Paula Holmes
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qsprite.bsky.social
Paula Holmes
@qsprite.bsky.social
300 followers 250 following 260 posts
Reader & occasional blogger of #WorldKidLit, huge fan of Finnish translations, beginner weaver, library advocate, magpie
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qsprite.bsky.social
Last night went to see Brian Isett and Claudia Biçen talk about their new book THE FORGOTTEN TEACHERS: How nature wrote the story of life at White Whale Bookstore in Pittsburgh from Unruly @enchantedlion.bsky.social Truly a beautiful and fascinating book that combines art and science.
Cover THE FORGOTTEN TEACHERS featuring the tree of life whose branches sprout plants, birds, iguanas, fish, hands, and fungi. From Unruly https://enchantedlion.com/blog/2025/9/30/author-brian-isett-on-the-forgotten-teachers?rq=Forgotten%20
October 7, 2025 at 2:32 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
One of my favorites for fall PUMPKIN ISLAND by Arthur Geisert from @enchantedlion.bsky.social it’s a visual treat!
Cover of PUMPKIN ISLAND showing an ever expanding pumpkin patch https://enchantedlion.com/all-books/pumpkin-island-bg3zl
September 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Just saying one more time how much I love the Mousse series by Claire Lebourg tr by Sophie Lewis from @transitbooks.bsky.social
#worldkidlitmonth
Vol 1 A DAY WITH MOUSSE
Vol 2 HAVE A GOOD TRIP, MOUSSE!
Can’t wait for Volume 3 🥰
Cover of A DAY WITH MOUSSE & HAVE A GOOD TRIP, MOUSSE https://worldkidlit.org/2025/04/03/new-books-old-friends-the-joy-of-a-series/ https://www.transitchildrenseditions.org/books/haveagoodtripmousse
September 16, 2025 at 6:27 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Tucking in BILLIE AND BEAN AT THE BEACH by Julia Hansson tr by @bjwoodstein.bsky.social into a gift bundle ❤️ love this PB adventure series from @orcabook.bsky.social that includes BILLIE AND BEAN IN THE CITY & BILLIE AND BEAN IN THE MOUNTAINS perfect for encouraging new adventures #worldkidlitmonth
Covers of three books in the BILLIE AND BEAN series each cover features Billie and her dog Bean https://www.orcabook.com/ContributorInfo?ContribId=1365
September 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
I’m putting together a new baby gift. I love including the board book JUMP! by Tatsuhide Matsuoka tr by Cathy Hirano the illustrations are fun and shouting Boing! as you flip the pages is even better #worldkidlitmonth
Cover of JUMP! Show a cat joyfully outstretched jumping with the title across its belly. From Gecko Press
September 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
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My copy of FREYA AND THE SNAKE by Fredrick Sonck & @jennylucander.bsky.social tr by B.J. Woodstein arrived today!!! Thank you @fuse8.bsky.social for the recommendation #worldkidlitmonth #finnishkidlit
Cover of FREYA AND THE SNAKE shows a snake with its tongue out wrapped around a smiling Freya as she reaches out to touch it. In the distance Freya’s father is running towards them with a rake and bucket, dressed in heavy boots and gloves prepared for capturing the snake
September 10, 2025 at 4:23 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Do you have a favorite bookstore destination for #worldkidlitmonth - in NYC I think The Albertine part of The French Institute for Cultural and Education www.albertine.com is absolutely beautiful 😍 last time I found a French translation of a Finnish picture book
Ceiling and second floor of the Albertine bookstore in NYC https://www.albertine.com/
September 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
MG #WorldKidLit is slightly harder to find happy to see the Moonwind Mysteries Book 4 THE LADY OF THE SHADOWS is on pre-order from Amazon Crossing Kids - Book 3 THE LOST ONES by Johan Rundberg tr Eva Apelqvist the best yet - historical fiction mystery, Stockholm, orphans, explosions, missing girls
Cover of THE LOST ONES: The Moonwind Mysteries by Johan Rundberg translated by Eva Apelqvist features a horse and carriage with a girl inside with the background of fancy houses, the street lights are on and in the distance a bridge, and the sun just peeking in the horizon
September 4, 2025 at 12:01 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Books from Tapioca Stories are always a treat out this October is a must CROCO by Azul López tr by Kit Maude 🐊 when CROCO falls in a deep pit advice & help from friends doesn’t work but sometimes tears can help you out of a deep dark pit ❤️ the illustrations & overall book design #worldkidlitmonth
