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Posts by Ann Marie Stephens

I’m sorry. That’s scary. Glad you are better. 🤗

1 week ago 1 0 0 0
Frog Face

Frog Face

Cover Reveal: Frog Face by Blythe Russo mrschureads.blogspot.com/2026/04/frog...

2 weeks ago 10 1 0 0
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CATapult hits shelves in 3 months! 🐈 💫 Preorder where books are sold. #jennharney #astrayoungreaders #stem #math #kidlit

3 weeks ago 4 0 0 0
Handwritten quote on a white sheet with an illustrated face at the bottom and pink hearts around the text. The quote reads: "If you love a book, write a nice review. It gives the author encouragement for bad days when they want to take up scorpion petting." — Liana Brooks

Handwritten quote on a white sheet with an illustrated face at the bottom and pink hearts around the text. The quote reads: "If you love a book, write a nice review. It gives the author encouragement for bad days when they want to take up scorpion petting." — Liana Brooks

If you love a book, write a nice review. It gives the author encouragement for bad days when they want to take up scorpion petting. - @lianabrooks.bsky.social

#WriterSky #BookSky #ReaderSky

1 month ago 169 48 1 5
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Going Green: Writing Books about Nature and the Environment to Inspire and Delight Youth with Award-Winning Author Sue Fliess René Bartos: I am so excited to be able to chat with author Sue Fliess today! Welcome to Writers’ Rumpus, Sue! I am honored to talk to such an accomplished author. You are an award-winning, bestsel…

Celebrating Green 💚 with author @suefliess.bsky.social on Writers' Rumpus blog- Going Green: Writing Books about Nature and the Environment to Inspire and Delight Youth with Award-Winning Author Sue Fliess writersrumpus.com/2026/03/10/g...
#kidlit #girlsinstem #stemeducation #oceanconservation

1 month ago 2 2 0 0
Cartoon of a man in a turtleneck drinking wine and a woman holding a glass. Man says, “I think I’m going to write children’s books. Thought I’d start with something easy, like a picture book.” Woman replies, “I think I’m going to be a cage fighter. Thought I’d start with something easy, like a guy in a turtleneck.” Text at bottom: ©Debbie Ridpath Ohi (DebbieOhi.com) & Catherine Bailey (CatherineBaileyBooks.com).

Cartoon of a man in a turtleneck drinking wine and a woman holding a glass. Man says, “I think I’m going to write children’s books. Thought I’d start with something easy, like a picture book.” Woman replies, “I think I’m going to be a cage fighter. Thought I’d start with something easy, like a guy in a turtleneck.” Text at bottom: ©Debbie Ridpath Ohi (DebbieOhi.com) & Catherine Bailey (CatherineBaileyBooks.com).

What not to say to a picture book author.
Thanks to Catherine Bailey for the caption help!
#KidLit

1 month ago 244 38 5 1
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Most Anticipated Books of 2026!
@nmillerillo.bsky.social @noranickum @kimberley A. Gordon Biddle @Carrie Finison IG @fatima_ordinola @chloeitoward.bsky.social
@brennajeanneret.bsky.social @jilanne.bsky.social
#NationalYearOfReading2026

2 months ago 12 4 4 2

My former first grade student!!! 🧡🤗🎉

2 months ago 8 1 0 0
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My first #kidlit purchases of January are full of love and coziness. 🤍🩵 #laurensoloy #vernkousky 👍🏼📚

3 months ago 2 1 0 0
Preview
Love Finds a Way|Hardcover For fans of Love Is My Favorite Thing and I Need a Hug comes a sweet story about the healing power of love. Perfect for Valentine’s Day and beyond!Oscar the bird is worried that one day love wil...

LOVE FINDS A WAY by Vern Kousky www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-finds...

9 months ago 1 1 1 0
Wombat Waiting

Wombat Waiting

"Wombat Waiting tells the story of a 'Destiny Dog': a dog determined to find her person, against all odds — even deadly fires sweeping through southern California." — @kaaauthor.bsky.social mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/10/cove...

