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Debbie Ridpath Ohi

@debbieohi.com

38K followers 7.6K following 17K posts

Author, illustrator. 🇨🇦📚👍🏽. Comics, poetry, filk, board games. Illus in books by Judy Blume, Michael Ian Black, others. I Want To Read ALL The Books. I'M BUSY 2026/02/24. DebbieOhi.com/contact (not DMs). #Uplift What I'm working on: @work.debbieohi.com

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · Sep 9

Book titles that summarize my life these days: I'm Busy & I Want To Read ALL The Books. 😁

🦋My Unofficial Guide To Bluesky:
publish.obsidian.md/debbieohi/bl...

I'm Debbie Ridpath Ohi, 🇨🇦 #KidLit author & illustrator. More about me & my work at DebbieOhi.com. What I'm working on: @work.debbieohi.com

Illustrated book cover with the title "I'M BUSY" in large red letters. A worried-looking pink flamingo and a small brown potato character stand near the top of the text. Below, a girl with pigtails struggles to carry a stack of books and papers, walking through a floor scattered with more papers and school supplies.

Illustrated book cover for I'M BUSY by Debbie Ridpath Ohi featuring a blissful young girl hugging a book, sitting cross-legged on a pile of books, surrounded by giant piles of books. Beside her is a white dog holding a book in its mouth, looking expectant.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 6h

For those who do care about what's happening in the world, but who sometimes need an #Uplift:

bsky.app/profile/debb...

Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • art showing human process • quirky • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 6h

My favourite Taylor Swift music video is "All Too Well." Love the song, love the storytelling, love Sadie Sink.

youtu.be/tollGa3S0o8?...

Taylor Swift - All Too Well: The Short Film

YouTube video by Taylor Swift

youtu.be

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 6h

To those who think I'm exaggerating about Taylor Swift's biz savvy, see this article in Harvard Law Today:

hls.harvard.edu/today/how-ta...

How Taylor Swift changed the copyright game by remaking her own music - Harvard Law School

IP expert Gary R. Greenstain says Taylor Swift singlehandedly shifted copyright considerations by recording "Taylor's Version" of her early albums.

hls.harvard.edu

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 6h

I'm a Taylor Swift fan, a #SeniorSwiftie 😉. I admire her songwriting, emotional honesty, strong work ethic, how she engages w/fans, biz savvy. She's been in public eye since teens, has learned resilience. Enjoying her newest album: #LifeOfAShowgirl.

Great interview:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqw8...

Taylor Swift brings bread & a wedding invite to Greg James | The Life of a Showgirl Interview

YouTube video by BBC Radio 1

www.youtube.com

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 7h

Educators! For each #KidLit book I have written and/or illustrated, there's a free Classroom Guide available, created by @marciecolleen.bsky.social (whose highly-acclaimed Teacher's Guides have been recognized by SLJ, PW, & Children's Book Council):

debbieohi.link/Classroom-Gu...

#EduSky

Free Classroom Guides For Educators QR code and collage of book covers

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 7h

Educators! *New* classroom guide for I'M BUSY is now available for free on my website, prepared by the fabulous @marciecolleen.bsky.social.

I'M BUSY is written by @michaelianblack.bsky.social, illus by me, launches 2026-02-24 @simonkids.bsky.social.

debbieohi.com/im-picture-b...

#EduSky #KidLit

Promotional graphic for Classroom Guide for picture book I’M BUSY by Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi. The main image shows a spiral-bound “Classroom Guide for I’M BUSY” with a pink flamingo, a small brown potato-like character, and a girl carrying books and papers. Four smaller covers—I’M BORED, I’M SAD, I’M WORRIED, and I’M SORRY—appear on the left. Text below reads: “I’M BUSY launches Feb. 24, 2026!” and includes a QR code labeled “Classroom Guide.” Additional text: “I’M BUSY is a picture book written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi, launching 2026-02-24 from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. DebbieOhi.com/book/book-im-busy.”

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Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 1d

WKLY POLL: List something you enjoyed doing or learning recently that has NOTHING to do w/work events, politics, or self-promo. Hobbies? Food? etc. #CommunityPolls #Uplift

I did therapeutic gaming via Togethercraft, a Minecraft server for grown-ups. Friendly community! togethercraft.online

Screenshot from a Minecraft session. Brown pot on grass has a sign that reads, "A lil gift for inkygirl. Welcome to TC"

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 8h

Wow! That looks so hard!

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 8h

What are "commonplace books"? I'm curious!

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 8h

Note: You can turn off autoplay of videos and GIFs at bsky.app/settings/con...

bsky.app

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 8h

Happy #BookshopDay! Why not get some of your holiday shopping done early? Order or pre-order books from your local indie before the busy rush?

Psst: you can include this animated gif in your own Bluesky posts - when searching for a gif, look for [at-sign]debbieohi + keyword (like bookstore)

a blue sign that says shop from your local indie bookshop now

Alt: Shop from your local indie bookshop now so you can shop from them later

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 13h

It’s Bookshop Day so here’s a poem in celebration of all those amazing bookshops out there.

