Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · 3d

Check out our free SCBWI network event on Thursday, October 9 at 7pm: Fantasy Crash Course: Design Your World and Populate It! #kidlit
Join us as we discover, design and develop your story world and characters. Come prepared to write! Free and open to the public.

Events - Dandelion Bookshop

dandelionbookshop.com

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Reposted by Sarah Hammond

Cornell Lab of Ornithology @cornellbirds.bsky.social · 16d

Migration Alert: Over 470 million birds are forecast to fly across the eastern Midwest tonight. Turn off all nonessential lights from 11 PM to 6 AM to keep them from becoming disoriented. More than a 1B birds die in glass collisions every year. Discover ways to help them: bit.ly/stopbirdcoll...

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · 21d

#kidlit

BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 22d

📆 #StorySharerWeek is coming, and we have a great webinar lined up for you!

We'll be exploring how early shared reading can play a vital role in building key skills like attention, emotional understanding, flexible thinking and self-control.

Sign up 👇

https://bit.ly/4gtIqjI

A photo of a woman sharing a book with a child plus the words: "Story Sharer Week - Join our webinar. How shared reading in the early years can help build key life skills. 2pm - Thursday 16 October."

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Reposted by Sarah Hammond

BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 27d

As children start Year 3/4, they may be developing their reading preferences & starting to explore a wider range of books independently.

These titles could help to support reading for pleasure:

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recommendations/booklists/suggested-reading-for-years-3-4-autumn-term/

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Sep 2

Scroll down to event details for Zoom link: myemail.constantcontact.com/2025-SCBWI-I...

2025 SCBWI-IL Fall Network Programming September October November

Email from Join us for free network events! FALL 2025 NETWORKS Anyone can attend any Network, anywhere at anytime! View as Webpage Live, in-person, and online meetings are free and open to all! Netwo

myemail.constantcontact.com

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Sep 2

Free online @scbwi.bsky.social event! Fantasy in Kidlit: A Conversation with Librarian Jen Clemons, 9/11, 7:00 PM.

Join me to discuss the current state of #kidlit fantasy, incl. themes, trends, and current titles with the Curator of the Butler Children’s Literature Center.

Zoom link in comments ⬇️

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Aug 4

Thanks for sharing. Quite a find!

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Aug 1

Write On, Door County is launching the Theodore B. Olson Memorial Fellowship. This two-week residency is awarded to a writer whose work focuses on equal protection under the law for all. Writers of all genres, including journalism, can apply. See link for details writeondoorcounty.org/residency/

Residencies and Retreats - Write On Door County

RESIDENCies and retreats In addition to the Writing Center, directly across the street, Write On has a three-bedroom home – a place of solitude and reflection on nearly 59 acres of woods, orchards and...

writeondoorcounty.org

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Reposted by Sarah Hammond

Michael Rosen @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social · Jul 11

My nine poetry workshops here have been viewed in total 190,000 times. Two more to come soon.
www.youtube.com/c/MichaelRos...

Kids’ Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen

Official Michael Rosen Channel Every video and playlist here is approved by Michael himself. If it’s on this channel, it’s the real deal and safe for children. You may see “YTP” or “poop” remixes on...

www.youtube.com

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Jul 9

This looks fun! #kidlit

Sarah Aronson @saraharonson.bsky.social · Jul 9

Can I twist your arm??????

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Reposted by Sarah Hammond

Leaf Journal: On Writing for Young People @leafjournal.bsky.social · Jul 7

We have 10 articles with a greater international focus than ever. There are 3 emergent themes in this volume: LGBTQ+ writing; writing through a disability and mental health lens, & the broad intersection of ethics and craft. ojs.library.lancs.ac.uk/lj/issue/vie... #ukkidlit #academicsky #booksky

A blue sky filled with colourful umbrellas. The text reads 'Leaf Journal Volume Three Now Published: scholarly article on the practice of creative writing for young people'

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Jun 20

Read. Find your weird. Have fun. Lots of helpful tips here. #kidlit www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkeX...

“It’s so important to read widely.” | 8 writers share their advice

YouTube video by Louisiana Channel

www.youtube.com

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Jun 18

Had fun during our last @scbwi.bsky.social Near West Suburban Network event. Thanks to our attendees and @eileenmeyerbooks.bsky.social for her fab presentation. We're now on summer break but check www.scbwi.org/regions/illi... for fall programming. May the #kidlit Muse be with you in the meantime.

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Jun 17

I'm not sure I've met a writer who doesn't work on carving out writing time in their busy lives. Here are some tips from @chicagowrites.bsky.social chicagowrites.substack.com/p/15-ways-to...

15 Ways to Protect Your Writing Time

Budgeting your time correctly is essential for serious writers.

chicagowrites.substack.com

Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Jun 16

"In one Netherlands study [of…] 217 award-winning children’s books, a staggering 97% of books featured one or more animals and 79% of books had animals as essential characters."
An interesting @booktrust.org.uk article by Jules Howard...
www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/fi...

Why animal books engage children

Author Jules Howard shares why children’s books about animals are needed and recommends some fascinating non-fiction reads.

www.booktrust.org.uk

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Jun 4

@scbwi.bsky.social Illinois has a great slate of webinar recordings this Spring! Agent and editor chats, Pacing PBs @patriciatoht.bsky.social, Self v. Trad. Publishing @karlaclark.bsky.social, Writing for the Edu. Mkt @saralatta.bsky.social, Flash Fiction & more … www.scbwi.org/events/2025-... 👏

2025 Illinois Spring Recordings BY REQUEST

Select from our list of available recordings, below, to register to view those recordings for a small convenience fee. Convenience fees support SCBWI-IL LIVE | FREE events and free-to-apply mentorship...

www.scbwi.org

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · Jun 3

Looking forward to this event on Thursday. Join us if you're around!

Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · May 9

Ever wondered why some phrases from favorite books, snippets of famous speeches, or even lyrics from popular songs linger in your mind? What is it about the wording that makes them so memorable? Join us for this FREE @scbwi.bsky.social event on June 5 with @eileenmeyerbooks.bsky.social to find out!

Reposted by Sarah Hammond

EveryLibrary @everylibrary.bsky.social · May 27

Support libraries and literacy!

Take action at buff.ly/41eAGMI

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · May 27

Brilliant idea. 🍁🍂 ➡️ 📄
www.releaf-paper.com

Releaf Paper – – manufacturer of paper made from fallen leaves

www.releaf-paper.com

Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · May 19

It's a truly beautiful book.

Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · May 11

Happy Mother's Day to all who mother. 🌸

Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @hcrichardson.bsky.social · May 11

May 10, 2025

Those of us who are truly lucky have more than one mother.

heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · May 9

Ever wondered why some phrases from favorite books, snippets of famous speeches, or even lyrics from popular songs linger in your mind? What is it about the wording that makes them so memorable? Join us for this FREE @scbwi.bsky.social event on June 5 with @eileenmeyerbooks.bsky.social to find out!

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Reposted by Sarah Hammond

Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · May 6

Unsolicited writing advice, no. 1119: Everything you experience mindfully feeds your creativity. Love, art, grief, travel, food, heartbreak, theatre, music, sunshine, exercise, nature - all the things that make up a life. Don’t forget to live yours to the full in your eagerness to type words.

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · May 5

Our Near West Suburban @scbwi.bsky.social network is excited to visit Dandelion Books in Oak Park, IL on Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. Join us as we celebrate this new independent bookstore and try out some writing exercises inspired by books in the collection. All welcome.
dandelionbookshop.com.

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Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond.bsky.social · May 3

Great idea!

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