True story: the first liquid-fueled rocket was launched 100 years ago on March 16, 1926. 😲 The Nat'l Air + Space Museum is celebrating 100 years of rocket science with a Soar Together Family Day, and @scottymagoon.bsky.social + I will be there to share ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS! Join us!

Trust me, you're gonna want to climb into this book. Congratulations to my incredibly talented CP and dear friend, @juliamoss.bsky.social!!

Julia Moss@juliamoss.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Thrilled to share this story with the world and see it come to life through stunning illustrations by Chaaya Prabhat! This one is inspired by cargo bike family life - piling on kids and friends, pizza and music. But since it's a picture book things get to be extra wild 🚲

So grateful for all the positive feedback + messages I've received in response to my 12x12 webinar on #kidlit and #AI. It's a gnarly topic that needs a lot of untangling so we can all stay informed + equipped to advocate for our work. Check out the replay and let me know if you have any questions!

Lynn Baldwin@lynnbaldwinwrites.bsky.social · last yr.

Wow! I just watched the @12x12challenge.bsky.social webinar on AI for #kidlit with @chiaracolombi.com! I have to admit that I've been very reticent about AI, but this webinar did such a great job of explaining it and positioning it as a tool. Thank you!

Thank you, @12x12challenge.bsky.social, for creating such an incredible space within the #kidlit community for critical conversations and meaningful connections. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to give back to a community that has helped me in so many ways!

12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge@12x12challenge.bsky.social · last yr.

Huge thanks to @chiaracolombi.com‬ for an amazing #12x12PB webinar about how kidlit creators can effectively & ethically use AI & how to protect our work! We loved this conversation & all the insights shared! Members, check yesterday's email for the link! #amwriting #kidlit #picturebooks

NH friends, don't miss this chance to celebrate libraries and space all at once with ROCKET SHIP's illustrator @scottymagoon.bsky.social! 🤩

Scott Magoon@scottymagoon.bsky.social · last yr.

🚀 Celebrate National Space Day at Portsmouth Public Library! I'll read and draw from ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS by @chiaracolombi.com, illustrated by me. 🎟️ Free mission patch stickers & activity sheets 📚 Book sales & signing by G. Willikers. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families welcome Hope to see you on 🌎. Link in bio!

For anyone who has ever suffered from "I'm-not-a-math-person" issues (🙋🏻‍♀️) or knows a kid who does, this book is for you! I can't wait for you to discover the heart + humor of my brilliant CP's debut picture book: DEAR MATH, WE'RE NOT FRIENDS. Congratulations, @linahaldar.bsky.social! ❤️🧮 #kidlit 📚👍🏻

Lina Chopra Haldar, PhD@linahaldar.bsky.social · last yr.

So excited! Thanks to @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social and my amazing agent, Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch, this story will be making kids everywhere smile about math. A huge thank you to @chiaracolombi.com and @juliamoss.bsky.social for all your love and support. We have the best writing group! 💜

They should make a drink for writers called Someone Who Believes In My Stories, so when a writer gets a rejection and their friend says, "Can I get you something? A cocktail? Wine? Beer?" the writer can reply "Someone Who Believes In My Stories" and actually get what they want. On the rocks.

Rocket's launch event at @lindentree.bsky.social this weekend was a veritable planet parade of special crewmates, between the young space enthusiasts gathered for story time, Linden Tree’s stellar staff, and the conjunction of two #kidlit #space authors beaming in the glow of each other’s books!

Such a stellar treat to celebrate ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS with fellow #kidlit #space author @rienealwriter.bsky.social at @lindentree.bsky.social today! More event pics to come, but in the meantime check out Rie's early chapter series ASTRID THE ASTRONAUT—perfect for kids with big lunar dreams!

Rie Neal (she/her)@rienealwriter.bsky.social · last yr.

Congrats to my friend Chiara Colombi on her newest picture book release: Rocket Beams, Lunar Dreams! 🎉 Your books are the perfect marriage of technical spacey knowledge and deep emotional arcs. ❤️ Had a blast celebrating with you at Linden Tree Books! #kidlit

2 more Bay Area lunar launch events this weekend! Join me at Banter Bookshop on Sat + Linden Tree Books on Sun to touch down on the Moon with ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS by Scott Magoon + me! We’ll read Rocket’s 2nd mission, then explore the phases of the Moon. Mission patch stickers for all!

Join me at @hicklebees.bsky.social in San Jose tomorrow Feb. 8 at 11am as we launch ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS by me + Scott Magoon! I can’t wait to connect with Hicklebee’s community of readers. We’ll read Rocket’s 2nd mission + explore the phases of the Moon with models galore. Stickers for all!

What a special treat to kick off #WRAD with a virtual visit at a school just a hop, skip, and a jump from where I grew up. Thank you, @loritecler.bsky.social and Drew Elementary, for inviting me to share ROCKET BEAMS with your bright-eyed readers. I'm happy they were the first to hear it! 🚀🌔

Lori Tecler@loritecler.bsky.social · last yr.

Our kindergarten students were honored to be the first to hear a readaloud of the brand new, out today ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS by @chiaracolombi.com w/art by Scott Magoon for World Read Aloud Day. The book got rave reviews from our students--don't miss it! #kidlit #WorldReadAloudDay

We are go for translunar orbit! ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS by me + Scott Magoon has landed on shelves! A lunar mission, yes, but what is this book really about? It's about how we respond when things don’t go our way. When our dreams don’t come true. Or when things take a turn for the unexpected... 🧵

Kicking off launch week with some wonderful news: ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS is an Amazon Editors’ Pick, among the Best Books of the Month for February! 🤩 Thank you, Amazon editors, for giving Scott Magoon’s and my book an extra booster as we gear up for launch!

