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Sarah Hammond

@sarahhammond

Children's author | Creative writing teacher | A Brit abroad | SCBWI-IL network rep | www.sarahhammond.org

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14.11.2023
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Latest posts by Sarah Hammond @sarahhammond

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Lunar New Year books for children and teens Luna New Year books for children and teens with titles by Grace Lin, Malinda Lo, Gene Luen Yang, Eric Huang & Kevin Tsang.

Lunar New Year books for children and teens. πŸ“šπŸ‘πŸΌ
schoolreadinglist.co.uk/genres/lunar...
#kidlit
Lunar New Year books for children and teens with titles by Grace Lin, Malinda Lo, Geraldine McCaughrean, Gene Luen Yang, Sue Lynn Tan, Adeline Yen Mah...

16.02.2026 16:18 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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How books can win children’s attention Author-illustrator Neil Coslett argues that children still love stories.

Competition for children's attention is real. Yet "kids still love stories. Text may have jumped from page to screen where it explodes like eye-candy glitter bombs, but children are still engaging with words and stories." #kidlit @booktrust.org.uk

www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/fi...

17.02.2026 16:53 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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NEW WORKSHOP: Mastering the Flow - Writing Picture Books Rich in Rhythm & Read-Aloud Charm Discover how to write picture books that truly sing β€” and learn practical, proven techniques to add rhythm, flow, and read-aloud magic to your stories in this live 90-minute workshop with award-winnin...

"Editors are drawn to lyrical picture books β€” and why read-aloud appeal can make the difference between a manuscript that’s β€œnice” and one that’s memorable and marketable." (CBI)

Join the Rhyme Doctors for a workshop on Feb 24th.
writeforkids.lpages.co/mastering-th...

15.02.2026 15:24 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Bookworms must stave off our becoming a β€˜post-literate generation’ Having converted the UK into history buffs, β€˜The Rest is History’ co-host Dominic Sandbrook is hoping his new podcast project will do the same for our enjoyment of reading

"If you don’t read, you’re missing out on one of the best things human beings have ever created." I'll be curious to try out this new podcast next week…
#Kidlit #WritingCommunity #BookSky #bookrecommendations

www.independent.co.uk/voices/domin...

15.02.2026 17:13 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Illinois Regional events Serious about improving your craft? SCBWI's regional events provide opportunities for professional growth and help you connect with a supportive, creative community.

The link to the recording is now available at: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

13.02.2026 18:20 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Courtesy of @goodwilllibrarian.bsky.social

13.02.2026 16:28 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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What a great event last night! Dandelion Bookshop was packed for our @scbwi-illinois.bsky.social network presentation, How To Make An Agent Fall In Love With You, by @jennaschmenna.bsky.social. Engaging entertaining & informative! A recording will be available soon via: www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

12.02.2026 17:39 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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Looking forward to co-hosting this @scbwi-illinois.bsky.social network event with agent/author @jennaschmenna.bsky.social. All are welcome! #kidlit

09.02.2026 17:23 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Six Nordic paintings that can help us rethink winter Winter isn't all bad – these "sublime" landscapes of the frozen North from the turn of the 20th Century offer us a way into resilience – and an "acceptance of the seasonality of life".

As a Brit, adjusting to Midwest winters can be something of a challenge. This year, I'm trying to re-vision what winter means, inspired by the Scandinavian outlook. These artists capture the essence of this reframing beautifully.

www.bbc.com/culture/arti...

29.01.2026 22:23 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Monetisation

The advert said
MONETISE YOUR FOLLOWERS
so he thought
he would respond

by painting them
in the changing light,
like waterlilies
in a pond.

28.01.2026 09:26 πŸ‘ 517 πŸ” 137 πŸ’¬ 19 πŸ“Œ 4

β€œI know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.”

Emily Dickinson, #BornOnThisDay in 1830 πŸ“šβ€οΈ

10.12.2025 17:25 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Take advantage of this prize, celebrating the best work from members of diverse and underrepresented communities within our own. Application opens February 1, free to all Illinois members!

More info on our website:
www.scbwi.org/regions/illi...

27.01.2026 19:04 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Yes! It was wonderful to hear the audience roar with applause for children's literature.

26.01.2026 23:50 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Thrilled to celebrate #kidlit today at the ALA Youth Media Awards 2026 with @lisakatzenberger.bsky.social @jeanreidy.bsky.social & @sarashacter.bsky.social. Congratulations to the winners and nominees! πŸ‘πŸŽ‰πŸ“š
See: americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-sc...

