Deborah Freedman
@deborahfreedman.net
author & illustrator of children's picture books,
+ gardener, woods walker, cloud & bird watcher
www.deborahfreedman.net
+ gardener, woods walker, cloud & bird watcher
www.deborahfreedman.net
"You have to choose: You're either a Steinberg person or a Steig person...
All children are Steig people." @lianafix.bsky.social @newyorker.com
Love this. Because I'm a Steig person. Which are YOU?
All children are Steig people." @lianafix.bsky.social @newyorker.com
Love this. Because I'm a Steig person. Which are YOU?
“His plots are radically unconstrained, hinging on coincidences, random turns of event, flights of fancy, you name it.” In a new comic, Liana Finck writes about her love of William Steig. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/eveedL
Liana Finck on William Steig
He shies away neither from harshness nor from unadulterated sweetness. He also writes great female characters.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
December 19, 2025 at 11:08 PM
"You have to choose: You're either a Steinberg person or a Steig person...
All children are Steig people." @lianafix.bsky.social @newyorker.com
Love this. Because I'm a Steig person. Which are YOU?
All children are Steig people." @lianafix.bsky.social @newyorker.com
Love this. Because I'm a Steig person. Which are YOU?
@jamellebouie.net I see it's deleted but I'm still filing away "smoothest brain" for future use ;)
December 16, 2025 at 2:11 PM
@jamellebouie.net I see it's deleted but I'm still filing away "smoothest brain" for future use ;)
"...considers it his duty to ensure that all editors have the freedom to decide what they want to publish... rather than having those decision made by the government. “At the end of the day, we stand with the First Amendment...”"
Proud to be a @penguinschoollib.bsky.social author. 🙏
Proud to be a @penguinschoollib.bsky.social author. 🙏
The Penguin Random House CEO has gone all in on protecting the First Amendment and the freedom to read. For his efforts and those of PRH, he is Publishers Weekly’s Person of the Year.
PW’s 2025 Person of the Year: Nihar Malaviya
The Penguin Random House CEO has gone all in on protecting the First Amendment and the freedom to read. For his efforts and those of PRH, he is Publishers Weekly’s Person of the Year.
buff.ly
December 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
"...considers it his duty to ensure that all editors have the freedom to decide what they want to publish... rather than having those decision made by the government. “At the end of the day, we stand with the First Amendment...”"
Proud to be a @penguinschoollib.bsky.social author. 🙏
Proud to be a @penguinschoollib.bsky.social author. 🙏
"AI slop existed long before AI did. It’s all the boring, committee-driven copycat filler... I think that our job as educators is not just to push back on AI slop made by AI, it’s also to push back on AI slop made by humans..."
💥(thanks for the link, @austinkleon.bsky.social)
💥(thanks for the link, @austinkleon.bsky.social)
One of my back burner writing projects is a book chapter about generative AI in music education and why I think it's a Bad Thing. I'm rereading Ted Chiang's New Yorker essay about why AI isn't going to make art, which I completely agree with. www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Why A.I. Isn’t Going to Make Art
To create a novel or a painting, an artist makes choices that are fundamentally alien to artificial intelligence.
www.newyorker.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:10 PM
"AI slop existed long before AI did. It’s all the boring, committee-driven copycat filler... I think that our job as educators is not just to push back on AI slop made by AI, it’s also to push back on AI slop made by humans..."
💥(thanks for the link, @austinkleon.bsky.social)
💥(thanks for the link, @austinkleon.bsky.social)
Just watched a little anti-McCarthyism film while waiting until I can stream The Librarians on @pbs.org in February—
"I couldn't remove a book because it has ideas you didn't like..."
Bette Davis in "Storm Center," 1956...
"I couldn't remove a book because it has ideas you didn't like..."
Bette Davis in "Storm Center," 1956...
December 7, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Just watched a little anti-McCarthyism film while waiting until I can stream The Librarians on @pbs.org in February—
"I couldn't remove a book because it has ideas you didn't like..."
Bette Davis in "Storm Center," 1956...
"I couldn't remove a book because it has ideas you didn't like..."
Bette Davis in "Storm Center," 1956...