3 months ago 19 3 2 0
Kirkus review with an image of the cover of CLAYDATE by Dev Petty and Lauren Eldridge. The cover shows an anthropomorphic potato and purple and green unicorn dragon and reads: The two balls of clay introduced in Claymates (2017)—one brown, one gray—now play god, with mixed results. While the gray ball slumbers, the brown one creates a whole new blob made of blue and green clay. “I take a short nap and you make a new friend?” asks the uncertain gray ball. When it becomes clear that the new creation prefers to take the shape of a unicorn dragon, the gray ball decides to make an accompanying knight to do battle. Unfortunately, it turns out that the brown one is better at making things than its friend. Kids with peers or siblings whose artistic talents exceed their own will instantly sympathize with the gray’s increasing frustration at its inability to make a cool sword (it looks like a banana), a knight (his resemblance to a lumpy tuber lands him the nickname Sir Potato), or a horse (don’t ask). Happily, innate talent is less important than fun when it comes to using one’s imagination—a message that goes down easy, accompanied by a heavy dose of wit and whimsy. Once more, Eldridge’s sculpted creations, photographed against an artist’s desk, charm; her visual gags meld effortlessly with Petty’s written ones, rendering this book just as marvelous a read-aloud for groups as for lapsit storytimes. Additionally, Eldridge’s gift for wresting keen facial expressions—from glee to overt horror—out of her clay creations is without compare. A sublime blend of the snarky and sweet.

Kirkus review with an image of the cover of CLAYDATE by Dev Petty and Lauren Eldridge. The cover shows an anthropomorphic potato and purple and green unicorn dragon and reads: The two balls of clay introduced in Claymates (2017)—one brown, one gray—now play god, with mixed results. While the gray ball slumbers, the brown one creates a whole new blob made of blue and green clay. “I take a short nap and you make a new friend?” asks the uncertain gray ball. When it becomes clear that the new creation prefers to take the shape of a unicorn dragon, the gray ball decides to make an accompanying knight to do battle. Unfortunately, it turns out that the brown one is better at making things than its friend. Kids with peers or siblings whose artistic talents exceed their own will instantly sympathize with the gray’s increasing frustration at its inability to make a cool sword (it looks like a banana), a knight (his resemblance to a lumpy tuber lands him the nickname Sir Potato), or a horse (don’t ask). Happily, innate talent is less important than fun when it comes to using one’s imagination—a message that goes down easy, accompanied by a heavy dose of wit and whimsy. Once more, Eldridge’s sculpted creations, photographed against an artist’s desk, charm; her visual gags meld effortlessly with Petty’s written ones, rendering this book just as marvelous a read-aloud for groups as for lapsit storytimes. Additionally, Eldridge’s gift for wresting keen facial expressions—from glee to overt horror—out of her clay creations is without compare. A sublime blend of the snarky and sweet.

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Our first ⭐️ starred ⭐️ review for CLAYDATE, the long-awaited followup to CLAYMATES, from Kirkus!

⭐️ “A sublime blend of the snarky and sweet.”

You can find this madcap silliness by me and @eldridgestudio.bsky.social in April.

Available for preorder now!

#kidlit #picturebooks

3 months ago 19 6 2 1
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It’s the most WONDERFUL time of the year: a VERY SPECIAL ICYMThem Book List & recap of 40+ fabulous #kidlit books of 2025! - Erin Dealey, Children's Author Our VERY SPECIAL ICYMThem Book List 2025 -- 43 fabulous picture books and must-read middle grade novels we don't want you to miss!

Fab #kidlit 2/ @laurenkerstein.bsky.social @suefliess.bsky.social @amstephens.bsky.social @fuse8.bsky.social @hellonathanc.bsky.social @bshum79.bsky.social @nadinepresley.bsky.social @heatherbrockmanlee.bsky.social @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social @senickel.bsky.social erindealey.com/authors-and-...

4 months ago 7 5 1 0
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Sorting Sweets: KidLit Confections Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie

Yes! I just read CATERWAUL by @amstephens.bsky.social and it's adorable (it's one of a series, but works totally on its own, so you can have options!) bookshop.org/a/8835/97816...
It was my #KidLitConfections recommendation last week. i-am-so-grateful.blogspot.com/2025/12/pean... #KidLitChat

4 months ago 3 1 1 0
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Happy book birthday to:

🎂 Gabby Torres Is the Best Winner Ever by Angela Dominguez

🐈 CATerwaul! by Ann Marie Stephens @amstephens.bsky.social

We can’t wait to read them! Thank you for being part of BookBreak!

