Unraveling like the tales he's famous for, @senickel.bsky.social's THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING gives readers insight into story behind legendary storyteller Hans Christian Anderson. Detailed cut paper illustrations by Calvin Nicholls take the story to the next level! #kidlit @levinequerido.bsky.social

Introduce kids to innovative artists Hans Christian Anderson and Stephen Sondheim in these fascinating and beautifully illustrated new picture books. @senickel.bsky.social kidsbookaday.com/2026/05/14/t...

Two innovative artists

The True Ugly Duckling: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan by Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Calvin Nicholls (Levine Querido, 32 pages, grades K-3). Hans Christian Andersen’s life is pr…

kidsbookaday.com

"As he took his scissors from his pocket, they hushed their voices. And as he weaved magic with his words and scissors, he felt like the most beautiful swan of all."- @senickel.bsky.social My post of this beautiful book: www.jeannewalkerharvey.com/single-post/... @eastwestlit.bsky.social

⭐ #Nonfiction #HBReviewoftheWeek THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING by @senickel.bsky.social ; illus. by Calvin Nicholls (Levine/ @levinequerido.bsky.social ): "The striking illustrations echo Andersen’s own art while giving the scenes a sculptural depth and tactile warmth" www.hbook.com/story/review...

THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING by @senickel.bsky.social illus by Calvin Nicholls brims with examples of Hans Christian Andersen’s fortitude & how neurodiversity played a part. Interview & more on Children’s Book Corner. #KidLit #EduSky #Libsky @levinequerido.bsky.social www.judybradbury.com/biography/th...

Come join me & Anney Matlock at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum’s Virtual Story Time! Mon, April 27 at 11am EST. We’ll be talking about #HansChristianAndersen, the #stamps he inspired, and, of course, I’ll be reading The True Ugly Duckling! It's free! postalmuseum.si.edu/virtual-stor...

Super honored to be featured in @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social! Thank you so much for including me and The True Ugly Duckling celebration at @booksofwonder.bsky.social. 💙 @levinequerido.bsky.social #newbook #hanschristianandersen #booklove #books #newrelease

"Books are Harry's greatest escape. They spark imagination. They bring the past to life. They make home feel like home. Books transformed a poor, unknown boy into the great Houdini..." - @barbrosenstock.bsky.social 📚My post: www.jeannewalkerharvey.com/single-post/...

Houdini's Library

How Books Created the World's Greatest MagicianA TRUE TALE WITHA CHERRY ON TOPKnopf Books for Young Readers(pub. 2.17.2026)48 pagesAges 4 - 8Author: Barb Rosenstock   Illustrator: Mar DelmarCharacter:...

jeannewalkerharvey.com

Q&A with Lauren H. Kerstein about her new children's picture book, HOPE RODE. #partnership #hoperode deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/2026/04/q-wi... @laurenkerstein.bsky.social

The first review for ONE MAD CAT AND THE MISSING BOOK is in and it's a great one from School Library Journal! I love that they pick up on the SEL discussion possibilities, because sometimes we all get a little mad...⁠ Releases July 11, available for pre-order now: vickyfang.com/books/one-ma...

THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING (Levine/ @levinequerido.bsky.social ) by @senickel.bsky.social ; illus. by Calvin Nicholls will receive a starred review in the May/June 2026 #HornBookMagazine. Congratulations! #HBMag #HBStars www.hbook.com/story/may-ju...

To celebrate— go check out @senickel.bsky.social’s new bio of HCA : THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING illus. Calvin Nicholls (Levine Querido) 🌟TODAY there’s a #Kidlit Book Launch—April 2nd at 6pm at Books of Wonder in New York City! Go say HI & get a signed copy. sandranickel.com/books/the-tr...

YABC is having an amazing Spring Buzzworthy Books #Giveaway! It's your chance to win a copy of THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING, along with 14 other #newrelease #kidlit #books! You can enter HERE: yabookscentral.com/yabcs-buzzwo...

It’s a star from School Library Journal! Thank you so very much! And thanks to the entire True Ugly Duckling Team! @LevineQuerido #books #newbook #hanschristianandersen #uglyduckling #fairytale #kidlit #kidlitillustration

What if the things that made you feel like you didn't belong were actually your greatest gifts? 🦢 Author @senickel.bsky.social joins the podcast to talk about Hans Christian Andersen, neurodiversity, and writing for the child who feels "too much." thechildrensbookreview.com/from-an-ugly...

