iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 19/09/2026

OTD in 1970 IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN, written and illus. by Maurice Sendak, was published. Diapers painted on Mickey caused #UrsulaNordstrom to rally against censorship. Today, sadly, blue jean shorts are still being painted on Mickey. Ch. 19, BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU. #kidlitnonfiction #TheRightToRead

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 18/09/2026

STUART LITTLE was published on 9/17/45. Originally, E.B. White had written some of the stories for his nieces and nephews. #UrsulaNordstrom and White worked with Garth Williams on the art. #kidlit More at BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, ch. 3. #kidlitnonfiction

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 16/09/2026

I also missed GOODNIGHT MOON’s book birthday: 9/3/47. 🎈Happy Birthday Month!🎈 By Margaret Wise Brown, illus. by Clement Hurd. #kidlit 79 years ago. Timeless. The story of how it was made is in ch. 5 of BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU. #kidlitnonfiction

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 15/09/2026

Somehow I missed A HOLE IS TO DIG’s book birthday—9/3/52. 🎈Happy Birthday Month!🎈 By Ruth Krauss, illus. by Maurice Sendak. Happily, HarperCollins has just re-issued it! #kidlit. More at BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, ch. 9. #kidlitnonfiction I love this book!

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 15/09/2026

OTD in 1950, 🎈John Steptoe🎈 was born! When he was 16, he showed his portfolio of paintings to #UrsulaNordstrom. She urged him to write a story to go with his art. Three years later, STEVIE was published, in 1969. #kidlit. More at BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, ch. 16. #kidlitnonfiction

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 26/08/2026

Somehow, I missed🎈 #NationalWaffleDay. 🧇🧇🧇 As a confirmed waffle consumer, I recommend Ole's Waffle Shop in Alameda, CA. Crisp. Small indentations (old school), served with pecans on top. And maple syrup. The best I've eaten! Yum! Celebrating with waffles for dinner tonight!

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 12/08/2026

📚 Newsletter rec: #MG #kidlitnonfiction HOW TO BUILD A HUMAN: IN SEVEN EVOLUTIONARY STEPS, by Pamela S. Turner, art by John Gurche. Turner’s steps: standing up, smashing rocks, getting swelled heads, taking a hike, inventing barbecue, starting to talk and becoming storytellers (!) Fun!

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 10/08/2026

📚 Rec from my newsletter: #MG #kidlit ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES by Amy Sarig King When the Jane Yolen book Mac’s sixth grade teacher instructs them to read has words covered by black rectangles, he goes on a crusade to stop censorship. I loved this book!

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 07/08/2026

So fun to meet local teachers and librarians--and sign copies of my book--at Napa Bookmine's Educator Night!

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 06/08/2026

📚 Rec from my newsletter #PB #kidlitnonfiction MANFISH: A STORY OF JACQUES COUSTEAU, by Jennifer Berne, illus. by Éric Puybaret. How Jacques Cousteau became Jacques Cousteau, well-told by a veteran biographer. The art is engaging, especially the pull-out page. One of my favorite #PB #biographies

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 05/08/2026

📚 Rec from my newsletter #PB #kidlit BLUE FLOATS AWAY, by @100scopenotes.bsky.social, illus. by @grantdraws.bsky.social. A small iceberg floats away from his parents, starting an adventure that follows the water cycle. “Sneakily educational” said one reviewer. Mixed collage, crayon and painted art.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 04/08/2026

📚 Rec from my newsletter: #MG #Kidlitnonfiction THE FOG OF WAR: MARTHA GELLHORN AT THE D-DAY LANDINGS, by Michelle Jabès Corpora. Gellhorn talked/faked her way onto an LST headed for Normandy on D-Day. She was the only woman reporter on the beach.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 04/08/2026

📚 Rec from my newsletter: #MG #kidlit THE GHOST OF SPRUCE POINT, by @nancytandon.bsky.social Tweens on summer vacation come to believe a house is haunted and set out to prove (or disprove) it. Fast-paced. A great summer read, especially if you're on the coast of Maine, where it takes place.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 02/08/2026

📚 Rec from my newsletter: #PB #nonfictionkidlit Winner of 2026 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award: THE POET AND THE BEES: A STORY OF THE SEASONS SYLVIA PLATH KEPT BEES, by Amy Novesky, illus. by Jessica Love. A lyrical picture book changing the narrative about Plath. The art is beautiful and lovely.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 01/08/2026

📚 Recommendation from my newsletter: #PB #kidlit THE ROUGH PATCH, written an illustrated by @brianlies.bsky.social. If you know a young one who is grieving a pet's death, you might try this one. A story of friendship, loss and renewal—and so—a happy ending.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 30/07/2026

