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Stefan Karlsson

@stefankarlsson.bsky.social

850 followers 600 following 720 posts

Writer & reader of poetry & kid lit. Marbling & book artist. Current WIPs: verse novel & poetry books. Based in Portland, OR 🌲 https://linktr.ee/nautiluspaperco

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · Apr 14

Lately I’ve been tucking #kidlit poetry zines into neighborhood Little Free Library boxes 📚

Everyone has the power to make something beautiful—something that reflects your hopes for a kinder, more joyful world—and share it with others ✨

#NationalPoetryMonth #poetry #zines #PoetryCommunity

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 2d

It’s Banned Books Week! Here are a couple banned/challenged books I’ve read recently. What are you doing this week to defend the right to read? #BannedBooksWeek

Cover of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi & Jason Reynolds

Cover of All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you so much for reading and for your thoughtful words, Susan! 💚

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 4d

Excited to have my spooky poem “The Book of Beware” featured in this blog post! Thank you! 📚🧙 #kidlit #poetry #halloween

Brian Moses @brianmosespoet.bsky.social · 4d

New blog post: A Ticket to Scary-ness - Link to a fabulous new website with a range of poems that are suitable for the run up to Hallowe'en. Enjoy. brian-moses.blogspot.com #Halloween #Halloween2025 #spookypoems #scarypoems

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 4d

The duck pond’s mirror
doubles the public’s green—
nothing is for sale.

#haikusaturday #haiku #poetry #portland

A pond in a park reflects the many green trees around its perimeter

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 6d

Here I am at work having too much fun selling picture books 🪄📚😂
#kidlit #childrensbooks

www.instagram.com/reel/DPSD9j_...

Picture of me in bookstore holding a wand with text in glowing font reading Bookstore Magic

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 6d

Happy birthday! 🎈 And wonderful artwork! 🍂😊

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 6d

I love the theme for this year’s #NationalPoetryDay in the UK: Play! I have plenty of poems about play on my #kidlit YouTube channel, including a #poem about an epic game of tic-tac-toe!

Find it here: youtube.com/@stefankidsp...

Illustration of a girl in a yellow raincoat splashing in a puddle. Text reads: Poetry for Kids with Stefan Karlsson. YouTube: @StefanKidsPoetry

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 7d

If you’re looking for Halloween poems this spooky season, check out scaryness.com, a new webzine featuring spooky poems for kids! Great for educators, parents, and young ghouls 👻 I’m honored to have a couple silly-scary poems there 🎃 #kidlit #poetry

Scary Jack-o-lantern and bats on an orange background. Text reads Halloween Poems for Kids! Ticket to scary-ness on the poetry express. Scary poems for children (with a sprinkle of fun). Scaryness.com

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 8d

In honor of spooky season, I’m reading scary books this week 😅

Cover of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark featuring a creepy head smoking a pipe

Cover of How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 9d

Flowing into fall with an autumn-inspired paper marbling 🎨🍂🌀 A pattern for future #bookbinding efforts! 📚
#crafts #handmade

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Reposted by Stefan Karlsson

Jamie Canavés @jamiecanaves.bsky.social · 9d

Murder at the Museum / Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All / A Royal Conundrum / A Dictionary of Scoundrels / The Parker Inheritance / From the Desk of Zoe Washington / Undercover Latina / The World's Greatest Detective 💙📚

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 9d

I just read Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce for our local Kids at Heart Book Club. Now I’m curious: What are your favorite #kidlit mystery books? I’m hoping to put together a list for future reading! #amreading

Cover of Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce featuring young detective and spooky house

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 9d

What a brilliant list! I had a few of these on my radar but others are new to me, thank you! 😊💜

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 9d

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 10d

Portland looking particularly War ravaged today. I was under siege from falling leaves. Unauthorized squirrels abounded—the attack shook me to my core. Worst part: domestic puppies were out in Full Force.

Peaceful park scene in Portland, Oregon with trees and lampposts

Peaceful park scene in Portland, OR with reflective pond and green trees

Reposted by Stefan Karlsson

Jennifer Thomas @jthomasabc.bsky.social · 20d

I still can’t believe I got to guest edit an issue of @littlethoughtspress.com. I’m hugely grateful to the editor, @clairemtaylor.com, for giving me this chance, and to all the writers and artists who embraced our theme.

Come and be stirred by beautiful words!
littlethoughtspress.com/issues

Cover of the Stirring Words issue of Little Thoughts Press magazine, showing two children stirring a pot of glowing words.

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 21d

Yikes! I have two new spooky poems for kids on the Scary-ness Express poetry website! Delighted to join the talented bunch of children’s poets in this scary-fun webzine 👻🚂✨

Bones & Boo Inn: scaryness.com/new-poems-no...

Book of Beware: scaryness.com/new-poems-no...

#poetry #kidlit #halloween

Green train ticket graphic on a purple background. The text reads: The Poetry Express. New poems boarding the scary-ness express. Ticket.

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 22d

Thank you! 😊

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 23d

New pattern, new season 🍂 Hope your fall gets off to a lovely & peaceful start!

#patterns #craft #handmade #PortlandOregon

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 28d

Awesome, indeed!! Congrats, Joshua! 😊

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 29d

Haha thanks so much, Jennifer! 🍝😊

Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · 29d

I’m loving the spooky poems for kids on the wonderful new website scaryness.com, a free resource for scary poems (with a sprinkle of fun)! Extra excited to have my own spooky work haunting the site soon! 👻🧙‍♀️📚
#poetry #poetryforkids #kidlit

Green cartoon train ticket on a purple background reading Ticket to Scary-ness on The Poetry Express: Scary Poems for Children (with a sprinkle of fun) with cartoon train full of spooky characters like a ghost and a vampire.

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Reposted by Stefan Karlsson

Jennifer Thomas @jthomasabc.bsky.social · 29d

I’m happy to be a submissions reader for the next issue of @littlethoughtspress.com. The theme is Better Together!

Wondering what to write about? Why not shine a spotlight on one of the young heroes featured on this website? myhero.com/child

Young Heroes | MY HERO

Young people who did not let their age deter them from their commitment to help make a difference.

myhero.com

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Stefan Karlsson @stefankarlsson.bsky.social · Sep 6

Thank you so much, Abbie! 😊🙏🏼