Chris Barton
@bartography.bsky.social
Author—THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS, SHARK VS. TRAIN, WHOOSH! & WE MATCH! Freelance editor—fiction/nonfiction. VP—Texas Institute of Letters. Loves visiting schools. https://linktr.ee/bartography
Pinned
Chris Barton
@bartography.bsky.social
· Jul 15
Happy 25th Publication Day to me!
My newest picture book—WE MATCH!—is out in the world today, and I’m thankful to all of them, and to all the readers, booksellers, librarians, co-creators, and advocates who have helped make the work I do so enjoyable. Here’s to the next 25 books.
My newest picture book—WE MATCH!—is out in the world today, and I’m thankful to all of them, and to all the readers, booksellers, librarians, co-creators, and advocates who have helped make the work I do so enjoyable. Here’s to the next 25 books.
My first bookstore event of 2026 is just 8 days away! I’m excited to be spending next Wednesday evening, 1/14, with some great people at Nowhere Books in San Antonio. If you plan to be there, too… WE MATCH!
Details: nowherebookshop.com/event/2026-0...
Details: nowherebookshop.com/event/2026-0...
January 6, 2026 at 11:35 PM
My first bookstore event of 2026 is just 8 days away! I’m excited to be spending next Wednesday evening, 1/14, with some great people at Nowhere Books in San Antonio. If you plan to be there, too… WE MATCH!
Details: nowherebookshop.com/event/2026-0...
Details: nowherebookshop.com/event/2026-0...
Reposted by Chris Barton
I made an interactive map! This is a look at the effects Tx book-banning laws have had just *since the end of last school year*. I made it because it's easy to hear a shocking story about a book ban and then forget it and lose the larger picture.
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26 - Google My Maps
Mapping Texas Book Bans SY 25-26
www.google.com
January 1, 2026 at 12:45 AM
I made an interactive map! This is a look at the effects Tx book-banning laws have had just *since the end of last school year*. I made it because it's easy to hear a shocking story about a book ban and then forget it and lose the larger picture.
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...
Every so often, I update my as-comprehensive-as-I-can-get-it list of children's literature conferences and festivals hosted by U.S. colleges and universities. For 2026, that time has arrived! chrisbarton.info/all-the-coll...
All the college kidlit conferences (2026 edition!) - Bartography
My updated list of U.S. College- & University-Sponsored or -Hosted Children's and Young Adult Literature Conferences, Festivals, & Symposia.
chrisbarton.info
January 5, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Every so often, I update my as-comprehensive-as-I-can-get-it list of children's literature conferences and festivals hosted by U.S. colleges and universities. For 2026, that time has arrived! chrisbarton.info/all-the-coll...
I was asked recently to create a 4-minute video clip showing what my 45-minute (give or take) school-visit presentations look like these days, and THAT WAS HARD. But I finally managed to edit it down to these 238 seconds, and I’m actually pretty happy with what I came up with. youtu.be/4yY5mkVIkOg
Chris Barton author-visit excerpts, fall 2025
YouTube video by Chris Barton
youtu.be
January 4, 2026 at 8:14 PM
I was asked recently to create a 4-minute video clip showing what my 45-minute (give or take) school-visit presentations look like these days, and THAT WAS HARD. But I finally managed to edit it down to these 238 seconds, and I’m actually pretty happy with what I came up with. youtu.be/4yY5mkVIkOg
Reposted by Chris Barton
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Cardiff couple invited man in for Christmas, he stayed for 45 years
An arrangement Rob and Dianne Parsons thought would last a few days ended up changing their lives.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 25, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Reposted by Chris Barton
Please don’t take your eyes away from the damage book banning laws are doing in Texas. In Boerne ISD, a kindergarten class was forced to cancel its planned holiday party book exchange due to HB900 and SB13.
December 23, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Please don’t take your eyes away from the damage book banning laws are doing in Texas. In Boerne ISD, a kindergarten class was forced to cancel its planned holiday party book exchange due to HB900 and SB13.
I found a wallet in the Denver airport recently. It was a few days before Thanksgiving, I was super early for my flight home, and there it was, a couple of seats down from where I waited at an almost entirely empty gate.
And I thought, “Someone’s about to have a really lousy holiday week. Unless…”
And I thought, “Someone’s about to have a really lousy holiday week. Unless…”
December 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I found a wallet in the Denver airport recently. It was a few days before Thanksgiving, I was super early for my flight home, and there it was, a couple of seats down from where I waited at an almost entirely empty gate.
