Take a closer look at recent episodes of The Children’s Book Podcast. This roundup features Boyds Mills faculty member Ernesto Cisneros, along with Matthew Cordell, Carole Lindstrom, Matthew Swanson, and Robbi Behr. boydsmills.org/blog/podcast...

Podcast Roundup: April Guests on the Children’s Book Podcast - Boyds Mills

boydsmills.org

Our continued commitment! 2026 Community Giving Project: Pathways to Connection We are proud to continue our commitment to create pathways. This year, we want to expand the pathway network to the back cabins, continuing to connect spaces and people here on campus. boydsmills.org/pathways-com... \

@boydsmills.bsky.social Always adds the perfect little custom touches. Thanks to the incomparable Chef Amanda and her team even the food was on theme this weekend. #poconoandthethreebears 😁 #WriterSky #KidLit #WritingCommunity #KidLitArt

The porch of cabin 14 @boydsmills.bsky.social was full of inspiration and productivity this weekend!

Are you making time for your story? Join us for a personal retreat at Boyds Mills. Comfortable lodging, dedicated workspaces, and three farm fresh meals a day (plus snacks) mean you can fully focus on your creative work!  We take care of all the details.

It was so great to have Patti Gauch, longtime friend and faculty member, on campus this past week! Patti has been a part of the Boyds Mills community since our Chautauqua days. Always so great to see Patti and to listen in on some of her inspiring sessions!

We’re excited to celebrate the 75 winners of our 2026 scholarships! This talented group of aspiring, emerging writers and illustrators is dedicated to creating works that inspire, educate, and inform children. We’re honored to support their journey in shaping the future of storytelling!

Before we fully step into spring, one last glimpse of campus as a winter wonderland ❄️

Ernesto Cisneros (faculty & friend) was featured in Publishers Weekly! He answers four questions about his new middle-grade novel: QUESO, JUST IN TIME. Ernesto will be a special guest at our Community Retreat with Meg Medina this May! www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

Four Questions for Ernesto Cisneros

Longtime teacher and author Ernesto Cisneros spoke with PW about how watching his own parents age inspired his time-traveling middle grade novel, 'Queso, Just in Time.'

publishersweekly.com

Spent last weekend in the cozy inspirational #JaneYolenCabin @boydsmills.bsky.social ❤️ Meet up with my #SwiminaPondintheRain zoom group of writers was effervescent ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With warmer weather on campus, we’re daydreaming about our favorite spots to sit and be creative. Do you have a favorite spot on campus?

Join Harold and special guests for a Crash Course in Children’s Publishing starting June 3rd!

Harold Underdown@hunderdown.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I'll be teaching the "Crash Course..." online via @boydsmills.bsky.social starting June 3--a comprehensive overview of the world of #kidlit publishing. We have live sessions, pre-recorded content, lots of handouts, special drop-in time for discussions, and more! boydsmills.org/workshop/the...

𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗗𝗔𝗬! Our 2026 Scholarship Application window closes tonight (2/9) at 11:59 PM ET!! Boyds Mills offers scholarships each year thanks to the generous support of our community. Don’t miss your chance! APPLY NOW! Click the link in our bio for all the details.

Must read! Our own Alison Green Myers and Alexandra Villasante sat down with Mitu Malhotra of Cynsations (and also one of our Retreat Assistants!) to talk about our new name, scholarships, and some great upcoming workshops!  cynthialeitichsmith.com/2026/02/a-sa...

A Sanctuary for Storytellers: Authors Alison Green Myers & Alexandra Villasante Discuss Scholarships & Rebranding Boyds Mills Retreat Center - Cynthia Leitich Smith

By Mitu Malhotra Today, I am excited to welcome authors Alison Green Myers and Alexandra Villasante, who both work at Boyds Mills, formerly known as the Highlights Foundation—a space synonymous with c...

cynthialeitichsmith.com

OUR 2026 SCHOLARSHIP WINDOW IS NOW OPEN! Boyds Mills offers scholarships each year thanks to the generous support of our community! Apply now! 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄 January 22 – February 9 Click the link in our bio for all the details!

