Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
@stephenmesser.bsky.social
Author of books for middle grade readers.
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
Join Judy Allen Dodson and me for a virtual Friday program centering banned and challenged picture books.
RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
It's in support of the national Fall of Freedom initiative & hosted by the Raleigh-Durham chapter of @authorsguild.org.
Please tune in and share.
RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
It's in support of the national Fall of Freedom initiative & hosted by the Raleigh-Durham chapter of @authorsguild.org.
Please tune in and share.
November 18, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Join Judy Allen Dodson and me for a virtual Friday program centering banned and challenged picture books.
RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
It's in support of the national Fall of Freedom initiative & hosted by the Raleigh-Durham chapter of @authorsguild.org.
Please tune in and share.
RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
It's in support of the national Fall of Freedom initiative & hosted by the Raleigh-Durham chapter of @authorsguild.org.
Please tune in and share.
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
The power of librarians.
October 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The power of librarians.
Looking forward to Helena Haywoode Henry's launch event for her debut YA, LAST CHANCE LIVE!, on Tuesday night at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh NC. She'll be in conversation with Kwame Mbalia. @quailridgebooks.bsky.social @helenahenry.bsky.social @kwamembalia.bsky.social
October 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Looking forward to Helena Haywoode Henry's launch event for her debut YA, LAST CHANCE LIVE!, on Tuesday night at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh NC. She'll be in conversation with Kwame Mbalia. @quailridgebooks.bsky.social @helenahenry.bsky.social @kwamembalia.bsky.social
Cannot wait to see it this weekend. www.endlessmode.com/anime/demon-... #demonslayer
Demon Slayer Film Passes 30 Billion Yen, On Pace To Become Japan's Highest-Grossing Movie Ever
Ahead of its global release this week, the new Demon Slayer film has become the fastest movie to reach 30 billion yen at Japan's box office.
www.endlessmode.com
September 12, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Cannot wait to see it this weekend. www.endlessmode.com/anime/demon-... #demonslayer
Congrats to Jen Pawol on becoming Major League Baseball's first female umpire. She's been umping in the minors for years. www.mlb.com/news/jen-paw... #mlb
Set to become 1st female MLB umpire, Pawol represents beacon of hope and progress
NEW YORK -- Jen Pawol was in the middle of umpiring a Triple-A game Wednesday night when Nashville Sounds third baseman Oliver Dunn identified some exciting common ground between them.
“When I make it...
www.mlb.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Congrats to Jen Pawol on becoming Major League Baseball's first female umpire. She's been umping in the minors for years. www.mlb.com/news/jen-paw... #mlb
Please support the workers, @redsox.com . www.reddit.com/r/baseball/c...
BREAKING: Fenway concession workers could strike for the first time in the stadium’s 113 year history. The union has given food and beverage company Aramark 48 hours to offer a new contract. Otherwise...
www.reddit.com
July 23, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Please support the workers, @redsox.com . www.reddit.com/r/baseball/c...
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
I enjoyed Mark Kurlansky's Big Lies, a nonfiction book for kids. At a time when political lies are everywhere, Kurlansky urges us to look at everything with a critical eye and strengthen the systems that bring liars to account #humanrights #kidlit robinkirk.substack.com/p/big-lies
Big Lies
An interview with Mark Kurlansky
robinkirk.substack.com
May 22, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I enjoyed Mark Kurlansky's Big Lies, a nonfiction book for kids. At a time when political lies are everywhere, Kurlansky urges us to look at everything with a critical eye and strengthen the systems that bring liars to account #humanrights #kidlit robinkirk.substack.com/p/big-lies
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
A week from today is the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. @fuse8.bsky.social's review of ALL OF A SUDDEN AND FOREVER, my 2020 book about it, still means a lot to me:
"It’s a book that is meant to help you learn how to heal & recover & hope..." afuse8production.slj.com/2020/04/19/r...
"It’s a book that is meant to help you learn how to heal & recover & hope..." afuse8production.slj.com/2020/04/19/r...
Review of the Day: All of a Sudden and Forever by Chris Barton and Nicole Xu
If we are talking about events that change us all and that we must collectively heal from (whether literally or figuratively) then this book might be precisely what we need. Because this isn’t just a...
afuse8production.slj.com
April 12, 2025 at 1:29 PM
A week from today is the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. @fuse8.bsky.social's review of ALL OF A SUDDEN AND FOREVER, my 2020 book about it, still means a lot to me:
"It’s a book that is meant to help you learn how to heal & recover & hope..." afuse8production.slj.com/2020/04/19/r...
"It’s a book that is meant to help you learn how to heal & recover & hope..." afuse8production.slj.com/2020/04/19/r...
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
Hey, artists, in case you were wondering if your work matters: I'm a scientist working on climate change and biodiversity, and I would not be who I am today without The Lorax, The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, and The X-Files. I know I'm not alone. Thank you for all you do.
February 26, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Hey, artists, in case you were wondering if your work matters: I'm a scientist working on climate change and biodiversity, and I would not be who I am today without The Lorax, The Secret of NIMH, Watership Down, The Last Unicorn, and The X-Files. I know I'm not alone. Thank you for all you do.
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
We got a Costco membership for the first time in our lives today. They asked why & I said because treat your workers well, you value diversity, & you didn’t cave in to authoritarian demands. He said: “We’ve been getting lots of folks saying that, thanks for joining.”
Who needs a gallon of ketchup?
Who needs a gallon of ketchup?
