HELP! I recently learned that all school libraries in CA now serve kiddos as young as 4 yrs old through a universal preK program. I would like to learn more about library services for kiddos this young. Whose work should I checkout? #TLSky #librarians #libraries #schoollibrarians #schoollibraries

Hip-hip-hooray!

Thanks! And the 2026 update is coming next week on the blog

I saw an owl yesterday. I’m only an aspiring birder, but I’m almost certain it was a barred owl. It flew directly across my path to grab prey from the ground. Then off it went. There were no witnesses. My phone was not handy for photos. Still, I feel I deserve the @cordellmatthew.bsky.social award.

🚨WE NEED YOU! 🫵 Would you like to help @techielibgrl.com and me lead an upcoming #TLSkyChat? Whether you’ve never facilitated an online chat before or you’ve led dozens, we’d love for you to join us as a #TLSkyChat Lead Learner! Just fill out this form, and we’ll be in touch soon! 💙 🤞🏻

Thank you all for participating and for all you do to serve readers, teachers and our learning community! We will see yu in a couple week! #TLSkyChat

📚 Keep the conversation going with #SlowChat and join us live every other Wednesday at 8pm EST/5pm PT. See you next time. #TLSkyChat

I loved that one, too. And Bad Badger: A Love Story by by Maryrose Wood AND Spark by @baronchrisbaron.bsky.social and so many others! #TLSkyChat

Remember, y’all… everything you ever wanted to know about #TLSkyChat can be found here: tlskychat.com

🔁 ICYMI Here again is question #8 from tonight’s #TLSkyChat! More info about tonight’s chat can be found at tlskychat.com

💬 #TLSkyChat A8: As I tell my MLIS Ss (in YA lit) THOUSANDS of books are published each year. Most never even get reviewed, never mind make it in front award committees. All this to say that, in a lot of ways, I think just finishing a book and getting it to readers deserves its own award!

💛📚 Q8:Finally, let’s share the books of our hearts! Books that may not show up on an award’s list this year, but that hold a special place in your reader’s heart! Share A8 with #TLSkyChat. tlskychat.com

🚨 1-Minute Warning! 🚨 The next #TLSkyChat question is about to drop. Get ready to share.

🔁 ICYMI Here again is question #7 from tonight’s #TLSkyChat! More info about tonight’s chat can be found at tlskychat.com

I wish that there was an award for a non-American illustrator, because Monica Arnaldo's work on The Interpreter is amazing. #TLSkyChat jilannehoffmann.com/2025/04/18/t...

💬 #TLSkyChat A7: I am so excited to see y'all's responses to this question!

Q7 for tonight’s #TLSkyChat! 💬 If your readers were on an award committee this year, what books would win top honors? Let’s share the 2025 titles that you just can’t keep on the shelf! For more info visit: tlskychat.com

Ready or not, here comes question 7! #TLSkyChat

🔁 ICYMI Here again is question #6 from tonight’s #TLSkyChat! More info about tonight’s chat can be found at tlskychat.com

💬 #TLSkyChat A6: Earlier this year, I was curious about whether or not starred reviews were a good predictor of whether or not a book would receive a Youth Media Award. Turns out... maybe?

💬 #TLSkyChat A6: I'm terrible at making book award prediction. I'm ALWAYS wrong! The Heavy Medal Blog is a fun spot to see what others are shipping!

💛📚 Q6: Let’s make some predictions! Which books or creators do you think the awards committees will show some love to this year? Share A6 with #TLSkyChat. tlskychat.com

🚨 1-Minute Warning! 🚨 The next #TLSkyChat question is about to drop. Get ready to share.

🔁 ICYMI Here again is question #5 from tonight’s #TLSkyChat! More info about tonight’s chat can be found at tlskychat.com

💬 #TLSkyChat A5: I’d love to see more representation of historically marginalized experiences that celebrates culture and joy rather than (only) trauma. For example, Jewish traditions are about more than the Holocaust, and Indigenous experiences extend far beyond the Trail of Tears, etc.

