It's MSWL day! Hoping to find some agents repping PB authors who write with humor and heart (and some SEL and animals and maybe occasionally a sentient vegetable).
Today!
lol shut up loser
I got my author copies of my first picture book, TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION (4/21/26, Red Comet Press), about a bear who learns she’s allergic to honeygrain, the (made-up) ingredient in her family’s bakery baked goods, and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection!
Well, that's just adding insult to injury. I'm sorry. Sending hugs.
Thanks for the excellent books! Towed by Toad is on my list of best books for toddlers!
Contains @zombicatures.bsky.social, @rpayne.bsky.social, @andenwilder.bsky.social, @jashar.bsky.social, @dansantat.bsky.social, @erinentrada.bsky.social, @barbaradee.bsky.social and many more!
What do early literacy and bells have to do with each other? They're both in this blog (and by bells I mean the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy Bells Award). www.marykuehner.com/post/storyti...
Hooray!
Finally. FINALLY finished my list of my favorite picture, middle grade, and YA books of 2025. Okay, so I read some in 2026, but they were all PUB'D in 2025. www.marykuehner.com/post/favorite-books-of-2025-all-of-them
One of my favorite parts of my job is when a parent requests resources to help their young child with literacy learning and I get to go down that rabbit hole and learn with them. Today it was how to help a 5-year-old retain letter sounds to help with learning phonics &, ultimately, learning to read
Popping up to say I was excited to have my 3 min of fame on the #NoSuchThingAsAFish Little Fish podcast when James Harkin shared my fact about the connection between Denver, snow, and the smell of manure. Yay for strange weather phenomena! Thanks, @andrewhunterm.bsky.social for picking mine
Happy New Year or whatever.
Anyone else get a random phrase stuck in their head and say it over and over until it turns into a song? Currently I’ve got “pipe cleaner animal rescue!” My brain is a weird place to live.
I feel just a little shameless doing this but I saw other people doing it and I gotta learn to promote myself.
Hi, I'm Mika and it's my birthday today! If I could have one wish it'd be for you to share my art. No pressure though I already had a banger day. Appreciate you all ❤️
Here’s to 2026
Mary! At Oh! Mary!
When in NY, the children’s librarian/author MUST visit @booksofwonder.bsky.social and see all their book friends (Anden Wilder!) (and pick up an autographed copy of @rpayne.bsky.social’s book!).
Librarian in the library. J Pierpont Morgan’s library, to be exact.
genAI is STOLEN WORK. Using genAI in *any* capacity is trafficking in stolen work, supporting the plunder. Period. These facts aren't even denied by the AI companies, they just find ways to make that plunder seem benevolent. Using their product enables that lie. Stop enabling the theft of our work.
Listening to @gofactyourpod.bsky.social and they’re celebrating Helen Hong’s 4 year cancerversary (the 4th anniversary of her surgery). Congratulations! Reminded me that I just passed mine on the 14th! Happy bday to my cancer-free but slightly misshapen left breast! That divot is a badge of honor.
There is so much, much more to read in kids’ books than Walliams or Rowling. It’s an embarrassingly rich world. Check out @louiestowell.bsky.social or @nadiashireen.bsky.social or any number of glorious, funny, heartfelt titles. You’ve got such treats in store without spending blood money.
She’s always plotting.
Right before she started trying to eat the tree. #cats
Just like "parental rights" actually means ONE type of parents' rights, so, too, does "we need to be neutral" in libraries actually means just appeasing conservatives.
All the good vibes sent from me & Pipsqueak. We’ve both had cancer and are both doing just fine.
If you’re in the Denver metro area, now would be a good time to charge all your things in case Xcel does decide to turn the power off.
I deadlifted 180# this morning. Not how I thought I might be starting my day a few years ago, but when you survive cancer and then find a trainer who specializes in training survivors, you might find that you actually line lifting heavy things for no reason.
Just a teeny widdle baby.