So, you want to publish a picture book . . . start here! Surprise, the first step isn't writing your book! This webinar will explore how your publishing goals will determine your publishing path.

If you have an idea for a picture book and you are considering your publishing options, we have a Picture Books 101 for you. Register 👇🏾

www.eventbrite.com/e/so-you-wan...

Promotional image for the Asian Voices in Children's Literature Writing Contest, cosponsored by Sambasivan and Parikh and Free Spirit Publishing.

New writing contest! 🚨

Cosponsored w/ @sambasivanparikh.bsky.social, the Asian Voices in Children's Literature Writing Contest's mission is to elevate authentic, culturally relevant children's stories written by & about Asian heritage people. Details: go.teachercreatedmaterials.com/free-spirit/...

🌸Submissions must be original children’s books for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or for ages 4–8 (300–1,000 words)🌸

Every entry is considered for publication by @freespiritbooks.bsky.social. Open to US residents of Asian heritage who at the time of entry are at least 18 years of age.

Asian Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest The Asian Voices in Children’s Literature: Writing Contest is sponsored by Sambasivan & Parikh and Free Spirit Publishing.

🚨Submissions open May 4🚨

The Asian Voices Contest sponsored by Sambasivan & Parikh and Free Spirit Publishing/TCM aims to elevate authentic, culturally relevant children’s stories written by and about people of Asian heritage.

go.teachercreatedmaterials.com/free-spirit/...

Grossmont school district faces more lawsuits over alleged 'anti-LGBTQ' agenda Nine librarians and a special education administrator claim 'anti-LGBTQ' discrimination in Grossmont Union.

Nine librarians have sued Grossmont Union High School District (CA) for being directed to not share LGBTQ+ books or make the libraries LGBTQ+ welcoming spaces.

www.cbs8.com/article/news...

📣Aspiring PB authors

If you have an idea for a picture book but don’t know where to start, we are offering a 4-part webinar series to help you understand publishing pathways, positioning, production, and marketing.

Register via link below for part 1/4:

www.sambasivanandparikh.com/pages/events

Front cover for THE FIRE WALKER by Ainkaran Sivaaji and N. Dejeshwini. Cover shows a father and son duo facing a fiery glow with a Tamil temple in the background.

We are thrilled to reveal the cover for THE FIRE WALKER by Ainkaran Sivaaji and N. Dejeshwini!

Set in a small Tamil fishing village in Sri Lanka, this picture book is a testament to the power of faith and love for family.

Pre-orders are open: www.sambasivanandparikh.com/products/the...

Small press pubs, if you are using spreadsheets+docs to manage your publishing data, we have recs for free/affordable solutions that will help manage the chaos.

Sign up for a deep-dive webinar:

Friday, March 27th | 10 AM PT/1 PM ET

Zoom.

$12.50 + tax.

www.sambasivanandparikh.com/pages/events

Auction lineup for Lit for Queer Liberation

PB Manuscript Critique from S&P for Lit for Queer Liberation Auction

Query Critique from S&P for Lit for Queer Liberation Auction

In the spirit of solidarity this #IWD2026, please consider supporting Lit for Queer Liberation Auction to uplift LGBTQIA2+ folx facing financial hardship. We have manuscript and query critiques to bid on, but there are 580+ items to choose from!

Auction: www.32auctions.com/LitforQueerL...

We are considering offering a 4-week masterclass on independently publishing a picture book. We have a quick, anonymous poll that would help us gauge interest. Could you take a minute to vote? Thank you! #authorsky

strawpoll.com/Q0Zp7MdW6gM

We are a small children’s press proud to represent diasporic voices in kidlit. Our books have been recognized by ALA Rise, NCSS, CBC, SABA, and IBPA, among others. 👇🏾

Kudos to our children's literature scholar colleague!

She deserves every single penny *and* a position at an institution that appreciates her as a teacher and scholar.

🎊DIASPORA-ISH launches today🎊

We are honored to champion educator Sethi’s powerful and heartfelt memoir-in-verse, a learning resource for young adults that creates space for deep conversation and community.

#socialjusticereaders #socialjusticeeducators #edusky

A joyful tale of finding connection and making friends.—Kirkus Reviews (Starred) Background art and cover image for SIGN UP FOR ADVENTURE

A stellar review for SIGN UP FOR ADVENTURE by Kirkus! Congratulations, Lavanya Karthik!

