3+ hours late to the conversation… I write to answer questions my students ask. “Do you have an easy book?” inspired Library Kitty at 2 academic levels to help them see they prefer stories with “juicy details.” “I heard our friend disappeared because she has cancer” expedited HEROES. #kidlitchat

kidlitchat@kidlitchat.bsky.social · 5d ago

TOPIC: Do you have an ideal reader in mind when you're working on a manuscript or illustration? Is it you or someone you know... or is it just an idea to help guide you? If you don't, what helps you guide your work for its audience? #kidlitchat

#Author Publishing has its challenges, but being able to meet the illustrator & work together as a team is a perk. Loving his sketches for HOSPITAL HACKS, to be released in 2027.

For many, today is #book release day. For us, it’s tumor board day. The day the amazing specialists (some who have known my kid 20 years) discuss his latest MRI & decide if his request to postpone chemo till he acclimates to his final fall semester of dorm life is safe. #cancer #chemo

If you hear of children impacted by a #cancer diagnosis, please let them know that the teacher (or parent) may request a free Zoom reading of HEROES NEED HELP via the Contact form at academicplaybooks.com #braintumors #chemotherapy

Home - Academic Play Books

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One of my favorite website pages is this incomplete list of Medically Inclusive Books. I love that it continues to adapt and grow as more SEL books are shared. The more I learn, the better the page gets. What other books should I add? academicplaybooks.com/inclusive-pi...

Inclusive Picture Books - Academic Play Books

Inclusive Picture Books

academicplaybooks.com

Of all the rejections involved in getting a book to its intended audience, the ones that hurt most are from Jaxon’s own children’s hospitals. Individual staff members have been amazing, so we try to focus on people who uplift rather than administration. Sadly, the same can be said of my school. 🧐

If you want (or need) to see an optimistic chemo themed picture book, join our Zoom Storytime on Thursday, 5:30pm PST. My college kid and I wrote HEROES NEED HELP during year 17 of his infusions & Jason Greco brought it to life with his illustrations. #cancer #Skybrarians #kidlitchat #braintumor

My attempts at a professional presence involve a website and posting on socials. In person events are more successful for me - like vendor fairs. I'm giving Zoom a try Thursday to follow up with some of the conversations started at an evening market - and for anyone else who wants to listen.

kidlitchat@kidlitchat.bsky.social · 3w ago

TOPIC: What are you doing these days to maintain a professional presence that also reaches your audience? Is it... websites? Social media? Newletters? Video? Text? ESP??? All or some or... what is working for you? #kidlitchat

Celebrated National Book Lover’s Day by playing with my collection. I don’t yet have everything cataloged into the Bookshelf app, it’s getting closer. Today I added a cancer themed middle grade. I appreciate how accurately the feelings associated with a diagnosis are represented. #kidlit

Children's literature is the best! It's universal, includes important themes, & picture books are filled with art! Beautiful art! I love reading it. Collecting it. Sharing it. Showing others how loving #kidlit makes life better. And now I get to create it with the help of spectacular illustrators! ❤️

kidlitchat@kidlitchat.bsky.social · 4w ago

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 ???"

It’s been a month and this is still true. 😢

MrsPowellsBooks@mrspowellsbooks.bsky.social · 3mo ago

HEROES NEED HELP has only one review. 😢 Are there any #querying or #PAL writers who want an elementary school librarian’s perspective on a new manuscript? (I’m a #SCBWI member & author if that helps. 🙃) Would you want to say nice things about my books in return for a critique? If so, DMs are open.

When our school #WRAD Zoomed with @breannacarzoo.bsky.social & @debbieohi.com, they utilized a 2nd screen so students could see them and the book at the same time. Does anyone know of a tutorial that teaches this? I must be searching the wrong terms. 😢 #Skybrarian #kidlitchat #author

Have you ever used the Clio app to learn about history and art near you? It’s a free download. No risk. All gain. I’m trying out the KC airport’s walking tour. I especially love seeing more info about the City of lights sculpture and “Hello and Goodbye” by Kathy Liao.

