Srividhya Venkat

To do list: write. Read. Call your reps. You may feel helpless, but you have a voice!

Congrats to @sarah.kurpiel for winning the 2025 SCBWI #CrystalKiteAward (Midwest Division)!🎉👏 I am delighted to share the platform with her as an HONOR winner!! Thanks to #SCBWI member-peers who voted for my book! Your support means the world to me.🙏❤️
#SCBWI25CK
#danicadasilvapereira
#littlebeebooks

@writebetween.bsky.social Thanks for sharing!

Thank you, Terri!

Thanks so much, Ellen!

📚👍If you live near Penn State and ❤️ books, this is the event for you! Crafts! Meet the authors! Books! Schlow Library, July 30th!
#kidlit #authorevent #authorlife #writingcommunity #picturebooks #kidlitcommunity #pennstate #educators #readingcommunity #paisleysbigbirthday #gilbertandtheghost

Congratulations! Can't wait!

Haha! Thank you, Laura! 😊

Thank you, Amitha!

Thank you, Shyamala!

Thrilled to announce my next book... PRIYA'S NOT-SO-PERFECT BRAND-NEW OUTFIT.🎉
It is part imagination and part real - a story 'little me' would have loved.
I'm grateful to my CPs and agent @adriagoetz, and excited to have the talent of @colourbyvaish.

#picturebook #kidlit #southasian #pavadai

SEEKER OF TRUTH is a SCBWI Crystal Kite Award *finalist*!! My deepest gratitude to everyone who voted for my book in the first round.❣️I am thrilled to be among several creators I admire.
Voting for the final round is now open. I seek your continued support.
#scbwicrystalkiteaward #SeekerofTruth

Looks amazing! 😍

An oil pastel drawing of sunflowers

Scribbling sunflowers with oil pastels is my #1 coping mechanism in this mad, scary world 🌻🖍️
#arttherapy #oilpastels #art #sunflowers

I was at the book launch of Laura Smetana's new book, MY LOVE FOR YOU IS LIKE THE NIGHT SKY.🌟It is a beautiful PB with collage art and lyrical text, with space-related facts sprinkled throughout.
It was also wonderful to meet @shirinshamsi1!
#LauraSmetana #picturebooks #lyricalPB #authorillustrator

Congrats @evawongnava.bsky.social !

FAVE FOUR

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

@lydialukidis.bsky.social
@srividhyavenkat.bsky.social
@elisaboxer.bsky.social

#kidlit
#kidlitbookstack
#kidlitrecommendations

Thanks so much, @cherylajohnson.bsky.social !🙏🏽

It's National Library Week!
I'll be at Glen Ellyn Public Library tomorrow, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the extensive process that leads to beautifully created picture books.
gepl.librarycalendar.com/event/pictur...

#authortalk #picturebooks #localauthorevent #chicagoauthor #aspiringauthors

Last week, I had a blast hanging out with @scbwi.illinois creators, attending talks, and meeting teachers and librarians at the Illinois Reading Council Conference @ilreadcouncil in Springfield.

Thanks to @sarahnaronson for pic#2.

#ILReads2025 #ilreads
#IRCC2025 #SpringfieldIllinois

We will study scenes, pick them apart by their craft elements (dialogue, pacing, conflict, etc.), and talk about revision. Register today! Link in bio.

I had so much fun today presenting @scbwi.illinois books with @jennymariewagh at #pumpupprimary2025 #ilascd2025.

SEEKER OF TRUTH is one of the 2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People! 🎉🥳
I am so honored to be among several creators I admire.

See the entire list at www.cbcbooks.org/wp-content/u...
Greatful to:
@littlebeebooks
@yetanotherbydanica
@adriagoetz

Tip for authors: set Google alerts to your name and book titles to discover mentions & reviews. Reshare! Sharing reviews= social proof…aka. others endorsing your books for you.) #bookmarketing #kidlit

Thank you so much!

I'm delighted that SEEKER OF TRUTH is on @chicagopubliclibrary 's Best of the Best Books 2024 list in the 'Best Informational Books for Younger Readers' category.

Thank you, CPL! 🙏🏽 You're the best!🎊

@yetanotherbydanica
@littlebeebooks

#picturebooks #socialjustice #pbbio #southasiantrailblazers

Found object art featuring broken Carnation Pink Crayola crayon. Out of the broken part jumps an illustration of a joy-filled girl clutching a pencil in one hand and a notebook in the other.

To those disheartened by publisher rejections: I started submitting queries & manuscripts to kidlit publishers in 1995. During the 15 yrs before my first children's book contract, I sometimes felt like giving up.

Take a break if you need to, but PERSEVERE. Your time will come.

POETRY CONTEST!!
We're baaaaaaaack ... but this time it's for RHYMING VERSE for PB, MG, YA! Submissions open Monday, November 18.
My fellow judges are back: Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, Suzy Levinson, and Lou Piccolo. We can't wait to read your kidlit poems!
www.reneelatulippe.com/poetry-conte...

Okay, here's the first 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Starter Pack. Let me know if you are a member and would like to be added (check to make sure you're not on it already). We're going to need more packs given the number of members we have, but it's a start! go.bsky.app/SE9YQfH

Teacher & librarian friends! I'm working on this year's list of author volunteers who'll be offering Zoom read-alouds for World Read Aloud Day on 2/5/25! It should be ready in a couple of weeks - be sure to follow if you'd like access to the list & please share this post to let your colleagues know!