Kathy Ishizuka
@kishizuka.bsky.social
Third generation JA; Master Gardener
Priors: Editor in Chief, School Library Journal, Partnerships & Innovation Director, SLJ & LJ
Priors: Editor in Chief, School Library Journal, Partnerships & Innovation Director, SLJ & LJ
“At a time when science is under attack, it has become more urgent to elevate books that bring together the art of literature with the wonders of science,” said Daisy Hernández, chair of the Science + Literature awards committee.
3 authors win $10,000 prizes for blending science and literature
Three authors have been awarded $10,000 prizes for blending scientific research with literary grace. The National Book Foundation and the Alfred P.
apnews.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:35 PM
“At a time when science is under attack, it has become more urgent to elevate books that bring together the art of literature with the wonders of science,” said Daisy Hernández, chair of the Science + Literature awards committee.
Are librarians and library staff planning to attend the Public Library Association Conference in Minneapolis? The event is April 1-3, but early bird reg ends this month.
#libraries
#libraries
PLA 2026 Conference | public library conference
Largest public library event in the world, where thousands of public library workers, advocates, and vendors come together for an unparalleled opportunity to learn, connect, and be seen. Over 100 educ...
www.placonference.org
January 20, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Are librarians and library staff planning to attend the Public Library Association Conference in Minneapolis? The event is April 1-3, but early bird reg ends this month.
#libraries
#libraries
The Andrea Colvin Literary Agency is open for business, tendering submissions of books for kids and teens.
#publishing #BookSky
#publishing #BookSky
Andrea Colvin Launches Literary Agency
The veteran children’s editor, best known for having acquired and published Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir Gender Queer, has founded an eponymous agency specializing in books for young readers.
www.publishersweekly.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:55 PM
The Andrea Colvin Literary Agency is open for business, tendering submissions of books for kids and teens.
#publishing #BookSky
#publishing #BookSky
In Asian American philatelic news, we're getting a Bruce Lee stamp!
Postal Service To Release Stunner of Stamp To Honor Bruce Lee
The U.S. Postal Service will honor Bruce Lee, the renowned Chinese American martial artist and actor, with a new Forever stamp. Lee captivated film audiences with his skill, charisma and screen presen...
about.usps.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:47 PM
In Asian American philatelic news, we're getting a Bruce Lee stamp!
Reposted by Kathy Ishizuka
Happy Martin Luther King Day! Be sure to check out our special section where you'll find articles, viewpoint and archives. Go to amsterdamnews.com/mlk2026.
January 19, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Happy Martin Luther King Day! Be sure to check out our special section where you'll find articles, viewpoint and archives. Go to amsterdamnews.com/mlk2026.
"The March," the James Blue film documenting the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was little seen in its 1964 release, according to the National Archives. This full digital restoration was made for the 50th anniv. of the march in 2013.
Freely available on YouTube.
Freely available on YouTube.
The March (1963, restored)
YouTube video by US National Archives
www.youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:35 PM
"The March," the James Blue film documenting the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was little seen in its 1964 release, according to the National Archives. This full digital restoration was made for the 50th anniv. of the march in 2013.
Freely available on YouTube.
Freely available on YouTube.
Nominations are open for the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity Award. Deadline to apply: March 1.
#librarians
#librarians
Nominations open for Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity Award
The Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity Award is accepting nominations!
www.ala.org
January 18, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Nominations are open for the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity Award. Deadline to apply: March 1.
#librarians
#librarians
Spring is not quite around the corner, but, hey, the days are getting longer.
#Timelinecleanse #breathe
#Timelinecleanse #breathe
January 16, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Spring is not quite around the corner, but, hey, the days are getting longer.
#Timelinecleanse #breathe
#Timelinecleanse #breathe
The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) has released its 2026 Outstanding International Books (OIB) List, recognizing exceptional children’s and young adult titles originally published outside the U.S. and later made available to U.S. readers.
Outstanding International Book List Award Winners!
The 2026 USBBY Outstanding International Books (OIB) page showcases the annual curated list of exceptional international children’s and young adult books selected by the United States Board on Books f...
www.usbby.org
January 16, 2026 at 10:08 PM
The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) has released its 2026 Outstanding International Books (OIB) List, recognizing exceptional children’s and young adult titles originally published outside the U.S. and later made available to U.S. readers.
