Carren Jao
@carrenjao.bsky.social
#Kidlit author Rep'd by @heathercashman.bsky.social
at Storm Literary @LeeandLow New Voices award winner, #PBRisingStars '23 Alum #FilTheShelves. http://bio.site/carrenjao
at Storm Literary @LeeandLow New Voices award winner, #PBRisingStars '23 Alum #FilTheShelves. http://bio.site/carrenjao
📚👍 “The Greatest” by @veerawrites.bsky.social and Vesper Stamper is a joyous, tender picture book about the love between grandparents and grandchildren—perfect for family reading. #kidlit
November 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
📚👍 “The Greatest” by @veerawrites.bsky.social and Vesper Stamper is a joyous, tender picture book about the love between grandparents and grandchildren—perfect for family reading. #kidlit
Reposted by Carren Jao
📝🥢 📙👩🏻🏫 Do you know anyone who’d be interested in a library workshop for kids 9+yo about the secret writing tricks I used to create TRICKY CHOPSTICKS? I’m hosting this fun session on Monday, Nov 10 @ 6pm at the Lake Hiawatha Branch!
#LakeHiawathaBranch @simonkids.bsky.social @fannyliem.bsky.social
#LakeHiawathaBranch @simonkids.bsky.social @fannyliem.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
📝🥢 📙👩🏻🏫 Do you know anyone who’d be interested in a library workshop for kids 9+yo about the secret writing tricks I used to create TRICKY CHOPSTICKS? I’m hosting this fun session on Monday, Nov 10 @ 6pm at the Lake Hiawatha Branch!
#LakeHiawathaBranch @simonkids.bsky.social @fannyliem.bsky.social
#LakeHiawathaBranch @simonkids.bsky.social @fannyliem.bsky.social
For any #kidlit creators wondering, "What am I going to do for my book event?" @christineevans.bsky.social has this awesome guide!
kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/how-to-hol...
kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/how-to-hol...
How to Hold an Engaging Book Event
From panels and conversations to crafts and live drawing
kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:14 AM
For any #kidlit creators wondering, "What am I going to do for my book event?" @christineevans.bsky.social has this awesome guide!
kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/how-to-hol...
kidlitsurvivalguide.substack.com/p/how-to-hol...
A PSA from the folks at #AmWriting. Check your copyrights, especially if you're looking at all these #AI lawsuits. Thank you, Jessica Lahey, Sarina Bowen, and @kjda.bsky.social Btw, a PSA to Copyright your works, or check if your publisher has! amwriting.substack.com/p/publishing...
Publishing Nerd Corner: Your Copyright and the Anthropic Settlement
Sarina updates us on the class action suit, explains your copyright, and offers advice on protecting your work
amwriting.substack.com
September 20, 2025 at 11:54 PM
A PSA from the folks at #AmWriting. Check your copyrights, especially if you're looking at all these #AI lawsuits. Thank you, Jessica Lahey, Sarina Bowen, and @kjda.bsky.social Btw, a PSA to Copyright your works, or check if your publisher has! amwriting.substack.com/p/publishing...
Reposted by Carren Jao
#Writing: It's always worth the frustrations endured when you see your final work. As hard as the writing can be sometimes, persistence in writing is the key. - Wrtr #amwriting #amediting #Writer #Author ~ #AuthorSky #BookSky
September 7, 2025 at 2:50 AM
#Writing: It's always worth the frustrations endured when you see your final work. As hard as the writing can be sometimes, persistence in writing is the key. - Wrtr #amwriting #amediting #Writer #Author ~ #AuthorSky #BookSky
📚👍 "Soy Sauce!" by Laura G. Lee is a vibrant, rhyming picture book that explores how soy sauce is made in China, Japan, and Korea. Lee’s playful watercolors—painted with real soy sauce!—and upbeat text make this an umam-ful celebration of food, family, and culture.
August 29, 2025 at 5:03 PM
📚👍 "Soy Sauce!" by Laura G. Lee is a vibrant, rhyming picture book that explores how soy sauce is made in China, Japan, and Korea. Lee’s playful watercolors—painted with real soy sauce!—and upbeat text make this an umam-ful celebration of food, family, and culture.
📚👍 Rocket Ship, Solo Trip by @chiaracolombi.com and Scott Magoon is a rhyming, heart-filled adventure about a rocket’s first solo journey and the bravery it takes to try something new. #kidlit
August 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
📚👍 Rocket Ship, Solo Trip by @chiaracolombi.com and Scott Magoon is a rhyming, heart-filled adventure about a rocket’s first solo journey and the bravery it takes to try something new. #kidlit
📚👍 @jbradley.bsky.social ‘s “Something Great” reminds us that even the simplest things can have big, beautiful possibilities! #kidlit
August 12, 2025 at 4:20 PM
📚👍 @jbradley.bsky.social ‘s “Something Great” reminds us that even the simplest things can have big, beautiful possibilities! #kidlit
📚👍An unconventional story about a seemingly boring reference book like the dictionary is magical in “The Dictionary Story” by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston #kidlit
August 11, 2025 at 11:13 PM
📚👍An unconventional story about a seemingly boring reference book like the dictionary is magical in “The Dictionary Story” by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston #kidlit
Oooh! The Misfits books by @lisayee.bsky.social and @dansantat.bsky.social . So entertaining and action packed! It's secret agent kids on a mission.
