WHO IS SINGING? When an important and delightful nonfiction picture book released some years back, I was invited to write a blurb. It was an honor to do so,...

Perfect time of year for this release of WHO IS SINGING by @janethalfmann.bsky.social
LOVE IT! unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2026/04/who-... #picturebook #Nonfiction @OAEYC #PReschool

What's Holding Educators Back From Adopting AI? Three-plus years after the public release of ChatGPT, teachers' experiences with AI vary enormously.

IMPORTANT for #educators to feel confident in various uses of #AI:

www.edweek.org/technology/w...

Civics: Writing Letters to Politicians with AI's Help Sarah Cooper's civics lesson requires students to make requests of politicians. Adding AI to the research process resulted in letters that were markedly better.

How does #AI fit in Authentic learning? This article is a great example of teacher-led use of generative AI: #NCSS #socialstudies #middlegrade

www.middleweb.com/53174/civics...

DON'T TRUST FISH: Unreliable Narrators I appreciate hearing from readers here, directly or in comments, but I am so enthralled with picture books that I'd post even if no one...

Take a close look at the brilliance in this seemingly simple picture book #DontTrustFish. Consider joining me for a webinar on #UnreliableNarrators next week (link is in the post) @SCBWI #illustrators #PBwriters #MGlit

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2026/02/dont...

SO MANY YEARS: A Juneteenth Story No, it's not the brutal midwest snow that has me sharing a JUNETEENTH picture book on February first. And it's not (only) due to this being ...

Join me in supporting and spreading every aspect of #BLACKHISTORYMONTH, in social media and in personal lives. The truth of our shared history must not be erased. That’s been tried.

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2026/02/so-m...

Feb 17, 2026 WI Trust Unreliable Narrators Trust Unreliable Narrators (and Characters) to Attract Readers: Tips, Techniques, and Traps webinar presented by Author and Book Reviewer Sandy Brehl

Readers, writers, illustrators… any interest in any upcoming webinar on #UnrelaibleNarrators offered thru @SCBWI #Wisconsin? Here’s a link

www.scbwi.org/events/feb-1...
@scbwi-ohionorth.bsky.social

New Year Resolution: TOUCH GRASS (Leaf Town Forever) There are so many ways in which I'm "out of the loop" when it comes to social media and current lingo. Am I alone in STILL not understandin...

Based on a true story, this is fun, inspiring, #haiku account of kids being kids! #LeafTownForever

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2026/01/new-...

MY HOME IS MY BACKPACK FLORIS BOOKS, 2025  MY HOME IS MY BACKPACK is written by EUGENIA PERRELLA and illustrated by ANGELA SALERNO . Today, traditional Thanksgivi...

Today, every day, we carry our HOMES with us. Some need to do that literally, and I wish them well and support their journeys.
@euperlla.bsky.social
unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/11/my-h...

I AM WE! (A Crow's Eye View of Unity) I can't help myself... here's another amazing picture book about BIRDS!  CHRONICLE BOOKS, 2025 I AM WE: How Crows Come Together to Survive ...

Let’s pause to recognize the amazing truths about #CROWS! #picturebooks #nonfiction #voice

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/10/i-am...

INTERVIEW with SHRUTHI RAO, Author of WHEN SCIENCE STOOD STILL Last week I posted a review and commentary on an important new non-fiction biographic picture book written by SHRUTHI ROA and illustrated ...

Take a moment to “:meet” @shrurao.bsky.social and learn more about her latest released:

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/10/inte...

WE ARE DEFINITELY HUMAN Swells with Heart and Humor TUNDRA BOOKS, 2024 Be prepared to suspend your inner cynic to embrace a naive and welcoming attitude in  WE ARE DEFINITELY HUMAN by X. Fa...

This is #NOKINGS weekend, and I can’t help but connect this fun and funny #picturebook with the bigger picture of treating people as #HUMAN! #WeAreDefinitielyHuman unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/10/we-a...

WHEN SCIENCE STOOD STILL (Not a Reference to Current Events) I had the pleasure of working (virtually) with the author of this book while we shared responsibilities on a nonfiction CYBILS AWARDS panel....

HAPPY #BOOKBIRTHDAY to @shrurao.bsky.social for this terrific new #nonficiton #picturebook #biography

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/10/when...

What a terrific start! And it just keeps getting better.

Terrific start for day one at #scbwiOhioNorth conference!
thx to all !

Nature Calls... In the Best of Ways: WHERE THE DEER SLIP THROUGH Some things, particularly NATURE, are reliably calming to me. I often hear the same is true for many others. In any of its glorious forms (a...

