@mattschu.bsky.social 💙🐋💙 EVERY CLASS Matt. Every class. Whatever we did they needed that day. 💙🐋💙

Last week at my school visit every grade, K-5, chose our picture book about the beached blue whale whale who became a museum exhibit.

Not a fantasy. Not a mystery. Not an adventure.

I’d never experienced a day like this. I think they’re craving emotional honesty and peace.

It was an honor.
💙🐋💙

The cutest, tiniest little round-eared rabbit you have ever seen.

Timeline cleanse: Yesterday I was introduced to the teporingo (volcano rabbit) — it’s like a rabbit crossed with a pika and is only found on Popocatépetl and three of the other volcanoes near Mexico City: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcano...

Royal blue promotional graphic titled “Emergency Grants Open”. Beneath the title text is a row of three illustrations depicting boxes of food donations. At the bottom of the graphic are three rows of text with a bright gold background that contain the following message: “Diverse writers, illustrators, publishing professionals, and educators financially impacted by loss of SNAP benefits or access to food, apply for a grant today!

🚨 WNDB is committed to providing emergency grants to diverse authors & illustrators, publishing professionals, and educators experiencing dire financial need due to loss of SNAP benefits. We are now open for a new round of emergency grants, between $250 and $1,000 each.

💻 bit.ly/WNDB-emergency

Ahh, thank you! I knew I’d find the right people with this one. Animal facts AND etymology = perfection. Thigmotaxis is my new favorite word. I too am a wallflower when nervous. 😊

Ha! This is an explanation that eases my heart. I do love them so this alternative to the Rollie pollie apocalypse is appreciated!

I swear I am not putting them there but I am taking 5-10 Rollie pollies out of my house every morning so they don’t curl up and die under my kitchen sink! WHAT IS HAPPENING?? 😩

Hey bug (or #isopod) people, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE ROLLIE POLIES?

Is this just a bumper year for bugs or is this the Rollie Pollie #rapture?

Take a break. Make a cup of tea. Go for a walk. Listen to music. Doodle. Paint. Cook. Snack. Lie on the floor. Sit on a rock. Sit in the sun. 15 minutes. Anytime now.

Aww! Hooray--this makes me happy! 💗🧠💚

A messy desk with a silver bowl of pink and white candy.

Got my flu and covid shots at the drugstore and rewarded myself with Good & Plenty and Diet Coke.
🩷🤍❤️

WNDB Giveaway: BACK TO SCHOOL BONANZA With this giveaway, WNDB is uplifting educators heading back to the classroom this fall. We are thrilled to give away more than TEN THOUSAND BOOKS to schools and organizations nationwide. Please not...

This list of free books is EPIC! Enter by September 2nd. Happy back to school to all my teacher and librarian friends.📚
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

*Please Repost and Share*

IT'S THE LAST DAY TO BID IN THE WE THE PEOPLE SUMMER FUNDRAISER! Bidding will end at 6:15 PT / 9:15 ET today.

www.32auctions.com/WeThePeopleSummerAuction

XOXO
Sandra

I dislike being damp. So much. But I married a man who is mysteriously moist SEVERAL times a day. He will shower and put clothes on, without drying off 🫠. This is what they mean when they say #mariage is hard. 💧

Blue Sharks May Be Secret Chameleons, Scientists Discover The blue shark (Prionace glauca) might be more than its name.

“The blue shark (Prionace glauca) might be more than its name. Scientists investigating the sleek ocean predator's skin discovered nanostructures that not only produce its signature hue, but also potentially let it change color like a chameleon.”

#scicomm

www.sciencealert.com/blue-sharks-...
🧪 🦈 🦑

🌈❤️🧡💛💚🩵💜🩷🤍🤎🖤

The first people a dictator puts in jail after a coup are the writers, the teachers, the librarians - because these people are dangerous. They have enough vocabulary to recognize injustice and to speak out loudly about it. Let us have the courage to go on being dangerous people. Madeleine L' Engle

Empower your new readers to fight injustice, claim their power, and go on an underwater adventure this summer in #CoralKeepers.

