Laura Alary
@lauraalary.bsky.social
Writer. Storyteller. Wonderer.
#Kidlit #PictureBooks New in 2026: THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers), AROUND THE CIRCLE (Beaming Books)
www.lauraalary.ca
#Kidlit #PictureBooks New in 2026: THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers), AROUND THE CIRCLE (Beaming Books)
www.lauraalary.ca
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What a pleasure to have a chance to chat with illustrator @yasimamura.bsky.social about our new book, The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne! @ebyrbooks.bsky.social lauraalary.ca/2026/02/08/a... #ceciliapayne #womeninstem #picturebookbiography #picturebookillustration #STEMbooks
Reposted by Laura Alary
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we're celebrating all the past, current, and future world changers! ⚛️🔭🧪
Read about one of these #feminist pioneers in THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE —available now. #everyvoiceinscience #womeninstem #girlsinstem
Read about one of these #feminist pioneers in THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE —available now. #everyvoiceinscience #womeninstem #girlsinstem
February 11, 2026 at 4:04 PM
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we're celebrating all the past, current, and future world changers! ⚛️🔭🧪
Read about one of these #feminist pioneers in THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE —available now. #everyvoiceinscience #womeninstem #girlsinstem
Read about one of these #feminist pioneers in THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE —available now. #everyvoiceinscience #womeninstem #girlsinstem
What a pleasure to have a chance to chat with illustrator @yasimamura.bsky.social about our new book, The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne! @ebyrbooks.bsky.social lauraalary.ca/2026/02/08/a... #ceciliapayne #womeninstem #picturebookbiography #picturebookillustration #STEMbooks
February 10, 2026 at 1:43 AM
What a pleasure to have a chance to chat with illustrator @yasimamura.bsky.social about our new book, The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne! @ebyrbooks.bsky.social lauraalary.ca/2026/02/08/a... #ceciliapayne #womeninstem #picturebookbiography #picturebookillustration #STEMbooks
A new month means a new issue of Margin Notes. This month includes notes on books for troubled times, and the connection between reading, memory, and resistance, along with book news and picture book picks. Find it here: mailchi.mp/fe9e3d0472f0... #newsletter #picturebooks #marginnotes
February 1, 2026 at 2:07 PM
A new month means a new issue of Margin Notes. This month includes notes on books for troubled times, and the connection between reading, memory, and resistance, along with book news and picture book picks. Find it here: mailchi.mp/fe9e3d0472f0... #newsletter #picturebooks #marginnotes
Reposted by Laura Alary
NEW POST: "The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne" by @lauraalary.bsky.social!
"I feel akin to Cecilia: she was sometimes shy and socially awkward, a voracious reader, and broadly curious.... But the moment in Cecilia’s life that touched me most was when that self-confidence faltered."
#kidlit
"I feel akin to Cecilia: she was sometimes shy and socially awkward, a voracious reader, and broadly curious.... But the moment in Cecilia’s life that touched me most was when that self-confidence faltered."
#kidlit
The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne, by Laura Alary
Cover for Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars, by Laura Alary, illustrated by Yas Imamura, published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
picturebookseh.weebly.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:24 PM
NEW POST: "The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne" by @lauraalary.bsky.social!
"I feel akin to Cecilia: she was sometimes shy and socially awkward, a voracious reader, and broadly curious.... But the moment in Cecilia’s life that touched me most was when that self-confidence faltered."
#kidlit
"I feel akin to Cecilia: she was sometimes shy and socially awkward, a voracious reader, and broadly curious.... But the moment in Cecilia’s life that touched me most was when that self-confidence faltered."
#kidlit
Warm thanks to @deborahkalb.bsky.social for the chance to talk about The Curious Life of #CeciliaPayne, a picture book biography about the young #astronomer who figured out what stars are made of ⭐ @ebyrbooks.bsky.social #womeninSTEM
Q&A with Laura Alary about her new children's picture book, THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE.
tinyurl.com/53a455br
@lauraalary.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/53a455br
@lauraalary.bsky.social
January 31, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Warm thanks to @deborahkalb.bsky.social for the chance to talk about The Curious Life of #CeciliaPayne, a picture book biography about the young #astronomer who figured out what stars are made of ⭐ @ebyrbooks.bsky.social #womeninSTEM
Reposted by Laura Alary
Beautifully written and illustrated, inspiring story of Cecilia Payne, a #womaninSTEM who only wavered once in the face of wrong-headed criticism. Turned out she was right! 📚👍 #STEM #librarians #EduSky #kidlit jilannehoffmann.com/2026/01/23/t...
