It’s Freedom To Read Week, an annual event that encourages us to reaffirm our commitment to critical thinking, intellectual freedom, & education.
The freedom to read can never be taken for granted, even in Canada. Keep the conversation going—and keep reading!
#FTRW26 #FreedomToRead
This author’s eye brings you a view of the sky from the forest floor. Or, in my imagination, a giant who fell from the clouds and ripped a hole through the canopy of trees.
#authorsEye #artistsEye #betterthanAI #humaneye
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes, comes from Craig Mod:
“Boredom: the great engine of creativity.”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/02/26/w...
A dog talks to his therapist: "I just wish I didn't have this need for external validation. Deep down inside, I know I'm a good boy."
Dog Therapy. www.patreon.com/posts/dog-th...
Thank you so much, @hkubiw.bsky.social for this lovely review. Yes, BUTTERFLY SEA and ‘BUMBLEBEE’ are about connection between species, the luxury of children at play, and the power of the natural world to invigorate our lives. @marielaurecouet.bsky.social
#picturebook #writingcommunity
🦋 🐝
B ads of water cradled by a gentle lotus leaf. Last summer, during my stay in Seoul, I made many visits to Bongeunsa Temple and enjoyed the peaceful walkways and small marvels found in quiet corners.
#authorsEye #betterthanAI
Thanks, @theseaboardreview.ca 4 the chance 2 review Yes! To Canada: When Grampa Refused to Fight in The Vietnam War, by #robertdavies. An agonizing but understandable choice, to flee one's home in protest of a war even Defense Secretary #RobertMcNamara condemned. #harppublishing shorturl.at/Gca6J
Seamus and the Shiny Things, by #carakansala, is a children’s book to crow about. Seamus is greedy about collecting shiny objects, only to find out that friendship is what truly shines. Take a beak, I mean, peek at my review! @theseaboardreview.ca @breakwaterbooks.bsky.social tinyurl.com/4a73udm2
This is waiting for my son when he gets home today: I’M BUSY - with illustrations by one of our household’s favourite #kidlit creators, @debbieohi.com, and written by @michaelianblack.bsky.social. (My son’s stuffy is getting a sneak-peek before him!)
@simonkids.bsky.social #ImBusy
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes, comes from Austin Kleon:
“What if you replaced your dread with curiosity?”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/02/12/w...
In my recent interview on the Edu-Kate podcast, I celebrate one of my favourite passions: #creativeeducation.
Kate and I spoke about strategies to implement in the classroom—and home—to help improve our kids mental, emotional, & overall creative health.
open.spotify.com/episode/3F5S...
This author’s eye brings you a dancing starfish. Unless you see something different . . .
#authorsEye #artistsEye #betterthanAI #humaneye
I downloaded the fun door-hanger template by @debbieohi.com for the new picture book, I’M BUSY, by her & @michaelianblack.bsky.social (out next week!)
The 7-yr-old decided he was busy stopping his fav stuffy from causing mischief…
You can get the template from debbieohi.com/book/book-im...
It always strikes me, in news items about AI licensing schemes and/or startups, how often authors are simply not mentioned: it's all about making things easy for publishers. Writers will need to fight their publishers--not just the AI companies www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
Once, technology solved problems. People liked having problems solved, so they liked technology.
Tech execs started to think of that sentiment as their due. So when they stopped solving problems, and people stopped liking them, they became outraged. "How dare you not love whatever we give you?"
#TBRuary: A Collaborative Reading List Building Challenge Hosted by @lizzieblackwood.bsky.social Day 19: A book that was self-published or released by a small press
#TBRuary Day 19: Indie Pub
It's indie day! Celebrate the little guys with a pick from your TBR that's self-published or from a small press and tell us what excites you about it. Definitely ask for recs, too!
Share your pick with a quote post.
#booksky #readingcommunity
#writesky #writingcommunity
Thursday Doors: Valencia, Spain
Another favourite Spanish city of mine is Valencia. It is the third-largest city in Spain, located about 2.5 hours south of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast. It has a rich history and amazing architecture. It is also very modern and combines the new and the old…
One thing I love about being in a pop choir is I get to discover powerful songs like this one that I have somehow missed. If you’ve never heard it, give a listen. #TheJoke #music #life #love
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes, comes from Georgia O’Keefe:
“Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing.”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/02/19/w...