📚 #MG #nonfictionkidlit rec from my newsletter: TWELVE DAYS IN MAY: FREEDOM RIDE, 1961, by 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗻𝗲𝗿. Telling the story in the present tense makes it more intense. Compelling narrative. Contemporaneous photographs. Studies in courage. #BeAnAmbassador

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 29/07/2026

📚📚📚 #MG rec from my newsletter 365 DAYS TO ALASKA, by @cathycarrwrites.bsky.social Fish-out-of-water story about a girl who is uprooted from her family's off-the-grid existence in Alaska to suburban Connecticut. Well-drawn characters. Affirming. #kidlit #BeAnAmbassador

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 28/07/2026

🎈📚 #PB #kidlitnonfiction recommendation from my newsletter HOW TO MAKE A BOOK (ABOUT MY DOG), by #bartography@bsky.social, illus. by @sarahhorne.bsky.social Chris lays out his process from idea through publication. The art is super cute. The dog steals the show. Chris is cute, too. #BeAnAmbassador

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 28/07/2026

#PB Recommendation from my newsletter: Fiction: THE RABBIT LISTENED, by author/illus. Cori Doerrfeld. As a former mediator, I love that listening is at the core of this book! Heart-warming. #kidlit #BeAnAmbassador

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 26/07/2026

Recommended #kidlit: #MG CITY SPIES, by @jamesponti.bsky.social. A series about MI6-recruited teenagers; each has different strengths. Page-turner. THE WOMAN WHO SPLIT THE ATOM: THE LIFE OF LISE MEITNER, by @marissarmoss.bsky.social. Physics-made-easy, even for me. Cool graphics. WWII. Gripping.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 25/07/2026

I had a wonderful conversation with @navsaria.bsky.social about #UrsulaNordstrom and BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU. Such a thoughtful, kind man. Check out the Reach Out and Read podcast, wherever you listen. @reachoutandread.bsky.social

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 25/07/2026

Recommended kidlit: #PB ANIMALS IN PANTS, by @suzylevinson.bsky.social, illus., by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell. Laugh-out-loud poems. Fun art. It’s hilarious! HONEYBEE, by Candace Fleming, illus. Eric Rohmann. Amazing hero’s journey. Honeybees seen in an entirely new light. #BeAnAmbassador

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 26/06/2026

Charlotte Zolotow's writing was as elegant as she was. Ursula edited all her books including the ones below. #kidlit

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 26/06/2026

Charlotte Zolotow wrote at least 70 children’s books, including MR. RABBIT AND THE LOVELY PRESENT, illus. by #MauriceSendak and WHEN THE WIND STOPS, illus. by Joe Lasker. #UrsulaNordstrom edited all of her books. #kidlit 🧵 2 of 5

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 26/06/2026

Charlotte Zolotow wrote more than 70 children’s books, including MR. RABBIT AND THE LOVELY PRESENT, illus. by #MauriceSendak, WHEN THE WIND STOPS, illus. by Joe Lasker, and WILLIAM’S DOLL, illus. by Wm. Pène du Bois. #UrsulaNordstrom edited all of these books. #kidlit 🧵2 0f 5

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 25/06/2026

The thing I like best about the #kidlit #writingcommunity, is the generosity and welcoming attitude of so many wonderful creators. Not only is @kirstenwlarson.bsky.social a smart, painstakingly rigorous, successful #nonfictionkidlit author... 🧵1 of 3

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 07/06/2026

#OTD in 1917, Gwendolyn Brooks was born. A Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, she wrote one book of poems for children: BRONZEVILLE BOYS AND GIRLS, edited by #UrsulaNordstrom and published in 1956. In 2007, HarperCollins re-released it with vibrant art by #FaithRinggold. Still in print. #kidlit #poetry

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 20/05/2026

In May, 1945, Ruth Krauss's THE CARROT SEED, illus. by Crockett Johnson, was published. 🎈Happy Book Birthday!🎈 It's still in print. #UrsulaNordstrom suggested Ruth write for young children. In the #kidlit world, we always talk about agency. Ruth conveys agency in her MC in 101 words.

