Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Could We End Corporate Money In Politics?

Reposted by Maria van Lieshout

Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 1d

America-hating Antifa showing up for a *second* time today.

Empathy @constant-tummyache.bsky.social · 1d

Sharing this 102 year old WW2 Vet who is fighting fascism a second time.

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Reposted by Maria van Lieshout

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 5d

We’ve lived 15 years under Citizens United, watching billionaires and corporations shape democracy with their wallets. Reform once seemed impossible. But now, a group in Montana is asking a radical question: What if states simply stopped granting corporations the power to spend in politics?

Backers of a referendum before Montana voters next year believe they’ve found a vulnerability on Citizen United

thinkbigpicture.substack.com

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Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · 18d

Blackbirds are magic! Read about the meaning attributed to the birds by druids, mystics and by pop culture icons Paul McCartney and Beyonce. Link in bio/linktree.

open.substack.com/pub/mariavan...

#blackbirds #mythology #beyonce #paulmccartney #blackbiird #symbolism #ww2 #songofablackbird

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · 23d

Thank you to Noa and Zakir, librarians extraordinaires at the International School Utrecht, for welcoming me into the school.

Meeting the ISU students was such a joy!

#authorvisit #schoolvisit #internationalschool #kidlit #graphicnovel

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · 24d

Thank you so much to @kimtyodickerson.bsky.social and the librarian team at the International School Amsterdam for the wonderful author visit. What a privilege to visit your beautiful school. Till next, my friends!

#kidlit #authorvisit #schoolvisit #amsterdam #graphicnovel

Courageous women of World War II

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · 24d

Thank you, Janet, for this lovely review of Song of a Blackbird!

kidsbookaday.bsky.social @kidsbookaday.bsky.social · 24d

What could be more timely than these two inspiring books that tell the stories of women creating and saving art, bringing light to a dark world. @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social @erinmcguire.bsky.social @01firstsecond.bsky.social kidsbookaday.com/2025/09/25/c...

The Spy in the Museum: How Rose Valland Saved Art from the Nazis by Erin McGuire (Beach Lane Books, 40 pages, grades 2-5). Rose Valland loved art. As curator of Paris’s Jeu de Paume Museum, s…

kidsbookaday.com

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · 26d

So this happened…

#nationalbookaward #longlist #graphicnovel #kidlit #youngpeoplesliterature #songofablackbird #fightHATEmakeART

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Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Sep 3

Read today’s post/newsletter to learn about that time when a David Lynch-loving ninth grader taught me the art of revealing a secret. A secret hiding in Song of a Blackbird...

#graphicnovel #davidlynch #kidlit #hiddensecrets #ww2 #dropcaps

mariavanlieshout.substack.com/p/the-art-of...

Author visits Maria van Lieshout

Reposted by Maria van Lieshout

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Aug 5

Song of a Blackbird is coming to Amsterdam🐦‍⬛ Join me at the American Book Center where I’ll share the story behind the book and sign/personalize copies. Dutch and American editions will be available.
Reserve here: abc.nl/events/event...

#WW2 #kidlit #bookevent #amsterdam #graphicnovel #historical

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Reposted by Maria van Lieshout

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Feb 7

★★★★★5 STARRED REVIEWS!!! I'm grateful to
@publisherswkly.bsky.social, @KirkusReviews.com,
@slj.com, @ala-booklist.bsky.social and @thehornbook.bsky.social. The past has much to teach us, and I’m here to do my part.

#fightHATE #makeART #battlehymn #songofablackbird #graphicnovel #ww2

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Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Aug 25

My first Cape and Cowl Con is in the books! It will certainly not be my last. Met so many comics lovers and book people, and got to hang out with old friends and new ones (@thiendog.bsky.social and @brianabreaks.bsky.social ). Thank you @capecowlcomics.bsky.social!

