Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Josh Funk

@joshfunkbooks.bsky.social

3.1K followers 1.2K following 510 posts

I write picture books for adults to read to children so that children fall in love with reading. Books like Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, Dear Unicorn, My Pet Feet, How to Code a Sandcastle, & more. linkin.bio/joshfunkbooks

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · Sep 9

Announcing the WHODONUT Fall Tour: 19 shops, festivals, and more across 7 states, along with *loads* of author and illustrator friends! Which one will I see *you* at?⁠
⁠
#kidlit #whodonut #authorlife #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #storytime

1 1 7

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 59m

Looking ahead to *next* weekend, I'll be hanging with my breakfast buddy, Kelly DiPucchio at @schulerbooks.bsky.social in West Bloomfield. We've got breakfast books. We've got holiday books. We've got everything you'd want in a storytime!⁠
⁠
#kidlit #bookstagram #breakfast #storytime #authorlife

Reposted by Josh Funk

Novel Effect @noveleffect.bsky.social · 23h

Meet @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social at #MassCUE! 📚✨Join us at the Novel Effect booth (#437) on Oct 15 at 1:30 PM for a special meet & greet and signing. Come say hi and celebrate the joy of reading! #MassCUE2025

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 1d

Who wants some Sunday pancakes? I know I do! If you do, too, join me at Bookbug in Kalamazoo, MI for a delicious storytime!

#kidlit #booksky #sundaypancakes

1 2 6

Reposted by Josh Funk

Joy Nelkin Wieder @jnwieder.bsky.social · 1d

Come see Joy and Josh as we read our holiday themed books featuring food! This Saturday, Oct. 18 at Belmont Books at 11am!!!

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 1d

This Saturday morning at Belmont Books, @jnwieder.bsky.social and I will be reading our newest books all about the holidays! #ItsNeverTooSoonToGetHolidayGifts⁠
⁠
#kidlit #storytime #bookstagram

1 3

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 1d

This Saturday morning at Belmont Books, @jnwieder.bsky.social and I will be reading our newest books all about the holidays! #ItsNeverTooSoonToGetHolidayGifts⁠
⁠
#kidlit #storytime #bookstagram

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 5d

This weekend's a big one! See you soon, New Jersey & New York!

#kidlit #booksky #skybrarian #edusky #whodonut

1 5

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 5d

Woo hoo!

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 5d

Next weekend I'll be back at Bookbug for the first time in over 8 years! At that time, there were only *TWO* pancake books and Bookbug was only *HALF* the size it is now!⁠
⁠
Looking forward to seeing all my nerdy Michigan friends again!⁠
⁠
#kidlit #booksky #whodonut #edusky #skybrarian

1 3

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 6d

Looking ahead to next weekend, @jnwieder.bsky.social and I will be having a Food-themed *and* Holiday-themed double storytime at @belmontbooks.bsky.social! Join us at 11am on Saturday, 10/18 for a late breakfast at Blackbear Cafe and some #picturebooks!

#kidlit #authorlife #booksky #holidays

1 5

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 6d

This Sunday I'll be at the Warwick Children's Book Festival in Warwick, NY. It's gonna be a fantastic day with a whole bunch of amazing children's book creators!⁠
⁠
And apparently you can read to dogs?⁠
⁠
#kidlit #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #reading #dogs #picturebooks

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 7d

Just picked up @zombicatures.bsky.social’s newest at the @concordbookshop.bsky.social!

#kidlit #booksky #graphicnovels

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 7d

This Saturday I'll be at the Morristown Festival of Books in Morristown, NJ for the first time! Don't miss this awesome event with a star-studded lineup of creators. And also me.⁠
⁠
#kidlit #bookfest #booksky #picturebooks #authorlife #edusky #skybrarian

1 4

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 8d

yeah, if you know linguistics (I don't), wild is probably like one and a half syllables, or one long syllable, or something.

sparkly is a classic example of "is it two or three syllables?" SPARK-LEE or SPARK-UH-LEE

1 1

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 8d

no, that's just poor rhyming. or only works if you're from Boston.