Make the call, via @rbreich.bsky.social
January 16, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Make the call, via @rbreich.bsky.social
Mrs. Roy, she will stay with you.
Two remarkable lives.
Two remarkable lives.
January 16, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Mrs. Roy, she will stay with you.
Two remarkable lives.
Two remarkable lives.
Reposted by Kathy Ishizuka
We are in fact DESPERATE for winter coats, waterproof gloves, and good boots. We get so many wonderful donations but it is so cold and the numbers of unhoused unsheltered people are going up at the absolute worst time for it, and we run out of coats weekly.
The frigid Twin Cities temperatures will hurt the homeless; so do not gloat about the impact on ICE without also stepping up here:
If you're still able to help Minnesota, @supplydepotmpls.bsky.social is always accepting donations. $10 buys a pack of handwarmers. If you were given Amazon gift cards this year for Christmas, you can shop their Amazon wishlist: linktr.ee/sanctuarysup...
January 14, 2026 at 7:29 PM
We are in fact DESPERATE for winter coats, waterproof gloves, and good boots. We get so many wonderful donations but it is so cold and the numbers of unhoused unsheltered people are going up at the absolute worst time for it, and we run out of coats weekly.
What will educators (not just social studies) do with the 250th?
Civics Takes Center Stage in 2026
- EdSurge News
Civics is having a moment — and social studies teachers are ready for their close-up.
www.edsurge.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM
What will educators (not just social studies) do with the 250th?
ATTN, grades 6-12 teachers. Apply for the 2026/27 National Book Foundation Teacher Fellowship, which offers a stipend for purchasing books and support for independent reading instruction.
@nationalbook.bsky.social
@nationalbook.bsky.social
Applications for the 26/27 Teacher Fellowship Are Now Open
Calling all teachers! Applications for the 2026/27 National Book Foundation Teacher Fellowship are now open!
www.nationalbook.org
January 14, 2026 at 6:42 PM
ATTN, grades 6-12 teachers. Apply for the 2026/27 National Book Foundation Teacher Fellowship, which offers a stipend for purchasing books and support for independent reading instruction.
@nationalbook.bsky.social
@nationalbook.bsky.social
Editors have been reluctant to take on queer stories, report literary agents, the chilling effect - and real consequences - of the current political climate.
Reported in The Hill.
Reported in The Hill.
thehill.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Editors have been reluctant to take on queer stories, report literary agents, the chilling effect - and real consequences - of the current political climate.
Reported in The Hill.
Reported in The Hill.
Reposted by Kathy Ishizuka
The animating force at the heart of US conservatism currently is incandescent rage at the mere idea of women's autonomy and independence. An image of a smiling woman who looks insufficiently deferential for their tastes riles them up enough to tear up the social contract.
this is all it’s really about for them. Not domestic policy, not “economic anxiety”, just an endless desire to punish stand-ins for the Mommy who forced them take a bath, even if it tanks their own quality of life.
January 12, 2026 at 7:17 AM
The animating force at the heart of US conservatism currently is incandescent rage at the mere idea of women's autonomy and independence. An image of a smiling woman who looks insufficiently deferential for their tastes riles them up enough to tear up the social contract.
Reposted by Kathy Ishizuka
Check out Unban Coolies on YouTube and subscribe. Share his posts and videos. He is doing the work to help authors and librarians. We must support our brave young people who are doing the work!
Unban Coolies is a YouTube channel launched by Christopher Lau | He brings you interviews with many well-known authors, illustrators, editors, and librarians who are defending book access - be sure to check this out & share widely! @freadomfighters.bsky.social
youtube.com/@unbancoolie...
youtube.com/@unbancoolie...
Unban Coolies
I'm Christopher Lau, the founder of Unban Coolies. This channel is a direct response to the alarming surge in book bans, created to support the authors, illustrators, and librarians on the front lines...
youtube.com
January 11, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Check out Unban Coolies on YouTube and subscribe. Share his posts and videos. He is doing the work to help authors and librarians. We must support our brave young people who are doing the work!
