iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Authors: “We already thought those were the same thing.”

Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Our video series "This One's Dedicated to..." is not (yet) back with a new season of episodes, but @jennyziegler.bsky.social & I are happy to have our friend and fellow author @torreymaldonado.bsky.social return to the show to discuss the dedication he wrote for his picture book debut, JUST RIGHT.

Still image from This One's Dedicated to... Episode 73: Torrey Maldonado

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

My first bookstore event of 2026 is just 8 days away! I’m excited to be spending next Wednesday evening, 1/14, with some great people at Nowhere Books in San Antonio. If you plan to be there, too… WE MATCH! Details: nowherebookshop.com/event/2026-0...

Covers of author Chris Barton’s first 25 books

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Seeing how full the #NCTE25 schedule is makes me realize how dependent I’ll be on friends’ posts to let me know which sessions to attend—and how helpful it might be to put that info out there myself. So, here’s where I’ll be on Saturday. What should I see in the meantime?

Saturday, November 22
1:15–2:30 PM
Panel: Count on It! Math-Themed Books That Will Ignite Math Lovers and Entice Math-Averse Students
Location: Room 707

Sarah Albee (Author)

Chris Barton (Author)

Shruthi Rao (Author)

Ann Marie Stephens (Author and Educator)

Moderator: Susannah Richards (Educator)

Saturday, November 22
2:45–4:00 PM
Panel: Making Brave and Bold Writing Choices
Location: Room 105

Jennifer Vincent
Chris Barton
Adam Gidwitz
Sharee Mille
Jasmine Warga
Jennifer LaGarde

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

(I’m so glad we didn’t name this character “Billings” or “Missoula”!)

Trading card (front and back) for Bozeman, character in the picture book WE MATCH! by Chris Barton and Sharon Glick.

Breed: mastiff and miscellaneous
hound mix
Nicknames: Bozey, Bozo, Bozer,
Bulldozer
Weight: 85 pounds
Age: 6 months
Birthday: November 11
Littermates: 7
Walks: Not as far as you'd think-might need to be carried!
Drools: A LOT!
Grooming Tip: Don't forget to check
the face wrinkles!
Howls: Not yet! But has never really
had a reason ..
Fireworks: ARR-OOOOOOOO!!!

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

WE MATCH! is big in Bozeman, Montana, the home city of illustrator Sharon Glick. Folks there have shown our book loads of love at our August launch and at our three public library and elementary school events this past week. Thank you, Bozeman! www.bozemandailychronicle.com/arts_and_ent...

Best Sellers November 9-15
1. "We Match!" by Chris Barton, $18.99

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

That’s some good company — thank you so much, Nancy! (Ernie is listening, too.)

The best dog ever, in a contemplative pose

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

I've got some great news: It is thoroughly satisfying to share what I hope will be my last-ever update on the 2023 Texas book ban, a.k.a. House Bill 900, a.k.a. the READER Act, which is that a federal judge has stopped the law with a permanent injunction. chrisbarton.info/the-case-aga...

Graphic resembling Texas highway sign, with the silhouette of the state of Texas containing "HB 900" crossed out with a red X

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Axolotl attendees, and I think they’ll agree: The No Kings march in Austin has been a joy. I saw fellow church members, former coworkers, another children’s author, an actual rock star, and above all a diverse, peaceful, and good-natured assembly of people who love this country passionately.

Marchers — including one in an axolotl costume — on Congress Avenue in Austin during today’s No Kings march

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

And how about this one: "Darn it, I gave away all of my Spanish books and of course now I’m trying to learn it again. How can a person ever get rid of a book, I ask you, and yet I must because I need room on my shelves." Did Deborah Heiligman say that, or did I?

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

And who said this one? "That ties into one of my all-time favorite music nonfiction books, a John Lennon biography by Ray Coleman—just titled Lennon—that I read over and over when I was in high school, just as I’d done with the Great Brain books several grades earlier." Me, or Victor Piñeiro?

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

The matter-of-fact wallop of the last paragraph here:

In a statement Wednesday to The Waco Bridge, ICE described the deportation as follows:

"Sergio Garcia, a 65-year-old twice-deported criminal alien from Mexico, illegally entered the U.S., was afforded full due process under the law, and was ordered deported by an immigration judge at great taxpayer expense. In complete defiance to our nation's system of laws, he fled from authorities and remained an immigration fugitive for more than 23 years. After law enforcement finally caught up with him earlier this year, he was arrested and deported to Mexico on March 25."

