Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · 9h

Thank you so much!

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · 4d

I’m thrilled that my disability-inclusive picture book PLAYDATE SURPRISE has WON The Word Award 2025 for Books – Children – General Market and finalist for Best Book Cover & Debra Fieguth Social Justice Award.

Thanks & congrats to my illustrator @laura-jane-watson.bsky.social & Scholastic Canada!

1 3 11

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Aug 13

I’m excited to announce that my disability-inclusive picture book PLAYDATE SURPRISE illustrated by Laura Watson has been shortlisted for The Word Award 2025 for Books – Children – Christian & General Market!

#Shortlisted #BookAward #TheWordAward

1 5

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Jul 7

It’s Disability Pride Month and I have a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ book to highly recommend!
OWNING IT
* Honest & vibrant childhood stories by 22 international authors
* Diverse disabilities
#BookReview #DisabilityLife #DisabilityBookWeek
#ChildrensNonfiction
#KidsWithDisabilities #DisabilityPrideMonth #disability

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Jul 3

A Little Like Magic by Sarah Kurpiel
It’s #DisabilityPrideMonth and I have a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐book to recommend!
A lovely, authentic, empowering picture book.
Stretching out of one’s comfort zone can be worth it—a truth universally applicable. Next time can even be enjoyable.
#BookReview #DisabilityKidLit

1 5

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Jun 23

Immersive & illuminating—chapter books that show how Lauren perceives the world & intentions of others, & how people and things affect her. She lives with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I appreciate that author Sara Leach is writing such engaging books with a character with ASD.
Highly recommended!

1

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Jun 20

Summer Book Signing Saturday, July 5!

Lorna Schultz Nicholson signing #hockey #mystery novel RHAPSODY SMITH ICE ANGEL Karen Autio signing PLAYDATE SURPRISE

See you there!
1 – 3 pm
Mosaic Books, 411 Bernard Ave., Kelowna, BC

#BookSigning #NewBook #MGNovel #Okanagan
#PictureBook
#inclusion

1 4

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Jun 3

I’m delighted to see UNE SURPRISE MERVEILLEUSE receive a positive review in the Quebec magazine LURELU! Thank you for the lovely write-up!

@laura-jane-watson.bsky.social

#inclusion #friendship #CritiqueDeLivre #accessibility #BookReviews #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityPictureBook #disability

1 3

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Jun 1

Thanks so much!

1

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Jun 1

It’s the 20-year anniversary of my first book! SECOND WATCH involves the actual Empress of Ireland steamship disaster 111 years ago in the St. Lawrence.
In libraries and as print-on-demand from Amazon.

#EmpressOfIreland #HistoricalNovel #MGNovel #CanadianHistory #IWriteCanadian #history

1 2 3

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · May 26

It’s #NationalAccessAbilityWeek and #accessible schools, stores, places of worship, playgrounds, homes and more are key for #inclusion and building #friendship.

@laura-jane-watson.bsky.social
#NAAW #NAAW2025 #InclusionMatters #Accessibility #DisabilityPictureBook #PictureBook #disability

2 5

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Apr 26

My independent bookstores are huge supporters of local authors and illustrators!

Show your support for independent bookstores every day but especially celebrate and thank them today on #CanadianIndependentBookstoreDay!

Once Upon a Bookstore
Mosaic Books

#CIBD #CIBD2025

4

Reposted by Karen Autio

K.A. Wiggins (Kaie) @kaiewrites.bsky.social · Apr 19

Prepping for another year at #STAConvention with @cwillbc.bsky.social friends on Friday!🔥

Meet BC kidlit creators @bradenhallett.bsky.social @lpcreates.bsky.social @karenautio.bsky.social @nikkibergstresser.bsky.social @anthonynerada.bsky.social & more at our workshops or tables staconvention.ca/ 📚

2 4

Reposted by Karen Autio

Laura Watson @laura-jane-watson.bsky.social · Mar 20

Babies on the move in all different ways! From I Can, Too! By @karenautio.bsky.social and published by Scholastic Canada.
The 1st in what will soon be a series of 3! I'm just getting started on Kayla and Piper's next adventure. Hint: ⛸️🛷💖
#inclusivechildrensbooks
#kidlitart #illustration #diversity

Two babies who learn to move in diverse ways from children’s book about friends who have different abilities

1 1 7

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Mar 20

So excited to have you working on our third book together!! 💛💜

1 1

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Mar 7

Thanks! I’m busy working on a third Kayla and Piper story coming out next year 😀

1

Reposted by Karen Autio

Tidewater Books & Browsery @tidewaterbooks.bsky.social · Mar 6

A joyful story of friendship & the simple things we can do to make the world a more accessible place! 'Playdate Surprise' by @karenautio.bsky.social & @laura-jane-watson.bsky.social is today's Featured #CanLit #KidLit in-store! 💕🇨🇦📚🧑‍🦽💕
tidewaterbooks.ca 💕🇨🇦📚
#IndieBookstoreCA #ShopSmall

Books in French and English: /Playdate Surprise' by Karen Autio and Laura Watson. Canadian maple leaf. Tidewater Books bookmark. #CanLit

1 3 7

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Mar 6

Thank you SO much! What a joy to know of your enthusiastic support of our book!

1 1

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Mar 3

I’m honoured and delighted to have PLAYDATE SURPRISE be a Recommended Book on the Disability Book Week website. disabilitybookweek.org

#DisabilityBookWeek #DisabilityInclusion #BookRecommendations #PictureBookRecommendations
#StoriesHavePower #inclusion #mobility #accessibility #disability

2

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Feb 26

One of my favourite kind of days is getting to present to eager learners. Today at Peachland Elementary I shared my presentations with grades 1-5.Thank you for a wonderful morning!

#AuthorVisit #SchoolPresentation #PictureBooks #ChapterBooks

3

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Feb 11

You, too! Looking forward to reading your book!

1

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Feb 11

Grateful to know my book is part of this life-enriching program of Scholastic Canada/Éditions Scholastic providing books to children in underserved communities.

#InclusionAndDiversity
#StoriesHavePower #DiverseBooksForKids #InclusiveBooksForKids #inclusion

www.scholastic.ca/aboutscholas...

1 1

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Feb 5

Look at all these amazing new books I got at OLA (and awesome tote bag from my publisher)! Plenty of choices to read aloud today on World Read Aloud Day!

Which one(s) do you have on your TO READ list?

#WRAD2025 #WordReadAloudDay #CanadianBooks #CanKidLit #BooksForKids #IReadCanadian

6

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Feb 4

“A more accessible world harms no one and helps everyone.

We cannot give up on fighting for accessibility.”

—Emily Ladau in her WORDS I WHEEL BY newsletter

PLAYDATE SURPRISE focuses on #accessibility and #inclusion.

#Accessible #UniversalDesign
#DisabilityKidLit

mailchi.mp/eadbd851a6a1...

1 8

Karen Autio @karenautio.bsky.social · Jan 31

Book and library joy at OLA Super Conference! Signing Playdate Surprise and Une surprise merveilleuse with Laura Watson today at 11 am Scholastic Canada booth 211. See you there!
@laura-jane-watson.bsky.social @authorsbooking.bsky.social #BookSigning

1 6