Reposted by Deborah Freedman
📚👍It's #NationalRoofOverYourHeadDay! 🏠
Here's the 2018 review I did of @deborahfreedman.net's beautiful #PB, THIS HOUSE ONCE:
www.heatherpiercestigall.com/ramblings--r...
#kidlit #PictureBooks #WhatToRead #booksforkids #childrensbooks #bookreview #reading #Literacy #educators #teachers #librarians
Here's the 2018 review I did of @deborahfreedman.net's beautiful #PB, THIS HOUSE ONCE:
www.heatherpiercestigall.com/ramblings--r...
#kidlit #PictureBooks #WhatToRead #booksforkids #childrensbooks #bookreview #reading #Literacy #educators #teachers #librarians
Review: It's National Roof Over Your Head Day!
TITLE : THIS HOUSE ONCE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Deborah Freedman PUBLISHER : Atheneum Books for Young Readers/2017 OPENING LINE : This door was once a colossal oak tree about three hugs around and...
www.heatherpiercestigall.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:22 PM
📚👍It's #NationalRoofOverYourHeadDay! 🏠
Here's the 2018 review I did of @deborahfreedman.net's beautiful #PB, THIS HOUSE ONCE:
www.heatherpiercestigall.com/ramblings--r...
#kidlit #PictureBooks #WhatToRead #booksforkids #childrensbooks #bookreview #reading #Literacy #educators #teachers #librarians
Here's the 2018 review I did of @deborahfreedman.net's beautiful #PB, THIS HOUSE ONCE:
www.heatherpiercestigall.com/ramblings--r...
#kidlit #PictureBooks #WhatToRead #booksforkids #childrensbooks #bookreview #reading #Literacy #educators #teachers #librarians
Is it too soon to be thinking about #WorldReadAloudDay? Not if you look forward to it as much as I do!
Heads up to educators who would like to have a free, 15-20 minute virtual author visit with me on Wednesday, 2/4/26—this week's newsletter will have a link to sign-up
↓
Heads up to educators who would like to have a free, 15-20 minute virtual author visit with me on Wednesday, 2/4/26—this week's newsletter will have a link to sign-up
↓
December 2, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Is it too soon to be thinking about #WorldReadAloudDay? Not if you look forward to it as much as I do!
Heads up to educators who would like to have a free, 15-20 minute virtual author visit with me on Wednesday, 2/4/26—this week's newsletter will have a link to sign-up
↓
Heads up to educators who would like to have a free, 15-20 minute virtual author visit with me on Wednesday, 2/4/26—this week's newsletter will have a link to sign-up
↓
I’m not ready to put away the #Thanksgiving decorations
November 30, 2025 at 1:50 AM
I’m not ready to put away the #Thanksgiving decorations
Reposted by Deborah Freedman
We know that, for a ton of reasons, a lot of folks don't have as much to spend as they'd like this holiday season. Sooooooo, here's a thread of things you can do that will support your local indie bookstore or other business WITHOUT spending any more than you intended...
November 26, 2025 at 10:26 PM
We know that, for a ton of reasons, a lot of folks don't have as much to spend as they'd like this holiday season. Sooooooo, here's a thread of things you can do that will support your local indie bookstore or other business WITHOUT spending any more than you intended...
I'm so grateful to everyone organizing the resistance—
and who made this effort to make it extra-official. 💚
and who made this effort to make it extra-official. 💚
Hooray! @authorsabb.bsky.social is *OFFICIALLY* a nonprofit, and is now open for donations!
For the last two years we've been doing all this w free tools, or paying out of pocket, & we were STILL able to get SO MUCH DONE.
Imagine what we could do with $$$
www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/donate/
For the last two years we've been doing all this w free tools, or paying out of pocket, & we were STILL able to get SO MUCH DONE.
Imagine what we could do with $$$
www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/donate/
Donate - Authors Against Book Bans
Thank you for donating to Authors Against Book Bans. Your donation directly supports the freedom to read by powering our work with our partner organizations, bringing the author muscle to the fight to...
www.authorsagainstbookbans.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I'm so grateful to everyone organizing the resistance—
and who made this effort to make it extra-official. 💚
and who made this effort to make it extra-official. 💚
""A lot of people who ban 'Flamer' don't talk about how the book is about suicidal ideation and prevention," Curato said. "That's why I made this book, because I know that there are kids out there right now who are going through exactly what I went through in 1995.""