The regional ICE office in Waco is located at the federal courthouse on Franklin Avenue, four blocks from where Sergio's Food Truck plied its trade for 12 years.

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Sample "How Do WE Match?" questions with Martha Brockenbrough & Antwan Eady: What did you *think* you were going to become? Did you collect anything as a kid? Water, coffee, or tea? Are you saying that you have canine companionship as we’re chatting? chrisbarton.info/labels/how-d...

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

I just finished two new "How Do WE Match?" chats that I'll be sharing soon, but first I want to mention that Wednesday morning I'll be picking four winners of this pair of books, in conjunction with my most recent chats. There's still time to get in the running: chrisbarton.info?s=how+do+we+...

cover of picture book The Gathering Table, written by Antwan Eady and illustrated by London Ladd

cover of picture book A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet, by Martha Brockenbrough and illustrated by Juana Martinez Neal

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

We invite eligible works published in 2025 across 14 categories—including a brand new one for Best First Book of Nonfiction—with over $25,750 in prizes going to the winners.

TEXAS INSTITUTE OF LETTERS
2025 LITERARY CONTESTS NOW OPEN
Submit now! Award eligibility requires either that the author have a significant Texas connection or that the work's subject substantially concern Texas. Judges will select finalists and winners in fourteen categories for the best works published in 2025. Winners will be recognized and more than $25,000 in prizes awarded at the TIL's annual meeting, to be held on May 1-2, 2026, in College Station, Texas.
https://texasinstituteofletters.org/literary-awards

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

If there’s an author you appreciate, one of the simplest, most helpful, least expensive things you can do for them is ask your public library to add that author’s newest book to their collection. Many library websites have a form for that. So give it a try, and make an author’s day!

Submit a Suggestion
Thank you for your suggestion. The decision to purchase an item is based on the Library's selection criteria, budget constraints, and the item's availability from our vendors. You may also use our Interlibrary Loan service.
Fields marked by an asterisk are required.
Title *
Author, Performer, or Director *
Next →

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

This is a big week for illustrator Sharon Glick and me, because every public-school 1st grader in Bozeman, MT, is receiving a copy of WE MATCH! HUGE thanks to the local school foundation for making that happen, and for bringing our story of joyfully discovering common ground to so many readers.

cover of picture book WE MATCH!
written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Sharon Glick

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

When you protest-cancel a subscription, take a moment to let ‘em know why.

Found in Sent Mailbox
Chris Barton
To: The Washington Post >
Yesterday
Re: Your Washington Post subscription has been canceled.
I want to be clear: I canceled my subscription because the firing of Karen Attiah was the last straw.

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

#TLSkyChat I mean, here was what I remembered of nonfiction books from when I was a kid:

Childhood of Famous Americans
William Henry Harrison: Young Tippecanoe

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

A8 The nonfiction book for kids that changed how I thought about... nonfiction books for kids was THE DINOSAURS OF WATERHOUSE HAWKINS, which came out just as I was getting started writing books for young readers. It made me realize just how much better things had gotten since I was a kid. #TLSkyChat

THE DINOSAURS OF WATERHOUSE HAWKINS, by Barbara Kerley and Brian Selznick

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

A6 #TLSkyChat I don't know that kids require much convincing that NF is amazing, unless they've picked up a negative impression from adults with zero understanding of what NF for kids has been like in the 21st century. Too many grownups still make what I call nonfiction face:

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Oh, and CONGRATULATIONS, @frankstrong.bsky.social!!! ncte.org/awards/ncte-...

NCTE National Intellectual
Freedom Award
2025 Recipient: Frank Strong
KIPP Austin Collegiate High School, Texas Freedom to Read Project

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Big doings in Austin this coming weekend! I’m excited to be leading the “Bursts of Firsts” picture book workshop for the @scbwiatx.bsky.social Mini MFA Conference. #atxscbwiconf25

SCBWI * ATX
MINI MFA
CONFERENCE
FALL 2025
Saturday, September 27
JOE C THOMPSON CONFERENCE CENTER
8AM - 5PM

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Draft email from Bureau of Labor Statistics…

screenshot from opening credits of Monty Python’s The Holy Grail: “We apologise again for the fault in the subtitles. Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked, have been sacked.”

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

I played How Do WE Match? recently with author friends Antwan Eady and Martha Brockenbrough, and it was fun to figure out a few things we had in common (and to give away copies of their new books).

