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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️

@joelleretener.bsky.social

800 followers 950 following 170 posts

💛🤍💜🖤 #kidlit author Stonewall Award Honoree MARLEY’S PRIDE (Barefoot Books) OUR WORLD USA (Barefoot Books) MADINA'S BIG, FABULOUS, WIN (Disney Hyperion '26) BELLY GROWLS (Henry Holt '27) 🇭🇹 |♿️|🐈‍⬛+🍄 ❤️ Rep’d by James McGowan www.joelleretener.com

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jan 27

I'm Joëlle, your friendly neighborhood Black Kreyol, non binary, disabled, #kidlit author. I ❤️ k-dramas, cats and all the 🟢 witch sh*t.

Welcome to my slice of the blue 🦋.

Black person with a fade hairstyle and blue glasses wearing a green t-shit sitting on a green chair. They are smiling and holding up the peace sign.

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jul 3

ACK! Congratulations. So exciting. Lucky her :).

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jul 3

Finally sharing this interview with one of my favorite humans @cswild.bsky.social. I talk about my agent, balancing #chronicillness and creating #kidlit, and what it feels like to win a Stonewall Honor as a Black nonbinary human. #writingcommunity #edusky

scbwi.blogspot.com/2025/06/inte...

Green background with multiple images superimposed including the picture of a Black nonbinary person wearing glasses. There is also two children's books covers one entitled Marley's Pride, the other entitled Our World USA. the text reads SCBWI the official blog, interview with Picture Book author Joëlle Retener on a Stonewall honor, agents, disability and activism.

Cover of the picture book Marley's Pride, which features two Black nonbinary characters, one holding a trans flag in front of a rainbow at Pride. All shows an inside spread of the same Black characters at a Pride parade.

White text on a green background. Text reads " especially at a time when there is so much struggle within our community...To be reminded of radical joy is a gift."

White text on green background. Text reads " Becoming disabled led to a reframing of my activism. My storytelling is 100% activism."

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jul 3

NOOOOOOOOOOO. There will be no hand laying up in this place. Ugh. I need to find some snarky responses to end those conversations quick fast.

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jul 2

A gentle, not-so-gentle PSA in honor of disability pride month. Please stop asking disabled people using mobility aids, "What happened?" You wouldn't ask me "why are you Black," so don't ask me to explain why I am disabled.

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jul 2

Living the dream. Congrats!!!

Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jul 1

Greetings from an exhausted author spoonie recovering from ALA. I'm a nonbinary spoonie who writes picture books. I'm all about Earth care and being outdoors. #spoonieauthchat #disabilitypride

Spoonie Authors Network @spoonieauthnet.bsky.social · Jul 1

Spoonie Author Chat (for creatives who manage spoons), July 1, 2025:

It's #DisabilityPrideMonth! Introduce yourselves, and let's interact with and follow each other!

(Please quote-post and add #SpoonieAuthChat to your replies!)

Banner includes the Disability Pride Flag (grey background with stripes in light red, yellow, white, blue, and green) and text is the same as the post

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 30

It's the last day of Pride, and it seems fitting that I get to celebrate my Stonewall Honor today! Will share more ALA highlights soon, but for now, gifting you this beautiful handmade card created by my dear soul sibling @awildword.bsky.social. #queersky #pride #chosenfamily

Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 26

Feeling all the feels. Queer kidlit saves lives 💗.

Authors Against Book Bans @authorsabb.bsky.social · Jun 25

If you need a reminder of what we're fighting for, here are a bunch of authors reading short excerpts of letters sent to them by grateful readers. Recommend having tissues handy.

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 26

Thanks for recognizing my book baby!

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 23

Congratulations, friend! So excited for you.

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 19

Happy Freedom day. I recognize that saying these words feels ironic given the times we live in. But today is a reminder that our ancestors sacrificed everything for our liberation. May we use this day to nourish our souls as we continue to fight for our freedom. #blackjoy #blacksky #AddtoBlackSky

School Library Journal @slj.com · Jun 18

Tomorrow is #Juneteenth. Here are some #kidlit books for the holiday www.slj.com/story/9-titl...

9 Titles to Learn About Juneteenth

These Juneteenth offerings include various formats, ranging from cookbooks to early readers to audiobooks, so all your young readers can find their preferred way to learn more about this holiday.

www.slj.com

Reposted by Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️

Penguin School & Library @penguinschoollib.bsky.social · Jun 18

Today and every day, Trans Kids Are Our Kids. Discover books that center trans stories and voices that we are proud to publish (link below). Every reader deserves to see themselves in a book.

