Layne Johnson | Children’s Author - Is Querying

I read, you read, we all read! Happy #ReadAcrossAmericaDay! Pick up some of our gorgeous books and get started reading! 📚😍🥳 #kidlit #booksky #EduSky #picturebooks

A graphic with a spaceship and stars against a black background introduces various PB Rising Stars Mentors. Text says: WHO SHOULD I APPLY TO? Mentors Seeking: Cultural Text-Only Authors Headshots and names of the following mentors appear in the right corner: Natasha M.O. Sylvia Rio Tonya Nada Jasmine Michael Janelle Nadia H Jenna Namita Lesléa Patty Kim Sita Ana Patricia Gwendolyn Andrea Pasha A banner below reads "review each mentor's profile to check if you're eligible to apply". Please visit www.pbrisingstars.com/mentors to learn more!

Alt text: A graphic with a spaceship and stars against a black background introduces various PB Rising Stars Mentors. Text says: WHO SHOULD I APPLY TO? Mentors Seeking: Cultural Author-Illustrators & Illustrators Headshots and names of the following mentors appear in the right corner: Natasha Aya Nadia F. Steph A banner below reads "review each mentor's profile to check if you're eligible to apply". Please visit www.pbrisingstars.com/mentors to learn more!

Apply Now: February 27 to March 13

How to Apply checklist: - click on a mentor’s profile - scroll down- click apply button - fill out google form and submit - check your email and spa folder after submitting for an email confirmation - subscribe to our newsletter

⭐️Calling all Cultural Picture Book Creators⭐️

Are you ready to level up your craft?
Do you need help taking your story or art where you want it to go? A guiding hand to help you find the voice, the heart, and more?

Just commenting here because I checked out your profile because of your like on mine and saw you are writing a book on Rachel Held Evan’s ❤️. She was such a transformational figure in my life. Best of luck with the book. I hope to read it one day.

Omg love this idea for a pb

Yayyyy!!! Congrats!

Idea: A TV show like The Bachelor, but it’s authors looking for the rose from their matching Editor/Agent. We’ll call it Let’s Make a Book Deal. #kidlitcommunity #writingcommunity #writesky

Gotcha! Usually this time of year, I put the bread in the oven or microwave to proof so it stays a little warmer. Best of luck. Look forward to seeing your next result. Working with those grains is hard.

Replacing some of the flour with 10-20% bread flour may help with gluten structure. Warm bulk ferment until there are visible bubbles and a jiggle. It may take longer than expected. Too much cold ferment will weaken spelt gluten structure.

How old was the starter?
That makes sense. Spelt has weaker gluten and whole wheat cuts gluten strands. Both usually require more fermentation time. A long warm bulk ferment with some more time in the fridge may help. It looks underproofed which is why it’s raw looking in the middle and flat.

Avid bread maker here. What kind of flour did you use? Sometimes the ancient grains don’t rise as much or as quickly so it needs extra fermentation time. Was the starter already strong? If you know all this, feel free to ignore :).

Unagented PB writers and illustrators, this is one of the best opportunities of the year. Mark your calendars and don't miss it!

The funnest part about making art is that there’s no wrong way to do things. Art is where we play.

Two cows kissing with the text I Moo

Update: the fluffy cows and their love have inspired and they’ve become an illustration.

Ikr

Fluffy cows get married

I found an invitation to a fluffy cow wedding on a local events board and this might be the best thing I’ve seen all week.

Ahhh so cute

Paying for classes that charge hundreds of dollars for something you can learn from a book :) . There are lots of affordable classes out there that sometimes even include critiques that are $150 or less.

Adored this book.

LOVE this book. I can see why you’d like it. It’s right up your alley. Totally deserves a Caldecott.

Aw thank you! I’m trying to improve my chances by learning illustration. Appreciate the share and support. Hope to connect further.

Happy New Year! Here’s to 2026! #artvsartist #artvsartist2025 #kidlitcommunity

Little girl stands in a wheat field at golden hour with a cape on and blonde pigtails, a blue dress, and orange boots and cape with a red bandanna around her neck.

Happy Stranger Things Finale Day to all who celebrate! Here’s hoping to poor little Holly Wheeler makes it out in the New Year. 🙏🏼 #strangerthings5 #strangerthingsfinale #kidlitart #kidlitcommunity

Grandma offers two kids building a snowman cookies while a corgi catches snowflakes

This piece took soooo long but finally done with this snow day 😅! #kidlitart #kidlitcommunity

Kitten watches a little girl sleeping on a pile of presents from a tree with a fireplace behind her

Merry Christmas! #kidlitcommunity #kidlitart

Shared with my writing groups!

The Pause on Hunger: How America Teaches Families to Starve Politely When my mother texts me now, she doesn’t ask how I am. She asks if I can send money for groceries.

Someone shared my personal essay, The Pause on Hunger, here, and the response has been overwhelming in the best way.

If you haven’t read it yet, I hope you’ll give it a moment of your day.

medium.com/@bratt.avaso...

#FoodInsecurity #SNAP #HungerCrisis #PovertyInAmerica #Equity #Storytelling

Young Man with beard and glasses and older woman with white hair and rosy cheeks

Some quick character sketches from today.

Thank you!

Amazing! Congrats!