February 16, 2025 at 2:46 AM
We got a Costco membership for the first time in our lives today. They asked why & I said because treat your workers well, you value diversity, & you didn’t cave in to authoritarian demands. He said: “We’ve been getting lots of folks saying that, thanks for joining.”
Who needs a gallon of ketchup?
Who needs a gallon of ketchup?
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
Today is the 125th anniversary of Lift Every Voice & Sing being performed for the first time. Sing a Song was inspired by the history of our Black National Anthem.
It's up to us to keep our history going strong.
You can buy a copy here: shorturl.at/UYHtG
Thank you for your support.
It's up to us to keep our history going strong.
You can buy a copy here: shorturl.at/UYHtG
Thank you for your support.
Sing a Song by Kelly Lyons
YouTube video by Rachel Summers
www.youtube.com
February 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Today is the 125th anniversary of Lift Every Voice & Sing being performed for the first time. Sing a Song was inspired by the history of our Black National Anthem.
It's up to us to keep our history going strong.
You can buy a copy here: shorturl.at/UYHtG
Thank you for your support.
It's up to us to keep our history going strong.
You can buy a copy here: shorturl.at/UYHtG
Thank you for your support.
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
Here's what the decision by America's favorite sports league tells us about "anticipatory obedience."
The NFL is removing 'End Racism' from its Super Bowl end zone
Here's what the decision by America's favorite sports league tells us about "anticipatory obedience."
www.npr.org
February 9, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Here's what the decision by America's favorite sports league tells us about "anticipatory obedience."
This protest at the Office of Personnel Management was a lot of fun, despite it being 7:30AM with a wind chill factor of "a lot". There was coffee, croissants, and a dance party.
February 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
This protest at the Office of Personnel Management was a lot of fun, despite it being 7:30AM with a wind chill factor of "a lot". There was coffee, croissants, and a dance party.
Bright and early in Washington DC.
February 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Bright and early in Washington DC.
At the EPA in Washington, DC
February 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
At the EPA in Washington, DC
Washington DC bound. 🚘
February 5, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Washington DC bound. 🚘
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
Thx @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social for incl me in round-up of opinions about #KidLit & social media, with @laurelsnyder.bsky.social @katemessner.com @studiojjk.bsky.social @katemckean.bsky.social @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social @ryanlasala.bsky.social & others:
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Where Is the Kid Lit Community Online?
As social media communities splinter, authors and publishers wonder where their next digital water cooler will be.
www.publishersweekly.com
February 5, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Thx @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social for incl me in round-up of opinions about #KidLit & social media, with @laurelsnyder.bsky.social @katemessner.com @studiojjk.bsky.social @katemckean.bsky.social @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social @ryanlasala.bsky.social & others:
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
Congrats to pal Henry!🥂🎈🥳
January 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Congrats to pal Henry!🥂🎈🥳
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
I am told it is Tuesday, so that means it's #kidlitchat day right here on Bluesky. I hope you'll join us at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific/whatever time it is where you are that matches those times to talk some #kidlit talk. See ya then!
January 28, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I am told it is Tuesday, so that means it's #kidlitchat day right here on Bluesky. I hope you'll join us at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific/whatever time it is where you are that matches those times to talk some #kidlit talk. See ya then!
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
If you're new here, Starter Packs are a GREAT way to find like minded folks to follow. I've set up a bunch of them - with lists of teachers, librarians, writers, readers, booksellers, Broadway geeks,& the Adirondacks! (thread) go.bsky.app/TV22XkY
November 17, 2024 at 6:26 PM
If you're new here, Starter Packs are a GREAT way to find like minded folks to follow. I've set up a bunch of them - with lists of teachers, librarians, writers, readers, booksellers, Broadway geeks,& the Adirondacks! (thread) go.bsky.app/TV22XkY
The Caitlin Clark Foundation teams up with Scholastic to donate 22,000 books. caitlinclarkfoundation.org/22%2C000-boo...
January 22, 2025 at 11:05 PM
The Caitlin Clark Foundation teams up with Scholastic to donate 22,000 books. caitlinclarkfoundation.org/22%2C000-boo...
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
👍📚How will they learn? By picture books. This is a wonderful, relatively gentle way to learn, through the experience of two best friends, about the lasting harm and division caused by the Confederate flag. Written by @tamekafryerbrown.bsky.social, beautifully illustrated by @4nikkolas.bsky.social
November 30, 2024 at 4:31 PM
👍📚How will they learn? By picture books. This is a wonderful, relatively gentle way to learn, through the experience of two best friends, about the lasting harm and division caused by the Confederate flag. Written by @tamekafryerbrown.bsky.social, beautifully illustrated by @4nikkolas.bsky.social
Reposted by Stephen Messer (aka Zeno Alexander)
For those who do care about what's happening in the world but sometimes need a feed free of politics, heartbreak, or mean-snark, feel free to follow my #Uplift feed:
bsky.app/profile/debb...
Hand-curated by yours truly, criteria unapologetically subjective.
bsky.app/profile/debb...
Hand-curated by yours truly, criteria unapologetically subjective.
January 11, 2025 at 1:05 PM
For those who do care about what's happening in the world but sometimes need a feed free of politics, heartbreak, or mean-snark, feel free to follow my #Uplift feed:
bsky.app/profile/debb...
Hand-curated by yours truly, criteria unapologetically subjective.
bsky.app/profile/debb...
Hand-curated by yours truly, criteria unapologetically subjective.