iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to be invited to @soi128.bsky.social for a picture book spotlight and art workshop featuring Turtle Slept In, and I've finally gotten around to organizing the photos! #kidlitart

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

All ages event in NYC on 9/12 @soi128 🐢📚🖍️ Tickets available here: societyillustrators.org/event/pictur... #kidlitart #artworkshop #societyofillustrators

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

All ages event in NYC on 9/12 @soi128 🐢📚🖍️ Tickets available here: societyillustrators.org/event/pictur... #societyofillustrators #jacobgrant #artworkshop #kidlitart #picturebook

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

It took 5 years to earn out, but it's still worth celebrating my first royalty payment for NO PANTS! (You should buy it 😉) Back then, I'd make little book trailers like this anytime I had a new book release. It may not have helped sales but it was always magical to bring the characters to life.

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

This Sunday! 🎪 Find me at the Secretary of State's Tent from 1-3pm signing and giving away 100 copies of Turtle Slept In, courtesy of @ilsecofstate.bsky.social - Hang around and we'll draw some Turtles!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Special delivery from Nagoya 🇯🇵!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Love a tiny dummy book! I have a number of these mini mockups in my cabinet, and it feels right to share how loose everything starts for a story. Working small is especially helpful as it keeps me from fussing over details that could obstruct the flow of getting the initial idea down. #kidlitart

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

🐢 in Cincinnati this July! Join me for a summer storytime and draw-along with Joseph-Beth, @cincylibrary.bsky.social, and next month at the IL State Fair. Let's draw some turtles!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Another sketchbook for the archives! A good while back I began selecting limited palettes for every several pages of my sketchbooks, and I cannot overstate how helpful it has been in getting comfortable with color. Try it out! 🎨 #kidlitart

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Oak Park! Join me at the library this Thursday for some 🐢📚🖍️ time! I'll read my new book, TURTLE SLEPT IN, lead some draw-along activities, and hang around afterwards to sign books and say hello! Register here: oakpark.librarycalendar.com/event/hold-j...

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

I'm bringing Turtle to Winnetka this weekend to celebrate with the always charming The Book Stall 🐢🏖️🎉 Hope to see you there!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

🐢 SCHOOL VISITS 🎉 I've been packing in all the visits I can leading up to the summer break, and I still have a few more later this week. (Hey Milwaukee!) Presenting for days on end can be exhausting, but the students' enthusiasm at every school brings me so much joy.

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

More Turtle storytimes and draw-alongs coming up! Find me in Winnetka and Oak Park this June, and Cincinnati this July. Turtley ready for summer reads! 🐢🏖️

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Signed copies of Turtle Slept In and Umami are now available in Indianapolis! Stop by Golden Hour Books, The Whispering Shelf, or Kids Ink Books to pick up yours while they last 🐢🐧📚

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Art process explained 🐢🎨 Hope this adds a bit of clarity on how the many oil pastel mono prints build up to create a full scene!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Join me for a 🐢 storytime and draw-along in Louisville this Saturday 🖍️📚🎉 @carmichaels.bsky.social I'll read my new picture book, Turtle Slept In, share some drawing activities, and hang around after to sign and say hello! #louisvilleky #livelou

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Educators! 🐢🖍️ Turtle coloring/fact sheets are now free to download on my website: jacobgrantbooks.com You can find Umami worksheets there as well - just click on a book to access the links!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

How I made the art for Turtle Slept In 🐢🏖️ Gather some oil pastels and color pencils and try it yourself! @penguinkids.bsky.social

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

OAK PARK this Saturday! Join me for a storytime and draw-along as I celebrate my new picture book, Turtle Slept In, with our neighborhood indie Dandelion Bookshop 🐢🏖️ I'll read the new book, draw some turtles, and hang around after to sign books and say hello! #oakpark #oakparkil

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Happy book birthday, Turtle! 🎂🐢 Many thanks to Meriam Metoui, Kate Renner, Anabeth Bostrup and the rest of the team at Viking Children's Books @penguinkids.bsky.social for believing in Turtle's story from the moment it hatched. Who's ready for a beach trip?? #kidlit #childrensbooks

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Calendar update! I've had a shift in travel plans, and will not be at Blue Marble on May 9 as I had hoped. We're going to work with schools in the early fall and plan for an event at the shop then. Keep an eye out for several Cincy area events in late July 🐢☀️ For now, Evanston Tues! Oak Park Sat!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Early studies for Turtle Slept In 🐢🥚 See the results of all these bits and pieces when the book is on shelves Tuesday! @penguinkids.bsky.social #kidlit #childrensbooks

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Not a bad start for our little Turtle! I thought it would be fun to write these by hand and now I realize they might be illegible scrawl. Apologies if that's the case. Just imagine they all say very nice things!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

🐢 COVER SKETCHES 🐢 Ever wonder how much bookmakers think about their cover design? We obsess over it! And not just a little bit - like a fairly unhealthy amount. The only cure for this obsession is to sketch up a hundred ideas in hopes that we'll find the perfect baby. Did we get it right?