26.01.2026 22:25 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Scrapbooks as Visual Diaries | The Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute Archives possesses a trove of unique materials that offer rare insight into the minds and lives of artists and designers.

I've had several discussions of late about how to nurture creative processes in the new year. There's some wonderful inspiration in this @artinstitutechi.bsky.social blog about artists & designers who used scrapbooks as visual diaries to catalog their unique practices.

www.artic.edu/articles/123...

21.01.2026 00:01 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks for sharing and we're delighted you might be joining us!

13.01.2026 17:50 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Looking forward to co-hosting this FREE #kidlit @scbwi-illinois.bsky.social event at Dandelion Bookshop! All are welcome.
dandelionbookshop.com

13.01.2026 01:15 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Looking forward to co-hosting this #kidlit event. All welcome!

11.01.2026 16:40 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Ah! Good answer. Yes, fantasy often runs longer (and I love a good fantasy, too). I enjoy some of the novels in verse with short chapters, like Sarah Crossnan's ONE for instance.

10.01.2026 19:49 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Found this intriguing sign on the bookshelves at the La Grange Public Library. We all have busy schedules these days, are used to short bursts of information on social media and so on. What do you think is an ideal chapter length? I'm curious.

#kidlt #WritingCommunity #BookSky
#bookrecommendations

10.01.2026 17:47 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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091 - Grace Lin on Finding Your Why

Why would you want to write picture books? Just discovered the @picturebooksummit.bsky.social Podcast and loved this recent episode by @authorgracelin.bsky.social who discusses her answer to this question. #kidlit open.spotify.com/episode/14oD...

08.01.2026 20:36 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Ian Barford and Robert Falls rock Amadeus at Steppenwolf I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard an ovation as celebratory and raucous in Steppenwolf’s upstairs ensemble theater as the one at the curtain call of Sunday’s opening…

Still on a high from seeing AMADEUS last night at @steppenwolfthtr.bsky.social. What a treat! chicagocultureauthority.com/2025/11/17/i...

08.01.2026 18:06 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Hey illustrators/agents!

I’m a #kidlit art director starting work on a new picture bookβ€”we’re looking for: expressive, commercial, human characters; fantasy; magic; AND Mahjong! The tiles! The drama!

Please respond w/ samples + folio link.
Please no emails/DMs.

πŸ’™β€οΈ #artcommissions

07.01.2026 20:12 πŸ‘ 175 πŸ” 101 πŸ’¬ 66 πŸ“Œ 1
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Credit: Tiina Menzel.

01.01.2026 18:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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In-Between Days are some of my favorite days, too.
@brianbilston.bsky.social

30.12.2025 21:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜This extraordinary story never goes out of fashion’: 30 authors on the books they give to everyone Colm TΓ³ibΓ­n, Robert Macfarlane, Elif Shafak, Michael Rosen and more share the novels, poetry and memoirs that make the perfect gift

I ❀️ new book recs. Some of my recent gifts incl. ROOFTOPPERS & IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES by the remarkable Katherine Rundell, Frances Hardinge's creative UNRAVELLER (I come from Lincolnshire and its folktales influenced the story) & Michelle Jabès Corpora's Egyptian-inspired HIS FACE IS THE SUN. And you?

18.12.2025 19:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

⬇️⬇️ A blog to make you chuckle. My favorites?
- THE GILMORE GIRLS MEMORIAL TOO MANY THINGS IN ONE BOOK AWARD
- PAGE TURN OF THE YEAR (Broken, by X. Fang is a picture book masterpiece)
Thanks @100scopenotes.bsky.social
#kidlit #lifegoals #WritingCommunity #BookSky

13.12.2025 18:40 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A postcard from a child receiving a Christmas book parcel - it reads: "When I got it I felt excited because these are my favourite packages. Merry Christmas. Best package ever". The child has also drawn love hearts, candy canes and a Christmas tree

A postcard from a child receiving a Christmas book parcel - it reads: "When I got it I felt excited because these are my favourite packages. Merry Christmas. Best package ever". The child has also drawn love hearts, candy canes and a Christmas tree

This is the difference you could make on #GivingTuesday.

By donating today, you could give joy, magic and stories that open up the world to a child.

See more postcards from children who have received a festive book parcel here πŸ‘‡

https://bit.ly/4rz5e6L

02.12.2025 18:13 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This was my vote from the three shortlisted words this year… although hoping rage is less the rage in 2026.
#OxfordWOTY #RageBait

01.12.2025 23:00 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0