Thank you Abraham! And thanks for sharing! ❤️📚

Abraham Schroeder 🎩🦇@thegentlemanbat.bsky.social · last mo.

What we’re reading: Heroes Need Help The Library Kitty - Jaxon & Maria Powell, Jason Greco #kidlit #books #libraries #cancer #chemo Great messages for all from @mrspowellsbooks.bsky.social

I love what Riss_Design created using Jason Greco's "Library Kitty" spread & my previous website attempts! Now AcademicPlayBooks.com is personalized & practical. This also demonstrates why "Author Publisher" is more fitting than "Self." Book creation & promotion are too big for one person. #kidlit

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I love this book! It’s loaned to a friend. 🙂

QuietLibrarian@quietlibrarian.bsky.social · 2mo ago

#mrspierceisreading #skybooks #schoollibrarian #kidlit 📚😭

I missed another #kidlitchat. 😢 I was peddling my wares (and other people’s) to help my little publishing company’s finances. The IRS expects a business to turn a profit in 3 of 5 years - unless horse breeding is involved. I wish we had their 7 years to earn out. Book creation takes time too. 🙃

What exactly is Midnight trying to tell me? 🐈‍⬛ #cats

Excited to be a vendor at Riverbank’s Tuesday market, sharing my books (& little bookfair) with another community of amazing Californians. (PSA - For those outside the state who primarily hear the negative, amazing things happen here too. And there are spectacular people with a variety of beliefs!)

The most overlooked opportunity in comics is the ALA Annual artist alley. They give FREE tables and admission to cartoonists in exchange for a piece of art for a charity auction. If you make books that end up in libraries, that is the room you want to be in, and you can do it at no cost.

I helped my college kid write a picture book based on the things he learned during 17 years of chemotherapy. This week he has an MRI and oncology appointment that will likely lead to resuming chemo. It’s difficult to focus on book promotion while researching clinical trials. #kidlit #chemo

Had a fun day of visiting NorCal libraries & found these gems. This Friends of the Library gift shop had far more than donated books! And I’m curious about this 55+ collection… #Skybrarian ❤️📚

Have you ever read HAMMER AMD NAILS by Josh Bledsoe & Jessica Warrick? It is one of my favorite Daddy-Daughter picture books! ❤️📚

HEROES NEED HELP has only one review. 😢 Are there any #querying or #PAL writers who want an elementary school librarian’s perspective on a new manuscript? (I’m a #SCBWI member & author if that helps. 🙃) Would you want to say nice things about my books in return for a critique? If so, DMs are open.

The afternoon librarian and computer lab friend have both moved on to better paying jobs, so our last day of school selfie didn’t happen. (Not jealous. I get to side hustle with my books.) New plan - end of the year shelfie! Like my students I can see how much I grow each year! #kidlit #Skybrarian

Learned something fun today! HEROES NEED HELP had 6 orders in Germany. #kidlit #chemo #cancer I hope they write reviews. The book needs people to say nice things about it, and a review from another country would have been a bingo square if I had thought of it. #Skybrarians

I read to three adorable families at an indie bookstore on Saturday. The photos my husband took include many awkward facial expressions and hand gestures. But they also show that I’m “all in” when reading to kids. #Kidlit #PictureBooks #Caturday

When you want to give an author a gift, consider a review! I wanted to give Dustin Resch a gift so I decided to review his hilarious, cute, and informative debut picture book, Octavio on both Goodreads and Amazon. Check it out if you haven't read it. Review it if you have! #kidlit

It was fun to add @phyllisharris.bsky.social’s CLAUDE to my at-home Bookshelf. Does anyone know of other titles I should add? #kidlit (With the way our district’s school fiscal year works, I will need to wait till my April bookfair money comes through to order CLAUDE for our library’s collection.)

Who in the #kidlit world consider children’s literature to be “highly profitable?” Tried to listen to Mac Barnett’s book (library audiobook) as I clean today. I think I’ll save it for next long drive when I need to stay angry to stay awake. I couldn’t even make it through Libby’s sample. #Skybrarian