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Holly Thompson

@hatbooks.bsky.social
298 followers 391 following 50 posts

New: LISTENING TO TREES: GEORGE NAKASHIMA, WOODWORKER. Author of verse novels, picture books, poetry, prose. Teacher. Writing Consultant. KidLit translator (J>E). Japan longtimer. Website: www.hatbooks.com Blog: hatbooks.blogspot.com

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Reposted by Holly Thompson
Avery Udagawa @averyudagawa.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
I look forward to moderating SWET Talk Shop: Catching Up with Writer Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social on Saturday, July 11 at 9 a.m. Japan Standard Time. Holly's #bicultural writing for young people has inspired me for years. #kidlit #pb #mg #ya #ListeningToTrees swet.jp/events/event...
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Thank you, Jessie! So pleased! Hope you enjoy Listening to Trees.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Join me for a Narrative Poetry class, via #GrubStreet Boston on Zoom, 4 Thursdays, 6-9pm, in June. We'll read, explore, write & discuss works that fuse poetry plus narrative, short forms as well as verse novels. #versenovels #narrativepoetry #poetry #creativewriting grubstreet.org/workshop/nar...
Collage of verse novel covers: Everything is Poison; The Burning Season;  Knocking on Windows; Radiant; Apple: Skin to the Core; A Sea of Lemon Trees; The Trouble with Heroes; When We Ride; Grace Notes; Lion of the Sky; King of the Neuro Verse; All the Love Under the Vast Sky; Bridge Across the Sky; Bright Red Fruit; Love, Sivvy
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Reposted by Holly Thompson
SCBWI @scbwi.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
We stand alongside over 100 grassroots and national advocacy organizations, publishers, booksellers, parent groups, and professional associations in opposition to H.R. 7661.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
I'm teaching Narrative Poetry four Thursdays in June: 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25, 6-9 pm EDT, via Zoom. Interested in the craft of poetry + story? Verse Novels? Join us from wherever you are for this 4-week workshop. Generative, supportive, inclusive. grubstreet.org/workshop/nar... #poetry #versenovels
grubstreet.org
Writing Workshop: Narrative Poetry | GrubStreet
Starts Jun 4, 2026- In this class, we’ll explore the craft of narrative poetry—poems that tell stories–and various ways to build lines and employ…
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Reposted by Holly Thompson
Linda Weste @lindaweste.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Heads up for three award-winning #VerseNovels by Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social Orchards #YA The Language Inside #YA & Falling into the Dragon's Mouth #MG #kidlit #writingcommunity #librarian #MGBookChat @yalsa.bsky.social @worldkidlit.bsky.social @librariesconnected.bsky.social
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Thanks for sharing this post--4th of my 4 posts for "The Official SCBWI Blog"! #translation #SCBWI
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
This summer I'm an SCBWI guest blogger. Watch for my posts every Thursdays throughout August on the SCBWI Official Blog. #1 of 4 is up--a focus on connections and volunteering. scbwi.blogspot.com/2025/08/scbw...
SCBWI banner for the SCBWI Official Blog
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Thrilled to learn that LISTENING TO TREES: George Nakashima, Woodworker, with text by me and illustrations by Toshiki Nakamura is an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner! @artoftoshi.bsky.social @holidayhouse.bsky.social
Crystal Kite award winning seal and cover of Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Yes, I was thrilled to see that!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Such fun to meet up with you in Amherst!
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Reposted by Holly Thompson
Avery Udagawa @averyudagawa.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Savored a pre-event visit with Japan- and Massachusetts-based author Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social. My journey toward translating Sachiko Kashiwaba’s The Village Beyond the Mist began with translating a story by Kashiwaba-san for the #YA anthology TOMO, edited by Holly. www.hatbooks.com
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Great to see this feature w/ Dr. Linda Weste, editor of DiVerse, the anthology of children's and YA verse novelist author interviews, including one with me on craft in THE LANGUAGE INSIDE. Thank you, Cynsations! #versenovels cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/05/auth...
cynthialeitichsmith.com
Author Interview: Dr. Linda Weste Examines the Verse Novel Through Conversations with Middle Grade & Young Adult Authors - Cynthia Leitich Smith
By Mitu Malhotra Cynsations is excited to welcome Dr. Linda Weste to share the process behind her recent book, DiVERSE: Conversations with YA and Children’s Verse Novelists (Bloomsbury, 2025). Dr. Wes...