"Greenwild" by Paris Thomson. The Morrigan Crow books by Jessica Townsend. They're both magical world building books. #kidlitchat
"Greenwild" by Paris Thomson. The Morrigan Crow books by Jessica Townsend. They're both magical world building books. #kidlitchat
TOPIC: What are some recent #kidlit books you think should get the full on movie treatment (from #picturebooks to #ya)? Which recent book-to-film adaptations have you loved? Do you 'cast' your work when you're creating it? And... heck... let's have some popcorn and have us a #kidlitchat!
July 16, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Oooh! The Misfits books by @lisayee.bsky.social and @dansantat.bsky.social . So entertaining and action packed! It's secret agent kids on a mission.
"Greenwild" by Paris Thomson. The Morrigan Crow books by Jessica Townsend. They're both magical world building books. #kidlitchat
"Greenwild" by Paris Thomson. The Morrigan Crow books by Jessica Townsend. They're both magical world building books. #kidlitchat
📚👍 Being Home by @tracisorellauthor.bsky.social and Michaela Goade celebrates the joy of family, community, and Cherokee traditions through vibrant storytelling and dreamlike illustrations. #kidlit
July 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
📚👍 Being Home by @tracisorellauthor.bsky.social and Michaela Goade celebrates the joy of family, community, and Cherokee traditions through vibrant storytelling and dreamlike illustrations. #kidlit
📚👍There is beauty and poetry in science that @lesliebarnardbooth.bsky.social and Marc Martin bring to life in “A Stone Is a Story.” #kidlit
July 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
📚👍There is beauty and poetry in science that @lesliebarnardbooth.bsky.social and Marc Martin bring to life in “A Stone Is a Story.” #kidlit
📚👍 Filled with humor and earnestness, this book by @debbieohi.coml follows Hana on her quest to find the answers to everything. Can she do it?” #kidlit
June 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
📚👍 Filled with humor and earnestness, this book by @debbieohi.coml follows Hana on her quest to find the answers to everything. Can she do it?” #kidlit
#kidlitchat The perfect summer read is one that leaves you inspired, ready to go! I'm checking out The Misfits books by @lisayee.bsky.social and @dansantat.bsky.social . Love the action and adventure!
TOPIC: As we in the US head into the Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer, what's on your summer reading list? And how do you describe your perfect summer read? #kidlitchat
May 21, 2025 at 1:12 AM
#kidlitchat The perfect summer read is one that leaves you inspired, ready to go! I'm checking out The Misfits books by @lisayee.bsky.social and @dansantat.bsky.social . Love the action and adventure!
Reposted by Carren Jao
Somehow it is Tuesday again, and that means that it's #kidlitchat again! Join us tonight at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific to chat with #kidlit folks (hence our name). We'd love to have you and the room (aka Bluesky) can hold us all! So come chat or lurk or both, I say. And we'll see you then!
May 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Somehow it is Tuesday again, and that means that it's #kidlitchat again! Join us tonight at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific to chat with #kidlit folks (hence our name). We'd love to have you and the room (aka Bluesky) can hold us all! So come chat or lurk or both, I say. And we'll see you then!
Reposted by Carren Jao
Hi #writers, our monthly Zoom critique group seeks a new member! We meet on Fridays 11:15am - 1:15pm EST. We're seeking someone who's either agented, traditionally published or both.
12x12 forum post for more info: juliehedlund.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/3...
#kidlit #picturebook #critique
12x12 forum post for more info: juliehedlund.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/3...
#kidlit #picturebook #critique
Sign In
juliehedlund.vanillacommunity.com
May 5, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Hi #writers, our monthly Zoom critique group seeks a new member! We meet on Fridays 11:15am - 1:15pm EST. We're seeking someone who's either agented, traditionally published or both.
12x12 forum post for more info: juliehedlund.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/3...
#kidlit #picturebook #critique
12x12 forum post for more info: juliehedlund.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/3...
