Emma Kantor
@emkantor.bsky.social
Writer, film lover, Italian speaker, & senior editor, children's books, at Publishers Weekly (@pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social). Words in NYT Mag, the Millions, Electric Lit, Lit Hub, Hey Alma, & more. All quips my own. Brooklyn, NY. emmakantor.com
"If we keep sharing stories and books—and demanding that people have access to them—we will be okay.” Some highlights from last weekend's BookFest @bankstreet.edu, including a powerful keynote by Laurie Halse Anderson.
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
November 6, 2025 at 10:41 PM
"If we keep sharing stories and books—and demanding that people have access to them—we will be okay.” Some highlights from last weekend's BookFest @bankstreet.edu, including a powerful keynote by Laurie Halse Anderson.
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Happy International Translation Day and final day of World Kid Lit Month! So great to join illustrator Matthew Forsythe and Claudia Zoe Bedrick @enchantedlion.bsky.social for a conversation about THE GRAMMAR OF FANTASY by Italian author/educator Gianni Rodari. Buona lettura! @worldkidlit.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Happy International Translation Day and final day of World Kid Lit Month! So great to join illustrator Matthew Forsythe and Claudia Zoe Bedrick @enchantedlion.bsky.social for a conversation about THE GRAMMAR OF FANTASY by Italian author/educator Gianni Rodari. Buona lettura! @worldkidlit.bsky.social
By some surreal serendipity, I was wearing my bright pink floral Marimekko shorts when I visited the Moomins. Finnish fashion for the win!
July 28, 2025 at 8:37 PM
By some surreal serendipity, I was wearing my bright pink floral Marimekko shorts when I visited the Moomins. Finnish fashion for the win!
The long-awaited sequel to HER.
July 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The long-awaited sequel to HER.
I wrote up some First Impressions of the Morgan Library's exquisite Jane Austen birthday exhibit, on view through Sept. 14—which, incidentally, is my mother's birthday! (She's never read any Austen...not even "Emma." Perhaps this is the Persuasion she needs?)
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
June 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I wrote up some First Impressions of the Morgan Library's exquisite Jane Austen birthday exhibit, on view through Sept. 14—which, incidentally, is my mother's birthday! (She's never read any Austen...not even "Emma." Perhaps this is the Persuasion she needs?)
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
I'm looking forward to joining @marc-majewski.bsky.social, author-illustrator of PARKS, for a conversation about picture book-making and play. Bonus: it's at one of my favorite bookstores, Sullaluna in the West Village. More details below. We hope to see you there, May 11 @ 6 pm! 🌳🪁📚❤️
April 30, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I'm looking forward to joining @marc-majewski.bsky.social, author-illustrator of PARKS, for a conversation about picture book-making and play. Bonus: it's at one of my favorite bookstores, Sullaluna in the West Village. More details below. We hope to see you there, May 11 @ 6 pm! 🌳🪁📚❤️
Today I bought a wedding card for one friend, and learned another friend got engaged.
April 27, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Today I bought a wedding card for one friend, and learned another friend got engaged.
I hope you've all had a very nice World Book Day.
PS: we're gonna need a bigger boat.
PS: we're gonna need a bigger boat.
April 24, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I hope you've all had a very nice World Book Day.
PS: we're gonna need a bigger boat.
PS: we're gonna need a bigger boat.
I passed my annual physical with flying colors.
Doctor: So no smoking. And drinking is moderate?
Me: Well, I did just get back from Italy.
Doctor: Totally warranted.
Doctor: So no smoking. And drinking is moderate?
Me: Well, I did just get back from Italy.
Doctor: Totally warranted.
April 10, 2025 at 12:42 AM
I passed my annual physical with flying colors.
Doctor: So no smoking. And drinking is moderate?
Me: Well, I did just get back from Italy.
Doctor: Totally warranted.
Doctor: So no smoking. And drinking is moderate?
Me: Well, I did just get back from Italy.
Doctor: Totally warranted.