This is the cover of the 75 years edition, but it is much like the original. The cover is in mustard yellow. The title is in big bold red letters taking up the middle two thirds. The main character is to the right of SEED. He's a boy with a brown cap and brown overalls with a white shirt underneath.
In the top one-sixth it says: Anniversary Edition and Foreword by Kevin Henkes.
In the bottom one-sixth, it says: Story by Ruth Krauss, Pictures by Crockett Johnson, creator of Harold and the Purple Crayon.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 10/05/2026

Award winning recording artist Barbara Rosenblat performed the audiobook for BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU. We met at Sardi’s to celebrate! And yes, she’s as smart and fun in person as she is in her recording. And yes, that is her portrait on the wall behind her. #fun #nonfictionkidlit

I’m standing next to Barbara Rosenblat in front of one of the interior walls of Sardi’s restaurant. All of its walls are adorned with portraits of Broadway actirs. Barbara’s portrait is on the wall behind her.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 05/05/2026

Dropped by the wonderful Books of Wonder in NYC today. They surprised me with all these books to sign! 🩷 Thank you !!! @booksofwonder.bsky.social

I’m standing in front of shelves of children’s books holding the 20 books I signed that day.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 01/05/2026

So 🎈exciting🎈 to see my book at Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C. Of course I had to sign it! If you live in, or are visiting, the D.C. metro area, this bookstore has a large, well-curated #kidlitnonfiction You won't want to miss it!

This is a picture I took of my book--BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU--on the shelf at Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C. Its cover is outward-facing and there is a sticker on the lower left hand corner which says: "Politics and Prose: Signed by Author"!

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 01/05/2026

Found in the wild: EMILY SAW A DOOR by @melrosenberg.bsky.social, illus by Orit Magia— at Politics and Prose Bookstore in D.C.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 18/04/2026

Ever been to the fabulous bbgb bookstore in Richmond, VA? Look what I found in the wild @suzylevinson.bsky.social ! #kidlit #poetry

Shows the cover of Dinos That Drive—poetry by Suzy Levinson!

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 02/04/2026

🎉Happy Book Birthday to🎉 COWBOYS AT THE BALLET: THE STORY OF CHOREOGRAPHER AGNES de MILLE, by @clairebobrow.bsky.social, illus. by Haria Urbinati. Bobrow masterfully conveys Agnes’ gritty determination to revolutionize ballet. Buy this now! It's wonderful! #PB #biography #kidlitnonfiction

The background of the cover is a scene from the West, from top to bottom: Dark blue-gray sky, wooden rail fences set on light red hills, a sandy desert floor of the same hue. The title covers the top third in white capitalized font. The author's name and illustrator's name are at the bottom. Taking center stage are three dances dressed as cowboys. From left to right, a woman in a yellow top and checked long skirt, the center is a woman in a red-checked shirt, brown pants tucked into dark brown boots and on the right is a man in a light tan cowboy had with a red shirt and a blue bandana at this throat. he's also in brown pants and brown boots. I don't have the words to describe it well, but all three dancers are in dance poses. it's delightful. The woman who's in the center is a little larger and has kicked a leg up high is a jump from left to right.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 31/03/2026

How did I miss this pub date? 🎈Happy Book Birthday🎈 to INTO THE WILDERNESS, by @havenivy.bsky.social, illus. by August Zhang. Haven's #PB highlights a child's agency and touches on the lessons one can carry from hiking in the wilderness. Also great back matter about the "wilderness." #kidlit

The cover has a brilliant crisp blue high country sky in the upper right quadrant. Underneath are mountain ranges. The sun is shining on the range to the left, so that it is in shades of orange. The rest of the mountains are in shades of purple. Centered in the bottom third, on green grass, is a child hiking with a walking stick--walking up the hill. The child, wearing green pants, a yellow sweatshirt and white shoes, is waving. Evergreens are in the left quarter. The title is in white letters across the blue sky. At the bottom are the author's and illustrator names in smaller white type.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 30/03/2026

New this month!!! Happy Birthday to MY SOMEONE: A PET ADOPTION STORY, written and illustrated by the talented @midnightatelier.bsky.social! An endearing #PB about a little stray dog who finds his "someone." #kidlit

The cover has a restaurant on each side of the foreground. A mother and child are eating at a table to the right. A man is being served by a waiter in the table to the left. Red-checkered tablecloths are on both tables. Behind the patrons are large, light-blue-hued plate glass windows. In the center, which could be a large door, is the title, in large yellow letters and subtitle is small black lettering underneath. Under that is the stray dog who is main character and under the dog is the author's name in small red lettering.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 24/03/2026

🎈🎈🎈PUBLICATION DAY!🎈🎈🎈 Happy Book Birthday to BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU! I had so much fun researching this book and learning about #UrsulaNordstrom and the creative people she met and collaborated with. I hope you enjoy it. #nonfictionkidlit #abramsbooks

