Author | Lightnews

〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · 19h

the apple suit is amazing, I hope someone nabs it!! (pic so everyone else can see its glory 🤩)

Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Robin Stevenson @robinstevenson.bsky.social · 22h

Two more days left in our online fundraising auction. Who wants their own custom pet portrait from PRIDE PUPPY illustrator @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social ? Or kaleidoscopes, or sequinned shoes, or a truly amazing green apple suit with zero bids on it so far?

Robin Stevenson @robinstevenson.bsky.social · 10d

PRIDE PUPPY illustrator Julie McLaughlin is helping me raise money to sponsor a Ugandan refugee friend to resettle in BC. Want her to create a portrait of your dog (cat, pony etc)? Our auction is here: www.facebook.com/share/1GgGAY...
(And the dogs behind our book: my Tazza and Julie's Mr Pants!)

Photo of two dogs: a blue roan spaniel wearing a rainbow pride bandana and a Pomeranian wearing a blue scarf.

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · 12d

Let me draw your cat/dog/hamster/horse for a good cause! 💖

Robin Stevenson @robinstevenson.bsky.social · 12d

Want to get a custom portrait of your own very good dog from PRIDE PUPPY illustrator @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social (and also support refugee resettlement?) Here you go! www.facebook.com/share/16GdRb...

An illustration of a small brown and black dog, with the name Poppy written above and a banner of flowers below

A photo of an English Cocker spaniel wearing a rainbow bandana, posed beside the book Pride Puppy

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Abbie James @abbiewjames.bsky.social · 23d

STAR SAILOR: THE STORY OF WORDS is such a fun introduction to etymology! It prompted great discussions.

Written by Sara Cassidy, with gorgeous art by @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social, and published by @orcabook.bsky.social. #IReadCanadian #kidlit 📚👍

cover of STAR SAILOR: THE STORY OF WORDS shows an upside down astronaut with an open book; streamers are coming out of the book with words and pictures on them; the background of the cover is space with stars, a planet, and a spaceship; author and illustrator name are in the lower right; the picture is taken with the book in my hand over a teal patterned rug

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · 12d

Thanks for sharing, Abbie!! 💚

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Bev Katz Rosenbaum @bevrosenbaum.bsky.social · Sep 20

And in Canada, follow @cai.abb (Canadian Authors and Illustrators Against Book Bans) over on Instagram! Here on bsky, follow @robinstevenson.bsky.social or @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social!

Samira Ahmed @samiraahmed.bsky.social · Sep 19

If you found that Jimmy Kimmel getting pulled due to FCC coercion was a heinous attack on free speech (& it sure as hell is!) wait till you hear about the 10,000 books that have been banned in schools & libraries!

If you're an author, join the fight @authorsabb.bsky.social
We're stronger together!

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Laura Bontje | Out now: When the Air Sang @laurabontje.bsky.social · Sep 4

When I was a student in Alberta, I read a variety of enriching books in IB English classes. Many would no longer be considered "appropriate" for schools.

Also, these policies often target books that offer rep. to LGBTQIA+ students who deserve to see themselves in literature. Please sign. #CAIABB

〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · Sep 3

URGENT CALL TO ACTION: please sign and share our petition, tell the Alberta Gov’t you don’t support book bans! Censorship escalates rapidly, put pressure on the gov’t now to ensure it doesn’t take hold in Canada.

Change.org/AB-book-ban

#CAIABB #ABbookban #FreedomToRead #NoBansInCanada

Sign the Petition

Tell the Alberta Government: No Book Bans

Change.org

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · Sep 3

Petition is good, direct email is even better!

Canadian Authors & Illustrators Against Book Bans (CAIABB) has posted a doc with the addresses and an email template!

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

#abbookban #abpoli #abgov #CAIABB #bookban #freedomtoread #cankidlit #librarysky #nobansincanada

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · Sep 3

If they don’t consider this a book ban, I’d be afraid to find out what they actually do think is one… a burn pile?