#Deaf #booksky #edusky

A charming tale of pursuing a dream that features marvelous images.—Kirkus Reviews for THE FIRST GIRL ON THE STAGE, background shows interior art from the book

Congratulations, @shrurao.bsky.social and Devika Joglekar for this wonderful review from Kirkus🥳🎉

“. . . a sweet story about determination . . . Joglekar’s illustrations are phenomenal; the style is simple but the use of color shines . . . which make them seem to leap off the page.”-Kirkus Reviews

A timely interrogation of individual identities paving the way for collective action. —Kirkus Reviews. Cover for DIASPORA-ISH against a navy blue background.

Sethi’s sharp gaze pierces America’s model minority myth and white-adjacent behaviors. —Kirkus Reviews, DIASPORA-ISH by Gayatri Sethi

. . . tackles thorny issues of anti-Blackness, Islamophobia, and white allyship that are often swept under the carpet.—Kirkus Reviews, Diaspora-ish by Gayatri Sethi

A fab review by Kirkus for DIASPORA-ISH by educator and Desi Book Aunty, Gayatri Sethi, that recognizes the power of her timely and timeless words. #socialjusticeeducators #booksky

Go behind the scenes with in-house book distribution nerd Ambika Sambasivan to see how we process purchase orders. #smallpresspublishing

Here to say that we are trying to use this platform to connect and share human thoughts, not post “content” efficiently using AI🤢

Excerpt from Diaspora-ish by Gayatri Sethi titled “If they come for us, where will we go?”

When they come for us, where will we go?

A mug of tea casting a curved shadow on paper, with a drawing of a seated child reading a book positioned on the paper to make it look like the child is sitting on the shadow, leaning against the handle of the mug. Art by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

How do YOU discover books to read? Have your reading habits changed in past year? Pls take a few minutes to answer this anon, multiple-choice informal survey:

reading-2026.paperform.co

I'll post results on my blog. One goal: to help book creators. Thank you! 🩷📚
#BookSky #EduSky #KidLit

Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.

Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.

They are not the same.

Such a lovely cover! Congrats!

A banner image showing the covers of recent comics/books by Abs Bailey (Mother), Anna Readman (Macabre Valley #1), Donya Todd (The Witch's Egg), Keezy Young (Hello Sunshine) and Linnea Sterte (Garden of Globes).

Vote now in the Broken Frontier Awards 2025! Nominees for 'Best Artist' are: @abscomics.bsky.social, Anna Readman, @donyatodd.bsky.social, @keezyyoung.bsky.social and @decassette.bsky.social. #BFAwards25

Online voting form here: www.brokenfrontier.com/introducing-...

Want to join your library board but don't know how to get started? The For the People Library put together this searchable database of library systems that may have openings!

Marking up my copy of DIASPORA*ISH. In the first 70 pages, there's so many themes that belong to so many people across time and place. You do not have to be Desi, African to feel what is being said here @sambasivanparikh.bsky.social

Happy Book Birthday to THE FIRST GIRL ON STAGE🎉

Congratulations to author Shruthi Rao and illustrator Devika Joglekar on the launch of this gorgeous tribute to the women of Yakshagana!

Preview the book and order here: www.sambasivanandparikh.com/products/the...

Advance review copies of Diaspora-ish placed on a rust rug

Social Justice educators, request an ARC of DIASPORA-ISH (YA Creative NF, Feb ‘26) here: forms.gle/CTvL6ZnsZiZu...

An anti-racist, anti-imperialist collective learning resource offering timely academic inquiries. . . www.sambasivanandparikh.com/products/dia...

#edusky

@dcaesj.bsky.social @tsjchicago.bsky.social
@teachingchange.bsky.social

Advance review copies of Diaspora-ish placed on a rust rug

Social Justice educators, request an ARC of DIASPORA-ISH (YA Creative NF, Feb ‘26) here: forms.gle/CTvL6ZnsZiZu...

An anti-racist, anti-imperialist collective learning resource offering timely academic inquiries. . . www.sambasivanandparikh.com/products/dia...

#edusky

Little Tunga dressed in made-up yakshagana costume. Text overlay: This Fall, we are celebrating the courageous women of yakshagana who stepped into the spotlight and started a movement

Front cover for The First Girl on Stage. Pre-orders at SambasivanAndParikh.com

We are excited to reveal the cover and open pre-orders for THE FIRST GIRL ON STAGE by @shrurao.bsky.social and Devika Joglekar!

This gorgeous picture book is a tribute to the pioneering women of yakshagana, a traditional performance art from South India: www.sambasivanandparikh.com/products/the...