You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. ~ Robin Williams

"There's a word for a writer who never gives up: published."
~ Joe Konrath

Cover image of the April issue of BOOKLIST with text IN HONOR OF NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK READ THE APRIL ISSUE OF BOOKLIST FREE THE WEEK OF APRIL 19-25

In honor of #NationalLibraryWeek, we are opening up our April issue of Booklist to everyone from April 19-25. This issue has everything from our spotlights on picture books and health and wellness titles to (drumroll) our always popular "To Beach Their Own" list! Start reading now: bit.ly/3n2BDBb

Ahoy me hearties! Let’s celebrate National Library Week
PIRATES IN THE LIBRARY by Nadia Ali
Illustrations by Jake Tebbit
www.amazon.com/Pirates-Libr...
@starbrightbooks.bsky.social @joycekay.bsky.social @seymouragency.bsky.social @12x12challenge.bsky.social

Celebrate National Library Week

Happy National Library Week!

A graphic shows the heading Read to the Beat: Summer Reading Challenge 2026. Under the heading is the book cover for Marching Band, written by Kael Tudor, illustrated by Kate Hindley.

A graphic shows the heading Read to the Beat: Summer Reading Challenge 2026. Under the heading is the book cover for My School Musical and Other Punishments, written by Catherine Wilkins, illustrated by Katie Abey.

A graphic shows the heading Read to the Beat: Summer Reading Challenge 2026. Under the heading is the book cover for Running My Own Race, written by Abena Eyeson.

We're excited to have three books in the @readingagency.bsky.social #SummerReadingChallenge 2026, Read to the Beat! 🎶

Marching Band: @kaeltudor.bsky.social
My School Musical and Other Punishments: @catiewilkins.bsky.social
Running My Own Race: @eyesab2.bsky.social

Find out more: buff.ly/lYtmEsC

Blog Cover The Cloud That Stuck , illustrated by Dorothy Leung

New blog!

Today, author Karen Krossing joins Picture Books, Eh! to discuss her new #picturebook – The Cloud That Stuck, illustrated by @doroleung.bsky.social (@charlesbridge.bsky.social).

#kidlit #socialemotionallearning #SEL #EduSky

Build a Website to Promote Your New Book When an editor or marketing expert tells you to get a website for promoting your book, you probably have one of two reactions: 1) “I can’t afford that” or 2) “I haven’t a clue how to do that; …

#authorlife #writerslife #writeitdown #amwriting #writingcommunity inventingrealityediting.com/2...

Check out & follow our collective of book bloggers for daily reviews, hidden gems, and some TBR inspiration.

Consider us your personal librarians 📖

go.bsky.app/MQN615J
#booksky #writingcommunity

Thrilled for this review from Publishers Weekly.
Pick up your copy of
HUMPHREY THE EGG-SPLORER by Nadia Ali
Illustrations by Valenti Gubianas
www.amazon.com/Humphrey-Egg...
@joycekay.bsky.social @seymouragency.bsky.social @thebookofnadias.bsky.social

5 Tips on Building Your Book Into a Business • Build your book into a thriving businessOne excellent way to sell more books – and to finally quit your day job – is to build your book into a business. This strategy more readily lends itself to…

#writerslife #amwritingromance #amwriting #writingcommunity #writerscommunity inventingrealityediting.com/2...

The cover of the picture book There's Something Odd About the Babysitter by Elayne Crain and illustrated by John Ledda. The illustration shows a boy and a dog looking at the babysitter suspiciously. The babysitter is three raccoons in a trench coat.

The title and cover say all you need to know about There's Something Odd About the Babysitter by Elayne Crain and illustrated by John Ledda. I was hooked at the three raccoons in a trench coat!

#picturebooks26

Jungle Jumble: A Lift-the-Flap Jungle Adventure by Magda Azab Jungle Jumble: A Lift-the-Flap Jungle Adventure by Magda Azab. Post Wave, 2026. 9798895090435 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4.5 Format: Interactive board book      What did yo…

“For animal loving toddlers and their families, especially those that love interactive books” JUNGLE JUMBLE from @postwavebooks.bsky.social is a welcome addition to the library ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2026/04/01/j...

SCBWI lettering logo Society of Children's Book Authors & Illustrators; (branches graphic border)Annual Retreat, Pocono and the Three Bears, In Search of Just Right; Today is the last day to register—; bear grahic walking toward the right; wooden signpost with three arrow shaped signs: Eastern Pennsylvania region, April 24–26, at Boyd's Mills. (on additional hanging sign)formerly Highlights Foundation; background of camping icons including compass, tent, knife, ax, tree, leaf, pencil, shovel, cooking pot, fire, coffee pot, mug, hat, gloves

April 20 is the last day to sign up for the SCBWI Eastern Pennsylvania in-person retreat held at Boyds Mills🐻Pocono & the 3 Bears Friday through Sunday (or Saturday only tickets available)🐻keynote Maryn Arreguín🐻free illustration challenge, book signings, themed dinner, pitch and portfolio showcase

The writer is an explorer. Every step is an advance into a new land. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

winnie the pooh and piglet are standing next to each other with a speech bubble that says `` thank you '' . ALT: winnie the pooh and piglet are standing next to each other with a speech bubble that says `` thank you '' .

WEDNESDAY’S WONDERFUL WRITERS
WHO CHAMPION WRITERS:
Gayle Krause @gayleckrause.bsky.social
Heather Macht @authorhmacht.bsky.social
Heather Morris @morr_writing
Jena Benton @jenanbenton.bsky.social
Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle @@kbiddle.bsky.social‬

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.
~ William Wordsworth

A bright and colourful illustrated graphic introduces a creative activity for World Art Day. The image has the header "Cut out like Henri Matisse" and shows an illustration of the artist surrounded by his recognisable shapes and cut-outs. Underneath the illustration is a block of text which says: "What you will need: Leaves and/or other natural objects, Brightly coloured paper, A pencil, Scissors, A piece of white card, Glue". The activity is taken from 'This Book Will Make You an Artist', by Ruth Millington and Ellen Surrey, and children's publisher Nosy Crow.

A bright and colourful illustrated graphic introduces a creative activity for World Art Day. The first steps for the activity are: 1. Collect leaves of different shapes and sizes. You could also pick up other natural objects such as twigs or flowers. 2. Lay out your collection of leaves. 3. Choose your first piece of coloured paper. Trace round your first leaf with a pencil. Now place it elsewhere on the paper and trace it again. Repeat the process. 4. Take your next leaf and a different piece of paper, repeating the process. The activity is taken from 'This Book Will Make You an Artist', by Ruth Millington and Ellen Surrey, and children's publisher Nosy Crow.

A bright and colourful illustrated graphic introduces a creative activity for World Art Day. The next steps for the activity are: 5. Carefully cut out each leaf shape. 6. Arrange them onto a piece of white card and when you're happy, stick everything down. Tip: You could also stick a selection of cut-out shapes to the fridge with magnets. An illustration shows a child proudly holding their finished collage of colourful leaves. The activity is taken from 'This Book Will Make You an Artist', by Ruth Millington and Ellen Surrey, and children's publisher Nosy Crow.

A colourful graphic shows the book cover for 'This Book Will Make You an Artist', by Ruth Millington and Ellen Surrey, and children's publisher Nosy Crow. Text below says "Comment ART for the link to download our activity pack!" with a down arrow pointing to the comment section.

🎨 Celebrate World Art Day!

Our downloadable art activity pack is a fun way for children to get creative. Gather your materials and get started with activities from 'This Book Will Make You an Artist' by Ruth Millington (@ruthmillington.bsky.social) & Ellen Surrey.

🔗 Get the pack: buff.ly/yllIt2r

Cover of Penguins Don't Wear Pants by Abi Cushman. Features a crowd of penguins in various hats and one penguin wearing purple pants.

Ever see a penguin wearing pants? Would you like to?

Thrilled to share the cover of PENGUINS DON'T WEAR PANTS, launching Oct. 13 from Greenwillow / @harperkids.bsky.social!

Huge thanks to @mrschureads.bsky.social for hosting me on his blog: mrschureads.blogspot.com/2026/04/peng...

#coverreveal

Sometimes a feeling is all we humans have to go on.
~ Star Trek

MOWMT 26: Diving into the Details with Lisa Rogers It’s All in the Details by Lisa RogersPrecision in writing can be hard-won. As writers, we can get carried away by our words, without making sure that each one communicates what we intend. Sometimes, ...

500 words. That's all children's authors have to surprise, delight, inspire, inform. These mentor texts exemplify precision in creating resonance & meaning.
#amwriting #kidlit #booksky #mentortexts #MOWMT #amreading #picturebooks #12x12PB #schoollibrarian

www.rateyourstory.org/post/mowmt-2...

When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing. ~ Enrique Jardiel Poncela

Short Books acquires Jade Beer's This Is Not a Book About Cancer

Short Books has acquired This Is Not a Book About Cancer by journalist Jade Beer 👇 #BookSky

2026’s New Releases are coming your way!
@joycekay.bsky.social @seymouragency.bsky.social
@khushboopatel.bsky.social @tonnyef.bsky.social
IG @andreatripke @asiqueira.bsky.social @beccamcmurdiebooks.bsky.social @artbyann.bsky.social
#NationalYearOfReading

You will face many defeats in life.
But never let yourself be defeated.
~ Maya Angelou

Upcoming #12x12PB members-only webinar!

Join us on April 21 at 3pm ET/12pm PT for “How to Set Up and Sustain a Successful Agent/Author Relationship” with Rachel Orr, @tashahilderman.bsky.social, and @suzylevinson.bsky.social.

Replay available for members!

#kidlit

Reminder to our readers: we'll be bringing you one issue of Children's Bookshelf this week, on Wednesday, April 15, live from the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Stay tuned for all of our news from the fair!

The Most Anticipated Books of 2026!
@ariadelsole.bsky.social @juliekoon.bsky.social @mcarolynroberts IG @authoradghani @schaubwrites.bsky.social @roxannetroup.bsky.social

Kaleidotrope will be open to fiction and poetry submissions three times this year:

🔹 April 19-25
🔹 July 19-25
🔹 October 18-24

Any stories or poems submitted outside those windows will unfortunately not be considered.

You can make anything by writing.
~ C.S. Lewis