Brian Gene Olson

Since I haven't yet offered a Bluesky introduction post... Hi, I'm Brian. I write children's poems and songs, some of which have appeared in Ladybug, Babybug, The School Magazine, and Highlights Hello. I'm looking to connect with new #kidlit peeps (and reconnect with old ones from Brand X).

I ❤️ SOUP! So, I figured, why not write a poem about it?! 🎉 A big thank you to @highlightsmagazine.bsky.social High Five Magazine for publishing it in the November issue, with fab illustrations by Richard Watson!

SAVE THE DATE for the Newton Children's Book Festival! Get your holiday shopping started (and finished!) with over 100 children's book creators signing books. Food truck, kids craft activities & more. Nov 15 from 11-3 at the American Legion in Newton, Mass. More info: newtonchildrensbookfest.com

Calling all picture book writers! Please join me TOMORROW 10/27 at 6pm CDT/7pmEDT for: "Should I Say Something? Leaving Space for the Illustrator Without Losing Your Vision" via @thewritingbarn.bsky.social 🥰 Find out more & register here: thewritingbarn.com/leave-room-f... ❤️ Hope to see you there!

Here's my #bat fluttering in and super late for the #Colour_Collective #CCAubergine party. Been drowning in art biz admin work so something tweaked from my #illustration archives with a bit Aubergine. #kidlitart

Can anyone recommend a favorite #middlegrade novel which blends mystery with (preferably light) science fiction elements? Thanks! #kidlit

Q&A with Hollie Michaels, literary agent at MNLM. Big thank you to Hollie for the tips we've been dropping over the course of the event. Agents & editors view kids-YA graphic novel pitches at kidlitgn.com/submission-d... #kidlitgn #pitchevent #kidlit @hbmichaels.bsky.social

After 8-week stay in Japan, dealing with the loss of my mother, I finally made it back to my home in México on late Saturday afternoon. But coming back to the 'house' I can no longer recognize, without our cat, is challenging. I feel like I am simply moving from one House of Death to the other.

My friend and author Marti Dumas visited Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans to pick up her copy of “How to Calm a Rain Bull!” @bluecypressbooks.bsky.social @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social #author #illustrator #folklore #bookstore #kidlit #folktales

This week’s Substack post shares the story of how I created a license plate for the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts, a celebration of the arts in Louisiana. #arts #artist #illustration #licenseplate #design #louisiana substack.com/@denisegalla...

@authorsagainstbookbans (@authorsabb) is sharing candidate scorecards that highlight lawmakers in your state who have sponsored right-to-read and pro-library legislation and are up for reelection, including your state's federal sponsors. ✅@jennyforcolorado (@jcwillford) ✅@replorenagarciahd35

My irregularly updating #comic begs the question, "how do you want to be remembered?" Help support this by sharing and/or visiting my website #comic #eulogy #funeral #aiisnotinevitable

I loved doing this interview with the wonderful crew at Nimblewit magazine, including 2 kid readers!!

Spotlight on Issue 3 - Interview with @jengelmattern.bsky.social about her new book, Where the Light Shines In Perks of being the editor’s kid, two of my kids read an ARC and asked some questions. They both rate the book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and say you should read it! epistemiclit.com/nimblewitlit...

I would love to see YOU (authors, illustrators, poets, book creators!) at one of my upcoming webinars. "How to Talk to Booksellers" is happening soon with two available webinar sessions: Nov 3 @ 11am EST and Nov 16 @ 7pm EST. Details at my website. Bring a friend, you each save $5.

Looking for some awesome picture books to read? Check out Susanna Hill's fabulous #PPBF post this week. susannahill.com/2026/10/02/p... @phyllisharris.bsky.social #kidlit #picturebooks 📚👍

Check out author Martha Seif Simpson's inspiration & insights into her humorous newest picture book - I Will NOT Eat Latkes. www.mariacmarshall.com/single-post/... Lisa Hunt Apples & Honey Press #kidlit #Hanukah #bravery #friendship #latkes 📚👍

In the act of creativity, the artist lets go of the self-control which he normally clings to and is open to riding the wind. ~Walking on Water

Happy to share the LOVE, PANDA by Elaine Su Elaine Su & illus. by me is nominated for the Forest of Reading Blue Spruce award! Organizations - you can sign up for the Forest of Reading here! forestofreading.com/... #IReadCanadian #CanLit #kidlit #edusky #librariansky

Monday #kidlit check-in: I'm working on cover art for my next picture book this week, then digging into my next book project (PLUS leaving time for my sketchbook, I swear!!!) How about you?

Don't miss debut author Suzanne Poulter Harris sharing about her stunning NF picture book - The Boy Behind the Wardrobe. www.mariacmarshall.com/single-post/the-picture-book-buzz-interview-with-suzanne-poulter-harris @ebyrbooks.bsky.social #kidlit #CSLewis #biography 📚👍

New friend alert! 👋 Sometimes friendship starts with a simple hello. This #NationalNewFriendsDay, #TheReindeerRemainders by #KateyHowes reminds us that there’s always room for someone new. Say hello. Make room. Make a new friend! #KidsBooks #Friendship

Happy to be representing Raven Howell, children’s books author extraordinaire.

