Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 21h

So, win-win.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 1d

A gorgeous day in Boston for the Massachusetts Book Awards at the State House! Miles Comes Home was on the long list. I got to meet a ton of amazing authors including @studiojjk.bsky.social!

Front of the Massachusetts State House, with red flowers in the foreground.

Several winners, honor books and long list books from the Mass Book Awards, including Miles Comes Home, Glitter Road and Small Things Mended.

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Reposted by Sarah S. Brannen

Robin Stevenson @robinstevenson.bsky.social · 2d

Bigots and book banners, as always, are shown to be a small (though very loud) minority: "99.97 percent of families, even when given the option, chose to let their children learn about LGBTQ+ people."

Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · 2d

1. 4 months ago, The Supreme Court gave families a right to opt out of LGBTQ+ education in schools.

Now, in Montgomery County, Maryland, where the case originated, the results are in.

Only 43 families out of 160,000 students have exercised that new right.

Subscribe to support our journalism.

Only 0.03% Opt Out Of LGBTQ+ Education In Maryland After SCOTUS Gives Them A Right To

After SCOTUS gave families a right to opt out of LGBTQ+ education, Montgomery County, Maryland is reporting only 43 families took them up on it.

www.erininthemorning.com

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Reposted by Sarah S. Brannen

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 6d

Another reason we can't "just get private bookmobiles to schools to get kids banned books" is that this isn't about the books. It's about the fundamental rights to democratic spaces that represent a whole community.

Right now, judges are chipping away at *our* rights.

bookriot.com/parnell-vs-e...

Another Judge Chips Away at Library Patron First Amendment Rights

A District Court judge rules that neither library patrons nor authors have First Amendment rights when it comes to library collections.

bookriot.com

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Reposted by Sarah S. Brannen

Melissa Stewart @mstewartscience.bsky.social · 5d

It's the perfect time to pre-order our upcoming book. Copies signed by both of us are available from the @silverunicornbooks.bsky.social @ssedlib.bsky.social @simonkids.bsky.social @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social
@steamteambooks.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/55sc8xr3
#edusky #kidlit #TLsky #skybrarian

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 6d

Everyone should search carefully - the first thing I found was a mistake, with three authors (including me) listed on a book we did not write. The book we DID do together isn't listed. I have notified the law firm.

Kate Messner @katemessner.com · 6d

Authors & illustrators - the Anthropic Copyright Settlement Website is up now & you can search for your titles here to see if you're part of the class action:
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com

(Early note: this does not match up with the full LibGen database so there are going to be questions.)

ANT Homepage | ANT

www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 7d

...who is a rat...

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 8d

A great big happy #bookbirthday to CAT NAP by @brianlies.bsky.social ! This book is extraordinary, mind-blowing and gorgeous - I can't wait to own it!

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 10d

Quote with your yellow art! 💛

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 15d

This whole thread.

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 16d

A few strategies I use:
1. Talk with students about how: 1) AI tends to produce work that is at best mediocre and at worst just wrong, 2) using AI habitually weakens the critical thinking skills that make college valuable, and 3) AI exploits environmental resources and content creators.

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Reposted by Sarah S. Brannen

Melissa Stewart @mstewartscience.bsky.social · 21d

Thank you, Scripts National Spelling Bee for including Summertime Sleepers as 2025-2026 Book Selection
tinyurl.com/36x5keak
@scrippsbee.bsky.social @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social @charlesbridge.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social
#kidlit #esusky #TLsky #skybrarian #schoollibrarians

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 23d

The skating season has started, and Lolly will be on the ice (and in bookstores) less than two months from now! @randomhousekids.bsky.social

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 24d

Every time.

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 25d

Thanks for the recap and I'm delighted that you'll be doing these all season. Please don't make them shorter on my account; I love every minute!

Reposted by Sarah S. Brannen

EveryLibrary @everylibrary.bsky.social · 27d

Nearly all of the book bans in Hillsborough are being brought by one woman.

She is a parent, but not to children in HCPS.

