Today is #RightToReadDay, and the folks at @uabookbans.bsky.social have a great list of five ways you can take action right now—and all you need is five minutes.
Let's show up and fight for the freedom to read! ❤️
Ray Bradbury quote: You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.
Censorship doesn’t always look like fire. Sometimes it looks like quiet removals, restricted access, or making books harder to find. When stories disappear, so do the voices, histories & ideas that shape understanding. This isn’t just about books. It’s about keeping critical thinking alive.
So delighted by this student project!
A fourth-grader named Greta created this incredible #Willodeen themed cereal box, complete with puzzlers. How cool is that? 💜🌿
@mackidsbooks.bsky.social
Educators! ❤️
I can't wait for my virtual event with @bookelicious.bsky.social on May 12. I'd love for your classrooms to join me! I'll be talking about my new books, IVAN, and more.
Details here: www.bookelicious.com/event/23
ICYMI: I'm hitting the road next month to share my new middle grade novel, WOMBAT WAITING. 🧡🐕
Young readers, I'd love to meet you, sign your books, and answer questions! You can find all my tour dates here: katherineapplegate.com/events
@harperkids.bsky.social #mglit
Here's a great reading list from the @mackidssl.bsky.social team of stories to share during #AutismAcceptanceMonth. All kinds of genres, styles, and tones here!
Can't help but share these lovely base sketches for the #PocketBear crew by the one and only @charlessantoso.bsky.social. 🧸🧵
It's always such a thrill to see Charles' work in one of my books—I'm a lucky author, indeed. 💛
#mglit @mackidsbooks.bsky.social
![GO to usa.gov/elected-officials and call your rep. "Hello my name is [your name], and I'm a constituent from [your city/zip code]. I'm calling to urge [rep/senator name] to support the freedom to read and oppose efforts to ban books or restrict access in schools and libraries. Access to diverse books and ideas is essential for education, critical thinking, and a healthy democracy. Decisions about what individuals read should not be dictated b political pressure. I also ask that you support funding for libraries and protect the role of trained librarians in our communities. Thank you for your time, and I would appreciate knowing the representative's position on the issue."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wpyqwhfhwubmtj2ku35uzpp4/bafkreigqy7bez63fauylz2nrws3hwlwqtiyimcb2z5dp4wjzub6vi5e2vy)
GO to usa.gov/elected-officials and call your rep. "Hello my name is [your name], and I'm a constituent from [your city/zip code]. I'm calling to urge [rep/senator name] to support the freedom to read and oppose efforts to ban books or restrict access in schools and libraries. Access to diverse books and ideas is essential for education, critical thinking, and a healthy democracy. Decisions about what individuals read should not be dictated b political pressure. I also ask that you support funding for libraries and protect the role of trained librarians in our communities. Thank you for your time, and I would appreciate knowing the representative's position on the issue."
Want to stand up for the freedom to read? With legislation like H.R. 7661 shaping the future of access to books, contacting your members of Congress is one of the most effective ways to make your voice heard. Your voice matters, and it helps shape the policies that affect our libraries and schools.
UK readers, I'm excited to announce that my new picture book illustrated by Lita Judge, THE LITTLEST ELEPHANT, will be available on April 23 from @harper360uk.bsky.social. 💙🐘
So happy to share Ruby's story with more young readers!
In 2017, Serbia’s imperial eagle population had dwindled to a single breeding pair. This is a great look at their remarkable return, and at the obstacles they still face. #SaveTheEndlings
#KidLit fans, I highly recommend attending one of these 90-Second Newbery film festival events! Kids from all over the world create 90-second movies that tell the story of a Newbery-winning book, and it's absolutely as fun as it sounds. Event details here: jameskennedy.com/events/
"Life with Pupper was not boring.
It was not humdrum.
It was not the same old, same old."
Writing the #DoggoAndPupper books brought me such joy—as did @chuckie346.bsky.social's charming illustrations!
Very happy to share that the whole series is now out in paperback. ❤️🐶 @mackidsbooks.bsky.social
"The battles playing out in school districts today will shape public education for a generation."
If you or someone you know is considering running for school board, this toolkit from @uabookbans.bsky.social is not to be missed.
I Am A Good Dog
"Wallace West’s cover illustration and L. Whitt’s cover design for I Am a Good Dog: A Dogtown Book is my favorite in the Dogtown trilogy, and that’s saying something." — @kaaauthor.bsky.social mrschureads.blogspot.com/2026/04/i-am...
