Kathy Jo Watson
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kathywatson.bsky.social
Kathy Jo Watson
@kathywatson.bsky.social
Kid Lit Writer. Music and theater fanatic. Space Nerd.
Author of MY CITY IS A FORT and featured in BOY MOMS.
#SCBWI
#365PictureBooks
Day 22 #365PictureBooks
ZOMBIE AND BRAIN ARE FRIENDS
@grubreport.bsky.social @LaanCham.bsky.social
First of all…I ❤️ zombies. But this is also a fun story about unlikely friendships and every kid who brings a surprise “pet” home to their parents. The awesome brain puns are a bonus!
#kidlit
January 22, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Day 21 #365PictureBooks
OVER AND UNDER THE CORAL REEF
@KateMessner & @csneal.bsky.social
I’ve only been snorkeling one time, but it felt exactly like this book.
Immersive.
Vibrant.
Fascinating.

Fantastic addition to the Over Under series! #kidlit
January 22, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Day 20 #365PictureBooks
EVERY MONDAY MABEL
@Jashar.badly.social

Oh how I love Mabel and this story celebrating everyday joys we take for granted. Gotta love her determination (and some tasty dry cereal) on the best day of the week.
#kidlit
January 21, 2026 at 3:37 AM
Day 19 #365PictureBooks
YOURS, MINE, OURS
Arun Gandhi, @BethanyHegedus.bsky.social & Andrés Landazábal

Was excited to get this and hear Bethany speak at #TexasBookFestival.
A lovely book sharing philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi and thoughtful examples of service.
#kidlit
January 20, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Day 18 #365PictureBooks
GO, SLOTH, GO! by Toni Yule

Sparse text creates a peaceful pace as sloth goes about being a sloth. Fun to reeeeead slooooowlyyyy.
Would be a very nice bedtime book with its charm and a unique art style.
#kidlit
January 19, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Reposted by Kathy Jo Watson
Write a book you want to read, because baby, you will be reading it in your sleep.
January 17, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Day 17 #365PictureBooks
THE BOOK THAT ALMOST RHYMED
@OmarAbedWrites.bsky.social & @metahatem.bsky.social
Big thanks @SandyJonas.bsky.social for this one!

I ❤️ this book! It has everything…siblings, pirates, hilarious page turns. Story within a story almost rhymes in the best possible way.
#kidlit
January 17, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Day 16 #365PictureBooks
I HATE EVERYTHING! by @sophyhenn.bsky.social

We all have that friend. You know, the one who thinks everything is bad…until they don’t. This is their book.
What about sweets? Dress up? Mom??? 😳Sparse text creates hilarious interactions. Plus amazing page turns!
#kidlit
January 16, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Day 15 #365PictureBooks
WHILE WE WAIT by Bee Johnson

Beautiful art and fun slice of life story as two spunky kids join Mom for a looooong day of errands around town. Oh-so relatable for kids and parents trying to find fun in grown up places.
#kidlit
January 15, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Two weeks into my New Year’s Resolution! Woot woot! Only 351 picture books to go.
🤓👍

Having fun! Learning from the pros! (And, psssst, finding Comps!)
#365PictureBooks
#WritingCommunity
#Kidlit
January 15, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Day 14 #365PictureBooks
IT’S BEDTIME, OSKI!
@allistraus.bsky.social & Krystyl Campbell

Poor Oski can’t get to sleep & the family 🐈‍⬛ is NOT helping. 😆
Pet owners & kids will laugh and ❤️ Oski (a real-life influencer pug) in his adorable first book!
#kidlit
January 15, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Day 13 #365PictureBooks
BEAR AND THE THREE GOLDILOCKS
@Phornebooks & Dan Yaccarino
❤️ the fractured fairy tale (and s’mores) in this Junior Library Guild Gold.
Baby Bear wreaks havoc on the Goldilocks family campsite for 🍫 🎶 and 😴. Too bad they don’t speak Bear!
#kidlit
January 13, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Day 12 #365PictureBooks
EMBARRASSED FERRET
@LisaRiddiough.bsky.social & Andrea Tsurumi
Ever check out a book just because of the title? I did! And now Ferret is my new spirit animal. ❤️ Kids will crack up at her extra bad day at Forest School.
Hang in there, Ferret!
#kidlit
January 12, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Day 11 #365PictureBooks
MARY HAD A LITTLE PLAN
@TammiSauer.bsky.social and Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Love this OK Book Award winner’s clever spin and spunky heroine!
Mary is not so contrary when she hatches a plan to renovate an abandoned lot with help from her nursery rhyme friends.
#kidlit
January 11, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Day 10 of #365PictureBooks
DUCKIE & SNAPS (We Cannot Be Friends)
@AmeDyckman.bsky.social & Tim Miller

