Five excellent recommendations for Thanksgiving picture books in this blog by @patzmiller.bsky.social . Her book, Sharing the Bread, has long been one of my favorite rhyming (and rhythmic) picture books. #Kidlit picturebookbuilders.com/2025/11/five...

It's that time of year again… perfect to stock up on the latest titles at reasonable prices or find Christmas gifts at the annual Butler Children's Literature Center sale. #kidlit

Christmas won’t be magical for every child. A book gift could add sparkle to Christmas for a child who needs it most,
giving them something to cherish for years to come. Will you help? Find out more
here: www.booktrust.org.uk/xmas @booktrust.org.uk #MagicOfBooks

The last event in our FREE @scbwi.bsky.social Fantasy Fall Series is on 11/6 at 7pm. NYT bestselling #Kidlit author, Michelle Jabes Corpora, will talk about her writer’s journey to creating her Ancient Egyptian inspired trilogy incl. HIS FACE IS THE SUN. See online link to attend in the comments.

Free online @scbwi.bsky.social event! Fantasy in Kidlit: A Conversation with Librarian Jen Clemons, 9/11, 7:00 PM.

Join me to discuss the current state of #kidlit fantasy, incl. themes, trends, and current titles with the Curator of the Butler Children’s Literature Center.

Zoom link in comments ⬇️

Had fun during our last @scbwi.bsky.social Near West Suburban Network event. Thanks to our attendees and @eileenmeyerbooks.bsky.social for her fab presentation. We're now on summer break but check www.scbwi.org/regions/illi... for fall programming. May the #kidlit Muse be with you in the meantime.

Ever wondered why some phrases from favorite books, snippets of famous speeches, or even lyrics from popular songs linger in your mind? What is it about the wording that makes them so memorable? Join us for this FREE @scbwi.bsky.social event on June 5 with @eileenmeyerbooks.bsky.social to find out!

Our Near West Suburban @scbwi.bsky.social network is excited to visit Dandelion Books in Oak Park, IL on Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Join us as we celebrate this new independent bookstore and try out some writing exercises inspired by books in the collection. All welcome.
dandelionbookshop.com.

Congratulations to Darcy Day Zoells on her new book, SMITHY AND ME! 🎉 "A humorous, all-too-familiar portrayal of bedtime hijinks." - Kirkus Reviews.

Can't wait to read it!

bookshop.org/p/books/are-...

Crushes & Chemistry – Writing Kidlit Romance. Join us tonight at 7pm for our FREE SCBWI Illinois network event. How do you create believable romance in YA? Or use it as a subplot? What about middle grade? See link & scroll down to Zoom meeting details.
myemail.constantcontact.com/-Updated--20...

Loved co-hosting Launch Your Middle-Grade Novel for our November SCBWI network event. Now available to (re)watch alongside these other Recordings by Request until 12/22:
- Publishing Sports Graphic Novels
- Self-Doubt Troll
- Rhyme Workshop with Patricia Toht
www.scbwi.org/events/scbwi...

Looking forward to hosting this FREE ONLINE event. All welcome!
To join, head to www.scbwi.org/regions/illi..., click on 'Free Networks,' scroll down to 'Near West Suburban Network,' and click on 'Join Zoom.'

Looking forward to welcoming Rose Hopkins-LaRocco to our SCBWI network on Thursday for a free online event. Join us if you can! See link and scroll down to Near West Suburban Network to connect via ZOOM: myemail.constantcontact.com/Free-Februar...

I was proud to be part of the organizing committee for the 2023 SCBWI conference, Prairie Writer’s and Illustrator’s Day. Here we are, faculty and committee, on the eve of the event. What a great day followed…

Happy first #NationalIllustrationDay! Am posting an image by one of my favorite illustrators, Jim Kay, to celebrate.

Thanks Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration for the new tradition.

"Our job as creators is to explode… make things that feel true and maybe beautiful." One of the many helpful quotes from @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com in his recent conversation for the British Library. See other events here: britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/living-knowl...