So thankful for all the folks who had a part in this book, from Eugenio's idea, to @armyvet5.bsky.social believing in it, to Natalia's artwork to Reycraft Books' execution to everyone who has walked beside me. Thank you! It's LAUNCH DAY!!! #MUSICPLANTSHOPE #PBDebut #LaunchDay

What a treat to chat with you both!

It was my pleasure to talk to @joshmonkwords.bsky.social and @brennajeanneret.bsky.social on the #VerseShow podcast. Check out my interview and their interviews with other #KidLit folks, such as Caldecott Honoree Jason Griffin, anywhere podcasts are streamed.

A gathering of editors! What a rare treat it is to talk shop and dish with the best colleagues! Kindling Words East 2026 with @alvinaling.bsky.social, @carolhinz.bsky.social, @armyvet5.bsky.social, @puddlereader.bsky.social Samantha Gentry, Bunmi Ishola

I love this cover! Praying for more success with this book than you could even imagine in your wildest dreams.

If you haven't already to to wherever you get your podcasts and listen to this weeks double feature of Jason Griffin and @armyvet5.bsky.social and check out their cover reveal for ON FRIDAYS here 👇 #kidlitmegafeed

Josh Monken@joshmonkwords.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I’m not sure how to do a cover reveal on BSky, but @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and I are doing one on our VerseShow Instagram today honoring @armyvet5.bsky.social and Jason Griffin’s upcoming book On Fridays 👀 AND we had the best conversation with Winsome. So good. #kidlit

It’s happening and I’m so excited. Thank you @vashtiharrison.bsky.social for the visual. My next book with Jason Griffin, ON FRIDAYS, launches in the world on 9.1.26. Preorder now!

We did a couple of very important interviews for YMCAV that @brennajeanneret.bsky.social and I would appreciate you listening to. The first is with visual artist Jason Griffin, who illustrated @armyvet5.bsky.social’s September 2026 picture book On Fridays 👀 verse.show

Amazing illustrator! #SoulFoodSunday #FishFryFriday #MyDaddyIsACowboy #BoogieBoogieYall

The Horn Book@thehornbook.bsky.social · 6mo ago

#HBBlackHistoryMonth: In July/August #ALA Awards #HBMag, we shared @armyvet5.bsky.social 's profile of 2025 CSK Illustrator Award winner C. G. Esperanza www.hbook.com/story/bookaw... #BlackHistoryMonth

I’m so excited for this book! 😂

SCBWI Southern Breeze Region@scbwi-sobreeze.bsky.social · 6mo ago

@kimberlywilson.bsky.social permitted us to share that her critique from @armyvet5.bsky.social at our conference led to this book deal. We're thrilled for them both! It's not too late to come make a connection with our agents and editors this March! www.scbwi.org/events/south... #amwriting #scbwi

💕

Julie Hoffman, EdD@hoffiecup.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Missing Mama by @armyvet5.bsky.social and illustrated by @rahele.bsky.social is a beautiful picture book about PTSD. Momma comes back from army deployment. Some days she’s sad and can’t bring her “sunlight spotlight smile.” #BlackAuthorsMatter #MentalHealthMatters #BHM #PTSD #BlackMomsMatter

I love these two humans. I have the honor of calling both CG & Eileen friends! This will be an amazing book and I can’t wait to let them double Dutch into your hearts!

LK Literary Agency@lkliterary.bsky.social · 6mo ago

2 exciting pieces of news to share with you all today! Short story: #1 @lkliterary.bsky.social is proud to rep @eileenwrobinson.bsky.social!! #2 Eileen's debut, illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner C.G. Esperanza was just announced in @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social and @publisherslunch.bsky.social!

It’s not too late to read Winsome Bingham’s THE WALK, a perfect #picturebook for Election Day! I ❤️ the natural rising tension & how the child plays an active role in this important community ritual. Mold those future leaders! #kids #voting #votingmatters #votingrights #kidlit @armyvet5.bsky.social

Congrats, Nikki! I’m excited to add this one to my shelf!

Nikki Grimes@poetnikki.bsky.social · 9mo ago

BCCB! Dante is brave but...nighttime brings bad dreams...His mom...brings out portraits of Dante's Choctaw ancestor who survived the Trail of Tears & his Black ancestor who survived the Tulsa Race Massacre. "I must be stronger than a nightmare too." There is...beauty here..joyful cultural elements.

I am such a fan of @jasonreynolds83.bsky.social and last night at the Brooklyn Public Library I’m reminded why. He is so thoughtful and intentional about his writing. Now I have to go buy Jay Ellis’ book. If you haven’t read the TRACK series, pick up GHOST, LU, SUNNI, PATINA, and now COACH!

