Crystal Brunelle
@librarygrl2.bsky.social
I’m an elementary teacher librarian, avid reader, tea drinker, and co-founder/YA blogger at Rich in Color http://richincolor.com/. I also post on a personal blog readingtl.blogspot.com & Storygraph at crystalreading. (she/her)
#kidlit #ethnicstudies
#kidlit #ethnicstudies
A Year Without Home by @vtbidania.bsky.social is a powerful story of family, war, gender roles, & friendship. ❤️ The back matter has a great history of Hmong Americans. Also mentions Midwest locations like Sparta, Eau Claire, & St Paul. www.vtbidania.com/a-year-witho... #middlegrade #booksky
A Year Without Home | V.T. Bidania
www.vtbidania.com
February 15, 2026 at 11:49 PM
A Year Without Home by @vtbidania.bsky.social is a powerful story of family, war, gender roles, & friendship. ❤️ The back matter has a great history of Hmong Americans. Also mentions Midwest locations like Sparta, Eau Claire, & St Paul. www.vtbidania.com/a-year-witho... #middlegrade #booksky
Yay! It’s less than two weeks until we get to read I’m Busy by @michaelianblack.bsky.social with illustrations by @debbieohi.com 😊
Debbie Ridpath Ohi – Children's Book Author & Illustrator
debbieohi.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Yay! It’s less than two weeks until we get to read I’m Busy by @michaelianblack.bsky.social with illustrations by @debbieohi.com 😊
Reposted by Crystal Brunelle
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
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
February 3, 2026 at 12:34 PM
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
www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews... #KidLit
I will miss working with Laurent at S&S. cont'd
Reposted by Crystal Brunelle
Love this poster by @authorgracelin.bsky.social so much and honored to see Amira & Hamza in these stacks!!!
2026 Children’s Book Week Poster by Grace Lin Revealed buff.ly/fShgzx2
February 11, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Love this poster by @authorgracelin.bsky.social so much and honored to see Amira & Hamza in these stacks!!!
Another great day of drawing emotional potatoes with inspiration from @debbieohi.com and @michaelianblack.bsky.social. #kidlit #booksky
February 9, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Another great day of drawing emotional potatoes with inspiration from @debbieohi.com and @michaelianblack.bsky.social. #kidlit #booksky
Reposted by Crystal Brunelle
Here are nine young adult titles for Black History Month and all year long — richincolor.com/2026/02/blac... #booksky
February 7, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Here are nine young adult titles for Black History Month and all year long — richincolor.com/2026/02/blac... #booksky
Reposted by Crystal Brunelle
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:17 AM
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
The Brown Bookshelf features Idris Goodwin today — thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-4... #booksky
Day 4: Idris Goodwin - The Brown Bookshelf
My journey to publishing King of the Neuroverse was largely a result of fortunate timing and strong collaboration. I had mentioned to my agent that I was interested in writing a young adult novel root...
thebrownbookshelf.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:12 AM
The Brown Bookshelf features Idris Goodwin today — thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-4... #booksky
Yum. Had a fair few pieces of this todsy. 😊 www.hawaiianelectric.com/recipes/find...
Butter Mochi
In 1926, The Electric Kitchen began when Hawaiian Electric started its Home Services Department, and began demonstrating the benefits and uses of electrical appliances to residents its Historic King S...
www.hawaiianelectric.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Yum. Had a fair few pieces of this todsy. 😊 www.hawaiianelectric.com/recipes/find...
So happy our kindergarteners got to visit with Steph Lau today! We loved meeting Otto and his friends. 😊
One #WRAD session done (2nd graders in NC), two more to go! And I'm sad I forgot to share my final slide, which shows my Otto The Abominable Snow Dancer costume, so therefore all of you are forced to see it now 😂
February 5, 2026 at 5:35 AM
So happy our kindergarteners got to visit with Steph Lau today! We loved meeting Otto and his friends. 😊
Day 3 at @thebrownbookshelf.bsky.social features Jenin Mohammed thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-3... #booksky
Day 3: Jenin Mohammed - The Brown Bookshelf
With eight published picture books on the shelves and counting illustrator Jenin Mohammed is as prolific as she is talented. We are thrilled to celebrate her as our Day 3 honoree! The Journey: My Path...
thebrownbookshelf.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:47 AM
Day 3 at @thebrownbookshelf.bsky.social features Jenin Mohammed thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-3... #booksky
My fifth grade classes really enjoyed making architectural drawings of homes today after reading The Blue House I Loved by @kaokaliayang.bsky.social illustrated by Jen Shin. www.upress.umn.edu/978151790797... #booksky
The Blue House I Loved
A Hmong girl tells the story of her beloved aunt and uncle’s first home in America—long gone, but still alive in the family’s memories The Blue Hous...
www.upress.umn.edu
February 4, 2026 at 3:44 AM
My fifth grade classes really enjoyed making architectural drawings of homes today after reading The Blue House I Loved by @kaokaliayang.bsky.social illustrated by Jen Shin. www.upress.umn.edu/978151790797... #booksky
It’s Monday! What are you reading? readingtl.blogspot.com/2026/02/its-... #booksky
It's Monday! What Are You Reading?
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly blog hop hosted by Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers which focuses on sharing what we’...
readingtl.blogspot.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:49 AM
It’s Monday! What are you reading? readingtl.blogspot.com/2026/02/its-... #booksky
Thanks to @thebrownbookshelf.bsky.social we have plenty of recommendations and resources for February and the rest of the year. thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-1... #blackhistorymonth
Day 1: Virginia Hamilton - The Brown Bookshelf
This year, it is our pleasure to begin this month-long celebration by featuring Virginia Hamilton, whose the life and works have influenced so many over the years. Her career, in fact, spans generatio...
thebrownbookshelf.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Thanks to @thebrownbookshelf.bsky.social we have plenty of recommendations and resources for February and the rest of the year. thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-1... #blackhistorymonth
app.thestorygraph.com/books/4353a6... #booksky
At Last She Stood was very informative and Joey Guerrero was certainly an interesting person.
