There's a fun poetry contest going on right now, over on the Little Thoughts Press blog - www.littlethoughtspress.com/post/2025sil... Enter by then end of the day Feb 14! #sillylovesonnets @littlethoughtspress.com

Hey Middle Grade book fans! Check out my year-end wrap-up of the MG market, hot off the presses! All the data you didn't know you wanted to know. 🤓 www.samsubity.com/mg-landscape...

Recommended: www.vox.com/pages/logoff... "In addition to helping you manage the torrent of Trump news, we will close every edition with something — a video, a podcast, a story — that will help you refocus your thoughts away from Trump, and into a more productive headspace as you log off for the day.

Congratulations @heatherkinser.bsky.social Jasu Hu and Astra Books for Young Readers! Amazing book in the making.

I'm pleased to announce my latest book deal, with Calkins Creek - A VOICE FOR THE QUIET - a lyrical picture-book biography of acoustic ecologist and cofounder of Quiet Parks International, Gordon Hempton. Coming fall 2027, with artwork by the ultra-talented Jasu Hu. #kidlit #picturebooks

Thanks @loritecler.bsky.social!

Melissa, this pic of my books in your classroom/library makes my heart leap. You’re welcome. Thank YOU for sharing my #STEM #picturebooks with your students!

I've read 193 #picturebooks so far this year. Better go get 7 more before December 31!

I'm excited to be participating in #WRAD on February 5, 2025. #teachers & #librarians, you could snag a quick free presentation & reading of one of my #picturebooks - NATURE IS A SCULPTOR, IN A CAVE, or SMALL MATTERS. Check out Kate's fantastic list of participating authors (details below). ⬇️📚

Holiday gift suggestion: picture book + rock collection ⬇️

I’m on Kate’s #wrad list! #teachers & #librarians, sign up for Kate’s newsletter, consult the author list, then email your favorite author(s) to set up a short, free, virtual school visit next February 5, on World Read-Aloud Day.

Teachers, librarians, & homeschoolers! Now's the time to sign up for my email newsletter if you'd like the list of authors volunteering for Zoom read alouds for World Read Aloud Day! It's going out later this afternoon! katemessner.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

Got my signed copy of @kellyconroy.bsky.social’s sweet new #picturebook. Check out her cute elephant signature!

IN A CAVE by @heatherkinser.bsky.social w/art by @bonniekelso.bsky.social features lyrical text & beautiful illustrations that highlight structures & creatures found in caves & reinforce importance of respecting ecosystems existing in these spaces. Great intro to caves for young readers! #kidlit 📚👍🏻

Shout out to this charming & funny rhyming #picturebook, THE BALLAD OF CACTUS JOE, by Lily Murray & Clive McFarland. Fabulous, fun rhyme with great characterizations and story structure. Captivating art style with fun pops of neon. To top it all off, there’s backmatter about desert wildlife. Wow!

Just want to give a shout out to this excellent #picturebook, THE TOP SPOT, by Frank Weber. Simple, clear, dramatic. Deadpan humor. Thought-provoking. Captivating illustrations. Totally re-readable! All that a picture book should be.

Oops, had the wrong handle for Lori. Congrats @loritecler.bsky.social! You won a book! Look for my DM.

Okey-dokey. That was fun! I've got two lovely teachers/librarians who put their name in the hat...and they are my winners. Congratulations @melissadarrow.bsky.social and @loritecler! I'll DM you about the details.

If you like my books, you’ll love these California caves and rocky places, and wonderful geology-related #picturebook recommendations.

Want to win a #STEMeducation #picturebook? I’ll pick raffle winners tomorrow morning (Nov 20). If you’re a #schoollibrian or #teacher, comment on the original post, and follow/repost to enter the raffle! (U.S. only)

To celebrate the Bluesky #kidlit community, I'm going to give away three of my #STEMeducation #picturebooks! This offer is for #elementaryteacher and #schoollibrarian followers (U.S. only, please) who comment and repost this announcement. If you win the raffle, you can pick the book you prefer. 📚

It’s all fun and ghouls with these #Halloweensie stories. I just voted for my favorite. #kidlit

Hey there Bluesky folks. In addition to picture books and published poems, this is me as well... madnesspoetry.com/authlete/hea...

