Come play! Alaska Book Week scavenger hunt/puzzle contest. Randomly drawn winners will receive prizes. I'll send The Puzzler's Guide to Alaska to someone--maybe you?! Find the pieces, solve the puzzle, submit your answer. Visit AlaskaBookWeek.org for instructions.

Yeah. That's nice! #kidlitchat

What are some things you create that aren't kidlit? How is it like the kidlit creative process? I'm creating a garden. I guess maybe watching the garden grow is similar to watching a story take shape. #kidlitchat

I remember explaining the importance of a little white stitch in the eye of an embroidered animal. You're right: it gave the animal life!

Count me in!

Oh, yes, rhyming is great fun! I'm not so comfortable editing other people's rhymes, though. #kidlitchat

Isn't it interesting how the creative process is so much the same for all of us? We all have the same moments no matter how many different ways we arrive at them. #kidlitchat

Oooo. Yes. Good one! #kidlitchat

Agreed. I love a good flow. They never fail to surprise me. #kidlitchat

Oh. Yeah. I wasn't even thinking about this part. #kidlitchat

My favorite part is the blank page. So much possibility! The hardest part is working through a zillion revisions--especially when reconciling contrasting opinions. #kidlitchat

Aside from the moving thread, look at this gorgeous journal. I love journaling while I travel. Sigh. My journals look nothing like this. And while they never will, I'll bet I can do a bit better than I usually do, and this makes me want to try. Thanks, Mirka! #kidlit

Cheers to authors in DC representing us all! #kidlit #thankyou! #AABB #readfreelyreadwidely P. S. I want rainbow lipstick, please.

Am I connected to any programmers, coders, or app-developers here? If I am, would you be willing to email or chat with me about interactive puzzles? Thanks!

Sure, #KidsLoveNonfiction. So do I! Michelle, this looks great! Cheers to you!

Sure, #KidsLoveNonfiction. So do I! Michelle, this looks great! Cheers to you!

Think about it: 500 words is the length of a pb manuscript. If you write pbs, this might be fun for you. I LOVE IT! And I got an "honorable mention" last year, despite drawing a genre that is well out of my bailiwick. Fast, fun 500-word fiction! #kidlit #ornot #NYCMidnight nycmidnight.com/500

Oh, wow! That's wildly interesting! And adorable. #kidlitchat

Okay, everyone: What's your favorite wildlife encounter ever? Where? What animal? What happened? Did you write about it? I want to know! #kidlitchat

What a super-fun family activity and Insta theme! I'll go find you there. Hmmm. Maybe you should cross-post to here??? #kidlitchat

These are outstanding! #kidlitchat

I AGREE! It IS all related! And putting a book together is definitely like baking--there's always magic or a curse in the oven.

I think it was Katherine Patterson who said something like "the things that take me away from writing [kids] are the things that give me something to write about." That stuck with me. #kidlitchat

Travel, wildlife watching, gardening, crafting. My mind ventures into neat places when I'm doing these things. #kidlitchat

If I were anywhere near any of these places, I'd be there. Psst, Grace, when you come to Alaska, may I please be the "in conversation with" person? #kidlit #goseeGrace #sayhitoLisaforme

Yep! Thanks @doucette515.bsky.social!

Today's the last day to submit a 150-word #SpringFlingKidlit story. You have until 11:59 PM CST. Do it and you could win one of these generous and fun prizes: sites.google.com/view/springf... I'm posting my story now! #Entered @kaitlynleann17.bsky.social @ciaralovesbooks.bsky.social

Last night, I participated in my first-ever live social media event: #kidlitchat! I want to give a hearty shout-out to @gregpincus.bsky.social whose tips, encouragement, and forbearance made me feel welcome. Thank you, Greg! I learned heaps and had some fun. Cheers to rhymers and first-timers!

YES! Writing a pb is like writing a poem. I agree--and I like that.

Hmmm. I'm going to have to think on this one. Thanks, Alexandra!

Hmmm. Interesting. Thanks, Brooke!

Oh, that's good. I think I can relate to this. Thanks, Veronica!

I like this idea! Let's keep it going. Nothing like rules to keep a convo flowing!

Okay. What determines whether a book needs to be written in rhyme? #kidlitchat

Is this how I get the box I'm responding to? Thank you, Greg. You get bonus points tonight for assisting me.

Testing, 1-2-3. What happens if I post on my own and add #kidlitchat Poetry peeps, what's the difference between "verse" and "poetry," especially in terms of rhyming pbs. Go!

Harold and Highlights: Two enthusiastic thumbs up! #kidlit

Harold and Highlights: Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

I can't speak to the general population, but I can say that the dogs I care for (dog sitter here) always win!

Love this #kidlit! I've always loved illustrations and 3-D art or physical spaces combined in photography. And then this story is timely and broadly inclusive. This is something special. Click on over and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this book. jenabenton.com/2025/02/18/s...

Speaking of #kidlit blog interviews. What are your favorite kidlit blogs? Give me links, please. One I read a lot is jenabenton.com/category/sim...

I wanted to think this story was based on a real-life event. It turns out it was! Hooray for #kidlit blog interviews!

Good diet, exercise, and READING! Yep, that's the plan I'm working from. Thanks, @donalynbooks.bsky.social!

What is a word that you consistently type incorrectly? One of mine is "teh" instead of "the." Anyone else do that? #amwriting #kidlit #typos

Writer and illustrators: How long do you typically sit and work at one time--if you sit while you work? Do you make an effort to get up and move from time to time? #kidlit #BIC #stayinghealthy

This is one of my favorite things to do as a writer and puzzler. When I wrote an embroidery newsletter, the opening letter-from-the-editor was always about whatever was going on at the moment, and then I'd tie it to embroidery. It ALWAYS worked. Everything's connected! #Kidlit #amwriting

Oh, wow! I'm so excited to discover this, and I look forward to seeing the film and interview. Thank you, @technolibrary.bsky.social and librarians everywhere. And you, too, Sarah Jessica. #LibrariansRule #ItsOnMyList #ILoveLibraries #KidLit

I'm not writer who has trouble coming up with ideas. I have too many. (It's a problem!) But I enjoy Storystorm, and I do what the posts suggest. Today's post launched me way over the finish line. If you're behind on ideas, check this one out: taralazar.com/2025/01/25/s... @lisariddiough.bsky.social

Great article from Melissa Stewart @mstewartscience.bsky.social about narrative and expository nonfiction. All puzzle books are nonfiction according to Dewey, but I would call my Puzzler's Guides expository nonfiction. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Thanks! #PuzzlersGuides #kidlit #nf

Ages ago, I heard Donalyn speak at a literacy conference in Columbus, OH. I was inspired then by her enthusiasm and experience encouraging young readers. I'm looking forward to her new reading reflection project. For #FollowFriday, I highly recommend @donalynbooks.bsky.social. #kidlit