Cover of CROCO by Azul López translated from the Spanish by Kit Maude featuring a crocodile swimming in a body of water surrounded by the jungle book and pages read top to bottom from Tapioca Stories https://www.tapiocastories.com/product-page/croco-english-language-edition
September 3, 2025 at 1:48 PM
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Through #worldkidlitmonth I discovered Finnish author & illustrator @marikamaijala.bsky.social & tr Mia Spangenberg 🥰 Their latest title is A MAGICIANS FLOWER from Elsewhere Editions - friendship, gardening, adventure, a wonderful chicken named Eulalia & Raisin a plant that blooms on its on schedule
Cover of A MAGICIANS FLOWER Willow and Aspen sit at a table in a greenhouse looking at Raisin a little plant that is staying small with Eulalia the chicken underneath the table by Marika Maijala translated from the Finnish by Mia Spangenberg https://elsewhereeditions.org/books/a-magicians-flower/
September 2, 2025 at 6:16 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Happy #Workdkidlitmonth
30 days of outstanding books

LATE TODAY by Jungyoon Huh & Myungae Lee tr by Aerin Park @ebyrbooks.bsky.social is so special I need extra copies 🥰 the rescue of a kitten on a rainy day on a bridge congested with traffic with action filled illustrations is not to be missed
Cover of LATE TODAY a small kitten hides under the front of a car with heavy rain splashing down from Eerdmans https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802856494/late-today/
September 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
I’m pulling together some books for a therapist friend - THE SUMMER OF DIVING by Sara Strindberg & Sara Lundberg tr by B.J. Woodstein is such a beautiful book that deals with when a parent is hospitalized for depression - I had to order a second copy from TriangleSquare #Worldkidlit
Cover of THE SUMMER OF DIVING a young girl and young woman lay on the grass in bathing suits with a long beaded necklace weaving around both their faces and head and then spreading into the grass
August 30, 2025 at 4:57 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
worldkidlit.org/2020/09/26/p... I love talking about translations for kids & today I found myself book-talking THE APARTMENT: A Century of Russian History by Alexandra Litvina & Anna Desnitskaya translated by Antonine W. Bouis - I have now been talking about this book for 5 years #worldkidlit
Cover of THE APARTMENT showing the door of the apartment with a cat and person peeking out with a runner sled outside published by ABRAMS Books for Young Readers
August 27, 2025 at 2:39 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Hyvää Tove
Sign in front of Tove Jansson’s studio and apartment in Helsinki
August 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Howls Moving Castle Tote Bag
July 29, 2025 at 3:23 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
As someone who has rescued a few cats LATE TODAY by Jungyoon Huh & Myungae Lee tr by Aerin Park speaks to me. The story of a kitten on the roadway blocking traffic & in need of rescue the illustrations are fabulous & a happy ending that I needed! Loving @ebyrbooks.bsky.social fall books #worldkidlit
Cover of LATE TODAY a small kitten is under a car with rain coming down https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802856494/late-today/
July 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
I’m thrilled to receive the hardcover of FLY LIKE A BIRD from @ebyrbooks.bsky.social by Olga Ptashnik - I reviewed the ARC for my upcoming September #worldkidkitmonth post - always so lovely to feel and turn the pages
Cover FLY LIKE A BIRD clouds and sky are filled with birds including a pelican, owl, ostrich and chickadee https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802856456/fly-like-a-bird/
July 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
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Book mail arrived! JOURNEY OF THE HUMPBACKS from @ebyrbooks.bsky.social by Juliana Muñoz Toro & Dipacho tr by @lawrenceschimel.bsky.social excellent non-fiction picture book from Columbia - Eerdmans excels in publishing STEAM books 🥰
Cover of JOURNEY OF THE HUMPBACKS - painting of humpback whale wraps around the cover https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802856432/journey-of-the-humpbacks/
July 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
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Book mail arrived. The latest from @marikamaijala.bsky.social tr by Mia Spangenberg from Elsewhere Editions #worldkidlit 🇫🇮 I am so excited to read A MAGICIANS FLOWER in English! I hope everyone falls in love with Willow, Aspen, Eulalia the chicken, and the tiny plant Raisin like I have.
