Phil Bildner

TOO BIG TO SAY Our upper middle grade, mixed-format novel comes out on March 2, 2027, and @mikecurato.bsky.social and I would like to thank @torreymaldonado.bsky.social and Laurel Snyder for their kind words. Support queer authors and books for young people with queer content.

**A Note by Kyle Lukoff** The Ashford School District in Connecticut recently informed Newbery Honor-winning children’s book author @kylelukoff.bsky.social he would not be permitted to visit with their students. Our silence makes us complicit. theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/banned-by-...

No matter big or how small the Blue Wave is next week, never lose sight of the fact that more than 40% of voters still follow this grotesque false prophet, believe all the lies, embrace the cruelty and evil, support the slop, fuel the hate, and will never, ever see things any other way.

**MY ROLLER SKATES ** Newbery-Medalist and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Meg Medina has a new picture book rolling in on March 9th. Check out this interview with Meg, and please consider pre-ordering a copy. theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/meg-medina...

**Children’s Authors Feel Impact of School Budget Cuts** Thank you to @publisherswkly.bsky.social for including me in this important article about what book creators for young people are encountering when it comes to visiting schools and libraries. www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

**LOVE, LIKE APPLES by Jeff Zentner** We're less than two weeks away from @jeffzentner.bsky.social's new instant classic adult novel, LOVE, LIKE APPLES. Learn more about it here, and please consider pre-ordering a copy from @parnassusbooks.bsky.social theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/jeff-zentn...

Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose! Let’s do this, Texas! It’s time!

**What I Wish I Understood Sooner About My Brother's Schizophrenia** An extraordinary essay by Elizabeth Acevedo, author of The Poet X and Anger is Only a Shadow. www.oprahdaily.com/entertainmen...

During Banned Books Week, @authorsabb.bsky.social posted on social about “The Scarlet Letter Effect” and how it impacts authors. With AABB’s permission, they allowed @theauthorvillage.bsky.social to repost their graphics. Here's the full post: theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/authors-ag...

Magic Moments Not too long ago, before the rise of the politics of hate and cruelty, I would visit 40, 50, even 60 schools each year, speaking to kids about books and writing and acceptance. This school year, I'm scheduled to visit 1. Here are a couple of my favorite photos from a different time.

Want to join the fight against book banning in your community? This post is full of actionable ways that you can make a difference, right now. freedomtoreadproject.substack.com/p/what-can-i... @freedomreadproject.bsky.social #UniteAgainstBookBans

And now... Elizabeth Acevedo wins the Kirkus Prize for ANGER IS ONLY A SHADOW... absolutely incredible!

**New Picture Book Alert** Congratulations to Newbery Honor winning author @kylelukoff.bsky.social on the release of his latest picture book, THE VICIOUS CYCLE: A STORY OF HEALING with illustrations by Priscilla Tey. Welcome to the World! theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/the-viciou...

He’s telling us in real time he will do anything — anything — not to lose the midterm elections. January 6th was the darkest and most consequential moment in the history of the nation.

Just imagine if a Black president with a Muslim sounding name who one time wore a tan suit ever made a glib or not-so-glib comment about approving of Iran bombing San Diego and Los Angeles. MAGA, Republicans, and Fox News would’ve Benghazi-ed it for the next decade.

Thank you for posting about Banned Books Week. Now please commit to contacting your representatives regularly and implore them to protect book access and the right to read. Please commit to attending a local school board meeting and implore the members to protect book access and the right to read.

VOTE Choosing not to vote in the midterm elections is a choice. Choosing not to vote is a vote for Trump and his regime of monstrous evildoers. We can do something about this. We can start to right these wrongs and undo their cruelty. It's up to us. All of us. No one is coming to save us. VOTE

Thanks to the Newburgh Free Library in the Ramapo Catskill Library System, I have my reads for the week! Looking forward to reading ABSENT by Rex Ogle and MIND VS. MACHINE by Steve Sheinkin and Maurice Ashley and art by Thien Pham.

**COVER REVEAL -- ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to School by Raul the Third** Yes, @raulthethird.bsky.social!! The sixth picture book in his Eisner Award Nominated World of ¡Vamos! series, is coming soon. Learn all about the new book and the series here: theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/cover-reve...

I am so glad I’m reading THE DISAPPEARERS by Marlon James. I’ll also be so glad when I’m done. An essential ordeal.

WOW!! Congratulations to Elizabeth Acevedo, winner of the 2027 Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature! The winner receives a medallion, certificate, and check for $50,000 at a public ceremony next year!