The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne - Perfect Picture Book Friday - Jilanne Hoffmann
I am smitten by the women of science who stayed the course, no matter the obstacles thrown in their paths. And I am smitten by this book about Cecilia Payne, the woman who discovered “the stuff of sta...
jilannehoffmann.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Beautifully written and illustrated, inspiring story of Cecilia Payne, a #womaninSTEM who only wavered once in the face of wrong-headed criticism. Turned out she was right! 📚👍 #STEM #librarians #EduSky #kidlit jilannehoffmann.com/2026/01/23/t...
I appreciate the chance to talk in more depth about The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne and Jena Benton's thoughtful questions allowed me to do that: jenabenton.com/2026/01/22/s... #ceciliapayne #womeninstem #picturebookbiography @ebyrbooks.bsky.social @yasimamura.bsky.social
Simply 7 with Laura Alary: THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE
You know what I love about books written on the same topic? How very different they can be! EVEN when they’re nonfiction!
jenabenton.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:17 PM
I appreciate the chance to talk in more depth about The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne and Jena Benton's thoughtful questions allowed me to do that: jenabenton.com/2026/01/22/s... #ceciliapayne #womeninstem #picturebookbiography @ebyrbooks.bsky.social @yasimamura.bsky.social
I'm very excited that The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne is among this constellation of starred books! 🌟 #ceciliapayne #picturebooks #astronomy #womeninstem @ebyrbooks.bsky.social
Our Spring 2026 titles start releasing on Tuesday. Check out the #newbooks with starred reviews...so far! Congrats to all our star-studded creators!
#childrensbooks #worldkidlit #picturebooks
#childrensbooks #worldkidlit #picturebooks
January 23, 2026 at 1:04 AM
I'm very excited that The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne is among this constellation of starred books! 🌟 #ceciliapayne #picturebooks #astronomy #womeninstem @ebyrbooks.bsky.social
Thank you to the New England Independent Booksellers Association for the chance to present THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE, illustrated by @yasimamura.bsky.social and published by @ebyrbooks.bsky.social Watch for it on January 27th, 2026🌟 #ceciliapayne #womeninSTEM #picturebookbiography
January 15, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Thank you to the New England Independent Booksellers Association for the chance to present THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE, illustrated by @yasimamura.bsky.social and published by @ebyrbooks.bsky.social Watch for it on January 27th, 2026🌟 #ceciliapayne #womeninSTEM #picturebookbiography
I'm delighted to see Who Needs the Dark? on this list. Thank you to The Children's Book Council for highlighting these dreamy books! @cbcbooks.bsky.social #picturebooks #readaloud #storytime
Some of our books are on the Children's Book Council Winter 2026 Showcase: Dream A Little Dream 🌙
THE MIDNIGHT CLUB
MOON POPS
ELEANOR’S MOON
WHO NEEDS THE DARK?
THE KEEPER OF STARS
Thank you to the Children's Book Council for featuring us amongst a lovely list 💙
#Winter2026Showcase #CBCShowcase
THE MIDNIGHT CLUB
MOON POPS
ELEANOR’S MOON
WHO NEEDS THE DARK?
THE KEEPER OF STARS
Thank you to the Children's Book Council for featuring us amongst a lovely list 💙
#Winter2026Showcase #CBCShowcase
January 13, 2026 at 11:40 PM
I'm delighted to see Who Needs the Dark? on this list. Thank you to The Children's Book Council for highlighting these dreamy books! @cbcbooks.bsky.social #picturebooks #readaloud #storytime
Reposted by Laura Alary
Check out Betsy's preview of our Spring 2026 titles! Thank you again and again, @fuse8.bsky.social!
Today we consider a slew of Spring 2026 titles coming from @ebyrbooks.bsky.social. Anti-fascism, myths, philosophical considerations of silence, seasons, and more! Some real beauties are in here! 📚👍 #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/08/e...
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Preview (Spring 2026)
Today we consider a slew of Spring 2026 titles. Anti-fascism, myths, philosophical considerations of silence, seasons, and more! Some real beauties are in here!
afuse8production.slj.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Check out Betsy's preview of our Spring 2026 titles! Thank you again and again, @fuse8.bsky.social!
Reposted by Laura Alary
The Curious Life of Celia Payne provides a “stellar salute to the feminist scientist who showed us what stars are truly made of” @ebyrbooks.bsky.social Booth 206 #AASL25 www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE | Kirkus Reviews
Every constellation tells a story, and the tale of astronomer Cecilia Payne (1900-1979) is one of curiosity and discovery.
www.kirkusreviews.com
October 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The Curious Life of Celia Payne provides a “stellar salute to the feminist scientist who showed us what stars are truly made of” @ebyrbooks.bsky.social Booth 206 #AASL25 www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...
