Stefan Karlsson
@stefankarlsson.bsky.social
Poet & kidlit writer. Marbling & book artist.
Based in Portland, OR 🌲
https://stefankarlssonwrites.wixsite.com/author
https://linktr.ee/nautiluspaperco
Based in Portland, OR 🌲
https://stefankarlssonwrites.wixsite.com/author
https://linktr.ee/nautiluspaperco
Pinned
The #kidlit zine I made with my friend @carlburkitt.bsky.social is now out in the world and reaching the hands of readers! This was a fun collaborative #poetry project and I just wanted to take a moment to introduce it.
(1 of 4)
(1 of 4)
For the month of February, I’ll be donating 50% of all proceeds from my Etsy shop to Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, a non-profit org that fights for immigrant justice in Oregon.
Order notebooks, zines, bookmarks, and/or wall art and support a good cause! Link in bio, thx!
#Portland #craftsky
Order notebooks, zines, bookmarks, and/or wall art and support a good cause! Link in bio, thx!
#Portland #craftsky
February 1, 2026 at 9:56 PM
For Day 31 of my PB reading challenge, I read THE LIBRARY IN THE WOODS by Calvin Alexander Ramsey & R. Gregory Christie. A poignant, award-winning book about family, libraries, & the Black community creating real-life magic. The best ending to my month-long reading challenge 💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 31, 2026 at 6:49 PM
For Day 31 of my PB reading challenge, I read THE LIBRARY IN THE WOODS by Calvin Alexander Ramsey & R. Gregory Christie. A poignant, award-winning book about family, libraries, & the Black community creating real-life magic. The best ending to my month-long reading challenge 💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
For Day 30 of my PB reading challenge I was deeply moved by MAMA’s NIGHTINGALE by Edwidge Danticat & Leslie Staub, a story of family separation that shows the harm of inhumane immigration practices & also the power of the imagination & collective action to overcome them.
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 30, 2026 at 10:28 PM
For Day 30 of my PB reading challenge I was deeply moved by MAMA’s NIGHTINGALE by Edwidge Danticat & Leslie Staub, a story of family separation that shows the harm of inhumane immigration practices & also the power of the imagination & collective action to overcome them.
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 30, 2026 at 12:11 AM
For Day 29 of my PB reading challenge I enjoyed BEAR by Natalia Shaloshvili, a funny & relatable #PictureBook about sharing & bottling up emotions. I was inspired to read it after seeing @mlapointemalchik.bsky.social share a different bear PB for today’s challenge! 🐻🧸😊
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 29, 2026 at 11:35 PM
For Day 29 of my PB reading challenge I enjoyed BEAR by Natalia Shaloshvili, a funny & relatable #PictureBook about sharing & bottling up emotions. I was inspired to read it after seeing @mlapointemalchik.bsky.social share a different bear PB for today’s challenge! 🐻🧸😊
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
For Day 28 of my PB reading challenge I was moved by Angie Kang’s Caldecott Honor book OUR LAKE. A deep & poignant portrait of family & loss. Such a beautiful book 💙
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 28, 2026 at 8:34 PM
For Day 28 of my PB reading challenge I was moved by Angie Kang’s Caldecott Honor book OUR LAKE. A deep & poignant portrait of family & loss. Such a beautiful book 💙
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
For Day 27 of my PB reading challenge I took flight with BLUE and A FRIEND FOR GHOST by @suzannekaufmanart.bsky.social. I love these beautifully illustrated & magical stories of unlikely friendship 🪽💙👻🎈
#StoryStudy #KidLit #PictureBooks
#StoryStudy #KidLit #PictureBooks
January 27, 2026 at 10:58 PM
For Day 27 of my PB reading challenge I took flight with BLUE and A FRIEND FOR GHOST by @suzannekaufmanart.bsky.social. I love these beautifully illustrated & magical stories of unlikely friendship 🪽💙👻🎈
#StoryStudy #KidLit #PictureBooks
#StoryStudy #KidLit #PictureBooks
Reposted by Stefan Karlsson
Thrilled to appear alongside @stefankarlsson.bsky.social @attielime.bsky.social & Jacqueline on @brianmosespoet.bsky.social blog celebrating reading @nationalliteracytrust #goallin @booktrust.org.uk brian-moses.blogspot.com?m=1
Welcome to the Ssssssnake Hotel
blog by a children's poet for young writers and readers
brian-moses.blogspot.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Thrilled to appear alongside @stefankarlsson.bsky.social @attielime.bsky.social & Jacqueline on @brianmosespoet.bsky.social blog celebrating reading @nationalliteracytrust #goallin @booktrust.org.uk brian-moses.blogspot.com?m=1
For Days 25-26 of my PB reading challenge I read WHAT IS A REFUGEE? and KILLER UNDERWEAR INVASION! by @elisegravel.bsky.social. I love Gravel’s commitment to social justice & whimsy, and I wish more adults would read these powerful children’s books!
