Harold Underdown
@hunderdown.bsky.social
I'm a children's book editor, teacher and workshop presenter, owner of The Purple Crayon website -- www.underdown.org
I post about #kidlit, but I do have opinions about other things and will share them as well.
I post about #kidlit, but I do have opinions about other things and will share them as well.
Pinned
FYI, I have updated the section of my site where I give basic information about #kidlit agents--what they do, how to find one, how to assess their website, resources to use.
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Give a man a fish and someone with a thousand fishes is going to bitch about people getting free handouts. Teach a man to fish? Yeah, that person with a thousand fishes is going to bitch about that too.
November 14, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Give a man a fish and someone with a thousand fishes is going to bitch about people getting free handouts. Teach a man to fish? Yeah, that person with a thousand fishes is going to bitch about that too.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
🚨🧵SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?
A Reality-Based Assessment of Where Trump’s Power Grab Stands — and Where It’s Going
open.substack.com/pub/thecycle...
A Reality-Based Assessment of Where Trump’s Power Grab Stands — and Where It’s Going
open.substack.com/pub/thecycle...
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?
A Reality-Based Assessment of Where Trump’s Power Grab Stands — and Where It’s Going
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:55 PM
🚨🧵SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?
A Reality-Based Assessment of Where Trump’s Power Grab Stands — and Where It’s Going
open.substack.com/pub/thecycle...
A Reality-Based Assessment of Where Trump’s Power Grab Stands — and Where It’s Going
open.substack.com/pub/thecycle...
I'm right there too...
HEY! Being an adult is SO bad! I don't know or WANT to know about arcane tax laws or what an "irrevocable trust" is or does, and yet somehow I am being asked to learn about them? WHY? ME? No, you have the wrong person. WHAT??? STOP! PLS!!! LET ME JUST THINK ABOUT CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND TOYS 😩
November 13, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I'm right there too...
Yoo hoo, Governor Hochul! Let's learn from our neighbor.
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Yoo hoo, Governor Hochul! Let's learn from our neighbor.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Five years after I sat down to write the first draft of ¡VIVA VALENZUELA!, I got to hold the book! Had a great time signing the first batch of copies with illustrator John Parra. The book releases on March 24, 2026 and is now available for preorder wherever you buy your books!
November 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Five years after I sat down to write the first draft of ¡VIVA VALENZUELA!, I got to hold the book! Had a great time signing the first batch of copies with illustrator John Parra. The book releases on March 24, 2026 and is now available for preorder wherever you buy your books!
Recommended!
Join veteran editor and author Deborah Halverson for an up-to-the-minute look at the children's publishing industry.
Register here:
www.scbwi.org/events/state...
Register here:
www.scbwi.org/events/state...
November 13, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Recommended!
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Why Editor Andrew Karre Can’t Imagine YA Literature Without Sexual Content | PEN America
Why Editor Andrew Karre Can’t Imagine YA Literature Without Sexual Content
'If it became impossible to publish YA novels with sex in them, I think it would effectively become impossible to publish YA novels.'
buff.ly
November 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Why Editor Andrew Karre Can’t Imagine YA Literature Without Sexual Content | PEN America
Reposted by Harold Underdown
One of the biggest issues with the synthetic text extruding machines is that we have well-formed linguistic output with no accountability. Solution: OpenAI should be accountable for everything that comes out of ChatGPT, period. (And likewise for Google with Gemini, etc.)
New on the Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 newsletter: @deccamuldowney.bsky.social and I write about OpenAI's transparent attempt to shift accountability.
buttondown.com/maiht3k/arch...
buttondown.com/maiht3k/arch...
OpenAI Tries to Shift Responsibility to Users
OpenAI is trying to shift the blame for bad legal and medical advice from its chatbot away from the company and onto users. We agree that no chatbot should be used for medical or legal advice.
buttondown.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
One of the biggest issues with the synthetic text extruding machines is that we have well-formed linguistic output with no accountability. Solution: OpenAI should be accountable for everything that comes out of ChatGPT, period. (And likewise for Google with Gemini, etc.)
