We had so much fun chatting PBs & studying wonderful mentor texts at our class! BRAVE LIKE FIREWEED by @jessewhiteillustration.com COOKIES & CRESCENTS by @nadawrites.bsky.social PICKY PANDA by Jackie Huang SISTER FRIEND by @authorjamilah.bsky.social WHERE WE CAN HEAR THE GIANTS SING by Peter Cheong

Full House at R.E.A.D. The Book Nook last weekend. ✨🌙💜 Encouraging #reading early and daily, R.E.A.D. is ensuring children have new, quality, culturally relevant #books of their own that are mirrors and windows into their everyday lives and communities. Learn more: www.readbooknook.org

So happy to be in great company on KidLit in Color: kidlitincolor.com/blog/interview-with-debut-author-nada-shawish-dutka

It’s publishing day! I’m excited that Cookies and Crescents is finally here. 🌙✨

Just a few spots left!! #writingretreat

Join me at The R.E.A.D. Book Nook on Sunday, March 9, at 1 p.m. for new picture book Cookies and Crescents: An Eid Story! Learn more about The Book Nook and event details here: www.readbooknook.org #picturebook #storytime #booknook #teachers #educators #ramadan #eid

Shh! He’s reading 😭 (and I #amwriting ❤️).

Things are just terrible right now - but this made my day. @nadawrites.bsky.social was my student at GWU nearly 20 years ago, and now her first children’s book COOKIES AND CRESCENTS will be out on March 4, and I am so, so proud of her. ❤️

Mommy and me. We’ve started solids. 🆘 #authorsky #writingmoms #bookparents

“Reprinted from ‘the mitten,’ the blog of the society of children’s book writers & illustrators, michigan chapter – based on a discussion with author Kristin Lenz: drydenbks.com/the-resonant...

If you're with me, glad you're here. #kidlit #picturebooks #authorsky #booksky #booktok #diversity #dei #library #librarian #educators

The secret is … there is no secret. 🔗

37 days until Cookies and Crescents book release day! 🥲 With delicious illustrations by Zelma Firdauzia. 💜 #kidlit #eid #picturebooks #booksky #librarians #educators #booktok

The auction has been extended! Now you can bid on items until Jan 28th 8pm PT (including my 30-min AMA: www.32auctions.com/organization... !) Don't miss this opportunity to get your hands on signed books, original art, critiques, and AMAs—AND support wildfire relief! @kidlitforla.bsky.social

#KirkusReviews for Cookies and Crescents! 🥹 Full Review: lnkd.in/eHJvJCfr #kidlit #picturebook #booksky #booktok #educator #librarysky

I’m choosing to #write a little longer today. #amwriting #mlk #booksky #booktok #kidlit

Baby up at 3 am. He’s started teething early. Managed to get him back to sleep at 5. Couldn’t sleep myself so stayed up and did early morning writing. What is sleep anymore? But at least writing is happening. 🙂‍↔️ #authorsky #kidlit #booksky #amwriting

Storytime and book launch! ✨🍪🌙 #kidlit #picturebook #booksky #authorsky www.scrawlbooks.com/event/storyt...

Can’t wait! 😭

I'm participating in the #Kidlit4Ceasefire auction to help families in #Gaza get the aid they need. There are more than 200 items donated by the #kidlit community to bid on, including a signed copy of Cookies and Crescents: An Eid Story: www.32auctions.com/organization...

“Open sesame” is a phrase I’m going to try to make spooky in this next draft chapter. Wish me luck. 👻 #writingsky #authorsky

Submitting a new project end of this week. 🥲 #writingsky #authorsky #booksky

Getting some fun 📦 together! 🍪✨🌙 #debut #authorsky #library #writingsky #kidlit #picturebooks #educators

Hello, 2025! Unboxing author copies of Cookies and Crescents: An Eid Story! Whew! I can’t believe I’m holding my first published book, illustrated by wonderful Zelma Firdauzia. It’s so real! Pre-order link in bio. Release by Abrams 3/4/25! #kidlit #picturebook #writingsky #authorsky #librariansky

A very special box is here — I’ve been on Mat leave and so tired, but then this came and I am so overwhelmed I can’t even open it right now. 🥲 SOS it’s going to be on my table until I can gather myself enough to open it. #kidlit #picturebook #debut #author #writingsky #authorsky

On word counts: I overwrite drafts. I know I'm going to cut a bajillion words, but I'm at a new 20K for the first time in a long time so, yay. It's kind-of like when my newborn drinks his milk too fast. I know he'll spit up, but he's like, "Ma, I'm hungry!". We're growing over here! #writingsky

It’s such a good feeling to get good news in this industry, like crossing a marathon finish line… And then you start another [marathon]. 😅 #authorsky #writingsky

3 years ago. Don't quit your daydream. #writingsky #kidlit

I spend a lot of time reading what I want to write, and that’s the best piece of writing advice anyone ever gave me. #writingsky

BookPage released their picks for Best Books of 2024, and these three incredible ABLA titles made the list(s)! ANIMAL ALBUMS FROM A TO Z and THE CURSE OF EELGRASS BOG also both made the Top 10 Overall list! Congratulations to Cece Bell @maryaverling.bsky.social and Lynn Brunelle

A good word from Mary Oliver this morning. 💙 @maryoliverdaily.bsky.social

Today's word goal is 2,000 words minimum. Can I get a witness? #Amwriting #writingsky #kidlit

#1 thing they do not tell you about being a new parent: How many times you'll reheat a single cup of coffee (or tea) in a day.

Sand cat inspo

Protagonist is venturing into a cave in the desert. Trying to figure out what actually happens in said cave today, while baby allows me to contemplate spelunking. Maybe this whole cave thing is just a metaphor for postpartum. Deeper and deeper into the cave... SOS 😅 👻 #amwriting #booksky

The Snow Man by Wallace Stevens

Cookies and Crescents: An Eid Story is 50% off pre-order with code Festive24! www.abramsbooks.com/product/cook... #debut #kidlit #holidaybooks #cookierecipes

More passion. More energy. 16,004 words. #amwriting #wip

Do you re-read your draft as you write? How often? #amwriting #wip

Those special, miraculous mornings, when baby sleeps an extra hour. I’m totally good with your schedule changes, little one. You do you. #amwriting #wip #writingwithnewborn

One of my favorite #poems, by Walt Whitman

Multi-tasking skills. For example, shushing and typing: 14,198 #WIP #amwriting

Great info!

Add newborn crying, cooing or staring at me intently in the background. 😅 This WIP #amwriting has all the heart I have though.

Please remember when drafting…the draft is not the book, it is just the book’s canon event.

Congratulations Shifa Saltagi Safadi for winning the 2024 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature with middle grade novel Kareem Between!!

Stuck in the Middle: A Two-Night Mini for Picture Book Writers with Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow! @highlightsfound.bsky.social www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/stu... 🗓️Dec. 2 + Dec. 4 @ 7pm ET 💻Online

For we who are close with the kid version of ourselves and the written word.

My Fall #readinglist, if you too are #WIP something #kidlit dark n' #spooky: 1. The Nest, Kenneth Oppel 2. The Clackity, Lora Senf 3. This Appearing House, Ally Malinenko 4. Wretched Waterpark, Kiersten White 5. Danse Macabre, @stephenking.bsky.social 6. Writing in the Dark, @timwaggoner.bsky.social

Getting creative juices flowing with @highlightsfound.bsky.social in the "Why Horror?" webinar for middle grade with @allymalinenko.bsky.social. I'm 1 month post-partum (a special kind of spooky), and so needed this inspo for WIP. #kidlit