Varian Johnson

VCFA residencies happen twice per year on the CalArts campus AND online. For the past several semesters I've done residency online & it's a lovely, robust experience with lots of strong community vibes. There are Cloud-only events (workshop, seminars) & hybrid events with campus folk (lectures, etc)

Katherine Paterson is empowering the next generation of writers. $2,500 scholarships now available exclusively for incoming winter MFA WCYA students! Apply now! vcfa.edu. Katherine Paterson Scholarships. MFA in WCYA at VCFA, a CalArts affiliate.

New scholarships available for incoming students in the Writing for Children & Young Adults low-residency MFA program at VFCA (where I teach), funded by kid lit legend Katherine Paterson.

Thinking about applying? I'm happy to chat! vcfa.edu/admissions/v...

YouTube video by EarthWindandFireVEVO Earth, Wind & Fire - September (Official HD Video)

Almost missed it, @cherylklein.bsky.social!

youtu.be/Gs069dndIYk?...

“ALSC is proud to announce that the 2026 Children’s Literature Lecture will take place at the Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis, Minnesota." www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2025/08... #KidLit

Writers Literary

Yet. Another. Fake. Literary. Agency: Writers Literary. Among other things, totally false claims about authors and books repped, and images of supposed staff are stock photos. They're sending out fake publishing offers to writers writersliterary.com

Edelweiss+ Edelweiss, by Above the Treeline, is the book industry’s platform to sell, discover, and order new titles.

And here's the catalog listing: www.edelweiss.plus?sku=13388074...

Reggie Brown's (@reggiebrownart.bsky.social) art in our picture book LITTLE BIG MAN (Scholastic/Orchard Books, 2025) has lots of visual humor as Elijah tries to help with chores.

Vibrant book cover for the reissue of Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves.

You may know this, but they're reissuing Slice of Cherry in June and the redesigned cover is going to really sell it to a new generation.

Thank you for adding LITTLE BIG MAN to your display!

It's time to par-tee! ⛳️ Father's Day is this Sunday!

I was asked today what my best publishing advice is: You have no idea how close you are to achieving your goal, but the only guarantee is that if you give up now, you’ll never get there. Keep going!

Firefly Season

Happy book birthday to @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social and Kate Gardiner's Firefly Season!

New book alert! Signed LITTLE BIG MAN by @varianjohnson.bsky.social and @reggiebrownart.bsky.social is waiting in the @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social!
Give culturally diverse books (like this one) to culturally diverse communities through #read4unity. Go to read4unity.com/give $5=1 book!

An Interview with Varian Johnson | The Book Faire: May 8, 2025 The Book Faire Podcast · Episode

Happy Thursday! A new episode of the Book Fiare Podcsst is out now, featuring an insightful interview with @varianjohnson.bsky.social
Listen now on Spotify or wherever podcasts are found.
#Podcast #kidlit

open.spotify.com/episode/5eOU...

“Now that I look back, I realize how blessed I was to be able to spend so much time with my father”: Varian Johnson reflects on his own relationship with his father, in a conversation with Reggie Brown on their new picture book ‘Little Big Man’ buff.ly/wosAlUi

Congratulations @katemessner.com

Congratulations, @lakitawilson.bsky.social!!!

I just signed. Will you?

BookPeople Events Presents Varian Johnson (author of THE PARKER INHERITANCE) speaking and signing on Monday May 5th at 6PM

Join Coretta Scott King Honor and Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor-winning author @varianjohnson.bsky.social on May 5th discussing LITTLE BIG MAN, a heartwarming father-son story about the importance of stepping up... and finding time to play.

More info + RSVP: www.eventbrite.com/e/bookpeople...

It's beyond surreal, but here we are: the US Supreme Court is discussing the imaginary threat posed by queer families and kids being included in a handful of story books.

Thanks to Sarah Brennan for this brilliant editorial cartoon. Oral arguments will take place April 22.