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 27, 2026 at 12:32 AM
For Days 25-26 of my PB reading challenge I read WHAT IS A REFUGEE? and KILLER UNDERWEAR INVASION! by @elisegravel.bsky.social. I love Gravel’s commitment to social justice & whimsy, and I wish more adults would read these powerful children’s books!
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
I’m honored to have a poem for kids about a bookish superhero alongside poems by real-life poetry superheroes @attielime.bsky.social, @robwaltonwriter.bsky.social, Jacqueline Shirtliff, & @brianmosespoet.bsky.social
on Brian Moses’ poetry blog page! 🦸📚
Check it out: brian-moses.blogspot.com?m=1
on Brian Moses’ poetry blog page! 🦸📚
Check it out: brian-moses.blogspot.com?m=1
Welcome to the Ssssssnake Hotel
blog by a children's poet for young writers and readers
brian-moses.blogspot.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:41 PM
I’m honored to have a poem for kids about a bookish superhero alongside poems by real-life poetry superheroes @attielime.bsky.social, @robwaltonwriter.bsky.social, Jacqueline Shirtliff, & @brianmosespoet.bsky.social
on Brian Moses’ poetry blog page! 🦸📚
Check it out: brian-moses.blogspot.com?m=1
on Brian Moses’ poetry blog page! 🦸📚
Check it out: brian-moses.blogspot.com?m=1
For Day 24 of my PB reading challenge I was wowed by FIREWORKS by @matthewburgessj.bsky.social & Cátia Chien. I love the kid’s eyes view of the city’s everyday wonders & the glorious illustrations—& that jaw-dropping “finale” page, WOW. A memorable & mesmerizing PB! 🎆💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 25, 2026 at 1:13 AM
For Day 24 of my PB reading challenge I was wowed by FIREWORKS by @matthewburgessj.bsky.social & Cátia Chien. I love the kid’s eyes view of the city’s everyday wonders & the glorious illustrations—& that jaw-dropping “finale” page, WOW. A memorable & mesmerizing PB! 🎆💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
For Day 23 of my PB reading challenge I was inspired by DREAMERS by Yuyi Morales. Lyrical & beautifully illustrated, this memoir PB about immigrating to the US from Mexico shares a powerful, much-needed message: “We are resilience. We are hope. We are dreamers.” 💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 24, 2026 at 3:50 AM
For Day 23 of my PB reading challenge I was inspired by DREAMERS by Yuyi Morales. Lyrical & beautifully illustrated, this memoir PB about immigrating to the US from Mexico shares a powerful, much-needed message: “We are resilience. We are hope. We are dreamers.” 💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
For Day 22 of my PB reading challenge I was deeply moved by Allen Say’s classic Caldecott Medal-winning GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY. A poignant book that feels personal like a family album yet universal & epic in scope, spanning generations & two countries divided by an ocean & a war. #StoryStudy #KidLit
January 23, 2026 at 6:57 AM
For Day 22 of my PB reading challenge I was deeply moved by Allen Say’s classic Caldecott Medal-winning GRANDFATHER’S JOURNEY. A poignant book that feels personal like a family album yet universal & epic in scope, spanning generations & two countries divided by an ocean & a war. #StoryStudy #KidLit
For Day 21 of my PB reading challenge I was in awe of CAT NAP by @brianlies.bsky.social. This book is a monumental work of craftsmanship! Very inspiring to see the dedication to making the illustrations. Not to mention a fun story with a hungry cat 😸 So much to love here! 🎨🐈⬛
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 22, 2026 at 6:55 AM
For Day 21 of my PB reading challenge I was in awe of CAT NAP by @brianlies.bsky.social. This book is a monumental work of craftsmanship! Very inspiring to see the dedication to making the illustrations. Not to mention a fun story with a hungry cat 😸 So much to love here! 🎨🐈⬛
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
Reposted by Stefan Karlsson
A new episode every Wednesday, The Ditty Bag is a lovely little pocket of poetry joy in the week ❤️ A small but perfectly formed poetry podcast for those of us who are big on poetry love but short on time.
