My mother, the inimitable Jane Yolen passed away this morning after a blessingly short fight with Alzheimer’s. She did not suffer, and went peacefully into the ether which, I am certain for her, will be filled with words of the most exquisite beauty and meaning.

I just learned of the passing of Jane Yolen, a literary luminary in the world of children's literature. I had the honor of working with her on her picture book Kiki Kicks, illustrated by John Ledda. She will be missed by all who knew her, while her light continues to shine through her stories.

This is very good and, as your friendly neighborhood SEO guy, i can add some context The modern internet is basically built on an agreement that sites will give google access in exchange for driving traffic That arrangement has been unilaterally ended by google

New and upcoming #immigrantstory titles. Perfect for June and #immigrantheritagemonth (not to get too ahead of ourselves!). Ask your #bookseller or #librarian about them. ✨️Pre-orders for My America Blooms available now www.beamingbooks.com/store/produc...

This painting was inspired by the Woodburn Tulip Festival in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The sky was clear and blue, and you could see all the way to Mt. Hood in the distance. Hood Tulips by Erin Hanson, 2026 Oil on canvas 50 x 38 in @bsky.art #dailyart #oilpainting🎨#art #oregon #woodburn #tulips

April showers are raining softly outside and it is giving me life. In all senses. Simply the best.

From Jan. 2025 - March 2026, 100+ pro-censorship bills were introduced in state legislatures. At least 40 bills would penalize libraries and library workers with lawsuits, fines, or even jail time for protecting people’s the right to read. This #RightToReadDay, take action: https://bit.ly/43D9Dtw

Sen. Tina Smith gave an impassioned speech to an empty the Senate floor late last night, defending the boundary waters against mining. The Senate is set to vote today on whether to end a mining moratorium in the area, which already passed in the House. minnesotareformer.com/2026/04/15/s...

Celebrating the publication of a book I illustrated this week! The Boy with Big, Big Energy (@beamingbooksmn.bsky.social, @naomijkrueger.bsky.social) written by Britney Winn Lee was a joy to work on. ⚡️Wrote and shared some details here: open.substack.com/pub/jacobsou... #kidlit #kidlitart

I am so angry. Two Durham, NC kids - 11-year-old Genesis and 6-year-old Denis of Burton Elementary Magnet School - were taken by ICE at their regular asylum case appointment, and immediately deported without due process. Follow SiembraNC on IG or FB or @siembranc.bsky.social for next action steps.

Paid $18 to park several blocks away from my office in the North Loop because of a Twins Game at 12:40 today. Normally it's $7. If Minneapolis wants to incentivize people to come to games, to come to the city to work, and to buy stuff while we're here, don't charge so much to park! 🙃

this is my nephew's homework and i'm gonna cry

Praying and pleading for peace. In war, everyone loses.

The President of the United States is threatening to commit war crimes and wipe out a "whole civilization" — all because he started a disastrous war of his own making and had no plan and no strategy for how to end it. This is abhorrent, and the American people do not support this.

The Artemis II mission seems good because it is. People seem excited by it because they are. It looks like a testament to the value of teamwork because it needs many people working together to succeed, and it’s succeeding. One of the best things about this is how straightforward it is. Authentic.

#Artemis crew to Mission Control, after seeing and attempting to describe the eclipse: "And if you could give me about 20 new superlatives in the mission summary tomorrow, that'll help my vocabulary out a bit. Thank you."

I'm obsessed with this Artemis live feed of the reports from space. Even when there are no images to see and all we hear are voices, I am transported. An incredible feat for humanity.

Okay Minnesota, time to fess up. Who put away their boots? I see snow in the forecast.

For the record, the big protest happened in Saint Paul today. Not Minneapolis. 🙃

Might be the greatest opening paragraph of anything ever.

SPARROW'S EASTER GARDEN from @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social is an “appealing representation of the Lenten period to share with young children” www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

I know everyone's hyped about Project Hail Mary, but don't sleep on Hoppers. I just saw it with my kid and it was incredible. Was not expecting that wild rollercoaster of emotions. The way I and all the other adults in the room cackled hysterically and bawled our eyes out was totally unexpected.

Maybe we stop naming schools and streets after historical figures and stick to plants and animals instead.

