Last 2025 program is tomorrow & I'm thrilled to be sharing some #music & books from #Kidlit faves: Jessica Kulekjan, @taratrudel.bsky.social, Laura Sperry Gardner, Nikki Talley, @annielynn215.bsky.social, & @buffysilverman.bsky.social. 2nd graders & I are excited! Jammin' into Spring w/Picture Books

This week is the 3 year anniversary of the inspirational Peptoc Hotline! They celebrated by going viral again, which has stretched their operating costs. You can help support this community youth #art project and its mission to spread joy through creating here: peptoc.net/donate

So excited to have finished a video for PARTY! It was a ton of work but very rewarding. Hope you enjoy it! There are all sorts of “parties” at all ages. Let’s be inclusive at all of them! #inclusion #inclusionmatters #loveislove #disabilityawareness #diversitymatters youtu.be/zoYTrIGn42s?...

Why HELLO Bluesky 💙🌠 We are here 🌌

Oh hi I’m at the Grammys

My friend's 7 yo: Whose music do you like better, Tara or Weird Al? If you say Tara, I'll tell her. If you say Weird Al, I'll also tell her. They said Tara, but c'mon! I say Weird Al. #Kindie #MusicianSky

Anytime someone says, “ketchup” in our house, someone else sings, “Ohh!” in response, all thanks to this gem of a song.

Hey #kidlit, I bet you're as excited as I am to see @matthewcwinner.bsky.social on Bluesky!

In the wake of the fires, LA production is hurting even more than before. People can’t afford to live here if there isn’t work here. Sign our petition at the link in bio STAYinLA.org and share #STAYinLA widely. (And thank you to hireyoungprofessionals.com for designing our campaign!)

I just gasped out loud when I got the Severance notification. Can I put my kids to bed at 6PM?

You don’t have to post about the fires, but if you do, don’t turn your message of sympathy into self-promotion. I’m seeing it a lot, and it’s ghoulish.

Playing around with Procreate for the first time in forever (I normally create illustrations in PS) After a few aggravating hours learning a new workflow, it's starting to click. I see why young creatives love it. #ilustration #kidlit #holidays

If you haven't listened to Fractured: Fairy Tales Remixed, you're missing out. taratrudel.bandcamp.com/album/fractu...

Congrats to @taratrudel.bsky.social for the award re: her pop-comedy debut album FRACTURED: FAIRY TALES REMIXED! One of my faves on the album: "What's The Story?" 📚🎵 Love the #KidLit theme!

Excited to share that I received another ASCAP Plus Award for children's music! This includes my 2023 album, Fractured: Fairy Tales Remixed, and #kidlit book theme songs. I really appreciate ASCAP's support of my work and of children's music. #MusicianSky

I have a new piece up at SPIN about the 10th anniversary of our annual "Book Club for Mixtapes," and how that's become our modern version of the update letter stuffed into a holiday card. Give it a read, and make your own year end mix! www.spin.com/2024/12/book...

It turns out the apple does not fall far from the tree #kidlit

Same, flute and all!

So if you care to find me Look to the Taco Bell As someone told me lately Everyone deserves soft and hard shell And if I'm eating solo At least sauce packs are free For those with ground beef Try a Crunch Wrap with black beans

Love this! Things I've learned to do this year: - Trust my creative process - Carefully consider projects & say yes if they serve my goals - Collaborate w/delightful people - Lean into community - Be healthier w/social media & take breaks (forever from CERTAIN platforms) What about you?

My Instagram feed: Ad for under eye cream Ad for under eye patches One pic of someone I met once Ad for under eye concealer Beautiful script that reads, “Reach for the stars and you can do anything (if you get rid of those eye bags) ✨”

Just saw Moana 2 and the animation was absolutely stunning in Dolby. It's my longtime dream to write songs for a Disney movie, and sometimes, you just have to say that stuff out loud

Dear cinnamon sticks, this is your moment to shine!

