Laura Bontje | Out now: When the Air Sang

I'm tremendously honored to have been selected from among the many incredible volunteers I've gotten to know over the years.

Thank you so much, Katharine!

1. My hand holds the book in front of trees. The white cover shows a brown skinned, black haired child running through an oversized garden, a cicada on a yellow flower.

Congrats to my friend, @laurabontje.bsky.social, on her newest picture book, WHEN THE AIR SANG, a beautiful, intergenerational celebration of cicadas! Perfect for curious kids. #KidLit

Thank you for sharing, and for everything you've done to make this book what it is!

Starting soon! I look forward to reading to you all ❤️

Go see Sarah at #TCAF!

Thank you! 🐞❤️

❤️🌳🐞

You are too kind! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you!

Thank you for sharing!!

Thank you, Iva!

Thank you!

Two copies of the book When the Air Sang are open to the interior. One shows the endpapers, covered in a child's sketchbook and nature art. The other shows an interior spread with Annie running alongside her grandma, and a flashback photo to her grandma running through the trees as a child.

Thank you to my agent, @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social, and my editor, Jieun Lee. Huge thanks to Dr. Gene Kritsky ("the Indiana Jones of cicadas," say some articles!), who taught me so much about cicadas. And to all the people who helped me through the 25+ drafts: I couldn't have done it without you.

Two copies of the book When the Air Sang (by Laura Bontje and Sarah Whang) are surrounded by cicada sculptures and real cicada husks. Text says "Some things are worth the wait. Available now."

It's release day! When the Air Sang is officially on shelves!

Five years ago, I saw my first cicada, and now ... I couldn't be prouder of how this story has come together. @anderkaya.bsky.social and Annick Press, you've outdone yourselves.

(4/4) My debut may fall on the “fun” side, but that doesn’t mean every book should. Kids NEED books that push back against prejudice. Kids need books about activism.

All kids benefit from reading them. And all authors should stand up for the importance of them.

(3/4) I assume the reviewer found palindromes and friendship inoffensive.

Would their opinion of my inoffensiveness have changed if they knew we discussed inclusivity during my book's development? If they knew I've hired sensitivity readers for some of my manuscripts?

(2/4) The person who reviewed my book has also lamented the lack of books celebrating the right wing.

They think book bans stop indoctrination. They describe the trans community in words I won’t repeat.

They seem to support apolitical kids’ books. But nothing is apolitical.

I just discovered that my debut picture book (Was It a Cat I Saw?) received a media review last year that I hadn’t known about. Right away, I excitedly emailed my family.

Then I saw the reviewer's other headlines, and my excitement turned to indignation. (🧵)

Thanks for sharing!

Thank you, Audrey!

"Launch Party!" Surrounding the cover of the picture book When the Air Sang, the following text appears in colorful snippets: "Meet the author, meet the illustrator, door prizes, snacks and coloring, see a real cicada husk, support a local bookstore!" In a text box, "Saturday, April 12, 2:30-3:30 pm. Sound in Motion Studio, London, Ontario. This is a shoes-off facility. See post for info."

Save the date! If you're in #LdnOnt, I hope you'll join @anderkaya.bsky.social and me on April 12 to celebrate our new #PictureBook, When the Air Sang! There'll be remarks & a draw at 2:45.

Sound in Motion Studio: 1570 Highbury Ave N. (Shoes are left at the door, so wear your fave socks!)

In front of a green backdrop, the picture book Was It a Cat I Saw? wears a pink birthday hat.

It's hard to believe it's been a full year since my very first book came out! Thank you to everyone who has read it over the past year; it means so much to see people enjoying it.

And many thanks to Emma Lidia Squillari, @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social, and the team at @amicuspublishing.bsky.social!

Oh, so true! Across the lake here in southwestern Ontario, it was t-shirt weather yesterday and bitterly cold today! Hope your lovely art gets warmer reactions than the weather!

That would be a great first step :)

Always a pleasure!

Congratulations! I'm sure it won't be the last 😁

Happy publication day to this beautiful biography! I loved working on this book and learning more about Grace Lee Boggs. Congratulations, Songju!

It's hard to say without further context. Have you had a chance to work with critique partners to get outside feedback?

One of the things I find perplexing about billionaires is that they're all so utterly desperate to be loved but also utterly unable to comprehend that they could become heroes across the world by spending even a fraction of their obscene wealth on others.