The world of elite musical chairs has never been this steamy: Seated Rivalry

An icy morning in more ways than one as @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social read her newest, Lolly on the Ice, at @silverunicornbooks.bsky.social! One star-struck fan was almost overcome seeing Johnny Weir's actual National Championship skates, which are touring with Sarah. (It was me.)

Anne herself would love this little free library in Davis, CA.💚

We want ICE out. Period. We're going to be open tomorrow, and look forward to engaging with our community, as we do each day. And tomorrow, we'll be donating 50% of our sales to MIRA, the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Coalition. 1/2

My critique group hosted Lynda recently, and it was highly informative and inspiring. Also fun!

I donated a manuscript critique and a (hot off the press!) print ARC of GET A CLUE: HOW TO PLOT, WRITE, AND SELL YOUR MG OR YA MYSTERY (out 7 Apr.). Publishing shows up, y'all... www.32auctions.com/organization... #publishingforminnesota #publishing #writingcommunity #forwriters #kidlit #mglit

Is it me or do these tables look like they walk around after hours?

Feel helpless? Want to do something to help the brave folks in Minnesota? If you're a writer, teacher, book club, there are great items to bid on here: www.32auctions.com/organization...

If you or your little ones in the Boston area want to meet a real-live skating star (or author!) before the Olympics, this is your chance! Sarah Brannen reads with Mirai Nagasu at @portersqbooks.bsky.social this Saturday! ⛸️🤩 portersquarebooks.com/event/2026-0...

Only one week to go before an event I've been looking forward to for months! Please come see Mirai Nagasu and me in conversation at Porter Square Books January 24 at 11. Mirai is a former US champion and won a medal in the team event at the 2018 Winter Olympics. portersquarebooks.com/event/2026-0...

Arruba is “my” adopted orphan, and I’m honestly shocked at how proud I am of her 🥹.

Among the many excellent choices:

Looking for a way to support Minneapolis-area kids? A Book of My Own will be using all donations for the month to get books to kids who can’t go to school because the federal government is terrorizing their home. #kidlit bookofmyown.com/donation/

I never fully understood Muppet lore until AI Overview stepped in. Thanks Google!

Tove Jansson's Comet in Moominland is 80 years old this year and more relevant than ever. "Even the tiniest of creatures can be brave when they band together." www.youtube.com/watch?v=dltk...

Today's newsletter has reached the inbox of our more than 10,000 subscribers. In this edition, Paul wrote about the value of independent media, and then (with some help from Megan and Casey) made a big list of independent media outlets. Read and/or subscribe: mailchi.mp/silverunicor...

“Wallace the Brave” by Will Henry

Absolute perfection

Now that the holidays are over, and the Winter Olympics are nearly here, I'll be starting my book tour for LOLLY ON THE ICE! I'll be joined by US champion and Olympic medalist Mirai Nagasu on January 24, and popular ice dancer and author Karina Manta on February 1. Please come!

2-minute comic

I don’t think being “the most famous reindeer of all” is as impressive as they think it is

Sometimes writing is slap words on the page and reaching your word count goals. Sometimes it's looking out through your window while sipping tea and asking yourself "man, how do I get out of this one?" #writersky

A tricky word problem: If Betsy is down to writing two sentences a day, averaging ten words per sentence (being generous), how long will it take her to finish the ms she's working on? State your answer in eons.

Attention frantic shoppers: Books are substantial, easy to wrap, and in this case under $10 each! Get all four for the price of four! Available here or at your favorite indie: bookshop.org/beta-search?.... Happy holidays! ❄️

Join me at @beaconhillbooksandcafe on Tues. Dec. 16 at 4pm for story hour, Hanukkah crafts, and book signing! It's a delightful bookstore with an enchanting children's section. #booksigning #booksigningevent #hanukkah #hanukkahgiftforkids #hanukkah2025 @kidlitcollective.bsky.social

Congratulations, @heatherlangbooks.bsky.social and Jamie Harper on your latest STEAM book for young readers! #STEAM @candlewickpress.bsky.social nancycastaldonaturespeak.blogspot.com/2025/12/cong...

Attention frantic shoppers: Books are substantial, easy to wrap, and in this case under $10 each! Get all four for the price of four! Available here or at your favorite indie: bookshop.org/beta-search?.... Happy holidays! ❄️

It's the perfect time to buy Jewish Books for kids for Hanukkah during Jewish Book Month!

An accurate rendering of me signing a Significant Document about which I will be blathering nonstop soon and for the foreseeable future. (Illustration by Arthur Rackham from "Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen.") Yes, my feet were a little bit cold.

Parents, the secret inside guide to what your children are texting! #texting #librarians #teachers #parents #library #books #mgteachers #libraries #booksky #booktalk #reading

😻 Alt: vegetables in baskets at the market, the basket labeled "FRESH CATNIP 2.00" has a black or gray and white cat snuggled inside, fuzzy belly up, eyes closed.

Remember as you gear up for family gatherings this week, if anyone asks “are you still doing that writing thing?” you ARE entitled to challenge them to single combat.

Hey Library Kids & Book Lovers, This Knit Vest Pattern Is For You - It's A Borrowing Card! 👉 tidd.ly/4fIdLOv - designed by Jennifer Peacock of Pretty Grandpa and would make a perfect gift for the Gen-Xer on your list! #knitting #GenX #librarylove #handmade #etsy #affiliate #giftidea 📚❤️🧶

The perfect autumn Sunday 🍁

I beg you to read this thread but only if you promise to read all the alt texts

Vital note to self for the MG work in progress. This is the kind of insight that makes or breaks a story…

From the NYT Style section. This makes book piles legitimate decor choices, right?

“I like to be chic,” he said. “I go to school like this.” -this kid is a character from a YA novel!

Or are the baguettes normal size and the people Borrowers?

I'm really looking forward to my first bookstore event for LOLLY, at the Tidepool Bookshop in Worcester November 16 at 2 pm. It's a lovely store - if you're in the area please stop in! @randomhousekids.bsky.social

I didn't even *want* to lean on the barrier until I saw this cool guy doing it

FinalDraft.pdf FinalDraft_1.pdf FinalDraft_1_Send_This_One.pdf FinalDraft_1_No_Actually_Send_This_One.pdf FinalFinalDraft_1_This_Draft_Is_Correct.pdf

Massachusetts friends! Please join us at the Newton Children’s Book Festival - a FREE event on Sunday, 11/16, 11am-3pm at the New Art Center. Meet 60+ children’s book authors and illustrators. Signed books for holiday giving, bookmark craft, & lots of fun. Learn more: newtonchildrensbookfest.com/

"Tiny Library of Babel" by Adam Douglas Thompson, from this week's New Yorker.

LOLLY ON THE ICE comes out in 10 days! Trivia contest starts today: whoever gets the most questions right gets a copy of the book signed by me and all the skater guests at my bookstore events. If a tie, I will draw the winner. I'm going to try to make these hard to google... we'll see.

Congratulations to 🐝a Reader, aka @reyeh.bsky.social! You have won this fabulous prize! 🏆DM me with your address, and these two classic works of mildly scary literature will be on their way to you. Thanks to all who reposted!

My wonderful local bookstore put out its list of favorite November releases, and two of my wonderful friends are on it, and I am so grateful for my wonderful #kidlit community! @silverunicornbooks.bsky.social @heatherlangbooks.bsky.social @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social