@matthewburgessj
Poet, Professor, & Children's Book Author. Brooklyn College. Forthcoming: Words With Wings & Magic Things, illust. Doug Salati (Tundra / Penguin Canada, 2025) & Fireworks, illust. Cátia Chien (Harper Collins, 2025). www.matthewjohnburgess.com
Mungo On His Own, written by @matthewburgessj.bsky.social illustrated by me, and published by @clarionbooks.bsky.social is officially out in the world! Get it wherever books are sold!
Thank you to editors Dana Fritts and Kate O'Sullivan for their expert guidance!
Spotted these gems in the wild! ✨️ 🎉💕 Featured @barnesandnoble.com Broomall!
@ebonylynnmudd.bsky.social @matthewburgessj.bsky.social
#CallingCaldecott on 2026 #Caldecott winner FIREWORKS: "This is one of those Caldecotts readers are going to be enjoying for years." www.hbook.com/story/the-20... #ALAYMA26 #ALAYMA @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social @clarionbooks.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social #CátiaChien @matthewburgessj.bsky.social
#Bookaday I added @matthewburgessj.bsky.social and @robinrosenthal.bsky.social's Serafina Makes Waves to my 2026 Books I Love presentation: www.pinterest.com/mrschureads/...
#CallingCaldecott "When I think of the #Caldecott terms + criteria, I think of all the ways Cátia Chien’s explosive + evocative visuals in FIREWORKS more than honors them" www.hbook.com/story/firewo... @bribop.bsky.social @matthewburgessj.bsky.social @clarionbooks.bsky.social @harperkids.bsky.social
Cover Reveal for "Mungo On His Own" written by @matthewburgessj.bsky.social and published by @harpercollins.bsky.social The book follows young Mungo who ventures on his own for the first time in search of some berries.
In stores January 27th, 2026!
What's your favorite summer activity? 🎆
We personally love spending our time reading fun, colorful picture books that radiate summer joy 📚 FIREWORKS by @matthewburgessj.bsky.social and Cátia Chien is the ideal read-aloud book—and it includes a special surprise that will surely delight readers!
Actually, the other review in my forever file is the one you wrote about Drawing on Walls, where you zero in on the cuddle between Keith Haring and Juan DuBose. That was a huge moment for me.
There are few reviews that really stay with you, that you slide into the forever file. This is one that makes the heart kaboom kaboom kaboom. Thank you @fuse8.bsky.social ❤️
Modern picture books captivate child & adult readers alike.
Join @kyomaclear.bsky.social w guest authors @bottomshelfbks.bsky.social, X. Fang, @matthewburgessj.bsky.social, & @dirtbagg.bsky.social for a practical and inspirational plunge into visual storytelling: offassignment.com/picture-books
The cover of children’s picture book The Red Tin Box by Matthew Burgess, Illustrated by Evan Turk. An impressionistic illustration of a young girl with curly brown hair, lowering a red tin box into a small hole in the ground. She’s kneeling in a field of grass beneath a flowering dogwood tree. The mood is peaceful and warm.
Recently read The Red Tin Box by @matthewburgessj.bsky.social. A dreamlike story about growing up, growing old, nostalgia and promise. Evan Turk’s lush illustrations convey the intensity of memories and the power of sharing them. This one tugs the heart strings.
💙📚👍🏼 #BookSky #KidLit
"Poetry is fun and anything is possible in a poem." - Matthew Burgess deepcast.fm/episode/a-pu... @matthewburgessj.bsky.social
Picture of snowy owl with the book “Words With Wings And Magic Things.”
A spellbinding collection of poems for kids celebrating the power of words to awaken the imagination by author @matthewburgessj.bsky.social Caldecott medalist Doug Salati! A gorgeous gift book for fans of Shel Silverstein with seven die-cut spreads throughout. #booksky #kidlit #indiebookstore
Thank you for sharing our book! Love the owl. 🥰
“extraordinary”?
"A spellbinding collection of poems for young readers that celebrates the power of words to awaken the imagination and alchemize the everyday."
Win a copy of @matthewburgessj.bsky.social & Doug Salati's "Words with Wings and Magic Things" from Tundra Books 💙📚
www.librarything.com/ner/detail/5...
Thank you!
THE PURPLE ONE: A STORY OF PRINCE by @matthewburgessj.bsky.social is featured in @thehornbook.bsky.social’s round-up for #BlackHistoryMonth —alongside Jason Reynolds!
🎸🎶🕊️💜
#kidlit #picturebooks #picturebookbio #prince
I honestly believe our most powerful position in a toxic time that feeds on cynicism, apathy,& despair is to genuinely care and act for a better world.
Cynicism is our enemy. We should check it, incl. on the left. It’s not intellectually superior. It’s the virus they’re trying to infect us with. NO
Expect plenty more of Gus to grace your feed. 🐶
This is me waving hello to the Blue Sky people for the first time. Disgusted by META & giving this a try.