“Book banning is threatening the next generation of readers, through booksellers who are scared to stock what people want, and librarians and educators who feel that they can't do their jobs without fear of reprisal.”

Defending the Literary Ecosystem: PW Talks with Philomena Polefrone

Last week, the former associate director of the ABA’s American Booksellers for Free Expression initiative joined PEN America as senior program manager of its Freedom to Read initiative.

publishersweekly.com

We're always looking for more authors/illustrators to join AABB. Check out this zine from @redgoldsparks.bsky.social with more info on why should join. And if you already are a member, we'd love for you to share the zine with your other author friends! drive.google.com/file/d/1jD7s...

When the banks needed help, they called it “stabilizing the economy.” When airlines needed help, they called it “protecting jobs.” When corporations got tax breaks, they called it “pro-growth.” When working people need health care? “SOCIALISM.”

Library funding is tied to usage.

If you're looking for professional help on your kidlit or YA project, I have openings. Need eyeballs on your query letter? I can do that, too. Check out my services here: www.alisonweisseditorial.com/services I'm happy to answer any questions.

Inspired by a Twitter thread, but I'm fired up, so I'm bringing it here. Author Kevin McCleod posted quite smartly that when kids can read to themselves, the act of reading aloud seems to just . . . stop. And I agree with him that that's a complete shame.

Just saw this is over 60k this morning! He needs 75k so can you help push it up up up if you have anything to spare? And if you don't, please do share! #Booksky

Louie Stowell@louiestowell.bsky.social · 6d ago

I just saw a piece in @thebookseller.com about this fundraiser - to protect and share a collection of over one million Black books in the UK, a labour of love by one collector, Baba Pepukayi, but a vital resource for the nation. www.gofundme.com/f/save-1-mil... Please share, and donate if you can.

#Libraries #Readers #Books

Boosting for the afternoon crowd

Louie Stowell@louiestowell.bsky.social · 6d ago

I just saw a piece in @thebookseller.com about this fundraiser - to protect and share a collection of over one million Black books in the UK, a labour of love by one collector, Baba Pepukayi, but a vital resource for the nation. www.gofundme.com/f/save-1-mil... Please share, and donate if you can.

Boop for the evening #kidlit #edusky #teachersky crowd! And whoever wants to win free books!

Charlene Chua@charlenedraws.bsky.social · 7d ago

Me & Benson Benson Shum are doing a Back To School themed #BookGiveaway ! Win a copy of FIRST NIGHT OF HOWLERGARTEN and WHEN YOU GO TO DRAGON SCHOOL! Enter on Insta - tinyurl.com/4k8cwept #kidlit #bookgiveaway #booksky

Grateful to @gregpincus.bsky.social and @bonnieadamson.com for starting #KidLitChat 17 years ago! Also grateful that they decided to move this chat to Bluesky. 💙🦋 Photo from an SCBWI conference in 2012.

Can we take a moment and appreciate the mermaid dad's?

Keep calling and writing to Congress about these national book banning bills up for consideration. katielcarroll.com/the-slippery...

The Slippery Slope of Letting the Government Decide What We Read: Call Congress to Vote NO on H.R. 7661 & S. 4925

Currently, four different book banning bills are under consideration in Congress: H.R. 7661, S. 4925, H.R. 2616, and H.R. 8705. I’m encouraging everyone who supports the right to read to cont…

katielcarroll.com

Are you in or around Monrovia, CA? AABB is hosting a Protect the Freedom to Read postcard party at Underdog Books on Friday August 14, 7PM-9PM. Snacks, beverages and postcards will be provided! More info & to RSVP

Protect the Freedom to Read: Postcard Party — Underdog Bookstore and Events, Inc.

Fight back against book bans and learn more about the bills circulating in the House and the Senate at this fun postcard-writing party!

underdogbookstore.org

Lit Kids is in a tough spot! 🫣 We need submissions from 5-13 y/o creatives or we won't have Issue 11: Spooky Stories! Please send writing, art, and photos to our mentors by 8/7 for consideration. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Keep shining! ✨ www.litkidsmagazine.com/submissions #parents #teachers #kidlit #emag

Scared Pengu Penguin

Alt: The gif features a Scared Pengu Penguin.

static.klipy.com

Who gets invited to reading and who gets boxed out? Help Storybook Maze increase book access in Baltimore’s book deserts gofund.me/cf9706ca1

Dashingclaire@dashingclaire.bsky.social · last wk.