Reposted by Kathy Ishizuka
Eight states have pre-filed and/or introduced really bad library and book censorship bills for the 2026 legislative session already. Here's what they are, what they'd do, and how you can and should push back–whether you live in these states or not.
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
Bad Library Bills, 2026 Edition: State-Level Legislation of Concern
Alabama, Ohio, New Hampshire, and several other states already have bills targeting libraries and books on deck for 2026.
buttondown.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Eight states have pre-filed and/or introduced really bad library and book censorship bills for the 2026 legislative session already. Here's what they are, what they'd do, and how you can and should push back–whether you live in these states or not.
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
buttondown.com/wellsourced/...
Reposted by Kathy Ishizuka
"“The camp experience, or just generally living in a racist society, really messes up your mind,” Mr. Nakamura said in “Third Act.” “It continues, and I don’t see any cure for it other than dealing with it through the arts.”"
A thorough accounting of the life of Bob Nakamura. Thank you, Jeré Longman, for a fitting tribute and testament to my brother-in-law and for reporting the Japanese-American experience at this critical juncture for our country.
@nytimes.com
@nytimes.com
Robert Nakamura, ‘Godfather’ of Asian American Film, Dies at 88
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 10:55 PM
"“The camp experience, or just generally living in a racist society, really messes up your mind,” Mr. Nakamura said in “Third Act.” “It continues, and I don’t see any cure for it other than dealing with it through the arts.”"
We're all OK on the home front, thank you.
Our global state is the real concern.
Our global state is the real concern.
January 10, 2026 at 5:11 PM
We're all OK on the home front, thank you.
Our global state is the real concern.
Our global state is the real concern.
Eff this year already.
On the personal front, we've already had one emergency room/hospital stay in the first week, so there's that.
On the personal front, we've already had one emergency room/hospital stay in the first week, so there's that.
January 10, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Eff this year already.
On the personal front, we've already had one emergency room/hospital stay in the first week, so there's that.
On the personal front, we've already had one emergency room/hospital stay in the first week, so there's that.
Reposted by Kathy Ishizuka
A gentle reminder in your grief that Renee Good was out there to protect her Black and brown neighbors from ethnic cleansing. That is still the mission.
The focus should remain on slowing down the ethnic cleansing campaign and on protecting Black and brown families and communities from destruction.
The focus should remain on slowing down the ethnic cleansing campaign and on protecting Black and brown families and communities from destruction.
January 9, 2026 at 7:17 PM
A gentle reminder in your grief that Renee Good was out there to protect her Black and brown neighbors from ethnic cleansing. That is still the mission.
The focus should remain on slowing down the ethnic cleansing campaign and on protecting Black and brown families and communities from destruction.
The focus should remain on slowing down the ethnic cleansing campaign and on protecting Black and brown families and communities from destruction.
Reposted by Kathy Ishizuka
I saw this video of a Vietnam vet in the fur coat yelling at ICE and thought to myself, "this is missing something," before I realized, "Ah, of course, the Ether instrumental. It's so obvious."
January 9, 2026 at 7:53 PM
I saw this video of a Vietnam vet in the fur coat yelling at ICE and thought to myself, "this is missing something," before I realized, "Ah, of course, the Ether instrumental. It's so obvious."
Reposted by Kathy Ishizuka
I need people to wrap their minds around the fact that here in Minneapolis, ICE broke the window of a vehicle yesterday, pepper sprayed the occupants, and arrested them, and shot another observer in the face today, and OBSERVERS ARE STILL GOING OUT TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORS AT MASSIVE PERSONAL RISK
I’m eating lunch, I’m having a panic attack, I’m charging my phone, and then I’m going back out to try and keep my neighborhood safe.
January 7, 2026 at 5:47 PM
I need people to wrap their minds around the fact that here in Minneapolis, ICE broke the window of a vehicle yesterday, pepper sprayed the occupants, and arrested them, and shot another observer in the face today, and OBSERVERS ARE STILL GOING OUT TO PROTECT THEIR NEIGHBORS AT MASSIVE PERSONAL RISK
Woody Guthrie's “New Years Rulin’s,” January 1, 1943.
January 7, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Woody Guthrie's “New Years Rulin’s,” January 1, 1943.