From an Ugly Duckling to Storytelling Swan: Sandra Nickel on Hans Christian Andersen

Author Sandra Nickel offers a fairy-tale-like portrait of how a misunderstood child grew into one of the world’s most beloved storytellers.

thechildrensbookreview.com

Join me in celebrating The True Ugly Duckling on April 2 at @booksofwonder.bsky.social! And, yes, those are our cookies! If you can’t make it & would like a signed book, you can order at booksofwonder.com/products/978... Please come & bring friends! #booklaunch #newbook #celebration #cookies #books

When I read the full review of THE OCEAN'S HEART I cried (tears of joy)...Okay, I'm still crying. The reviewer connected with this book on every level. I hope other readers will, too. ❤️@steelworksliterary.bsky.social @lernerbooks.bsky.social @carolhinz.bsky.social #Edusky #Skybrarians #kidlit

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️📚

Jeanne Walker Harvey@jeannewharvey.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Kidlit nonfiction book pairing! 🌊 Twice the stories, twice the wonder! THE OCEAN'S HEART is by @jilanne.bsky.social and illustrated by Khoa Le who also beautifully illustrated our THE GLASS PYRAMID: A Story of the Louvre Museum & Architect I.M. Pei. @lernerbooks.bsky.social @carolhinz.bsky.social

ICYMI in Feb #NotesfromtheHornBook: 6 picture-book biographies celebrating women in arts professions, educators, + activists www.hbook.com/story/newsle... @simonkids.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social @penguinkids.bsky.social @monicaclarkrob.bsky.social @senickel.bsky.social #WomensHistoryMonth

Getting creative

From the February 2026 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

hbook.com

Such book love! Betsy Bird has included The True Ugly Duckling in her Caldecott 2027 Spring Prediction Edition. Thank you, Betsy! 💙 #picturebookillustration #caldecottprediction #newbook #books #booklove #kidlit #kidlitillustration

Q&A with Garrett Curbow about his new novel, WHISPERS OF INK AND STARLIGHT. tinyurl.com/mr3a35u4

This week on Kidlit Survival Guide (the Substack I write with @christinenevans.bsky.social), I talk about when a book goes out of print. (Ouch.) kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/when-a-boo...

When a Book Goes Out Of Print

Ouch.

kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com

Happy book birthday to @kaaauthor.bsky.social and Lita Judge's The Littlest Elephant: A One and Only Ruby Story! mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/06/cove...

I added Dr. @grantdraws.bsky.social's The Year I Stopped Drawing to my 2026 Books I Love presentation: www.pinterest.com/mrschureads/...

Inspire children with a fun STEAM activity tied to our picture book biography, THE GLASS PYRAMID: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I.M. Pei. Plus other fun activities available too: jeannewalkerharvey.com/projects @ssedlib.bsky.social @eastwestlit.bsky.social @kidlittv.bsky.social

Q&A with Miriam Chernick about her middle grade novel, THE ZUZU SECRET. tinyurl.com/4mcbb3zj @miriamchernick.bsky.social

Happy Book Birthday QUESO, JUST IN TIME + 9 Qs with Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ernesto Cisneros /Quill Tree @eastwestlit.bsky.social #kidlit #skybrarians #TLSky erindealey.com/book-birthda...

Happy Book Birthday QUESO, JUST IN TIME + 9 Qs with Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ernesto Cisneros - Erin Dealey, Children's Author

We chat about the making of QUESO, JUST IN TIME the latest mg novel by Pura Belpré Award-winning Ernesto Cisneros.

erindealey.com

LOVE seeing excited #librarian pals get their preorders of SQUIRREL DRAWS BIG FEELINGS— Illus. @lucianaillustra.bsky.social @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social @eastwestlit.bsky.social —hooray!!!! Thanks Mrs. Baker 🌟📚🌟 #kidlit

"The instinct toward #creativity in difficult moments is not incidental. It is the brain’s attempt to restore coherence, & may be one of the most human things about us." @psychologytoday.com In the pb Squirrel Draws BIG Feelings, #ART "feels like a quiet hug." @lucianaillustra.bsky.social #kidlit

"The True Ugly Duckling is one of the most beautifully written and illustrated biographies I’ve come across... Every library, public, school or home, should have a copy of The True Ugly Duckling." Thank you @crackingthecover.bsky.social! www.crackingthecover.com/28013/the-tr... #newbook #kidlit