Never Judge a Bookshop by its Cover

It may call itself a bookshop, but don’t be fooled by that.
There may be books in the window, on the tables and shelves,
but really, it’s a travel agent selling all-immersive holidays,
weekend breaks, first-class tickets to other worlds,

with a low carbon footprint. It’s a pharmacy as well,
dispensing medicines, pick-me-ups, balms: if symptoms persist,
please consult your local bookseller; it’s a tailor’s, offering
a made-to-measure service to achieve the perfect fit;

and a hardware store, with a range of empowering tools
to fix you up, recharge your batteries, switch on lightbulbs.
Its walls are lined with treasure as precious as any jeweller’s,
and twice as bright. Spines shine gold, silver, sapphire, emerald;

there are diamonds amongst them. It’s a garden centre,
a place where ideas get planted and a thousand stories bloom,
and a greengrocer, selling fresh, locally-sourced produce,
as vital as your five-a-day and more readily consumed.

It’s a multiscreen cinema. Peek behind the curtain
of each jacket and you’ll find a movie waiting silently to begin.
A stationer’s supplying notepads, reams of paper,
with the words conveniently filled in

to save you both the time and bother. A wholefood store
and a fast-food joint. A cosy haven from the cold.
A friendly, family restaurant: Today’s special will revive
a flagging spirit and restore a lagging soul.

It’s a tourist information centre equipped with maps
and helpful guides to steer us on our way.
A busy square in which a whole town gathers
or just a place to hold the world at bay

for a few untroubled stolen minutes. It’s itself,
and yet it’s something larger, a universe so vast
you could spend ten thousand lifetimes there –
it may call itself a bookshop, but don’t be fooled by that.

Brian Bilston

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 8h

Nice!

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 1d

When I read THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON by Basil Sylvester & @kevinarts.bsky.social on a crowded Toronto subway car, became aware that woman beside me (w/child on lap) was reading over my shoulder. Kevin’s kid-friendly art caught her eye, I think! I slowed down to give her time before turning pages. 😁

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 1d

Thanks to the stranger who took this photo of me reading THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON by Basil Sylvester & @kevinarts.bsky.social w/my Toronto Library tote. #BannedBooksWeek

bsky.app/profile/debb...

Person in red Canadian maple leaf cap reading a book, with a Toronto Public Library Freedom To Read tote bag. Person is masked and standing on a subway platform.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 1d

Reading THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON by Basil Sylvester and @kevinarts.bsky.social. I read this when it first came out but enjoyed it so much I am rereading it during #BannedBooksWeek.

First page of book The Fabulous Zed Watson along with a black and white illustration of the main character

Hand holding book called Back of book praising The Fabulous Zed Watson

Back of book praising The Fabulous Zed Watson

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 1d

Going downtown to do MG novel writing at a Toronto library. Celebrating both #CanadianLibraryMonth & #BannedBooksWeek by taking a TPL tote bag + re-reading a banned book on public transit. I chose THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON by Basil Sylvester & @kevinarts.bsky.social. #LibrariesForLife #CanKidLit

Tote bag and book. Book is "The Fabulous Zed Watson" by Basil Sylvester & Kevin Sylvester. Tote bag is black with the text "Freedom To Read 'Em."

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Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Library Girl @jenniferlagarde.bsky.social · 2d

It’s me. Your favorite #bannedbooksweek curmudgeon. Just popping in to rain all over your caution tape.

#tlsky #tlskychat #librarians #skybrarians #edusky

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Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 3d

THE LIBRARIANS @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social is a *must-see.*

Thanks to @ifla.org Met Lib for the private screening at Toronto Reference Library.

Terrifying, deeply moving. I know several of the librarians & recognized books by many #KidLit #YALit friends. 😢

#BannedBooksWeek #LibrarySky

cont'd

Panel discussion taking place in a conference room with four speakers seated on stage in front of an audience. A large screen beside them displays a slide that reads, “America’s war on books is more than a war on words. THE LIBRARIANS. Directed by Kim A. Snyder.” The slide also shows several film festival logos.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 1d

I saw you at the front and was soooo tempted to go up after the talk, but then you were surrounded by people, and I had already made lunch plans with a friend. You and the others are amazing; I admired you already for so many reasons, admire you even more now!

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Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Melissa Manlove @mmanlove.bsky.social · 2d

Psst! I am opening up to unagented children's book submissions *just for the month of October*! This is an exciting experiment. The email to send submissions to is [email protected]. You can find out about what I'm looking for at www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/me...

Melissa Manlove – The Official Manuscript Wish List Website

www.manuscriptwishlist.com

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Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · Aug 23

This is a pinnable post for the MSWL (Manuscript Wish List) & Call For Art & Writing feed. Searches list of approved users for terms like #MSWL #CallForArtists #CallForSubmissions
etc.

More info & to check if you're on the feed here. Those in my Editors, Agents & Art Directors lists already added.

Promotional graphic for MSWL (Manuscript Wish List) featuring a friendly purple cartoon character holding a paintbrush and pencil, with text inviting artists and writers to submit their work, a QR code for more information, and a cautionary note to research submission legitimacy.

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 1d

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Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 1d

For those who need an #Uplift:

bsky.app/profile/debb...

Hand-curated by yours truly. Criteria unapologetically subjective, but esp: word nerds • art showing human process • quirky • obscure interest deep-dives • alt-text

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Reposted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Dev Petty @devpetty.bsky.social · 1d

I take it back…

I *DO* WANT TO BE A FROG.

Cover of the picture book I don’t want to be a frog, written by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt. The cover is light blue with handwritten text in orange and green and the illustration of a very wide mouth frog with his hands on his hips and mouth open saying the words I don’t want to be a frog, the title, in a speech bubble.

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