4 months ago 2 1 0 0
illustrated cover of CATERWAUL by Ann Marie Stephens and Jenn Harney. Several kittens are helping to pack stacks and stacks of boxes, many of which are labeled with various sorting tags like "red" and "blue" or "keep" and "donate." The kittens aren't being as helpful as you would hope. Two are unspooling rolls of toilet paper and winding it around themselves and everything else. Two are making a ruckus by banging on pots and pans. Others are more interested in playing with the boxes than putting things inside them. The title, CATERWAUL! is displayed in a bold, red and orange font that looks like wide paintbrush strokes diagonally across the top third of the cover.

illustrated cover of CATERWAUL by Ann Marie Stephens and Jenn Harney. Several kittens are helping to pack stacks and stacks of boxes, many of which are labeled with various sorting tags like "red" and "blue" or "keep" and "donate." The kittens aren't being as helpful as you would hope. Two are unspooling rolls of toilet paper and winding it around themselves and everything else. Two are making a ruckus by banging on pots and pans. Others are more interested in playing with the boxes than putting things inside them. The title, CATERWAUL! is displayed in a bold, red and orange font that looks like wide paintbrush strokes diagonally across the top third of the cover.

close-up photo of Peanut Butter and Chocolate Mousse Pie: a full pie in a pink glass pie plate, with one slice missing. The pie has a flaky, chocolate crust, with thick, fluffy layers of peanut butter mousse, dark chocolate mousse, and vanilla whipped cream.

close-up photo of Peanut Butter and Chocolate Mousse Pie: a full pie in a pink glass pie plate, with one slice missing. The pie has a flaky, chocolate crust, with thick, fluffy layers of peanut butter mousse, dark chocolate mousse, and vanilla whipped cream.

Happy book birthday to CATERWAUL by @amstephens.bsky.social and @jennharknee.bsky.social <3 I sorted through all of my yummy dessert recipes to find the perfect #KidLitConfections recipe to share with this! Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie! Recipe & blog post coming later today...

4 months ago 2 1 0 0

I love this!

4 months ago 1 0 1 0
photo of a close-up cropped photo of a slice of Peanut Butter and Chocolate Mousse Pie on a white plate with a pink and green floral border. The pie has a flaky, chocolate crust, with thick, fluffy layers of peanut butter mousse, dark chocolate mousse, and vanilla whipped cream. Behind the slice of pie, slightly out of focus, is a full pie with one slice removed.

photo of a close-up cropped photo of a slice of Peanut Butter and Chocolate Mousse Pie on a white plate with a pink and green floral border. The pie has a flaky, chocolate crust, with thick, fluffy layers of peanut butter mousse, dark chocolate mousse, and vanilla whipped cream. Behind the slice of pie, slightly out of focus, is a full pie with one slice removed.

illustrated cover of CATERWAUL by Ann Marie Stephens and Jenn Harney. Several kittens are helping to pack stacks and stacks of boxes, many of which are labeled with various sorting tags like "red" and "blue" or "keep" and "donate." The kittens aren't being as helpful as you would hope. Two are unspooling rolls of toilet paper and winding it around themselves and everything else. Two are making a ruckus by banging on pots and pans. Others are more interested in playing with the boxes than putting things inside them. The title, CATERWAUL! is displayed in a bold, red and orange font that looks like wide paintbrush strokes diagonally across the top third of the cover.

illustrated cover of CATERWAUL by Ann Marie Stephens and Jenn Harney. Several kittens are helping to pack stacks and stacks of boxes, many of which are labeled with various sorting tags like "red" and "blue" or "keep" and "donate." The kittens aren't being as helpful as you would hope. Two are unspooling rolls of toilet paper and winding it around themselves and everything else. Two are making a ruckus by banging on pots and pans. Others are more interested in playing with the boxes than putting things inside them. The title, CATERWAUL! is displayed in a bold, red and orange font that looks like wide paintbrush strokes diagonally across the top third of the cover.

close-up photo of Peanut Butter and Chocolate Mousse Pie: a full pie in a pink glass pie plate, with one slice missing. The pie has a flaky, chocolate crust, with thick, fluffy layers of peanut butter mousse, dark chocolate mousse, and vanilla whipped cream.

close-up photo of Peanut Butter and Chocolate Mousse Pie: a full pie in a pink glass pie plate, with one slice missing. The pie has a flaky, chocolate crust, with thick, fluffy layers of peanut butter mousse, dark chocolate mousse, and vanilla whipped cream.

I've been posting my #KidLitConfections recipes more regularly (I posted one just minutes ago! Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie, which pairs well with CATERWAUL by @amstephens.bsky.social & @jennharknee.bsky.social) i-am-so-grateful.blogspot.com/2025/12/pean... #KidLitChat

4 months ago 14 1 7 0
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Woo-hoo! I'm thrilled to finally share the cover plus an interior spread of my upcoming book.