#ABbookban #CAIABB #abpoli #abgov #freedomtoread #kidlit #kitlitcanada #bookban #censorship

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · Sep 3

URGENT CALL TO ACTION: please sign and share our petition, tell the Alberta Gov’t you don’t support book bans! Censorship escalates rapidly, put pressure on the gov’t now to ensure it doesn’t take hold in Canada.

Change.org/AB-book-ban

#CAIABB #ABbookban #FreedomToRead #NoBansInCanada

Sign the Petition

Tell the Alberta Government: No Book Bans

Change.org

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · Sep 2

Thx CBC & @emilyawilliams52.bsky.social for sharing list of >200 books slated for removal from Edmonton Public School libraries:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

If you're a Canadian author/illus against #BookBanning, pls consider joining #CAIABB! More info here. Thx @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social

The Handmaid's Tale among more than 200 books to be pulled at Edmonton public schools | CBC News

A list confirmed by CBC News shows titles like The Handmaid's Tale and Brave New World are among books to be pulled. The development comes after a policy from Alberta's education minister outlines new...

www.cbc.ca

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · Sep 3

the zaniest spider I’ve ever seen, happy to be on the photo/research and not IRL end of this run in! 😆

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Charlotte Sullivan Wild (she) 🏳️‍🌈♿ @cswild.bsky.social · Aug 22

Want to support #FReadom? For a short time, the book creators named in #MahmoudvTaylor are offering shirts, hoodies, & sweatshirts with art from @sarahsbrannen.bsky.social - to raise funds for @penamerica.bsky.social, who supported us during this case! #kidlit

www.customink.com/fundraising/...

Person with brown skin wearing a black shirt with a screened cartoon image of the 9 US Supreme Court justices each holding one of the picture books named in Mahmoud v. Taylor. In script: "SCOTUS Book Club"

Person with light skin wearing a white sweatshirt with hands in a kangaroo pouch, with a screened cartoon image of the 9 US Supreme Court justices each holding one of the picture books named in Mahmoud v. Taylor. In script: "SCOTUS Book Club"

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Debbie Ridpath Ohi @debbieohi.com · Aug 6

Canadian authors & illustators are speaking up against book bans in 🇨🇦. If you're a published Cdn author or illus, pls consider joining us? www.karijones.ca/canadian-aut...

Thx @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social (graphics), @robinstevenson.bsky.social, K. Jones (hosting).
#CanKidLit #CanLit #BookBans

Authors & Illustrators Speak Out Against Book Bans In Alberta. Text reads:
Canadian Authors and Illustrators Against Book Bans, a group of published writers and artists from across the country, strongly opposes the recent efforts by the Alberta government to ban books in the province’s schools.
We support the rights of young people to read freely and to access books in which they may see people like themselves and their families on the page, and in which they may learn about the lives of other people different from themselves.
We support their right to find the stories they need and the information they seek.

Text reads: The reality is that young people have access to many kinds of media and various forums for content.
Books, especially now, are a crucially important and appropriate way for them to learn about all topics, including sex and sexuality, as they develop their understanding of the world and their own relationships and identities.
In the context of rising censorship and anti-2SLGBTQIA+ backlash in the United States, we are particularly distressed to see a Canadian province adopting the same book banning playbook pushed by far-right American groups like Moms for Liberty.
We are concerned that the new guidelines will be used to target 2SLGBTQIA+ books, a practice that not only censors books and undermines student access, but also sends a harmful message that stigmatizes 2SLGBTQIA+ people and suggests that stories about them do not belong in schools.
Footer: Canadian Authors & Illustrators Against Book Bans.

As writers and illustrators, we support the work done by teachers and librarians to develop diverse and inclusive collections in schools, and we urge all levels of government to consult with them about any issues related to books in schools.
As writers — and for some of us, also as teachers and as parents — we understand the value and importance of allowing students to choose the literature they want.
Students who choose the books they want are empowered, allowing them to improve literacy.
Footer: Canadian Authors & Illustrators Against Book Bans.