And I thought, “Someone’s about to have a really lousy holiday week. Unless…”
And I thought, “Someone’s about to have a really lousy holiday week. Unless…”
Very exciting news: WE MATCH! is now 1/4 of the way to having an EGOT!
I mean, I’m assuming that the “E” in EGOT stands for Endies…
100scopenotes.com/2025/11/26/a...
I mean, I’m assuming that the “E” in EGOT stands for Endies…
100scopenotes.com/2025/11/26/a...
And the 2025 Endies Endpaper Awards Go To . . .
Announcing the winners of the 2025 Endies Endpaper Awards.
100scopenotes.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Very exciting news: WE MATCH! is now 1/4 of the way to having an EGOT!
I mean, I’m assuming that the “E” in EGOT stands for Endies…
100scopenotes.com/2025/11/26/a...
I mean, I’m assuming that the “E” in EGOT stands for Endies…
100scopenotes.com/2025/11/26/a...
I was so glad to be here to this moment. Congratulations, Frank, and here’s to all the good work to come from those you’ve inspired!
A well deserved honor for our colleague @frankstrong.bsky.social for his work with @txfreedomread.bsky.social ! #NCTE25
November 23, 2025 at 6:42 AM
I was so glad to be here to this moment. Congratulations, Frank, and here’s to all the good work to come from those you’ve inspired!
Reposted by Chris Barton
For the next three weeks I’m going to share individual playlists for the 15 chapters in BACKBEATS.
First up, blues legend Sam Lay, who came to Chicago as part of the Great Migration and played with Walter, Wolf, Muddy, and at the “Dylan Goes Electric” concert. King of the “double shuffle.”
First up, blues legend Sam Lay, who came to Chicago as part of the Great Migration and played with Walter, Wolf, Muddy, and at the “Dylan Goes Electric” concert. King of the “double shuffle.”
Backbeats: Sam Lay by John Lingan on Apple Music
Playlist · 10 Songs
music.apple.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:40 PM
For the next three weeks I’m going to share individual playlists for the 15 chapters in BACKBEATS.
First up, blues legend Sam Lay, who came to Chicago as part of the Great Migration and played with Walter, Wolf, Muddy, and at the “Dylan Goes Electric” concert. King of the “double shuffle.”
First up, blues legend Sam Lay, who came to Chicago as part of the Great Migration and played with Walter, Wolf, Muddy, and at the “Dylan Goes Electric” concert. King of the “double shuffle.”
Reposted by Chris Barton
Are you at NCTE? Don't worry Dr. Ann made you a great chart.
November 21, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you at NCTE? Don't worry Dr. Ann made you a great chart.
Seeing how full the #NCTE25 schedule is makes me realize how dependent I’ll be on friends’ posts to let me know which sessions to attend—and how helpful it might be to put that info out there myself.
So, here’s where I’ll be on Saturday. What should I see in the meantime?
So, here’s where I’ll be on Saturday. What should I see in the meantime?
November 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Seeing how full the #NCTE25 schedule is makes me realize how dependent I’ll be on friends’ posts to let me know which sessions to attend—and how helpful it might be to put that info out there myself.
So, here’s where I’ll be on Saturday. What should I see in the meantime?
So, here’s where I’ll be on Saturday. What should I see in the meantime?
WE MATCH! is big in Bozeman, Montana, the home city of illustrator Sharon Glick. Folks there have shown our book loads of love at our August launch and at our three public library and elementary school events this past week. Thank you, Bozeman! www.bozemandailychronicle.com/arts_and_ent...
November 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
WE MATCH! is big in Bozeman, Montana, the home city of illustrator Sharon Glick. Folks there have shown our book loads of love at our August launch and at our three public library and elementary school events this past week. Thank you, Bozeman! www.bozemandailychronicle.com/arts_and_ent...
They all wanted copies of WE MATCH! and I wanted them all to have copies of WE MATCH! so… we matched!
Off to a booming start with a l-o-n-g line at Booth 200 to meet Chris Barton signing WE MATCH #naeycAC
November 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
They all wanted copies of WE MATCH! and I wanted them all to have copies of WE MATCH! so… we matched!
Reposted by Chris Barton
We’re a small library, so we have a physical suggestion box- or patrons just ask me. I bring in probably 8/10 requests- it really does work!
