Alvina Ling

Grace Lin and I are planning to have an Ask Us Anything episode to celebrate our 7-year Book Friends Forever podcast anniversary! So, feel free to ask us anything in the comments, or email bookfriendsforever2021@gmail.com!

Kwame Alexander was chosen for the 2026 Children's Literature Lecture Award! Congratulations! 🎉

GO TELL IT by Quartez Harris and illustrated by @gordoncjamesart.bsky.social is a Sibert Award Honor Book! Congratulations!

THE UNDEAD FOX OF DEADWOOD FOREST by Aubrey Hartman is a 2026 Newbery Honor Book! Join us in congratulating Aubrey!

Congratulations to @johnpicacio.bsky.social, Pura Belpré Illustration Award Honoree for THE INVISIBLE PARADE!

Congratulations to Tasha Spillett and Daniel Ramirez, creators of RAVEN'S RIBBONS, an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor book!

Congratulations to 2026 Stonewall Book Award Honorees THE INK WITCH by @stephcherrywell.com and HE'S SO POSSESSED WITH ME by Corey Liu!

We are thrilled to celebrate 2026 Coretta Scott King Book Award Winner @jewellparkerrhodes.bsky.social, author of WILL'S RACE FOR HOME!

Congratulations to Marie Arnold, author of SPLIT THE SKY, a Coretta Scott King Award Honoree!

The Coretta Scott King Author award goes 'Will's Race for Home' by Jewell Parker Rhodes #ALAyma

Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.

Best roundup I've seen of organizations working to support the people of Minnesota - all accepting donations. If you're feeling helpless right now, something is better than nothing. www.standwithminnesota.com?fbclid=IwY2x...

Statement from the family of Alex Pretti: "We are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.”

NEW

Statement from the family of Alex Pretti:

"They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take care of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mr Rogers said look for the helpers, & right now the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mr Rogers would be here right now too, so I'm here."

Yes! You can also bid to be a guest on @authorgracelin.bsky.social and my #BookFriendsForever podcast! We’d love to have you!

Thanks!!

BREAKING: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race, NBC News projects. nbcnews.to/4nIzNUC

Childhood besties → Author & Editor dream team 💕

@authorgracelin.bsky.social & @alvinaling.bsky.social talk 9 years of patience, Chinese folklore, and creating the most beautiful book possible.

New #GrowingReadersPodcast episode live now!

🎧 All platforms: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

Aww, that’s great! Thanks for letting me know!

We built a calculator that doesn't work, but don't worry, it's also a plagiarism machine that will tell you to kill yourself. It runs on the world's oceans and costs 10 trillion dollars.

ALA attendees: you won't want to miss @authorgracelin.bsky.social's Featured Speaker address on Monday, June 30! She will also be signing copies of THE GATE, THE GIRL, AND THE DRAGON following her talk; more details here: www.littlebrownlibrary.com/landing-page...
#ALAAC25

The Art of Grace Lin: Meeting a Friend in an Unexpected Place

This spring is whirlwind! On June 14, a retrospective exhibit of my art will open at the Carle Museum! To celebrate @alvinaling.bsky.social
and I will be recording a live episode of our BFF podcast there! Do you have any questions for us? Let us know!

carlemuseum.org/explore-art/...

Screenshot of a book deal announcement from Publisher's Marketplace. Bright art of a gorgeous house interior is in the background. It reads: DEAL REPORT By Sasha Allen, Julian Plum Imprint: Little, Brown Children's Trans TikTok influencer and The Voice contestant Sasha's Allen's THE HOUSE THAT FEELS LIKE ME, based on the author's viral video, about a house that's dull and gray on the outside, but bright and colorful on the inside, and the neighborhood boy who helps the house's exterior match who it is inside, illustrated by trans artist Julian Plum, to Alvina Ling at Little, Brown Children's, for publication in fall 2026, by Naomi Davis at BookEnds (world). Children's: Picture Book Fiction, April 23, 2025

🌈 super exciting news!! I'm so thrilled to be illustrating THE HOUSE THAT FEELS LIKE ME with Sasha and @alvinaling.bsky.social. It's such a needed book right now! Huge thanks as always to Naomi Davis at @bookendsliterary.bsky.social!! Coming Fall 2026!

#kidlit #picturebooks #kidlitart

How a well-intended California domestic violence law results in victims being arrested | Opinion The California Penal Code requires officers to make an arrest in domestic violence incidents, sometimes leading to victims being detained.

Okay, all. I have a call to action for all CA residents.

If you're not a CA resident, please help share and boost?

1. Most of you know what happened to me last month. If not, my @calmatters.org op-ed was posted this morning.

I'm working on changing the penal code.

Excited to be on @alvinaling.bsky.social and @authorgracelin.bsky.social’s Book Friends Forver podcast with @editorsangeeta.bsky.social to talk about freelance editing (my first podcast!). Would love to hear what you think if you check it out (link below)! 1/2

YouTube video by MSNBC Velshi Banned Book Club: ‘Internment’ by Samira Ahmed

Powerful segment with @samiraahmed.bsky.social on the Velshi Banned Book Club talking about her book INTERNMENT and book banning. "Young people are just fighting for their future." youtu.be/m6TGQ4TFLAw?...

Murray Hill Ken and the Unleashed Dog For everyone's sake, just leash your dog.

I found this essay by Eddie Huang quite moving. Also, I learned something about working dogs!
"I’d rather people just assume I’m a Chinese guy delivering Chinese food because when I was a Chinese guy delivering Chinese food I got to see who people really were." basedfob.substack.com/p/murray-hil...

Hey all.

I've been vague about this, but I'm now going to be blunt.

I understand that some of you may not look at me the same, but I want to be forthright, and maybe, speaking up will help others too.

I experienced domestic violence on Saturday at the hands of an ex.

❤️❤️❤️

Grishaverse Author Leigh Bardugo and Award-Winning Artist John Picacio Team Up for New Children's Book (Exclusive) Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio have a picture book on the way! The romantasy author and the award-winning author collaborated to write 'The Invisible Parade,' the story of a girl navigating grief in the most beautiful of ways, featuring Picacio's stellar illustrations.

This book has been a long time in the making--I acquired it in 2020! The art was a true labor of love for John, and it was definitely worth the wait. I feel privileged to have been able to see the art in person when I was at TLA last year! people.com/leigh-bardug...