Happy Halloween

For some reason, an inordinate number of Oscar nominees this year seem to be about the enormous difficulty of believing in a better world for your children's sake, while preparing them for the one they actually live in. Not sure why that theme would appeal right now.

Give. Children. Peace.

The world could be such a nice place if we allowed it. It's all so goddamn unnecessary. There's no need for any of it. It's so beautiful here. It should be so cool to be alive

Hello Friends! Welcome to #MSWL Day 2026! 🎉 This is our second ever #MSWL Day on Bluesky. We’re happy you’re here! You can, as of TODAY, search Bluesky and ManuscriptWishList.com posts at once: manuscriptwishlist.com/smart-search. All posts are verified by a human who works in publishing. ☕

People can say it’s utopian or dreamy but it’s a fact that you have to believe new things are possible, fundamentally, in order to make them real. You have to make the choice to believe that more than this is possible & not be resigned to this being the way things have to be because it’s not at all.

45° and my kids are playing catch in the front yard in shorts and tshirts. I love Fools Spring. Gets you through the rest of winter.

Went to an estate sale in my neighborhood. I was very moved by this and all the other family photos & memorabilia filling every surface and shelf in this time capsule home. Made me sad and curious about who all these people were. The remnants of their lives now sold for parts.

Thank you, @shannongibney.bsky.social for finding the time to write about what it's like to live and work in Minneapolis, particularly as a children's author pearlsandrubys.slj.com/2026/02/10/s...

Hey Bad Bunny, my kid wants to know if you've read this book.

Concentration camps: “For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."

The Olympics show us that a better world is possible. We want peace, cooperation, and mutual respect across borders, cultures, and nationalities. We can do this. If we can dream it, we can be it.

This Opening Ceremony is SO FUN.

My friends at Niemanreports.org asked me to write about the experience of being a journalist on the ground in Minneapolis right now. I knew I wanted to tell reporters elsewhere how even this most hopeless of times has been clarifying and, in some ways, energizing. (1) share.google/ms1wKDQZmgep...

Good news: it’s the longest the world has gone without a nuclear explosion, 400 rich people are calling to increase their own taxes, AI is helping reclaim valuables from waste, Jayjay from our community is starting a community garden…

Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept." Astonishing thing for a judge to do.

HAPPENING NOW: Aerial view of a LARGE group of cyclists who have gathered in Minneapolis for an Alex Pretti memorial bike ride 📍Minneapolis, Minnesota

If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or in despair, I highly recommend reading middle grade fantasy. An epic story of good vs. evil, where the unexpected hero must be courageous, and in the end wins, is a balm for the soul. Which stories would you recommend? Share them below. #kidlit

Last day for the Publishing for Minnesota auction. #kidlit #kidlitart #publishing

DHS has a whole citizen detainment system set up in Minnesota. They snatch citizens off the street (often with proof they are citizens), detain them for a few hours, steal their phones, then release them into the cold. It ain’t about deporting citizens; it’s about terrorizing a whole population.

Incredible interview with @kaokaliayang.bsky.social: "I write because I don’t know what to do with all of the things that are going on in the world,” she said. “I write to make sense of it. I write to give myself — my imagination — the power to overcome it.” www.minnpost.com/artscape/202...

The Timberwolves enter the court with “Stand with Minnesota” on their shirts

ALA Medalists Share Their First Reactions to Getting the Call; Industry Rallies to Support Minnesota; Hudson Talbott Tribute + more in the latest Children’s Bookshelf! buff.ly/AkRQUuK

i am really romantic about mutual aid, and seeing everyday folks spring into action over the last two months has made me so proud to be a minnesotan. simultaneously, the need is huge right now, especially with rent due february 1. this would be a good time to donate if you have the means.

Calling everyone "activists" or "protesters" is as absurd as calling a person who signs up for a meal train for a sick friend an activist. Or calling a person who calls 911 when their neighbor's house is on fire a protester. These are Good Samaritans, friends, and neighbors helping each other out.

NEW: Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old who ICE agents in Minneapolis nabbed last week and shipped off to a Texas detention facility with his dad, is now in poor health, his school superintendent told me today www.huffpost.com/entry/liam-c...