At my first SCBWI event, Dori Chaconas mentioned selling her 26th book. I said, "I want to BE Dori Chaconas." The person by me said, "EVERYONE wants to be Dori." Dori had an amazing -- CORK AND FUZZ, CHRISTMAS MOUSELING, LOOKING FOR EASTER, DON'T SLAM THE DOOR and HURRY DOWN TO DERRY FAIR. 1/3

I’m at the doctor this morning getting some milia removed from my face. This is an optional, easy thing to do. But the waiver I signed makes it seem so much worse. It’s titled: **Destruction of Lesions** I guess life is better with a little drama.

These three books make great new grad gifts. I know folks who bought one and had teachers sign it each year so when the child graduates, it recaps their education. Order from Mystery to Me, and I'll sign the book and the store will ship to you. (Plan ahead to get it in time!) #graduation #booksky

Madison librarians share nature books by Wisconsin authors. One is my WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A ROCK? with art by Katie Kath. www.channel3000.com/madison-maga...

Say you’ll see me at Prairie Pages this Saturday at 11 a.m. I’ll read two books and have coloring sheets, stickers and bookmarks. Come alone! Or bring a kid! If you haven’t visited Prairie Pages yet, this is the perfect reason to see this wonderful new indie bookstore. #sunprairie #sunprairiewi

It’s almost graduation time. And WHEREVER YOU GO is back in Target’s graduation display. They’re stocking the board book, but the full-size picture book is available at other in-person and online booksellers.

Independent Bookstore Day is the perfect time for impulsive, hard-to-explain decisions! Especially about books. Stop by an indie near you. Let’s do this! I visited Prairie Pages with Katie Regan and Emily Beach. #booksky #indiebookstoreday #sunprairie #shoplocal

Two very different books with the same theme — there’s room for everyone to be a star. Read them together and start a conversation about all the ways someone can shine. #booksky #megakidlit #librarysky

I'll be at Sun Prairie, WI's new bookstore, Prairie Pages, at 11 a.m., May 2, for an all-ages storytime. I'll read LUPE LOPEZ: ROCK STAR RIVALS and REMARKABLY YOU, a great graduation or baby gift. I'll have coloring pages, bookmarks and stickers for all. #sunprairie #wisconsin #booksky

It’s National Library Week! Celebrate by visiting a library near you. You might be surprised by all the services they offer. I personally recommend the Sun Prairie Public Library, which has been recently remodeled and expanded and exudes coolness. #libraryjoy #ala #librarysky #skybrarian

I saw this @nytimes.com headline and laughed, because it pretty much sums up my fashion aesthetic. Although I’m usually also wearing tennis shoes that coordinate with the sweater. #sweater #glasses #fashion #style

The third Lupe Lopez book can be preordered. It’s out 4/21. See what Lupe gets up to when a classmate seems ready to steal her spotlight in LUPE LOPEZ: ROCK STAR RIVALS. Authors: e.E. Carlton-Trujillo + me. Illustrator: Joe Cepeda. Publisher: Candlewick. #booksky www.instagram.com/reel/DW9oovb...

100% true!

Got to visit Rowan Childs of the Madison Reading Project today at their shiny new location. Brought copies of my latest books. She’ll get them to kids who need them! #literacy #booksforkids #kidlit #picturebooks #booksky #skybrarian

Remarkably You came out in 2019. Today, @harperkids.bsky.social releases a new format. Same words by me. Same art by Patrice Barton. No dust jacket and a lower price. May it help a new group of readers see how they’re remarkable! #remarkablyyou #picturebooks #megakidlit #booksky

Easter shoes!

Lupe Lopez’s new adventure arrives April 21 from me, @eecharltontrujillo.bsky.social and @joecepeda.bsky.social. What happens when Lupe has to share the spotlight? Can Hector P. Garcia Elementary handle two rock stars? Missed the other Lupe books?Grab them in English or Spanish! #megakidlit

Pssst … Next week, there will be a new REMARKABLY YOU in the world. Same words by me. Same art by Patrice Barton. Same publisher, @harperkids.bsky.social. The only difference? There’s no dust jacket. But there is a lower price point. Get it for someone remarkable you know. #megakidlit #booksky

I want to hug this book. I also want to feed it chicken-noodle soup, tuck it safely into bed, and sing it a lullaby. TAKING FLIGHT, by Kashmira Sheth and Nicolo Carozzi is out soon from @penguinkids.bsky.social. Learn more at tinyurl.com/yy8vwbfc

I write picture books, but they’re not the only thing I read. This one’s for my fellow Heated Rivalry fans. Side note: My sister is a very good sport. #heatedrivalry #allthethingsshesaid #Hollanov

This is a bit of my childhood on a plate. Apple turnovers from my grandma’s recipe. The dough is cottage cheese, shortening, flour and salt. The filling apples, sugar, cinnamon and butter. My sister and I made them Saturday.

Jasmine Fang put a 2nd copy of ONE CAN BE in a CA Little Free Library. (Illustrator Annie May Cron left the 1st!) Jasmine wrote BENEATH THE SAME ROUND MOON about family togetherness and the Mooncake Festival coming 9/15 from Beaming Books. Rong Pham and Vinh Nguyen illustrate . #onecanbe #50states

I visited Caramel Crisp Corner in my hometown of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The shop has homemade caramel corn, amazing cookies and, of course, books. I signed a bunch of mine.

Match Day is over, and Gwen will spend the next five years as a general surgery resident at South Brooklyn Health after she graduates from the University of Wisconsin medical school May 8. Gwen’s happy to be heading to New York, and Mark and I could not be prouder of how hard she’s worked.

Thanks to Paul Sonnleitner and his wife, Kari, ONE CAN BE is in a New York @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social. Paul is a lighting designe for Broadway shows, concerts and events like the Times Square NYE ball drop. He’s a two-time Emmy nominee and Telly Award winner. #onecanbe #50states #newyork

There's snow in my yard, but spring starts tomorrow. If you want a book to remind you no winter lasts forever and no spring skips its turn, try WIDE-AWAKE BEAR by me and Jean Kim from @harperkids.bsky.social. It's a bedtime book, a story of parental love and an ode to spring. #megakidlit #spring

Hey picture book people. Tell me your favorite picture book with LAYERS and why you like it! #megakidlit #kidlit #scbwi #booksky

My sister-in-law, Julie Braun, read WHEREVER YOU GO to a fourth-grade class she’s subbing for. She shared one student’s responses with me and asked me to sign a book for her. It’s great to see a reader really get the book’s message. #megakidlit #booksky #readaloud

It’s my husband’s birthday. He likes spice drops, so I bought him a bag. I described them as: “Old-man candy. The kind sitting in a crystal dish on your grandpa’s coffee table.” He disagreed, saying: “It’s just candy. With no age restrictions.” Which side do you fall on?

If you know picture books, you know Melissa Sweet. She’s illustrated more than 100 books and written several, as well. She’s won two Caldecott honors, been on the NYT bestsellers list, and won a bevy of other awards #onecanbe #50states #maine #megakidlit #booksky

This whiteboard from the basement of my mom’s condo has decades of notes and doodles from my kids and their cousins. My mom recently moved into memory care. I took this video before we had to take the whiteboard off the wall. #glimmers #memories #family

Signed books ready for the shelves at Prairie Pages, Sun Prairie’s independent bookstore. #booksky #megakidlit

Although my mom is in memory care and often confused, she still has a sense of humor. My sister and I pointed out a sign saying "live Irish dancers" would perform on St. Patrick's Day. Mom said, "Well, that beats DEAD Irish dancers." Once Pam and I stopped laughing, we agreed.

My niece sharing SOPHIE’S SQUASH with my great-niece!

While cleaning out my mom’s condo, I found this. Apparently, I was telling stories at an early age. I have no memory of this story, and I don’t own a cassette player, so …

I like to think I have a pretty good vocabulary. However. I was chatting with Pamela Zietlow Wells and she casually said: “Well, deer are crepuscular, so …” And I said, “Wait. WHAT?” So. Did YOU know crepuscular animals are those that are most active at twilight?

Meet @alisonpstevens.bsky.social. She put ONE CAN BE in a Nebraska @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social a bit ago as the photo shows. I appreciate her patience waiting for this post. Getting through 50 states takes a while. Nebraska is state 46 to have ONE CAN BE in a LFL. #onecanbe #50states #nebraska

Every one of every size has a voice that should be heard. How will you share yours on this World Day of Social Justice? NOT SO SMALL by @paolaescobar.bsky.social and me from @harperkids.bsky.social reminds young and grown-up readers to speak up and stand up. #megakidlit #booksky #skybrarian

Texas is a big state, so I'm thrilled three authors put ONE CAN BE in @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social boxes there. @bartography.bsky.social and @jennyziegler.bsky.social took care of Austin, while @beckywalkerbooks.bsky.social covered Houston. Texas is our 45th state! #onecanbe #50states #texas

Where the writing sometimes happens ... although this weekend it's going to be where the tax prep has to happen! #megakidlit #scbwi #taxes

Recent picture book purchases. #booksky #librarysky #megakidlit #kidlit #picturebooks

Do you ever feel like a doofus? I do right now. I have pictures of two amazing people putting ONE CAN BE in Idaho @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social boxes. One is @anniebailey.bsky.social , the delightful author of several absolutely adorable board books. #onecanbe #50states #Idaho

Me and my mom. Me and my sister. #oshkosh

We’re moving my mom into memory care, which makes me feel sad and nostalgic. We’ve found great things as we go through her condo - including a holiday letter my mom wrote years ago where she says: “I also read every chance I get. The library is my friend.” Yup. We’re related. #library #reading

Please don’t tell Bernice.

When I shared @taradairman.bsky.social putting ONE CAN BE in a Colorado @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social I forgot that @jennbertman.bsky.social also put the book in a LFL at Colorado’s WOW! Children's Museum for double the fun. #onecanbe #50states #colorado #megakidlit #booksky

Here’s my recent haul from the Sun Prairie Public Library, which features titles I put on hold and books I requested through library loan! #booksky #librarysky #megakidlit