And just like that, ACCOUNTABLE by @dashkaslater.bsky.social, one of the most important non-fiction books written this century for teen readers is more relevant than ever. We shouldn’t be banning these books. We should be demanding that young people have access to these books. Books save lives.

**SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson** And just like that, one of the most important young adult novels of all-time — one that address sexual assault and rape — is more relevant than ever. Young people MUST have access to these books. Books save lives. theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/banned-spe...

Cornell University-- Share the Essays. According to the lawsuit, the defendants were offered the opportunity to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays to the University. Cornell University — Share the Essays Now.

**Cover Reveal Time-- IT BEGINS WITH THE END by Samira Ahmed** New York Times bestselling author @samiraahmed.bsky.social has a teen novel coming out, IT BEGINS WITH THE END. The book is historical fiction (set during World War II) and a novel in-verse. theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/cover-reve...

A Pretty (Very) Cool Offer from @dansantat.bsky.social! To celebrate the release of book 2 in his SASHIMI middle grade graphic novel series, Caldecott Medalist and National Book Award winner Dan Santat is launching an old school, snail mail newsletter! theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/dan-santat...

** Cover Reveal -- I NEED MY LEWIS ** @laurelsnyder.bsky.social and @verabrosgol.bsky.social have a delightful new picture book coming out in March. Be sure to check out the cover reveal and cool interview over on our Substack. theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/cover-reve...

A Reintroduction Last month, @theauthorvillage.bsky.social Village launched our own Substack, The Author Village Voice. We hope you’ll consider checking us out. Perhaps become a (paid) subscriber. Support authors. Support book access. theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/introducin...

** Cover Reveal -- I NEED MY LEWIS ** @laurelsnyder.bsky.social and @verabrosgol.bsky.social have a delightful new picture book coming out in March. Be sure to check out the cover reveal and cool interview over on our Substack. theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/cover-reve...

Books I read in middle school: The Dead Zone Ball Four Alive The Bronx Zoo Cujo Stop coddling middle schoolers. Let them read what they want to read. Books open minds and hearts. Books save lives. Stop banning books.

A Pretty (Very) Cool Offer from @dansantat.bsky.social! To celebrate the release of book 2 in his SASHIMI middle grade graphic novel series, Caldecott Medalist and National Book Award winner Dan Santat is launching an old school, snail mail newsletter! theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/dan-santat...

Hanging last summer with our friends — the Barenaked Ladies — who sang the Canadian national anthem at the Buffalo Bills NFL game tonight. Much respect! Well done!

**Why Preordering Books Matter** Ever wonder why authors constantly encourage readers to preorder their upcoming releases? Because they really make a difference. Using our upcoming upper middle grade novel TOO BIG TO SAY as the example, I explain how. theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/why-preord...

The Nazis banned books. Banning books is the precursor to eradication and eliminationism.

Congratulations to National Book Award-winning author Elizabeth Acevedo on the release of ANGER IS ONLY A SHADOW, her new young adult novel, which has already been nominated for the Kirkus Prize! www.harpercollins.com/products/ang...

Choosing neutrality is choosing a side.

On this date 25 years ago, Tuesday September 11, 2001, I was in Manhattan with these middle schoolers. At the time, I was teaching eighth grade at P.S. 333 in the New York City Public Schools. When we learned what was happening, we all huddled into my classroom to share the news with the students.

Got my COVID shot today. Got my flu shot today. Science is real.

Congratulations to @dashkaslater.bsky.social on the release of her first middle grade narrative non-fiction, THE WILD SEASON. To learn the origin story and all about this super cool book, check out this post: substack.com/home/post/p-...

Lanterns. I’m all in!

One of the most important young adult novel's ever written -- SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson -- is banned in Iowa. Last month, Laurie posted on social about what’s been happening. Please take a moment to learn about this situation. Books save lives. theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/banned-spe...

In case you missed this from last week, @theauthorvillage.bsky.social has started its own Substack. Please check it out and consider subscribing.

A really cool virtual author visit opportunity from two-time Newbery Medalist @erinentrada.bsky.social.

It is morally indefensible for publishers to claim 100%.

**The Rights Stuff** Congratulations to @sayantani.bsky.social on your new book deal for DAUGHTER OF THE SUN, her first young adult fantasy novel which is scheduled for release in winter of 2028. Huzzah!! Read about all the exciting details here: theauthorvillage.substack.com/p/sayantani-...