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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 20h

Hi #KidLitArtPostcard! I'm Steph, and I like stories full of misfits and mischief. My 2nd picture book, Medusa's Pet Rock, just came out last week. Rep: @allielevick.bsky.social 🌐: stephlaubooks.com

A sad young Medusa holds a petrified hamster in a cage. Behind her, her shadow has turned all evil looking, and the word MONSTROUS is rendered in angry red granite looking texture

Steph Lau
Author Illustrator
stephlaubooks.com

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 30/09/2026

This was me before my book launch party last week (and also before every major event where I will be perceived)

4 panel comic
1: shoot... I'm really hot (woman in overall dress holding arms out and looking sweaty)
2: whimper. why am I so hot? (Cooling off pits in car with air vents)
3: someone help me. (Woman melting in car) Speech bubble coming from off screen: you didn't need the A/C. You'll dry off faster with normal air!
4: shut up! It's psychological!!! (Woman going red monster face and yelling at scared husband)

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 29/09/2026

Live Snake Storytime! This Sat, Oct 3 @3pm, Central Berkeley Library. If you know a kid (or adult 😁) who likes snakes or Greek Mythology, this might be the event for you. This is my last launch event for Medusa's Pet Rock, so hope to see you there!❤️ berkeleypubliclibrary.libnet.info/event/16834545

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 26/09/2026

@grahseeya.bsky.social my daughter wanted you to know that she thinks your books are "amazingly delicious" 📚👍

Two of Anna Gracia's books, The Misdirection of Fault Lines and Boys I Know

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 24/09/2026

Eat these cookies at Mrs Dalloway's! Tonight!!! 6:30pm!

3 Lumpy the pet rock cookies sit on a cobalt blue plate. Next to the plate, the picture book MEDUSA'S PET ROCK by Steph Lau

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 23/09/2026

If you want to eat these cookies (and possibly win some silly prizes), come to my launch event for MEDUSA'S PET ROCK! Sept 24 @6:30pm at Mrs. Dalloway's in Berkeley! www.eventbrite.com/e/steph-laus...

Poster for MEDUSA'S PET ROCK book launch at Mrs. Dalloway's

A pet rock pillow says: Come to this event if you like craft talks and silly prizes! And also cookies!

Sept 24 6:30pm

Steph will give a short presentation about mythological inspirations and the process of turning a villain into a hero, followed by a read aloud Q&A book signing and rock themed prizes. Event is geared towards adults and kids interested in the creative process but all are welcome!

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 23/09/2026

Slowly amassing an army of pet rock cookies for tomorrow's book launch party!

Many unbaked pet rock cookies, that have a goofy smiling face and prominent butt crack

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 22/09/2026

MEDUSA'S PET ROCK is available wherever books are sold! If you like Greek mythology, snakes, or stories with dark humor and/or found family, this might be your jam. Order links: www.stephlaubooks.com/medusa And please request at your library!!!

Medusa's Pet Rock book on a purple bg. Text says: A monstrously funny twist on Greek mythology about friendship, school chaos, and unexpected connections!

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 22/09/2026

Happy #bookbirthday to MEDUSA'S PET ROCK! @harperkids.bsky.social Lumpy celebrated by meeting up with his pet rock friends & Cole aka The Collective of Eyeballs, at his local bookstore @mrmoppsbooks.bsky.social. He helped the author sign books/hide some stickers & then had an impromptu storytime!

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 22/09/2026

One more day till MEDUSA'S PET ROCK launches! I'll be swinging by @mrmoppsbooks.bsky.social tm morning to sign books, so if you wanted a signed, personalized copy and/or a Medusa sticker, now is the time! moppsbooks.com/list/medusas...

A copy of the picture book MEDUSA'S PET ROCK by Steph Lau, along with a Post-it that says "1 more day...", a spiky Medusa shooting lasers out of her eyes sticker, and a Lumpy the pet rock pillow

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 21/09/2026

On that poster, I think these are my two favorite. Warsaw, cause of the big ol head, and Cuenca cause it looks like the person is going lalalalala and doing a flappy footed skip

Warsaw pedestrian symbol with a big ol head

Cuenca pedestrian symbol looks like its skipping

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 20/09/2026

Thanks everyone who came out to Fairyland Book Fest today ♥️ Loved seeing all your pet rocks! If you missed me, I'm doing 2 more events: 🪨9/24 @6:30pm, Mrs. Dalloway's: silly prizes + a craft talk on the making of MEDUSA'S PET ROCK 🐍10/3 @3pm @berkeleypubliclibrary.org Central: Live snake storytime!

