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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 19h

“...issues that are universal and, therefore, always timely…include the quest for justice. In some cases, the lens is civil rights or immigration or the role of democracy.”
— @cylev.bsky.social interviewed by @gayleenwrites.bsky.social for Cynsations: cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/09/auth...

Quote from post, plus photo of Cynthia and Gayleen holding a copy of FAULT LINES IN THE CONSITUTION, pus covers of FREE TO LEARN and WHO OWNS THE MOON?

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Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

Sara F. Shacter @sarashacter.bsky.social · 1d

More great profiles of @mgescapades.bsky.social writers - see what it’s like to debut!

@cynleitichsmith.bsky.social
@gayleenwrites.bsky.social

cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/10/mg-e...

MG Escapades Authors Leslie Adame, Alby C. Williams, Carey Blankenship-Kramer, Sarah Mendonca, Christina Cornwell, Ryan James Black, Nicole Hewitt, Shana Targosz on Publishing MG Fantasy/Horror - Cynt...

By Gayleen Rabakukk Today we continue meeting more members of the MG Escapades group, this time chatting with debut authors who have fantasy novels publishing this year: Leslie Adame, Alby C. Williams...

cynthialeitichsmith.com

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 2d

“Amongst the novel’s significant strengths are the animal characters. Though anthropomorphized, they are also attentively crafted with respect to species traits and needs.” — Washington Parent Media: washingtonparent.com/books-honor-... #KidLit @harperkids.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 2d

IT was the book I chose to read the 1rst time my parents left me home alone as a teen. When they returned, Dad snuck upstairs & jumped in my room with a very original "boo!" I screamed, the book flew, hit the canopy of my bed, landed on me & I screamed again. We laughed so, so hard. A fave memory!

Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 2d

“Only when readers of all ages become active, only when readers are willing to stand up to the censors, will the censors get the message that they cannot frighten us.”
- Judy Blume

#BannedBooksWeek #KidLit

Quote by Judy Blume reads, “Only when readers of all ages become active, only when readers are willing to stand up to the censors, will the censors get the message that they cannot frighten us.” Below the quote is a photo of Judy Blume sitting at a table, signing a book, with bookshelves behind her.

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 3d

“...the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community—librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types—in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.” bannedbooksweek.org/about/ #BannedBooksWeek

Banned Books Week: Indigenous Books for Young Readers. Cover art: FRYBREAD: A NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILY STORY by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal. Grandma holding baby and a bowl of frybread. Two award logos.

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 4d

“NIGHT CHEF is about having the courage to follow your passion wherever it takes you.”

— Mika Song, interviewed by @mitumalhotra.bsky.social for Cynsations: cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/09/auth... @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social #KidLt

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Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

Sara F. Shacter @sarashacter.bsky.social · 5d

Thanks to @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social and her wonderful Cynsations blog for featuring several @mgescapades.bsky.social novels, including Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign!

@regalhouse.bsky.social

cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/10/mg-e...

MG Escapades Authors Emily Deibert, Kerry Madden Lunsford, Sara F. Shacter & Jess Callans on Contemporary Middle Grade - Cynthia Leitich Smith

By Gayleen Rabakukk Today we’re welcoming several middle grade authors to Cynsations: Emily Deibert, Kerry Madden Lunsford, Sara F. Shacter and Jess Callans, all middle grade novelists—mostly debut au...

cynthialeitichsmith.com

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 5d

It’s Halloween season & the 1rst anniversary of Auntie Cyn’s Little Red Library in Denton, Texas!

Have you considered becoming a @littlefreelibrary.bsky.social Steward? Share your questions, and I’ll reply! #KidLit

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Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

Melissa Stewart @mstewartscience.bsky.social · 6d

Teachers! Librarians!
Tips for Exploring Nonfiction Mentor Texts in the School Library
tinyurl.com/249wsdf4
@katiemcenaney.bsky.social
@ellenbunn3.bsky.social
@steamteambooks.bsky.social
#TLsky #Skybrarians #SchoolLibraries #edusky #kidlit

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 6d

At Cynsations, AJ Eversole talks to fellow contributing writers to LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN (Heartdrum, 2025) about worldbuilding and cultural foundations of the anthology: cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/09/cont... #BookSky

“Southeastern tribes only have a few signature foods, so even though I’m not personally a huge fan (don’t tell anyone), I had to include pashofa and grape dumplings.”

—Kate Hart

Photo of Kate in a forest, wild "possum" grapes, cover art of LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN (Indigenous people gathered at drive-in restaurant)

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 7d

HARVEST HOUSE by Cynthia Leitich Smith. A ghost mystery that counts down to Halloween—chapter by chapter—toward a haunting climax. For middle school & high school readers. @candlewickpress.bsky.social

★ “Atmospheric, transfixing mystery… includes moments of joy.” — Shelf Awareness

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 8d

Sending love and healing to Northern cousins on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation! Official website: “...honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.”
#OrangeShirtDay #NationalDayforTruthandReconciliation

David A. Robertson (tall Native man with beard wearing Swift Water T-shirt, standing with arms crossed.

Cover art: 52 WAYS TO RECONCILE: HOW TO WALK WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ON THE PATH TO HEALING by David Robertson (McClelland & Stewart, 2025). For grownups.

52 WAYS TO RECONCILE is an accessible, friendly guide for non-Indigenous people eager to learn, or Indigenous people eager to do more in our collective effort towards reconciliation, as people, and as a country. As much as non-Indigenous people want to walk the path of reconciliation, they often aren’t quite sure what to do, and they’re afraid of making mistakes. This book is the answer and the long overdue guide.

The idea of this book is simple: 52 small acts of reconciliation to consider, one per week, for an entire year. They’re all doable, and they’re all meaningful. All 52 steps take readers in the right direction, towards a healthier relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and a time when we are past trauma. By following these steps, we can live in stronger and healthier communities equally, and respectfully, together.

Headline: Sending love and healing to Northern cousins on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Cover art to left, oval framed headshots of Monique Gray Smith and Nicole Niedhardt (both Indigenous women) to right.
CIRCLE OF LOVE, written by Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Nicole Niedhardt (Heartdrum HarperCollins Publishers w/ We Need Diverse Books, 2024). Ages 4-up.

In this warmhearted book, we join Molly at the Intertribal Community Center, where she introduces us to people she knows and loves: her grandmother and her grandmother’s wife, her uncles and their baby, her cousins, and her treasured friends.

They dance, sing, garden, learn, pray, and eat together. And tonight, they come together for a feast! Molly shares with the reader how each person makes her feel—and reminds us that love is love.

Through tender prose and radiant artwork, author Monique Gray Smith (Cree/Lakota) and illustrator Nicole Neidhardt (Diné) show how there is always room for others in our lives. CIRCLE OF LOVE is a story celebrating family, friends, community, and, most of all, love.

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Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 9d

It’s still #DeafAwarenessMonth, a time for celebrating the d/Deaf community and shining a light on how the world can be more d/Deaf-inclusive!

Here are nearly 40 titles with d/Deaf representation for you to check out this September — or any time of year 📚💞

Light orange graphic with a border made up of orange, blue, green, and gold blocks. The graphic is titled “35+ Books with d/Deaf Representation”. Beneath the title text is a green bubble containing the words “for d/Deaf Awareness Month”. At the bottom of the graphic is a row of three illustrated books: an orange book, a blue book, and a green book.

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Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

Melissa Stewart @mstewartscience.bsky.social · 9d

There's still time to submit a proposal!
@ncte.org @nctecla.bsky.social #edusky #skybrarian #TLsky

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 9d

"I wanted young, Black readers...any reader in the BIPOC community--to...feel like they belonged in the fantasy romance space." - @britneyslewis.bsky.social, interviewed by @ajeversole.bsky.social: cynthialeitichsmith.com/2025/09/auth... #BookSky #romantasy #YABooks #authorinterview

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 12d

Image: On a conversation-seating TV set, book expert Kelsi presents books for young readers on TV. Various selections are included on the tables beside her. Image below and slightly overlapping. A man's hands holding ANCESTOR APPROVED.

Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 12d

Fox5 DC book expert Kelsi recommends ANCESTOR APPROVED: INTERTRIBAL STORIES FOR KIDS, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Heartdrum) as a middle-grade read for the autumn season. View: www.fox5dc.com/video/1714385 @harperkids.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social #BookSky

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Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

The Horn Book @thehornbook.bsky.social · 12d

Brian Lies #TalkswithRoger about CAT NAP (@harperkids.bsky.social @harperstacks.bsky.social): "A CAT NAP turns into a fantastical museum tour for the titular feline and for child readers..." www.hbook.com/story/brian-...

Brian Lies Talks with Roger

ACat Napturns into a fantastical museum tour for the titular feline and for child readers.Brian Liesuses “colored glass, lead, gold leaf, ink, graphite and colored pencil, plaster, wood, goatskin parc...

www.hbook.com

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Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 12d

R.I.P. Ken Mochizuki, whose BASEBALL SAVED US (illus Dom Lee, @leeandlow.bsky.social ) and THOSE WHO HELPED US: ASSISTING JAPANESE AMERICANS DURING THE WAR (illus @kikuhughes.bsky.social , Chin Music Press) shed light on experiences of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during WWII.
#KidLit

Children's Bookshelf @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social · 12d

“Ken’s books bravely told stories that needed to be told”: Japanese American author, actor, and social activist Ken Mochizuki remembered following his death on September 20. See our tribute: buff.ly/i8mDGQv

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Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

Melissa Stewart @mstewartscience.bsky.social · 12d

Teachers! Librarians!
Looking for mentor texts for nonfiction writing?
Check out this post from @katiemcenaney.bsky.social
and @ellenbunn3.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/mfpwejrr
#edusky #kidlit #TLSky #skybrarian #schoollibraries

Writing Nonfiction Picture Books in Fifth Grade, Part 2: Investigating Mentor Texts in the Library for Book Category and Writing Style by Ellen Bunn and Katie McEnane

Last Janury, fifth grade teacher Katie McEnaney (right) and school librarian Ellen Bunn (left) wrote a post describing a collaborative nonf...

tinyurl.com

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 13d

"Whether it’s a YA classic or brand-new to the horror scene, these YA horror books are guaranteed to keep you up at night." Epic Reads: www.epicreads.com/blog/ya-horr...
#youngadultbooks #halloweenreads #horrornovels #teenreads #BookSky

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 14d

IndigenousReadsRising.com shines a light on Black Native and Freedmen representation in books for young readers!

Features include bibliographies for all age markets of young readers. Plus an article offering information and recommendations for further study on Freedmen is available in Resources.

Indigenous Reads Rising; Highlighting Freedmen and Black Native Representation in Children's Literature: Photos of Pasha Westbrooke, Madelyn Goodnight, and cover of their book BRAIDED ROOTS

Indigenous Reads Rising; Highlighting Freedmen and Black Native Representation in Children's Literature: Photos of Nikki Grimes, Stacy Wells, EB Lewis, and cover of their book STRONGER THAN

Indigenous Reads Rising; Highlighting Freedmen and Black Native Representation in Children's Literature: Photos of Tasha Spillet and Salini Perera, and cover of their book BEAUTIFUL YOU, BEAUTIFUL ME

Indigenous Reads Rising; Highlighting Freedmen and Black Native Representation in Children's Literature: Photos of Kevin Noble Maillard, Juana Martinez-Neal, and cover of their book FRY BREAD: A NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILY STORY

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Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers) @cynleitichsmith.bsky.social · 15d

LEGENDARY FRYBREAD DRIVE-IN is a @commonsensemedia.bsky.social Selection.
“seamlessly weaves fantasy with stories of first love, forgiveness, hope, and unlikely family reunions. Any teen will be able to identify with the characters and stories; a great pick for most teens.” @harperkids.bsky.social

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Reposted by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Indigenous Books for Young Readers)

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · 15d

Curious why a standard picture book is 32 pages in traditional #KidLit trade publishing? And why NOT all 32 pages are for story content? In this #PictureBooks101 post, I explain picture book format & construction:
debbieohi.com/2025/09/pict...

Header graphic for Picture Books 101. One spot illustration shows an enthusiastic woman handing a big pile of papers to another woman. First woman is saying, "Here's my 8628 word epic picture book mss!" Another spot illustration shows a blue flower-decorated cup full of drawing and writing tools.

Illustrated diagram showing how a cover is attached to a self-ended picture book.

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