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Now’s the time of year when I feel about as smart as I ever get, for having recorded my last few author presentations in the spring so I can listen back and remember just what it is I do when standing in front of hundreds of elementary students this morning for my first school visit of 2025-26.

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

I’m always glad to see librarian and #kidlit specialist Sylvie Shaffer answer questions from Washington Post readers, but her mention of my nonfiction picture book about glitter next to The Great Stink makes me even happier. (Btw there’s a VERY SUBTLE poop reference in my book.) wapo.st/41zVf61

Q: My 6-year-old son loves encyclopedia-type books, such as the DK Eyewitness books. This makes bedtime reading particularly challenging for me as a fiction lover. How can I get my curious son into stories? I have tried the "Wild Robot" series, lots of the Kate DiCamillo chapter books and many graphic novels. Please send help, one more book about the Roman Empire will send me over the edge.
(I recognize I should be grateful for any interest in books, but it would improve my evenings tremendously if we could read something we're both interested in.)

A: Oh man, reading aloud those browsable nonfiction tomes can be rough. I wonder if you could satisfy your understandable desire for story and narrative drive while still leaning into your son's curiosity: How about some age-appropriate narrative nonfiction, or perhaps some short-form biographies?

A couple of excellent, well told, true stories in picture-book format that balance science with history are "The Great Stink:
How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's
Poop Pollution Problem" by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, and
"Glitter Everywhere! Where It Came From, Where It's Found & Where It's Going" by Chris Barton, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat.

Cover of GLITTER EVERYWHERE! by Chris Barton and Chaaya Prabhat

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

I’m teaming up again with my GLITTER EVERYWHERE! editor & publisher to provide another scientific, historical & cultural overview of an everyday something that we have strong, conflicting feelings about: sweetness and sweeteners. Coming in 2027 & illustrated by the terrific Irene Chan, it’s SWEET!

Alyssa Mito Pusey at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to Sweet! by Chris Barton (I.) (Shark vs. Train), and Diane Earley has acquired world rights for illustration by Irene Chan. It's a non-sugarcoated nonfiction picture book about sweetness and sweeteners-sugar, honey, syrup, and all sorts of artificial alternatives-that examines how humanity's sweet tooth has evolved and continues to shape us. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Victoria Wells Arms at HG Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

One of my kids just brought up the topic of country artists with songs touching on the theme of reincarnation — he mentioned Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Tyler Childers, Roger Miller, and the Highwaymen, and I pointed out Iris Dement and this entire LP (much loved by me) by Willie Nelson. But who else?

Cover of Tougher Than Leather (Willie Nelson album)

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Some days (2015), you share the marquee with “Taco Cleanse,” but some days (today!) you share it with HOLES author Louis Sachar. I’m excited to be back at @bookpeople.com this afternoon at 2 p.m. to share my 25th book, WE MATCH!

BOOKPEOPLE PRESENTS

12-3 FRY & JACKSON 7PM

12-5 BARTON & ZIEGLER 4PM

12-7 TACO CLEANSE 7PM

12-8 COLLEEN HOOVER 7PM

BOOKPEOPLE PRESENTS

8/8 KATE GOLDEN

8/10 CHRIS BARTON

8/12 ZACH W LAMBERT

8/13 LOUIS SACHAR

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Thank you, @possible-futures.bsky.social in New Haven, CT, for adding my new book to your shelves. www.possiblefuturesbooks.com/item/MexlWhz... Book lovers, if you’d rather support this local indie than buy from you-know-where, guess what: WE MATCH!

POSSIBLE FUTURES

Neighborhood Bookspace &
Beloved Community
318 Edgewood Ave, New
Haven, CT 06511
Popular New Picks in the Neighborhood

POSSIBLE FUTURES

We Match!
Chris Barton, Sharon Glick
Publisher: Astra Publishing House
Juvenile Fiction / Animals - Dogs / Concepts - Opposites / Sports & Recreation
Ages 4-8

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Thank you, Izzy M at @steamboatbooks.bsky.social, for your kind words about WE MATCH! — and for making the book an August ‘25 Staff Pick at Off the Beaten Path! steamboatbooks.com/book/9781662...

WE MATCH!

Chris Barton, Sharon Glick (Illustrator)

A dog park is filled with all types of dogs. Some of them match because they look the same, but others match because of what they like or don't. We Match! It is an entertaining story about all the ways we can match each other and have fun while figuring it all out. This art style is scrappy, just like the dogs in the park, and there is always another little detail to find.
— Picture Books, Izzy M

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

I’ll give it a try — what’s your streaming service of choice? In the meantime here’s a playlist within that playlist. The name I gave it never doesn’t amuse me.

Spiegels were Spiegels, an Apple Music playlist by Chris Barton

Spiegel im spiegel
By Arvo Pärt — La Pietà & Angèl...

Spiegel im Spiegel
By Arvo Pärt — Daniel Hope & Si...

Spiegel im Spiegel
By Arvo Pärt — Viktoria Mullova,...

Spiegel im Spiegel
By Arvo Pärt — Martin Roscoe &...

Spiegel Im Spiegel
By Arvo Part — Nicola Benedetti...

Spiegel im Spiegel
By Arvo Pärt — Martin Roscoe &...

Spiegel im Spiegel
By Arvo Part — Michael Harrison..

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

I spent this afternoon appreciating the drawings, thank-you notes, and other mementos that I accumulated during my travels for author visits during the first half of 2025. I admit, I do have a soft spot for students’ portraits of me.

Student drawing of author Chris Barton, #1

Student drawing of author Chris Barton, #2

Student drawing of author Chris Barton, #3

Student drawing of author Chris Barton, #4

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Can’t wait to share my super-DEI (Dogs Enjoy Interacting) new publication WE MATCH! with folks tomorrow, 7/19, during the 11 a.m. story time at Birdhouse Books in Austin. Come join me! RSVP at withfriends.co/event/237240...

Front and back covers of picture book WE MATCH!, surrounded by character-card cutout sheets.

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Thank you, John! But don’t you mean @baronchrisbaron.bsky.social? No, wait—it *is* me. But… also him. We’ll try to get this all sorted out an hour from now: www.bookelicious.com/event/19

LitLive!
EVENTS

Bookelicious Book Launch:
Spark & We Match!

Chris Barton
Illustrated by Sharon Glick

Chris Baron

Tuesday, 7/15/25 | 7:30pm ET

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Happy 25th Publication Day to me! My newest picture book—WE MATCH!—is out in the world today, and I’m thankful to all of them, and to all the readers, booksellers, librarians, co-creators, and advocates who have helped make the work I do so enjoyable. Here’s to the next 25 books.

Montage of author Chris Barton’s first 25 published books

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Students at my author visits have often asked me if I’ll ever make a graphic novel, and for the longest time I didn’t realize *I already had*. Check out the category that Junior Library Guild says WE MATCH! (begun in 2012, finally out tomorrow) belongs to: “Graphic Novels Early Elementary Plus”!

Junior Library Guild (JLG) page for picture book WE MATCH!, with “Graphic Novels Early Elementary Plus” category circled

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

I wasn’t at #ALAAC25 last month, but WE MATCH! and these sweet bandanas were. Now I’ve got some, Ernie’s (reluctantly) wearing one, and I’m wondering who took the others home from Philadelphia. Ernie and I want to know: Who (or whose dog) does he match?

Picture book WE MATCH! by Chris Barton and Sharon Glick, with orange promotional WE MATCH! bandana

Author Chris Barton’s dog, Ernie, wearing orange promotional WE MATCH! bandana

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

And our narrator, our emcee, our play-by-play announcer, Button:

“Pupps” trading card for Button, a character in WE MATCH!

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Bozeman (named for illustrator Sharon Glick’s home city, which is also the city where she and I first met nearly four years ago, and where we’ll celebrate WE MATCH! together next month; and doesn’t he just LOOK like a Bozeman?)…

“Pupps” trading card for Bozeman, a character in WE MATCH!

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Sweet, sweet Dexter, who I think may be my favorite…

“Pupps” trading card for Dexter, a character in WE MATCH!

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Lucille Snowball—but you can call her Lucy, or Snowy, or…

“Pupps” trading card for Lucille Snowball, a character in WE MATCH!

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

I have a new book coming out on Tuesday—WE MATCH! is my first fiction picture book in more than 5 years—and it’s full of dogs.

Cover of WE MATCH! by Chris Barton and Sharon Glick.

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Chris Barton @bartography.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Chris Baron and I both write books for kids. Chris Baron and I both have new books out next Tuesday. Chris Baron and I both want you to celebrate with us next Tuesday night. In other words… WE MATCH! (And SPARK.)

WE MATCH! by Chris Barton and Sharon Glick

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