Debbie Ridpath Ohi
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debbieohi.com
Debbie Ridpath Ohi
@debbieohi.com
51K followers 7.7K following 18K posts
🇨🇦 Kidlit author & illustrator. Illus books by Judy Blume, Michael Ian Black, others. Current goal: debut MG author 🤞🏽

📚 I WANT TO READ *ALL* THE BOOKS
🎨 I'M BUSY (w/ Michael Ian Black, 2026/02/24)

DebbieOhi.com @work.debbieohi.com
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debbieohi.com
Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 9d
Thanks to Kirkus for the lovely review of I'M BUSY, new picture bk by @michaelianblack.bsky.social & me! I should point out, tho: it was art director Laurent Linn who did the "brilliant endpapers," not me.
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews... #KidLit

I will miss working with Laurent at S&S. cont'd
I'M BUSY | Kirkus Reviews
Actor, comedian, and writer Black and illustrator Ohi team up once more, this time for the story of an overscheduled youngster who must make time to relax.
www.kirkusreviews.com
Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social
The SCBWI held its 2026 Virtual Winter Conference earlier this month, featuring a panel of editors and agents who shared advice for creators and what they’re looking for in submissions buff.ly/K1N8hzH
February 12, 2026 at 11:30 PM
debbieohi.com
😍😍😍 Thank you, @hkubiw.bsky.social!!! 😍😍😍

#ImBusy #CanKidLit #Kidlit
cc: @michaelianblack.bsky.social @simonschusterca.bsky.social
hkubiw.bsky.social Helen Kubiw ❤️ 🇨🇦 📚 @hkubiw.bsky.social · 7h
Get ready for upcoming "I'm" #picturebook by @michaelianblack.bsky.social & @debbieohi.com (from @simonandschuster.bsky.social) I'M BUSY has Flamingo & Potato trying to help their friend w overcommitment & finding balance. ❤️ the whole series! 👍📚 canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2026/02/im-b...
Book cover of I'm Busy shows a pink flamingo and a potato watching a little girl rushing away with a stack of books and papers as many fall to the ground Five books: I'm Bored, I'm Sad, I'm Worried, I'm Sorry, and I'm Busy.
February 12, 2026 at 6:36 PM
debbieohi.com
Happy birthday, Judy Blume!

I can't yet share recent new covers I've just been working on with Lauren Rille (S&S art director) so am sharing THIS one, which we worked on yrs ago along with others: debbieohi.com/judyblume

Thanks to Lauren for her brilliant book designs!
#JudyBlume #KidLit
Collage of three images. Top: Judy Blume, a woman with short curly hair and blue glasses, holds a copy of Are You There God, It's Me Margaret while seated indoors; text reads “Photo: Sundance Institute.” Bottom left: close-up of a book jacket credit page showing “Jacket design by Lauren Rille” and “Jacket illustrations copyright © 2014 by Debbie Ridpath Ohi,” along with “Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster • New York” and a website link. Bottom right: two women smiling for a selfie at an indoor event space.
February 12, 2026 at 12:23 PM
debbieohi.com
Kudos to @bsky.app for boosting the artist who created the welcome screen in the most recent update.
#PicturesMeanBusiness
bsky.app Bluesky @bsky.app · 3d
We've updated our welcome screen in v1.116 with some fresh artwork by @odpomery.bsky.social

Includes different versions for light and dark themes!
February 12, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
safety.bsky.app
An error caused a large number of accounts to be incorrectly "marked for review" by our automated system. This tool is normally used to rapidly respond to mass harassment and spam campaigns. We have removed the incorrect labels and will publish an incident report in the coming days.
February 12, 2026 at 4:31 AM
debbieohi.com
#WomenInScience
thedinomancer.bsky.social Skye Walker @thedinomancer.bsky.social · 1d
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

My journey has brought me so much. Fossil prep, museums, field work, travel, my first research publication, museum collections, connections, and of course, some of the best friendships I've ever had.

