🎙️New podcast episode! Where's the line between nonfiction vs informational fiction in #kidlit? @colleenpaeff.bsky.social#kidlit?& I explore why "Firefly Song" stayed nonfiction while "Pufflings Fly Free" needed fictional elements. 🐧 Plus Obsidian research tips! 🎧YouTube link: https://youtu.be/ic5E9T5LUzk

THE GREAT STINK got a mention in the @washingtonpost.com! Q: My 6-year-old son loves encyclopedia-type books, such as the DK Eyewitness books. This makes bedtime reading particularly challenging for me as a fiction lover. How can I get my curious son into stories? Answer:

GIVEAWAY! I'm giving away a copy of the fabulous field guide to fireflies, written by Lynn Faust, plus a copy of FIREFLY SONG, my picture book biography of Lynn (who discovered a synchronous species of firefly in the Smoky Mnts!). Sign up for my newsletter to be entered to win! www.colleenpaeff.com

When I have an idea for a book, if it doesn't have four specific qualities, it's probably not a good fit for a picture book. Find out what those qualities are in this interview!

High praise for FIREFLY SONG! Thanks for spreading the word, Simon! 💚

I wish I could send everyone who's been posting about fireflies (or lightning bugs) in their yards a copy of Lynn Frierson Faust's fabulous field guide--but there are too many of you! However, I CAN give away a copy to one of my newsletter subscribers. Sign up by 7/15 to enter! www.colleenpaeff.com

Who else will be at ALA Annual this weekend!? Come find me on Friday from 6-6:30 at the @simonkids.bsky.social booth #405 and drop a comment here to let me know where I can find YOU! Big thanks to @ssedlib.bsky.social for making this signing happen! ❤️ #ALAAC25 #ALA25 @steelworksliterary.bsky.social

35 Picture Book Fiction Series Perfect for Comfort and Discovery

Congratulations to my critique partner @drliztracy.bsky.social!!! I love this book (and its author) so much. #amightygirl #soapboxderby #womeninSTEM #engineering #EDUsky

AABB-RI co-chair @jbradley.bsky.social was on @wgbh.org ‘s Under the Radar with Callie Crossley tonight as part of a round table discussion about the impact of censorship on authors. If you missed it live, stream it here (The whole series is great!) www.wgbh.org/culture/book...

Sign up to receive my newsletter by July 2 for a chance to win FIREFLY SONG: LYNN FRIERSON FAUST & THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN DISCOVERY, plus a copy of FIREFLIES, GLOW-WORMS & LIGHTNING BUGS, Lynn's field guide to N. American fireflies! www.colleenpaeff.com #fireflies #STEMeducation #EDUsky

FIREFLY SONG was mentioned as a "Hot read for long summer days" in the Lansing State Journal! Thank you to the librarians of the Capital Area District Library! #summerreadsforkids #nonfictionforkids #fireflies www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/life/2...

Check out @patricianewman.bsky.social's LitLinks for a free activity on the art of persuasive letter writing! www.patriciamnewman.com/litlinks-how... #biology #amightygirl #edusky #persuasivewriting #womeninstem #LitLink #writingresource #fireflies #GSMNP #elkmont #synchronousfireflies

This week, NPR is focusing reports on the climate. Here's my contribution to climate information for kids! #stem #climate #NPR #kidlit #edusky #TLSky #readaloud #steamteambooks

I love Vicky Fang's interactive A to Z book, ALPHABOT! It's so much more than an alphabet book! Highly recommended for young robot fans, grown-up luddites, and everyone in between! Build robots and learn stuff! #robots #creativity #STEM #STEAM #robotics #CSed bookshop.org/p/books/alph...

Explore summer with Firefly Song, the new nonfiction picture book by Sibert Honoree @colleenpaeff.bsky.social. THIS Saturday, June 14th at 2 pm, Colleen will read her story, share her writing process, answer questions from the audience, and then sign books. Best for ages 4+.

Best book launch EVER! Thank you @shoponceuponatime.bsky.social for hosting the FIREFLY SONG launch party and thanks to everyone who came out to help me celebrate. What a perfect day!! @steelworksliterary.bsky.social @simonkids.bsky.social @ssedlib.bsky.social

See you soon!!!

FIREFLY SONG is out today! I can't wait for you to read the true story of the woman who discovered the first documented species of synchronous fireflies in the Western Hemisphere! #amightygirl #tennessee #GSMNP #fireflies @simonkids.bsky.social @ssedlib.bsky.social @steelworksliterary.bsky.social

Thank you, Maria, for such a fun interview!

Young naturalists will ❤️ MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS by @christinevanzandt.bsky.social & Alejandra Barajas. It blends lilting rhyme & just-right facts to create a book that will satisfy & delight anyone who's curious about the natural world. @steamteambooks.bsky.social www.beamingbooks.com/store/produc...

