Happening in a few days. Doing the final polishing prep!

I put this bag on my bed and 2 seconds later there was a cat on it. #caturday

YES!!! This is why I write picture books!!!!!

Borrowing the dog's bed while the dog isn't home. #caturday

This is it! Tomorrow is the big day for dead manuscripts everywhere! The day they might cease to be deceased. Wait, does that make them de-ceased? Or maybe unceased? Or de-deceased? 🧟‍♀️🧟 📖 🤔 #KidlitZombieWeek #WriterSky #KidLit #WritingCommunity

First day outside after being chased by the dog. Did not leave the steps. #caturday

A WONDERFUL KIRKUS REVIEW for “Landing in a New Pond”, written by @marisa.bardach.ramel and published by @charlesbridgepublishing. I had so much fun illustrating each beautiful season and I can’t wait for you all to read this delightful picture book! #picturebooks#childrensbookillustration#kidlitart

Just a reminder that I have a new middle grade ghost book out! If you'd like to leave a review or pop in a purchase request for The Unfinished Business at your library, that would make my day! #KidLit #BookSky

🎉Happy Book Birthday to My Name is Harriet Mansoor (NOT Hairy Man Suit!) by Dr. Haleh Massey, illus. by Rashin Kheiriyeh! 📚In this hilarious, illustrated, middle-grade novel, Hangameh “Harriet” Mansoor faces bullies, bad grades, AND puberty. Will she survive the worst month of her 11-year-old life?

Lurking on #caturday

This feels like epic news to share: our mail has been delivered 3 out of 3 days this week!! We've been averaging once a week, maybe twice a week, for months. Dare I hope we're back to regular delivery???

Yay! It's finally warm enough to sit on my deck for breakfast.

Mortimer has discovered something...kitty cologne?? #caturday

The weekend is a perfect time to talk about stopping. Our brains and bodies need it—in #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth and every month. Love That Brain: The Art of Stopping to Start Creativity Flowing kcstrocchia.com/2026/03/19/l... #WriterSky #KidLit #Anxiety #WritingCommunity #KidLitArt

Thank you so much, Abi! Love each and every book of yours, so this means a ton. Mike Deas and @orcabook.bsky.social totally knocked this one out of the park. I feel so very, very lucky!

Why is it still winter?

There are still a few more days to enter my book giveaway! I'll draw THREE winners on May 15 - and one of them could be you! 😉

Hey, All! Wanna level up your picture book? A friend is teaching an amazing course on PB structure! You don’t want to miss it! If you can’t make it live, it will be recorded! For more info, go to: writeforkids.lpages.co/picture-book...

Mortimer! We almost missed saying hello on Caturday!! #caturday

Learn a language with me for free! Duolingo is fun, and proven to work. Here’s my invite link: invite.duolingo.com/BDHTZTB5CWWK... Duo said the stuff above this line. I did the free version for quite a while. Switched to paid 4 months ago. I am definitely making good progress. It's fun!

Thank you so much to @thehornbook for including my book on their Middle School 2026 Summer Reading list! Simon Kids @thetobiasagency

Story corpses piling up in your drawer? Bring them back to life with #KidlitZombieWeek 2026. Join us June 1-5 for a full week of blog posts, community, and conversation. And be entered to win amazing #prizes. #WriterSky #KidLit #WritingCommunity #KidLitArt

Visitor in our yard yesterday. Helped itself to a lawn salad then took a brief bask in the sun on our back steps! #wildlifevisitors

🌟🌟 BOOK GIVEAWAY🌟🌟 In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I’m giving away THREE two-book bundles to newsletter subscribers! Enter here: carriefinison.com/giveaway Bonus entry: like this post & tag a friend (or your favorite teacher or librarian!) in the comments. Enter by May 15. US only, please.

Have a manuscript that's been dying for a second chance? Follow #KidlitZombieWeek 2026 on Instagram www.instagram.com/kidlitzombie... and right here on BlueSky for a week of blog posts and #prizes sure to breathe life into that old story. #WriterSky #KidLit #WritingCommunity #KidLitArt

Smooshed.

Homemade solar panel "holder." And possibly justification for not throwing things out. It's made out of an axel so it rotates. The straps adjust the angles. It's catching the best rays!!

My Duolingo Spanish Score is 31!

Mortimer has made himself comfortable on this rainy day with the human who doesn't like cats. #caturday

National nonprofit The Reading League, along with its newly launched publishing branch, is releasing a comprehensive guide to early literacy education

Duolingo is ramping up the heat. I am on day 357 and just did my first lesson entirely in Spanish. Very cool.

I really want to convey to everyone who entered #pbparty that the process is really the prize, and the difference between finalists, honorable mentions, and those that didn’t make it is like a single step at the START of a VERY long staircase. Don’t be discouraged!

New box! #caturday

This looks great!

I'm still working on growing my newsletter base. If you'd like to receive Words & Pictures (monthly) please sign up on my website. If you do before end of April, your email address will be entered into a raffle to receive a handmade surprise from me.👍 Hooray (I hope).

I have been texting a friend about gardening stuff and autocorrect keeps changing hosta to hostage. I will be bringing the hostage over to my friend.

Happy 1st Gotcha Day, Mortimer! #caturday

Mortimer is on my lap, discouraging me from going to work. Sorry, Morty. I would prefer to stay here with you, but someone has to pay for your lifestyle. #caturday

We had over 1,200 participants this year. Whether you read one post or all of them. THANK YOU for joining us! If you haven’t already, head on over and check out the list of book giveaway WINNERS. 🎉 www.brittanypomales.com/2026/04/10/k... #kidlithahaweek

Feels relevant to reshare this tonight, as I find myself wishing I somehow managed to be on the Integrity with the Artemis crew. #KidLit creators, astronauts are jealous of us, too. ❤️

Here you go, PB writers and PB readers! #kidlithahaweek

Hey PB writers! I hope you've been following Kidlit Haha Week. You don't want to miss it. #kidlithahaweek

If your a fish, keep scrolling… Kidlit Haha Week is diving into craft with Neil Sharpson, author of DON’T TRUST FISH. #kidlithahaweek

12x12 celebrates National Humor Month! 😂 📚 EMBARRASSED FERRET by Lisa Riddiough 📚 WHIRBY by @mollyharris.bsky.social 📚 DON'T SPLASH GRANDPA! by Julie Gonzalez Here’s to stories that make us laugh! 🤣 Find more humorous picture books here: buff.ly/bp8VJW1 #kidlit #12x12PB

Mortimer on high alert for something. We do not know what. #caturday

It's too easy to miss announcements and other news. So you won't miss mine, here are the two non-spammy newsletters you can get. Please sign up: Kid's Book Revisions Plus: www.kidsbookrevisions.com/newsletter-s... The Purple Crayon: www.underdown.org/contact.htm#...

It’s playtime because… Kidlit Haha Week is headed to the playground with Rachel Michelle Wilson, author/illustrator of HOW TO PEE YOUR PANTS THE RIGHT WAY (and member of Team Nothing Learned 😉) Tag. You’re it! #kidlithahaweek www.brittanypomales.com/2026/04/01/k...

Love the camraderie of writing sprints!

Someone else's success in the publishing industry doesn't diminish your own chance of success. Boost fellow writers and illustrators. Try very hard not to compare yourself to others (I struggle with this, too). Focus on finding your own joy at your own pace. #Uplift #KidLit #WriterSky