Challenges ignite my imagination! Having fun this week with fellow writers and poets. #StuckBumblebee #PoetryChallenge

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR DIANE MULDROW ON ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES, INSPIRING YOUTH, AND CELEBRATING EARTH DAY WITH HER NEW PICTURE BOOK ONCE A WASTELAND: FROM TOXIC DUMP TO NATIONAL PARK writersrumpus.com/2026/04/10/a...

Poems―      sights and sounds           words flying by                in a frenzied state. #poetry #poem #NaPoMo

I woke up to an email from the magnificent Vivian Kirkfield and #50PreciousWords. My entry, GRANDMA'S PATCHWORK QUILT, found its way into the Winner's Circle. Congratulations to all the writers and thanks to the judges and @viviankirkfield for reading all those precious words. #PB #KidLit

The Messy Middle of preparing for the Brazos Valley SCBWI Meeting. We will talk about critique groups, how they are made, and why they are indispensable for our writing process, from ideas to publication! It takes a team, and it's more FUN! #kidlit #SCBWI #brazosvalley #texaswriters

Need inspiration and tips for critique groups and revising? This conversation with @kirstenwlarson.bsky.social and @mcusolito.bsky.social ky.social will light your fire! Get ready to revise. #kidlit #pbwriters youtu.be/fXieUw2d1yI?...

Courage! My word of the year gave me the motivation and persistence to show up and share my manuscript. I am in awe of the many writers who also overcame fear to bring their creativity to life. Thanks, @mindyalseweiss and your team, for giving us a platform to shine. #kidlit #picturebooks

Critique Groups Aren’t Born—They’re Made What does it take to make a strong critique group community? The fun begins with showing up and answering six simple questions. Join us in person or attend virtually via SCBWI (bit.ly/4r8CbWc)

Cozy up to some laughter and a few pizza loving dinosaurs with this delightful book from @tammisauer.bsky.social picturebookbuilders.com/2026/02/spec...

I love this flash essay by Gail Folkins via @short-reads.org. www.short-reads.org/not-talking/

🤗 #kidlit / #YA #nonfiction writers 🤗 Wouldn't it be a relief to have an experienced NF writer guide you step-by-step through the process of building a great manuscript? @kirstenwlarson.bsky.social does just that in TELLING IT TRUE, out now from Amazon: a.co/d/e7jfqZK Coming soon on Bookshop!🔥

The amazing Kirsten W. Larson (@kirstenwlarson.bsky.social ) has a new craft book to guide nonfiction children's book writers. She teaches from a wealth of knowledge and an open heart. Congratulations, Kirsten, and thanks for all you give to writers! I'm off to read . . . #kidlit #pbwriters

I see trees of green . . . Because, despite hate and chaos, there is still wonder and joy. We were never meant to face the world alone. #hope #wonder #courage #amwriting buff.ly/iasUzVH

Make memories the next time you sit together with friends or family. "In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future."
— Alex Haley #Thanksgiving #family #memorie #food #gratitude

“I think that I will never see A poem lovely as a tree.” I’m crazy about trees and poetry. Always have been. As a child, I held a fascination for their strong limbs and green leaves. High above, you can hide from the world. I think I could use a sturdy tree. bit.ly/4i4qpcz

How to you find joy every day? Beth has an idea for you. wp.me/sMFr-joy

Thank you, Jillian Vandall Miao, for these words—a reminder to us all: "There’s one last thing I want you to know: you never truly know what someone is carrying, so meet everyone with kindness and patience." and don't skip that mammogram . . . www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Beautiful illustrations, lyrical language, all perfect for experiencing the seasons. #kidlit #seasons susannahill.com/2025/10/17/p...

Science can seem out of reach, but THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW shows how scientific discoveries begin with our natural curiosity about the world around us. A wonderful book for discussion of science in our everyday lives. Congratulations @kirstenwlarson.bsky.social and Cornelia @cornelia-illo.bsky.social

My little rocking chair My little Golden Book of Poetry My first poems I will never forget them. Thank you, #SealeyChallenge, for serving as the vessel for my month-long adventure and study of some of the best children's poetry in anthologies and picture books. #SealeyChallenge #kidlit #poetry

This collection of poems and drawings was created by the children from the Terezin Concentration Camp. Each drawing and poem will break your heart and astonish you with the hope, resilience, and creativity of these children. #SealeyChallenge #holocaust #poetry #art #kidlit

How wonderful it is . . . to be a child or an adult reading to children. or just by yourself, from this largest poetry anthology of the amazing Jane Yolen. #SealeyChallenge #poetry #kidlit

Fourteen young Americans + 14 poets who tell their story + 10 poetry forms = one fantastic poetry collection highlighting the voices of our youth. They speak the truth. We should listen. #kidlit #SealeyChallenge #poetry #picturebooks

My best day? Any day reading poetry, picture books, novels, and writing any and all of those. In this collection of poems for children (and adults) you will find hope, possibility, and inspiration. #SealeyChallenge #kidlit #poetry #picturebooks

"If in our daily life we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work." –Thich Nhat Hanh #smile #attitude #amwriting

Small poems for the small wonders that surround us. You would think that short poems wouldn't have a lot to say, but oh, not so. Find a copy and turn to "seashells" on p.148 or "library" on p, 163. Amazing! #SealeyChallenge #poetry #kidlit #pbpoems

Birthday bouquets, thoughts, a living with wholeheartedness!