Keep that dream going!
February 11, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
warandpeas.bsky.social
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

#InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience
4-panel Comic "Women in Science" by War and Peas. 1. Man in ancient clothes and wig enters the room. He says, "I've returned from my trip to the future!" 2. "Women are doing science!" 3. Another man answers, "But there's still structural inequality and sexism making it difficult for them?" 4. "YES!" "Thank God!"
February 11, 2026 at 4:25 PM
debbieohi.com
Got out my fake pearls & flapper headband for a mellow SPEAKEASY boardgame-themed night at Bar Sous Sol at Maison Selby! Game info: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/37... Venue: www.maisonselby.com/bar/ (incl alcohol-free & low alcohol options!) #BoardGames
Black-and-white photo of nine adults dressed in formal, vintage-style attire standing and sitting together in a bar or lounge. Several hold drinks, and some wear hats, including fedoras; one woman sits in front wearing long gloves and a headband. Patterned wallpaper, round ceiling lights, and small tables are visible in the background. Black-and-white photo of a bartender standing behind a bar counter with bottles and string lights in the background. A large “Speakeasy” board game box stands on the counter in the foreground, and a customer in a hat sits at the bar with a drink and an open menu. A neon “Sous Sol” sign is reflected in the mirror behind the bar. Five adults in vintage-style clothing gathered around a table playing a board game in a dimly lit bar. One man in a suit and fedora points toward the game board while others watch; a bartender stands behind the counter. A red neon “Sous Sol” sign, bottles, and patterned wallpaper are visible in the background.
February 11, 2026 at 7:47 PM
debbieohi.com
Congrats to my friend @karenkrossing.com on the new book deal with @orcabook.bsky.social! #CanKidLit
karenkrossing.com Karen Krossing @karenkrossing.com · 8d
Many years ago, I began a prose novel for teens that just never worked, even after multiple rewrites. Later, I tried writing it as a novel in letters. Finally, I began writing it as a verse novel. It took a while to learn this new-to-me form. (1 of 4) #kidlit
Here's the Publishers Weekly announcement: "Sarah Howden at Orca Books has bought SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner Karen Krossing's Forever Fries, a middle grade novel-in-verse confronting first loves, eating disorders, and the pressures that face today's children, in which 13-year-old Marley must decide whether to honor her promise to her therapist and meet her crush for French fries or follow the strict rules of her No-Eat List, while haunted by memories of her perfectionist best friend, middle-school bully, and overbearing family. Publication is set for March 2027; Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown Ltd. did the deal for world rights."
February 11, 2026 at 7:37 PM
debbieohi.com
It's International Day Of Girls & Women in Science!

You can now pre-order chpt book ASHA AND BAZ MEET SYLVIA EARLE abt oceanographer Sylvia Earle. Written by @parentclub.bsky.social, illus Dharmali Patel.

www.commondeerpress.com/books-1/asha... #CanKidLit #KidLit @commondeerpress.bsky.social
Asha and Baz Meet Sylvia Earle
22f2ee13-fcc1-4e75-8866-c9d4082cbb0e
www.commondeerpress.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
parentclub.bsky.social
This makes me think of @karenkrossing.com @debbieohi.com taking on big feelings like sadness or being bored and putting them into picture books to share SEL.
pubspotlight.bsky.social Publisher Spotlight @pubspotlight.bsky.social · 8d
"The best picture books manage to be both honest and bolstering" Cecilia Heikkilä’s The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole @florisbooks.bsky.social "uses grotesque imagery to plumb the seemingly monstrous emotions that children are often taught to suppress" www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-fea...
Picture Books Can Tackle Tough Subject Matter | Kirkus Reviews
As author Mac Barnett and actor Jennifer Garner discussed at a recent event, picture books don’t have to be bland comfort food.
www.kirkusreviews.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
gregpincus.bsky.social
I hope you'll join us tonight for #kidlitchat here on Bluesky at 9PM Eastern/6PM Pacific. It's an hour of chatting with your #Kidlit community pals and, of course, and a path to Olympic gold! Or at least a fun hour.... See you then!
February 10, 2026 at 5:17 PM
debbieohi.com
Huge thanks to my friend @elliearscott.bsky.social for this Toronto Library Passport and a sweet note. Much appreciated #Uplift and I can use it with my #100Branches project! #LibrarySky #TorontoLibrary
avrodesign.ca/product/pass...
Blue booklet titled “Toronto Library Passport” on a wooden surface next to a small handwritten note. The note reads, “Debbie, a little treat for you! You are exactly the person for this. Enjoy exploring and celebrating books and more,” and includes an illustration of a cat wearing glasses reading a book.
February 10, 2026 at 5:20 PM
debbieohi.com
#Uplift
kishizuka.bsky.social Kathy Ishizuka @kishizuka.bsky.social · 2d
Emotional support bulbs. This winter has been brutal. Grow something.
February 10, 2026 at 4:39 PM
debbieohi.com
Omigosh, I adore these emotional potatoes from young readers. Thank you for sharing books by @michaelianblack.bsky.social & me with your students, @librarygrl2.bsky.social ! (going to send you a DM)
#KidLit #PowerToThePotato #LibrarySky #TeacherSky