Next week is Freedom to Read Week, and the Book and Periodical Council is holding a free online session (Feb. 26 @ 2 p.m. ET) on book censorship in Alberta. There will be practical advice on how to speak out against censorship. Register here: www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticket...
Thank you for the blog feature, Heather Morris! #CanKidLit #newrelease #pb #author #illustrations #books #families #raiseareader #butterflies #spring #bees #flowers
🦋 🐝 🌼 🧚♂️ 🏴☠️ 🧜♀️ 🐌 📚
PSA for BC kidlit friends: if you've applied to @cwillbc.bsky.social & haven't heard back, try again &/or shoot us a message!
We respond to 100% of applicants... but sometimes tech gremlins do eat the applications in transit😅
Content submissions of any type to Red Ogre Review are conditioned on, and evidence of, your explicit agreement that in exchange for Red Ogre Review’s evaluation of your content submission for potential publication with Red Ogre Review or any other publication outlet, you intentionally and unreservedly grant Red Ogre Review an unrestricted, transferable, and nonrevocable worldwide license and right to use the submission content on this site and in any reproduced, related, or derivative materials, including in print books and in electronic books produced by Red Ogre Review, and on social media channels operated by or affiliated with Red Ogre Review, without expectation of any cash payment, royalty payments, or any other valuable compensation; you also irrevocably waive in their entirety any current or future exercise of “natural rights” or “moral rights of authors” as may potentially be asserted.
Content submissions of any type to Red Ogre Review are conditioned on, and evidence of, your explicit agreement that in exchange for Red Ogre Review’s evaluation of your content submission for potential publication with Red Ogre Review or any other publication outlet, you intentionally and unreservedly grant (absent mutual written agreement to the contrary) Red Ogre Review an unrestricted, transferable, and nonrevocable worldwide license and right to use the submission content on this site and in any reproduced or derivative formats, including in print books and in electronic books produced by Red Ogre Review, and on social media channels operated by or affiliated with Red Ogre Review, without expectation of any cash payment, royalty payments, or any other valuable compensation, as of the moment of Red Ogre Review’s written agreement to publish your creative work; you also irrevocably waive in their entirety any current or future exercise of “natural rights” or “moral rights of authors” as may potentially be asserted in contradiction of these terms of service, to the extent consistent with the laws of the applicable jurisdiction(s).
For those following the Red Ogre Review saga, he has made good on his promise to change his licensing terms...by doubling down.
On left: the original (awful) license. On right: the new license, mostly the same as the old license, but with some additions that I've circled in red.
Title: MELANCHOLY BLOB "They say if you do something for 10,000 hours, you will be an expert at that thing," says Melancholy Blob. "I am a master of despair."
Blob Expert. www.patreon.com/posts/blob-e...
Story Chat Digest: "Three Sheets to the Wind" by Darlene Foster alwayswrite.blog/2026/02/10/s...
I’ve been enjoying @teachergorman’s new serial novel, TILTING AT WINDMILLS. Gives me lots of Terry Pratchett vibes. You can check out the Youtube or podcast versions here:
www.notapipepublishing.com/writers-not-...
Today's unsolicited advice for my fellow illustrators and freelancers #kidlit #kidlitart
Sending a follow-up email can be really important/useful.
A question unanswered, a simple thank you, a reminder or a new CTA, etc, sometimes that second email goes a long(er) way 😉
Happy Monday!
Two chickens drinking coffee. Chicken 1: I'm feeling optimistic about the future! Chicken 2: I'm looking forward to saying "I told you so"!
Looking Forward. www.patreon.com/posts/lookin...
Top Ten Things Not to Do When You Meet a Neanderthal - Guest Post Jacqui Murry #New Book - Balance of Nature johnwhowell.com/2026/02/09/t...
Orange text says Lorenzo wishes you a Cartoonish illustration of a cute chubby lobster wearing a blue and white baseball cap with a yellow brim with a big smile. He is holding up a yellow banner with blue text that says happy national pizza day!
Lorenzo (the pizza-loving lobster) wishes you a happy national pizza day!
What is your favorite pizza topping?
