The conference equivalent of finding your gate at the airport before you buy gum and fill your water bottle is locating the room(s) where you’re presenting- just gotta make sure it exists, you know? #kidlit #awp26
I’m a writer, librarian, kidlit scholar and educator who’d love to say hi at AWP26 👋 I’ll be both moderating and speaking on picture books Thursday morning- Let’s connect about kidlit, intersectional storytelling, personal essays & finding new gigs (RIP WashPo Book World 😩) #kidlitchat
If you're going to assign students to complete a family tree (and really, there's SO MANY reasons not to!) please at least make the template editable, so kids can, for example, do Mom's side and Mama's side, or remove a side altogether, or actually can we just stop with the family trees?
Although he’s over a year out from his Bar Mitzvah, 11yo asked to get up early to eat before Ta'anit Esther, today’s fast before Purim starts tonight. We had a lovely conversation about how Muslims are fasting each day for Ramadan right now, and I taught him the terms Suhur and Iftar.
Another toddler gathered an armful of shaker eggs and kept going back for another, worriedly muttering “not enough eggs!” Again, super relatable.
In Circle Time at the #library this morning, one toddler vehemently protested every story and song, demanding cake. He got more insistent over the program “No cow moo- CAKE!” He wanted this cake stacking toy, but honestly just refusing everything asked of you and demanding cake is highly relatable.
When we create narratives for kids that center discrimination and have a series framework that by design calls out the ways our families are different rather than similar to “typical” families, I’m not sure whether that’s doing more harm than good, no matter the intent.
I know so many queer families are worried now more than ever about our legal status and rights. My family is too. Families with trans parent and/or kids are especially vulnerable. But we are also concerned about boring stuff, everyday parenting stuff.
The Mrs and I don’t agree on how to load the dishwasher. I haven’t yet put away the laundry she so lovingly folded.
I’m stymied by 6th grade math homework, putting all the burden of homework help on my wife.
The dog won’t stop barking unless she’s in someone’s lap.
The focus on discrimination and challenges queer families face is central to both titles, and highlighted on the back covers. So I thought I’d share some challenges my two-mom family is dealing with this week.
Over dinner, we looked together at the “Two-Mom” and “Two-Dad” books, comparing them. Both books spend considerable time discussing discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia, making clear that people of any and all genders can be great parents.
Almost 12yo asked a great question: “did they even talk to any kids with two moms to ask what’s important to us about our families?” #kidlit #nonfiction #lgbtq
The wild air pressure and temperature swings have been brutal for my arthritis. Just lost my grip on a glass of water and am demoting myself to plastic and stainless steel for the remainder of this flare. On the plus side, the glass didn't break, and the kitchen floor really benefited from mopping.
I’ve (again!)got a guest #kidlit column in the Washington Post, this time offering #mglit readalikes for the #wickedmovie here’s a guest link! wapo.st/3VsqHQE
Me, to myself after taking my 11yo to see #wicked, and subsequently having to listen to him sing Defying Gravity nonstop. “I hope you’re happy. I hope you’re happy now.”
Love this! My rising 6th grader is starting cross country this fall!
I’m in today’s Washington Post’s Bookworld! Gift link to article (which ran digitally earlier this week) wapo.st/3SYbLID. #kidlit #mglit #picturebooks #nonfiction #books #childrensliterature
ooooh these are gorgeous!
I saw these animals in a jumble in my school’s art studio and had a VISION and I have a drill and now I have Big Cat earrings #crafts #jewelry
Congrats to the 2024 Walter Award Winners, and thank you to the committee for your work! #kidlit #yalit #mglit #diversebooks #weneeddiversebooks diversebooks.org/wndb-announc...
Kid took off the VR headset to do the secret code challenge on the back of the cereal box. The future is weird.
PSA - don’t limit yourself to Latkes and Sufganiot! Tonight’s dinner was zucchini cutlets with Boursin cheese, roasted red peppers, and pesto on baguette. Happy Chanukah!
Delighted to discover that a box of Chanukah candles exactly nestles into a Bonne Maman jar.
Caldecott predictions from a first grader “I think it’s going to be either the squirrel book, the spider book, or the horse book” place your bets, folks! #alayma #kidlit #picturebooks
Absolutely un-put-down-able! Fascinating #middlegrade #nonfiction about the Hoover Dam. Seriously, SO CAPTIVATING. Out 3/24 from Little Brown. Definitely going on my middle school summer reading list and my 2025(!) Sibert list! #kidlit #MGLit
In First Grade library today, a student referred to the Caldecott Medal as the "TATER TOT MEDAL" and I hereby petition ALSC to consider the creation of said Youth Media Award. (what would the criteria be??) #kidlit #kidlitart #picturebooks #illustration #ALAYMA #librarians #schoollibrarian
Today in 1st Grade library classes, we'll be taking a close look at one of my personal 2024 #Caldecott and #Sibert picks: Jumper by Jessica Lanan. I'm excited and tad nervous to hear kids' responses as we examine this gorgeous #nonfiction #picturebook through our Mock Caldecott criteria lens #kidlit