Only five hours left! Bidding closes tonight at 8pm PST (11pm EST). No time to dawdle. Make decisions now about what you really want and get ready to BID! #kidlit #booksky #TLSky #EduSky #Skybrarians #writers #authors #illustrators www.32auctions.com/kidlitforlos...

Iconic Bay Area #kidlit bookstore @hicklebees.bsky.social has joined Bluesky!! Well worth following them for all their great events and book spotlights!

Hicklebee Bookstore Inc. @hicklebees.bsky.social · 2y ago

Hi Bluesky! Your friendly neighborhood children's bookstore taking our noses out of a book and onto a new corner of the internet to say hi and bring you more of the best in Children's literature. We've been around since 79' and are excited to see what this new adventure has in store!

ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS by me + Scott Magoon releases in just 1 week!! I’m so excited for you to meet (the most adorable) Lunar Lander (that has ever existed) (with many thanks to Scott!). Pre-order details for signed books with exclusive stickers in the thread!

Book bans are not a hoax. All kids deserve to see themselves in stories. Here are just a few of the many books I’m grateful to have on the shelves at home and at my local indie Banter Bookshop. #readfreely #diversebooksopenminds

Hello #Teachers, #Librarians, + #edusky! I still have slots available for virtual story time visits on Feb 4 + Feb 5 to celebrate #WorldReadAloudDay, including evening times for international schools! 🗺️ Check out the link to my schedule and how to contact me via the post below 👇

Chiara Colombi@chiaracolombi.com · 2y ago

Hi #teachers, #librarians, + #edusky! To celebrate my 2nd 🚀 picture book's release on Tues, Feb 4, + World Read Aloud Day on Wed, Feb 5, I'm offering free virtual visits both days! View my availability, *including evening times for international schools* 🌎🌍🌏: bit.ly/25wrad Contact info in thread!

I’m so grateful to the organizers of @kidlitforla.bsky.social for helping the children’s publishing industry unite in raising funds to support wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles. My donation is one among 380 items in the auction which runs through Sunday, January 26th (until 9pm PST)!

What's your favorite moon phase? While I do love a waxing crescent, there's something mesmerizing about the crisp precision of a quarter moon. Today’s third quarter moon rose just past midnight...and ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS by me and Scott Magoon rises in just 2 weeks!!

Yayyyyyy!!! Welcome #kidlit author, @rienealwriter.bsky.social!! 💫🌒👩🏻‍🚀

Rie Neal (she/her)@rienealwriter.bsky.social · 2y ago

Hello Bluesky! 👋🏻

With ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS’s countdown officially underway, I’m excited to announce my February launch events: Rocket Ship + Lunar Lander are heading to the Moon at 3 iconic Bay Area bookstores! I would be so happy to see you + your fellow space enthusiasts at any of these events. #kidlit 🚀🌔

Anyone else gaze up at last night’s full moon and wish they could get just a little bit closer? I couldn’t imagine a better wish to kick off the countdown to Rocket’s next mission. 🌝 ROCKET BEAMS, LUNAR DREAMS, by me + Scott Magoon, lands in bookstores + libraries in just 3 weeks on 2/4/25!! #kidlit

Anyone else know of PB agents who ask for multiple manuscripts in your initial query? Add them to the thread! And check out the podcast to hear why @brennajeanneret.bsky.social, @joshmonkwords.bsky.social, and I think this should be the industry norm. 👀

Hannah Lorenzo@hannahlorenzobooks.bsky.social · 2y ago

Loved this ep of #VerseShow & had to comment that the agent I signed with asks for PB queries with multiple MSs!! I think I sent her 3 stories when I queried. Makes SO much sense. @brennajeanneret.sky.social @joshmonkwords.bsky.social @chiaracolombi.com #kidlit www.podbean.com/ew/pb-jsr94-...

Of all the magic I’ve experienced since Rocket launched into the world, nothing brings happy tears to my eyes quite like this: I am honored + humbled + so grateful to share that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has chosen Rocket Ship, Solo Trip by me + Scott Magoon as one of their 2025 books!!! ☺️

So excited to see this go live!!! What a way to kick off 2025! 💫 Thank you, @joshmonkwords.bsky.social + @brennajeanneret.bsky.social, for having me on your delight of a show. Tune in to hear about my past life in #kidlit publicity + listen to the end to hear me read my dead witchy manuscript!

Brenna Jeanneret@brennajeanneret.bsky.social · 2y ago

#kidlitmegafeed First Verse Show of 2025 is up! @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and I had the chance to chat with @chiaracolombi.com about her book Rocket Ship, Solo Trip illustrated by the amazing Scott Magoon, marketing and we reinvented the query process! jmonken.podbean.com/e/chiara-col...

3...2...1... Happy Holidays! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season bright with twinkling lights and twinkling stars! Huge shout-out to illustrator Scott Magoon for creating this adorable illustration of our Rocket Ship! #snowflakeexhaustFTW #nobutseriouslythough #ecofriendly+epicsnowballfights

Hi #teachers, #librarians, + #edusky! To celebrate my 2nd 🚀 picture book's release on Tues, Feb 4, + World Read Aloud Day on Wed, Feb 5, I'm offering free virtual visits both days! View my availability, *including evening times for international schools* 🌎🌍🌏: bit.ly/25wrad Contact info in thread!

2025 World Read Aloud Day: author Chiara Colombi's schedule

bit.ly

Hi #teachers, #librarians, + #edusky! To celebrate my 2nd 🚀 picture book's release on Tues, Feb 4, + World Read Aloud Day on Wed, Feb 5, I'm offering free virtual visits both days! View my availability, *including evening times for international schools* 🌎🌍🌏: bit.ly/25wrad Contact info in thread!

2025 World Read Aloud Day: author Chiara Colombi's schedule

bit.ly