Banned Books Week will take place October 5 – 11, 2025. With the escalation in attempts to ban books in libraries, schools, and bookstores around the country.
Join us.
www.scbwi.org/essential-re...
Today’s the first day of Banned Books Week! Take a look at the thread and see if there’s something you can do to protect our freedom to read!
🤩📚🥳 I’m super excited and honored to be at the #WarwickBookFestival one week from today! I’ll be signing TRICKY CHOPSTICKS, giving out fun swag, and running chopstick challenges for all attending. It’s going to be the best time, hope to see you there!
@simonkids.bsky.social @fannyliem.bsky.social
Blue graphic with a bright pink box at the top that says, “Apply Today!” Beneath that, in all caps are the words “Walter Grants” followed by a brief description that says, “WNDB’s Walter Dean Myers Grants provide promising unpublished writers and illustrators $2000 to support their career development” To the left of the text is an illustration of a person with long black hair sitting at a desk and writing in a word doc. At the bottom of the graphic are the dates “October 1st through October 31st,” denoting the application period for Walter Grant applications. In the bottom right hand corner of the graphic is a light green box containing the URL “bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp”, which will direct folks to the application form.
Blue graphic displaying a mock-up internet browser window. At the top of the window is a search bar containing the URL “bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp”, which will direct folks to the application form for WNDB’s Walter Grants. Beneath that, the mock-up browser window is titled “About Walter Grants” and contains the following description: “The Walter Dean Myers Grant provides a financial boost to promising writers and illustrators from diverse backgrounds who are currently unpublished. Each grantee receives $2000 to hone their craft and support their career development. The Walter Grant can be used in a variety of ways, from attending conferences to purchasing new writing devices to covering childcare.”
🔔 Apply for a Walter Dean Myers Grant today!
The Walter Dean Myers Grant program was established to provide grants of $2,000 each to promising diverse writers and illustrators who are currently unpublished. Follow the 🔗 below (also in our bio) to apply ⬇️
💻 bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp
Imagination Fridays return with virtual events for classroom teachers. Join Pam Muñoz Ryan, @adamrex.bsky.social, Duncan Tonatiuh, & Mac Barnett & Shawn Harris as they share their latest book & an activity while taking student questions. Free, registration required.
wowlit.org/blog/2020/11...
#DVpit (Diverse Voices Pitch) is a Bluesky event for marginalized creators that have been historically underrepresented in publishing to pitch their work to agents & editors. Post your pitch on Bluesky on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025 between 8AM ET - 8PM ET. Your pitch must include the #DVpit hashtag (illustrators pitching their art must use #DVArt) A like ❤️ from an agent = a query request A repost 🔁 from an editor = interest in submission once you've signed with an agent A like ❤️ from an editor = editor who takes unagented submissions Please do not like or repost a pitch if you are not an agent or an editor. Support other creators by replying to their pitch or quote-reposting their pitches. Visit dvpit.carrd.co for more detailed guidelines.
Less than a month until #DVpit, a pitch event for marginalized creators looking to find an agent & get traditionally published! Here's a reminder of the rules!
For more guidelines & info go to dvpit.carrd.co
See you all at DVpit on October 8th, 2025!
#writersky #booksky
🎉Thanks for including GENERATION QUEER by @kimmtopping.bsky.social!
This week’s #writinggoal
-sub draft of MvG to critique
-do NOT mess with MvG manuscript while waiting for critique meeting
-review my million drafts of RfD in search of a storyline to commit to
-develop storyline
#kidlit #picturebooks #writing
🏳️🌈June is Pride Month!🎉 To celebrate, we're recommending some books that will help you read with pride not just this month, but all year long! Do you see any favorites?🤔
📚Learn more about these titles and access free, downloadable teacher's guides for each of them: www.leeandlow.com/blog/read-wi...
Because of booksellers and readers, Texas HB 1375—the latest censorship attempt—died without a vote.
We're grateful for the many booksellers and readers who made their voices heard. Their efforts show just how powerful our voices are 💓
So fortunate to attend wonderful Writing Picture Books workshop by @kylelukoff.bsky.social at The Thought Fox writing Den on Saturday. Thank you!
SCBWI Arizona is offering a NF webinar with NF Great, Nancy Castaldo! Limited critiques availabe! To register, go to: www.scbwi.org/events/craft...
Update: #writinggoal
My 3 ideas for an ending have somehow become 5.
#adhd #writing #kidlit
This week’s focus:
in “MvG” manuscript…
- draft/develop ideas for 3 different endings
#writinggoal #kidlit #picturebooks #writing
It's time to ASK @natashakhankazi.bsky.social anything!!!!
Today only until 9 PM Eastern Time, comment your questions and Natasha will pop in today to answer!!!
Questions about publishing? An artist interested in writing? Let us know below!!! #kidlit #kidlitart #askmeanything #pbrisingstars
Children’s Book Week, celebrated this year from May 5–11, will feature a host of programming treats tied into its “An Ocean of Stories” theme buff.ly/D3tpoWl
Pre-orders matter for authors. Why?
1. They tell retailers/publishers there’s demand for a book
And
2. They generate buzz and excitement, which is great!
Looking to preorder?