📚 penguinschoollibrary.com/TransBooklist

Art by Art Twink from MY RAINBOW⁠ shows a family huddling together in a hug. A heart at the center with text above that reads: TRANS KIDS ARE OUR KIDS. Every Reader Deserves to See Themselves in a Book

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 19

Support queer artists!

Fatimah (fuh-TEE-muh) @disturbingthefleece.com · Jun 3

Ready to cast on during Pride w/ a pattern from a queer designer?

These designs are quick and you probably already have the yarn.
1. Weak Moral Fiber shawl: sock weight in 3 colors
2. Big Hair Much Care hat: sock weight held doubled
3.February Fitted Mitts: cabled DK

Go forth and knit!! #knitsky

Photo of a Black woman wearing a slouchy, hand knit hat

Photo of a Black woman wearing a small, hand knit shawl.

Photo of a Black woman wearing hand knit, cabled mitts.

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 5

More Pride fun.

A.J. Irving 🩷💜💙 @ajirving.bsky.social · May 16

SLC & Seattle friends! I’ll be celebrating THE BI BOOK by Cynthia Alonso & me over the next few weeks! I’m so excited to join two of my dear #kidlit friends (@michellejingchan.bsky.social & @jesshernandez.bsky.social) for a Pride storytime event! Hope to see you and your kiddos! Much love! 🥳🌈💖

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Reposted by Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️

Michelle Jing Chan (she/her) 🌈 @michellejingchan.bsky.social · Jun 4

🌈 You could make your own Little Golden Book (Maybelline the cat not included) with me at @charliesqueerbooks this Saturday!

I'll be partnering with @kclsfoundation for this event, part of the Live Pages events that support @kclsfoundation ‘s funding of library system programs and services

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 5

CONGRATS!!1 This is so exciting.

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Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 4

Congrats!

Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️ @joelleretener.bsky.social · Jun 3

Some ooey gooey goodness for your feed.

AmaraJLynn💎🌌🌺GEMS & STAR FLOWERS coming soon! @amaralynn.bsky.social · May 25

#LGBTQWriteAThon is upon us!

Next month join @amaralynn.bsky.social and @rebeccafrostwrites.com for a month of much needed writing fun!

#queerwriters will be combined with this event. Feel free to participate as little or much as you're able!

#writesky #writingcommunity #pridemonth

#LGBTQWriteAThon
June 1-30

Hosts:
Bluesky: @amaralynn @rebeccafrostwrites.com
Instagram: @LGBTQWriteAThon @amarajlynn
@krakengoddess

Use the tag and follow the feed on Bluesky:
Tag @LGBTQWriteAThon in photos on Instagram!

June 1 Introduce yourself & share your first line
June 2 Goals this week / month
June 3 Inspiration for your WIP
June 4 Book comps
June 5 Weird comps
June 6 Character inspiration / moodboard
June 7 Check in day
June 8 Line share
June 9 Goals this week
June 10 Why this rep is important
June 11 Rep you'd like more of
June 12 Book with rep important to you
June 13 Flag day / moodboard
June 14 Check in day
June 15 Line share - color
June 16 Goals this week
June 17 Tingler your title
June 18 Nods to other books
June 19 Book theme song
June 20 Cover / moodboard
June 21 Check in day
June 22 Line share
June 23 Goals this week
June 24 Bad choices
June 25 Bad characters (antags)
June 26 Badly describe your book
June 27 Bad moodboards
June 28 Check in day
June 29 Line share - last line
June 30 Goals this week / next month

Reposted by Joëlle Retener (they/them) 🏳️‍🌈 ♿️

Kelly Mangan (She/Her) 🏳️‍🌈💖💜💙 @kellyamangan.bsky.social · May 27

As the mom of a nonbinary kid, I can tell you that it's so rare that they get to see themself in books-- especially in FUN books that aren't *about* being nonbinary. Enby kids deserve to have their silly hijinks stories too!

(Fyi, GOING OVERBOARD is also available as an audiobook!)

BookHive '25 @bookhive25.bsky.social · May 27

Happy book birthday to @carolinehuntoon.bsky.social & GOING OVERBOARD-- a sweet, light-hearted, hijinks-filled reverse Parent Trap novel about embracing change in our relationships with the people we love.

ORDER NOW:
bookshop.org/p/books/goin...

#KidLit #MG #LGBTKidLit #LGBTQIA #MiddleGrade