So honoured to be on this list! The Curious of Life of Cecilia Payne will be published on January 27th 🌟 #picturebookbiography #picturebook #womeninstem
What's coming soon from EBYR? Get a quick 30-second rundown of our Spring 2026 books!
#childrensbooks #newyearnewbooks #picturebooks #worldkidlit
#childrensbooks #newyearnewbooks #picturebooks #worldkidlit
January 11, 2026 at 10:38 PM
So honoured to be on this list! The Curious of Life of Cecilia Payne will be published on January 27th 🌟 #picturebookbiography #picturebook #womeninstem
In honour of the publication of The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne on January 27th, and to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, my newsletter features pairs of #picturebook biographies of women in #STEM. @ebyrbooks.bsky.social Read it here: mailchi.mp/ee9065b2d4f0...
January 9, 2026 at 2:26 PM
In honour of the publication of The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne on January 27th, and to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, my newsletter features pairs of #picturebook biographies of women in #STEM. @ebyrbooks.bsky.social Read it here: mailchi.mp/ee9065b2d4f0...
Reposted by Laura Alary
Here's to a new year of great Canadian picture books! Please follow our 2026 authors & illustrators on Bluesky who are participating in Picture Books, Eh! Check out our Starter Pack below!
Anyone interested in joining our little co-promotional community can get in touch at picturebookseh@gmail.com.
Anyone interested in joining our little co-promotional community can get in touch at picturebookseh@gmail.com.
January 4, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Here's to a new year of great Canadian picture books! Please follow our 2026 authors & illustrators on Bluesky who are participating in Picture Books, Eh! Check out our Starter Pack below!
Anyone interested in joining our little co-promotional community can get in touch at picturebookseh@gmail.com.
Anyone interested in joining our little co-promotional community can get in touch at picturebookseh@gmail.com.
Reposted by Laura Alary
A new children's book, The Christmas That Almost Wasn't by Laura Alary, had me thinking about how we can make Christmas memorable even if things don't go as we planned. @lauraalary.bsky.social
maryloudriedger2.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/a...
maryloudriedger2.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/a...
A Different Sort of Christmas
On Sunday, we went to see our granddaughter’s Christmas program at the church our children attend, and they put on a little drama about how a snowstorm changes the way a family experiences Ch…
maryloudriedger2.wordpress.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:19 PM
A new children's book, The Christmas That Almost Wasn't by Laura Alary, had me thinking about how we can make Christmas memorable even if things don't go as we planned. @lauraalary.bsky.social
maryloudriedger2.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/a...
maryloudriedger2.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/a...
The December issue of my newsletter Margin Notes just went out to subscribers. You can read it here: mailchi.mp/ebdd30bbab1b... #newsletter #picturebooks #kidlit
December 1, 2025 at 5:14 PM
The December issue of my newsletter Margin Notes just went out to subscribers. You can read it here: mailchi.mp/ebdd30bbab1b... #newsletter #picturebooks #kidlit
Thank you to @picturebookseh.bsky.social for giving me the opportunity to tell a bit more of the story behind the story! @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #picturebook #christmasbook #christmasbooksforkids
New blog post: Christmas in the Dark: The Ice Storm that Birthed a Story by @lauraalary.bsky.social!
“No one expected to spend Christmas 2013 in the dark…”
Read the whole post here:
picturebookseh.weebly.com/blog/christm...
#CANkidlit #kidlit
“No one expected to spend Christmas 2013 in the dark…”
Read the whole post here:
picturebookseh.weebly.com/blog/christm...
#CANkidlit #kidlit
Christmas in the Dark: The Ice Storm that Birthed a Story , by Laura Alary
Cover for The Christmas That Almost Wasn't, by Laura Alary, illustrated by Ana Eguara. Published by Beaming Books
picturebookseh.weebly.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Thank you to @picturebookseh.bsky.social for giving me the opportunity to tell a bit more of the story behind the story! @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #picturebook #christmasbook #christmasbooksforkids
Reposted by Laura Alary
Call out to traditionally published Canadian picture book creators with books coming out in 2026! Picture Books, Eh! is inviting anyone interested in joining our co-promotional community to get in touch: picturebookseh@gmail.com.
@canscaip.bsky.social @kidsbookcentre.bsky.social #CANkidlit #kidlit
@canscaip.bsky.social @kidsbookcentre.bsky.social #CANkidlit #kidlit
November 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Call out to traditionally published Canadian picture book creators with books coming out in 2026! Picture Books, Eh! is inviting anyone interested in joining our co-promotional community to get in touch: picturebookseh@gmail.com.