Reposted by Harold Underdown
German court finds Open AI infringed copyright by using song lyrics for LLM training. (This news via @publisherslunch.bsky.social , which notes that this is the first court case to end in an infringement ruling against Open AI) www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
ChatGPT violated copyright law by ‘learning’ from song lyrics, German court rules
OpenAI ordered to pay undisclosed damages for training its language models on artists’ work without permission
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:43 PM
German court finds Open AI infringed copyright by using song lyrics for LLM training. (This news via @publisherslunch.bsky.social , which notes that this is the first court case to end in an infringement ruling against Open AI) www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
FYI, I have updated the section of my site where I give basic information about #kidlit agents--what they do, how to find one, how to assess their website, resources to use.
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
November 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
FYI, I have updated the section of my site where I give basic information about #kidlit agents--what they do, how to find one, how to assess their website, resources to use.
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
Reposted by Harold Underdown
The children’s picture book, “Strega Nona, An OldTale,” celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Author and illustrator Tomie dePaola penned the book about the Italian “grandmother witch.” (via @mprnews.org)
Strega Nona turns 50 — and her art lives in Minneapolis
The University of Minnesota’s Kerlan Collection is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Tomie dePaola’s beloved picture book “Strega Nona,” showcasing the original illustrations and highlighting Minnesota’s unique role in preserving the warmth, artistry and enduring cultural impact of this classic story.
n.pr
November 12, 2025 at 7:26 PM
The children’s picture book, “Strega Nona, An OldTale,” celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Author and illustrator Tomie dePaola penned the book about the Italian “grandmother witch.” (via @mprnews.org)
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Here's a massive scoop from Ed showing OpenAI has been lying about their revenue for years
How high are OpenAI’s compute costs? Possibly a lot higher than we thought on.ft.com/43qoQ2L
How high are OpenAI’s compute costs? Possibly a lot higher than we thought
Inference inferred, revenue reconstructed, cash burn quantified
on.ft.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Here's a massive scoop from Ed showing OpenAI has been lying about their revenue for years
FYI, I have updated the section of my site where I give basic information about #kidlit agents--what they do, how to find one, how to assess their website, resources to use.
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
November 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
FYI, I have updated the section of my site where I give basic information about #kidlit agents--what they do, how to find one, how to assess their website, resources to use.
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
You can start here:
www.underdown.org/agents.htm
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Great piece by Zadie Smith. When the right talks about classics or "Western" culture, these works are only important to the extent that it demonstrates their superiority, they have no interest in art in and of itself beyond that www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Great piece by Zadie Smith. When the right talks about classics or "Western" culture, these works are only important to the extent that it demonstrates their superiority, they have no interest in art in and of itself beyond that www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
The never-before-seen Epstein emails released by Oversight Dems raise serious questions about why the White House continues to cover up the Epstein files.
This cannot go on. It’s time the American people got the truth. It’s time to release the files.
This cannot go on. It’s time the American people got the truth. It’s time to release the files.
November 12, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The never-before-seen Epstein emails released by Oversight Dems raise serious questions about why the White House continues to cover up the Epstein files.
This cannot go on. It’s time the American people got the truth. It’s time to release the files.
This cannot go on. It’s time the American people got the truth. It’s time to release the files.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
The Creepy, the Icky, and the Spooky | Series Made Simple Nonfiction Editorial
www.slj.com/story/the-cr...
www.slj.com/story/the-cr...
The Creepy, the Icky, and the Spooky | Editorial
These series will appeal to readers who love thrills and chills, as well as those who like a tamer read.
www.slj.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The Creepy, the Icky, and the Spooky | Series Made Simple Nonfiction Editorial
www.slj.com/story/the-cr...
www.slj.com/story/the-cr...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
November 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Harold Underdown
In this week’s deep dive, I walk through deciding where page breaks land in a picture book, trim size and length, and choosing a color palette. (I’m using something I wrote as a jumping off point - so live examples!)
➡️ open.substack.com/pub/jacobsou...
