When I added Jason Greco’s latest illustration to my dummy, I noticed that he has only three more to go and then the cover!!!Now I know how the Velveteen Rabbit felt when it became real! #kidlit #chemo

I like this one a little better. #notoai #antiartificialintelligence #aintnothingliketherealthing #kidlitillustration #kidlitart

GRAY SQUIRREL LOSES IT! comes out this month! ✨There’s still time to pre-order! (Pre-orders get the book into stores and in front of readers! ) Thx for the support & I can’t wait for you all to meet Grayson T. Squirrel! 🐿️ (Is this emoji a chipmunk, btw?? 🧐) #kidlit #library #picturebook #edusky

Going back to @valleychildrens.bsky.social for his 17th year of outpatient treatment was tough. Yet, with his typical optimism, Jaxon declared "chemo isn't the bad guy." From that sentiment came HEROES NEED HELP - a picture book about pediatric chemotherapy. #cancer #braintumors #kidlit

Our kids need to see love between siblings! Excited to read this!

@phyllisharris.bsky.social has found the perfect combo (her art, a Monet theme, and a cute pet). It’s things like this that bring us to social media. We hope scroll, searching for these glimmers of joy! #kidlit ❤️

A couple of black kittens have decided to spend their days in a tree outside the library. Because I wrote a book duo about a tuxedo cat who wanted to live at the library (but instead lives at my house with the now adult kittens she gave birth to) the kids & staff think the kittens are mine. #kidlit

I do laugh at what finally convinced me to give picture book writing a try... I thought that book tours would allow me to visit my kids as they scattered throughout the US. So naive! I wonder if book tours will still exist when my grandkids have kids... #kidlitchat

This one is easy! Join Twitter and SCBWI sooner! Both brought great connections I would have benefitted from earlier in the game. Glad I gave the social media venue a try before it imploded. From the aftermath I learned that sticking with #kidlit topics makes social media a fun place. #kidlitchat

This looks like my kind of book!

Our school is exceptionally drab but being greeted each morning by our @debbieohi.com poster and book stuffies peeking out the window puts a smile on my face. #kidlit

Loved the SCBWI Central/Coastal Conference. In addition to the writing sessions, I read so many great books! #kidlit It’s especially fun to participate with both the library and author perspective! Then looking through portfolios as a publisher? Surreal!

There's maybe never been a more important moment for #BookSky to get REALLY into small & indie presses. If you don't know where to start, tell me what you're into and I'll give you a recommendation

In honor of Library Card Sign-Up Month, here's the card I designed for my local library! 🥰 Fellow #kidlit creators, make friends with your librarians! They are our partners and allies, our best resources, and our biggest hype people! #kidlitart #booksky #skybrarian #ala

SCBWI North/Central California's Fall Critique Fair is here and open to members from other regions too. Visit www.scbwi.org/events/ca-no... for details and the list of participating publishing professionals.

This. Whenever I play “two truths,” I include that I collect Pez and carry a candy filled dispenser in my purse. They never suspect. It’s most often Kermit, but now that I learned that a custom Pez is cheaper than a custom stuffie, it’s only a matter of time before I commission a Library Kitty Pez.

Happy Saturday! Today I'm featuring my September Birthstone Book Covers! This month is Sapphire. One that I loved is These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. Have you read it? never-anyone-else.blogspot.com/2025/09/birt... @booksrthenewblack.bsky.social #BookSky

I’ve taken lots of #kidlit classes and know those rules. Examples: kids solve their own problems & we show not tell. Are there #kidlitart rules? Example: Are contrasting color schemes okay on side by side single page illustrations? Are undies allowed to include titles? What #art rules are in play?

There’s so much discord around AI in #art and writing. Ethically, it's a no brainer. To build AI on work that wasn’t consented to or credited is theft. Plain and simple. #writingcommunity

Reading “30,000 Stitches” by Amanda Gilman Davis & Sally Wern Comport in hopes that early tears will spare me from crying in front of the students during our Patriot’s day presentation. This is one thing our school does right. #kidlit

🎨 Spotlight on @mikeboldt.bsky.social Mike's Illustrator Page Mike is represented by @jenrofe.bsky.social and is interested in picture books and covers.

1st person (and past tense) is what comes naturally to me. Like a child telling a story. The industry wants us to be story-showers not story-tellers so I often end up following a critique and let go of one of the two. #kidlitchat

Every little win is a little celebration 💃🥳 #childrensbooks #kidlit #boardbooks #publishing

When you are at a story time reading and husband catches a photo of you & the book wearing the same Jason Greco illustration. ❤️ #kidlit #kidlitart

#SCBWI #kidlit #KidLitMegaFeed #picturebook @patzmiller.bsky.social Pat Zietlow Miller's new book, ONE CAN BE, celebrates the need to sometimes be alone and work alone...AND the need, at times, to collaborate. Kirkus's one-line tagline: "An empathetic tale that proves anyone can make a difference."

