Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
@cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
3.1K followers 500 following 500 posts
children's-YA author, Heartdrum imprint curator, dog mom
Posts Replies Media Videos
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
From The Hub at YALSA: A Book That Feels Like a Hug: Cynthia Leitich Smith on Her New Anthology and Writing for Teens: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_daq...

@harperstacks.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social @yalsa.bsky.social #YALit #YABooks #AuthorInterview
A Book That Feels Like a Hug: Cynthia Leitich Smith on Her New Anthology and Writing for Teens
YouTube video by The Hub from YALSA
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
Celebrate Rock Your Mocs Day Nov. 15 & Rock Your Mocs Week Nov. 9-15. Wear moccasins or a turquoise ribbon. Take a photo/video to share. Read ROCK YOUR MOCS by @laurelgoodluck.bsky.social and Madelyn Goodnight (Heartdrum). @harperkids.bsky.social #RockYourMocs #KidLit
Instructions in post, plus cover art for the picture book ROCK YOUR MOCS (AIYLA silver medal), kids walking in mocs with ancestors looking on from the sky above. Bylines above, title in purple below.
November 12, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
harperstacks.bsky.social
This #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, we're highlighting two fantastic anthologies for your middle grade and YA readers: ANCESTOR APPROVED & LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN! 📚 Edited by @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social, these intertribal stories feature the voices of both new and acclaimed Indigenous writers.
November 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
Sending gratitude to Native veterans on Veterans Day.
One of my most popular characters is Grampa Halfmoon, a U.S. Army veteran from a Cherokee-Seminole family, who appears in INDIAN SHOES and ON A WING AND A TEAR (both from Heartdrum). #VeteransDay
My character Grampa Halfmoon is a U.S. Army veteran. Native veterans are honored on Veterans Day (Nov. 11th) in the U.S. and National Indigenous Veterans Day (Nov. 8th) in Canada. Book covers INDIAN SHOES (cover art: grandfather and grandson with Chicago in the background) and ON A WING AND A TEAR (cover art: grandfather driving two kids in the back seat down the highway in a blue truck).
November 11, 2025 at 3:16 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
Thank you, moderator Kevin Noble Maillard and legendary co-presenters Darcie Little Badger and Andrea L. Rogers for joining me on this weekend's panel "The Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Where Celebrated Indigenous Writers Share Their Stories" at the Texas Book Festival! @harperkids.bsky.social
Collage (l to r): Author Kevin Noble Maillard, holding a copy of LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN, author panel at Texas Book Festival, audience photo at TBF, Darcie Little Badger dancing in the author green room, panelists Kevin, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Darcie, and Andrea L. Rogers posing behind the panel table, half-body photo of Andrea L. Rogers wearing a "Stay Wild" T-shirt, photo of three books by Cynthia on the sales table ON A WING AND A TEAR, SISTERS OF THE NEVERSEA, and FIREFLY SEASON, selfie of Cynthia with Nikki Loftin, two picture books by Andrea L. Rogers on the sales table CHOOCH HELPED and WHEN WE GATHER. Center: Texas Book Festival 30th Anniversary logo.
November 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
curtisbrownltd.bsky.social
What a glowing 🌟 review on HERE COME THE AUNTIES! by
@cynleitichsmith.bsky.social and illustrated by Aphelandra! Kirkus calls it, "A rapturous reflection on community worth holding close to one’s heart."

www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
HERE COME THE AUNTIES! | Kirkus Reviews
Caring adults support a Muscogee child’s development.
www.kirkusreviews.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:28 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
The Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Where Celebrated Indigenous Writers Share Their Stories, Texas Book Festival: texasbookfestival.org/schedule/the...

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM, Sat., Nov. 8, YA HQ Tent

Signing: 12:00 PM, Main Book Signing Tent

@harperkids.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social
Text from post, plus 30th Anniversary logo for Texas Book Festival, headshots of authors Cynthia Leitich Smith, Andrea L. Rogers, Darcie Little Badger, Kevin Noble Maillard. Cover art for LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN -- Native people gathered at drive-in.
November 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
harperstacks.bsky.social
These new YA books are great choices for celebrating Native American Heritage Month with your teen readers!