Some good news out of Maryland!
Maryland Board of Education Restores 'Flamer' to School Libraries
After Community Protests
icv2.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
""A lot of people who ban 'Flamer' don't talk about how the book is about suicidal ideation and prevention," Curato said. "That's why I made this book, because I know that there are kids out there right now who are going through exactly what I went through in 1995.""
Is it too soon to be thinking about World Read Aloud Day? Not if you look forward to it as much as I do!
Heads up to educators who would like to have a free, 15-20 minute virtual author visit with me on Wednesday, 2/4/26—a link to sign-ups will be in my next newsletter ↓
Heads up to educators who would like to have a free, 15-20 minute virtual author visit with me on Wednesday, 2/4/26—a link to sign-ups will be in my next newsletter ↓
November 12, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Is it too soon to be thinking about World Read Aloud Day? Not if you look forward to it as much as I do!
Heads up to educators who would like to have a free, 15-20 minute virtual author visit with me on Wednesday, 2/4/26—a link to sign-ups will be in my next newsletter ↓
Heads up to educators who would like to have a free, 15-20 minute virtual author visit with me on Wednesday, 2/4/26—a link to sign-ups will be in my next newsletter ↓
"It was never the content that was meant to be “safe.” It was always the relationships... Real safety isn’t created by restricting content or limiting the topics we are permitted to raise. Safety is created by establishing caring relationships and a sense of community..." ❤️
I feel this tension. The language of safety has been coopted, warped, and leveraged by the most powerful—a common tactic of bullies.
But I worry about the temptation to cede language to power every time it's redefined and weaponized. Sometimes it's worth considering how we can reclaim meaning.
But I worry about the temptation to cede language to power every time it's redefined and weaponized. Sometimes it's worth considering how we can reclaim meaning.
November 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
"It was never the content that was meant to be “safe.” It was always the relationships... Real safety isn’t created by restricting content or limiting the topics we are permitted to raise. Safety is created by establishing caring relationships and a sense of community..." ❤️
Every November, these make me happy. And the bees too (can you see them?).
#gardening #bloomscrolling #asters
#gardening #bloomscrolling #asters
November 7, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Every November, these make me happy. And the bees too (can you see them?).
#gardening #bloomscrolling #asters
#gardening #bloomscrolling #asters
Oh hi, Emma! One of the best pb editors in kidlit (think we can lure her to Bluesky, @armyvet5.bsky.social @mrschureads.bsky.social?). 🥰
Emma Ledbetter Joins Candlewick as Executive Editorial Director of Picture Books buff.ly/Jj6K6hw
October 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Oh hi, Emma! One of the best pb editors in kidlit (think we can lure her to Bluesky, @armyvet5.bsky.social @mrschureads.bsky.social?). 🥰
"I am not now, nor have I ever been a member of the communist-party. I oppose every form of dictatorship. right or
left, because they ultimately destroy the nation in which they operate. They do so by robbing the people of their right to think and create."
—from the family archive, 1954
left, because they ultimately destroy the nation in which they operate. They do so by robbing the people of their right to think and create."
—from the family archive, 1954
September 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
"I am not now, nor have I ever been a member of the communist-party. I oppose every form of dictatorship. right or
left, because they ultimately destroy the nation in which they operate. They do so by robbing the people of their right to think and create."
—from the family archive, 1954
left, because they ultimately destroy the nation in which they operate. They do so by robbing the people of their right to think and create."
—from the family archive, 1954
“It turns out [duh] that when kids aren’t allowed to doom scroll, take rude pictures of each other or rot their brains on TikTok during lunch hour or in study hall, they get bored enough to go to the library and check out books.”
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/o...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/o...
Opinion | The Unexpected Upside of Phone Bans in Schools
www.nytimes.com
September 17, 2025 at 8:31 PM
“It turns out [duh] that when kids aren’t allowed to doom scroll, take rude pictures of each other or rot their brains on TikTok during lunch hour or in study hall, they get bored enough to go to the library and check out books.”
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/o...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/o...