Young dinosaur lovers will be captivated.

@randomhousekids.bsky.social
#educsky #TLsky #Skybrarian #kidlit #dinosaurs

5 months ago 14 4 1 0
No Cats In The Library 🐱📚 | Reading Rainbow 📖 🌈 | Full Episode | @Kidzuko​
No Cats In The Library 🐱📚 | Reading Rainbow 📖 🌈 | Full Episode | @Kidzuko​ YouTube video by Kidzuko

Reading Rainbow… is back! 🥹

This LeVar Burton/Reading Rainbow raised human is feeling all of the library joy. We hope your kids believe they belong in books, just like you ✨

Take a look, it’s in a book 📚🌈🦋🌌
youtu.be/gHAIjSkmnYI?...

6 months ago 2774 971 45 76
The Dinosaur and the Bird: A Tale of Prehistoric Friendship

The Dinosaur and the Bird: A Tale of Prehistoric Friendship

Cover Reveal: The Dinosaur and the Bird: A Tale of Prehistoric Friendship by Richard Ho and Jamie Green mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-...

6 months ago 14 2 0 0
Flight of the Puffin

Flight of the Puffin

Into the Rapids

Into the Rapids

Opinions and Opossums

Opinions and Opossums

Happy birthday, @annbraden.bsky.social!

7 months ago 7 1 1 0
Deal announcement screenshot for BABY BOOT CAMP with author and illustrator headshots on light blue background.

Deal announcement screenshot for BABY BOOT CAMP with author and illustrator headshots on light blue background.

Congratulations to @suefliess.bsky.social, @amstephens.bsky.social, and @tiffanyeverett.bsky.social on their latest deal with @sourcebooks.bsky.social. We can't wait for BABY BOOT CAMP to hit the shelves! #rhyming #BoardBook #PictureBook

8 months ago 5 2 0 0
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From axolotl to whale shark, I have made a LOT of drawing sheets. I make a new one each month for my author newsletter: ginaperry.beehiiv.com What should I make for August? #kidlit #printables

8 months ago 14 5 1 0
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Librarians Open New Worlds One Book at a Time The Glen Rock Library was a place of pure magic. I’m betting it still is! When I was younger, they offered a reading challenge, as...

My talented friend @laurenkerstein.bsky.social honors librarians and celebrates her forthcoming librarian picture book, HOPE RODE. Check out her inspiring collection of books here: imaginationsoup.net/librarians-o... #kidlit

8 months ago 3 2 0 1
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Free summer fun ideas for the kids! 🐥⭐️ #jialiu #astrakidsbooks #stem #math #FamilyFun #SummerFun #kidlit #summerschool

9 months ago 2 0 1 0
Light blue broken crayon arranged in an L-shape, with a drawing of a girl floating on her back in a blue puddle. The illustration is integrated with the crayon mark, and the crayon label reads “periwinkle / florecita azul claro / pervenche.” Artwork is signed “D. Ohi.”

Light blue broken crayon arranged in an L-shape, with a drawing of a girl floating on her back in a blue puddle. The illustration is integrated with the crayon mark, and the crayon label reads “periwinkle / florecita azul claro / pervenche.” Artwork is signed “D. Ohi.”

You never know what will come out of a #BrokenCrayon.

#Uplift #FoundObjectArt

9 months ago 101 16 2 0
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Just Right

Just Right

"Picture books are magic because they speak a universal language with images we all understand and feel." — @torreymaldonado.bsky.social mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/07/just...

9 months ago 28 6 0 0
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Today on the blog: June’s Book of the Month is JIM! SIX TRUE STORIES ABOUT ONE GREAT ARTIST: JAMES MARSHALL, creatively written and illustrated by Jerrold Connors. lynnbeckerbooks.blogspot.com/2025/06/june...

9 months ago 5 3 0 0
A photo of the Random House Children's Books booth at ALA, highlighting a copy of WITCHYCAKES on the shelf.

A photo of the Random House Children's Books booth at ALA, highlighting a copy of WITCHYCAKES on the shelf.

A photo of the Random House Children's Books booth at ALA, with a closeup of a copy of WITCHYCAKES on the shelf.

A photo of the Random House Children's Books booth at ALA, with a closeup of a copy of WITCHYCAKES on the shelf.

Pics of my witchy baby in the @randomhousekids.bsky.social booth at #ALAAC25! If you were there, did you take a peek? 🌙🧁🐚💙

#kidlit #librarians #booksky

9 months ago 3 1 1 0