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 17/09/2026

You know what's better than butts, rocks, and plants? A butt rock plant! This is a lithops (aka living stone succulent) and is one of several rock-themed prizes I'm giving away at my book launch next Thurs 9/24, at Mrs. Dalloway's @6:30pm! Registration link: www.eventbrite.com/e/steph-laus...

A green lithops in a pot, surrounded by purple tissue paper. In the background, Medusa's Pet Rock by Steph Lau

Event flyer for Mrs Dalloway's. Steph will give a short presentation about mythological inspirations and the prices of turning a villain into a hero, followed by a read aloud, Q&A, book signing and rock themed prizes!

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 15/09/2026

One of my annual goals (especially now that I do art for a living) is to find a new art thing to play with. This year I wanted to try stop motion (which I've learned now is a pita and prob easier with special rigs). Anyway, MEDUSA'S PET ROCK is out next week 😎 Order link: stephlaubooks.com/medusa

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 14/09/2026

Children's Fairyland THIS SATURDAY! I'm tabling from 10-11:20am. Come by and make your own 🪨❤️pet rock❤️🪨, check out early Medusa drafts, and get early copies of MEDUSA'S PET ROCK! I've also got a couple other Bay Area events, so hope to see you at one 😎 stephlaubooks.com/events

Children's Fairyland 2026 Children's Book Festival

A pet rock says: "Come to this event if you wanna design your own pet rock!"

699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland CA
Saturday, Sept 19 @10-11:20am

Meet author-illustrator Steph Lau and see artifacts from the publication process. Visitors can design and adopt a pet rock, as well as purchase signed copies of Medusa's Pet Rock.

stephlaubooks.com/events

Medusa's Pet Rock Launch Events

In addition to the Children's Fairyland event, there is one at Mrs. Dalloway's on Thurs Sept 24 @6:30pm. This is a short presentation about mythological inspirations and turning a villain into a hero. There will be rock-themed prizes.

Another event at Central Berkeley Library on Saturday Oct 3 @3pm. Live Snake Storytime involves a read-aloud of MEDUSA'S PET ROCK, followed by live snakes from the East Bay Vivarium.

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 10/09/2026

Another day, another artist crying cause they loathe self-promotion. It turns out there are reasons we use Canva (that is, cause my handwriting is atrocious). Anyway, buy my book and stuff. it's Medusa, but she's in elementary school and keeps zapping the class pets. Sale through end of Friday.

a janky handwritten ad for the barnes and noble 25% off preorder sale. Use code PREORDER25.

"I get bored of posting the same Canva over and over so here's something different..."
sad artist steph says, "I gotta promote this again???"

Medusa's Pet Rock by Steph Lau launching 9/22/26

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 09/09/2026

WTH Photoshop?! Shoving random buttons in the prime brush selection spot! PSA for anyone supremely annoyed about this: you can turn it off under Window>AI Assisted Editor

Photoshop being dumb and taking up real estate with AI garbage

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 09/09/2026

Cover design process for MEDUSA'S PET ROCK continued. Oh yeah, and B&N is doing their 25% off preorders sale (use code PREORDER25). But!!! If you want a sticker/signed copy + wanna support indies, order at @mrmoppsbooks.bsky.social or Dalloway's. 😁 Purchase links: www.stephlaubooks.com/medusa

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 09/09/2026

Cover design process for my picture book MEDUSA'S PET ROCK (which omg, is coming out in just 2 weeks 😱) #kidlitart

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 04/09/2026

In which, I've turned into a bacterium

Screenshot of an email. The bot spammer has misspelled my name as "Staph" and forgotten to take out the [Book Title] placeholder

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 03/09/2026

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm Steph, an author-illustrator who enjoys stories with misfits, mischief, and found family. My 2nd PB, Medusa's Pet Rock (@harperkids.bsky.social) comes out in 2.5 weeks! Rep: @allielevick.bsky.social Portfolio: www.stephlaubooks.com

a classroom guidelines poster in the vein of Goofus and Gallant.

In the first box: Good Medusa.
Medusa points to herself with a thumb and says "I ALWAYS wear my glasses!" while a classmates smiles

In the second box: Bad Medusa
Medusa has taken off her red safety glasses, causing a bzzzaaap! to turn her classmate into stone. She says, "Whoops!"

www.stephlaubooks.com

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 01/09/2026

I do so like feeling clever! Booklist had some nice things to say about my 2nd picture book, 🐍🪨MEDUSA'S PET ROCK🐍🪨 Comes out 9/22/26 from @harperkids.bsky.social :) Pre-order links and more info: www.stephlaubooks.com/medusa

a meme setup with the scene from Jurassic Park, but instead of the dino, it's the picture book, MEDUSA'S PET ROCK by Steph Lau, lurking in the foliage. Bottom image says "Clever Book"

"This clever picture book reimagines the Medusa myth through the eyes of a school-age girl whose legendary gaze makes her an outcast among her classmates." - Booklist

