Ritu Hemnani
rituhemwrites.bsky.social
Ritu Hemnani
@rituhemwrites.bsky.social
Children's Author
LION OF THE SKY: HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray MG Novel in Verse '24 THEIR STORY IS OUR STORY: Chronicle Books NNF PB '26
Represented by Rubin Pfeffer
Pinned
Thrilled to announce that @sfchronicle.bsky.social Chronicle Books will publish my debut narrative non-fiction picture book, THEIR STORY IS OUR STORY - a reimagined story of Partition, and that the insanely talented @viplovsingh.bsky.social will illustrate!
So grateful to @bankstreetlibrary.bsky.social @bankstreet.edu for this honor! Thank you to @kidlit247s.bsky.social for the shoutout!
Congrats to Dionna Mann, Anna Lapera, @rituhemwrites.bsky.social and @jenniferannrichter.bsky.social whose books have been included in the 2025 edition of @bankstreet.edu's Bank Street Best Children’s Books!
June 18, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Books My 5th Graders Are Reading on Spring Break
youtu.be/7cVVWJu8TyA
Books My 5th Graders Are Reading on Spring Break
YouTube video by Colby Sharp
youtu.be
March 20, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Must Read 2025 Graphic Novels
youtu.be/jWXs7Qdk4eo
Must Read 2025 Graphic Novels
YouTube video by Colby Sharp
youtu.be
March 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Folks still sharing my @theatlantic.com piece. Educator recently told me old idea was learn to read in elementary and read to learn in middle. Realizing now we need to continue to teach reading in middle. My next piece? @jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social can share directly with what's left of Dept of Ed.
Why Kids Aren’t Falling in Love With Reading
Hint: It’s not just the screens.
www.theatlantic.com
March 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
If you're new to Bluesky, don't forget to turn on the "Require alt text" option in your preferences so you get a reminder to make sure your photos & graphics are accessible to all. It only takes a minute or two, even for graphics that require a bit more alt text.
February 2, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Looking for *kind* volunteers to help answer newbie questions in an UNOFFICIAL BLUESKY HELP THREAD. To newbies: pls post your questions below & hopefully someone will answer. Pls search my Unofficial Guide To Bluesky first: (publish.obsidian.md/debbieohi/se...)
Search Tips - Debbie Ridpath Ohi - Obsidian Publish
Search Tips How To Search This Unofficial Guide Overwhelmed and can't find the info you want in this Guide? I strongly encourage you to use the built-in Search field. On a desktop browser, look for …
publish.obsidian.md
February 23, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Interested in writing picture books? Join me for PICTURE BOOK 1.

This 10-week UCLA Ext. course - completely online - begins April 2nd!

To learn more and register now, check out the link: www.uclaextension.edu/writing/crea...

#picturebook #writingpicturebooks #writingclass #onlinelearning
Picture Book I | UCLA Extension
Learn the basics of writing picture books for children in this introductory workshop.
www.uclaextension.edu
March 26, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Amazing news! 🥳
Congratulations to our #NCTE award winners! Find out more about these Charlotte Huck and Notable Poetry and Verse book selections. #NCTE24
www.penguinclassroom.com/blog/ncte-20...
NCTE 2025 Award-Winners - Penguin Classroom Portal
www.penguinclassroom.com
November 27, 2024 at 6:07 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
We LOVE when our clients get collaborative.

Check out this interview between children's book authors Dionna L. Mann and Michael F. Stewart, with included illustrations from Caroline McPherson all of whom are part of the @kellydhouse.bsky.social crew!

www.dionnalmann.com/interviews-b...
Interviews, Blog Parties & More
(c) Caroline McPherson,  carolinemcphersonillustration.com
www.dionnalmann.com
March 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
The nonprofit We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social is launching its inaugural “We Need Diverse Books Day” April 3 to highlight the importance of access to inclusive reading:

www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
Exclusive: ‘We Need Diverse Books’ announces inaugural reading day April 3
Nonprofit We Need Diverse Books will host the first "We Need Diverse Books Day" April 3 to encourage inclusive books in classrooms and bookshelves.
www.usatoday.com
March 25, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Congratulations, Byron Graves, author of REZ BALL (Heartdrum, 2023), on winning the Oklahoma Library Association’s Sequoyah Award! #booksky #basketball #youngadultbooks #indigenous #ojibwe @harperkids.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social
March 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
When superstars like @jenniferlagarde.bsky.social and @alizawerner.bsky.social create #TeacherResources for your book and provide a #SafeHarbor ( @nancyrosep.bsky.social @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social ) for you to talk about your #SafeHarborBook you are overwhelmed with gratitude 🙏🏾
March 19, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
🏳️‍⚧️ TRANS COMICS/GNs BY TRANS CREATORS FOR TRANS DAY OF VISIBILITY 🏳️‍⚧️ (thread)

