“NIGHT CHEF is about having the courage to follow your passion wherever it takes you.” — Mika Song, interviewed by @mitumalhotra.bsky.social for Cynsations: cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/09/auth... @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social #KidLt

Thanks to @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social and her wonderful Cynsations blog for featuring several @mgescapades.bsky.social novels, including Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign! @regalhouse.bsky.social cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/10/mg-e...

It’s Halloween season & the 1rst anniversary of Auntie Cyn’s Little Red Library in Denton, Texas! Have you considered becoming a @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social Steward? Share your questions, and I’ll reply! #KidLit

Teachers! Librarians! Tips for Exploring Nonfiction Mentor Texts in the School Library tinyurl.com/249wsdf4 @katiemcenaney.bsky.social @ellenbunn3.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social #TLsky #Skybrarians #SchoolLibraries #edusky #kidlit

At Cynsations, AJ Eversole talks to fellow contributing writers to LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN (Heartdrum, 2025) about worldbuilding and cultural foundations of the anthology: cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/09/cont... #BookSky

HARVEST HOUSE by Cynthia Leitich Smith. A ghost mystery that counts down to Halloween—chapter by chapter—toward a haunting climax. For middle school & high school readers. @candlewickpress.bsky.social ★ “Atmospheric, transfixing mystery… includes moments of joy.” — Shelf Awareness

Sending love and healing to Northern cousins on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation! Official website: “...honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.” #OrangeShirtDay #NationalDayforTruthandReconciliation

It’s still #DeafAwarenessMonth, a time for celebrating the d/Deaf community and shining a light on how the world can be more d/Deaf-inclusive! Here are nearly 40 titles with d/Deaf representation for you to check out this September — or any time of year 📚💞

There's still time to submit a proposal! @ncte.org @nctecla.bsky.social #edusky #skybrarian #TLsky

"I wanted young, Black readers...any reader in the BIPOC community--to...feel like they belonged in the fantasy romance space." - @britneyslewis.bsky.social, interviewed by @ajeversole.bsky.social: cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/09/auth... #BookSky #romantasy #YABooks #authorinterview

Fox5 DC book expert Kelsi recommends ANCESTOR APPROVED: INTERTRIBAL STORIES FOR KIDS, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Heartdrum) as a middle-grade read for the autumn season. View: www.fox5dc.com/video/1714385 @harperkids.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social #BookSky

Brian Lies #TalkswithRoger about CAT NAP (@harperkids.bsky.social @harperstacks.bsky.social): "A CAT NAP turns into a fantastical museum tour for the titular feline and for child readers..." www.hbook.com/story/brian-...

R.I.P. Ken Mochizuki, whose BASEBALL SAVED US (illus Dom Lee, @leeandlow.bsky.social ) and THOSE WHO HELPED US: ASSISTING JAPANESE AMERICANS DURING THE WAR (illus @kikuhughes.bsky.social , Chin Music Press) shed light on experiences of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during WWII. #KidLit

Teachers! Librarians! Looking for mentor texts for nonfiction writing? Check out this post from @katiemcenaney.bsky.social and @ellenbunn3.bsky.social tinyurl.com/mfpwejrr #edusky #kidlit #TLSky #skybrarian #schoollibraries

"Whether it’s a YA classic or brand-new to the horror scene, these YA horror books are guaranteed to keep you up at night." Epic Reads: www.epicreads.com/blog/ya-horr... #youngadultbooks #halloweenreads #horrornovels #teenreads #BookSky

IndigenousReadsRising.com shines a light on Black Native and Freedmen representation in books for young readers! Features include bibliographies for all age markets of young readers. Plus an article offering information and recommendations for further study on Freedmen is available in Resources.

LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN is a @commonsensemedia.bsky.social Selection. “seamlessly weaves fantasy with stories of first love, forgiveness, hope, and unlikely family reunions. Any teen will be able to identify with the characters and stories; a great pick for most teens.” @harperkids.bsky.social

Curious why a standard picture book is 32 pages in traditional #KidLit trade publishing? And why NOT all 32 pages are for story content? In this #PictureBooks101 post, I explain picture book format & construction: debbieohi.com/2025/09/pict...

Common Sense Media and We Need Diverse Books are excited to partner up and spotlight some amazing “hidden gem” reads! Find more information about all of these titles along with age-based ratings and expert reviews on the Common Sense Media website ⬇️ 📚 bit.ly/HiddenGemPicks

BEST LINE: LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN Sooner or later, love is gonna get you. #booksky #indigenoussky #ya @byrongraves.bsky.social @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social @epicreads.bsky.social

Thank you so much @gayleenwrites.bsky.social @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social for interviewing me for @cynsations! #kidlit cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/09/auth...

