iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge @12x12challenge.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

FREE Book Chat on May 13 at 8pm ET/5pm PT! Join #12x12PB author @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social as she shares how her #picturebook 📚 I SPARK LIGHTNING went from idea to bookshelf. Sign up: buff.ly/5r67QiD #kidlit

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A.J. Irving 🩷💜💙 @ajirving.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

EVERY BODY MOVE! by @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social and Ananya Rao-Middleton celebrates kids with disabilities with upbeat, empowering text and lively, vibrant illustrations. Kiddos will love this fun read-aloud, which also includes a sing-along! A joyful and essential book! #kidlit #booksky

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

⚡️🩰 Cover Reveal! 🩰⚡️ This gorgeous new cover has sparked so much joy! Make sure to preorder your copy of I SPARK LIKE LIGHTNING, releasing April 7th, 2026 from @freespiritpublishing ⚡️🩰

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Excited to reveal the cover for my debut picture book! Words by me, pictures by Ananya Rao-Middleton, and sung by Audra Mariel! 🎶 Available for preorder now and set to publish on September 30th from @barefootbooks.bsky.social!

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Wait this is SO cool!! Thank you @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social! And huge thanks to @christiemegill.bsky.social and @thecatagency.bsky.social for all your support. I can’t wait to see Sue’s beautiful art!

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

My debut book is available for pre-order!!! You can head to www.jennaelysejohnson.com/books to find all the different pre-order links. Or, to get a signed copy and other book swag, you can order directly from Ruby's Books, my local indie book store. 🥰 www.rubysfolsom.com/item/VF0jLSX...

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Alexia M. Andoni @alexiaandoni.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

I’m thrilled to announce my debut picture book. Thank you @writeloudly.bsky.social and @daniellecollins.bsky.social for believing in this book, & to everyone who made this book possible. Looking forward to seeing Shahrzad’s illustrations bring this story to life. #picturebookdebut #pbauthors

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Larissa D. Elliott @larissadelliott.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

For anyone who wants to consider adding #diversifymyart to the art you're making in February, the theme is "Sight and Sound", increasing representation of people with vision or hearing differences. #kidlitart

Increasing representation of diversity in illustration: #diversifymyart 2025. February theme is Sight and Sound. This month, focus on representation of people with vision or hearing differences: blindness, deafness, glasses, hearing aids, sign language, lazy eye, cochlear implant, braille, eye patch, mobility cane, or service dog.

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 19/02/2025

It's the cover reveal! My picture book debut, 🩰❄️The Abominable Snow Dancer❄️🩰, is now available for pre-order: ✨Amazon: amzn.to/4hBtlfs ✨B&N: www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-abomin... ✨Bookshop: bookshop.org/a/17193/9780... ✨And at select indies!(www.mrsdalloways.com/book/9780593... is one of my locals)

The Abominable Snow Dancer by Steph Lau - animated gif
A bunch of unicorns with varying facial expressions watch a yeti in a tutu and scarf jump gracefully across the stage. THERE ARE SPARKLES!

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Megan Paasch @meganpaasch.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Heyyy it's already live! Just downloaded their ebook app from the app store, and "Dream to Me" is on there! Check it out! bookshop.org/p/books/drea...

A screenshot of the top search result for "Dream to Me" on the Bookshop.org ebook app showing the top result as "Dream to Me" by Megan Paasch.

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

It’s my first time going! Any tips or tricks? #kidlitmegafeed

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Steena Hernandez @steenahernandez.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

✨I’m honored to see Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers as a 2024 Northern Lights Book Award winner of the Arts Category! 🩰🤎 What a dream come true to be recognized with so many wonderful creators! ❤️Congratulations to all the winners! 🎉🎉🎉 @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 05/12/2024

Excited to share this news, finally! My debut picture book ❄️✨THE ABOMINABLE SNOW DANCER✨❄️ is coming out Fall 2025 from Penguin Workshop! 1/ This book is secretly about me. While I'm not a hairy yeti who dreams of dancing (... Or am I?🤔), I DID dream of writing #kidlit one day, and here I am!