#kidlit #kidlitart
➡️ open.substack.com/pub/jacobsou...
#kidlit #kidlitart
A Picture Book Foundation
Part 3: Starting a self-assigned picture book project worthy of some time and effort
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:26 PM
In this week’s deep dive, I walk through deciding where page breaks land in a picture book, trim size and length, and choosing a color palette. (I’m using something I wrote as a jumping off point - so live examples!)
➡️ open.substack.com/pub/jacobsou...
#kidlit #kidlitart
➡️ open.substack.com/pub/jacobsou...
#kidlit #kidlitart
Every year, I enjoy this. I always learn something...
Thank you @hunderdown.bsky.social for moderating the SCBWI NY Metro's Annual Agent Panel. Thanks to agents @evascalzo.bsky.social, @janechunlit.bsky.social, & Aashna Avachat for participating. I appreciate your valuable time.
November 12, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Every year, I enjoy this. I always learn something...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
“The report found that the heaviest AI users are thought leadership writers (84%), PR/comms professionals (73%), and content marketing writers (73%).”
How can you be a thought leader when you don’t think? Fraud. Scam. Grift and nonsense!
How can you be a thought leader when you don’t think? Fraud. Scam. Grift and nonsense!
November 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
“The report found that the heaviest AI users are thought leadership writers (84%), PR/comms professionals (73%), and content marketing writers (73%).”
How can you be a thought leader when you don’t think? Fraud. Scam. Grift and nonsense!
How can you be a thought leader when you don’t think? Fraud. Scam. Grift and nonsense!
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Teachers! Librarians!
It's time for the Sibert Smackdown.
The perfect Mock Sibert activity for kids who love nonfiction.
tinyurl.com/3c9harym
It's time for the Sibert Smackdown.
The perfect Mock Sibert activity for kids who love nonfiction.
tinyurl.com/3c9harym
It’s Time for the Sibert Smackdown!
The Sibert Smackdown is an activity intended to build enthusiasm for the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal , which is given each y...
tinyurl.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Teachers! Librarians!
It's time for the Sibert Smackdown.
The perfect Mock Sibert activity for kids who love nonfiction.
tinyurl.com/3c9harym
It's time for the Sibert Smackdown.
The perfect Mock Sibert activity for kids who love nonfiction.
tinyurl.com/3c9harym
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Communicating why a 50 year mortgage costs more, overall, than a 30 year mortgage should not be a hard task.
The problem is the average American is both functionally illiterate and innumerate, as a deliberate result of decades of the policies made by the very people pushing for 50 year mortgages.
The problem is the average American is both functionally illiterate and innumerate, as a deliberate result of decades of the policies made by the very people pushing for 50 year mortgages.
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Communicating why a 50 year mortgage costs more, overall, than a 30 year mortgage should not be a hard task.
The problem is the average American is both functionally illiterate and innumerate, as a deliberate result of decades of the policies made by the very people pushing for 50 year mortgages.
The problem is the average American is both functionally illiterate and innumerate, as a deliberate result of decades of the policies made by the very people pushing for 50 year mortgages.
Reposted by Harold Underdown
Big fish gets bigger: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
RHCB Buys Cherry Lake
The acquisition of Cherry Lake Publishing Group will add approximately 6,000 titles to Random House Children’s Books. The Ann Arbor–based company will “will continue to operate independently,” RHCB sa...
www.publishersweekly.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Big fish gets bigger: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Reposted by Harold Underdown
enough power for one million homes is dead
scoop: one of the largest renewable energy projects in the u.s. is quietly getting killed
say goodbye to leading light, the latest casualty of trump’s war on offshore wind
(also means there is essentially no more offshore wind in progress at all for new jersey)
say goodbye to leading light, the latest casualty of trump’s war on offshore wind
(also means there is essentially no more offshore wind in progress at all for new jersey)
Scoop: Giant Wind Farm Off New Jersey Coast Is Getting Killed
Leading Light can’t move forward, a legal counsel wrote to state regulators.
heatmap.news
November 11, 2025 at 10:12 PM
enough power for one million homes is dead