1 1

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 9d

But as I've mentioned before, picture books will be read aloud by strangers. So we have to cater to everyone that speaks the language, not just you, the author.⁠
⁠
Got any other tips about rhythm? Throw them in the comments.⁠
⁠
Want more #kidlit #amwriting tips? Visit

Josh Funk, Author of Children's Books

Josh Funk is the author the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to CODE a Sandcastle, Lost in the Library, It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk, Pirasaurs!, and more!

www.joshfunkbooks.com

1 1 2

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 9d

Here's your Monday Writing Tip, friends. And today it's geared toward rhyming picture book writers. But it's not about rhyme - it's about rhythm.⁠
⁠
It took me years to realize these two gems. For some it might seem obvious.

#booksky #amwriting #kidlit

2 1 5

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 10d

Full stacks of signed copies at Wellesley Books!

#kidlit #booksky #whodonut #authorlife #picturebooks

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 16d

You'll be able to hear where they trip up, where certain words or phrases sound jumbled, and it will help you pinpoint exactly where you need to revise. (In theory you could do this with all writing.)

Want more tips like this? Visit www.joshfunkbooks.co...

#kidlit

Josh Funk, Author of Children's Books

Josh Funk is the author the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, How to CODE a Sandcastle, Lost in the Library, It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk, Pirasaurs!, and more!

www.joshfunkbooks.com

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 16d

Monday Writing Tip: Picture books are meant to be read aloud. By strangers. With any luck, LOTS of strangers.

So have other people read your picture book manuscripts aloud TO you.

#kidlit #amwriting #amrevising #writingtips #booksky

Revision Tip
for Picture Book Writers

(according to author Josh Funk)

Have others read your manuscript ALOUD to you

Do certain phrases sound awkward?
Do people stumble over certain lines?
Does the language not flow properly?

If people don’t read it right, it’s not their fault.
Those are the parts you should revise.

Once published, you, the author will not be the one reading the book out loud.

Make sure to write it with that in mind.

Want more tips like this?
Visit joshfunkbooks.com/resources-for-writers

1 4 13

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 18d

Tomorrow afternoon join me and @valeriebolling.bsky.social at Barrett Bookstore for a *double* storytime!⁠
⁠
#booksky #kidlit #edusky #skybrarian #shopsmall #shopindie #indiebookshops

1 6

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 19d

Tomorrow! Chappaqua Children's Book Festival! Don't miss it!⁠
⁠
Art by @coilyandcute.bsky.social.
⁠
#booksky #edusky #skybrarian #kidlit #bookfestival #chappaquabookfest #authorlife

1 9

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 20d

What’s this? Book mail? Proofs a secret book?

5.5.26 #dinodoor #kidlit #kidlitart #booksky #skybrarian #picturebook

@reneekurilla.bsky.social

1 2 23

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 20d

This Sunday, me and my pal @valeriebolling.bsky.social will be reading our *brand new* picture books at Barrett Bookstore in Darien, CT! This is an all ages event - readers and writers of all ages are welcome! See you Sunday afternoon!⁠
⁠
#booksky #kidlit #skybrarian #edusky

1 7

Reposted by Josh Funk

Santi Casares @santiagocasares.bsky.social · 22d

Great tip by @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 23d

Today's Monday Writing Tip is one of my favorite revising techniques. And frankly, it doesn't only apply to picture books; it applies to all writing
⁠
Do a quick Ctrl+F and search for the word "was." Then replace as many as possible.

#amwriting #picturebooks #revisiontips #kidlit

1 5

Reposted by Josh Funk

Valerie Bolling @valeriebolling.bsky.social · 22d

Looking forward to this weekend with many amazing #authors at #ChappaquaChildrensBookFestival on Saturday, including @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social, and then with @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social at #BarrettBookstore on Sunday.
#kidlit #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #authorlife

Josh Funk @joshfunkbooks.bsky.social · 23d

This weekend's a busy one! I'll be at the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival all day Saturday and at Barrett Bookstore with @valeriebolling.bsky.social at 1pm on Sunday! Don't miss the fun!⁠
⁠
#kidlit #booksky #edusky #skybrarian #authorlife

1 6