What an honor and a treat to have my poem for kids featured on this week’s episode of The Ditty Bag poetry podcast hosted by Rebecca Leek!
Listen to hear poems by @margaretatwood.bsky.social, @suehardy-dawson.bsky.social, and more!
open.substack.com/pub/rebeccal...
Listen to hear poems by @margaretatwood.bsky.social, @suehardy-dawson.bsky.social, and more!
open.substack.com/pub/rebeccal...
The Ditty Bag - Episode 8
One swan a-swimming, boats and fish gasping their last, splicing and ropes, nightmares and love, and noisy things that need to go to sleep.
open.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:25 PM
A new episode every Wednesday, The Ditty Bag is a lovely little pocket of poetry joy in the week ❤️ A small but perfectly formed poetry podcast for those of us who are big on poetry love but short on time.
All day crows have been gathered around my place so for Day 20 of my PB reading challenge I returned to I AM WE by @lesliebarnardbooth.bsky.social & Alexandra Finkeldey. This PB gem is lyrical, informative, & visually stunning—will change the way you look at these clever birds!
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 20, 2026 at 11:40 PM
All day crows have been gathered around my place so for Day 20 of my PB reading challenge I returned to I AM WE by @lesliebarnardbooth.bsky.social & Alexandra Finkeldey. This PB gem is lyrical, informative, & visually stunning—will change the way you look at these clever birds!
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
For Day 19 of my PB reading challenge I was moved by SHARING THE DREAM by @sheliapmoses.bsky.social & Keith Mallett, which shows us the March on Washington from a child’s perspective, inspiring readers to keep standing up for a better future. A story we need for #MLKDay & beyond
#KidLit #StoryStudy
#KidLit #StoryStudy
January 19, 2026 at 11:05 PM
For Day 19 of my PB reading challenge I was moved by SHARING THE DREAM by @sheliapmoses.bsky.social & Keith Mallett, which shows us the March on Washington from a child’s perspective, inspiring readers to keep standing up for a better future. A story we need for #MLKDay & beyond
#KidLit #StoryStudy
#KidLit #StoryStudy
I received these lovely handmade notebooks from @handsewnbooks.bsky.social! Can’t wait to fill these journals with poems and random musings. Thank you Stephen for your beautifully crafted notebooks!
#WritingCommunity #notebooks
#WritingCommunity #notebooks
January 19, 2026 at 10:36 PM
I received these lovely handmade notebooks from @handsewnbooks.bsky.social! Can’t wait to fill these journals with poems and random musings. Thank you Stephen for your beautifully crafted notebooks!