#comics #graphicnovels #kidlit

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Reposted by Maria van Lieshout

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Aug 13

I’ll be at @capecowlcomics.bsky.social Cape and Cowl Con on August 24th! It will be at Faction in Alameda.
Come out to say hi, and check out my graphic novel Song of a Blackbird🐦‍⬛
@firstsecond.bsky.social

#comiccon #factionbrewing #Alameda #graphicnovels #kidsbooks #yabooks

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Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Aug 21

Big love for teachers and librarians. Since Song of a Blackbird was published, I’ve been visiting middle and high schools. Lmk if you are interested in having me speak to your middle or high schoolers!
#authorvisit #schoolvisit #ww2 #kidlit #GraphicNovel

www.vanlieshoutstudio.com/author-visit/

“Author visit”

www.vanlieshoutstudio.com

Bye-bye Binky — Multnomah County Library

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Aug 13

I’ll be at @capecowlcomics.bsky.social Cape and Cowl Con on August 24th! It will be at Faction in Alameda.
Come out to say hi, and check out my graphic novel Song of a Blackbird🐦‍⬛
@firstsecond.bsky.social

#comiccon #factionbrewing #Alameda #graphicnovels #kidsbooks #yabooks

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Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Aug 8

Thank you for this recommendation!

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Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Aug 8

Thank you, @multcolib.bsky.social!

Multnomah County Library @multcolib.bsky.social · Aug 7

Looking for "Help with getting almost 3 year old to wean from the pacifier"? Check out Bye-Bye Binky by @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social‬. #AskALibrarian

Bye-bye Binky — Van Lieshout, Maria, — A little girl explains that she does not need a pacifier anymore, because she is a big kid now.

multcolib.bibliocommons.com

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Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Aug 5

I am an immigrant. My friends are immigrants. My neighbors are immigrants... An immigrant takes my naturalization exam when I become a US citizen. She smiles when I pass because she knows what it means. She gives me a little American flag. She is what makes America great.

#Iamanimmigrant

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Aug 5

Song of a Blackbird is coming to Amsterdam🐦‍⬛ Join me at the American Book Center where I’ll share the story behind the book and sign/personalize copies. Dutch and American editions will be available.
Reserve here: abc.nl/events/event...

#WW2 #kidlit #bookevent #amsterdam #graphicnovel #historical

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Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Jul 26

STOP STARVING CHILDREN. Killing children is always evil. When we stop feeling RAGE about the killing of innocent young lives, we have been influenced by the most sinister propaganda that aims to divide us, to make us feel hatred, fear, contempt or INDIFFERENCE towards other human beings.

Nonviolent resistance is an inspired act.

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Jul 25

Graphic novelists are a little crazy. And we have something else in common with the folks that chose to resist the Nazi regime. Read my newsletter to learn more!

#ww2 #resistance #kidlit #graphicnovels #historicalfiction #graphicnovelist

mariavanlieshout.substack.com/p/nonviolent...

Will you listen when it calls you?

mariavanlieshout.substack.com

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Jul 17

The fine folks at @teachingbooks.bsky.social asked me to talk about Song of a Blackbird, specifically, what inspired the book, and how I talk about it when I visit schools. Have a listen!

#teachingbooks #schools #graphicnovel #kidlit #youngadult #ww2

school.teachingbooks.net/book_reading...

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Jul 9

MAKE ART. Fight hate. Making art (and supporting art and books and music) is RESISTANCE. Read about why and how in my latest newsletter (link in Linktree/bio).
#streetart #makeart #fighthate #stickers #resistance

mariavanlieshout.substack.com/p/nazis-are-...

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Jul 3

Explain the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE to me like I’m four.
“All men (and women) are EQUAL and entitled to LIFE, FREEDOM and HAPPINESS.
It’s THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT job of our government to make this happen.
When it does not, the PEOPLE must form a NEW GOVERNMENT.”
That’s it, folks.
#4thofjuly

Maria van Lieshout @vanlieshoutstudio.bsky.social · Jun 28

Was great running into you at ALA!