Today I'm finishing the first round of music cues for a comedy pilot and watching the rough cut of the next one I'm scoring. There are a lot of ups and downs in a music career. After the pandemic and strikes, I'm feeling grateful for this moment! #MusicianSky #FilmSky #Composer

I'm inordinately proud of this Pokemon I crocheted for my son's bday. Even though I'm a total hobbyist, it's like all the art I make: overly ambitious, imperfect, but ultimately made with care and love. 🧶 Based on a pattern by MiaHandcrafter

i’m an album girly playlists are cool but listening to an entire album in order, the way the artist intended? that’s where it’s at for me personally

Yes, it's an act of faith. One benefit of getting older is learning to trust that it will play out, even while the path zigs and zags.

The fact that I am both supremely cool (musician) and supremely uncool (wears ankle socks, likes puns) is a dichotomy my children will simply have to learn to live with

When I first left Twitter, I wrote a two minute torch song about the breakup. This migratory moment seemed like a good time to dust it off and record it. And yes, I'm really feeling it in the thumbnail. youtu.be/2CJJaSBZSVY?... #MusicianSky #Songwriter #Music

Patience with your creative process = confidence that something wonderful is on its way

All this talk of the soapy, addicting Nancy Drew Files is also reminding me of this banger of a YA series. Probably my first beach read! #kidlitchat

Current mood: Defiant Jazz

#Skybrarians - Mr. Jeff is the real deal! His shows are a guaranteed highlight for any summer reading program.

It turns out that curating a little underground bunker of musicians, writers, artists, and thinkers is exactly what my heart needs right now.

One of my hopes is to foster connections btwn the amazing #kidlit and #kindiemusic communities. We have so much in common with our shared calling to inspire and engage children. Here's my Kindie Music starter pack. Give these folks a follow to get connected to incredible music! go.bsky.app/KsZtmSM

Reintro! I'm a songwriter/composer/children's musician. Working on my 14th(!) #kidlit book theme song and scoring a comedy pilot. You're cordially invited to stream my album of funny fairy tale songs. I'm a mom, Grammy voter, and occasional DJ for PTA meetings. Don't worry, my house is a mess.

Evergreen, but FOMO just did a high kick

Today is an excellent day to check your voter registration. www.vote.org

Kidlit Illustrators! The family music community is working together to avoid using AI art on our album covers. If you're open to paid commissions to create album artwork, please fill out this form. It will only be shared in a private kindie music FB group. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Today, authors and illustrators are voicing our opposition to Scholastic Book Fairs'  "Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice" program, which proactively supports the work of right-wing book banners. Please read, sign, and share. tinyurl.com/3vu9tsyj

For your GRAMMY® consideration, I'm so excited to share that Fractured: Fairy Tales Remixed has been submitted for Best Children's Album. If you're a Voting Member of the Recording Academy, I really appreciate your consideration! Please visit and share our FYC link: www.taratrudel.com/fyc/

Super excited to perform at the LA Kids Book Festival this weekend! I'll be there all day doing Fractured activities, and ending the day with a sing along jam. If you're in Los Angeles, I hope you can join us! www.lakidsbookfestival.com

New book theme song out today! I loved writing about Jessica Kulekjian and Zoe Si's sleepy - and not-so-sleepy - volcano from their new picture book KABOOM! A Volcano Erupts. Go, go lava flow! www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OVO...

I have heard the cries from the masses and you can finally see Storytime, a collection of short stories for young kids at www.jamesyang.com/storytime 😀 Storytime originally appeared on Iammama, a site for young moms and is near to my heart because this is how I honed my chops to write for kids.

Experiencing a dance battle between my social media burnout and my acute sense of FOMO

This is also a great songwriting tip. A lot of my songs have a little message tucked inside. And sometimes it's ok for the answer to be "Having fun" (and I wish the industry felt the same way)

I get to write theme songs for books, and frankly, it's the best. 🎵📚

I think many people don't realize that "family music" just means killer tunes with 50% more dinosaurs than other genres.

"But what? Everyone I know has a big but. C'mon, Simone, let's talk about *your* big but."

My 6 yo gave my 4yo $1 to tell him a story this morning. It was a great way for her to set expectations about future royalties.