💫 GALAXY (Jadzia Axelrod & Vash Taylor)
📣 CHEER UP: LOVE & POMPOMS (Crystal Frazier & Val Wise)
👕 BOYS RUN THE RIOT (Keito Gaku)
💬 FINE: A COMING ABOUT GENDER (Rhea Ewing)
March 29, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
🏳️‍⚧️ TRANS GNs BY TRANS CREATORS FOR #TRANSDAYOFVISIBILITY (PART 3) 🏳️‍⚧️

🪨 STONE FRUIT (Lee Lai)
🏫 WELCOME TO ST HELL (Lewis Hancox)
🏳️‍🌈 BE GAY, DO COMICS (Matt Bors, The Nib, et al)
✈️ PAPER PLANES (Jennie Wood & Dozerdraws)
March 30, 2024 at 5:40 AM
Thank you to my amazing debut group, KidLit247s 💖 What a joy it's been to cheer each other on through 2024!
Dionna L. Mann @monicamancillas.bsky.social @jenniferannrichter.bsky.social @DianaJunYiMa @DeborahLakritz @WriterofCuentos Please do check out all their incredible books!
January 21, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Today's Agents & Books 2025 Guide focuses on how to get your book actually done! Click here for helpful posts on editing, deadlines, and the eternal question: *do you have to write everyday?*
open.substack.com/pub/katemcke...
How to Actually Finish Writing a Book
It's this and a kick in the pants. An Agents & Books 2025 Guide
open.substack.com
January 9, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Calling all MIDDLE GRADE queer & BIPOC authors with books out in 2025! I’m putting together my tbr and list of books I’m considering for my Friday MG Book Recs and I want to make sure I don’t miss any. Drop yours in the comments so I can add it to my list and so others can know about it! #kidlit
December 30, 2024 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Many members of the animation community have suffered unimaginable losses due to the LA wildfires – here is how to help displaced individuals in the animation industry. PLEASE SHARE WIDELY SO WE CAN HELP EVERYONE OUT!
How To Help Animation Industry Workers Who Have Been Displaced By The L.A. Wildfires
Many members of the animation community have suffered unimaginable losses – here is how to help them directly.
www.cartoonbrew.com
January 10, 2025 at 4:37 AM
I'm excited to kick off 2025 with thrilling news: Lion of the Sky has been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!

As an educator, this recognition means the world to me. Thank you to JLG for this opportunity!
January 7, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
💝 Full of glittery cheer, I love how A CITY FULL OF SANTAS celebrates the magic of the holidays. The writing plus art throughout are so delightful! 😍🤩📚👍🏼

#PBStudyBuddy* #Kidlit #Edusky
#ACityFullofSantas #JoannaHo @joannahowrites.bsky.social #ThaiMyPhuong @harperkids.bsky.social

*pbstudybuddy.com
December 19, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
This is a great one if you haven’t read it!! #mglit
If it's Friday, we have a review!

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by @choldenko.bsky.social (Knopf BFYR)

Elementary/Middle-Grade Fiction Nominee
#CYBILS2024
1/4
December 21, 2024 at 12:05 AM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
‘It will exist for ever’: Bluey fans fearful and excited for cartoon’s future
‘It will exist for ever’: Bluey fans fearful and excited for cartoon’s future
Hugely popular show to get Disney feature film treatment but creator Joe Brumm will stop writing TV series Bluey fan sites can be quite odd places. In normal times, adult enthusiasts of the wildly successful children’s cartoon post pictures of prime…
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2024 at 12:06 AM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Pleased to learn about + add Sachiko Kashiwaba's middle-grade classic The Village Beyond the Mist, translated by the truly talented Avery Fischer Udagawa.

Hayao Miyazaki was in talks to adapt this one before he wrote the original screenplay for Spirited Away. It shows.

@averyudagawa.bsky.social
December 12, 2024 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
Day 13: 31 Days, 31 Lists - 2024 Translated Children's Books. Today we're giving a shout out not simply to the translated books that make to American shelves, but also to the hardworking translators who are so good at what they do. #kidlit 📚👍 afuse8production.slj.com/2024/12/13/3...
December 13, 2024 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Ritu Hemnani
If you need more resources, these have really helped me.
December 14, 2024 at 12:30 PM