I thought at this point (five years after finishing UCSD’s Children’s book writing program), I would be saying “I met with my agent and…” Instead, my meetings are with my illustrator. Together, we have a book duo my students love, and the work of my heart will be released in 2026. #chemo #kidlit

🎉 Congrats to @lisakatzenberger.bsky.social! 📚 IT BELONGS TO THE WORLD: FREDERICK BANTING AND THE DISCOVERY OF INSULIN was named a 2025 BANK STREET BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR (Age 5–9). Illustrated by @missdiabetes.bsky.social. Published by @clarionbooks.bsky.social. #kidlit #12x12PB

I haven't said goodbye to the less promising manuscripts. I slowly ghost them in a way that I could come back to them if circumstances change. Someday, somewhere, someone will want to read them, and someday I will have the time to dedicate to making those manuscripts be all they could and should be.

I was searching the online bookfair list, hoping to see books I can look forward to reading & selling. Excited to see that one of the books @charlenedraws illustrated is in Scholastic fairs this fall. THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE DAY” by @melindabeatty & @charlenedraws

“At Home in the City” is up at Queens Public Library, Central! Me n my crew of 3-12 yo artists made this for ProjectArt at Forest Hills QPL. This is what my art looks like when I wear my 2 hats at same time—collage as kidlit illustrator, collaboration & big scale as community muralist. #edusky

Please tell me why this happens: Our school Scholastic bookfair brings hundreds of parents. I counted 80 in line with books (and clutter) in hand, waiting to make a purchase. Vs A local book fair with the authors, ready to sign copies, brings few customers. #kidlitchat #Skybrarians

Our assistant superintendent asked Angeline Boulley if we could change one things about public schools, what would it be? She said, “Well, first of all, the athletic budget should be the same as for libraries.” #schoollibraries #skybrarian

I fell in love with picture books first, so I think that's why I still gravitate to them. Plus, my personality and attention span fits well with Preschool-Elementary school students. And, picture books include art! #kidlitchat

Heard an unexpected noise and saw Walter enjoying the fancy new box he found to sit in - my suitcase. #cats

The college kid’s neurosurgeon stitches with perfect precision. The “Look Mom, I’m still okay” scalp selfies texted to me each morning leave me in awe.

I highly recommend these books - and reading this interview to learn more about the authors. Through life experience they grasp the challenge of wanting to be a typical kid when life is atypical. #kidlit writersrumpus.com/2025/08/05/i...

#Skybrarians, If your district had gifted you these red poofs for K-2nd grade, how would you use them?

Not getting as much done as I expected this morning. Shadow only sits on my lap when I’m at my desk. When I’m writing, we are a great team. When I’m trying to do things outside my comfort zone (like promos and my website), he’s a distraction. #kidlit #cats

Having too much time on my hands with my phone in my hands led me to find out that Bookshop.org has ebooks too. I’ve ordered physical books through them (and love that my closest indie is listed on the return address), but I missed the memo about ebooks.

Spending the weekend with doctors & nurses instead of on screen SCBWI friends. Gaining subject matter rather than technique. The stream of consciousness I thumb typed while 24yo was in surgery is more raw and terrifying than a horror novel, but with a happy ending. He woke up and is healing.

I love Capstone books! My 1st and 2nd grade library kiddos are drawn to them, searching for books of this specific size hoping to find one. Excited to read these.

A fun interview that feels even more fun because my copy is on the way! And the swag too! Happy mail will help me get back into the “morning librarian at an elementary school” groove. Back to school comes quickly!

For years, I’ve watched the event board at my closest indie, looking for author friends’ book signings. This week when I looked, it was my name on the board. It shouldn’t have caught me by surprise since I was there to make arrangements, but it did in the best way. Anyone near Fresno? #kidlit

If you are wanting to join in the #selfpublishedauthors appreciation this week, I would love more reviews for my LIBRARY KITTY books. I will cheerfully send DRCs to anyone wanting to join the fun. As a school #librarian these include the sounds & blends learned in K-2nd. #kidlit

Happy #smallpressday Being #caturday also, today seems to be the perfect day to buy THE LIBRARY KITTY. Or review it if you already own it. It’s available through your favorite retailers or through links on Academic Play’s website. #kidlit academicplaybooks.com/new-books/

Requested a DRC through Edelweiss and yes, I am preordering. You should too! It’s the right message for right now, in addition to being adorable. 🙂

Thank you to the illustrators of the world for making words come to life! The image Jason Greco sent me last night made me cry. Not happy tears because it's so amazing. But the tears that chemo moms feel because chemo sucks. But cancer sucks more. His image reflects all of that. #kidlit #chemo

When my students asked when I would write them a longer version of Libby’s story including the kittens’ names, I said “Later” in that motherly way that keeps tasks off our to do lists. Today was later. 1011 words. #kidlit