MOWMT 4: Character Challenges with Beth Anderson By Beth Anderson While fiction books may portray emotions as monsters or other types of characters, nonfiction seems to present a different kind of challenge when you’re working with complex concepts ...

In THE PATRIOTS & THE POX smallpox is an unseeable & complex antagonist.😳What's a writer to do?
Here are some mentor texts & authors' solutions to challenging "characters." And a peek at the POX!
#edusky #skybrarian #edusky
@ashleyyazdani.bsky.social @kl4gm.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social

New book deals on the way from @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @melissatrempe.bsky.social @sarahbethdurst.bsky.social @ritalorraine.bsky.social + more buff.ly/CbHX6Uo

A Publishers Marketplace Deal Report dated March 4, 2026 in the Children's Picture Book Fiction category which reads as follows: Newbery Honoree Rajani LaRocca's WE ARE THE LIGHT: A STORY OF DIWALI, taking readers through the preparations for the festival of lights and celebrating the holiday's meaning, illustrated by Sayan Mukherjee, to Alexandra Cooper at Quill Tree, in an exclusive submission, for publication in fall 2026, by Brent Taylor at TriadaUS Literary Agency (world).

Congratulations to @rajanilarocca.bsky.social on the sale of WE ARE THE LIGHT! #TeamTriada #BookSky

It's really special when both the top and honor spot of any given award go to your members! Congratulations to @rajanilarocca.bsky.social & @viviankirkfield.bsky.social for their #SCBWI Golden Kite wins in the nonfiction for younger readers category! So proud of you both.

✨ SOME OF US by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social and Huy Voun Lee
✨ HOW SWEET THE SOUND by Kwame Alexander and Charly Palmer
✨ GO TELL IT by Quartez Harris and @gordoncjamesart.bsky.social

Rajani LaRocca will be sharing her work at CCIRA 2026 in Denver www.rajanilarocca.com February 5-7, 2026. Register today ccira.org @ColoradoReading Don't miss her! #CCIRA26 @rajanilarocca.bsky.social

Diving Into Your Novel: An Online Generative Workshop - Highlights Foundation

During the @highlightsfound.bsky.social Verse Novelist Retreat last year @rajanilarocca.bsky.social gave me some great feedback about the beginning of my NIV.

This looks like a great course with her! And one that helps grow your story!

I finished my first full week of classes. We read Fall is for Beginnings by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social. Students really connected with the story. A great way to start the school year.

Thank you!!

Thus is so cool!! 💗📚

Copy of book YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART by Rajani LaRocca with art by Lauren Paige Conrad on a woodgrain table.

Two children’s arms outstretched on a woodgrain table. Each child has a toothpick with a marshmallow on one end and a heart sticker on the other placed on the inside of their wrist, marshmallow down.

1st graders are learning about the human body, so we read YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social w/art by @laurenpaigeconrad.bsky.social then used toothpicks, marshmallows & ❤️ stickers to make tools to measure their ❤️beats. They were fascinated! #SchoolLibrary #TLSky #EduSky #kidlit

Fall (and Summer) Standouts Back in early April I wrote about my “spring standouts,” books published in 2025 that I’d read and thought were stellar. I think I’d intended to write another in the summer …

I'm no @fuse8.bsky.social but here are my standout titles of summer and fall 2025: jenny-arch.com/2025/10/15/f... @brianlies.bsky.social @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @dansantat.bsky.social @charlenedraws.bsky.social @adamrex.bsky.social @tkingfisher.com @katemilford.bsky.social @katemessner.com

Thank you!!

10 Ways to Nurture and Nourish Nonfiction Readers with Melissa Stewart. NCTE Sat 11/22, 11:45 am Room 203

6 Small Actions That Can Make a Big Difference: Empowering Children to Impact the World Around Them, NCTE Sun 11/23 at 10:30 am Mile High Ballroom 3A

Delighted to be presenting on 2 incredible panels at #ncte! 10 Ways to Nurture Nonfiction Readers @mstewartscience.bsky.social & 6 Small Actions: Empowering Children @jyotigopal.bsky.social @jstremer.bsky.social @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @mnewsome.bsky.social @andrewchacket.bsky.social

#kidlit

Teachers! Librarians!
It's time for the Sibert Smackdown.
The perfect Mock Sibert activity for kids who love nonfiction.
tinyurl.com/3c9harym
@sarahalbee.bsky.social @lindsayhmetcalf.bsky.social @juanamartinezn.bsky.social @safajarwrites.bsky.social @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @mcusolito.bsky.social

Excited for #NCTE2025 in Denver this year! I'm looking forward to moderating panels with some amazing authors! Let me know if you're attending, would love to connect.
@meganefreeman.bsky.social @sylvialiu.bsky.social
@baronchrisbaron.bsky.social @rajanilarocca.bsky.social

Teachers! Librarians!
It's time for the Sibert Smackdown.
The perfect Mock Sibert activity for kids who love nonfiction.
tinyurl.com/3c9harym
@epartridge.bsky.social @kellycrull.bsky.social @gordoncjamesart.bsky.social @4nikkolas.bsky.social @jessicalanan.bsky.social @chrishsu1861.bsky.social

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Back to school I’m back to school this morning, so here are two more books to kick off the new year! If you’re looking for more ideas, check out my back-to-school book list. Fall Is for Beginnings by …

Back to school! Here are two new picture books to help ease the transition. @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @abhialwar.bsky.social kidsbookaday.com/2025/08/18/b...

Q&A with Rajani LaRocca about her new children's picture book, FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS.
tinyurl.com/2udajak9
@rajanilarocca.bsky.social

Summer Read # 6 #msfoleyiscurrentlyreading #audiobooklove #bookstagram #librarylife #read #weneeddiversebooks @rajanilarocca.bsky.social

@rajanilarocca.bsky.social and Huy Voun Lee's SOME OF US is the recommended picture book for September in @neatoday.bsky.social's Read Across America! Bring this brilliant celebration of immigration and citizenship into your classroom with the activities and discussion prompts linked below. 🎇

Thank you!!

Thank you!!

❤️💐 Happy Book Birthday to FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS by longtime Kweli fam @rajanilarocca.bsky.social and @abhialwar.bsky.social! 🍁

Congratulations to Lit Fest alum @rajanilarocca.bsky.social on the publication of FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS, a back-to-school picture book that celebrates friendship and finding your place.

The cover for Fall is For Beginnings by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Abhi Alwar, which features a cartoonishly illustrated scene of a brick school with a banner that reads "Welcome Students." A bunch of children are running around outside the school; most prominently featured are two brown-skinned children with black hair who are running side-by-side and holding hands, and a white child with red hair who is jumping into a pile of leaves.

Happy publication day to FALL IS FOR BEGINNINGS by @rajanilarocca.bsky.social! #TeamTriada #BookSky
www.abramsbooks.com/product/fall...

@rajanilarocca.bsky.social @sarahalbee.bsky.social @jasonchin.bsky.social @lilywilliam.bsky.social @brookehartman.bsky.social

Listen Back: Rajani LaRocca shares Midsummer's Mayhem Rajani LaRocca shares MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM. Mimi, the main character in Rajani’s middle grade debut, enters a baking competition at her town’s newest sweet spot, but things aren’t quite as they appear.

Listen Back: @rajanilarocca.bsky.social shares MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM. Mimi, the main character in Rajani’s middle grade debut, enters a baking competition at her town’s newest sweet spot, but things aren’t quite as they appear. www.matthewcwinner.com/post/listen-... #kidlit #mglit #podcast