And what do we call a collection of book-banners...
A suppression?
A repression?
Suggestions...?
A suppression?
A repression?
Suggestions...?
September 12, 2025 at 1:49 PM
And what do we call a collection of book-banners...
A suppression?
A repression?
Suggestions...?
A suppression?
A repression?
Suggestions...?
"We Take Clouds for Granted" by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, of @cloudappsoc.bsky.social.
"...These ever-shifting sculptures of vapor and light are among nature’s least appreciated marvels..." We all need "to look up — and take notice." @nytimes.com
"...These ever-shifting sculptures of vapor and light are among nature’s least appreciated marvels..." We all need "to look up — and take notice." @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
"We Take Clouds for Granted" by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, of @cloudappsoc.bsky.social.
"...These ever-shifting sculptures of vapor and light are among nature’s least appreciated marvels..." We all need "to look up — and take notice." @nytimes.com
"...These ever-shifting sculptures of vapor and light are among nature’s least appreciated marvels..." We all need "to look up — and take notice." @nytimes.com
Reposted by Deborah Freedman
We’re in the business of keeping independent bookstores in business 🤍📚
September 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
We’re in the business of keeping independent bookstores in business 🤍📚
Fun fact I learned this weekend is that every state has a state insect, and that CT’s is the praying mantis—which is cool and I hope means that sap-sucking parasites are generally unwelcome here.
September 8, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Fun fact I learned this weekend is that every state has a state insect, and that CT’s is the praying mantis—which is cool and I hope means that sap-sucking parasites are generally unwelcome here.
Honored to rep CT at this year's Nat'l Book Festival along with Leila Philip. With mixed feelings about going to DC right now, I look forward to being with good book people!
Will you be one of them?
(I hope so, but completely respect anyone who's felt the need to pull out or boycott 😳)
Will you be one of them?
(I hope so, but completely respect anyone who's felt the need to pull out or boycott 😳)
2025 National Book Festival | Events at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress
The 2025 National Book Festival will be held in the nation's capital at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.). The event ...
www.loc.gov
September 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Honored to rep CT at this year's Nat'l Book Festival along with Leila Philip. With mixed feelings about going to DC right now, I look forward to being with good book people!
Will you be one of them?
(I hope so, but completely respect anyone who's felt the need to pull out or boycott 😳)
Will you be one of them?
(I hope so, but completely respect anyone who's felt the need to pull out or boycott 😳)
New-to-me #bookscam. What the $%@# is a "visibility snapshot" & why would I need this gobbledygook generated from my publisher's description of a book I wrote myself from my own actual brain & hand? This from an address that doesn't even pretend to be a real business... 🙄
Someone save us all.
Someone save us all.
September 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM
New-to-me #bookscam. What the $%@# is a "visibility snapshot" & why would I need this gobbledygook generated from my publisher's description of a book I wrote myself from my own actual brain & hand? This from an address that doesn't even pretend to be a real business... 🙄
Someone save us all.
Someone save us all.
"...It is about whether we protect our collective capacity to imagine. When governments control imagination, they control possibility. Once that is lost, democracy has already surrendered more than it realizes."
This read from Amy Sherald is important. Art as a reflection of the visions we need for the world is not discussed enough:
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | Why I refused to let the Smithsonian show my work
History shows us what happens when governments demand that museums perform loyalty.
www.msnbc.com
August 28, 2025 at 9:49 PM
"...It is about whether we protect our collective capacity to imagine. When governments control imagination, they control possibility. Once that is lost, democracy has already surrendered more than it realizes."
"...having a child qualifies you to write a children’s book the same way that using a toilet qualifies you to be a plumber..."
😆 @newyorker.com #AuthorSky #booksky #kidlit
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
😆 @newyorker.com #AuthorSky #booksky #kidlit
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
The Celebrity Picture Book Boom
What should we make of the recent onslaught of stories from the stars?
www.newyorker.com
August 28, 2025 at 9:48 PM
"...having a child qualifies you to write a children’s book the same way that using a toilet qualifies you to be a plumber..."
😆 @newyorker.com #AuthorSky #booksky #kidlit
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
😆 @newyorker.com #AuthorSky #booksky #kidlit
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...