Author Padma Venkatraman
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padmatv.bsky.social
Author Padma Venkatraman
@padmatv.bsky.social
THE BRIDGE HOME, BORN BEHIND BARS, SAFE HARBOR, A TIME TO DANCE. WNDB Walter Award winning writer, reader, poet, oceanographer, yoga teacher. K-12 Education. Science, nature, music, art. DEI. “Stories are ships on which we sail oceans of hope.”
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
New blog post: What reading animal are you? Link in comments #bedesreads #goallin #nationalyearofreading2026
January 16, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
Seven book censorship court casing playing out right now to keep an eye on in 2026. Here's what they are, where they are, and what's at stake for the freedom to read.

bookriot.com/court-cases-...
7+ Court Cases About Book Bans to Watch in 2026: Book Censorship News, January 16, 2026
Are library books considered "government speech?" Can a public library ban LGBTQ+ books? Seven book censorship court cases to watch in 2026.
bookriot.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
Our weekly big list of kid lit links is up (Jan 16): www.kidlit411.com/2026/01/the-... Inside: What If for PBs, 20 Writing Podcasts, PB conference, more. Thank Katrina Snyder for the illustration, @ebonylynnmudd.bsky.social and @ediblewords.bsky.social for the PB giveaways.
The Weekly 411 (1/16/26)
A one-stop place for all your kid lit information needs.
www.kidlit411.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
Morning smiles as #scbwiNYC26 begins: Tammy Brown, Laurent Linn, Kim Turrisi, @cuppajolie.bsky.social and @temikatheartist.bsky.social
January 16, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
January 16, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
Resist!

Image by LeUyen Pham
January 12, 2026 at 9:29 PM
One of the silliest things traditions I have at @highlightsfound.bsky.social : searching for this coffee mug!

Thanks #HighlightsFoundation #WritersRetreat for another magical stay. Don’t know what I’d do without you.
December 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
Thank you @heykellyjensen.bsky.social for the opportunity for @padmatv.bsky.social & myself to share what we learned working for Freedom to Read in Rhode Island. Our hope is to make things a little easier for the folks running the next leg of the race!
Three states have anti-book ban bills on deck coming into 2026. Here's what those bills look like, how to get involved, and what the advocates behind the recently-passed freedom to read bill in Rhode Island learned through the process.

bookriot.com/right-to-rea...
What To Know & How to Help Pass Three State-Level Anti-Book Ban Bills for 2026: Book Censorship News, November 21, 2025
Three states have anti-book ban bills on deck for 2026. Here's what they are, why they matter, and how you can get involved in their passage.
bookriot.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Thanks again to @bookriot.bsky.social for including our suggestions in #KellyJensen’s piece on Literary Activism.
Coleader of RI @aabbri.bsky.social @jbradley.bsky.social and I hope lessons we learned will help others pass more bills to protect #FreedomToRead: bookriot.com/right-to-rea...
What To Know & How to Help Pass Three State-Level Anti-Book Ban Bills for 2026: Book Censorship News, November 21, 2025
Three states have anti-book ban bills on deck for 2026. Here's what they are, why they matter, and how you can get involved in their passage.
bookriot.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:52 PM
11 am Saturday International House New York City #IAACFestival
November 14, 2025 at 3:57 PM
November 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
Our weekly big list of kid lit links is up (Nov 14): kidlit411.com/2025/11/the-... Inside: Writing Scenes with Senses, Tabling Comic Shows, Crowdfunding webinar, more. Thanks @heatherbell37.bsky.social for the illustration, Manu Delpech and @laurenkerstein.bsky.social for the PB giveaways.
The Weekly 411 (11/14/25)
A one-stop place for all your kid lit information needs.
kidlit411.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Nov 13 at 7 pm @heraart.bsky.social ri
November 13, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
"The paperback editions of The Story of Us and A Place to Call Home are being released July 14, 2026, the same day that the third Hedgehog book comes out!" —Lauren Castillo mrschureads.blogspot.com/2025/11/scho...
November 9, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
Canst Thou Name That Tune? Pop Sonnets and Passive Programming! Not only does this post remove any lingering doubt of my nerdiness, but it also contains some free, printable resources! I hope you find them useful! #TLSky #TLSkyChat #Librarians #Skybrarians #EduSky #Poetry
Canst Thou Name That Tune? Pop Sonnets and Passive Programming
A few weeks ago, my friend William sent me photos of a rotating passive programming display he’s been running in his high school library. Each week, he posts a new Shakespearean-style sonnet on a bull...
www.librarygirl.net
November 8, 2025 at 9:55 PM
🙏🏾
November 9, 2025 at 8:17 PM
For my birthday this year I plan to donate as much as I can to those in need, including via #NoKidHungry @nokidhungry.org especially given the current administration’s cruelty towards those dependent on #SNAP benefits
November 9, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Here’s a great cause to support
November 9, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Amid all the terrible news in our nation (current administration appealing the ruling to restore SNAP benefits) & tragedies in our 🌏 (I continue to pray for the people of 🇵🇸) I am glad to see a few blue beacons of hope shining through #ZohranMamdaniNYC #SherrillNJ #SpanbergerVA #RedistrictinginCA 🙏🏾
November 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
💬 #TLSkyChat A1: This wonderful article from @padmatv.bsky.social reminds us that, if used with intention ,book award lists can help us build more inclusive collections. (Hopefully this isn't behind a paywall! 🤞🏻)
Children’s Book Awards that Celebrate Diversity
From the Walter Dean Myers and Sydney Taylor Awards to theMalka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature, 11 honors you should know about.Use them toexpand yourcollectionand recommend wort...
www.slj.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:08 AM
November 2, 2025 at 3:35 PM
@jenniferlagarde.bsky.social so glad this spoke to you! Hope you’re having a marvelous fall! 🍁🍂🧡🎃
November 2, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Author Padma Venkatraman
October 9, 2025 at 8:30 PM