In just a little over one month, NorCal SCBWI Spring Spirit will be here on April 18th! Can't wait! <3 @marchsoloway.bsky.social @sallymkim.bsky.social @bookishariel.bsky.social @nikkishannonsmith.bsky.social @lorimortenson.bsky.social #AmWriting #SCBWI #SpringSpirit www.scbwi.org/events/sprin...

We had so much fun at our first practice back in years. <3 #synchro #synchronizedswimming #justkeepswimming #artisticswimming

Had an amazing time at the Andrea Brown Big Sur Writing Conference @andreabrownlit.bsky.social I've been having fun with revisions ever since. <3

I spy a fun line up for SCBWI Spring Spirit in April. Can't wait! <3 @marchsoloway.bsky.social @nikkishannonsmith.bsky.social @bookishariel.bsky.social and @isabellakung.bsky.social www.scbwi.org/events/sprin...

The Memory Tree made another Best of 2025 list. <3 readingteacherwrites.com/2026/01/02/b...

This book belongs on a shelf near you! I think I found my favorite book of 2026. Congrats Janay Brown Wood and Erin K. Robinson! THIS HAIR BELONGS is stunning!

When the headlines are difficult for us to bear, how can we begin to talk to kids about them? We've put together a list of books to share with children that can help them process tough topics.

Thank you Ellen for this lovely blog interview about The Memory Tree: A Holiday Grief Story. One lucky reader leaving a comment on the blog will win the book. #teachers #counselors #librarians #grief #MemoryTree #Christmas #traditions @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social ellenleventhal.com/2025/12/joan...

Honored to announce that The Memory Tree: A Holiday Grief Story has been named one of the Best Kids' Books on Mental Health of 2025 by Child Mind Institute! Check out all the best books here: childmind.org/article/the-... #grief @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social @childmindinstitute.bsky.social

Get the list: childmind.org/article/the-...

We’re excited to share our 2025 list of the best kids’ books about mental health! #books #bestbooks #booksforkids

What a special day. <3

Had a great time at Evening With The Stars hosted by the San Juan Education Foundation. Thank you for honoring me as one of the stars and for all you do for students and educators. <3

The teacher in me loves that there are worksheets for teachers to use in their classes with The Memory Tree. Here's a sneak peek at one of them. <3 @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #teachers #writing #grief #librarians #christmas

Just a few more weeks until The Memory Tree: A Holiday Grief Story hits the shelves! #MemoryTree #grief "An idea that may offer solace to youngsters navigating the holiday season in the wake of loss." - Kirkus @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social

On Grief Awareness Day I get to share the first review for The Memory Tree. "An idea that may offer solace to youngsters navigating the holiday season in the wake of loss." - Kirkus Book Reviews @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #Grief #griefawarenessday #memorytree www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

Big Bear Was Not The Same is 4 years old today! After experiencing a natural disaster, Big Bear is not the same. "An accessible, age-appropriate primer that sheds light on trauma and PTSD." - Publishers Weekly. @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #teacher #counselor #PTSD @naomijkrueger.bsky.social #fire

Karen B. McCoy August 2025: 4 seconds! ⏱️ - mailchi.mp/f9977b5931da... TONIGHT AT 6pm, see me at the Mary L. Stephens Library in Davis, CA w/ Joanna Rowland, the whirlwind of new author life, and interviews with @michaelleali.bsky.social, Kristen Gwen, and Kristen Joy Wilks.

How do you celebrate a holiday after loss? With love. In just a few months The Memory Tree will be out in the world! Preorders available now - www.beamingbooks.com/store/produc... #grief #griefbook #memorytree #counselors #librarians #teachers @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social

Newly Updated! 45 Children's Books on Climate Change and Environmental Justice buff.ly/qlbJi54 via @pragmaticmom #ClimateChange #ReadYourWorld #KidLit #environment

Writing about tough topics always comes with a bag of mixed emotions. You hope people don't need your book, but if they do, you hope it brings some small comfort. Thank you News4SA for including The Memory Box as a book to help during an unimaginable time. #grief news4sanantonio.com/sa-living/th...

It feels like Christmas in July! Now through Friday, July 11 Barnes and Noble Reward Members get 25% off preorders. Use code: PREORDER25

It's hard to imagine celebrating holidays after loss. I hope The Memory Tree will help loved ones connect and remember. Barnes and Noble rewards members get 25% off PREORDER25 now-Friday #grief #TheMemoryTree @barnesandnoble.com @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-memory...

Help celebrate the legacy of @kateywrites.bsky.social by buying or borrowing the recently launched WHERE THE DEER SLIP THROUGH, written by Katey & illustrated by Caldecott medalist Beth Krommes, w/ @simonkids.bsky.social. #KidLit bsky.app/profile/kate...

Authors and illustrators have become evermore adept at hooking readers with fantasy and humor while providing solid details like bait to hook their continuing curiosity. These five fishy tales prove it.