@canscaip.bsky.social @kidsbookcentre.bsky.social #CANkidlit #kidlit
@canscaip.bsky.social @kidsbookcentre.bsky.social #CANkidlit #kidlit
I'm looking forward to it's arrival (the book, not another asteroid). Congratulations, @karenkrossing.com!
I'm honored by this review of ONE COSMIC ROCK, written by me & illustrated by @dreamist.bsky.social. Thanks to @profpaulbarrett.bsky.social of England's Natural History Museum. He's an expert in the evolutionary palaeobiology of dinosaurs & other critters.
☄Available for preorder!
#CANkidlit #kidlit
☄Available for preorder!
#CANkidlit #kidlit
November 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I'm looking forward to it's arrival (the book, not another asteroid). Congratulations, @karenkrossing.com!
Inspired by the ice storm of 2013, The Christmas that Almost Wasn't is about coping with change and disappointment. It is also filled with hope, peace, joy, and love, making it a perfect #Advent read-aloud: www.beamingbooks.com/store/produc... @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Inspired by the ice storm of 2013, The Christmas that Almost Wasn't is about coping with change and disappointment. It is also filled with hope, peace, joy, and love, making it a perfect #Advent read-aloud: www.beamingbooks.com/store/produc... @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social
Reposted by Laura Alary
Happy #TeacherTuesday! We'd like to feature WHO NEEDS THE DARK? by @lauraalary.bsky.social and #RisaHugo 🤍
This is an #InformationalPictureBook that incorporates #STEM content to gently encourage readers to look at the dark in new ways. 🌙
#TeacherTuesdays #OKBTeacherTuesdays #BookSky #TeacherSky
This is an #InformationalPictureBook that incorporates #STEM content to gently encourage readers to look at the dark in new ways. 🌙
#TeacherTuesdays #OKBTeacherTuesdays #BookSky #TeacherSky
October 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Happy #TeacherTuesday! We'd like to feature WHO NEEDS THE DARK? by @lauraalary.bsky.social and #RisaHugo 🤍
This is an #InformationalPictureBook that incorporates #STEM content to gently encourage readers to look at the dark in new ways. 🌙
#TeacherTuesdays #OKBTeacherTuesdays #BookSky #TeacherSky
This is an #InformationalPictureBook that incorporates #STEM content to gently encourage readers to look at the dark in new ways. 🌙
#TeacherTuesdays #OKBTeacherTuesdays #BookSky #TeacherSky
Who Needs the Dark? may be the book you didn't know you needed this #Halloween. It's got an adorable black cat, glowing fungi, and even a skeleton or two, but it's message is reassuring: the dark doesn't need to be scary! @owlkids.bsky.social @risahugo.bsky.social #picturebook #kidlit #darkness
October 14, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Who Needs the Dark? may be the book you didn't know you needed this #Halloween. It's got an adorable black cat, glowing fungi, and even a skeleton or two, but it's message is reassuring: the dark doesn't need to be scary! @owlkids.bsky.social @risahugo.bsky.social #picturebook #kidlit #darkness
I am delighted that THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE is among the books on this list! Having @fuse8.bsky.social read and review one of my books has been a quiet hope for some time. #STEMbooks #kidlit #ceciliapayne #picturebookbio @ebyrbooks.bsky.social
Today we consider a slew of Spring 2026 titles coming from @ebyrbooks.bsky.social. Anti-fascism, myths, philosophical considerations of silence, seasons, and more! Some real beauties are in here! 📚👍 #kidlit afuse8production.slj.com/2025/10/08/e...
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Preview (Spring 2026)
Today we consider a slew of Spring 2026 titles. Anti-fascism, myths, philosophical considerations of silence, seasons, and more! Some real beauties are in here!
afuse8production.slj.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I am delighted that THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE is among the books on this list! Having @fuse8.bsky.social read and review one of my books has been a quiet hope for some time. #STEMbooks #kidlit #ceciliapayne #picturebookbio @ebyrbooks.bsky.social
I thoroughly enjoyed having this long-distance conversation with Ana Eguaras, illustrator of The Christmas That Almost Wasn't.
You can read our chat here: lauraalary.ca/2025/10/08/a...
@beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #picturebooks #picturebook #christmasbook #kidlit #illustrator
You can read our chat here: lauraalary.ca/2025/10/08/a...
@beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #picturebooks #picturebook #christmasbook #kidlit #illustrator
October 10, 2025 at 12:43 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed having this long-distance conversation with Ana Eguaras, illustrator of The Christmas That Almost Wasn't.
You can read our chat here: lauraalary.ca/2025/10/08/a...
@beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #picturebooks #picturebook #christmasbook #kidlit #illustrator
You can read our chat here: lauraalary.ca/2025/10/08/a...
@beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #picturebooks #picturebook #christmasbook #kidlit #illustrator