"A satisfying message about self-worth and recognizing strengths that may initially seem like flaws. Expressive illustrations enhance the humor and heart throughout." - Booklist

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 28/08/2026

First trade review for 🐍🪨MEDUSA'S PET ROCK🐍🪨 is in, and it's a positive one! Kirkus did kvetch about how I didn't draw noses on my characters, but they also used the words "inspired", "amusing", "intriguing", & "spry" - so we're gonna take the win!😂 www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews... #kidlit

KIRKUS REVIEWS
"The premise is inspired... an amusing and intriguing introduction to one of the most memorable figures from Greek mythology"

There's a cover for MEDUSA'S PET ROCK by Steph Lau, as well as a photo of Lumpy (the pet rock from said book). He is a slightly pear shaped rock with a smiling face drawn on it, and has a prominent butt crack.

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 28/08/2026

Bunny always looks like a marmot or a gopher when his ears are hiding

A worm eye view of a brown bunny. His ears are not visible. A woman behind him in a UCLA sweater smiles

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 26/08/2026

You may recognize Lumpy the Pet Rock from some of his iconic roles, including Shark and Trojan Rock. If you want even more Lumpy shenanigans, my picture book MEDUSA'S PET ROCK comes out 9/22/26 from @harperkids.bsky.social. Preorders & library requests appreciated! 🐍⚡🪨 stephlaubooks.com/medusa

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 24/08/2026

Name your favorite Disney princess (wrong answers only)

Gideon the Ninth cover. A lady with skull face paint walks away from collapsing skeletons, while holding a big ass sword

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 21/08/2026

Medusa's Pet Rock comes out in a month, and I'm doing some Bay Area events (including at Mrs. Dalloway's, Fairyland, and the Berkeley Library)! Hope to see you at one or all of them. www.stephlaubooks.com/events

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 12/08/2026

Oh! And if you preorder MEDUSA'S PET ROCK from @mrmoppsbooks.bsky.social, you will get a sweet Medusa sticker. AND, if you wanna win one of these Lumpy pillows for yourself, come to my event at Dalloway's on Sept 24. Pre-order links: stephlaubooks.com/medusa Events: stephlaubooks.com/events

Preorder now!
Pre-order at Mr. Mopps or Mrs.Dalloway's and get a limited edition Medusa sticker.

Cover for MEDUSA'S PET ROCK by Steph Lau shows a kid Medusa cradling a pet rock. There is a spiky outlined sticker of Medusa shooting laser eyes

Out 9/22/26
Stephlaubooks.com/medusa

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 12/08/2026

Lumpy the Pet Rock is so famous, we were lucky to get him for MEDUSA'S PET ROCK. You might know him from iconic roles such as: The Big 6$$ Boulder, Wilson, The Boom Box, Rock Number 2, and of course, The Palantir.

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 09/08/2026

My house is a joong factory today. Two instant pots going at a time, and sweet ones still incoming 😂😂😂

Two bowls of joong (aka Chinese tamales). Bamboo leafed bundles tied with twine

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 07/08/2026

The way my bunny is shedding, he looks like he's wearing a thong 🤫 also he has tattooed "VO" on his butt cheek

A behind shot of a brown bunny. The shed line is making a Y so it looks like a thong. The other part that is shedding looks like a V and an O on his left butt cheek

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 06/08/2026

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm Steph, an author-illustrator who enjoys stories with misfits, mischief, and found family. My 2nd PB, Medusa's Pet Rock (@harperkids.bsky.social), comes out next month! Rep: @allielevick.bsky.social Portfolio: www.stephlaubooks.com

a child Medusa dressed in a grey shift with gold tassel tries to feed juice to her pet rock. The pet rock is large, slightly jelly bean shaped, and has a prominent butt crack. It is smiling.

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 06/08/2026

I had a lovely birthday, which we celebrated over several days by watching The Odyssey, picking wild blackberries, eating pho, and having my kid make me treats (including a delicious trifle with said blackberries, a mocha, and coconut pandan waffles)

A lit birthday candle sits in a short mason jar layered with blackberries, vanilla pastry cream, lemon chiffon cake, blackberry sauce, and whipped cream

A pile of pandan waffles with a green tint, on a purple plate. A mug of mocha is nearby.