This is a picture of me! The author of BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU! I'm wearing a red sweater and a baby blue scarf and I'm holding a copy of my book! As you might expect, I'm grinning delightedly! The cover is the same cover for the audiobook, which is read by recording artist Barbara Rosenblat. She's terrific! It's out today, too.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 23/03/2026

🎈BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 19: In The Night Kitchen Sendak drew squiggles for a penis on his toddler protagonist who fell out of his pj's in a dream. A librarian paints a diaper on him. #UrsulaNordstrom leads the fight against #censorship; still happening today. #abramsbooks

The cover looks like it could be the cover of a comic book. The title and the author's name are in the upper quarter of the book. Below is a drawing of Mickey, the protagonist, flying his plane made of dough, going from left to right into the night sky. He has a milk jug on his head. Below and also to the left are cityscape drawings, as well as a field of green beans in the lower left quadrant.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 22/03/2026

🎈BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 18: William’s Doll #UrsulaNordstrom encourages Charlotte Zolotow to write for children. After many books, she writes this one. William wants a doll, but his father wants him to have manly toys. Another stereotype challenged. #abramsbooks

The cover has a white background. In the center is a young boy, who has jumped up and is reaching above his head for a basketball. The title is in light blue in an arc above the boy. The author's and illustrator's names are centered beneath the boy and are in black type. All borders have light blue and gold triangles, with their bases on the edge and coming to a point with a gold and light blue ball at the top.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 21/03/2026

🎈BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 17: I’ll Get There. It Better Be Worth The Trip John Donovan’s MG/YA novel about a friendship between two 13-year-old boys includes a kiss between them—a first in 1969. #UrsulaNordstrom was proud to publish it. #abramsbooks

This cover is for a recent edition. The top two thirds are in a light peachy orange. On the upper right corner is the face of one boy, facing left. On the upper left corner, is the face of another boy, looking right. Between them is the title. The bottom third is a blue-gray. In a gold banner is printed 40th Anniversary Edition. Below it is the author's name.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 20/03/2026

🎈BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 16: Stevie #UrsulaNordstrom meets 16-year-old John Steptoe. She admires his paintings and encourages him to write for children. Stevie is written in the vernacular of his Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood—a first in 1969. #abramsbooks

The cover of Stevie has a white background. Stevie is in large blue letters on the top and John Steptoe's name is in smaller letters on the bottom. They are both within the white border. The middle two thirds is one of John's paintings--of an older boy leaning against a car and the younger boy sitting on the ground against the car next to him on the left. Both boys are wearing blue jeans. The older boy has on a brown sweater with two horizontal yellow stripes across the chest and arms. The younger boy has on an orange-ish red long sleeve shirt. The car and the ground are painted in shades of green, yellow and blue. I wish I could describe it better so you would get a sense of how cool the painting is. It looks like 1969, the year the book was published.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 17/03/2026

BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 15 Harriet the Spy #UrsulaNordstrom and Charlotte Zolotow help Louise Fitzhugh flesh out her ideas for her #MG novel. Harriet breaks the mold of stories about precious girls and Ursula takes to the telephone to promote the book. #abramsbooks

I think this is the original cover. The one published today has much more color. On this cover, the upper third has a light blue background. The title has Harriet in red letters, the in white letters and Spy in sunny yellow letters. The author’s name is below the title in royal blue and a much smaller font.
The bottom two thirds has a white background. Harriet is walking on a city street. She’s centered, walking on the sidewalk facing left. She’s wearing a red hoodie, blue jeans and black shoes. She’s carrying her notebook under her arm and a flashlight hangs from her belt.
Behind her is a pen and ink drawing of stores fronting the sidewalk.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 16/03/2026

🎈Today is Mary Chalmers's birthday.🎈 She was born in 1927, a year before Sendak. #UrsulaNordstrom sent her several books to illustrate, before asking her to illustrate her own book--The Secret Language. She also persuaded Mary to launch her Harry the Cat series, which she wrote and illustrated.