The magical #book trolley #Baltimore 📚💙 ✏️🖤

The hypothesis? Static images in books might actually be better than videos for building scientific thinking, because they give kids time to really see cause and effect. Working on this for Physics of Complex Systems journal. No idea if it'll work out, but the idea feels right.

Starting work on something fascinating: a paper about how illustrated science books can help kids aged 7-10 transition from "the wind blows because it wants to" to actual physical reasoning. 📚✨

We’re accepting pitches for our series on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. We welcome new authors! Send us your pitch about what changed because of 9/11. Syllabi and assignments are also encouraged. 🗃️#academicsky

Clio and the Contemporary@cliocontemporary.bsky.social · 6mo ago

We welcome pitches from historians and scholars in related fields on how 9/11 changed the United States and the world. Part of our 2026 anniversary series, this sub-series on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 will roll out in September. Follow the link below to send us your pitch. #skystorians

My last #scwbi summercon was 2023. The virtual coffee shop + speed network on the platform was super- SLAY. Met new people,heard their goals, successes, journeys, beginnings, & new thoughts. It was inspiring to connect with positive creatives. While sharing info, I realized I'd come a long way too.😍

Debbie Ridpath Ohi@debbieohi.com · last wk.

Fun chatting w/ @svtworks.bsky.social @trishuponastar.bsky.social @szetoj.bsky.social at BIPOC creator table #scbwiSummer26 Coffee Lounge. Trish's SMILE FOR THE CAMERA launches Fall 2026 from Evernight Teen, Joanna's LEARNING TO SWIM is out now, & Shirley's working on a graphic novel! #KidLit

Yikes. (This is the future, unfortunately.)

Maggie Harrison Dupré@mharrisondupre.bsky.social · 2w ago

NEW: A PR firm used at least 15 fake personas — equipped with fake emails, fake websites, and in some cases, fake AI-generated faces — to send me dozens of pitch emails about its (very real) clients. Those clients told me they had no idea this was happening. futurism.com/artificial-i...

Write. Illustrate. Get Inspired. * Learn from publishers, editors, agents, authors, and illustrators * Build your skills and grow your publishing network * Invest in your creativity ** Attend in person or online. Register today: canscaip.org/PYI-Conference #kidlit #publishing

Hey! There are still some spaces left at Big Sur Children's Writer's Workshop (EAST COAST edition!) -- Come hang out with agents and editors and terrific writers and workshop and revise your book in a gorgeous and serene location on Cape Cod this Fall! www.bigsurchildrenswriters.com/home-cape-cod

If you don't credit the artist who drew the cover of your book when the cover is revealed, I am going to assume it is either AI or that you're very rude.

We need to be out there protesting!!!

Translators, register here to join a social featuring Eva Apelqvist, translator of FIRE FROM THE SKY by Moa Backe Åstot—only the second title in #translation to be named a Printz Honor book! Thurs, July 30, 7-8pm Central scbwi.zoom.us/meeting/regi... A free part of #scbwiSummer26 ⭐️ #ya #xl8 #kidlit

#Poetry #Painting #Morning I start the morning gently In a quiet sort of way Just grateful for the time And another beautiful day 🎨 Tsan Ming Kuo

#Poetry #Painting #Morality The good and the evil are happening concurrently. The choice to focus on the good is itself a way to defy the evil. -Jared K Anderson 🎨 Elana Weust

George Callaghan (b.1941 Northern Ireland) Path to the Harbour. Acrylic on canvas.

What Debbie said! 💯 #kidlitchat

Debbie Ridpath Ohi@debbieohi.com · 4w ago

Heh. I actually find posting on Instagram takes more work/planning. I do still post there but I find all the fun / interesting conversations take place here on Bluesky. And thanks to @bonnieadamson.com and @gregpincus.bsky.social, the #KidLit community has a wkly #KidLitChat every Tue night 9 pm!