#PBRS mentor Aya has a book dropping in August that you’re gonna want 👇🏾
bookshop.org/p/books/ever...
Americans in every state will feel the impact if these actions go unchallenged.
Head to ala.org/showup to take action.
Tell Congress to show up #ForOurLibraries.
Use alt-text with images. Not only does it help visually impaired who use screen readers but also:
- Can help neurodivergent.
- Helps your post get discovered.
- When Internet is slow, people will see your alt-text if image doesn't load.
More tips: publish.obsidian.md/debbieohi/al...
#BlueSkyTips
PRIDE PUPPY illustrator @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social is taking on the folks inventing and spreading misinformation about our book! She's brilliant and hilarious- and if you want to know why there's so much fuss about a book about a puppy, just read this.
www.whatwouldjuliedraw.com/pridepuppy
Lavender purple background. Text at the top reads, “New Voices Award Open for Submissions!” Below is more text that reads, “This writing contest is open to unpublished writers of color or Native/Indigenous writers for a picture book manuscript.” To the right of the text is the New Voices Award gold seal, with a deadline of June 30, 2025 written underneath. At the bottom is an illustration from Juna’s Jar by Jane Park, illustrated by Felicia Hoshino. The illustration depicts a square bookcase filled with books. The top of the book case holds things like a glass jar of wash tapes, a cup of colored pencils, a stack of notebooks, a photo of Juna and her friend Hector, and more. Lee & Low Books logo. Illustration copyright © 2014 Felicia Hoshino. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. US only. 18+. Visit leeandlow.com/authors-illustrators/writing-contests/new-voices-award for full terms.
📚Our New Voices Award writing contest is open for submissions!
✨Lee & Low is looking for unpublished authors of color or Indigenous/Native writers hoping to break into the publishing industry for the first time with their picture book manuscript.
💻Learn more: www.leeandlow.com/blog/new-voi...
Earth Day is just two weeks away! This is a great time to read about how we got to this moment in time & all of the challenges we're facing. HISTORY SMASHERS: EARTH DAY & THE ENVIRONMENT is recommended for kids in grade 4 and up (and their grownups, too!) bookshop.org/p/books/hist...
Drawn to the Library, National Library Week. April 6-12, 2025. Colorful cartoon illustration of young people at the library drawing, sewing, reading together, and asking the librarian a question.
#NationalLibraryWeek kicks off today! It’s a time to celebrate the places that welcome everyone, spark curiosity, and strengthen our communities.
This week, take a moment to discover—or rediscover—what makes your library special.
What draws you to the library?
ilovelibraries.org/national-lib...
Hi, I am open to queries again today. I was trying to think of what I am looking for. I'd love to see more multicultual picture books and I am in a weirdly dystopian mood (even though I am in one? Maybe a more fun and exciting and less stupid dystopia?) querytracker.net/query/EmilyK...
Cartoon illustration of book with smiling face walking and waving hello. National Library Outreach Day. April 9. 2025.
📚🚐 One week from today! Celebrate National #LibraryOutreachDay on April 9.
Let’s recognize the library professionals who bring resources beyond the library walls—meeting patrons where they are!
Find resources to celebrate at: www.ala.org/conferencese...
#NationalLibraryWeek
Graphic with a deep purple ombre background. White title text says, “Celebrate We Need Diverse Books Day with Bookshop.org”. Beneath the title is a row of white perforated tickets, the centermost which says, “15% Off using the code WNDB25” in dark purple lettering. Beneath the ticket in small white font is a note with an asterisk that says, “only active Thursday, April 3rd” and “excludes e-book purchases”.
It’s no joke, our friends at @bookshop.org are helping us celebrate #WeNeedDiverseBooksDay with a special promo code! 🛍️📚
Shop Bookshop.org on April 3rd and use the code “WNDB25” at checkout to get 15% off your purchase!
Right to Read Day: Drawn to Freedom. April 7, 2025. #RightToReadDay #DrawnToFreedom. Unite Against Book Bans. bit.ly/RightToReadDay. Accompanying the text is artwork by Nate Powell of a library and the many things library users can do there.
✨ #RightToReadDay is April 7! This year, we’re #DrawnToFreedom: the freedom to read, access information, and find community—all of the opportunities our libraries provide. But these freedoms are under attack. Take action to defend them this Right to Read Day: uniteagainstbookbans.org/right-to-rea...
The Unite Against Book Bans logo above the text: Raise your voice. Join the movement. UniteAgainstBookBans.org.
If you believe that:
1) Reading is critical to our democracy.
2) Books help us understand complex issues.
3) Parents shouldn’t make decisions for other parents’ children.
4) Youth deserve to see themselves in books.
Join the campaign to #UniteAgainstBookBans: uniteagainstbookbans.org/take-action/
Our anthology about book bans is out! With fantastic pieces by authors like @billkonigsberg.bsky.social @elanakarnold.bsky.social @kylelukoff.bsky.social and a dozen more, BANNED TOGETHER is edited by Ashley Hope Perez and published by @holidayhouse.bsky.social. I hope it reaches many readers.
