Sarah Allen
@sarahallen.bsky.social
1K followers 270 following 320 posts
Award-winning children's author: WHAT STARS ARE MADE OF, BREATHING UNDERWATER, THE NIGHTMARE HOUSE, MONSTER TREE. I make silly drawings & songs & snuzzle cats. Better at Substack (sarahallen.substack.com)
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Reposted by Sarah Allen
allymalinenko.bsky.social
Oct 10 - Middle Grade Horror Books You Should Read Day 10 The Nightmare House by @sarahallen.bsky.social Penny Hope used to be brave, but that was before she met the Fear Maker. Years later, he still haunts her dreams
sarahallen.bsky.social
Eeeee!!! Hit a pretty exciting milestone today over at the newsletter :D sarahallen.substack.com
sarahallen.bsky.social
Hello wonderful teacher friends! How about a spooky season no-prep freebie? Halloween writing prompts to use in writing lessons, ice-breakers, independent work, however you want! Ideal for 4th-7th. Totally free here: sarahallen.substack.com/subscribe
sarahallen.bsky.social
I love it so much! I really love Nightmare Before Christmas, but I might possibly like Corpse Bride even more...
sarahallen.bsky.social
Happy death day to the one and only Edgar Allan Poe. I'm sure he'd want us to celebrate.
sarahallen.bsky.social
My current adult WIP has multiple POVs, and I’m really nervous about being able to pull it off. My goal is to get something in the vein of Thursday Murder Club style. We’ll see if it will work. In the meantime, outlining in notecards and Tim Burton movies are helping!
sarahallen.bsky.social
This is so great!!! Thank you :D :D :D
marylannireads.bsky.social
Today's featured book is a middle grade spooky story by @sarahallen.bsky.social, and it's perfect for fall. Watch the video to find out more, and then check out our interview to get a behind-the-scenes view, too. 😊

youtu.be/wAy9dUcknLU?...

#bookreview #middlegrade #spookystory
Book Review: Monster Tree
YouTube video by @MaryLanniReads
youtu.be
sarahallen.bsky.social
I always feel icky writing about social media, and that’s not what this is, I promise. This interview is not about being an “influencer” or gaming the algorithm or whatever. It’s about creating great stuff for a great audience. sarahallen.substack.com/p/creating-s...
Millions of views creating content for kids, with Sarah Maddack
and the middle grade draft is FINISHED!!
sarahallen.substack.com
sarahallen.bsky.social
There is such great insight in this interview with kid lit bookseller Melissa LaSalle! Her hot take about "writing the book you wish you had as a child" is one I'll be thinking about for a while. sarahallen.substack.com/p/lets-see-w...
Let's see what kid lit booksellers are *actually* looking for, with Melissa LaSalle (aka The Book Mommy)
Hint: It's not the book you wished you had as a child.
sarahallen.substack.com
sarahallen.bsky.social
Day 2 of my silly lil Back To School Animal Alphabet Countdown :)
sarahallen.bsky.social
Happy August, and happy Back To School!
I wanted to write some limericks and draw some animals, so we're doing an Animal Alphabet Back To School Countdown! Today: A for Aphid. And we're giving away some back to school bundles while we're at it. Teachers, hope this helps! sarahallen.substack.com
Reposted by Sarah Allen
apensfan.bsky.social
I love spooky stories and this anthology includes some amazing authors! Just added to my #BookPosse TBR pile. Maybe the extreme triple digit heat will break so we can read the stories outside while making s’mores! @allymalinenko.bsky.social @sarahallen.bsky.social @owlhollowpress.bsky.social
sarahallen.bsky.social
Holy potates this is awesome!!!

(Come on over and join! sarahallen.substack.com )
sarahallen.bsky.social
THIS A MILLION TIMES THIS!!!
pdavislibrarian.bsky.social
All these folks are really great, but your local children's librarian can get you a personally curated list based on a relationship with your child and what they have enjoyed in the past. Don't forget your public library as an essential resource.
a man is waving his hand in front of a crowd of people on a television show .
Alt: a man is waving his hand in front of a crowd of people on a television show .
media.tenor.com
sarahallen.bsky.social
But really, there are people out there to help so you never have to wonder what books to get for your kiddos again. Let me know if I've missed anyone! sarahallen.substack.com/p/the-master...
The master list of where to find book recommendations for your kids
You don't have to figure this out alone
sarahallen.substack.com
sarahallen.bsky.social
Do audiobooks count as reading? Let's talk to a Certfied Academic Language Therapist about it.
sarahallen.bsky.social
Oh, and she teaches phonics with Duplos. (Genius.)
We talked summer reading tips, what authors can do better, and why access matters.
📚 Full interview here → sarahallen.substack.com/p/ear-readin...
#amwriting #kidlit #authorsonthreads #dyslexiaawareness #middlegrade #childrensbooks
"Ear reading" and other ways to help your (neurodivergent) kid read this summer, with language therapist Kathy Tenney
And learning to draw with a spatially-inept brain.
sarahallen.substack.com
sarahallen.bsky.social
And yes—audiobooks totally count.
Kathy calls them a gift to dyslexic readers.
They build vocab, boost comprehension, and let kids access the same books as peers. Some of her students even listen faster than average!
sarahallen.bsky.social
💡 Kids with dyslexia often need 40x more repetition for a word to stick.
💡 Graphic novels help them feel seen—cool covers, less text, easier tracking.
💡 They crave high-interest, easy-to-decode stories—but we need more. Writers, take note.
sarahallen.bsky.social
Authors—want your books to reach all kids, including those with dyslexia?
👇
I interviewed Kathy Tenney, a Certified Academic Language Therapist with 30+ years helping struggling readers. I absolutely LOVED what she said. 🧵
sarahallen.bsky.social
Today in the newsletter we're talking about 1) making summer reading a positive thing for all your kiddos and 2) teaching myself art with a clinically spatially inept brain. Come on over and tell me what you're working on and what you're reading! sarahallen.substack.com/p/ear-readin...
"Ear reading" and other ways to help your (neurodivergent) kid read this summer, with language therapist Kathy Tenney
And learning to draw with a spatially-inept brain.
sarahallen.substack.com