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Sarah Threlkeld

@wordnerd153.bsky.social
702 followers 134 following 111 posts

Kids specialist at Island Books, MA in kidlit, Happy Reading podcast, avid baker, LEGO & Muppet lover

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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
In my bookstore we still sell a ton of Gratz, Gibbs, and Ponti. Impossible Creatures and Westfallen have been popular, mostly because I hand sell the crap out of them. Keeper of the Lost Cities and Wings of Fire are still going strong. Honestly, most kids want familiar authors/series.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
Break out the s’mores and bug juice! Throwing it back to the 1st season of my Happy Reading podcast when I spotlighted 4 middle grade books about summer camp: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
podcasts.apple.com
Episode 11 - Camp
Podcast Episode · Happy Reading · 07/31/2017 · 25m
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
Absolutely loving this middle grade story about a new friendship strained by one mother’s desire to ban books from the school. Interesting, authentic characters, great pacing, and a nuanced look at censorship.
Same Page by Elly Swartz. Two 6th grade girls standing back to back in a school hallway with a small dog between their legs facing the viewer. One girl is holding a large stack of books.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Excited to host my 2nd educator event at Island Books! Hope to see lots of teachers and librarians on June 1 😊❤️📚
Educator event June 1 from 10am-5pm. 20% off entire purchase if you’re an educator. Picture book preview at 10:30, middle grade preview at 11:15am. Giveaways and treats, too.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
If you live in the Seattle area, we’d love to see you at Island Books on April 26 for Indie Bookstore Day!
Logo for indie bookstore day accompanied by info about activities Island Books has planned: doors open at 8am, cookies and champagne at 4pm, kids’ scavenger hunt, selfie stations, and ARC giveaway.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 15/03/2025
Season 4 of Ted Lasso on the horizon and the discovery of a sequel to The Westing Game? Happy Friday indeed!
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Reposted by Sarah Threlkeld
Kristin Varner @kristinvarner.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Congratulations @mrwolfcomics.bsky.social on Speechless! Fun event yesterday with @wordnerd153.bsky.social at Island Books! #kidlit #graphicnovel
Cover of Speechless, a graphic novel by Aron Nels SteinkeAron Nels Steinke
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Curious about what kids are reading these days? This is the stack of books my 3rd grader picked out today at the bookstore 😍 Hooray for graphic novels and illustrated chapter books!
Stack of 9 kidlit books
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Blue skies and sunshine in the Seattle area made running errands somewhat enjoyable. Made sure to get gas and groceries before tomorrow’s economic boycott 👍
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Four books releasing Feb. 25 that I’m especially excited about 🤩 Every Monday Mabel is perfect for any kid obsessed with garbage trucks; Little Freddie Two Pants will have everyone giggling; Max in the Land of Lies is brilliant and so important; and Barbara Dee always hits it out of the park.
Cover of Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan. Shows a young girl dragging a chair across the cover in front of a window showing a garbage truck. Cover of Little Freddie Two Pants by Drew Daywalt and Lucy Ruth Cummins. A black a white dog wears a pair of pants on its front legs and a pair on its back legs. Max in the Land of Lies by Adam Gidwitz. Cover shows Max, a 12 year old boy with two small creatures on his shoulders and shady characters in the background. Cover of Tear This Down by Barbara Dee shows a tween girl wearing a black beanie and holding a can of spray paint. The book title looks like fresh paint and is over the profile of a man wearing a hat.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Lucky enough to get an ARC of this forthcoming graphic novel. Finished it this AM and absolutely loved it! Great balance of narrative and information that will engage readers and inspire them to create their own comics. Get it Arpril 1 from your favorite indie bookstore or library 👍
Cover of The Cartoonists Club, a middle grade graphic novel by Telgemeier and McCloud. Shows four tweens in different poses holding comics.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Read this fast-paced and fun middle grade novel in two sittings, only taking a break for lunch 😊❤️📚 Authentic characters who bond over their awkward first days of middle school and survive a bobcat encounter 😏 Great for 4th-6th grade readers who enjoy friendship and school stories.
Cover of Team Awkward book 1. Shows a grid of 4 illustrated 6th grade girls with various embarrassed expressions on their faces.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
It’s so lovely 🥰
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Currently listening and the political similarities to present day USA is eerie. I think I might like this book even more than the first, which is saying a lot.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Currently reading this new YA rom-com with queer rep and positive fat rep that is set predominantly in a used bookstore. Adorable 🥰 Jefferson is just happy to be snuggling on the couch.
Cover of Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia. Illustration shows two young men standing close to one another in a bookstore with small hearts above their heads.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Right? Totally bananas! Makes me wonder how many adult titles were released today 🤔
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
569 kidlit titles release today 🤯Here are just a few of the picture books I’m excited about 🤩 A reminder that indie bookstores and your local library are excellent places to check out new books!
Otter Carries On by Maya TatsukawaMartina’s Muy Bad Day The Hare Who Wouldn’t Share by Steve SmallCaboose by Travis Jonker
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Alt text: cover of Kittybunkport with two wide-eyed cats in foreground and a group of houses in the background. Creators’ names in the clouds.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Like cats? Maine? Lobster? Ghosts? This forthcoming picture book had me chuckling from start to finish 😆 Fantastic read aloud! Look for it in May.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