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
My GrubStreet summer course 6 Weeks 3 Picture Books starts June 2, meets 6 Mondays via Zoom, 6-9 pm EDT. Generative, supportive, inclusive. Join us? Only 3 spots left! Scholarships available. Details: grubstreet.org/workshop/6-w... #picturebookwriting #kidlit #picturebooks #creativewriting
Collage of recently published picture book covers.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
So much energy and fun at #SeaweedSaturday in Portland, ME. Good eats, art and demos. Thanks to all those who made this happen for the second year in a row. Copies of #TheWakameGatherers went home with many new friends : ) Thank you @leeandlow.bsky.social
Portland, ME Seaweed Saturday exhibitorsAuthor Holly Thompson with The Wakame Gatherers readersSeaweed Saturday exhibitors Heiwa Tofu
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Seaweed Saturday is 4/26 at Gulf of Maine Institute, Portland & I'll be there w/ The Wakame Gatherers. Seaweed Saturday features arts, seaweed panels, marketplace, tastings, hands-on activities, food trucks & more! #SeaweedSaturday #Maine #Wakame #picturebooks @leeandlow.bsky.social
Photos of posters for Maine Seaweed Week and Seaweed Saturday in Portland, ME, plus photos of seaweedPhoto of cover of the picture book THE WAKAME GATHERERS by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Kazumi Wilds.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
Ready to craft narrative poems/verse novels in Nat'l Poetry Month? My GrubStreet class NARRATIVE POETRY begins April 2 on Zoom, 6-9 pm EDT, for 4 Tues eves. Join us? See grubstreet.org/workshop/nar... #narrativepoetry #versenovels #poetry #poetrywriting #creativewriting #nationalpoetrymonth2025
Collage of verse novels and poetry books by various authors.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
Grateful to Doylestown Living magazine for 2 features: Mira Nakashima & the Nakashima Foundation for Peace, plus tribute to George Nakashima w/ Q&A with me! See pages 25-30 for this double feature. Get a copy in Doylestown, PA or visit my HATbooks blog--link in my bio. #picturebooks #NF #biography
Photos of two Doylestown Living magazine articles, one featuring Holly Thompson and first page of interview regarding creating of her picture book Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker, by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura, published by Neal Porter/Holiday House, and photo of the  the second article featuring Mira Nakashima on the Nakashima Foundation for Peace. Cover of magazine Doylestown Living also included.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Breathtaking! "The Dance of the Divine Crane" video by longtime Japan resident, friend and photographer Hans Sautter. url: www.nippon.com/en/japan-vid... #hokkaido #cranes #naturephotography #japan
nippon.com
The Dance of the Divine Crane
A trip to the far north of Japan in its coldest months can reward visitors with views of the tanchō—the red-crowned cranes whose elegant mating dances have given them a rich place in Japanese cultural...
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Florida friends--I'm doing 3 #ListeningtoTrees events this week in Palm Beach & Broward counties. Join and learn more about the life of woodworker George Nakashima. For makers ages 6 and up. Link to Hatbooks blog in bio. #GeorgeNakashima #nonfiction #picturebooks @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social
photos of picture book Listening to Trees and furniture made by George Nakashima that were exhibited at the Morikami Museum and Gardens
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Great to see you!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Love this bookshop!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Thanks, Joyce!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
All classes are Boston time.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
grubstreet.org/workshop/6-w...
