Kelly Crull 🦊

Woo-hoo! It's publication day.
@charlesbridge.bsky.social Signed copies available at @silverunicornbooks.bsky.social
Thank you to the third grader who inspired the book.

It's World Whale and Dolphin Day!
Let's celebrate these magnificent creatures.
#edusky #kidlit @steamteambooks.bsky.social
@nancycastaldobooks.bsky.social @mcusolito.bsky.social @jessicalanan.bsky.social @lynnbrunellebooks.bsky.social @authorjasonchin.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social

Thanks Wendy!

Front cover of The Black Mambas: The World's First All-Woman Anti-Poaching Unit by author and photographer Kelly Crull. A photograph fills the full cover, showing a white pickup truck with dark-skinned women wearing camouflage uniforms sitting on the hood, inside of it, and standing in the bed of the truck, one of whom is scanning the landscape through binoculars. The women are silhouetted with streaks of red, orange, yellow, and blue created by the setting sun behind them. The landscape is primarily green with grass, bushes, and short trees visible beyond the truck.

The front cover of the picture book Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre by Livia Blackburne, illus. by Nicole Xu. The cover features a large dragon's head primarily in shades of red, orange, and yellow, with green and blue accents of the type you might see parading down the street for Chinese New Year. In the background is a hint of a tan-colored building with thin lighter tan columns and a couple of indistinct figures wearing long-sleeve shirts or jackets and dark pants.

Front cover of the nonfiction picture book Kaho'olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People by Kamalani Hurley, illustrated by Harinani Orme. Collage artwork depicts three people looking out at the viewer, all of whom have various shades of brown skin and medium to dark brown hair. In the background, three more indistinct figures are planting some sort of vegetation. Behind the figures is a stylized depiction of the Pacific ocean with swirls of blue. Behind that is a reddish-brown small island, and near the top of the cover is a rainbow.

Front cover of the picture book Rewriting the Rules: How Dr. Kathleen Friel Created New Possibilities for Brain Research and Disability. It features Dr. Friel, a pale-skinned woman with rosy cheeks and shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a white lab coat. Her right arm and leg are turned inward and her right hand is curled under due to her cerebral palsy. One her right is a child with light brown skin and medium brown hair, wearing a yellow striped t-shirt, blue pants, and blue shoes. He uses black forearm crutches. To Dr. Friel's left is a child with dark brown skin and black hair that goes midway down their back, wearing a pale blue polka dotted shirt and a red-orange knee-length skirt. The child is blowing on a dandelion to send the seeds fling. Surrounding the three human figures are dandelions (which are associated with cerebral palsy) and fantastical flowers and trees that incorporate the shapes of neurons.

I always tell people that nonfiction is at the heart of what we do here at @lernerbooks.bsky.social. Having four (!) titles on @slj.com's Elementary NF starred review list for this year definitely affirms that!

Full list: www.slj.com/story/35-imp...

Thanks Cheryl!

FAVE FOUR

If you'd like to see other kidlit recommendations, pop on over to cherylajohnsonwrites.weebly.com.

@chanastiefel.bsky.social
@jstremer.bsky.social
@gordywright.bsky.social
@kellycrull.bsky.social

#kidlit
#kidlitbookstack
#kidlitrecommendation

Thank you @erindealey.bsky.social!

EW Creator Highlight: Kelly Crull Kelly Crull is an award-winning children’s author, illustrator, designer, and photographer with a passion for sparking curiosity and creativity in young readers. ... [READ MORE]

Our June Highlight: creator @kellycrull.bsky.social @lernerbooks.bsky.social #photographer #picturebook #nonfiction #kidlit #author mailchi.mp/eastwestlite... #KidlitMegaFeed

Are you an illustrator coming to #ala25 next week? Would you like a fun soiree to attend? It appears that Mr. Brian Biggs is local to the area and he's organizing a get together. Come! Hang out! More info here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ala-illust...

Let's Talk Comp Titles! What are they, and do I really need them?

#WritingCommunity! A new #AgentAntics has dropped!
agentantics.substack.com/p/lets-talk-...

Pa. Center for the Book's 'Baker’s Dozen' children's booklist announced for 2025 www.psu.edu/news/univers...

YouTube video by Creative Boom Cracking BlueSky: Brian LaRossa’s Guide to Making It Work

My interview with @creativeboom.com—specifically about @bsky.app, and how I’ve made it work for me—is now out from behind the paywall and publicly available via YouTube. It’s an hour long, but I share a ton of concrete tips and tricks.
💙❤️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsVJ...