In 1 week, I go live online via @boydsmills.bsky.social with all you need to know to get out on submission with a #kidlit or #yalit ms.: preparation, strategies, resources, case studies, query letter basics, myth-busting, handouts. Questions, a recording. $59 boydsmills.org/workshop/suc...

Our 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 Programming Schedule! ▪️𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 ▪️𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 ▪️𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟬𝟭 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶 ▪️𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶 www.highlightsfoundation.org/upcoming-wor...

Coming up Jan. 27/29, online via @highlightsfound.bsky.social, what works, what doesn't, query letter basics, case studies, handouts, and more! It will be recorded. $59. Please repost and otherwise spread the word. Registration is open: www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/suc...

Last year this was such a wonderful retreat. And I’m so grateful for the Kay Yoder Scholarship for History that allowed me to go to the @highlightsfound.bsky.social Novel-in-Verse retreat. Highly recommend! #KidLit

One more day to get $100 off on the Spotlight on the Middle of Your Novel retreat w/ me & @exrpan.bsky.social at @highlightsfound.bsky.social June 11–14, 2026! This generative writing retreat is for published & pre-published novelists of all genres... www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/spo...

Spotlight on the Middle of Your Novel: A Generative Retreat - Highlights Foundation

highlightsfoundation.org

Join Jennifer and Lisa to learn practical techniques for discovering your story’s theme and turning it into a clear, impactful pitch to guide your drafting or revision! Sign up now! www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/pit...

Jen Gennari@jengennari.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Writers! Want some cool tips on writing a pitch? Join me & @lisamooreramee.bsky.social for a Highlights mini! $59 @highlightsfound.bsky.social #kidlit #writingcommunity

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙨… Mark your calendars! Our 2026 In-Person Schedule goes live on 𝗡𝗼𝘃 𝟱 𝗮𝘁 𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗣.𝗠. 𝗘𝗧. Don’t miss your chance to find your magic in 2026! ✨ #findyourmagic

Check out faculty member Sarah Aronson’s Monday Motivation newsletter! She’s on campus for the Whole Novel Retreat, and in her newsletter, she shares about the first night of the retreat and the magic of being on campus! 💙💚 #findyourmagic saraharonson.substack.com/p/putting-yo...

Putting yourself first

You're not being selfish.

saraharonson.substack.com

Now Open: Winter 2026 Personal Retreat Dates! Come stay on campus this winter! Enjoy uninterrupted time to focus, reflect, and create. Take a break from everyday stresses and reconnect with your creativity this winter! www.highlightsfoundation.org/personal-ret...

Inspiration is in the air here…along with the smell of perfectly toasted (or burnt) marshmallows!

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗶𝗻 #kidlit 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴! Join Editor Harold Underdown for a two-night online workshop, where he’ll guide you through the different kinds of changes in the publishing world and show you how to position yourself to respond effectively. www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/pub...

Join Cynthia, Jasmine, and Anne! Learn how to create your own graphic novel! Sign up: www.highlightsfoundation.org/workshop/fro...

cynthia yuan cheng@cynthiaycheng.bsky.social · 10mo ago

I'll be co-teaching an introductory course on graphic novels this fall via @highlightsfound.bsky.social! If you've wanted to make a GN but don't know where to start, this might be the workshop for you. I'm honored to teach alongside @mythjae.bsky.social & @anneappert.bsky.social for this course! 💞

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Picture Book Authors and Illustrators: Working Retreat!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Middle Grade Writers: A Generative Retreat!

What kind of picture book are you writing? With @nikkishannonsmith.bsky.social concept, it’s easy to distinguish the difference between the two! To learn all things picture books, join Nikki and special guest Esther in the 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀: 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁, 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 Online Workshop