Illustrated by Paul Kellam
Published by Scholastic

Nugget, a brown and white tabby cat, stares into the middle distance filled with discontent while surrounded by pillows.

My cat has the emotional and physical constitution of a frail victorian orphan set to inherit a creaky manor in the Yorkshire moors. Is he depressed and anxious? Yes. Is he living in peak luxury and privilege? Also, yes.

Mark Your Calendars #DVpit is returning October 8, 2025. The original pitch event for creators from marginalized communities. Now on Bluesky! Follow us at @dvpit.bsky.social for more updates

Agents and Editors participating in DVpit 2025 on Bluesky. Here is an initial list of some of the participating agents and editors Gallt & Zacker: Marietta Zacker Beth Phelan Linda Camacho Erin Casey Westin Sandra Proudman Saribel Pages Andrea Brown Literary: Kelly Sonnack Jemiscoe Chambers-Black Jennifer March Soloway Saritza Hernández Analía Cabello Paige Terlip Azantian Literary: Shelly Romero Carey Blankenship-Kramer Dystel, Goderich & Bourret: Michaela Whatnall Folio Literary: John Cusick Gelfman Schneider: Penelope Burns HG Literary: Wendi Gu Jill Grinberg Literary: Katelyn Detweiler Mad Woman Literary: Alex Brown Danielle Burby Chelsea Hensley Neighborhood Literary: Eric Smith Rebecca Podos New Leaf: Jo Volpe Suzie Townsend Sophia M. Ramos Trinica Sampson-Vera Jordan Hill Page Street Publishing Tamara Grasty Park, Fine & Brower: Pete Knapp Stuti Telidevara Root Literary: Melanie Figueroa Samantha Fabien Simon & Schuster: Rebecca Kuss Sourcebooks: Mikaela Luke Triada US: Brent Taylor Uwe Stender Ashley Reisinger Moe Ferrara Writers House: Alexandra Levick Andrea Morrison Follow us at #dvpit.bsky.social for more updates!

DVpit is officially coming back on October 8th, 2025 and we have over 50 agents and editors excited to participate. Follow this account for all announcements and check out dvpit.carrd.co for more details and information!

#dvpit #writersky #booksky #weneeddiversebooks

In an unhinged mom moment I decided to bring a giant bowl of popcorn (for me) to school pickup and manifested a magical seventh grade gossip session on the way home. 🍿 So glad to be a grownup. Seventh grade is severe… and entertaining. 🍿

These are adorable 💛💛💛 (and SAME) ✋

Coffee, cigarettes, and old stones. Bicycle tires, dark chocolate, and green leaves. Dark water, impatience, and pleasure.

Just putting it out there that I love pigeons and would love to acquire a picture book about them!

"Does anyone have a question or something you'd like to share?"

And if I spend the next ten minutes listening to what a group of six year olds got for their birthday, what pets they have, or what dead animals they've seen... that's cool with me. I'm listening. 💛 4/4

I wonder what I'd learn if I listened more, if I encouraged kids to sharing their own experiences instead of pushing them to learn from others by asking questions. So, I'm changing my script with kids in classrooms.

"Who has a question?" will become... 3/4

When kids want to be heard and to share their beautiful experiences, I want hear them. Yesterday was a catalogue of everything they'd ever found washed up on the beach. 2/4

🦭🐚🦈

Yesterday, after reading to a classroom of kids, I encountered the inevitable tension between questions and sharing. Teachers (myself included) usually gently but relentlessly guide students toward questions.

Yesterday that felt... not wrong, but maybe NOT right. 1/4

Shelfie of Melanie Conklin’s middle grade novel CRUSHED.

What book do you think Willa (10) would like?

Me: Hmmm… what was the last book she really loved?

THIS ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Any recs, @melanieconklin.bsky.social?