In my latest Substack newsletter, I’m sharing the cover and more info about my next middle-grade novel, BACK TO WONDER! Also, a back-to-school book giveaway and more odds and ends. 📚👍 🧡 You can view the full cover and newsletter here: open.substack.com/pub/jennifer...

Cover Reveal for my next book, BACK TO WONDER!

Plus a back-to-school giveaway for newsletter subscribers!

open.substack.com

Today I’m finishing one last read of the first-pass pages of my next middle-grade novel. This part of the publishing process is the first time I get to see the story with its interior design, laid out as it will look in its final form. Always an exciting point in the process!

Ope, long-winded hot take about Mac Barnett comin' through 🧵

Today is a great day to read the brilliant picture book, I’M SORRY YOU GOT MAD by @kylelukoff.bsky.social and illus. by Julie Kwon. It’s all about how to apologize in a meaningful way and so much more (including how to teach revision to young writers). Then again, some (one) may find it didactic.

Publishing friends, the deadline to file a claim for the Anthropic settlement is TODAY midnight (Monday, March 30). I filled it out yesterday for the Book Scavenger series and it’s relatively easy and quick to do.

Today I got to meet a kid lit legend and one of my writing heroes, Katherine Applegate! She’s as brilliant and warm as her books. Such a fun afternoon!

This is what I’ve been up to for the last month and a half. Four final rounds of revisions for my next book, going back and forth with my editor (the amazing Christy Ottaviano!) strengthening the story, and now it’s finally DONE.

When I shared @taradairman.bsky.social putting ONE CAN BE in a Colorado @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social I forgot that @jennbertman.bsky.social also put the book in a LFL at Colorado’s WOW! Children's Museum for double the fun. #onecanbe #50states #colorado #megakidlit #booksky

Looking forward to watching the #ALAYMA this morning and cheering for my colleagues! And like always - I'm sharing my poem "What Happened to Your Book Today." A reminder of why we make books for young readers. ❤️https://katemessner.com/what-happened-to-your-book-today-a-poem-for-after-the-ala-awards/

An interview in which I offer my advice to K-12 writers! Thank you for having me on your blog, @etcharles.bsky.social!

ET Charles@etcharles.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Pleased to post a One Question Interview with @jennbertman.bsky.social and review of BOOK SCAVENGER. @scbwirockymtn.bsky.social #kidlit #mg bethsbiblio.blogspot.com/2025/12/inte...

Hey reader friends! If you’re over on Instagram, I’m doing a fun giveaway of Sisterhood of Sleuths and the Once Upon a Book Club subscription box! You can check it out here: www.instagram.com/reel/DQWvZgQ...

ONE MONTH until the book release event for my #mg #graphicnovel debut at @boulderbooks on 10/9. I hope you can join me for this event along with my editor, Kristie Choi. You can learn more about this and my book at EugeniaWangComic.com @SimonKids @TheTobiasAgency

In my latest newsletter, I share an update on my writing prompts, my next book, and a whole lot more. Plus I’m giving away a copy of my favorite book that I read over the summer! open.substack.com/pub/jennifer...

Today is the last day to place an order for the Once Upon a Book Club box featuring Sisterhood of Sleuths! Here is the link if you're interested: www.onceuponabookclub.com/products/twe...

Tween Bi-Monthly Subscription

Shop the best kids book subscription boxes of 2023, get your middle grader engaged with our interactive book boxes your your little book worm will love!

onceuponabookclub.com

Jennifer Chambliss Bertman@jennbertman.bsky.social · last yr.

500 book plates signed and stamped with a lobster for Once Upon a Book Club Box! Sisterhood of Sleuths is their tween pick for September! These book boxes look so fun—along with the book, there are gifts you open as you read the story. I would have loved this when I was a kid! #kidlit 📚🧡

Check out this treasure I found at my library—it’s the new picture book GO, BABY, GO! written by Tara Dairman and illustrated by Olivia Amoah. It’s adorable! #kidlit #picturebooks 📚👍

500 book plates signed and stamped with a lobster for Once Upon a Book Club Box! Sisterhood of Sleuths is their tween pick for September! These book boxes look so fun—along with the book, there are gifts you open as you read the story. I would have loved this when I was a kid! #kidlit 📚🧡

My 2nd picture book, GO, BABY, GO! hits shelves today! A great read-aloud for ages 3-7, or new-baby gift for runners. If you see it out in the wild, I’d love a pic 😊 Biggest thanks to wonderful illustrator @modoodles.bsky.social and lovely publisher Peachtree for bringing this book to life.

Public broadcasting is about more than content. It's about an ethos. That there need to be spaces in society that are not soaked in the logic of consumerism and profit. Where people are treated as citizens, valued for humanity and their ideas rather than disposable income. It's simple, but powerful.

Talk about The Wire, Sopranos, Game of Thrones all you want, but the greatest US television program ever made is Sesame Street. It's not even close. 50+ years of treating kids across class, ethnicity, religion not as mini-consumers...but as citizens with a stake in this world.

“I truly felt like someone backed up a truck to my imagination and stole everything that I’ve created.” —David Baldacci The Authors Guild asked Baldacci to stand before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, and he delivered a powerful testimony. Read about it! authorsguild.org/news/david-b...

#teachers #librarians #parents #grandparents Remember playing in our neighborhoods with friends as kids? For parents interested in bringing more play into their homes, there's a new book that's a friendly guide to building a culture of play in your family. www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

Go Play: How Parents Can Empower Kids to Build Their Own Worlds

We live in a society that undervalues play, but open-ended play is a key building block for children's well-being. Part urgent call and part friendly guide, this book is full of easy and meaningful st...

broadleafbooks.com

Left copies of two of my books in a cute Little Free Library in Boulder last night. Loved the quote on the box: What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?

All, I have a book to finish, so unless something happens (hopefully not) I'm off. But please consider this a reminder: vet your sources. We're increasingly getting our news from social media; check who's sharing something before you repost it. This is especially true for platforms like TikTok.

Take a listen and seriously consider it. While this is not an uncommon practice, I am glad people are beginning to speak up about it.

Yesterday I did a story time reading of my picture book, A GOOD DEED CAN GROW, illustrated by Holly Hatam, at the local children’s museum and it was so much fun! The kids were excited to spot some of the many hearts Holly worked into the art, we talked about kindness, and we made turtles. #kidlit

For anyone in the Lafayette, CO, area, I’ll be doing a storytime reading of A GOOD DEED CAN GROW tomorrow at the WOW! Children’s Museum at 11:00, as part of an @scbwirockymtn.bsky.social collaboration. The museum is a great place for littles and I’d love to see you there!

A female Western Gull was recorded riding 150km in a garbage truck from San Francisco to a compost facility in Central CA, probably to forage. TWICE. An innovator, an icon, a genius. This is one of my favorite @waterbirdsociety.bsky.social papers I've ever handled as managing editor #ornithology

British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU)@bou.org.uk · last yr.

The First GPS Observation of a Western Gull (Larus occidentalis) Riding in a Long-Haul Garbage Transfer Truck | doi.org/10.1675/063.... | Waterbirds | #ornithology 🪶

If you’re in the SoCal area, my library system is unveiling our Filipino American Cultural Heritage Collection this Saturday, May 31! We’ve been working on it for 2 years, and have acquired books, movies, and cds in multiple Philippine dialects, along with some cultural art pieces. #library #booksky

This is the best team crossover video I've ever seen.

Find out about my S&S Fall Showcase live cast tomorrow in my latest newsletter! open.substack.com/pu... #kidlit #caricatures