Have you ever wondered about the story behind the Louvre's glass pyramid? Wonder no more! This fascinating picture book by @jeannewharvey.bsky.social & Khoa Le explains the inspiration, struggles, and successes of this famous structure and the man behind it. www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Gl...

I love the new picture book by @steamteambooks.bsky.social member @jstremer.bsky.social. I want to live in this caring community where nature is celebrated and shared! www.simonandschuster.com/books/Wonder...

I'm honored to see FIREFLY SONG alongside books by so many authors I admire on this list of Best New Books for June '25 from @weareteachers.bsky.social! Thank you, Teachers!! 📚 @steelworksliterary.bsky.social @simonkids.bsky.social @ssedlib.bsky.social www.weareteachers.com/new-books-ju...

FIREFLY SONG makes its way into the world next week!

I'm in love with this instant classic by @carriefinison.bsky.social and @brianbiggsstudio.bsky.social. It's got perfect rhyme, construction workers, tractors, trucks, teamwork and illustrations reminiscent of Richard Scarry's Busytown books. @penguinbooksusa.bsky.social bookshop.org/p/books/pigs...

#Kidlit creators! You can help promote anti-facist ideals by writing postcards to democratic voters in areas with upcoming elections. It's super easy to sign up. Plus, they tell you exactly what to say and who to send the postcards to. (No news-reading required!) postcardstovoters.org

An incredible opportunity to study with one of the best in the business!

Cover Reveal: Firefly Song Lynn Frierson Faust and the Great Smoky Mountain Discovery by @colleenpaeff.bsky.social and Ji-Hyuk Kim mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/02/fire...

"Ji-Hyuk Kim’s illustrations are alive with light." — @colleenpaeff.bsky.social mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/02/fire...

Big thanks to @mrschureads.bsky.social for hosting the cover reveal for FIREFLY SONG. Ji-Hyuk Kim's illustrations are radiant! Available everywhere June 10. Preorder now! #kidlit #coverreveal #womeninSTEM #nonfiction #PB #Bugslife #fireflies mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/02/fire...

In 2023 I went to Iceland to do some research for a book about kids who rescue baby puffins & I can finally share that the story was sold! @lindaolafsdottir.bsky.social is illustrating & the book comes out in the summer of 2026. I can't wait for you all to read it! @simonkids.bsky.social

Prosecuting librarians or educators is one of the hallmarks of an oppressive regime that seeks to control knowledge and suppress dissent. bit.ly/3WtYPMs via @everylibrary.bsky.social

#Teachers and #Librarians! I just had a 2PM Pacific Time slot open up on World Read Aloud Day, Feb. 5 2025. Sign up here: www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4FAC... #WRAD2025

The Kidlit for Los Angeles auction is LIVE! You'll find a host of fabulous offerings, including an in-person, all-day school visit to a school in LA County, from me! @kidlitforla.bsky.social Bid here: www.32auctions.com/kidlitforlos...

I just changed my text notification so it sounds like Kim Possible's Kimmunicator alert and its made me ridiculously happy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3nf...

There’s still time to write this year. A chapter, a short story, a flash piece, a paragraph. Some words is hundreds of times better than no words. GO GET ‘EM, YOU ANIMAL, YOU BEAST

I’m organizing my spices at 6:30 in the morning because when you’re on deadline and Christmas is right around the corner, it’s good to prioritize.

Danger! Danger! I’m supposed to be buying books for other people, but the more I wander the aisles at the bookstore, the more books I find for me…AND I NEEEED THEM!

Thank you to @msmagazine.bsky.social for allowing me to share my story! msmagazine.com/2024/08/22/a...

I love this advice on finding community and being IN community, too.

The grumpy guy who wrote The BFG—that’s what I came up with today when I couldn’t remember Roald Dahl’s name. And yesterday between four established authors we could not remember the name for a “writing thing you apply for where you get to go away and write.” (Residency.) Good grief!

So many great gift ideas on this list!

He waits in the shower every morning so he can drink the shower water —even though he has four bowls of water throughout the house. 🤣

There's a meme going round that begins: "Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you..." My challenge to you now, is to imagine how different your life might be if you'd never read them, and share _that_. These are the futures we're robbing from kids every time a book is banned.

I’m working on a new project and things are starting to fall into place! I’m LOVING the sticky note method, esp for historical fiction. Now to put all these new notes up on the wall with my previous notes and see where they take me… #amwriting #kidlit @stickynoteplot.bsky.social

Hey #Booksky! Do you know about the Library browser extension? As a #kidlit #nonfiction #author it saves me loads of time and money by showing me if a book is available at my library -- while I'm browsing on Amazon (or other online retailers). #research 1/2 www.libraryextension.com

The Soaring '20s #kidlit Creators are on Bluesky! We started as a picture book debut group back in 2018 & decided to stick together once our debut year was done. Our members have grown into accomplished & award-winning authors & I am so grateful to be a part of it all. Follow us! go.bsky.app/KzMyRYi

Amazing resource!