A Gothic quartet with romance & humor! LOVE BITES AT SANGUINI’S: THE TANTALIZE SERIES is coming soon as a complete e-bundle of four novels of my OG paranormal novels from @candlewickpress.bsky.social www.candlewick.com/978153625539... #BookSky #YABooks #Ebooks #BTVS

Educator Guide by Odia Wood-Krueger (Métis) available for LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN (Heartdrum, 2025)--book info & Qs, activities & read-alikes: b0f646cfbd7462424f7a-f9758a43fb7c33cc8adda0fd36101899.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/teaching-gui... @harperstacks.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social

Want a chance to win one of five copies of THE GOLDEN BOY’S GUIDE TO BIPOLAR by @sonorareyes.bsky.social? Check out our Instagram post to enter! #BookGiveaway 📚 bit.ly/46nVsdV

“Indigenous people are...teenagers falling in love, families making dinner together, people navigating modern life while honoring our traditions.” @ajeversole.bsky.social (Cherokee): boozhoo.binderybooks.com/item/hujqcjR... #BookSky #YABooks \@harperkids.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social

Comic inspired by (too many) encounters with those who think writing/illustrating children's picture books are a stepping stone to writing/illustrating REAL books. Thanks to Catherine Bailey for the caption! #KidLitChat #LibrarySky #DebbieOhiComics

Two new Heartdrum books are now available! JO JO MAKOONS: SUPER-SCARY SLEEPOVER by Dawn Quigley & Tara Audibert (Heartdrum, Sept. 16, 2025). Ages 7+ THE OTHERS by Cheryl Isaacs & Britt Newton (Heartdrum, 2025). Ages 13+ @harperkids.bsky.social @nwlibrarylady.bsky.social

Phenomenal actor. Brilliant performance. "Severance" is a significant show for so many reasons, and he is an absolute wonder.

"To be able to take experiences we have lived and owned and thought about deeply...and share our understanding of truth with the rest of the world is an incredible privilege, as well as a responsibility." - @sydneydunlap.bsky.social imaginationsoup.net/writing-abou... #kidlit

Today marks the first day of #LatineHeritageMonth! We’ve put together a (non-comprehensive) reading guide to help grow your TBR this Latine Heritage Month – and beyond!

Join us at the Texas Book Festival on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9 in downtown Austin. Free and open to the public. texasbookfestival.org

“…a ‘collective dream’ where young people in need of connection or healing find themselves among an intertribal community....” — The Horn Book reviewing LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN: INTERTRIBAL STORIES, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Heartdrum, 2025). #BookSky @harperstacks.bsky.social

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) has announced the finalists for seven major awards celebrating Canadian books for young people. View the media release and full list: bookcentre.ca/blogs/indust...

never thought I’d see a pashofa shoutout in a Kirkus review but here we are 🙌

“…dazzling array of Indigenous authors…a mystical community space that appears to those who need it...fry bread, the truck serves sweetgrass tea, cornbread, NDN tacos, bison burgers, pashofa, and more.” Kirkus Reviews: www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-fea... #BookSky #foodie

Vibrant Voices: New Books from Authors of Color from New York Public Library. “...created by the Library’s expert staff to amplify and celebrate diverse voices, promote discussion, and expand understanding.” www.nypl.org/books-more/r... @nypl.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social #BookSky

“Scary and satisfying.” — @ala-booklist.bsky.social #BookSky #horrornovel #YABooks

"Rosemary Brosnan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at HarperCollins/Heartdrum have acquired MEDICINE WHEELS, a YA contemporary novel by Byron Graves (REZ BALL), set on the Red Lake Reservation...Bryce discovers skateboarding as a way to get through a world that is continually turned upside-down." #BookSky

Huge gratitude to ABA booksellers and readers who supported LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN, which debuts at #13 on the Indie Bestsellers List! #BookSky

Thank you for this lovely review, @vpalmquist.bsky.social! #GrandparentsDay @trishtoneylawrence.bsky.social @rosemaryhb.bsky.social @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social

“'I love knowing the kinds of stories I didn’t have access to as a kid will be available for Cherokee kids, as well as readers who need exposure to contemporary Native people'..." www.cherokeephoenix.org/entertainmen... @ajeversole.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social

“Listeners will revel in their friendship and rejoice in their solution to living farther apart. [Katie Anvil] Rich knows how to bring out the depth of childhood feelings.” —AudioFile Magazine FIREFLY SEASON, written by Cynthia Leitich Smith, illustrated by Kate Gardiner (Heartdrum, May, 13, 2025).

Thanks for all of the support and enthusiasm for last week's launch of LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN (Heartdrum, 2025)! ★ “Superlative.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review ★ “A essential purchase.” —Booklist, starred review Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Kids’ Indie Next List #BookSky

Check out these prose-and-graphic novels (and more!) along with educator resources at IndigenousReadsRising.com! #booksky #yabooks @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social

Are you a DC/MD-area actor? Do you want to originate a role in the new EVIL LIBRARIAN musical?? Landless Theatre Company is accepting submissions now for adult (21+) & teen (16-20) actors who sing. Details here: www.facebook.com/share/p/16mT... #auditions #musicals #rockopera #DCtheater #mdtheater

Hey, teachers/school librarians! Check this out: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #schoollibrary #kidlit

"Editor, Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) calls it 'a hug of a book.'...our special feature on Indigenous food sovereignty." www.nativeamericacalling.com/friday-augus... @epicreads.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social

Happy book birthday to: 📚 Your Turn Marisol Rainey @erinentrada.bsky.social 📚 Dream On! @shannonhale.bsky.social 📚 Legendary Frybread Drive-In @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social 📚 Over and Under the Coral Reef @katemessner.com 📚 Worthy @andreaywang.bsky.social Thank you for being part of BookBreak!

Happy book birthday to LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN, a collection of interconnected and intertribal stories edited by @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social 📚 Click here for free discussion questions and activities: bit.ly/45uLx63