The beginning of the end? Get off the bandwagon while you can. As for me, I'm celebrating our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, our respect for rule of law, our acceptance of neighbors who are different but who share respect for each other and the promise that is America.

Mayor of NYC, Zohran Mamdani, gifts America with a 4th of July speech for the ages: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxR...

One by one, Otter's new neighbors arrive with gifts until Bear shows up and struggles to fit through the door. With themes of teamwork and kindness, this charming book celebrates community members coming together.

The tennis pavilion has received not only the Palladio but also the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art’s John Russell Pope Award, and was done in partnership with the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service. www.traditionalbuilding.com/white-house-...

What's in #July meadows? The last, lingering buttercups--so test your love of butter before they're gone.

~This new book by a Caldecott winning illustrator create magic from a single number. PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : 102 by Matthew Cordell #kidlit #picturebooks #childrensbook geolibrarian.blogspot.com/2026/07/pict...

NEW PODCAST EPISODE! Hook, hook, does your book have enough hooks? @juliefhedlund.bsky.social demystifies #picturebook hooks & why they are so important in today’s market: 12x12challenge.com/p... #picturebookThe 12x12 Picture Book #Podcast is on Apple & Spotify! #kidlit #writingforkids #writingtip #amwriting

Library opens interactive StoryWalk at Eastham-Thomason Park Children’s picture books took to the outdoors Wednesday morning as Eastham-Thomason Park celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new StoryWalk, a partnership between the Huntsville Public Library, the Huntsville Public Library Friends Group…

#artwelve5726 #tny William Steig (1907-2003), “Cannon on the Loose.” Brooklyn born “King of Cartoon” and writer comes from Jewish family immigrated from Lviv (now Ukraine). He best known for his picture book “Shrek!”. Created 125 covers (2 published posth.) and over 2,500 cartoons for The New Yorker

Ella adoptó a un gato mayor de un refugio y el se lo agradeció con cariño. 😻😻😻💗💗💗 She adopted an older cat from a shelter, and he showed his gratitude with affection. 😻😻😻💗💗💗

They are arresting U.S. Air Force Officers for free speech and U.S. Olympians for curiosity—but not rich men for raping children with Jeffrey Epstein.

MS NOW EXCLUSIVE: "There is no way I'm going to be intimidated." Former special counsel Jack Smith tells @nicollewallace.bsky.social why it's important for him to speak out.

Brilliant. How real trolling is done.

Huge congratulations to Annie Chen! Her illustrations for Salmon Run have been honored with the Bull-Bransom Award from the National Museum of Wildlife Art — given annually for excellence in children's book illustration with a focus on nature and wildlife.

Jack Smith on MS NOW: "I'm very concerned of what's going to happen in the next election, absolutely."   "I think the state attorney generals have a tremendous role to play here … And I would also say that I think a thing that all of us can do is support election workers and election officials."

Celebrate the Semiquincentennial with true stories about American patriotism: 📚👍 💡📚 💙📚 truestorybookshop.com #kidlit #truestory #America250

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I just got back from camping, so here’s an older piece that reminds me of our trip. I love nature, animals, outdoors, mindfulness. Rep’d by @joycekay.bsky.social & Rosa Frazier at @seymouragency.bsky.social. www.weyakindesigns.com #kidlitart #kidlit

Jack Smith: "I think we are facing an attack on the rule of law that is different in kind and scope to anything I've seen in my lifetime"

Hot and humid: perfect firefly weather. Unfortunately, they are losing friendly environments. I'll check outside tonight... #poem #July #poetry

Remembering Jean Craighead George, American author awarded Newbery Honors in 1960 and the 1973 Newbery Medal. She was the U.S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1964. Nature and environmental concerns often featured in her writing. #kidlit #YAlit #childrensbooks

Remembering Louise Rankin, American author of two #childrensbooks, one of which was inspired by a story she heard while living in the area of the Himalayas. (She and her husband lived in India, Tibet for several years.)

He creates his own reality & expects us to believe it. The FELON's FANTASY: Meanwhile, back on EARTH 1:

Not a #childrensbook author or illustrator, which is what I usually post, but Professor Strunk (and his former student, E.B.White) produced this little gem. Some bits are actually quite amusing!

July #birthstone

July #birthstone, legend and lore plus other stuff...