If there’s an author you appreciate, one of the simplest, most helpful, least expensive things you can do for them is ask your public library to add that author’s newest book to their collection.
Many library websites have a form for that. So give it a try, and make an author’s day!
Many library websites have a form for that. So give it a try, and make an author’s day!
November 5, 2025 at 11:36 AM
We’re a small library, so we have a physical suggestion box- or patrons just ask me. I bring in probably 8/10 requests- it really does work!
If something you love is the product of someone in the U.S. who is self-employed or who owns or works for a small business, you need to understand how dire things are about to get.
That thing you love is in jeopardy (if it wasn’t already).
That thing you love is in jeopardy (if it wasn’t already).
$2,341.96.
That’s what Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas says my wife and I will pay for our monthly health insurance premiums in 2026.
This year, for the same coverage? It’s been $899.72.
So, what are we calling this? Trump Tax? Trump Hike? Trump Gouge? Trumpremiums?
Whatever, I hate it.
That’s what Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas says my wife and I will pay for our monthly health insurance premiums in 2026.
This year, for the same coverage? It’s been $899.72.
So, what are we calling this? Trump Tax? Trump Hike? Trump Gouge? Trumpremiums?
Whatever, I hate it.
October 31, 2025 at 12:10 PM
If something you love is the product of someone in the U.S. who is self-employed or who owns or works for a small business, you need to understand how dire things are about to get.
That thing you love is in jeopardy (if it wasn’t already).
That thing you love is in jeopardy (if it wasn’t already).
$2,341.96.
That’s what Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas says my wife and I will pay for our monthly health insurance premiums in 2026.
This year, for the same coverage? It’s been $899.72.
So, what are we calling this? Trump Tax? Trump Hike? Trump Gouge? Trumpremiums?
Whatever, I hate it.
That’s what Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas says my wife and I will pay for our monthly health insurance premiums in 2026.
This year, for the same coverage? It’s been $899.72.
So, what are we calling this? Trump Tax? Trump Hike? Trump Gouge? Trumpremiums?
Whatever, I hate it.
October 31, 2025 at 2:03 AM
$2,341.96.
That’s what Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas says my wife and I will pay for our monthly health insurance premiums in 2026.
This year, for the same coverage? It’s been $899.72.
So, what are we calling this? Trump Tax? Trump Hike? Trump Gouge? Trumpremiums?
Whatever, I hate it.
That’s what Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas says my wife and I will pay for our monthly health insurance premiums in 2026.
This year, for the same coverage? It’s been $899.72.
So, what are we calling this? Trump Tax? Trump Hike? Trump Gouge? Trumpremiums?
Whatever, I hate it.
That’s some good company — thank you so much, Nancy!
(Ernie is listening, too.)
(Ernie is listening, too.)
October 29, 2025 at 9:25 PM
That’s some good company — thank you so much, Nancy!
(Ernie is listening, too.)
(Ernie is listening, too.)
I've got some great news: It is thoroughly satisfying to share what I hope will be my last-ever update on the 2023 Texas book ban, a.k.a. House Bill 900, a.k.a. the READER Act, which is that a federal judge has stopped the law with a permanent injunction.
chrisbarton.info/the-case-aga...
chrisbarton.info/the-case-aga...
October 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I've got some great news: It is thoroughly satisfying to share what I hope will be my last-ever update on the 2023 Texas book ban, a.k.a. House Bill 900, a.k.a. the READER Act, which is that a federal judge has stopped the law with a permanent injunction.
chrisbarton.info/the-case-aga...
chrisbarton.info/the-case-aga...
At this morning’s school visit, I finally got asked by a student to say “6, 7.” I feel relevant at last.
Also, during Q&A, after a string of students asked questions about my dog, one of their classmates asked me, “Can we *only* ask you about your dog?”
Also, during Q&A, after a string of students asked questions about my dog, one of their classmates asked me, “Can we *only* ask you about your dog?”
October 21, 2025 at 2:38 PM
At this morning’s school visit, I finally got asked by a student to say “6, 7.” I feel relevant at last.
Also, during Q&A, after a string of students asked questions about my dog, one of their classmates asked me, “Can we *only* ask you about your dog?”
Also, during Q&A, after a string of students asked questions about my dog, one of their classmates asked me, “Can we *only* ask you about your dog?”
Reposted by Chris Barton
I found this a really illuminating thread on what demonstrations do and why they matter.