What an utterly delightful picture book! I laughed throughout and learned lots about ants 👍 Great elementary read aloud.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
Excited to host my first author event at Island Books! Four YA authors will talk about their books, their writing journeys, and anything else they fancy, plus there will be cake! Stop by if you live in the Seattle area 😊❤️📚
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
It’s really fun so far 😄 Think it would make a fantastic class read aloud.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Definitely 🤣
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Currently reading this adorable lower middle grade novel about a motley crew of characters, including an ivy plant, a spider, and a goldfish. Releases in May 🥰
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 17/01/2025
Huzzah! Finally had the time and energy to record a new Happy Reading episode 🤩❤️📚 I summarize each book and then read an excerpt from each. Check it out here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Stack of middle grade books featured on the podcast: Ferris by Kate DiCamillo, Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis, Westfallen by Ann & Ben Brashares, Carter Avery’s Tricky 4th Grade Year by Rob Buyea, and The First State of Being by Erin Estrada Kelly
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
Other people read multiple books at once, right? 😏❤️📚
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
So many new kidlit books releasing today 🤩
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
Love this picture book by @kylelukoff.bsky.social 🥰 Beautiful, kid-centric exploration of different ways to support those who are grieving. Similar vibes as The Rabbit Listened, another fave.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
I’m 12 chapters into this fun middle grade mystery and made the mistake of reading the 1st chp to my 3rd grader. She promptly stole the book and retreated to her room! 😆 Thankful I have an overflowing TBR pile to pick from.
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
Really enjoying this forthcoming upper middle grade novel by Kyle Lukoff about a trans kid literally fighting for his life when he finds out the leader of an anti-trans group his parents attend is an actual demon. Release February 2025 👍 #kidlit
Cover of A World Worth Saving: teenage boy running toward cover, being pushed by wind
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
Bye Forever, I Guess
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
12 great middle grade and YA graphic novels published this year, as chosen by the Children’s department at Island Books 🤩❤️📚 #kidlit
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Both SO good!
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
It was a great year for middle grade books! Here are 12 favorites from the Island Books staff 🤩❤️📚 #kidlit
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Wrong Way Home! So gripping!
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Some favorite early readers and chapter books published this year according to the wonderful staff of the Island Books Children’s department (which includes me) 😊❤️📚 #kidlit
12 book covers for early readers and chapters books, including Everyone Gets a Turn, Little Shrew, Lone Wolf, Orris & Tumble, and Welcome to Scare School
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
Some picture book recommendations from the Children’s department of the indie bookstore where I work 🤩❤️📚 #kidlit
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Currently reading this fantastic middle grade novel by Margaret Dilloway about an anxious 11-yo coping with her best friend moving across the country, a family who doesn’t quite get her, and the need to go beyond her comfort zone to make new friends. #kidlit
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Husband and child just left for the weekend, giving me around 30 hours of time to myself. Glorious! Will I do laundry and run some errands? Yes. But I will also read a ton, nap, crochet, take myself out for a meal, and anything else that sounds appealing 🤩👍
media.tenor.com
a person is dancing in a hallway with a red carpet
Alt: a person is running in a hallway with a red carpet (Kevin in Home Alone)
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
Westfallen by Ann & Ben Brashares
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Erin write great characters! Her 2024 release is one of my favorite books of the year 🤩
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
Day 12 of 12 Days of Middle Grade recommendations 🤪🥸 Fabulous character-driven stories that will appeal to readers who recognize the absurdity of life. #kidlit
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Great characters and I appreciated the alternating POVs 👍 I was desperate to rewatch Imitation Game while reading 😏
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Day 11 of 12 Days of Middle Grade recommendations 💪🌎❤️ These stories will empower and inspire readers of all ages 🤩 #kidlit
Five book covers: Code Red, Gracie Under the Waves, Dress Coded, Attack of the Black Rectangles, and Save Our Forest!
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
I’m putting off watching the final episode because I know I’ll be a wreck 😔
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Day 10 of 12 Days of Middle Grade recommendations 😊❤️📚 The publishing industry is clearly fan of books set in WWII 😏 Any recently published historical fiction recs for books set in other time periods? #kidlit
Five book covers: Max in the House of Spies, The Partition Project, Pearl, The Night War, and The Bletchley Riddle
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
Day 9 of 12 Days of Middle Grade recommendations 🥰 #kidlit
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Thanks for sharing!
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
Day 8 of 12 Days of Middle Grade recommendations 🧪🔬🧫 Never thought I was a sci-fan until I read York and When You Reach Me. Turns out I just like well-written, entertaining stories, no matter the genre 😁 #kidlit
Book covers of five middle grade sci-fi stories: The First State of Being, Westfallen, The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza, The Color of Sound, and Boy 2.0
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Sarah Threlkeld @wordnerd153.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
Day 7 of 12 Days of Middle Grade recommendations 🏕️🪓 #kidlit
Five middle grade book covers: Just Keep Walking, 15 Secrets to Survival, Lifeboat 5, Alone, and Island book 1.
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