#WritingCommunity #notebooks
#WritingCommunity #notebooks
For Day 18 of my PB reading challenge I was moved & inspired by SNOW KID by @jessiesima.bsky.social! In this fun & uplifting story, a snow person goes on a journey of self-discovery & learns that it’s a beautiful thing to change, grow, & find new ways of becoming ourselves ❄️☃️💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 19, 2026 at 5:10 AM
For Day 18 of my PB reading challenge I was moved & inspired by SNOW KID by @jessiesima.bsky.social! In this fun & uplifting story, a snow person goes on a journey of self-discovery & learns that it’s a beautiful thing to change, grow, & find new ways of becoming ourselves ❄️☃️💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
For Day 17 of my PB reading challenge I was delighted to read I’M FROM by @garyrgrayjr.bsky.social & one of my fav PB illustrators @ogemora.bsky.social! Poetic, inspiring, & fun, this book sings & soars off the page 💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 18, 2026 at 2:08 AM
For Day 17 of my PB reading challenge I was delighted to read I’M FROM by @garyrgrayjr.bsky.social & one of my fav PB illustrators @ogemora.bsky.social! Poetic, inspiring, & fun, this book sings & soars off the page 💜
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
For Day 16 of my PB reading challenge I enjoyed BODY BEAUTIFUL by Susan Verde & @stephlittlebird.bsky.social! This empowering book celebrates the unique wonders that are each & every one of our bodies. A lyrical book of self-love & body positivity filled with wondrous artwork!
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
January 17, 2026 at 3:58 AM
For Day 16 of my PB reading challenge I enjoyed BODY BEAUTIFUL by Susan Verde & @stephlittlebird.bsky.social! This empowering book celebrates the unique wonders that are each & every one of our bodies. A lyrical book of self-love & body positivity filled with wondrous artwork!
#StoryStudy #KidLit
#StoryStudy #KidLit
Reposted by Stefan Karlsson
I’m enjoying the humor, wordplay, and delightful illustrations in this poetry zine by @stefankarlsson and @carlburkitt.bsky.social #PoetryFriday #ChildrensPoetry
The #kidlit zine I made with my friend @carlburkitt.bsky.social is now out in the world and reaching the hands of readers! This was a fun collaborative #poetry project and I just wanted to take a moment to introduce it.
(1 of 4)
(1 of 4)
January 16, 2026 at 11:34 PM
I’m enjoying the humor, wordplay, and delightful illustrations in this poetry zine by @stefankarlsson and @carlburkitt.bsky.social #PoetryFriday #ChildrensPoetry
For Day 15 of my PB reading challenge I roared along with LENA THE CHICKEN (BUT REALLY A DINOSAUR!) by Linda Bailey & K-Fai Steele! What a hilarious spin on dinosaur PBs, with a fierce & lovable main character who never chickens out in the face of danger! 🐓🦖
#KidLit #StoryStudy
#KidLit #StoryStudy
January 15, 2026 at 10:34 PM
For Day 15 of my PB reading challenge I roared along with LENA THE CHICKEN (BUT REALLY A DINOSAUR!) by Linda Bailey & K-Fai Steele! What a hilarious spin on dinosaur PBs, with a fierce & lovable main character who never chickens out in the face of danger! 🐓🦖
#KidLit #StoryStudy
#KidLit #StoryStudy
What an incredible list of #kidlit books to look forward to this year! Thank you @carolinecarlson.bsky.social for sharing!
I had a huge amount of fun compiling this list of reading recommendations from smart and savvy creators of books for kids! lithub.com/the-most-ant... #kidlit
The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of 2026
Which books will the kids in your life fall in love with this year? We hope there will be lots, but to get your reading list started, we invited nine stellar children’s book creators—authors and il…
lithub.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:09 PM
What an incredible list of #kidlit books to look forward to this year! Thank you @carolinecarlson.bsky.social for sharing!
For Day 14 of my PB reading challenge I was blown away by THE SNOW THEATER by Ryoji Arai. This wintry PB is brimming with childlike imagination and surreal magic. I always love seeing the books that @enchantedlion.bsky.social releases! ❄️🎭🦋📖 #StoryStudy #KidLit
January 14, 2026 at 7:39 PM
For Day 14 of my PB reading challenge I was blown away by THE SNOW THEATER by Ryoji Arai. This wintry PB is brimming with childlike imagination and surreal magic. I always love seeing the books that @enchantedlion.bsky.social releases! ❄️🎭🦋📖 #StoryStudy #KidLit