#kidlit #picturebook #critique
MAYA BREAKS IT DOWN combines my love for breaking (not my skill!) and basic coding principles. Thank you for being such great collaborators @aphelandraw.bsky.social Alexandra McKenzie @charlesbridge.bsky.social @heathercashman.bsky.social See you by the bookshelves 2027! #kidlit
April 25, 2025 at 10:25 PM
MAYA BREAKS IT DOWN combines my love for breaking (not my skill!) and basic coding principles. Thank you for being such great collaborators @aphelandraw.bsky.social Alexandra McKenzie @charlesbridge.bsky.social @heathercashman.bsky.social See you by the bookshelves 2027! #kidlit
✨"If all three worlds are bright inside me, do I have to be just one? @salimaalikhan.bsky.social and Noor Sofi captures what it's like to straddle many different worlds and cultures. 📚👍
#WeNeedDiverseBooks #InclusiveReads #BIPOCAuthors #DiversityInBooks #weneeddiversebooksday #Kidlit
#WeNeedDiverseBooks #InclusiveReads #BIPOCAuthors #DiversityInBooks #weneeddiversebooksday #Kidlit
April 3, 2025 at 10:42 PM
✨"If all three worlds are bright inside me, do I have to be just one? @salimaalikhan.bsky.social and Noor Sofi captures what it's like to straddle many different worlds and cultures. 📚👍
#WeNeedDiverseBooks #InclusiveReads #BIPOCAuthors #DiversityInBooks #weneeddiversebooksday #Kidlit
#WeNeedDiverseBooks #InclusiveReads #BIPOCAuthors #DiversityInBooks #weneeddiversebooksday #Kidlit
The immigrant wordsmith in me is tickled pink by the addition of "gigil" in the Oxford dictionary. I've been borrowing words all my life and it's great for these words to officially transcend boundaries. #FilTheShelves www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/s...
March 28, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The immigrant wordsmith in me is tickled pink by the addition of "gigil" in the Oxford dictionary. I've been borrowing words all my life and it's great for these words to officially transcend boundaries. #FilTheShelves www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/s...
For #kidlit creators, why NOT you? Get your applications ready!
⭐PB Rising Stars Mentee apps are officially OPEN now - March 21 at 11:59 PM ET!!!
Are you an unagented OR agented PB author, illo, or author-illo without an agent-repped PB deal? Then this is for you!!
Apply: www.pbrisingstars.com/mentors
#kidlitmegafeed #kidlit #kidlitart #pbrisingstars #pbparty
Are you an unagented OR agented PB author, illo, or author-illo without an agent-repped PB deal? Then this is for you!!
Apply: www.pbrisingstars.com/mentors
#kidlitmegafeed #kidlit #kidlitart #pbrisingstars #pbparty
March 11, 2025 at 9:57 PM
For #kidlit creators, why NOT you? Get your applications ready!
📚👍“When you finish your first draft, take a break and go do something else. Stories need time to blossom and grow.”
@katemessner.com and Mark Siegel tell this how-to story in a way that real creatives can identify with, including our need to step away from the story too. #kidlit
@katemessner.com and Mark Siegel tell this how-to story in a way that real creatives can identify with, including our need to step away from the story too. #kidlit
March 4, 2025 at 2:17 AM
📚👍“When you finish your first draft, take a break and go do something else. Stories need time to blossom and grow.”
@katemessner.com and Mark Siegel tell this how-to story in a way that real creatives can identify with, including our need to step away from the story too. #kidlit
@katemessner.com and Mark Siegel tell this how-to story in a way that real creatives can identify with, including our need to step away from the story too. #kidlit
Reposted by Carren Jao
FYI to artists: I'm told that Discord has updated to add generative AI to its systems that allow users to edit ANY image using AI without permission. As of right now, I don't know that there are opt-outs on this. I'd personally be wary of sharing images on Discord.
March 1, 2025 at 6:55 PM
FYI to artists: I'm told that Discord has updated to add generative AI to its systems that allow users to edit ANY image using AI without permission. As of right now, I don't know that there are opt-outs on this. I'd personally be wary of sharing images on Discord.
📚👍“I want to be special, too. How do I become like you?” 🪨 Who hasn’t had that thought even once in their lives? Linda Liu captures a dull, gray rock’s journey from insecurity to confidence. "Hidden Gem" is a sweet read for anyone who needs to remember how special they are. #kidlit
February 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM
📚👍“I want to be special, too. How do I become like you?” 🪨 Who hasn’t had that thought even once in their lives? Linda Liu captures a dull, gray rock’s journey from insecurity to confidence. "Hidden Gem" is a sweet read for anyone who needs to remember how special they are. #kidlit
“It starts with one..”
🌊Part poetry, part biography, part science. This book by @katemessner.com and @mattforsythe.bsky.social marries so many kinds of storytelling into one whole that shows how the actions of one can ripple out to a whole ocean. It is a science book with heart. 📚👍#kidlit
🌊Part poetry, part biography, part science. This book by @katemessner.com and @mattforsythe.bsky.social marries so many kinds of storytelling into one whole that shows how the actions of one can ripple out to a whole ocean. It is a science book with heart. 📚👍#kidlit
February 19, 2025 at 4:52 PM
“It starts with one..”
🌊Part poetry, part biography, part science. This book by @katemessner.com and @mattforsythe.bsky.social marries so many kinds of storytelling into one whole that shows how the actions of one can ripple out to a whole ocean. It is a science book with heart. 📚👍#kidlit
🌊Part poetry, part biography, part science. This book by @katemessner.com and @mattforsythe.bsky.social marries so many kinds of storytelling into one whole that shows how the actions of one can ripple out to a whole ocean. It is a science book with heart. 📚👍#kidlit