I love rainbows! How could I not pick up this lovely book? I love poetry. I received even more than rainbows. Poems brought them to life, and then, I learned about moonbows, parhelia, rainbow birds, bugs, caves, and mountains. #SealeyChallenge #kidlit #poetry #picturebooks

Military families move—often. Told through free verse and tanka poems, a young girl finds the poems her mother wrote when she was the same age as her stored in a box in the attic. #SealeyChallenge #poetry #kidlit

Three cheers for teachers!!! I have had this funny, true-to-life, inspiring collection of poems sitting on my shelf. Occasionally, I scour the pages looking for memories of my classroom, all those children who taught me more than I expected. #TheSealeyChallenge #teachers #poetry

Giraffes Can't Dance! What? Well of course . . . Wait a minute. Is it possible? Can they? You'll have to read this picture book poem and revel in the delightful illustrations to find out! #TheSealeyChallenge #kidlit #poetry

When a thunderstorm rolls in Grab a poetic picture book full of rhyme, onomotopeia, and scientific facts about thunderstorms. Then, curl up with your favorite child, who might just be you! #TheSealeyChallenge #kidlit #nonfictionpb #poetry

Gratitude 33 poems to inspire any child (or adult), all reflecting gratitude, with each written in a different poetic form. A beautiful addition to any bookshelf at home or in the classroom. How do you give thanks? #thesealeychallenge #poetsofinstagram #poetry #kidlit

A lyrical reminder . . . The Statue of Liberty stands as a light for all of us, those who first lived on US soil and those who came hundreds of years ago—and who come today. ~~ . . . as her light leaps, loops, weaves, and dances, creating shared hope for all. ~~ #TheSealeyChallenge #kidlit #poetry

Lyrical verse and original poems by Gwendolyn Brooks create a song flowing in and out of the years from her birth in 1917 to her passing in 2000. ~~ Sing a song for Gwendolyn Brooks. Sing it loud—a Chicago blues. ~~ #The SealeyChallenge #poetry #kidlit #kidlitart #PBBiography

We can all be poets. #TheSealeyChallenge #poetry #poetsifinstagram #poems

What happens in nature at night? From owls to moths, spiders, efts, and bats, poems tell the night stories of creatures in the forests and woodlands. Informational sidebars link poetry to facts and science! #TheSealeyChallenge #poetry #kidlit #nonfictionpicturebooks #picturebooks

"The truest thing that we have in this country at this time is little children . . . If they think you've made a mistake, kids speak out." —Fannie Lou Hamer A biography told in lyrical verse, accompanied by stunning collages, will move your heart & open your eyes to injustice. #TheSealeyChallenge

Tatyana Finney brings to life the words of Emily Dickinson in this precious picture book. It is never too early to begin the enjoyment of Emily Dickinson! #thesealeychallenge #poetry #kidlit #kidlitillustration #kidlitart #childrensbooks #picturebookillustration #picturebooks

"Clack. Clack. Swish—Pull back. Bobbin and heddle, foot pedal, no slack. Words have sounds, and the late Katey Howes knew exactly how to make them sing the song of the loom. #thesealeychallenge #poetry #kidlit #kidlitillustration #kidlitart #childrensbooks #picturebookillustration #picturebooks

A small book of lively rhyming poetry for #TheSealeyChallenge _____ Horn went "Beep!" Engine purred. Friendliest sounds you ever heard. _____ Sometimes, the simplest rhymes and stories bring the biggest smiles. #poetry #kidlit #picturebooks

“With bread all sorrows are less.” — The character Sancho Panza in Don Quixote

I needed this today. Anyone else? #writerfriendschallenge #writingcommunity #writer #writerssupportingwriters #writershelpingwriters #writerslifeforme #WriterGram #hellowriterfriends #inspiredtowrite #writerfriends #writersofinstagramcommunity#findmywritingcommunity #amwriting

We all speak words we soon regret, hurting those we love. Our emotions, unhinged, we search for ways to mend the broken bond. Through poetry and relatable language, children find a way to say “I’m sorry.” #poetry #kidlit #forgiveness #SEL

Listen . . . John Cage found music in the ordinary and dared us to listen, too. Poetry is music, and this poetic picture book does both, plus giving us a glimpse of musical experimentation and the fine art of listening. #TheSealeyChallenge Day 6 #poetry #music #BeautifulNoise #JohnCage

Poetry in the garden? Why, of course! Pink and white vinca welcome this poetic picture book on day 5 of #TheSealeyChallenge. #poetry #kidlit

HELLO, SUN What I love about poetry and children's picture books is the simplicity, the conciseness, the making every word compete for its place in the text. No small feat! "Hello, sun! Goodbye night. Sunrise chill, pale dawn light." #thesealeychallenge #poetry #kidlit

The first time I heard Rebecca Gardyn Levington read her book, I cried. She wrapped up all the anxiety and fear lurking inside into a poem of resilience. Mariona Cabassa captured the hope embedded in the words through her breathtaking illustrations. #thesealeychallenge #poetry #kidlit

The long, hot, humid days are the perfect time to remember the smells of fir trees, wintery breezes, and the magic of Christmas. Deborah Kogan Ray's beautifully illustrated poem by e.e. cummings, “Little Tree,” and the words and images filled my heart with joy. #the sealeychallenge #kidlit #poetry

Poetry lives in children’s picture books, lulling them to sleep, exciting them to jump and sing, and sharing the wonders of nature. Melissa Stewart’s poem, to “nature’s nightlight” and Jessica Lanan’s gorgeous illustrations remind young and old to thank the moon. #thesealeychallenge #kidlit