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Stephanie Campisi @stephcampisi.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Two months until Sparkle Pigs launches! If you're a teacher, librarian, bookseller or the like and would like to arrange a sparkly event (ideally in SoCal), drop me a line! ✨

A graphic for the SPARKLE PIGS chapter book series, showing the first three book covers and a quote from Kirkus calling the books "funny and relatable"

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

I’ve been sitting on this news for over a year! Huge thank you to @christiemegill.bsky.social for being a rockstar agent and helping me with all the things! This is just the beginning! ✨✨✨

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kidlitchat @kidlitchat.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

TOPIC: Tonight we're hitting the #kidlit classics. Can you point to the stories that inspired you to pursue a career in books for children? What about the ones you missed early on and have come to admire as an adult? #kidlitchat

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Brenna Jeanneret @brennajeanneret.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Good morning, #kidlit #writingcommunity!! I am STOKED to share the announcement of my second book and 1st GN! Thank you @tielmourpress.bsky.social for believing in this book 😊

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Katie Slivensky @kslivensky.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Check out this cool starter pack of folks with picture books coming out next year! Some brightness for 2025. #KidLit

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Katie Venit @katievenit.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

I'm thrilled to announce my debut picture book FORTS, illustrated by @kenardpak.bsky.social, published by Viking. Release date: 7/29. Preorders now open! Signed copies are available through Dotters' Books. dottersbooks.com/pages/contac... #kidlit thx to @joycesweeney.bsky.social for everything.😘

the cozy cover of the FORTS picture book shows a girl and a cat sitting in a treehouse. It's autumn and the leaves are turning colors in the tree.

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Lou Piccolo | Picture book & middle-grade editor & author @loupiccolo.bsky.social · 06/01/2024

Kidlit and YA authors - I made this for you 😀 Kidlit Marketing Made Easy(er) podcast breaks down marketing strategies you can use to connect with readers, build authentic relationships and sell books without having to dance on video. #kidlit #podcast www.buzzsprout.com/2291216/1418...

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

I run my local bookstore's junior book club for ages 8-12. I am starting to compile a list of books for 2025. Give me your best suggestions that your kids/students loved and could not put down! Any genre. Any format! #juniorbookclub #middlegrade #kidlit

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Christie Megill @christiemegill.bsky.social · 09/11/2024

Here are some ways adults can help kids in their community grow as learners: Stock waiting areas w/ books Set up sidewalk chalk stations outside businesses Display interesting questions & puzzles in spaces where kids visit Donate books to schools Share your expertise with kids & families

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Christie Megill @christiemegill.bsky.social · 29/10/2024

Happy Book Birthday to this very special picture book, SOULFUL STRUTTIN' by Julia Pierre Hammond, illustrated by Ana Latese! This book is a joyful, musical ode to family and soul music, and Julia's upbeat writing weaves a beautiful story that is meant for sharing.

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SkyPitch @skypitch.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

Some guidelines for our #skypitch picturebook pitch party. Feel free to post pitches after midnight tonight and before the end of the day tomorrow: boringstorybook.com/skypitch/

#SKYPITCH GUIDELINES
To keep it clear and simple, our 1st #skypitch event is for PICTURE BOOKS only. Bluesky has a character limit of 300, so you have to craft a tight pitch that fits the limit.
Pitch each story in one Bluesky post using the #SkyPitch hashtag! (Agented authors should include the #agented hashtag.)
Agents and Editors on BlueSky might read the pitches, and like the post, inviting the author to send them the manuscript in a query. Only agents and editors should like a pitch. Please reply to pitches you want to support, but refrain from hitting the heart to like the pitch unless you are inviting the author to query. To keep people's timeline free of repeat posts, we're also asking for people to refrain from reposting. This helps isolate agent interactions for the authors and filters out engagements that aren't requests.
If an agent or editor does like your post, check their submission guidelines and do your research before submitting a query! DON'T just DM an agent or editor, check to see how they would like you to submit.
You can pitch up to three picture books, but only pitch each one once.
If you are an author/illustrator, you can attach an image to your pitch (or you can create a mood board as long as you credit the image creator. Refrain from Al images and content). You can use additional hashtags to identify your sub genre, editors and agents will look for this (#SEL= Social Emotional
Learning, #NF = Nonfiction, #C= Concept, #L= Lyrical, #|= Interactive etc.).
THE GOAL IS TO BUILD COMMUNITY. DO YOUR BEST TO SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW CREATIVES AND HELP PROMOTE OUR PRESENCE HERE.

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Julia Pierre Hammond @juliapierrehammond.bsky.social · 11/10/2024

Over the moon to share the cover reveal for SOULFUL STRUTTIN' out soon! Huge thanks to Ana Latese for the stunning art, Christine Zuchora-Walske, and all of the wonderful people at Free Spirit. My debut is a love letter to my family and invites readers into my childhood home —hope you love it! ✨📚

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Maria Marshall @mmarshallauthor.bsky.social · 07/10/2024

Meet author/illustrator @SarahKurpiel and discover her inspiration and hopes for her new touching & poignant PB treasure - A Little Like Magic. www.mariacmarshall.com/single-post/... Rocky Pond Books @penguinusa #interview #giveaway #kidlit

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 01/10/2024

He explains this so well. Our system is broken. The application process is indeed a nightmare.