She wants to dictate what you and your family are allowed to read.

buff.ly/R03o3i8 via Florida Freedom to Read Project

Hillsborough school board votes to remove more books

The Hillsborough County School board on Tuesday unanimously voted to remove two more books from shelves, with five members switching their votes on the same books from the year before. After a summer…

buff.ly

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 29d

I finally saw @paulapoundstone.bsky.social's Cabinet Meeting video. That's my girl.

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · 29d

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be reading LOLLY ON THE ICE at @anunlikelystory.bsky.social on Feb 1, with an incredible guest: ice dancer Karina Manta! Karina will read her memoir ON TOP OF GLASS and we'll talk about skating and her life. She's amazing.

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · Sep 5

GLAAD is going to send a copy of Uncle Bobby's Wedding to every single member of Congress. I hope they all like it! @glaad.bsky.social glaad.org/how-glaad-is...

How GLAAD is Combatting Censorship by Sending LGBTQ Books Straight to Capitol Hill | GLAAD

As LGBTQ-inclusive books are being pulled from classrooms and libraries at an alarming rate, GLAAD is taking direct action by mailing hundreds of copies of a beloved (and banned) LGBTQ title straight ...

glaad.org

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · Sep 4

I posed all my sketchbooks for a project I'm working on. Well. Not ALL of them.

The backs of a couple of dozen sketchbooks lined up, all sorts of colors and patterns.

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · Sep 4

Fun piece, and here's my opportunity to brag that *I* have been called by a New Yorker fact-checker.

Jessica Winter @winterjessica.bsky.social · Sep 3

This piece is wonderful—a little sunshine in dark times. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

The History of The New Yorker’s Vaunted Fact-Checking Department

Reporters engage in charm and betrayal; checkers are in the harm-reduction business.

www.newyorker.com

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · Sep 1

According to the research of terrific illustrator @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social, this is a Spined Micrathena spider. I have NEVER seen anything like it. It crawled out of some pine cones I was collecting.

Two photos of Spined Micrathena spider: small black spider with a spiky black-and-white abdomen that looks like a piece of lichen.

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Reposted by Sarah S. Brannen

EveryLibrary @everylibrary.bsky.social · Aug 28

What do you do if you don't like a book at the library?

Sign the petition against book bans at www.bookbanpetition.us

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Sarah S. Brannen @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social · Aug 25

Here's a way to support the authors and illustrators in #SCOTUS Mahmoud v Taylor: all proceeds of the sales of the shirts and hoodies go to PEN America. PEN did an amazing job of guiding us and standing by our sides as we fought this attack on the right to read.

Charlotte Sullivan Wild (she) 🏳️‍🌈♿ @cswild.bsky.social · Aug 22

Want to support #FReadom? For a short time, the book creators named in #MahmoudvTaylor are offering shirts, hoodies, & sweatshirts with art from @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social - to raise funds for @penamerica.bsky.social, who supported us during this case! #kidlit

www.customink.com/fundraising/...

Person with brown skin wearing a black shirt with a screened cartoon image of the 9 US Supreme Court justices each holding one of the picture books named in Mahmoud v. Taylor. In script: "SCOTUS Book Club"

Person with light skin wearing a white sweatshirt with hands in a kangaroo pouch, with a screened cartoon image of the 9 US Supreme Court justices each holding one of the picture books named in Mahmoud v. Taylor. In script: "SCOTUS Book Club"

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Reposted by Sarah S. Brannen

Melissa Stewart @mstewartscience.bsky.social · Aug 22

Woo-hoo! @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social and I are thrilled that our upcoming book is a JLG Selection.
@ssedlib.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social
#edusky #kidlit

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Reposted by Sarah S. Brannen

Charlotte Sullivan Wild (she) 🏳️‍🌈♿ @cswild.bsky.social · Aug 22

Want to support #FReadom? For a short time, the book creators named in #MahmoudvTaylor are offering shirts, hoodies, & sweatshirts with art from @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social - to raise funds for @penamerica.bsky.social, who supported us during this case! #kidlit

www.customink.com/fundraising/...

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