Our Lake

Navigating Night

"Picture books are for everyone!" —Caldecott Honor Artist Angie Kang mrschureads.blogspot.com/2026/02/cald...

Light green background with red text that reads WORLD READ ALOUD DAY and green text that reads FEBRUARY 4, 2026. Illustration shows a cartoon panda, tortoise, and other animals reading books together.

World Read Aloud Day is coming up in less than a month! Here's a collection of virtual read-alouds to share and a list of author volunteers who will be Zooming into classrooms & libraries that day: katemessner.com/zoom-with-an...

Promotional graphic featuring the cover of the book Today I Am: 10 Stories of Belonging, edited by Jael Richardson. The image includes logos for the Ontario Arts Council, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards, and the Ontario Arts Foundation, as well as the Scholastic logo. Text at the bottom notes the book is shortlisted for the 2025 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award.

📚🇨🇦 TODAY I AM: 10 Stories Of Belonging is a fresh & fearless collection of short fiction, poetry, & graphic fict for MG by #BIPOC authors, edited by @jaelrichardson.bsky.social, publisher: Scholastic Canada. Cover & illus by Salini Perera. www.scholastic.ca/our-books/bo... #SchwartzAwards #CanKidLit

"EVERY SO OFTEN A BOOK COMES ALONG THAT IS SO BRAVE + NECESSARY, IT EXTENDS A LIFELINE WITEN ITS NEEDED MOST. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS. " - KATHERINE APPLEGATE

I’m honored Louder Than Hunger is on display at Unabridged Bookstore, especially because there is a scene that takes place inside the bookstore.

OMG! So exciting! I ❤️ Jason Reynolds and the track series! #tlskychat #books #skybooks #booksky

Just an incredible community discussion with renowned KidLit author Jason Reynolds about art, writing for children, community, and freedom at @guthrietheater.bsky.social yesterday afternoon! 🙌🏽👍🏽 I’m so grateful to More Than a Single Story, my son and his bestie, and everyone who came out. ✨

We, the former National Ambassadors of Young People's Literature, are united in our strong opposition to the recent removal of Dr. Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress. As advocates for the reading lives of children and their families, we believe in promoting libraries as places for young people to learn, grow, and connect. Through Dr. Hayden's innovative leadership, the Library - a research institution with the largest holdings in the world - served as a national model of how all libraries could engage a new generation. Her wisdom and vision, along with her unfailing ability to work impartially with all constituents, are unparalleled. Dr. Hayden's dismissal is deeply disturbing and should alarm all Americans. We urge everyone who values our libraries and our foundational principles to contact their leaders in Congress now. Jon Scieszka 2008 - 2009 Katherine Paterson 2010- 2011 Kate DiCamillo 2014- 2015 Gene Luen Yang 2016-2017 Jacqueline Woodson 2018- 2019 Jason Reynolds 2020 - 2022 Meg Medina 2023- 2024

Firing of librarians who promote freedom to read is a censorship tactic. Thank you Jon Scieszka,
Katherine Paterson, Kate DiCamillo, Gene Luen Yang, Jacqueline Woodson, Jason Reynolds & Meg Medina for making this statement in support of Dr Carla Hayden

Jason Reynolds Named Banned Books Week Honorary Chair; 1619 Project Books Coming in November; and More | News Bites Banned Books Week has its first Honorary Chair; two titles created from The 1619 Project will be released in November; free webinars on teaching Juneteenth and reopening institutions after COVID vacci...

Jason Reynolds Steps Up
Award-winning author becomes first Banned Books Week Honorary Chair as attacks escalate.
www.slj.com/story/Jason-...
#fightingcensorship #greatbooks #librariesinAmerica #slj

@pernille.bsky.social @drgravityg.bsky.social

Would I like being a student in my own classroom? A reflection tool

One of my driving questions for the past 15 years has been a simple one; at the end of the day, would I like being a student in my own classroom? And as I have one month left of school, I feel the question pressing in on me as I…

@pernille.bsky.social @drgravityg.bsky.social

@mrschureads.bsky.social @donalynbooks.bsky.social @mrsclark.bsky.social

Please share!! The book I wish I had written! One of the best books for middle school I’ve ever read. Story about a group of kids rising against book censorship. So relevant!!

PETITION: Stop Trump's Attack on the Library of Congress We need to show that Americans will not stand for yet another attack on our institutions. Sign the petition today!

I just signed — hope you will, too! #booksky #kidlit action.everylibrary.org/congresshayden

Often we think of the creation of reading structures, routines, and rules.

But what if we also considered reading opportunities?

What opportunities would children like to have?

Which opportunities can we also create?

Why do opportunities help us consider new ways we can create reading joy?

Why are we having 11 year olds sit for 2-3 hours to take a state test? When will this end??😭

El Niño

Happy book birthday to Pam Muñoz Ryan's El Niño! It is a gem! I never would have predicted what happens!

I can’t wait to reveal this year’s choices ❤️ #gra25

WITNESS

Hope laced up her boots
this morning,
grabbed her sign
and marched down Main Streets
from coast to coast,
to drown out every vestige
of despair, distress, and fear
by shouting
louder than loud:
I. AM. HERE.

April 5, 2025
Nikki Grimes.

History Smashers: The Underground Railroad by Kate Messner, Gwendolyn Hooks: 9780593428931 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about the Underground Railroad and Black Americans' struggle for freedom. Perfect for fans of I Survived! and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales. Before the ...

You can't talk about the Underground Railroad without talking about slavery. That's why HISTORY SMASHERS: UNDERGROUND RAILROAD, co-authored w/ Gwendolyn Hooks & illustrated by Damon Smyth, goes back to the very beginning of slavery in the Americas. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/677647...

"My Big Book of Ideas" inspired by Ruthie Rose's Big Idea: d3kr0g7umcubly.cloudfront.net/candlewick-p...

Green background with a photo of Kate Messner and book cover for HISTORY SMASHERS EARTH DAY AND THE ENVIRONMENT with book tour schedule: Meet Middle Grade Author Kate Messner "Fun, fast history for kids who want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Absolutely smashing!" -CANDACE FLEMING, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR HISTORY SMASHERS EARTH DAY AND THE ENVIRONMENT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THIS STORY. Tuesday, March Il 6:30 pm CDT Clenville Public Library In association with The Book Stall Glenview, IL Wednesday, March 12 5:00 pm CDT Anderson's Downers Crove Downers Grove, IL Friday, March 14 6:00 pm MDT The Bookies Bookstore Denver, CO Saturday, March 15 1:30 pm MDT Boise Public Library In association with Rediscovered Books, Boise, ID Monday, March 17 6:00 pm EDT Penn State Harrisburg

Chicago, Denver, Boise, and Harrisburg friends - I'm headed your way on book tour this week!

Click & keep reading for links to the public events (thread). Some require registration, so please check details & I hope I'll get to see you soon! ❤️

I live in a country where book bans have been prohibited since 1849.

And yet, the rise of book bans in America and the incredible impact it is having, is something I spend a lot of time thinking about, discussing, and fighting against. Why do I care when I am across an ocean?

Woot! If you have never participated, consider thinking ahead to 2025. #GRA is an excellent way to connect your readers to others around the world with a book!
More details here if you are new to the idea: theglobalreadaloud.com #EduSky