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Anne Appert (they/them) @anneappert.bsky.social · 25/09/2024

Aaahhh! So excited to share this next project with all of you! I’m working on my first graphic novel! Can’t wait for you all to meet Nessie and Puffin and see what other friends show up 👀 #kidlitart #kidlit #bookannouncement #graphicnovel

Image of a text block with a photo of an author with short purple hair, illustrated to look like it’s taped onto a colorful background. Text on the image reads “Text reads: Katie Scott at Kids Can Press has bought author-illustrator Anne Appert’s graphic novel debut, BRIGHT BIRDS ACCORDING TO L. NESS MONSTER. In this fact-meets-fiction tale that humorously addresses the issue of misinformation, L. Ness Monster is excited to share her book filled with fabulous info about birds, but unfortunately for her, disguises won’t hide her from fact-checking Puffin, who scolds Ness for making up stories. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency sold world rights. “

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Publisher Spotlight @pubspotlight.bsky.social · 17/09/2024

SO informative! Happy #BookBirthday to #BarefootBooks for today's arrival of AYO'S ADVENTURE

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 23/07/2024

Woohoo, Simon & Schuster Children's is sending me to Illinois, Wisconsin, & Massachusetts for #IWantToReadALLTheBooks book tour! Thx to indie bkstores Book Stall (Chicago), Boswell Book Company (WI), Copper Dog Books (MA), & @portersqbooks.bsky.social (MA) for arranging school visits. Can't wait! ❤️

A smiling woman holds a light blue mug with the text "Reading is my Super Power" in one hand and a book titled "I Want to Read ALL the Books" by Debbie Ridpath Ohi in the other hand. The background features an illustration of stacked books.

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The CAT Agency @thecatagency.bsky.social · 23/07/2024

✨🦋 Looking at this cover for ALWAYS ME brings us so much inspiration and joy! 🦋✨ ALWAYS ME is coming to bookshelves next April from HarperCollins, written by @rebeccaglevington.bsky.social and illustrated by our very own, @rahele.bsky.social! 🎉

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The CAT Agency @thecatagency.bsky.social · 19/07/2024

Hi! We are The CAT Agency, a boutique art & literary agency. We continue to strive for excellence in children’s literature, representing an ever-growing client list; offering an eclectic mix of styles, voices and talent. It's a pleasure to meet you all!

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12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge @12x12challenge.bsky.social · 17/07/2024

Congrats to #12x12PB member @vivianeelbee.bsky.social on signing with her agent, @christiemegill.bsky.social at The Cat Agency! What advice does Viviane have? Read our blog post to find out! www.12x12challenge.c... #amwriting #amquerying

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Gina Perry @ginaperry.bsky.social · 10/07/2024

Postcard day is tomorrow! #kidlit #kidlitart

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Christie Megill @christiemegill.bsky.social · 10/07/2024

I'm still full of sunshine after this conversation! There are some very exciting kidlit community developments in the works, and I'm thrilled to be a part of them.

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Barry Lyga @barrylyga.com · 19/06/2024

Best advice: No one will ever care about your career as much as you do. Not your agent, not your editor, not your readers. No one. Tell myself: Enjoy this, man. Yeah, there are bumps in the road, but holy shit -- you're on the road! #kidlitchat

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 19/06/2024

Very excited to see a lot of #kidlit people over here! 🥰

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Kristi Mahoney @kristimahoney.bsky.social · 03/04/2024

I'm thrilled at the opportunity to work with Gnome Road AND the amazing team of @chantelleburgen.bsky.social again!! OWLS MAKE TERRIBLE TEACHERS (the sequel to ALPACAS MAKE TERRIBLE LIBRARIANS--Sept 2024) is coming in Spring 2026!

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Katherine Choppy Harrison @kidlitkat.bsky.social · 31/05/2024

Been a while since I’ve been on here, but, uh… I wrote a book! And—get this—someone is publishing it(!!!) Anyway, I hope you’ll check out THE POWER TOOL ALPHABET when the time comes to introduce your toddler to their very first chainsaw 🥰🛠️📚

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Jenna Elyse Johnson @kidlitjennaj.bsky.social · 05/01/2024

Overjoyed with how this turned out! Thank you @mollyippolito.bsky.social for EVERYTHING! www.jennaelysejohnson.com Still getting the hang of having multiple social media accounts, but it seems like a lot of kidlit people are here and that makes me happy.

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