“It turns out [duh] that when kids aren’t allowed to doom scroll, take rude pictures of each other or rot their brains on TikTok during lunch hour or in study hall, they get bored enough to go to the library and check out books.” @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/o...

And what do we call a collection of book-banners... A suppression? A repression? Suggestions...?

"We Take Clouds for Granted" by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, of @cloudappsoc.bsky.social. "...These ever-shifting sculptures of vapor and light are among nature’s least appreciated marvels..." We all need "to look up — and take notice." @nytimes.com

We’re in the business of keeping independent bookstores in business 🤍📚

Fun fact I learned this weekend is that every state has a state insect, and that CT’s is the praying mantis—which is cool and I hope means that sap-sucking parasites are generally unwelcome here.

Honored to rep CT at this year's Nat'l Book Festival along with Leila Philip. With mixed feelings about going to DC right now, I look forward to being with good book people! Will you be one of them? (I hope so, but completely respect anyone who's felt the need to pull out or boycott 😳)

New-to-me #bookscam. What the $%@# is a "visibility snapshot" & why would I need this gobbledygook generated from my publisher's description of a book I wrote myself from my own actual brain & hand? This from an address that doesn't even pretend to be a real business... 🙄 Someone save us all.

"...It is about whether we protect our collective capacity to imagine. When governments control imagination, they control possibility. Once that is lost, democracy has already surrendered more than it realizes."

"...having a child qualifies you to write a children’s book the same way that using a toilet qualifies you to be a plumber..." 😆 @newyorker.com #AuthorSky #booksky #kidlit www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

What Margie said. Happy Birthday to one of my favorite humans, @mrschureads.bsky.social.

Is running with a five-year-old's brilliant idea considered stealing? Asking for a grandma. ;) #amwriting #writingcommunity #writesky

Thank you, and back at you, @jesskeatingbooks.bsky.social!

Envy, greed, lust, pride, sloth... plus doggedly pursued vengeance sprinkled with false piety, or "virtue" that merely abets vice— Cousin Bette, by Balzac... bookshop.org/p/books/cous... #booksky

Thank you, John!! I was thinking of you when I wrote my author’s note, “do you ever make art to share your heart… ?” 💕 @penguinschoollib.bsky.social

In spite of everything, I keep on reading this book I wrote in 2016, about a tiny character who makes a big difference... 🍃🪱🌱 #CarlAndTheMeaningOfLife #kidsbooks #summerstorytime @penguinschoollib.bsky.social

Also, just reminding you that they also sell eBooks, and that we do not have to use "Kindle" as a common noun.

This book... feels like the perfect thing to be reading right now. It certainly puts life into perspective.

Take a break and look at this video exploring details in the region of space containing the Trifid nebula and the Lagoon nebula. #wowscience nsf.widencollective.com/portals/qx86...

Just let a protest be your umbrella... #nokings

Call me old fashioned. #gardening #deutzia #polygonatum

Today’s book purchases, from ‪@possible-futures.bsky.social‬, by @mikecurato.bsky.social @federicoerebia.bsky.social— #Pride2025 #PrideMonth #Kidlit #booksky

CT is a small state, but a win is a win! We now urge Gov. Lamont to sign SB1271 into law— @ctcasl.bsky.social @agwilliamtong.bsky.social @authorsabb.bsky.social

Heard today: "can I have morning raisins, Daddy?" Can anyone guess what Daddy's been reading to them? #bedtimebanana 🍌 @laurelsnyder.bsky.social #kidlit

Hello, @authorsabb.bsky.social‬ friends— Yesterday we asked our CT reps to support the Library Freedom to Read Act (SB 1271) and to urge leadership to call it to the floor. ‪Today it's there. Please send good vibes our way!

Tonight’s read: I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while. Thanks, @possible-futures.bsky.social! #booksky

Jane Austen is coming to the #TheMorganLibrary! (remember when oligarchs at least built libraries & museums instead of defunding them... ) www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/... #JaneAusten #booksky

Storyboards: not just for illustrators ;) #nescbwi25 #writing

What is the Library of Congress? What does the Librarian of Congress do? Once again, Kelly Jensen from @bookriot.bsky.social has shared an important post that explains so much about what has been happening these last weeks and why it should matter to everyone. bookriot.com/what-is-the-...