A4: I am a YMA STAN. I LOVE award season! I have a HUGE display on one of my blank walls. My favorites: Newbery, Schneider, Sibert, Stonewall, YALSA, Coretta Scott King, Pura Belpre, Asian/Pacific American Award, American Indian Youth Lit Award, and Printz....just to name a few #TLSkyChat

💬 #TLSkyChat A5: This post offers an important reminder that while recent awards have shown progress in representation, those gains are fragile. Continued censorship and book challenges risk reversing the visibility and celebration of diverse creators and stories for young readers.

Q5 for tonight’s #TLSkyChat! 💬 Although recent efforts have emphasized inclusion, over the years, some award lists have been criticized for lacking representation or accessibility. What shifts have you noticed (if any), and what do you still hope to see? For more info visit: tlskychat.com

⏰ Just one minute until Question 5! #TLSkyChat

🔁 ICYMI Here again is question #4 from tonight’s #TLSkyChat! More info about tonight’s chat can be found at tlskychat.com

An SFPL librarian was on an award committee a few years ago and she was very closed mouth (rightly so) about the whole process. I didn't pry, even though I wanted to ask all kinds of questions. #TLSkyChat

💬 #TLSkyChat A4: Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention how excited I am when the @nationalbook.bsky.social long list is released each year. I feel like that committee consistently puts new books on my radar! PS: www.nationalbook.org/2025-nationa...

💬 #TLSkyChat A4: @frankisibberson.bsky.social and I created this resource to help us (and you!) keep track of all the #kidlit book awards. While not comprehensive, we've captured a lot of them and I hope you find it useful!

💬 #TLSkyChat A4: Over the years, I've come to really appreciate the awards that focus on specific representation. One that I look forward to each year is the The Schneider Family Book Award! The books that qualify for this award are just getting better and better!

💛📚 Q4: Now let’s talk some specifics! Which book awards do you look forward to each year? (Are you a Newbery Nerd or a Schneider Stan?) Which awards do you still need to learn more about? Share A4 with #TLSkyChat. tlskychat.com

🔁 ICYMI Here again is question #3 from tonight’s #TLSkyChat! More info about tonight’s chat can be found at tlskychat.com

🚨 2-Minute Warning! 🚨 The next #TLSkyChat question is about to drop. Get ready to share.

A3: Yes, I can't imagine how difficult the job must be. Even in our local SCBWI book discussion groups, the opinions vary widely. So huge thanks to those who volunteer their time! #TLSkyChat

A3: I am curious about the whole process, especially calling the winners. Hearing authors’ stories fills me with joy. I still remember Rochester’s Teen Book Festival with its red carpet and live band—authors are true rockstars! #TLSkyChat

A3: My most pressing questions for a book award committee would pertain to why they DIDN'T select a title. What caused you to decide against a title? What makes an honor title instead of a winner? Do you think that all books brought to the committee deserved to be considered? #TLSkyChat

💬 #TLSkyChat A3: I have only ever served on a state book award committee, but even from that experience, I learned a) how hard the work is b) how it's impossible to please everyone and c) how willing ppl are to share their complains w/you! So... my only response here is THANK YOU!

Q3 for tonight’s #TLSkyChat! 💬 Each book award committee is made up of volunteers who dedicate a full year to reading and celebrating books for young ppl. 💛 If you could tell/ask them one thing, (thanks, advice, a question etc), what would it be? For more information visit: tlskychat.com

I love those visual booklists! They are fantastic visualbooklists.com #TLSkyChat

Shout-out to the 3 Apples Awards! I just joined this committee and I can't wait to see how our young readers turn out for this year's voting season! #TLSkyChat

Who’s ready for Question 3? #TLSkyChat

A2: I also like Melissa Stewart's approach #TLSkychat celebratescience.blogspot.com/2024/11/its-...

💬 #TLSkyChat A3: The ALSC Mock Newbery Toolkit offers step-by-step guidance, discussion prompts, a timeline, ballot templates, and social media ideas for running a program with any age group.

A2: This is where I utilize @melissacorey.bsky.social 's Visual Book Lists! When I have students looking for something specific, I turn to the winners featured on my lists. I also run a school-wide reading challenge for my students that involves reading 30 award-winners to get prizes! #TLSkyChat