I want to say something totally random. I love Jeff Goldblum's shirt! (From this week's Tonight Show appearance.) What a shirt!

Hi Bluesky. This is me, in a nutshell...

At the suggestion of @jessicavitalis.bsky.social (thanks Jessica!) I turned my fairly popular old Twitter list, Kidlit Creators, into a Blue Sky starter pack! There you'll find #kidlit writers and artists you know and love--and others you really should get to know. go.bsky.app/JMsbRr4

It's been fun seeing familiar faces pop up here this week! If you're just arriving & are an author, illustrator, educator, or librarian, here's a list of like-minded folks to follow: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... And here's how to add yourself to the list: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

We’re considering going ahead with a picture book pitch event in a few weeks, on Wednesday 10/23 - I hope everyone can craft a good pitch by then! More info at boringstorybook.com/skypitch #skypitch #kidlit #picturebooks

Registration for my Earth Day author event at Mitchell Park Library in Palo Alto opens tomorrow. Here's a link: paloalto.bibliocommons.com/events/657b5... Bring your Earth-loving kiddos (ages 4-8) for a fun chat, storytime, and librarian-led craft. We'll read and rhyme our way along, IN A CAVE.

I’m thrilled that Nature Is a Sculptor has been recognized with a Blueberry Honor!

Woohoo! Thrilled to see NATURE IS A SCULPTOR by @heatherkinser.bsky.social and THE GREAT GIRAFFE RESCUE by Sandra Markle as honor books. Congratulations to all!!

What a shock! WHATEVER COMES TOMORROW is a WINNER of the Northern Lights Book Award in the #PB 4-8 Category!🥳So proud to be among fellow authors @monicaacker1.bsky.social @jilanne.bsky.social @kateywrites.bsky.social @heatherkinser.bsky.social & so many others! 🥰

I'm honored! NATURE IS A SCULPTOR has been recognized by the Northern Lights Book Award as one of the two best Nature books of the year! northerndawnawards.com/2023-norther... Thanks Millbrook Press for pairing awe-inspiring photos with my lyrical text.

My dog Chelsea and her Lambchop.

Woohoo! Such a thrill to see NATURE IS A SCULPTOR, MYSTERIOUS GLOWING MAMMALS, and RISE TO THE SKY in such fantastic company! Congratulations to all!! 🎉

I’m thrilled to see NATURE IS A SCULPTOR on Melissa’s list of 2023 STEM picture book favorites!

Thrilled to see NATURE IS A SCULPTOR by @heatherkinser.bsky.social on this list! "Kinser has taken this mass of information about weathering and erosion and organized it into a comprehensible and understandable format." And the photos are stunning to boot!!

At long last (it takes a whiiiile for mail to come from Australia to California)...my poem from the November issue of Orbit magazine is here. Perk up your ears for "One Man Band"! Many thanks to The School Magazine for publishing my poem.

Give the gift of picture books! Pair IN A CAVE with an adorable plush bat, or a fun stack of mini scratch boards where kids can draw their own fantastical versions of a cave interior. www.heatherkinser.com/books.html Holiday shopping... DONE!

Holiday shopping... DONE ✅ Know a kid who loves rocks? (What kid doesn't? Just check their pockets!) Satisfy your budding geologist age 4-8 with this rockhound-pleasing picture book + gift combo. www.heatherkinser.com/books.html @lernerbooks.bsky.social

Holiday shopping for an animal/science-loving kid age 4-8? Done! ✅ heatherkinser.com/books.html Picture books make perfect gifts!

Just heard the news...I've received a nice review in School Library Journal for NATURE IS A SCULPTOR: "This eye-opening book will have children examining the world anew, and is a unique addition to the earth science shelves."

Teachers, it’s time for the #SibertSmackdown! Get your students engaged—with this nonfiction picturebook activity!