In social movement studies, we talk about how marches and protests expand the threshold of acceptable risk so that people take more and bigger social risks IN PUBLIC, EN MASSE. This is extremely important for the bourgeois white folks holding signs and building social rapport.
Not a shitpost: #NoKings is feel-good performative activism for comfortable mostly upper and upper middle class white folks and that’s good, actually. Millions of people in the streets protesting a fascist regime is good. It is good for the normie baseline to be massive displays of public dissent.
October 19, 2025 at 2:59 AM
I found this a really illuminating thread on what demonstrations do and why they matter.
Axolotl attendees, and I think they’ll agree: The No Kings march in Austin has been a joy.
I saw fellow church members, former coworkers, another children’s author, an actual rock star, and above all a diverse, peaceful, and good-natured assembly of people who love this country passionately.
I saw fellow church members, former coworkers, another children’s author, an actual rock star, and above all a diverse, peaceful, and good-natured assembly of people who love this country passionately.
October 18, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Axolotl attendees, and I think they’ll agree: The No Kings march in Austin has been a joy.
I saw fellow church members, former coworkers, another children’s author, an actual rock star, and above all a diverse, peaceful, and good-natured assembly of people who love this country passionately.
I saw fellow church members, former coworkers, another children’s author, an actual rock star, and above all a diverse, peaceful, and good-natured assembly of people who love this country passionately.
Reposted by Chris Barton
Remember The Great Brain??
And who said this one?
"That ties into one of my all-time favorite music nonfiction books, a John Lennon biography by Ray Coleman—just titled Lennon—that I read over and over when I was in high school, just as I’d done with the Great Brain books several grades earlier."
Me, or Victor Piñeiro?
"That ties into one of my all-time favorite music nonfiction books, a John Lennon biography by Ray Coleman—just titled Lennon—that I read over and over when I was in high school, just as I’d done with the Great Brain books several grades earlier."
Me, or Victor Piñeiro?
October 15, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Remember The Great Brain??
Reposted by Chris Barton
Hint: it was either me or Chris.
Who said it, @dheiligman.bsky.social or me?
"The first book I remember loving...[was] A Pickle for a Nickel, and it was about a boy named William who taught the heretofore quiet parrot of his silence-loving neighbor, Mr. Bumble, to loudly repeat the title phrase."
chrisbarton.info/how-do-we-ma...
"The first book I remember loving...[was] A Pickle for a Nickel, and it was about a boy named William who taught the heretofore quiet parrot of his silence-loving neighbor, Mr. Bumble, to loudly repeat the title phrase."
chrisbarton.info/how-do-we-ma...
How Do WE Match? (and book giveaway) with author Deborah Heiligman - Bartography
This month I'm giving away four copies of Deborah Heiligman's new YA nonfiction book, LOUDMOUTH: EMMA GOLDMAN VS. AMERICA (A LOVE STORY).
chrisbarton.info
October 15, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Hint: it was either me or Chris.
Who said it, @dheiligman.bsky.social or me?
"The first book I remember loving...[was] A Pickle for a Nickel, and it was about a boy named William who taught the heretofore quiet parrot of his silence-loving neighbor, Mr. Bumble, to loudly repeat the title phrase."
chrisbarton.info/how-do-we-ma...
"The first book I remember loving...[was] A Pickle for a Nickel, and it was about a boy named William who taught the heretofore quiet parrot of his silence-loving neighbor, Mr. Bumble, to loudly repeat the title phrase."
chrisbarton.info/how-do-we-ma...
How Do WE Match? (and book giveaway) with author Deborah Heiligman - Bartography
This month I'm giving away four copies of Deborah Heiligman's new YA nonfiction book, LOUDMOUTH: EMMA GOLDMAN VS. AMERICA (A LOVE STORY).
chrisbarton.info
October 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Who said it, @dheiligman.bsky.social or me?
"The first book I remember loving...[was] A Pickle for a Nickel, and it was about a boy named William who taught the heretofore quiet parrot of his silence-loving neighbor, Mr. Bumble, to loudly repeat the title phrase."
chrisbarton.info/how-do-we-ma...
"The first book I remember loving...[was] A Pickle for a Nickel, and it was about a boy named William who taught the heretofore quiet parrot of his silence-loving neighbor, Mr. Bumble, to loudly repeat the title phrase."
chrisbarton.info/how-do-we-ma...