TRUTH: Adam Clayton Powell ignited the need for better racial representation in children's books in the 1960s www.oprahdaily.com/life/a366733...

Literary Agent Marie Brown Re-Wrote Publishing Culture

"A number of white editors with whom I had worked had been offered phenomenal jobs, and when I went on interviews, it was as if I couldn't read."

oprahdaily.com

📆 📚✨Mark your calendars for BOOKFEST@BANKSTREET on November 1 — featuring keynote speaker, award-winning, New York Times-bestselling #kidlit author @halseanderson.bsky.social! ✍️REGISTER to watch Live or online: www.bankstreet.edu/library/cent... @bankstreetlibrary.bsky.social @bankstreet.edu

I’ve got to get busy with these books! I think I have until 18 Nov. if live to be in that room😍

pearlsandrubys.slj.com/2025/10/04/c...

Who do you ban from your personal reading selections? Ready to challenge that? pearlsandrubys.slj.com/2025/10/04/c...

Challenge: Reading Beyond Our Personal Bans

Let’s fight book bans on a personal level, one book at a time. Because bans aren't only about books; they’re working to erase people and their stories.

pearlsandrubys.slj.com

Headlines "Fascist hellscape", literary stones thrown at the country once known as a democracy. I'd call it a lie if I could, but Chicken Little had it spot-on: The sky is falling! The sky is falling! King David whispers in my ear: "Is your slingshot at the ready?" Copyright 2025 by Nikki Grimes

If you love books, creators who write and illustrate books for children, and illustrations in books, then you should join me and the folks at @silverunicornbooks.bsky.social on October 16, 2025 to celebrate MOCK AWARDS NIGHT! Go to the Silver Unicorn Bookstore website for details. Don’t miss it!

Happy Friday! It's the perfect day to read FISH FRY FRIDAY, a new #picturebook from @armyvet5.bsky.social & C.G. Esperanza. I love SOUL FOOD SUNDAY and this one is just as great! Family love, joy, tradition... a heartwarming text w/ colorful art that invites you into the story. A must-read! #kidlit

Jason Griffin and I were invited to talk about our new book, ON FRIDAYS, which comes out next year. But we couldn’t talk about it without diving deep and discussing THE TABLE first. Check out the interview on the @readinginthemiddle.bsky.social podcast NOW! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r...

The Table: Art, Family & Food with Winsome Bingham & Jason Griffin

Podcast Episode · Reading in The Middle · 08/27/2025 · 49m

podcasts.apple.com

#DaGild #TheGildedAge When I say Black folks are not monolith & that we are smart, complex, and strategic, I’m referring to The Kirklands & The Scotts. This battle is both relatable and nuanced. And even though I love Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald is having the last word and shutting this down.

a man with a beard and mustache is wearing a suit and tie .

ALT: a man with a beard and mustache is wearing a suit and tie .

media.tenor.com

From Jul/Aug #HBMag Special Issue: #ALA Awards: Profile of 2025 #CSK Illustrator winner C. G. Esperanza by @armyvet5.bsky.social: "C. G. brings Black culture to life, letting his characters show up + show out on every page" www.hbook.com/story/profil... @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social #alaac25 #alayma25

Profile of 2025 CSK Illustrator Award winner C. G. Esperanza

From the July/August 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine: Special Issue: ALA Awards.

hbook.com

My next #webinar STRANGER THAN FICTION happens 7/31 at 7PM ET. Sign Up HERE: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi... Panelist Spotlight— #WinsomeBingham @armyvet5.bsky.social is an award-winning author of books for children. Her debut...🧵 #writingworkshop #AuthorSpotlight #novelists #literaryagent

You still have time to register for this amazing webinar. Come ready to learn to write and harvest your memories so you may tell stories. This webinar may be the answer to your writing prayers. Spaces still available. Check out @writeloudly.bsky.social page for sign-up info & registration details.

Sera Rivers@writeloudly.bsky.social · last yr.

Her stories center family, community, mental health, and FOOD. When she is not writing she is mentoring and teaching writers how to follow their dreams. Learn more about Winsome, visit: binghamwrites.com @armyvet5.bsky.social @v-e-tirado.com @shakieranthem.bsky.social

I LOVE Missing Mommaso much! And @armyvet5.bsky.social is such a wealth of knowledge as well!

@newenglandscbwi.bsky.social @abicushman.com @armyvet5.bsky.social @valeriebolling.bsky.social What an amazing time! Thank you to all of the amazing speakers and presenters!