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

TURTLE SLEPT IN events coming up! Join me for a storytime and draw-along at one of these fine booksellers in the weeks ahead. First, we kick things off with a Turtle Pajama Party @bookedevanston.bsky.social 🐢🎉 Hope to see you there!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Preorder TURTLE SLEPT IN from Dandelion Bookshop for a chance to get your own 6x4 🐢 art! dandelionbookshop.com/spotlight/tu... I've made 20 of these little guys so get them while they last! Signed books will continue to be available after 🏖️ #kidlit

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Turtle will be in stores in 2 weeks, and to celebrate, the first 20 preorders made through my local indie Dandelion Bookshop will be shipped with a 6x4 piece of original art! dandelionbookshop.com/spotlight/tu... #kidlit

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

TURTLE PARTY 🐢🎉 Join me @bookedevanston.bsky.social on Tues, April 28 to celebrate my new book's release into the wild. There will be pajamas, and drawing, and even a turtle egg hunt! I can't wait to share Turtle's story with you all.

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Fun times with the Mannheim School District in Illinois 📚🖍🎉 Many thanks to the kids, teachers, and phenomenal librarians for making me feel so welcome. Check out those hand-painted book covers made by the library assistants! 😮 #kidlit

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

The experiments continue. Choosing the best paper for the job is tough, but I like this one. #kidlitart

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

7 Umami draw-alongs for 7 schools - another WRAD complete! The day is always a bit of a marathon, but it brings me so much joy to read and draw with the students. Thank you everyone for being such kind hosts! #wrad26 #worldreadaloudday

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

The easel has squeezed back into the tiny studio and all is set for World Read Aloud Day! 📚🖍️✨ #wrad26 #worldreadaloudday

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Join the auction to support communities impacted by ICE in Minnesota! www.32auctions.com/publishingfo... We have our own struggles with ICE in Illinois, and I'm offering manuscript reviews for $50 donations to the IL Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights: www.icirr.org We stand together ❤️

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

2025 was tough from start to finish, but here's to a better year ahead, from our team to yours

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Wherever you celebrate the holidays, here's hoping the whole village can make it.

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

The Choose To Read Ohio Booklist has some hot ones for 2026 🔥 Honored to have Umami on the list among some of our favorites!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Necessary repost! Wishing you a holiday surrounded by all of the hungry 🐧 you can fit at the table

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

The first experiment for something new 🦝 #kidlit

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

🐧 Find me this Friday at the Art Academy of Concinnati & Saturday at Books By The Banks 🐧 Fri 10:30 am: Panel talk at AAC with 6 other book illustrators Fri 5-8pm: Gallery opening at AAC with many book illustrators from the region Sat 10-4pm: Meeting readers and signing books at Books By The Banks

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

🎂 Happy book birthday, Umami! 🎂 What is your favorite food on your birthday? Comment on my Insta post for a chance to win your own Umami washi tape! 3 winners to be announced - (shipping limited to US)

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Baby's first book birthday! 🎂 This Wednesday, Oct 29, I'll be celebrating my favorite penguin's birthday with some special Umami washi tape giveaways. Let's party!

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

A little Reading Rainbow magic at Louisville Book Festival with @mychal3ts.bsky.social 🌈📚🐧 #kidlit

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Saturday, join me for an Umami story time and draw-along in Louisville! Be ready to draw some 🐧🐧🐧

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

My Grandma passed away recently at the impressive age of 96, and I've been thinking about the many warm memories I have from a childhood visiting her home. These doodles are a sort of archive for me to record that place and time. ❤️

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Back coaching my daughter's 2nd grade ⚽ team all while making a story about a ⚽ team. The kids are slightly easier to coach this season - at least there are less shoes that need tying, but I'll never figure out how to keep them from throwing grass everywhere.

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

I'm pleased to announce that I've officially teamed up with Andrea Morrison at Writers House! It feels good to join the talented crew, and I'm excited for what's ahead.

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JacobGrantBooks @jacobgrantbooks.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

Many thanks to everyone who celebrated Umami with me at the Secretary of State's tent this past Friday. It was a joy to read, draw, and talk about things to eat at the fair!

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