Jennifer Harris

Some of our books are on the Children's Book Council Winter 2026 Showcase: Dream A Little Dream 🌙

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB
MOON POPS
ELEANOR’S MOON
WHO NEEDS THE DARK?
THE KEEPER OF STARS

Thank you to the Children's Book Council for featuring us amongst a lovely list 💙

#Winter2026Showcase #CBCShowcase

Image shows Owlkids logo and OWL 50 anniversary logo side by side. Text reads: giving a hoot about reading for 50 years!

‼️ IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY 🎂 (and a big one) ‼️

We're kicking it off with our #AnniversaryLogoReveal, featuring OWL's original Owl! 🦉

Stay tuned all year for fun content ... we look forward to celebrating with you! ❤️🎉

#Birthday #Anniversary #50 #50Years #OWL #1976 #2026

I'm thinking of taking a specialized university course in children's book marketing and publicity--maybe I'll develop expertise, or maybe I'll recognize we're all just throwing spaghetti at the wall #Kidlitchat

Kate Messner's School Librarian Advisory Team With recent shifts in social media, support for libraries, and school budgets, it feels more challenging than ever to connect kids with books they’ll love. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how au...

I have a few openings on my School Librarian Advisory Team for 2026 – if you're interested in taking the occasional survey, getting early copies of new books, & taking a peek behind the scenes of making kids’ books, it might be a good fit for you & your readers! Details: forms.gle/mkA9L5EuvjTu...

I took a publishing course this fall, and learned that while editors say they don't care about social media, publishing and marketing do--and they have a more significant voice at acquisitions than many realize. #KidLitChat

Someone made me a custom button of one of my book covers for its launch, and it was so sweet. If you want to buy an author a gift, what about an enamel pin with their favourite book cover? Or jewellery of the same? Etsy is great for this! #kidlitchat

At the Rescue Cat Café Spend the week at the Rescue Cat Café A whole clowder of cats resides at the Rescue Cat Café. Each cat is distinct in look and personality, and each is in need of a forever home. Handsome Henry sleeps...

Have you seen Anna Humphrey and Kari Rust's picture book AT THE RESCUE CAT CAFE? 100% recommend! #kidlitchat shop.owlkids.com/products/at-...

I tell my university students that all the research they do may not make it into their essays, but it still enriches them in tangible ways. I feel the same way about things that need to be excised from a picturebook ms. #kidlitchat

I feel kind of guilty saying it, but for me at least the structure of a picture book feels somewhat inevitable once you have the idea. There's something about the shape of the idea or the narrative style that demands a certain form #kidlitchat

I recently floated a suggestion to another writer that there's a difference between being precious about your writing, and being principled. I think working with editors works best when you learn the difference, in order to produce the best product #kidlitchat

Structuring a picture book can be tied to the emotional arc of a character, the pacing of the plot, the rhythm of language, or any combination of the 3. But above all, you’re bound by the formal constraints: roughly 13 page spreads. Form is like the Jillian Michaels of pbs: merciless #kidlitchat

You can see the CANSCAIP program here, if interested: www.canscaip.org/PYI-Conference #kidlitchat

I was fortunate to do a fall course with Kyo Maclear, and also attended CANSCAIP in Toronto, where you can do one-on-one meetings with editors. Both turned into community building opportunities. This is what I love about Bookish, which I host--I meet fabulous people and learn so much #kidlitchat

I suspect--though I could be wrong--that second hook doesn't have to be as heavily weighted as the first. While this might not apply to your manuscript, it could also be about making sure a ms isn't too "on the nose" by asking authors to ensure that the ms functions on different levels

thank you! The book hasn't been announced. I feel very lucky to have sold it, as it was a very odd manuscript. Now is the fun part--waiting to hear who will illustrate! #kidlitchat

More than a quarter of readers of YA are over the age of 28 research shows Report commissioned by HarperCollins shows that uptake in YA fiction in older readers is due to behavioural changes described as ‘emerging adulthood’ or delaying ‘adult’ life

There have been some really good articles about the rise of adults reading YA #kidlitchat

People now say over 500 words is too much for a picture book (unless nf or bio). At the same time, I note more prominent pb writers can get longer books through. And I sold a picture book over 800 words in 2025. But it was a very odd book. Hence my theory: now's the time to go weird! #kidlitchat

Have you encountered the @youngteenlit.bsky.social people? They've talked a lot about the need for shorter books #kidlitchat

Thanks for sharing! Love being in such wonderful company!

Picture books usually come out 3 years after the contract is signed, so what's on shelves now doesn't reflect a current trend, so much as 2022. But I can say in terms of my own manuscripts, it's the more unusual ones editors have liked in 2024/2025. So maybe now's the time to go weird?! #kidlitchat

Light up the night sky with these #BookRecs 🔦

✨ WHO NEEDS THE DARK?
✨ MOON POPS
✨ ELEANOR'S MOON
✨ THE MIDNIGHT CLUB
✨ THE KEEPER OF STARS
✨ LITTLE MOMENTS IN A BIG UNIVERSE
✨ THE JELLYFISH BUS
✨ I WONDER ABOUT WORLDS

#Nighttime #Storytime #KidLit #BookSky

Make the most of those early sunsets with snuggly reads. We love a book list, and we love seeing Maggie Knaus' ELEANOR'S MOON and @mypbjam.bsky.social's THE KEEPER OF STARS on this one✨

In Toronto and feeling witchy? Here's the event for you! @picturebookseh.bsky.social

Then I should share that I LOVE your illustrations for THE INQUISITOR'S TALE, and am 99% sure it's why I was drawn to pick up the book in the first place!

My undergrad English class on Young Adult Literature has just decreed Isaac Blum’s THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF HOODIE ROSEN meets the criteria for Young Teen Lit.... Thoughts? @youngteenlit.bsky.social

Not to freak you out about being half way through summer or anything, but here's a reminder that if you're planning to teach The Power of Sympathy in the coming year, @mypbjam.bsky.social and I are happy to Zoom into your classroom!

Reading is transformative so I’m 100% behind a National Year of Reading but instead of shaming parents/carers (“put our phones down and pick up a book”) let’s focus on access and choice for children. That includes reversing library closures and funding cuts. #readingforpleasure

Feeling lucky for this fantastic review! @picturebookseh.bsky.social @canscaip.bsky.social

Thank you so much for the wonderful review! I'm thrilled you enjoyed it!

‘One kid at a time’: How children’s books on male friendship could combat toxic masculinity From Margaret McDonald’s Glasgow Boys to Nathanael Lessore’s King of Nothing, boys take centre stage in this year’s Carnegie-winning titles. Let’s hope that the male protagonists persuade more boys to...

An angle to explore: "Novels are empathy machines: they invite you to imagine what it might be like to be somebody else. So they are, at least potentially, an antidote to the misogynistic influence of the manosphere" www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...