At Last She Stood was very informative and Joey Guerrero was certainly an interesting person.
At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom by Erin Entrada Kelly
World War II spy, Filipino guerrilla fighter, war hero, Medal of Freedom recipient, leprosy survi...
app.thestorygraph.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:12 PM
app.thestorygraph.com/books/4353a6... #booksky
At Last She Stood was very informative and Joey Guerrero was certainly an interesting person.
At Last She Stood was very informative and Joey Guerrero was certainly an interesting person.
Four different fourth grade classes were riveted by The Invisible Parade this week. Its long for a read aloud, but they were with me there for every page. app.thestorygraph.com/books/3a02eb... #booksky
The Invisible Parade by John Picacio, Leigh Bardugo
Everyone in the neighborhood was getting ready for the party. Everyone knew somebody on the guest...
app.thestorygraph.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Four different fourth grade classes were riveted by The Invisible Parade this week. Its long for a read aloud, but they were with me there for every page. app.thestorygraph.com/books/3a02eb... #booksky
Just started reading At Last She Stood by Erin Entrada Kelly. It’s compelling so far. Excellent explanation of facism and had a young people appropriate summary of the factors around WWII. There is a lot of context needed for this story but its done well. bookshop.org/p/books/at-l... #booksky
At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom
How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom
bookshop.org
February 1, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Just started reading At Last She Stood by Erin Entrada Kelly. It’s compelling so far. Excellent explanation of facism and had a young people appropriate summary of the factors around WWII. There is a lot of context needed for this story but its done well. bookshop.org/p/books/at-l... #booksky
I finished processing The Pecan Sheller yesterday and read it today so I can get it to the student that wanted to read it. Excellent historical fiction with a San Antonio setting. It won the author Pura Belpré award. lernerbooks.com/shop/show/25... #booksky
The Pecan Sheller
Winner of the Pura Belpré Children's Author Award A Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Book of the Year Junior Library Guild Selection In 1930s San Antonio, thirteen-year-old Petra dreams of going to...
lernerbooks.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:57 AM
I finished processing The Pecan Sheller yesterday and read it today so I can get it to the student that wanted to read it. Excellent historical fiction with a San Antonio setting. It won the author Pura Belpré award. lernerbooks.com/shop/show/25... #booksky
Like many people, I am thinking about the Twin Cities everyday. Here’s a book that will be released on Feb 10. by Kao Kalia Yang illustrated by Jen Shin. It’s a beautiful book that shares about home and family in St. Paul. It’s brimming with love. readingtl.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
The Blue House I Loved
Title: The Blue House I Loved Author: Kao Kalia Yang Illustrator: Jen Shin Publisher: University of Minnesota Press Review Copy: ARC via P...
readingtl.blogspot.com
January 31, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Like many people, I am thinking about the Twin Cities everyday. Here’s a book that will be released on Feb 10. by Kao Kalia Yang illustrated by Jen Shin. It’s a beautiful book that shares about home and family in St. Paul. It’s brimming with love. readingtl.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
Reposted by Crystal Brunelle
How you can support resistance efforts in Minneapolis through literary activism.
That, plus this week's book censorship news:
bookriot.com/supporting-m...
That, plus this week's book censorship news:
bookriot.com/supporting-m...
Supporting Minneapolis Through Literary Activism: Book Censorship News, January 30, 2026
How can you help Minnesotans as ICE continues a brutal attack on the city? Here are some means of support through literary activism.
bookriot.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:13 PM
How you can support resistance efforts in Minneapolis through literary activism.
That, plus this week's book censorship news:
bookriot.com/supporting-m...
That, plus this week's book censorship news:
bookriot.com/supporting-m...
Reposted by Crystal Brunelle
Kao Kalia Yang on preparing for the worst in the face of ICE’s occupation.
Letter From Minnesota: “If They Take Me and Leave the Children…”
Today is Tuesday, January 27th, 2026. I got gas for the first time this year by myself. The gas station was mostly empty. I drove into the station, heart thudding in my chest. I did everything as f…
buff.ly
January 30, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Kao Kalia Yang on preparing for the worst in the face of ICE’s occupation.
I had fun reading about tasty food with Rafi and Rosi. readingtl.blogspot.com/2026/01/rafi... #booksky
Rafi y Rosi
Title: Rafi y Rosi ¡Menú!/Rafi and Rosi Menu Author: Lulu Delacre Publisher: Children's Book Press Review Copy: Final copy provided by ...
readingtl.blogspot.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:35 PM
I had fun reading about tasty food with Rafi and Rosi. readingtl.blogspot.com/2026/01/rafi... #booksky
Reposted by Crystal Brunelle
We’re back from our hiatus with a round up of young adult books released this month richincolor.com/2026/01/janu... #yalit #booksky
January 28, 2026 at 3:45 AM
We’re back from our hiatus with a round up of young adult books released this month richincolor.com/2026/01/janu... #yalit #booksky
Reposted by Crystal Brunelle
Good night, Minneapolis. Rest well. May your grief give way to tender connection. May your anger fuel your collective action. May the memory of our martyrs become a revolution. There are more of us than there are of them. Take care of yourselves and your neighbors. We will make ourselves whole. ❤️
January 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM
Good night, Minneapolis. Rest well. May your grief give way to tender connection. May your anger fuel your collective action. May the memory of our martyrs become a revolution. There are more of us than there are of them. Take care of yourselves and your neighbors. We will make ourselves whole. ❤️