Thank you so much, my wonderful friend! ❤️

To celebrate— go check out @senickel.bsky.social’s new bio of HCA : THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING
illus. Calvin Nicholls (Levine Querido)

🌟TODAY there’s a #Kidlit Book Launch—April 2nd at 6pm at Books of Wonder in New York City! Go say HI & get a signed copy.

sandranickel.com/books/the-tr...

YABC is having an amazing Spring Buzzworthy Books #Giveaway! It's your chance to win a copy of THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING, along with 14 other #newrelease #kidlit #books! You can enter HERE: yabookscentral.com/yabcs-buzzwo...

Thank you so much!!

It’s a star from School Library Journal! Thank you so very much! And thanks to the entire True Ugly Duckling Team! @LevineQuerido #books #newbook #hanschristianandersen #uglyduckling #fairytale #kidlit #kidlitillustration

It was SO wonderful talking with you! 💙

From an Ugly Duckling to Storytelling Swan: Sandra Nickel on Hans Christian Andersen Author Sandra Nickel offers a fairy-tale-like portrait of how a misunderstood child grew into one of the world’s most beloved storytellers.

What if the things that made you feel like you didn't belong were actually your greatest gifts? 🦢 Author
@senickel.bsky.social joins the podcast to talk about Hans Christian Andersen, neurodiversity, and writing for the child who feels "too much." thechildrensbookreview.com/from-an-ugly...

Join me in celebrating The True Ugly Duckling on April 2 at @booksofwonder.bsky.social! And, yes, those are our cookies! If you can’t make it & would like a signed book, you can order at booksofwonder.com/products/978... Please come & bring friends!
#booklaunch #newbook #celebration #cookies #books

When I read the full review of THE OCEAN'S HEART I cried (tears of joy)...Okay, I'm still crying. The reviewer connected with this book on every level. I hope other readers will, too. ❤️@steelworksliterary.bsky.social @lernerbooks.bsky.social @carolhinz.bsky.social #Edusky #Skybrarians #kidlit

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️📚

Getting creative From the February 2026 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

ICYMI in Feb #NotesfromtheHornBook: 6 picture-book biographies celebrating women in arts professions, educators, + activists www.hbook.com/story/newsle... @simonkids.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social @penguinkids.bsky.social @monicaclarkrob.bsky.social @senickel.bsky.social #WomensHistoryMonth

Such book love! Betsy Bird has included The True Ugly Duckling in her Caldecott 2027 Spring Prediction Edition. Thank you, Betsy! 💙
#picturebookillustration #caldecottprediction #newbook #books #booklove #kidlit #kidlitillustration

Q&A with Garrett Curbow about his new novel, WHISPERS OF INK AND STARLIGHT.
tinyurl.com/mr3a35u4

When a Book Goes Out Of Print Ouch.

This week on Kidlit Survival Guide (the Substack I write with @christinenevans.bsky.social), I talk about when a book goes out of print. (Ouch.) kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/when-a-boo...

The Littlest Elephant: A One and Only Ruby Story

Happy book birthday to @kaaauthor.bsky.social and Lita Judge's The Littlest Elephant: A One and Only Ruby Story! mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/06/cove...

The Year I Stopped Drawing

I added Dr. @grantdraws.bsky.social's The Year I Stopped Drawing to my 2026 Books I Love presentation: www.pinterest.com/mrschureads/...

Inspire children with a fun STEAM activity tied to our picture book biography, THE GLASS PYRAMID: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M. Pei. Plus other fun activities available too: jeannewalkerharvey.com/projects
@ssedlib.bsky.social @eastwestlit.bsky.social @kidlittv.bsky.social

Q&A with Miriam Chernick about her middle grade novel, THE ZUZU SECRET.
tinyurl.com/4mcbb3zj
@miriamchernick.bsky.social

Happy Book Birthday QUESO, JUST IN TIME + 9 Qs with Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ernesto Cisneros - Erin Dealey, Children's Author We chat about the making of QUESO, JUST IN TIME the latest mg novel by Pura Belpré Award-winning Ernesto Cisneros.

Happy Book Birthday QUESO, JUST IN TIME + 9 Qs with Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ernesto Cisneros /Quill Tree @eastwestlit.bsky.social #kidlit #skybrarians #TLSky

erindealey.com/book-birthda...

LOVE seeing excited #librarian pals get their preorders of SQUIRREL DRAWS BIG FEELINGS— Illus. @lucianaillustra.bsky.social @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social @eastwestlit.bsky.social —hooray!!!! Thanks Mrs. Baker 🌟📚🌟 #kidlit

"The instinct toward #creativity in difficult moments is not incidental. It is the brain’s attempt to restore coherence, & may be one of the most human things about us."
@psychologytoday.com

In the pb Squirrel Draws BIG Feelings, #ART "feels like a quiet hug." @lucianaillustra.bsky.social #kidlit

@kwrights.bsky.social Thank you for the retweet!

This is such a great book!

"The True Ugly Duckling is one of the most beautifully written and illustrated biographies I’ve come across... Every library, public, school or home, should have a copy of The True Ugly Duckling." Thank you @crackingthecover.bsky.social! www.crackingthecover.com/28013/the-tr... #newbook #kidlit

The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan

"Our story begins when Finnegan is lost in the woods, injured and alone. But a human happens upon him, and this human takes Finn to the most unlikely of places—the zoo! Here, Finn is given a new job . . ." —Jasmine Warga mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-...

Completing Mr. Schu's sentences (and reading his book, The Gift of Story) made me think deeply about the way I work. And I am so very grateful for that, because that changed my lens and how I focus it on all of my projects.
#kidlit #poetry #writingcommunity #versenovel #fiction

Wonderful selection! ❤️

Inspire creativity! I'm happy to share fun downloadable activities tied to my picture book biographies of creative people! Several activities for each book: www.jeannewalkerharvey.com/projects I've used them at my events at museums, libraries, schools, bookstores! Popular! @eastwestlit.bsky.social

“Unboxing & holding our book will never cease to be a highlight for me, no matter how many books I illustrate.” @lucianaillustra.bsky.social
the amazing Illus of
SQUIRREL DRAWS BIG FEELINGS @erindealey.bsky.social @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social @eastwestlit.bsky.social
Yayyy! It’s here!

Squirrel Draws Big Feelings by Erin Dealey Discover the latest children's books—picture books, middle grade, young adult and more

Review:
SQUIRREL DRAWS BIG FEELINGS @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social @lucianaillustra.bsky.social #kidlit

"A cute squirrel battles to handle its over-powering emotions in a meaningful way...Then, there's the warmth of friendship and being there for others..." www.bookwormforkids.com/2026/03/squi...