Chickadees cheating? Well, call me shocked! (But at least the ladies go for the smart guys.) GIFT ARTICLE #bird #birds www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/s...

Moo, Baa, La La La! But Not the Hippopotamus...impossible to count the times I read these (and others) aloud. I hope you'll enjoy the GIFT ARTICLE almost as much as the books! #childrensbooks #picturebooks www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/b....

Important Quotes from American History. I have often thought that the Constitution IS America and America IS the Constitution. Our Constitution is the model for so many others worldwide.

If you want to read about the 1898 Wong Kim Ark case, there's a wonderful children's book about it by Martha Brockenbrough and Grace Lin @authorgracelin.bsky.social. Essentially by only one vote, the Supreme Court upheld that decision (and the 14th Amendment) today.

Everyone should be extremely concerned that birthright citizenship was 5-4 and not unanimous.

Another version of Citizens' United, basically. This totally sucks, but then our "Supreme" Court is bought.

Remembering Wolf Erlbruch, German professor and author-illustrator of #childrensbooks. He won many awards, including the Hans Christian Andersen Medal 2006, and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2017. #kidlit

Remembering Bernette G. Ford, American editor, author, and a leading advocate for diversity--diversity of characters and of authors and illustrators. She wrote or collaborated on a variety of #childrensbooks. #kidlit

Remembering Mollie Hunter, author of #childrensbooks rooted in fantasy and historical fiction for the young adult crowd. 1974 Carnegie Medal. Winner of Dutch "Silver Pencil" award. Boston Globe-Horn Book Award... #kidlit

With heat waves shattering temperature records across the globe, leading to needless deaths, let me just say that history will not look fondly on those who put fossil fuel profits above saving the planet.

This will be me for the next few days: too hot to do much of anything else! #heatwave

“We won all the damn elections, and we’re in charge, and what are we doing with it? We’re bankrupting the country, we’re starting new wars, we’re violating the Constitution, we’re not cracking down on the fraud. The problem is not the elections,” ~Sen. Thomas Massie, R-KY

Important Quotes from American History: The Virginia Ratifying Convention was open to the public. Debate was heated, both for & against. Virginia was the 10th state to ratify the Constitution. Many ideas presented during the convention were later incorporated into the United States Bill of Rights.

Remembering Antoine de Saint-Exupery, French author of one of the world's most widely-read books. A year after publication, the author vanished on a WWII mission flying over France. He's also known for his lyrical aviation writing. #childrensbooks #kidlit #books

Remembering Betty Greene, whose "Summer of My German Soldier" is autobiographical and was rejected 18 times before being published and winning the National Book Award in 1973--as well as the Golden Kite Award and being an ALA Notable Book. It's been both challenged & banned. #childrensbooks #kidlit

Remembering Rowland Hilder, OBE, English marine and landscape artist commissioned by Oxford University Press to illustrate books. He won the Times illustrator award for his "Treasure Island" drawings. #childrensbooks #kidlitart

Remembering Cicely Mary Barker, English illustrator best known for her depictions of flowers and fairies. Her art education began with a correspondence course at Croyden School of Art. Children in her sister's kindergarten were her models. #childrensbooks #kidlitart

Remembering Esther Forbes, American historian and novelist raised in a family with an interest in history. (Sam Adams was a great-uncle.) After her divorce (her husband disapproved of her writing career) she lived at home with her mother assisting her research. #childrensbooks #kidlit

War "won?" Grocery prices down? Believe your own lived experience, not #Trump lies.

E. Jean Carroll wins: Supreme Court officially declined Trump bid to reverse jury verdict in her favor in the defamation case she brought after he said she was lying about being sexually assaulted by him in a NYC dept. store dressing room. Verdict stands. #Trump is an adjudicated rapist & lier.

I love my commonwealth--but reading this, I almost want to be Texan. Wow! open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

And it's especially fine not to respect presidents who disrespect their office, their oath of office, the Constitution and laws they swore to uphold, honor, decency, morality, truth, humanity, and everything we should be striving ourselves and teaching our children to respect.

So excited!! 🌟🌟🌟

It's Day 7 of #FictionFest and we are starting off today with a panel discussion on diversity in fiction, starting in ten minutes at noon EDT! Watch it live at: youtube.com/live/ib3... and find our full event schedule at FictionFest.ca/events#FictionFest #BookSky #ReaderSky #CanadaSky #books #reading

Yikes