On National PTSD Awareness Day future Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders wrote about Big Bear Was Not The Same. <3 #PTSD #NationalPTSDAwarenessDay @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social @naomijkrueger.bsky.social

In summer school these future Kindergarteners, 1st, and 2nd graders loved this number 1 hit HOW TO PEE YOUR PANTS THE RIGHT WAY by Rachel Michelle Wilson. #teachers #parents

Books can be a tool to help children understand what a loved one might be struggling with. In Big Bear Was Not The Same, Big Bear struggles after experiencing a forest fire. “An accessible, age-appropriate primer that sheds light on trauma and PTSD,” Publishers Weekly #ptsd #PTSDAwarenessMonth

A Gift Of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed The Planet by Martha Brockenbrough and Juana Martinez-Neal is a beautiful story about how the dust of what once lived helps our world today. You’ll want to add this gift of a book to your bookshelf. #librarians #teachers #dust #agiftofdust

The perfect book to read on Juneteenth by Natasha Tripplett and Daniel J. O'Brien #Juneteenth

Guess what was spotted and presented at The Children's Institute American Booksellers Association in Portland? An arc of The Memory Tree! Thank you Ruby's Books for taking these pictures and sharing the fun news with me. 4 more months! #grief #Christmas @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social

Such a nice review from Kirkus about ONE CAN BE. I’m so happy they saw the power of quiet determination — and the Little Free Library love. www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

The first trailer for the final season of 'Stranger Things' has been released. ▪️Volume 1 premieres November 26th at 5pm PT. ▪️Volume 2 premieres Christmas at 5pm PT. ▪️The Finale premieres New Year's Eve at 5pm PT. #StrangerThings #Netflix #TUDUM

Delicious new nonfiction from @pragmaticmom.bsky.social that combines fun, facts and food! #megakidlit #booksky

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY to @marthabee.bsky.social & @juanamartinezn.bsky.social A GIFT OF DUST is a beautiful NF PB about how Saharan dust storms affect the world, slowing down hurricanes in the Atlantic and making the Amazon rainforest lush. Everything is interconnected! bookshop.org/a/809/978059...

Getting to peek at the arc for The Memory Tree: A Holiday Grief Book. Oh, my heart. I need tissue. Thea Baker brought the words to life in the most beautiful way. I can't wait to share this with everyone next fall. @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social @naomijkrueger.bsky.social #grief #Christmas #SELbooks

Loved reading Planted With Love by Natasha Tripplett and Adriana Predoi to my class yesterday. It's a much needed book on a topic dear to my heart about children with foster families. This sweet story will bloom in your heart. <3 #fosterfamilies #teachers #librarians #counselors #SEL

🥹😯😳🤯 It's getting real, y'all. The book should be available to preorder directly from my publisher next week. #theetiquetteofvoles #voleiscoming Also, feel free to save the following dates for my upcoming author events: June 14: Copperfield's Books in Napa June 15: Ruby's Books in Folsom

It's a SLJ Star for I AM NOT JESSICA CHEN by Ann Liang! 🌟 “Hand this to students who never feel like what they do is enough, who just want to feel seen, and who long for that moment of fame and feeling perfect.“ 🌟 Read the full review here!

I'm donating these signed books for children going through difficult times to the #kidlitforla fundraiser. Topics include grief, wildfire, ptsd, moving, change, hope, friendship, divorce, faith, memories. There are lots of great donations from many creators. <3 www.32auctions.com/organization...

This book meant so much to work on and Thea Baker has such a special gift illustrating with heart. I can't wait to share The Memory Tree with you Fall of 2025. #CoverReveal #PictureBook #Christmas #MemoryTree #grief #teachers #librarians #counselors. #ChildLifeSpecialist @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social

This holiday season I get to share the cover reveal for The Memory Tree! It's also available for preorder. Thea Baker did such a beautiful and heartfelt cover! #grief #Christmas #PictureBook www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-memory...

A weekend full of walks, writing, and good wine. <3

In honor of Paris hosting the Olympics I had to show one of my favorite spreads from The Memory Box: A Book About Grief that shows a synchro float and the Eiffel Tower in the fall. I used to coach synchro and wrote this book in memory of a swimmer. #ArtisticSwimming #Paris #Olympics #EiffelTower

So excited to see Big Bear Is Not The Same is translated in German! <3

Huge congrats to Rachel on her starred review! I got a sneak peek at this story when I first met Rachel at an ABLA Big Sur Conference. I love this story and can't wait to hold it.

"On days when your faith is shaken, remember the tree that loses all its leaves, the animals hibernating beneath the snow, the baby turtle getting ready to hatch..." When Things Are Hard, Remember book. #PictureBooks #WhenThingsAreHardRemember #HaveHope

Got to meet and listen to Minh Le at the Joyful Literacy Institute. I've always loved this book. Hearing the story behind the story made me tear up.