The Morning RSS for 21 March 2025
A collection of share-worthy items from our morning blog scroll.
Grab your cuppa. Sit a spell, take it all in … your muse and your TBR will thank you.
For Writers & Creators & Readers, too
🤖She didn’t want to write about AI, but we’re glad she did. In talking about the ethics of using AI and how it impacts creativity and anxiety, I am now better armed for discussions about it. Thank you, Sarah and Dr. Eves.
… and speaking of AI! Sarah McIntyre has an article in the latest edition of Books for Keeps that answers the question: AI & Copyright: why does it matter. We spotted it in the Kidlit Mega Feed on Bluesky.
Making an (Im)print: Turning the Tide on Middle-Grade Books.
Movers and shakers behind five newish imprints aim to turn the tide on sales in the middle grade category. ~ Pooja Makhijani, Publishers Weekly
From dormant to high-interest readers and all the formats in between. A hopeful read for those of us who passionate about keeping tweens reading!
New Books & Book Lists
🍿 There are seven new book-to-screen adaptations coming out this month. Including a live-action release of Disney’s Snow White (their first full-length animated film). Read more and learn where to view them in Emily Martin’s Book Radar post [source: Book Riot]
Middle grade is in no way as dense or “mature” as adult literature, but there are some fine contemporary writers whose words will move you to think and feel and remember the time when your biggest concerns in life were not of the adulting variety. ~ Afoma Umesi
See Afoma’s list of 30 Exceptional Middle-Grade Books Adults Will Love at Reading Middle Grade.
The Evanston Public Library has announced the winners of its Blueberry Awards for Excellence in Environmental Literature for Children. With 35 titles on this year’s list, you’re sure to find some new faves for Earth Day. [Source A Fuse #8 Production, a SLJ blog]
Book Bans & Censorship
Last year we opted out of sharing the head-shaking news for highlighting head-nodding ideas! We’ll keep doing that, but our theme this year is: Just. Keep. Fighting.
🔖Over at Teen Librarian Toolbox, Ashley Hope Pérez writes a guest post entitled Turning the Page on Book Bans. Her approach encourages us to become advocates for banned books by reading them. To experience all the feels of a [insert adjective here] story and share those feelings with others.
When you encounter humor or beauty, a powerful critique or a description that you relate to exactly [in a banned book], think about who you could share it with. Start a text, send an email, post a sticky note by your desk. Maybe sometimes instead of “I can’t believe they banned this book!” the message begins with, “This book is so good…” ~ Ashley Hope Pérez [emphasis ours]
Other Bookish Stuff
Newly discovered on Bluesky: The Time Tunnellers - “A group of authors writing historical fiction for young people, digging for the STORY in history.” I have a sneaking suspicion their weekly “for schools” feature will be fun for us who aren’t in school anymore either.
Maybe it’s us, but its feeling a lot tougher to find share-worthy items for our Scribbles posts. We aim to work around the elephant in the room. He takes up a lot of space and sparks lots of emotion that seep into all the corners of the room.
We are committed to staying focused on all the things that help us grow and move foward. That may mean fewer Scribbles or more frequent, pithier ones. Time will tell. In the meantime …
Here’s to good vibes and digging into great books!
~ Team CYBILS