Really excited to be going back to my roots for this event in Pasadena on Saturday! I’d love to see you there.

@simonkids.bsky.social @scbwirockymtn.bsky.social @scbwirockymtn.bsky.social @scbwirockymtn.bsky.social

A book bracelet!!!!! 🩷📚
#BookSky #WriterSky #KidLit

Illustration of a goat and child birthday party at a playground. It looks like springtime and goats are nibbling flowers, cups, and gifts. Kids are swinging, sliding, and arriving with balloons. Art by Gina Perry

Next Thursday, June 5th, is the 3rd birthday of #KidLitArtPostcard Day! Illustrators: get that work ready (new or gold!). Art Directors, Editors, and Agents: get ready to make some new connections! #kidlit #kidlitart

Teachers! Librarians! Parents!
I've just updated these materials with sections especially for you.
Kids Love Nonfiction: A Library of Resources
tinyurl.com/4jxhu9uc
#edusky #kidlit

Good News from East to West! Find out more about books, events, and good news from East West Literary Agency's talent.

ICYMI --> Our April Newsletter— Book Birthdays: Brynne Barnes @patricianewman.bsky.social Anna Dewdney @kellycrull.bsky.social Safa Suleiman, Thomas Gonzalez, Kwame Alexander; #Bestseller @meganefreeman.bsky.social
and so much GOOD news! mailchi.mp/eastwestlite... #kidlit #authors #illustrators

Hooray for spreading the word about THE BLACK MAMBAS by @kellycrull.bsky.social: "Rarely have I read a blog post and thought, 'I must instantly go and procure this very title.' But I thought exactly that in this case."

Picture Book Pals @kellycrull.bsky.social 's newest book, THE BLACK MAMBAS is highlighted in today's Picture Book Builders blog post!
#kidlit. #picturebooks #picturebookbuilders #picturebookpals
picturebookbuilders.com/2025/05/a-bo...

Wendy has a plethora of creative ideas for infusing more nonfiction into our library programs!

So moved and grateful for this review! BLACK MAMBAS was a joy to work on with @kellycrull.bsky.social, editor Jesseca Fusco, and art director @dcarnito.bsky.social!!

8 Nonfiction Titles to Inspire Young Animal Conservationists From a picture book about whales to middle grade books on rescuing red wolves and honeybees, these informational texts will encourage burgeoning environmentalists to take on a cause.

Thrilled to be featured in this article by the School Library Journal. www.slj.com/story/8-nonf... @carolhinz.bsky.social #earthday #earthdayeveryday #wildlife #conservation #blackmambasapu

Thank you @slj.com for including GIANT RAYS OF HOPE in your Earth Month round-up. The rays and I are in terrific company 💙
@lernerbooks.bsky.social @carolhinz.bsky.social @kellycrull.bsky.social @nancycastaldobooks.bsky.social @annettewhipple.bsky.social @sandramarkle.bsky.social #greensky #edusky

Excellent article--I love that @kellycrull.bsky.social discussed research, including spending time with the Black Mambas anti-poaching unit in South Africa: "Bringing together years of conversation with a rare opportunity to document their work resulted in a book we are all proud to share."

THE BLACK MAMBAS: THE WORLD’S FIRST ALL-WOMAN ANTI-POACHING UNIT by @kellycrull.bsky.social is engaging, powerful, and inspiring. The incredible photography, passionate text, and interactive elements made me eager to turn each page. And some spreads made me tear up! #kidlit

Can you guess which animal makes this track? #blackmambasapu #lerner #eastwestlit #wildlife #conservation #stem #kitlit #nf #pb #authorvisit

Signed copies of WHEN A TREE FALLS now available at Iron Dog Books. A wonderful Vancouver independent bookstore!

I made a matching game for my Black Mambas author visits. I can’t wait for kids to try it out! #BlackMambasAPU #cardgame #kidlit #stembooks #steambooks #conservation #wildlife #photography #kruger #authorvisit #stemauthor @carolhinz.bsky.social

K-5 teachers! 🐾🌍 Want to connect your students with real-world conservation? I created a free teaching guide for The Black Mambas! Hands-on activities + Common Core & NGSS aligned. Grab it here: kellycrull.com/wp-content/u... #WildlifeConservation #FreeTeachingResource @carolhinz.bsky.social

Congratulations to @saraclevinebooks.bsky.social, Rebekah Taussig, Kirbi Fagan, @kellycrull.bsky.social, @patricianewman.bsky.social, Becca Hall, and Sandra Markle!