I was delighted to be in conversation with children's book rockstar Francesca Cavallo about her new fairytale collection, "Stellar Stories for Boys of the Future," and encouraging boys to be better readers and leaders. Thank you to Salotto for so graciously hosting us, and to everyone who joined! 💫🌠
March 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I was delighted to be in conversation with children's book rockstar Francesca Cavallo about her new fairytale collection, "Stellar Stories for Boys of the Future," and encouraging boys to be better readers and leaders. Thank you to Salotto for so graciously hosting us, and to everyone who joined! 💫🌠
January 2025, in flowers.
January 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
January 2025, in flowers.
Looking back on some of the pieces I wrote for Publishers Weekly this year. Thanks to the authors, illustrators, translators, editors, booksellers, librarians, and others who shared their work and their insight. Here's to more great children's books in 2025! www.publishersweekly.com/pw/article_a...
December 30, 2024 at 5:35 PM
Looking back on some of the pieces I wrote for Publishers Weekly this year. Thanks to the authors, illustrators, translators, editors, booksellers, librarians, and others who shared their work and their insight. Here's to more great children's books in 2025! www.publishersweekly.com/pw/article_a...
Bye bye, Birdie. Hello, Bluesky.
November 24, 2024 at 2:17 AM
Bye bye, Birdie. Hello, Bluesky.
Pardon my Yiddish, but these are farkakte times. So don't be like this schmuck: get off your tuchus and VOTE.
November 3, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Pardon my Yiddish, but these are farkakte times. So don't be like this schmuck: get off your tuchus and VOTE.
Happy #WorldKidLitMonth to readers near and far! See my spotlight on children's books in translation, and the creative minds behind them, in Publishers Weekly: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
September 20, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Happy #WorldKidLitMonth to readers near and far! See my spotlight on children's books in translation, and the creative minds behind them, in Publishers Weekly: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
I guess I broke a leg, because I'm in the pre-show cast for "Blithe Spirit" with Heights Players! Looking forward to getting back into improv and summoning spooky surprises for the audience. (Beware: there will be interaction.) Brooklyn friends: save the dates for the first two weekends in October!
August 9, 2024 at 9:14 PM
I guess I broke a leg, because I'm in the pre-show cast for "Blithe Spirit" with Heights Players! Looking forward to getting back into improv and summoning spooky surprises for the audience. (Beware: there will be interaction.) Brooklyn friends: save the dates for the first two weekends in October!
Happy International Cat Day
August 8, 2024 at 9:48 PM
Happy International Cat Day
Ready for my first ALA conference and I've got the library cards to prove it.
June 28, 2024 at 2:45 AM
Ready for my first ALA conference and I've got the library cards to prove it.
All delicious, but my final dinner was especially good. I asked for a sampling of 2 different pastas because I couldn't decide! Sparkling wine from the region. And pumpkin sorbet with balsamico for dessert
April 13, 2024 at 1:13 AM
All delicious, but my final dinner was especially good. I asked for a sampling of 2 different pastas because I couldn't decide! Sparkling wine from the region. And pumpkin sorbet with balsamico for dessert
Home safe and sound, with goodies to share. I totes enjoyed the trip.
April 12, 2024 at 10:06 PM
Home safe and sound, with goodies to share. I totes enjoyed the trip.
Obligatory Bluesky post of the blue sky over Bologna.
April 8, 2024 at 8:07 PM
Obligatory Bluesky post of the blue sky over Bologna.
Holiday's over. Back to the grind.
March 9, 2024 at 5:33 PM
Holiday's over. Back to the grind.
Tanti auguri, Pier Paolo Pasolini! Last year on this day, I was in Bologna, Italy, and I made a little pilgrimage to his place of birth—not knowing it was his birthday.
March 6, 2024 at 1:17 AM
Tanti auguri, Pier Paolo Pasolini! Last year on this day, I was in Bologna, Italy, and I made a little pilgrimage to his place of birth—not knowing it was his birthday.
Family movie night: "A New Leaf" (Elaine May, 1971). Dark screwball comedy perfection.
February 18, 2024 at 3:15 AM
Family movie night: "A New Leaf" (Elaine May, 1971). Dark screwball comedy perfection.