Photo of a small white building with a sign over the door that reads "Lee Public Library." Text below reads "ALA awards $3.5 million in library accessibility funding to 300 small and rural libraries." ALA150 American Library Association
ALA announces the final round of recipients of its Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant, which helps small and rural libraries increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities. https://bit.ly/3Q7XBWH
We need all hands on deck to stop H.R. 7661, the federal book banning bill.
Your voice matters. Congressional offices track every call—we CAN make a difference.
I hope you’ll join me in speaking out. There's a script you can follow here: action.everylibrary.org/callhr7661
@authorsabb.bsky.social
Dogtown Series
"Dogs are miracles that shed." —Newbery Medalist @kaaauthor.bsky.social mrschureads.blogspot.com/2026/04/i-am...
I Am a Good Dog
Cover Reveal: I Am a Good Dog: A Dogtown Book by @kaaauthor.bsky.social and @choldenko.bsky.social | Illustration Credit: Wallace West | Design Credit: L. Whitt mrschureads.blogspot.com/2026/04/i-am... @mackidssl.bsky.social
cover of julian is a mermaid
JULIÁN IS A MERMAID is a celebration of imagination, identity, and unconditional love.
Through Julián’s joyful self-expression and his abuela’s quiet acceptance, the story shows kids that it’s okay to be exactly who they are. It’s gentle, affirming, and beautifully told.
April is #NationalPoetryMonth!
Truly honored to see my #mglit novel #Odder featured in this @mackidssl.bsky.social roundup of poetry collections and novels in verse. She's in some seriously great company. 💙🦦
Friends, have you called your Senators and Reps yet? If not, please do so. Numbers matter to these people, and they need to know that we are numerous.
If you’ve never called your congressional reps before, do it right now.
"Crenshaw liked night.
He liked the way the stars took their time showing up. He liked the way the grass let go of the sun's warmth. He liked the way crickets changed the music.
But mostly he liked to eat the crickets."
🐈⬛💜
#Crenshaw #mglit
Special offer for Canadian readers! The team at @harpercollinsca.bsky.social is running a great #WombatWaiting photo and writing contest.
You could win a custom pillow of your pet! 🧡🐕
Contest rules and details: www.harpercollins.ca/KatherineApp...
Create a persuasive messaging plan on censorship. Steps to success. (1) Identify a censorship incident to share. (2) Investigate the issue thoroughly. (3) COnsider the problem and action that need to be taken. (4) DEvelop and incorporate multimedia thoughtfully. (6) Prepare for launch across multiple platforms. (7) Schedule your communications in advance.
LIke this content? It's from our free digital workbook called Turning the Page: An ADvocate's guide to the freedom to read.
Want to speak out against censorship but not sure where to start?
If you like this content, get even more by downloading our FREE digital workbook on our website:
www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_...
#FreedomToRead #BooksNotBans
April 2026's new Picture Book releases includes a celebration of father figures (BECAUSE OF DADS), an affirming story of self reflection (DO YOU SEE ME?), and a book about handling a new addition to a family (AUNTIE'S BABY)! Learn more here: tinyurl.com/mr2ptcxe
#edusky #newbooks
My mom is out of the hospital which means I can finally lift my head up long enough to say, "Hey! I have a new book out tomorrow!" It's called Deep Blue and it's about conquering your fears to discover the joy of swimming in the ocean. You can order it here.
bookshop.org/a/96530/9781...
I Love My Librarian Award 2026. Composite of ten photos of librarians. Logos for Carnegie Corporation of New York, American Library Association, and the New York Public Library
ALA is thrilled to announce the 2026 recipients of the #ILoveMyLibrarian Award! Congratulations to these 10 outstanding librarians - people who power possibility in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our places of higher learning.
Meet the 2026 honorees here: https://bit.ly/3HcHvEy
Otterly thrilled to see that my #Odder picture book won the March Picture Book Madness contest at the Lake Tahoe School in Incline Village, NV! 🦦
Thanks to Library Media Specialist Aly Nugent for sharing. 💙
@charlessantoso.bsky.social @mackidssl.bsky.social
If you're able, I hope you'll join me in supporting Luanne James, a great librarian and advocate for her community. Luanne was unjustly fired for refusing to remove LGBTQIA+ titles from the children's department. www.gofundme.com/f/fsg98-help...
More on Luanne: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