Look what I pre-ordered from @possible-futures.bsky.social, for #IndependentBookstoreDay! Can't wait to have a copy of this, signed by @armyvet5.bsky.social... and hmmm... what else should I pre-order...

Making art with kids at the #library is a great antidote to a lot of things... The fabulous team at @nhfpl.bsky.social Mitchell Branch collected dirt, leave, flowers, sticks… that turned into these wonderful little worm-worlds. #CarlAndTheMeaningofLife @penguinschoollib.bsky.social

Are you a picturebook nerd who loves endpapers? Open+Shut: Celebrating the Art of Endpapers opens this weekend at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art! I'll be there Friday evening, and would love to see you...↓ carlemuseum.org/visit/events...

"It may be partly cloudy outside... but Ms. Freedman brings the sunshine!" Flipping that around—so many thanks to the dedicated librarians who have been warming my days this #SchoolLibraryMonth— and who create sunshine for their students EVERY month.☀️ 💛 @ctcasl.bsky.social #TLsky #skybrarians

Spring flowers make my heart happy, especially the little bulbs I popped into the ground and then forget about, until—oh yeah, I planted that once— #spring #hope #chionodoxa

"Our stories are the most human things we have. They get to be infinite and broad because the human experience—whether we want to admit it or not—is infinite and broad...

"A screaming song is good to know in case you need to scream" —OPEN HOUSE FOR BUTTERFLIES, Ruth Krauss & Maurice Sendak, 1960

A PO box is the ideal form of social media

Just adding that I read these as eBooks, which were easy to find at @bookshop.org—in case you didn't know that you can buy eBooks from an #indiebookstore! @indiebound.bsky.social

What Kate said... And I'll emphasize that novels in verse can be a gentle way in to tough topics—like a few I've read recently, by @susanhood.bsky.social, @mrschureads.bsky.social, @heidieys.bsky.social—

JANE AUSTEN'S BOOKSHELF is a read that keeps on giving— At Jane's (& @rebeccaromney.com's) recommendation, I've now read BELINDA by Maria Edgeworth, & EVELINA, by Frances Burney— in case you are in the mood for stories in which cads are mercilessly ridiculed & get their comeuppance. #booksky

"Everybody talkin bout Spring!" he would say to Tony. "Big deal," Tony would say back. "No such thing!" he would say to Tony. "Right!" Tony would say back." -Lucille Clifton, THE BOY WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE IN SPRING, 1973 (illustration by Brinton Turkle) #kidlit #booksky

Sometimes the illustrations are so delicious that I can't wait for a translation; if you haven't seen this one yet, take a scroll through MISS LEOPARDA— #prettybooks #kidlit #booksky #artsky

PENCIL, by Hye-Eun Kim—a wordless and wondrous story about where an everyday object came from, and what it might give back. Because you needed something beautiful in your feed today, didn't you? #kidlit #illustration #artsky

What a racket they are making today! Telling me to take the binoculars on my walk this afternoon. #birds

Wish I'd had been more effective when I testified on book banning last year—I was not prepared to be grilled as though on trial! It would have helped to be prepared by pros— @ctcasl.bsky.social @jluss.bsky.social

Well I just had a very productive morning on @amtrak.com, clackety clacking to the clackety clacking 🚊

I saw that as well. In favor of book bans until they have to put their names to it. I'm happy that CT authors were loud and proud to stand up for the freedom to read.

"... you know, it's okay if that five minute walk turns into an hour. I mean, there are stones to turn over, there are holes to look down, there are leaves and acorns to collect..." :) #PartlyCloudy #kidlit #edusky @penguinschoollib.bsky.social

"Should Connecticut regulate which books are in public schools? An overwhelming majority said librarians, who are educated and go through specialized training, should be trusted with selecting which books are available to students and the government should not interfere..." @authorsabb.bsky.social

Feel like this book is more relevant than ever right now. We are getting a reminder of what the world was like before vaccines.

So many thanks to all of the hardworking teachers and librarians of @ctcasl.bsky.social who organized @nerdcampct.bsky.social—what a fabulous, inspiring day! @msthombookitis.bsky.social @jluss.bsky.social @valdilorenzo.bsky.social @susanhood.bsky.social (🙏🏻 for the selfie, @aporier.bsky.social!)