debbieohi.com/im-picture-b...
February 9, 2026 at 11:29 PM
debbieohi.com
Yay, thanks for posting about I'M BUSY by @michaelianblack.bsky.social and me, Ronni! Can't wait until our book launches from @simonkids.bsky.social Feb. 24th! debbieohi.com/book/book-im...
#KidLit #ImBusy
February 9, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
bsky.app
v1.116 is rolling out now!

For all the overthinkers and perfectionists out there, we're launching Drafts.
A demonstration of where you can find the drafts feature in the top right corner of the post composer on Bluesky.
February 9, 2026 at 8:21 PM
debbieohi.com
Wow. First time sending a pkg from Canada to the U.S. in a while. Looks like the U.S. now requires all pkgs to have duties prepaid, and we need to have a Declaration ID.

www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/suppo...
Ship to the U.S. | Canada Post
Shipping to the U.S. has changed. Get details about the U.S. de minimis suspension and learn how to navigate this change.
www.canadapost-postescanada.ca
February 9, 2026 at 8:02 PM
debbieohi.com
Especially uplifting to see Laurent Linn hosting the SCBWI Golden Kite Awards Ceremony again, continuing to celebrate children's books with @scbwi.bsky.social. #KidLit

www.youtube.com/live/qeKQkuD...
Split-screen video frame from the Golden Kite Awards Ceremony 2026, with two presenters in separate boxes against a black-and-gold graphic background. Event branding “SCBWI Golden Kite Awards” appears at the top, and “Golden Kite Awards Ceremony 2026 – Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators” appears along the bottom.
February 7, 2026 at 2:47 PM
debbieohi.com
I wasn't able to attend the #SCBWI Golden Kite Awards live, but am excited to watch the awards ceremony. Congrats to all winners and finalists! #KidLit
scbwi.bsky.social SCBWI @scbwi.bsky.social · 6d
Watch our award ceremony for the best children's literature published in 2025. Watch LIVE through the Virtual Conference or YouTube TODAY, February 6 at 4 PM PST.

www.youtube.com/live/qeKQkuD...
February 7, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
gregthemiller.bsky.social
please use alt text

please turn on the feature to require it so you don’t forget

please flex your writing skills and describe the picture. you don’t need to be Tolkien but you can do better than “my cat.” i believe in you
February 7, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
charlenedraws.bsky.social
Reminder for #kidlit folks that the wonderful KidLit Mega Feed exists here!

Please use it, and remember to Like & Share posts.

We can’t make a vibrant community anywhere without your participation!

#booksky #books
February 6, 2026 at 5:30 PM
debbieohi.com
For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift:

bsky.app/profile/debb...

Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • acts of kindness • quirky • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text
February 6, 2026 at 2:55 PM
debbieohi.com
It's my husband @jridpath.bsky.social's birthday today!

On tap tonight: Playing #BoardGames with friends. 😁
Collage with a green circuit-board border showing multiple photos of the same person at different ages. Includes a baby in a bassinet, a young child wearing oversized pink glasses by a window, a birthday cake reading “Happy Birthday Spike,” and an adult sitting at a desk with vintage computers; purple handwritten text across the collage says “Happy Birthday Jeff!” with a small heart and the name Debbie.
February 6, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
debbieohi.com
Artists interested in illustrating for children's books:

Find out more about @ginaperry.bsky.social's monthly #KidLitArtPostCard event here (scroll to bottom of page for instructions): www.ginaperry.com/postcard

Thanks to Gina Perry for starting this event in 2021, to help #KidLit illustrators!
All about KidLitArtPostcard — Gina Perry Illustrations
www.ginaperry.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:43 AM