Cover of A Magician’s Flower from Elsewhere Editions https://elsewhereeditions.org/books/a-magicians-flower/ Willow and Aspen watch over a plant and Eulalia the chicken is under the table in Willow’s greenhouse
July 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
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Happiness is when your friends know exactly what book you need when you aren’t feeling well. I am curled up with THE MEMORIES OF MOOMINPAPA by Tove Jansson tr by Thomas Warburton this morning ❤️
Cover of THE MEMOIRS OF MOOMINPAPPA with stuffed Moomintroll on a chair
March 11, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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Today’s read is THE VILLAGE BEYOND THE MIST by Sachiko Kashiwaba tr by @averyudagawa.bsky.social illus by Miho Satake 🥰 yes I think it is Batchelder bound coming May 27, 2025 from Yonder: Restless Books for Young Readers. #worldkidlit restlessbooks.org/bookstore/th...
Cover of THE VILLAGE BEYOND THE MIST a young girl in a short sleeve dress floats among the trees carrying a small overnight bag and her polka dot umbrella with a clown 🤡 handle flys above
March 3, 2025 at 7:48 PM
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Spent my morning chatting with #ElsewhereEditions about the forthcoming publication of A MAGICIAN’S FLOWER by @marikamaijala.bsky.social tr by Mia Spangenberg originally published in Finland 🇫🇮by Etana Editions TAIKURINKUKKA #worldkidlit elsewhereeditions.org/books/a-magi...
Covers of TAIKURINKUKKA (Finnish Original) and French translation LA PLANTE MAGIQUE Two children wearing hats lean over a table in a conservatory watching a pot with a small sprout and a chicken is under the table by Marika Maijala
February 4, 2025 at 6:02 PM
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Thank you #worldkidlit Canadian publisher 🇨🇦 @groundwoodbooks.bsky.social for all your translations Big 🙏 THE BIG BAD WOLF IN MY HOUSE by Valérie Fontaine & Nathalie Dion tr by Shelley Tanaka has been repurchased regularly when an educator asks for a book dealing w/ domestic violence I give my copy
Cover of THE BIG BAD WOLF IN MY HOUSE a lamp shines over a table with a vase with a drooping rose (one petal is on the table) a wolf is sitting in a chair opposite a small girl whose feet don’t reach the floor. https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-big-bad-wolf-in-my-house?_pos=1&_sid=181f777bb&_ss=r
February 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
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If you are a Tove Jansson fan you need TOVE AND THE ISLAND WITH NO ADDRESS by Lauren Soloy from Canadian Publisher 🇨🇦 #TundraBooks - I would one day love to visit the islands off of Finland where Tove and her family and later Tove and Tuulikki spent their summers #worldkidlit #Moomins
Cover of TOVE AND THE ISLAND WITH NO ADDRESS by Lauren Soloy https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/723071/tove-and-the-island-with-no-address-by-lauren-soloy/9781774883150 Young Tove dressed in a hooded coat, dress, tights and rubber boots stands on the edge of an island with heavy rain clouds above. The book is on a shelf with Finnish books and Moomin mugs.
February 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
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Time to thank some of my favorite Canadian publishers who publish great translations for kids #worldkidlit Highly recommend the BILLIE AND BEAN picture book series by Julia Hansson tr by B.J. Woodstein from #OrcaBookPublishers 🇨🇦
Three books in the Billie and Bean series from Orca https://www.orcabook.com/Billie-and-Bean-at-the-Beach Covers all feature Billie who wears her chin length hair down except for short bangs that stick straight up in a rubber band and Bean a mid-size dog with a very pointy nose and Billie’s constant companion.
February 2, 2025 at 5:28 PM