🍂 LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN is a YA anthology, edited by @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
🍂 THE OTHERS is the haunting sequel to Cheryl Isaacs' debut, THE UNFINISHED
November 7, 2025 at 3:55 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
Honoring Native American Heritage Month with Kids Books by Indigenous Authors and Illustrators: www.madisonreadingproject.com/single-post/... #KidLit
Honoring Native American Heritage Month with Kids Books by Indigenous Authors and Illustratorshttps://static.wixstatic.com/media/36acea_dff4567e075345e6880babb6a21e34ca~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_1000,h_1000,a...
Don't miss our blog post about Native storytelling by emi aguilar. For a sneak peak at some of our favorite picture books by Indigenous creators, keep reading! If you'd like to purchase or donate thes...
www.madisonreadingproject.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
40 Children’s & YA Books That Celebrate Native American Heritage by @olugbemisolabooks.bsky.social from Brightly. www.readbrightly.com/native-ameri... #BookSky @tracisorellauthor.bsky.social
15 Books to Share Stories of Native American History and Experience with Kids and Teens | Brightly
These stories offer young readers an opportunity to learn more about the rich and complex history of Indigenous peoples in North America.
www.readbrightly.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
“warmth and beauty” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books @poetnikki.bsky.social @stacyvwells.bsky.social @eblewis.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social #BookSky
“…warmth and beauty…readers learn not only about the tragedy in Dante’s family history, but also the joyful cultural elements they revel in.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Recommended Cover art for STRONGER THAN by Nikki Grimes, Stacy Wells & EB Lewis (headshots of all three to the right, Heartdrum logo to the left)
November 2, 2025 at 6:11 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth www.cowboysindians.com/2025/10/the-... @epicreads.bsky.social
The Indigenous Books I Can’t Stop Talking About
Author Vanessa Lillie (Cherokee) shares the new and upcoming Native reads lighting up her nightstand—and her soul.
www.cowboysindians.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social
👻 Want to know what really scares us here at WNDB?

Every Halloween, cities and communities set up haunted houses, people dress up as monsters, and we watch spine-tingling movies that make even the bravest grown-ups jump.

But here’s what *really* scares us at We Need Diverse Books:
Light grey promotional graphic titled “Want to Know Something Really Scary?” The graphic has three illustrations of ghosts decorating the border of the post. Beneath the tile is a bright orange bubble containing a right-facing arrow, encouraging folks to swipe through.
October 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
Happy Halloween, booookish friends! I’m celebrating tonight by giving away a choice of picture books and miscellaneous seasonal titles for kids of all ages. What are your Halloween plans? #BookSky
Featured titles in stacks: BONE SOUP by Cambria Evans (Clarion Books, 2016) PETER RABBIT AND THE PUMPKIN PATCH by Beatrix Potter and Ruth Palmer (Penguin, 2013) Photo of inside of free little library stocked with books, including a few that are tied with ribbons. Text: Halloween at my Little Free Library with orange background and graphics a cute ghosts reading books.
October 31, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
ischool.uw.edu
Cynthia Leitich Smith @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social reflected on her experiences as a prominent Indigenous children’s and young adult author at the iSchool’s 33rd annual Spencer G. Shaw Lecture: ischool.uw.edu/news/2025/10...
Author Cynthia Leitich Smith charms crowd at Shaw Lecture
Asked what she would say to encourage young writers, author Cynthia Leitich Smith made an analogy. “When you're thinking about a story, particularly...
ischool.uw.edu
October 30, 2025 at 10:42 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
WE ARE HAPPA, Kaua Mahoe Adam's debut picture book, ill. by Malia Pila, in which a Hapa Hawaiian boy embraces his mixed Native Hawaiian ancestry, acquired by Heartdrum. #KidLit
Headline: Book Sale Announcement. Text from post. Headshots of author and illustrator, both Native Hawaiian, outside with trees behind them. Heartdrum logo between photos. Faint image of Hibiscus in the background.
October 31, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social
👻 6 Diverse Young Adult Books for the Halloween Season
Purple graphic with illustrations of white spiderwebs in the top right and bottom left corners. This slide is titled “Young Adult” and displays book covers for six diverse young adult books perfect for the Halloween season. The titles featured are as follows: “What Stalks Among Us” by Sarah Hollowell, “Hollow” by Taylor Grothe, “Hazelthorn” by C.G. Drews, “A Feast for the Eyes” by Alex Crespo, “Make Me a Monster” by Kalynn Bayron, and “The Others” by Cheryl Isaacs.
October 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social
Celebrate the #Halloween season with these diverse books! Whether you’re looking for something cute or creepy, this list has something for readers of any age and scare-level 🎃📚
Purple graphic titled “30 Diverse Halloween Reads: Suggestions for Scaredy Cats and Scare Enthusiasts Alike!” There are Halloween-related doodles around the border of the graphic, such as a waving skeleton, a smiling witch, a laughing werewolf, and a smiling ghost holding a pumpkin-shaped bucket. There are also doodles of candy and a purple spell book with a ghost on the cover.
October 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
Cover Reveal! AN EXPANSE OF BLUE by Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams, art by JT Ojerio (Heartdrum, 2026). Powerful, romantic debut novel-in-verse about a Native Hawaiian girl's fight to find belonging in a fracturing family. #BookSky @epicreads.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social
Text: Cover Reveal in blue against yellow circle with wavy edges. Water in the background, rising up. Heartdrum logo (young eagle feather against Alaska Native drum) in the top right. Cover image of a light-skinned Native Hawaiian girl in profile with hair up, flower to side in hair, wearing a reddish orange top, bird in profile faintly in white in the background, title in yellow across bottom third of the book, author's name up top.
October 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social
🧡 COVER REVEAL 🧡 Don’t miss Brian Young’s groundbreaking YA debut, SHARDS OF SILENCE, forthcoming from Heartdrum (HarperCollins) on May 5th, 2026!