YouTube video by Brodart Co. Varian Johnson presents LITTLE BIG MAN

After working on this book for years, I'm excited that LITTLE BIG MAN, my debut picture book with @reggiebrownart.bsky.social, is almost out in stores. More details are coming soon concerning preorders, the tour, and other events, but for now, here's a bit from the book!

youtu.be/QFh9_dYVTec?...

I’m so glad he enjoyed it!

ATTN Readers! Find out how to support libraries & library personnel in 2025 at the ALSC Blog: Pursuing Excellence for Library Service to Children: www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2025/02... #kidlit #libraries #picturebooks #librarians @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @aaslala.bsky.social @wearealsc.bsky.social

Texas Institute of Letters Jean Flynn Award for Best Young Adult Book Winner: CANTO CONTIGO by Jonny Garza Villa (Wednesday Books) Honor-winners: THROUGH FENCES by Frederick Aldama, ill. by Oscar Garza (The Ohio State University Press); PINTSIZED PIONEERS: TAMING THE FRONTIER ONE CHORE AT A TIME by Preston Lewis and Harriet Kocher Lewis (Bariso Press)

Texas Institute of Letters Deirdre Siobhan FlynnBass Award for Best Middle Grade Book Winner: GIGI SHIN IS NOT A NERD by Lyla Lee (Aladdin) Honor-winners: LOS MONSTRUOS: ROOSTER AND THE DANCING DIABLO by Diana Lopez (Kokila); The Minor Miracle: THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF NOAH MINOR by Meredith Davis (WaterBrook); ON A WING AND A TEAR by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Heartdrum)

Texas Institute of Letters Brigid Erin Flynn Award for Best Picture Book Winner: DESERT SONG by Laekan Zea Kemp (Neal Porter Books) Honor-winners: A GARLAND OF HENNA by Varsha Bajaj (Nancy Paulsen Books); MIGUEL MUST FIGHT! by Jamie Ofelia (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; A MALETA FULL OF TREASURES by Natalia Sylvester (Dial Books)

The Texas Institute of Letters has announced the winners of 12 Annual TIL Literary Awards. This year, TIL will award these writers and 2 other recipients a total of $39,000 in prizes at the TIL Awards Ceremony in Brownsville on April 26. The TIL is a nonprofit Honor Society founded in 1936. #booksky

Thank you, Laurie!

Most banned books feature people of color and LGBTQ+ people, report finds Study counteracts claims by conservative lawmakers that books being removed from classrooms are sexually explicit The majority of banned books in US public schools last year dealt with people of color, LGBTQ+ people and other demographics, according to a…

Most banned books feature people of color and LGBTQ+ people, report finds

Nearly 1,200 5th graders find love for reading with One Book, One City A longstanding partnership between the Grand Rapids Public Library and Grand Rapids Public Schools aims to help fifth graders find a love for reading and set them up for future academic success.

@varianjohnson.bsky.social www.woodtv.com/news/grand-r...

Thank you for the kind words!!!

Recently finished Playing the Cards You're Dealt by @varianjohnson.bsky.social Really lovely #mglit story that manages to tackle serious issues like parental alcoholism while also being about family, friendship, and spades. The narrator is excellent and adds a lot of humor. Recommended! #tlsky

A bookstore shelf displays Mister Miracle: The Great Escape, The Other History of the DC Universe, and Miles Morales: Spider-Man: Trial by Spider

A bookstore shelf displaying Big Jim and the White Boy, Virgil, and Run

A bookshelf displaying The High Desert, Bitter Root vol 1: Family Business, and The Black Panther Party

@varianjohnson.bsky.social Daniel Isles, John Ridley, @josevillarrubia.bsky.social @yayforzig.bsky.social Federico Vicentini, @davidfwalker.bsky.social @thesteveorlando.bsky.socialJD Faith, John Lewis, @andrewaydin.bsky.social @natepowell.bsky.social Sanford Greene, Chuck Brown, and James Spooner