grubstreet.org
GrubStreet | 6 Weeks, 3 Picture Books
The nation's leading and largest center for creative writing for over 25 years, GrubStreet offers classes and events for writers from all stages and…
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Intro to Picture Books: grubstreet.org/workshop/6-w...
grubstreet.org
GrubStreet | Intro to Picture Books
The nation's leading and largest center for creative writing for over 25 years, GrubStreet offers classes and events for writers from all stages and…
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
My 2025 Zoom picture book writing classes--SOON at GrubStreet.org : INTRO TO PBs: Mon 1/27 & 2/3 6-9 pm--overview & writing explorations. 6 WEEKS, 6 PBs: 6 Mondays fr. 2/24 6-9 pm Craft, revise 3 text for 3 PBs w/ group feedbac, revision. #picturebookwriting #Zoom #PBclasses hatbooks.blogspot.com
Collage of recently published picture books
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
I love this book--beautifully done!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
I'm thrilled to be presenting with MFA Boston curator Asako Katsura at this Japan Society Boston event on George Nakashima & my #picturebook Listening to Trees. Free event. Join us? Dec. 10, 6 pm EST. Register: loom.ly/qcvYK_4 @holidayhouse.bsky.social #ListeningToTrees #nonfiction #biography
Japan Society Boston announcement for event on 12/10/2024, 6 pm about the picture book Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker, with author Holly Thompson and MFA art curator Asako Katsura.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Hooray! Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker is a 2025 NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended title! Such an honor for Listening to Trees--Orbis Picture Award is for outstanding NF for children. Thanks to @holidayhouse.bsky.social @artoftoshi.bsky.social #biography #NealPorterBooks
Picture book Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker, with Orbis Pictus Recommended Book seal on cover.
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Reposted by Holly Thompson
Kate Messner @katemessner.com · 02/12/2024
Teachers & librarians! Want to Zoom with an author for World Read Aloud Day? Here's all the information about how WRAD Zoom visits work, plus a list of over 300 author & illustrator volunteers! katemessner.com/zoom-with-an...
FEBRUARY 5, 2025 WORLD READ ALOUD DAY graphic has a lavendar background with cartoon animals celebrating - including a panda, elephant, giraffe, and bear. Presented by litworld.org
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Looking forward to participating!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 10/11/2024
In LA for college and school visits, Japanese American National Museum exhibits and signing copies of #ListeningtoTrees. All is well! 😀 #georgenakashimawoodworker @nakashimawoodworkers #japaneseamericanhistory #picturebooks #woodworking @holidayhousebks @nealporterbooks
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 02/09/2024
Coming soon...LISTENING TO TREES: GEORGE NAKASHIMA, WOODWORKER. Pre-order now from your favorite bookshops. Words by me, illustrations by Toshiki Nakamura, written in haibun form, with pages of back matter, plus a foreword from Mira Nakashima. #ListeningToTrees #GeorgeNakashima #PictureBooks
Cover of picture book Listening to Trees: George Nakashima, Woodworker, Words by Holly Thompson, Picture by Toshiki Nakamura, with an illustration of young George hiking among trees.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 14/06/2024
Thrilled that my Zoom summer course 6 Weeks, 6 Picture Books course at grubstreet.org is full! But you can still join the waitlist. We'll read PBs, study mentor texts, learn more PB craft, write, revise, share feedback. And if you can't join this course, maybe next time : ) #picturebooks #kidlit
recently publishd picture book covers
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Reposted by Holly Thompson
Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 31/05/2024
For those were at #KidLitAMA or anyone else interested in kidlit illustration, I highly recommend listening to @literaticat.bsky.social's excellent interview with Scholastic Executive Art Director @brianlarossa.com: www.jenniferlaughran.com/literaticast... #KidLitArt
jenniferlaughran.com
65: Inside the Art Department with Art Director Brian LaRossa
Literary Agent Jennifer Laughran and her friends dish about the world of Children's Publishing. Become a Patron! Patreon donations go directly to paying the fees to run the podcast. Any amount over...
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Reposted by Holly Thompson
Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 14/06/2024
Hey #KidLit Community! Official #KidLit Mega Feed launch is tomorrow 12p ET w/ @boringstorybook.com @charlenedraws.bsky.social & me! Hoping you'll all post. Special thx to advisors & cheerleaders @brianlarossa.com @bossett.social @rose.bsky.team @danirabaiotti.bsky.social @blueskyfeedcreator.com!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 14/06/2024
Polishing my pitch and sample translation for the #SCBWI Pitch-Perfect Translation Grant submission. So glad to see this #translation opportunity in SCBWI! www.scbwi.org/pitch-perfec...
scbwi.org
Pitch-Perfect Translation Grant
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators provides the resources, professional networking, and community-building opportunities that support writers, illustrators, and translators throug...
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 14/06/2024
I'd like to be added. Thanks!
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Reposted by Holly Thompson
Andrea Brown Literary Agency @andreabrownlit.bsky.social · 14/06/2024
We're just about at 1K followers on here :) Happy to see you and talk about excellent books, authors, and illustrators!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 19/03/2024
Yay! I'm in the midst of Vol. 1. I hav all good things to say about Uehashi's The Deer King and Cathy Hirano's masterful translation.
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Reposted by Holly Thompson
Read Japanese Literature @readjapaneseliterature.com · 19/03/2024
Happy release day to Nahoko Uehashi's The Deer King, vol. 2—Returners (trans. Cathy Hirano). I haven't read this one myself, but I've heard good things about it. And I *have* read Uehashi's The Beast Player (also trans. Hirano), which is a must-read Japanese fantasy novel.
bookshop.org
The Deer King, Vol. 2 (Novel): Returners Volume 2 a book by Nahoko Uehashi, Masaaki Yamamoto, and Cathy Hirano
Van's chase to rescue the kidnapped Yuna leads him to the Ahfal Oma, the People of the Fire Horse. They reveal that the sickness plaguing Aquafa is no random resurgence but a carefully orchestrated re...
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Greg Pincus @gregpincus.bsky.social · 19/03/2024
There shall be a #kidlitchat at 9 PM Eastern tonight, and it shall also be at 6 PM Pacific cuz we are so good at multitasking in that way. No matter what time it is for you, I hope you'll join us!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 19/03/2024
The Wakame Gatherers goes to Maine! Thank you to all the librarians, teachers and students who invited me into their schools to talk seaweed harvesting share the story of Nanami and her two grandmothers. @leeandlow.bsky.social #wakame #TheWakameGatherers #picturebooks #Maine #authorvisit
hatbooks.blogspot.com
The Wakame Gatherers in Maine
At last, I had a chance to return to Maine for school visits thanks to Read Maine Agriculture selecting my picture book  The Wakame Gatherer...
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 07/03/2024
This month @worldkidlit features Seeking a Publisher, showcasing global kidlit books available now for translation into English. Today features books orig. pub'd in Japanese & Arabic; two are books I've translated that are now #seekingapublisher! hatbooks.blogspot.com/2024/03/worl...
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Reposted by Holly Thompson
Avery Udagawa @averyudagawa.bsky.social · 07/03/2024
This week's Book of the Week at the Cooperative Children's Book Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, is 2024 #PrintzHonor book FIRE FROM THE SKY by Moa Backe Åstot, translated from Swedish by Eva Apelqvist! #SCBWITranslation #YA ccbc.education.wisc.edu/fire-from-th...
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 07/03/2024
Please add me!
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 06/03/2024
Editors, are you following the Seeking a Publisher posts at #WorldKidLit? So far children's to YA works from Europe, Africa, Americas have been shared. More global stories available for translation TK! #translation #worldlit #kidlit #YA #MG #PB worldkidlit.org
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 06/03/2024
Now I go back and forth. I love my former home Kamakura, Kyoto's less touristed spots, and I rural agrarian Japan.
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Holly Thompson @hatbooks.bsky.social · 06/03/2024
Thrilling! Bravo!
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