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 03/08/2026

3. Opening sequence, with MEDEA spelled out in matchsticks and what appears to be a summoning circle. (We were trying to channel witchy, OKAY?!?) - Subscribe to my newsletter to see the whole video: stephlaubooks.com/newsletter - Visit my sock puppet partner in crime, Sarah, here: sarahshugars.com

A photo of a film being played on TV. On the floor: MEDEA is spelled out in matchsticks, a bunch of lit candles. Draped behind and strewn around are various arts and fabrics for witchy effect

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 03/08/2026

2. Obviously, if you're going to do a Greek sock puppet play, you have to have a Greek sock puppet chorus!!!

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 03/08/2026

In the ancient times, @shugars.bsky.social and I filmed a sock puppet version of Medea (based on the Greek play by Euripides). I'm sharing a link to the full video in my upcoming newsletter, but here's a few highlights: 1: Sock puppet Medea saying goodbye to Jason, and then laughing maniacally

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 01/08/2026

This was fun to read. Love me a buff lady story. Sadly, have to wait for the rest to be translated from French 📚👍🏻

Collosal, a GN by Rutile and Diane Truc. A buff lady with short red hair lifts a dumbell

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 31/07/2026

Meet the newest member of my family 🥰🥰🥰 #kidlit

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 28/07/2026

@tajmccoy.bsky.social's book spotted at one of @oaklibrary.bsky.social's summer reading displays 😎

A What to read this summer library display which includes Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell by Taj McCoy

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 23/07/2026

If you enjoyed The Odyssey, you might like other Greek mythology retellings... Such as my picture book, Medusa's Pet Rock 😁 If you want signed copies (and a Medusa sticker), you can pre-order at @mrmoppsbooks.bsky.social ! www.stephlaubooks.com/medusa

Medusa's Pet Rock, a picture book by Steph Lau, sits on a lilac purple velvet couch

A sticker of Medusa from the picture book, Medusa's Pet Rock. She is on a spiky orange red background, and shooting lasers out of her eyes. Her snakes are going wild

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 14/07/2026

Hi #PortfolioDay, I'm Steph Lau, an author-illustrator of picture books and graphic novels. My 2nd picture book, Medusa's Pet Rock, comes out 9/22/26! (pre-orders and library requests greatly appreciated) Agent: @allielevick.bsky.social Portfolio: www.stephlaubooks.com

cover for The Abominable Snow Dancer by Steph Lau
a hairy yeti in a tutu leaps across the stage, while unicorns watch with various facial expressions ranging from enamored to disgusted

Cover for the picture book, Medusa's Pet Rock, by Steph Lau
A snake-haired little girl version of Medusa smiles while holding a pet rock. There are greek meander patterns behind

a sad little girl Medusa holds a cage with a dead hamster. Behind her, her shadow has gone all scary and snakey, and there is the word "MONSTROUS" with a lot of spiky lightning bolts and angry red squiggles

a frog and a girl are dressed in the same pink dress and are glaring at each other while other people watch

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 02/07/2026

It's a potato shaped like a slug! (I kinda feel bad eating it)

A yellow potato that looks like a slug, that appears to be looking at the camera. It is a round potato with two tiny protrusions that look like eyestalks

Upshot of potato slug. Kinda looks like a breaching whale. The eyestalks are looking up

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 02/07/2026

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm Steph, an author-illustrator who likes dogs, warm weather, and ice cream. I make PBs and GNs, usually with a splash of mischief. Rep: @allielevick.bsky.social Portfolio: www.stephlaubooks.com

A busy summer swimming pool scene with lots and lots of dogs of different shapes and sizes

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 29/06/2026

Mini Otto travels (Bavaria edition)

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 26/06/2026

One of the downsides of time zone travel is I end up being constantly hungry (cause it's always close to mealtime either at my new time zone or my old one). So here's some foods we ate in Germany, to make myself even hungrier

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 26/06/2026

Obligatory self-promo post. Today's the last day for the B&N pre-order sale, so buy my book and stuff 🫣 www.barnesandnoble.com/w/medusas-pe...

Barnes and Noble 25% off pre-orders
Use code: preorder25
Thru Friday 6/26/26

A cover for Medusa's Pet Rock by Steph Lau

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 04/06/2026

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day. As a kid, I never had to share a dress with anyone. However, I DID have to share my name with like... 4 other Stephanies in my grade level. I love picture books and graphic novels with misfits and mischief. Rep: @allielevick.bsky.social Website: stephlaubooks.com

a frog and a girl glare at each other, because they've arrived at the bus stop wearing the same pink ruffly dress.

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Steph Lau (she/her) @stephlaubooks.com · 04/06/2026

#SCBWI members: First Round Voting is open for this year's Crystal Kite Awards, and The Abominable Snow Dancer is in the CA/Hawaii Division. This division might be the biggest (plus, there's a *Caldecott Honor*), but vote for my book if you're so inclined! #kidlit www.scbwi.org/crystal-kite

SCBWI Crystal Kite Award: CA/Hawaii Division
Vote Now! Round 1 is open!
The cover of The Abominable Snow Dancer by Steph Lau, with a bunch of stars in the background.

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