A delightful way to begin the week: WHERE THE DEER SLIP THROUGH by @Kateywrites@ and Beth Hommes, frome Lane Books
#picturebook #nature

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/09/natu...

Following Dreams: TO SEE AN OWL The picture books i feature here are among those I consider the best of the best. THere's no denying that my choices are highly subjective, ...

When a #nonfiction #picturebook carries a heartfelt story about pursuing dreams, it deserves extra attention. Help spread the word:

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/09/foll...

IT'S CORN PICKING TIME! A Must-Harvest New Picture Book In case you are unfamiliar, I want to call out author JILL ESBAUM as a master of rhymed text in picture books. Click on her name to see ful...

It’s no surprise that I love #picturebooks by Jill Esbaum, but this latest is a-maize-ing! #ItsCornPickingTime

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/08/its-...
#nonficiton

My posts are reviews and interviews about picture books. On Bluesky but not constantly. Https://unpackingpicturebookpower.Blogspot.com

What ONE CAN BE... Take a Look Some, (actually, quite a few) picture book authors reliably create books that quickly become not only successful but special. Pat Z Miller ...

Fans of @patzmiller.bsky.social DON’T miss this ng new age, #ONECANBE from @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social . What a beauty and joy!

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/08/what...

Terrific morning start @thewritingbarn.bsky.social with #PH #WBPITCH.Thx to all involved!

SPOOKY LAKES: Does That Get Your Attention? ABRAMS BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS  2024 SPOOKY LAKES: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet is written and illustrated by Geo Rut...

Summer #picturebook challenge: Check out #SPOOKYLAKES unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/07/spoo...

We're Taking a Break, Sort-of Since you’ve been living in the same world we have, you know that books and stories have turned into the toxic rope in an aggressive cultural tug-of-war.

If you haven’t heard, #CYBILSAWARDS has news: cybilsawards.substack.com/p/were-takin...

As Promised: Marsha Diane Arnold Interview About Big Boy 4014 Marsha Diane Arnold A recent review of the remarkable nonfiction picture book, BIG BOY 4014, can be read, HERE. My remarks and those of man...

You won’t want to miss this interview with @marshadianearnold.bsky.social about her latest release!
#Trains #nonfiction #picturebooks #Writingmentor

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/05/as-p...

Make Way for a WONDER: BIG BOY 4014! Readers: Here's a preliminary note about this book before my review. Arnold opens the account with this information, and it  says so much ab...

Fans of #trains, @marshadianearnold.bsky.social and amazing writing and images will love this new #Nonfiction #@picturebook, releasing MAY 1! #BigBoy4014 #STEM #Steam

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/04/make...

Three Cheers for LIBRARY MONTH! (Shhh...) ORSON and the WORLD'S LOUDEST LIBRARY I grew up in the era of silent libraries. I have been SHUSHED more than once (or dozens of times) while using a library. So I'm delighted ...

Wrapping up #LibraryMonth with this absolutely wonderful #picturebook. No need to #shush anyone about it-0 give a cheer and share widely!

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/04/thre...

Knitting, cheerleading, fishing: This is what a cellphone ban looks like in one school district “No cellphones” is the message that students get in the Spokane, Washington, school district, where the devices are banned. But the district has also invested in extracurriculars to engage students “i...

Here’s what a #Cellphone #Ban looks like in one district: hechingerreport.org/knitting-che...
@NCSS

HOPE Is a Thing With Wings... and Ears: RABBIT's FEAT HIPPO PARK (Astra Books) 2025 Spring is the season of change, of hope, of... rabbits! Whether you welcome them or dread their nibbling intru...

Feel a need for a strong dose of #HOPE? #RabbitsFeat will entertain, inspire, and delight you. #picturebook #inspiration #SEL

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/04/hope...

A BOARD BOOK Beauty That IS NEVER BORING Board books are a specific and appealing format of picture books. Parents, teachers, and librarians will confirm that they are among the fa...

#boardBookj alert- These new offerings are not just for infants. Such gorgeous design, sturdy construction, and delightful #nonfiction content:

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-bo...

Your remarks are humbling, but your new book is thrilling!

INTERVIEW with Author JOYCE UGLOW: STUCK! STUCK! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits,    written by Joyce P. Uglow and illustrated by Valerya Milovanova.  Bushel and Peck Books, 2025 Ful...

LA folks? Heads up!
March 22, noon to 4:00 PM, two hear @jpuglow.bsky.social in live presentation at the La Brea GIRLS IN #STEM event. Joyce will talk about her book, read it, lead activities, and provide a discussion guide.

unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.com/2025/03/inte...