This books cover has a white background. A smiling white cat is centered, standing on his hind legs and waving. He's on a patch of grass and there are flowers on either side of him. The top and bottom borders have four fire engines in a row. Underneath at the top is "Story and pictures by Mary Chalmers. The title is above the cat in blue letters: "Throw a Kiss," and below the cat is "Harry." It's inviting.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 15/03/2026

BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 14: Where The Wild Things Are #UrsulaNordstrom mentors Sendak for 12 years, culminating in the first #PB, he both writes and illustrates. He hits writer’s block. Ursula’s smart, perceptive question helps him finish the book. #abramsbooks 🧵1 of 2

The cover of Where the Wild Things Are is divided horizontally. The upper quarter has a white background and the title is in gray capital letters. The lower quarter also has a white background and gray capital letters which say "Story and Pictures by Maurice Sendak.
The middle half is a painting by Sendak. On the right, a large, gray Wild Thing sits on grass at the side of a body of water, facing left. He has white horns and claws for hands. His feet are human feet. His eyes are closed, his nose is large and snout-like and he perhaps has a small grin. Behind him is the body of water--a coastal strait, perhaps, and beyond that is land on the other side--grass and trees. On the left hand side is a sailboat, whose hull is an orangey red and whose sails are yellow. This particular edition has a gold, embossed Caldecott Medal in the lower left hand corner of the art. The foreground trees are renditions of palms, though the fronds are a deeper red than the boat. The background trees are different kinds of trees.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 12/03/2026

🎈BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 13: The Secret Language #UrsulaNordstrom wrote an #MG novel about a girl at boarding school. She said it’s NOT autobiographical, only “just in some of the details.” A tantalizing thought. Ursula learns writing is harder than editing! #abramsbooks

The original cover has a blonde girl in a blue coat and holding a suitcase stands in the middle of a group of girls in the foreground on the bottom half of the cover. She's wearing short white socks and brown Mary Jane-type choes. A brick schoolhouse is in the background in the upper third. The title and the author's name are in black type in the upper third. The illustrator's name is in white type, on the grass beneath the central girl's feet.

This is the 21st century paperback edition. The cover has two girls talking underneath a tree. The blonde girls is wearing a brown jacket and brown pants with white socks and black and white saddle shoes. It's unclear what the brunette girls is wearing, other than a white blouse with a Peter Pan collar. They are in the bottom third foreground. At the top is the author's name and under it, in the top one-third is the title, in larger typeface in light green. The illustrator's name is small and at the bottom.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 11/03/2026

🎈BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 12: The Rabbits’ Wedding #UrsulaNordstrom edits Garth Williams’s first #PB, in which a black bunny marries a white bunny. Some people assert Williams’s book brainwashes 4-8 year-olds about interracial marriage. #abramsbooks #youcantmakethisstuffup

Two rabbits are standing by the edge of a stream. The one on the left is black and the one of the right is white. The black bunny has picked yellow flowers and is placing them in the white bunny's fur around her head. They take up the bottom two-thirds of the cover. There are trees with light green leaves on either side of the bunnies, reaching into the sky. Above the bunnies, there is a white sky background with the title and author underneath it.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 10/03/2026

🎈BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 11: Bronzeville Boys and Girls #UrsulaNordstrom, who wrote poetry as a teenager, is thrilled to edit this book of poems by Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks, pub’d, 1956, reissued, 2007. Ursula urges her to write a YA novel. #abramsbooks

The 1956 cover is by Ronni Solbert. It has a light lemon yellow background. A tree to the left has branches with lime green leaves covering most of the top third, with the title in a black font and the author's and illustrator's names laid over it. The middle third is a boy leaning against the tree on the left, a wooden fence in yellow and brown in the middle, and an older girl taking a younger girl by the hand on the sidewalk. To the right of them are two boys playing stick ball. The lower third is two kids kneeling/squatting playing marbles.

This 2007 cover by fine artist Faith Ringgold has a background in shades of red. It's a drawing of a presumably Bronzeville house, a straight on focus of the facade. The house is brick red. The steps are a little lighter, and the sidewalk is even lighter. Two girls stand on the stoop looking out. A boy is climbing the stairs on the left. In front is a girl on the left, pushing a baby stroller. On the right is a tree. Between the baby stroller and the tree, in the middle is a boy running towards the left trying to catch a baseball with a glove outstretched. All wear brightly colored clothes of differing colors. On the facade of the house to the left are a mother and child looking out the window at the tableau below. All of the people are in shades of brown--because it's Bronzeville.

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Nancy Hudgins @nancyhudgins.com · 09/03/2026

🎈BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU #nonfictionkidlit Ch. 10: Harold and the Purple Crayon #UrsulaNordstrom initially misses the creativity of Crockett Johnson’s manuscript and sets it on her Confused Table. Upon re-readings, realizes her mistake and buys it. #abramsbooks

The cover is a brownish purple. The title is in large rose-colored type on the left side of the upper half. Below it is the author's name. Harold is in the lower right quadrant with a "purple" crayon in his hand. He has drawn squiggling lines in what Crayola called "ultraviolet" purple over much of the cover. He's wearing light blue "footie" one-piece pajamas.

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