Super fun 2025 PB from humor all-star!
Two hatchlings wonder if they can be friends when one is hungry… and the other looks like food! 👀 🐊 🐥
January 10, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Day 9 of #365PictureBooks
SOMETHING by Natalee Creech and Pablo Pino
(Shout out to @SCBWIOKAR )

A colorful, joyful book with a much-needed message. No matter our size, we can all make a difference in the lives of those around us.

“Let compassion be your compass.”

#kidlit
January 9, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Day 8 of #365PictureBooks
IT STARTED WITH A P
@BrittanyPomales.bsky.social & Andrew Joyner

Thanks to Michele McAvoy #GirlPowerHour for introducing me to this hilarious PB!

With the king’s birthday at risk, there will be no Pizza! No Piñatas! No Pants! And definitely no Piranhas! 😆 👑
#KidLit
January 8, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Kathy Jo Watson
Ask the Agent Question of the Day: How fast do picture books go out of print?

My experience, with graph! :D

Also I explain potentially one of the most important maxims I can tell you about publishing: A STRONG BACKLIST IS WHAT KEEPS THE LIGHTS ON.

www.tumblr.com/literaticat/...
Post by @literaticat · 1 image
💬 0  🔁 0  ❤️ 0 · How long do most picture books stay in print for? I would guess that they go out of print relatively quickly unless they become a classic or super popular in order to make room for…
www.tumblr.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Day 7 of #365PictureBooks

‘26 ALAs are coming! so enjoying ‘25 #Caldecott winner.

CHOOCH HELPED by
Andrea L. Rogers/Rebecca Lee Kunz

A fun and universal big sister/little brother story full of color, texture and the culture of the Cherokee people. Beautiful.
#kidlit
January 7, 2026 at 2:20 PM
Day 6 of #365PictureBooks
BEARSUIT TURTLE MAKES A FRIEND
by @bobshea.bsky.social
I am huge fan, so this was a must-read. BEARSUIT TURTLE is so stinkin’ cute and this story is wacky, warm and full of childlike joy.
#kidlit
January 6, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Day 5 of #365PictureBooks THE WILD ROBOT ON THE ISLAND by Peter Brown (@peterbrownstudio.com)
A beautiful PB adaptation of the first Wild Robot novel. Love finally seeing Roz’s world in full color through Brown’s eyes.
#kidlit
#picturebooks
January 6, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Book 4 of #365PictureBooks KITTYBUNKPORT by Scott Rothman and Zachariah OHora.
Another treasure from #TexasBookFestival!
So funny. Perfect mix of humor and scary bits. And a must-read for anyone from Maine. 😆
January 6, 2026 at 2:26 AM
Book 3 of #365PictureBooks BROKEN by X Fang.
So excited to find this at the library this week!
Agree with @colbysharp.bsky.social and Travis Jonkers from The Yarn podcast - it is a master class in simplicity, humor and heart. And, oh my gosh, the cat is hilarious!
#kidlit
January 6, 2026 at 2:25 AM
Book 2 of #365PictureBooks BITSY BAT SCHOOL STAR by @KazWindness.bsky.social
Picked this up (and got to meet Kaz!) at the Texas Book Festival. Loving family, brave little bat and classroom shenanigans help celebrate what makes us each special.
January 6, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Book 1 of #365PictureBooks
WILD PLACES by Hayley Rocco and John Rocco.
Got this one for Christmas! Beautiful NF PB about the life of David Attenborough with tons of back matter.
#Kidlit
#picturebooks
January 6, 2026 at 2:16 AM