🎨 Cover art by Lynnette Haozous
🖼️ Cover design by Laura Mock

📖 bit.ly/ShardsOfSilence
Dark reddish orange promotional graphic displaying the cover for the upcoming YA debut, “Shards of Silence” by Brian Lee Young, forthcoming from Heartdrum (an imprint of HarperCollins) on May 5th, 2026. The release date is written along the bottom of the graphic in bold white text. The cover illustration shows a young Navajo (Diné) teenage boy facing forward with a stoic expression on his face. He’s wearing a bright orange ring tee underneath a navy blazer that’s part of a boarding school uniform. Dark reddish orange promotional graphic containing the following synopsis, in part, for “Shards of Silence” by Brian Lee Young: “In his first YA novel, award-winning author Brian Lee Young (Diné) bridges the generational divide between a Navajo teen at an elite prep school and his great-grandmother’s experience at a federal boarding school for Indigenous students. Even if it hurts to leave behind his friends and family in Navajo, New Mexico—especially his great-grandmother, Mildred—Derrick knows his scholarship to an elite East Coast boarding school is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Back home, Másání Mildred’s health is fading quickly. On the phone, she begs Derrick to leave Sagefield. When he realizes her fear comes from her time in federal Native boarding schools, he knows he’s finally found the term paper theme he believes in: carrying her voice into the future.”
October 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Native Books for Young Readers & More)
weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social
🔔 Apply for a Walter Dean Myers Grant today!

The Walter Dean Myers Grant program was established to provide grants of $2,000 each to promising diverse writers and illustrators who are currently unpublished. Follow the 🔗 below (also in our bio) to apply ⬇️

💻 bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp
Blue graphic with a bright pink box at the top that says, “Apply Today!” Beneath that, in all caps are the words “Walter Grants” followed by a brief description that says, “WNDB’s Walter Dean Myers Grants provide promising unpublished writers and illustrators $2000 to support their career development” To the left of the text is an illustration of a person with long black hair sitting at a desk and writing in a word doc. At the bottom of the graphic are the dates “October 1st through October 31st,” denoting the application period for Walter Grant applications. In the bottom right hand corner of the graphic is a light green box containing the URL “bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp”, which will direct folks to the application form. Blue graphic displaying a mock-up internet browser window. At the top of the window is a search bar containing the URL “bit.ly/WalterGrantsApp”, which will direct folks to the application form for WNDB’s Walter Grants. Beneath that, the mock-up browser window is titled “About Walter Grants” and contains the following description: “The Walter Dean Myers Grant provides a financial boost to promising writers and illustrators from diverse backgrounds who are currently unpublished. Each grantee receives $2000 to hone their craft and support their career development. The Walter Grant can be used in a variety of ways, from attending conferences to purchasing new writing devices to covering childcare.”
October 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
Free virtual event! Hear from three award-winning Native authors! Open to educators, parents, community members!
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 www.azed.gov/oie/literacy...
#Education #NativeAmerican
Indigenous Literacy and STEM Projects
Per requirements in A.R.S. 15-244, Indian Education Act, the Office of Indian Education provides technical assistance to schools and tribal nations to meet the educational needs of Native American stu...
www.azed.gov
October 27, 2025 at 12:47 AM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
“It has been a pleasure to...hear about the nightmares I’ve saddled people with!” — Cheryl Isaacs, interviewed by Elise Dumpleton, from The Nerd Daily: thenerddaily.com/cheryl-isaac... #BookSky
Q&A: Cheryl Isaacs, Author of 'The Others' | The Nerd Daily
We chat with author Cheryl Isaacs about The Others, which is a  haunting sequel that explores the sharp edges of lingering trauma and the bonds of love that heal us--for fans of She is a Haunting and ...
thenerddaily.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
MG Escapades Authors on Graphic Novels; Plus Sara Shacter on Creating a Debut Author Group: cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/10/mg-e... @gayleenwrites.bsky.social #KidLit
MG Escapades Authors Stan Yan & Angela Hsieh on Graphic Novels; Plus Sara Shacter on Creating a Debut Author Group - Cynthia Leitich Smith
By Gayleen Rabakukk Today we have the final installment of the MG Escapades series with Graphic Novelists Stan Yan and Angela Hsieh. And we’re also chatting with the group’s founder, Sara Shacter abou...
cynthialeitichsmith.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
MG Escapades Authors on Publishing MG Fantasy/Horror: cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/10/mg-e... @gayleenwrites.bsky.social #KidLit
MG Escapades Authors Leslie Adame, Alby C. Williams, Carey Blankenship-Kramer, Sarah Mendonca, Christina Cornwell, Ryan James Black, Nicole Hewitt, Shana Targosz on Publishing MG Fantasy/Horror - Cynt...
By Gayleen Rabakukk Today we continue meeting more members of the MG Escapades group, this time chatting with debut authors who have fantasy novels publishing this year: Leslie Adame, Alby C. Williams...
cynthialeitichsmith.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM