Paula Holmes
LightNews LightNews
qsprite.bsky.social
Paula Holmes
@qsprite.bsky.social
330 followers 260 following 290 posts
Reader & occasional blogger of #WorldKidLit, huge fan of Finnish translations, beginner weaver, library advocate, magpie
Posts Replies Media Videos
qsprite.bsky.social
Forthcoming from @enchantedlion.bsky.social ODDS AND ENDS from Maija Hurme Tr by Mia Spangenberg is a Finnish book that enchanted me at first sight originally published by Etana Editions #workdkidlit #finnishkidlit This is the book that I will be talking about for 2026!
The cover of ODDS AND ENDS illustrations of memories are taped down from mushrooms, a snowflake, a tooth, a shell to puddle jumping are the collection of lasts. Written and illustrated by Maija Hurme translated by Mia Spangenberg https://enchantedlion.com/all-books/odds-and-ends?rq=Odds%20 https://enchantedlion.com/all-books/odds-and-ends?rq=Odds%20
January 31, 2026 at 4:43 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
So happy for @enchantedlion.bsky.social a small independent publisher of high quality translations for their #BATCHELDER honor book THE ADVENTURES OF CIPOLLINO by Gianni Rodari tr by Antony Shigaar - make sure your library has a copy 🥰
January 26, 2026 at 5:53 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Toy drive at the Remparts game! Flying stuffed animals everywhere. 🥰
Stuffed animals cover the ice at the Remparts Hockey Game
December 13, 2025 at 9:39 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
My favorite 2025 books that were not translations
both from @enchantedlion.bsky.social
THE BOY WHO BECAME A PARROT: A Foolish Biography of Edward Lear Who Invented Nonsense by Wolverton Hill & Laura Carlin
DON’T EAT ME: The Almost True Story of Belladonna by Kate Finney & Esmé Shapiro #kidlit
Covers of THE BOY WHO BECAME A PARROT a man leans back on a tree surrounded by sketches of animals and a child with a kite. DON’T EAT ME! The belladonna plant fills the cover with a center bloom with a face https://enchantedlion.com/
December 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
My favorite cat books for 2025 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LATE TODAY by Jungyoon Huh & Myungae Lee tr by Aerin Park @ebyrbooks.bsky.social
CAT NAP by @brianlies.bsky.social @harpercollins.bsky.social #worldkidlit 🐈‍⬛🥰
The cover of LATE TODAY with a kitten under the front of a car with rain coming down https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802856494/late-today/ The cover of CAT NAP with a cat lying in the cover of a picture frame reaching out through the book title for a mouse racing off the cover https://www.harpercollins.com/products/cat-nap-brian-lies?variant=43406925889570
December 9, 2025 at 3:39 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
My favorite translations for 2025 that I hope are considered for the Batchelder Award #worldkidlit of course I reserve the right to add more when I receive my latest order of books from the bookstore ❤️
Covers of HAVE A GOOD TRIP, MOUSSE! by Claire Lebourg tr by Sophie Lewis MY PRESENTATION TODAY IS ABOUT THE ANACONDA by Bibi Dumon Tak and Annemarie Van Haeringen tr by Nancy Forest-Flier CROCO by Azul López tr by Kit Maude THE VILLAGE BEYOND THE MIST by Sachiko Kashiwaba tr by Avery Fischer Udagawa illus by Miho Satake LATE TODAY by Jungyoon Huh and Myungae Lee tr by Aerin Park
December 9, 2025 at 3:28 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Getting my @usbby.bsky.social auction art framed today 🥰celebrating my favorite 🐈‍⬛ cat books of 2025 - ❤️ Big love for CAT NAP by @brianlies.bsky.social from Harper Collins Crossing my fingers for a Caldecott win ⭐️
Cover of CAT NAP by Brian Lies cat lies on a picture frame with a paw reaching out for a mouse https://www.brianlies.com/cat-nap
December 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
I was thinking about my favorite cat books of 2025 and I realized that WHAT A SMALL CAT NEEDS comes out January 2026 From @enchantedlion.bsky.social by Natalia Shaloshvili tr by Lena Traer 🥰 I agree with all the ⭐️ reviews #worldkidlit
Cover of WHAT A SMALL CAT NEEDS small kitten holds a bowl of milk with a small penguin nearby https://enchantedlion.com/all-books/what-a-small-cat-needs
December 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
I am loving MY PRESENTATION TODAY IS ABOUT THE ANACONDA by Bibi Dumon Tak illustrations by Annemarie Van Haeringen Tr by Nancy Forest-Flier from @levinequerido putting in my #MockBatchelder pile
Finding myself laughing out loud and book talking it any chance I get 🥰🤩
Cover of My Presentation Today is About the Anaconda featuring an Anaconda and the earthworm who is giving the presentation.
November 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Last night went to see Brian Isett and Claudia Biçen talk about their new book THE FORGOTTEN TEACHERS: How nature wrote the story of life at White Whale Bookstore in Pittsburgh from Unruly @enchantedlion.bsky.social Truly a beautiful and fascinating book that combines art and science.
Cover THE FORGOTTEN TEACHERS featuring the tree of life whose branches sprout plants, birds, iguanas, fish, hands, and fungi. From Unruly https://enchantedlion.com/blog/2025/9/30/author-brian-isett-on-the-forgotten-teachers?rq=Forgotten%20
October 7, 2025 at 2:32 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
One of my favorites for fall PUMPKIN ISLAND by Arthur Geisert from @enchantedlion.bsky.social it’s a visual treat!
Cover of PUMPKIN ISLAND showing an ever expanding pumpkin patch https://enchantedlion.com/all-books/pumpkin-island-bg3zl
September 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Just saying one more time how much I love the Mousse series by Claire Lebourg tr by Sophie Lewis from @transitbooks.bsky.social
#worldkidlitmonth
Vol 1 A DAY WITH MOUSSE
Vol 2 HAVE A GOOD TRIP, MOUSSE!
Can’t wait for Volume 3 🥰
Cover of A DAY WITH MOUSSE & HAVE A GOOD TRIP, MOUSSE https://worldkidlit.org/2025/04/03/new-books-old-friends-the-joy-of-a-series/ https://www.transitchildrenseditions.org/books/haveagoodtripmousse
September 16, 2025 at 6:27 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Tucking in BILLIE AND BEAN AT THE BEACH by Julia Hansson tr by @bjwoodstein.bsky.social into a gift bundle ❤️ love this PB adventure series from @orcabook.bsky.social that includes BILLIE AND BEAN IN THE CITY & BILLIE AND BEAN IN THE MOUNTAINS perfect for encouraging new adventures #worldkidlitmonth
Covers of three books in the BILLIE AND BEAN series each cover features Billie and her dog Bean https://www.orcabook.com/ContributorInfo?ContribId=1365
September 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
I’m putting together a new baby gift. I love including the board book JUMP! by Tatsuhide Matsuoka tr by Cathy Hirano the illustrations are fun and shouting Boing! as you flip the pages is even better #worldkidlitmonth
Cover of JUMP! Show a cat joyfully outstretched jumping with the title across its belly. From Gecko Press
September 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
My copy of FREYA AND THE SNAKE by Fredrick Sonck & @jennylucander.bsky.social tr by B.J. Woodstein arrived today!!! Thank you @fuse8.bsky.social for the recommendation #worldkidlitmonth #finnishkidlit
Cover of FREYA AND THE SNAKE shows a snake with its tongue out wrapped around a smiling Freya as she reaches out to touch it. In the distance Freya’s father is running towards them with a rake and bucket, dressed in heavy boots and gloves prepared for capturing the snake
September 10, 2025 at 4:23 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Do you have a favorite bookstore destination for #worldkidlitmonth - in NYC I think The Albertine part of The French Institute for Cultural and Education www.albertine.com is absolutely beautiful 😍 last time I found a French translation of a Finnish picture book
Ceiling and second floor of the Albertine bookstore in NYC https://www.albertine.com/
September 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
MG #WorldKidLit is slightly harder to find happy to see the Moonwind Mysteries Book 4 THE LADY OF THE SHADOWS is on pre-order from Amazon Crossing Kids - Book 3 THE LOST ONES by Johan Rundberg tr Eva Apelqvist the best yet - historical fiction mystery, Stockholm, orphans, explosions, missing girls
Cover of THE LOST ONES: The Moonwind Mysteries by Johan Rundberg translated by Eva Apelqvist features a horse and carriage with a girl inside with the background of fancy houses, the street lights are on and in the distance a bridge, and the sun just peeking in the horizon
September 4, 2025 at 12:01 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Books from Tapioca Stories are always a treat out this October is a must CROCO by Azul López tr by Kit Maude 🐊 when CROCO falls in a deep pit advice & help from friends doesn’t work but sometimes tears can help you out of a deep dark pit ❤️ the illustrations & overall book design #worldkidlitmonth
Cover of CROCO by Azul López translated from the Spanish by Kit Maude featuring a crocodile swimming in a body of water surrounded by the jungle book and pages read top to bottom from Tapioca Stories https://www.tapiocastories.com/product-page/croco-english-language-edition
September 3, 2025 at 1:48 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Through #worldkidlitmonth I discovered Finnish author & illustrator @marikamaijala.bsky.social & tr Mia Spangenberg 🥰 Their latest title is A MAGICIANS FLOWER from Elsewhere Editions - friendship, gardening, adventure, a wonderful chicken named Eulalia & Raisin a plant that blooms on its on schedule
Cover of A MAGICIANS FLOWER Willow and Aspen sit at a table in a greenhouse looking at Raisin a little plant that is staying small with Eulalia the chicken underneath the table by Marika Maijala translated from the Finnish by Mia Spangenberg https://elsewhereeditions.org/books/a-magicians-flower/
September 2, 2025 at 6:16 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Happy #Workdkidlitmonth
30 days of outstanding books

LATE TODAY by Jungyoon Huh & Myungae Lee tr by Aerin Park @ebyrbooks.bsky.social is so special I need extra copies 🥰 the rescue of a kitten on a rainy day on a bridge congested with traffic with action filled illustrations is not to be missed
Cover of LATE TODAY a small kitten hides under the front of a car with heavy rain splashing down from Eerdmans https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802856494/late-today/
September 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
I’m pulling together some books for a therapist friend - THE SUMMER OF DIVING by Sara Strindberg & Sara Lundberg tr by B.J. Woodstein is such a beautiful book that deals with when a parent is hospitalized for depression - I had to order a second copy from TriangleSquare #Worldkidlit
Cover of THE SUMMER OF DIVING a young girl and young woman lay on the grass in bathing suits with a long beaded necklace weaving around both their faces and head and then spreading into the grass
August 30, 2025 at 4:57 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
worldkidlit.org/2020/09/26/p... I love talking about translations for kids & today I found myself book-talking THE APARTMENT: A Century of Russian History by Alexandra Litvina & Anna Desnitskaya translated by Antonine W. Bouis - I have now been talking about this book for 5 years #worldkidlit
Cover of THE APARTMENT showing the door of the apartment with a cat and person peeking out with a runner sled outside published by ABRAMS Books for Young Readers
August 27, 2025 at 2:39 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Hyvää Tove
Sign in front of Tove Jansson’s studio and apartment in Helsinki
August 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
Howls Moving Castle Tote Bag
July 29, 2025 at 3:23 PM
qsprite.bsky.social
As someone who has rescued a few cats LATE TODAY by Jungyoon Huh & Myungae Lee tr by Aerin Park speaks to me. The story of a kitten on the roadway blocking traffic & in need of rescue the illustrations are fabulous & a happy ending that I needed! Loving @ebyrbooks.bsky.social fall books #worldkidlit
Cover of LATE TODAY a small kitten is under a car with rain coming down https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802856494/late-today/
July 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM