’m a Chinese guy delivering Chinese food because when I was a Chinese guy delivering Chinese food I got to see who people really were." basedfob.substack.com/p/murray-hil...

Hey all. I've been vague about this, but I'm now going to be blunt. I understand that some of you may not look at me the same, but I want to be forthright, and maybe, speaking up will help others too. I experienced domestic violence on Saturday at the hands of an ex.

This book has been a long time in the making--I acquired it in 2020! The art was a true labor of love for John, and it was definitely worth the wait. I feel privileged to have been able to see the art in person when I was at TLA last year! people.com/leigh-bardug...

My word of the year for 2025 is “community”—I think it’s especially important in times like this. And one of my favorite communities is at Kindling Words. This past weekend I basked in the company of nearly 100 authors, illustrators, and these wonderful editors shown here.

A new #bookfriendsforever podcast episode is out! @authorgracelin.bsky.social and I talk about small things that bring us joy to help cheer ourselves up. Maybe it will lift your spirits a bit, too. What small things bring you joy?

Just a few days until the Kidlit for LA auction for wildfire relief closes! We have not yet met the $120,000 goal, so make sure to bid on a manuscript critique (PB or MG/YA) from me or the many amazing items from stellar editors, agents, & authors. #kidlit www.32auctions.com/kidlitforlosangeles

Alvina Ling has donated two items: a 30-minute AMA and an interview/guest spot on the Book Friends Forever podcast with Alvina and @authorgracelin.bsky.social! @alvinaling.bsky.social is VP and Editor-in-Chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers where she has worked since 1999. #kidlit

Wanted to do something positive today, so I made a starter pack of Diverse Kidlit creators and industry professionals! #diversekidlit #starterpack #diversifyyourshelves #weneeddiversebooks go.bsky.app/Ma4TCD7

Hi all, @authorgracelin.bsky.social and I are offering a guest spot in the Book Froends Forever podcast to benefit those affected by the terrible LA fires— bid here: www.32auctions.com/organization...

I still haven't gotten the hang out of posting here, but am trying to avoid Meta as much as possible now. So, here! Let's celebrate Jewell Parker Rhodes's newest novel WILL'S RACE FOR HOME which just published this week! It's a Western! And, a thrilling adventure novel! I love this book SO MUCH.

Wow, okay—I haven’t posted on here in over a year, but hello new followers! Maybe I’ll hang out here more—I’m mainly on Instagram these days. While I’m here, check out Grace Lin and my podcast #BookFriendsForever!

Signed! I also started a voteable suggestion on their ideas page. I'd love it if people continued to vote for it! We're at 350 this evening.

Goodreads removed both the Children’s & Middle Grade and Graphic Novels categories from the 2023 Goodreads Choice Awards. Please sign this petition to ask them to reinstate the categories. Children's books matter! chng.it/Bq8hHgYtML

I know this is a long shot, but does anyone have any connections to any Yankees, Knicks or 49ers players? Please DM if you do—trying to facilitate a kindness for a friend with a terminal illness. Please share/RT!

Happiest of book birthdays 🥳 to CHINESE MENU. I truly believe this is @pacylin’s masterwork (so far!). Every story behind a different American Chinese food dish is a revelation, I love her personal anecdotes throughout, and the art is absolutely gorgeous.