I'm sorry, but you are transparently dishonest. "...make creative work more accessible to all." It's *already* accessible to all. "....widen access, inclusion, opportunity... discoverability... reach wider audiences..." Gen AI does none of those things.

Enjoy a Peter Cadaver Classic #comic while I tackle some publishing deadlines. #PeterCadaver #KidLitSundayScaries

Spot on:

#HaikuSaturday #haiku #scifaiku #horrorku #Scifaikuest

Announcing new deals for @heatherbrockmanlee.bsky.social @jackievee.me.bsky.social @ericaperl.bsky.social + more buff.ly/Aftmf2O

I'm excited to share the announcement for my next picture book: SNOW DAY WITH DADDY will be published Winter 2028 from Christy Ottaviano Books / @littlebrownyr.bsky.social Inspired by my dad and snowy winters growing up in New England. A big thank you to my agent @mccarthylit.com ❄️ #kidlit

If bad book reviews were written honestly, how would they read? Today's is based on an actual GR review of my book. I hope my fellow authors will appreciate this as well as the #bookstagram, #booksky, and #booktok communities.

Don't miss this beautiful & inspiring PB about a child's creativity & determination to explore the wonders of nature with her family. www.mariacmarshall.com/single-post/... @writerdi.bsky.social Andrea Altamirano @beamingbooksmn.bsky.social #kidlit #creativity #nature #PPBF 📚👍

Great news! I've officially signed with literary agent Robert Wilson/Wilson Media for my children's stories! I couldn't ask for a better champion for my writing and am looking forward to the road ahead. ✍️ #kidlit #picturebooks #booksky #readers #booklovers #childrenspublishing #bookpublishers

New #WriterBeware blog post: Another entry in the annals of publishers behaving badly: fee-charging Australian children's publisher Starfish Bay Publishing, which has failed to honor oblilgations & now has gone dark. Nearly 200 authors are affected (so far) writerbeware.blog/2026/10/16/a...

The charter wasn't discussed at SoA management committee meetings.

Questions I still have: - Who actually authored this charter? - It wasn't discussed by the management committee prior to being adopted by the SoA (see following posts), so who decided to adopt it on behalf of the SoA? - How did other writers' unions all come to adopt it together? (See posts ⬇️.)

SoA: "We are clear that there can never be any truly ethical use of generative AI." Charter SoA just signed: "We are committed to promoting responsible and ethical use of AI." Okay!

This move is not being greeted with high praise

"...and help to make creative work more accessible to all." "Creative work" is *already* accessible to all.

1) There is no ethical use of Generative AI. 2) Generative AI does absolutely none of those things listed under "Where AI is used, it is used for good." #writing #art #illustration #illustrator #kitlit #kidlitart

jengelmattern.substack.com/p/washington...

Prof #YeShuhua achieved one of the world's most precise measurements of Universal Time among other accomplishments. Thx to @minouette.bsky.social for clueing me in to this challenge (ck out her amazing art!) #Spacetober_Challenge #space #astronomer #WomenInSTEM ✨🪐🔭👩‍🔬 #drawing #doodle #portrait

"...helping more creators, from more backgrounds..." If you check out the list of #kidlit #writers and #illustrators I follow, you'll find a #diverse list of creators from all number of backgrounds who didn't need AI to succeed.

1) There is no ethical use of Generative AI. 2) Generative AI does absolutely none of those things listed under "Where AI is used, it is used for good." #writing #art #illustration #illustrator #kitlit #kidlitart

"...and help to make creative work more accessible to all." "Creative work" is *already* accessible to all.

Massachusetts friends - join me and many other authors Thursday 10/15 at the Winchester AuthorFest. This is a great day of school visits in Winchester, plus a public book sale & signing from 2:30-4:30 at Town Hall. bookendswinchester.com/event/2026-10-15/authorfest-2026-author-illustrator-meet-greet

How should you present a rhyming manuscript in your query letter? Listen to these tips from rhymer extraordinaire Rebecca Gardyn Levington! #author #writersofinstagram #kidlit #amwriting #rhyme #picturebook #writingcommunity

A perfect #kidlit poem for MLK Day by @paljes.bsky.social, "Winning Wars With Peace" honors the lives and legacies of both MLK and Gandhi. Read the full poem in our Better Together issue which celebrates community engagement and collective action. www.littlethoughtspress.com/issues

Why do the Rhyme Docs provide expert picture book critiques? Because we write them too! Here are two of our fall titles: PICK A PUMPKIN-Patricia Toht and PUMPKIN SMASH-Michelle Schaub. www.rhymedoctors.com @patriciatoht.bsky.social @schaubwrites.bsky.social @scbwi.bsky.social

Sometimes I just need to draw from reference when my imagination needs a break. So here is a sketch of Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams for #Diversifymyart prompt “Latinx heritage” and #kidlitartdrawingchallenge prompt “ghostly umbrella”.