Speaking of happy places, chat has been a happy place for me for 17 years, through thick and thin. Thanks, @gregpincus.bsky.social for a wonderful partnership. I love this community. You guys are the best. See you next time. <3 #kidlitchat

For me, reading and creating #kidlit is the opportunity to live and work in a world that makes sense. #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Continuing our celebration of 17 years chatting, tonight we're re-upping the very first topic from the first #kidlitchat: "Why children’s literature? What excites you about it, whether it’s reading, writing or ???"

Just a reminder for those of you working on hybrids or graphic novels, MAKING COMICS by @scottmccloud.bsky.social is still, hands down, the best technical reference out there. #graphicnovel #authorillustrator #sequentialart

This was nice. Being with you is always nice. Thank you for 17 years of good times. Greg, let's do this again next week. :-) #kidlitchat

I'm currently pitching a picture book about my character's first snow. Firsts are either fraught, or magical, or both for the PB set. Hoping for magic in this case. :-) #kidlitchat

TOPIC: #kidlitchat is 17 this month! Which is . . . REALLY OLD in social media years! How do you use milestones to shape your characters? How do all the "firsts," the annual celebrations, and the rites of passage provide opportunities to define character?

Unplug-the-laptop thunder is happening. Eep.

Funniest thing I've read in a long time. Seriously. You need to read this.

Tom Cox@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 3w ago

Hello new followers! I've removed the paywall from this piece, which is a chapter from my novel Villager, told entirely in the form of an online village message board. If you like it, you'll probably like the book. If you don't, you probably won't... www.tom-cox.com/the-village-...

Thank you all--this is such a tough topic, but there are some really good tips tonight. Carry on! See you next time. #kidlitchat

I rely on the illustrations to convey the emotions of the story, so this is really difficult for me to get across in a pitch. :-/ #kidlitchat

TOPIC: When you're pitching your manuscript (in any form - query letter, elevator, pitch contest), how do you communicate how the reader is going to FEEL when they're done, not just tell the story of what happens? What are your tips to finding the way to give a reaction to your pitch-ee? #kidlitchat

Golly--this was one of the fastest hours ever. I'll need to comb back through the posts tomorrow. Thanks, everyone! See you next time. #kidlitchat

Has The Night Gardener been made into anything? Not new, but I just read it recently, and was struck by how cinematic it is. #kidlitchat

I think we should add: "and please cast the main character" :-) #kidlitchat

TOPIC: What books, from board books to YA, have you read recently that you think should be a movie or a TV show? #kidlitchat

Is there any wonder? Seriously?

WIRED@wired.com · 3w ago

Despite a complete lack of evidence, everyone from Russia to Israel and Iran is being blamed for Lindsey Graham’s death.

P. S. I submitted my comment as "Anonymous," which is an option I would not normally have considered...but the way things are, now, I thought it was safer. And I hate having to say that.

Katie Mack@astrokatie.com · 3w ago

There is still time to submit your comment and tell the government that you don't want US research to be completely destroyed by politicians meddling in individual grants. You can submit your comments here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/OM...

There is still time to submit your comment and tell the government that you don't want US research to be completely destroyed by politicians meddling in individual grants. You can submit your comments here: www.regulations.gov/commenton/OM...

Rebecca Solnit@rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 4w ago

Comments due by Monday on the attempt to politicize science/aka kill American research as we know it. Do it at the link (counter the ton of Heritage-foudnatoin-prompted comments): www.regulations.gov/document/OMB...

Really, how is this feature anything but evil? I do not see any plausible justification for swiping someone's content to use in your own. Re-posting, boosting, yes. But not "using." How pathetic do you have to be??? Thank you for the tips on avoiding.

Moth@theabyssofwhoa.bsky.social · 4w ago

Whoa, another hour has flown past! Thank you all--best of luck with all the favorite bits and the not-so-favorite bits. Somehow, we'll make this work . . . right? See you next time. #kidlitchat

I like this. :-) #kidlitchat

Canette Books@canettebooks.bsky.social · 4w ago

Thirty-eight numbered revisions plus a dummy is definitely persistence with a stubbornness engine. Picture books look small until you see the file names.

My favorite parts are ALL the parts, as long as the process is working, lol. Getting stuck is the worst, because I have no tried and true method for getting UN-stuck. It just have to work itself out. #kidlitchat

TOPIC: What are your favorite and LEAST favorite parts of your creative process? And how do you keep a balance between "want to" and "have to"? #kidlitchat

The RUTGERS U Children's Lit. Conference is an excellent opportunity for anyone working on stories and illustrations who wants feedback from professionals in the industry. www.ruccl.org/application/...

Goodnight, all--I'm going to wind it down with an episode of Midsomer while I sketch some ideas for Thursday's #kidlitartpostcard. I'm hoping inspiration will hit! See you next time. #kidlitchat

Years ago, a title for a PB about jungle animals popped into my head. It didn't make literal behavioral sense for these animals. But when I turned to some old Nat Geos for photo reference, I found an article on the the exact little-known behavior that validated my title. Spooky. #kidlitchat

I depend on happy accidents in artwork--not only the unplanned inspiration, but the things different mediums do on their own. The trick is to put yourself in the path of randomness, RECOGNIZE it when it happens, and figure out how to build on it. #kidlitchat

TOPIC: Let's talk serendipity and happy accidents. How have these impacted you and your work? How do you keep yourself open to them? Hard work matters, of course, but do these other things ever factor in? #kidlitchat

Yep. www.theringer.com/2026/06/26/n...

America Is Trapped in the Grossest Pool Party of All Time

The nation’s 250th birthday was supposed to be a celebration of all things red, white, and blue. Then the Reflecting Pool turned green.

theringer.com