We believe that the best way to ensure school libraries meet the wide-ranging needs of students is to provide adequate funding for school librarian positions.
Book bans do not protect children. Children do not need to be protected from books in their school libraries.
They do need to be protected from the kinds of hate, bigotry, and discrimination that often motivate attempts to ban books.
We stand against all attempts at book banning in Canadian schools and libraries, and we hope you will join us in this.
Message is signed, Canadian Authors & Illustrators Against Book Bans.

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · Jun 28

our first shared reading and my first reading ever!!

also look at our extremely cute dogs / the editor & art director of pride puppy!!

Robin Stevenson @robinstevenson.bsky.social · Jun 28

Happy Pride day friends! I'm about to read Pride Puppy with @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social at a very cool queer event and it'll be our first shared author-and- illustrator reading! (Also, here are the two Pride pups who helped write the book. Our co-workers, you might say.)

That photo shows a black and gray spaniel wearing a rainbow bandana, and a Pomeranian wearing a blue bandana. Bandana. There is a painted street pole in the background with a picture of an ice cream cone on it.

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Robin Stevenson @robinstevenson.bsky.social · Jun 27

Pride Puppy illustrator @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social and I wrote a statement on today's SCOTUS decision in the Mahmoud v Taylor case. Here it is.

An image of a family with two moms, a grandma, a baby, a young child, and dog- all characters from the picture book Pride Puppy- stand in front of the US Supreme Court. Text reads, Statement on Mahmoud v. Taylor, by Robin Stevenson and Julie McLaughlin

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Robin Stevenson @robinstevenson.bsky.social · Jun 27

The authors and illustrators involved in the Mahmoud v Taylor case released this statement in today's devastating ruling. Grateful to @penamerica.bsky.social for all their support and for sharing this on our behalf.

pen.org/press-releas...

Authors and Illustrators of Books in Mahmoud v. Taylor Case Respond to Supreme Court Ruling - PEN America

As the authors and illustrators of the books named in Mahmoud v. Taylor, we believe the Supreme Court’s ruling today threatens students’ access to diverse books and undermines teachers’ efforts to cre...

pen.org

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

A.S. King @as-king.bsky.social · Jun 27

A lot of kids need books. A lot of those kids sign their emails to authors “some random kid.”
Maybe before you ban books, you should talk to the kids about how they feel. That’s what protecting kids would look like. Not taking away books that help them feel seen while you ignore them. 👍🏻

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · Jun 26

this is jaunty little Mr. Pants, who makes a cameo on the Pride Puppy parade float!

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Robin Stevenson @robinstevenson.bsky.social · Jun 1

I don't think I will ever get over the absurdity of this.

Jess Blankshain (sad girl autumn version) @profjessblankshain.bsky.social · May 30

Have to stay fully informed on all the recent Supreme Court cases

A copy of the board book Pride Puppy with the title spelled in rainbow letters and an illustration of a puppy in a rainbow bandana leading a pride parade

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Mark Joseph Stern @mjsdc.bsky.social · Jun 19

The Supreme Court is on the brink of effectively banning the book Pride Puppy from public schools but IT CAN’T BAN MY PRIDE PUPPY🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

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Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · May 13

The author of PRIDE PUPPY (the book Neil Gorsuch horribly mangled/misrepresented during the Mahmoud argument) wants LAWLESS to be widely read!

So ... you can go to your local bookstore today & get a copy! Or support independent bookstores (discount code STRICT24): bookshop.org/p/books/lawl...

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · May 13

The illustrator of Pride Puppy agrees!! I can’t wait to read it!

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〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️ @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social · May 8

🎶 Woke Marxist Pope
He’s gonna keep on preaching
At the white smoke of hope
He’s gonna keep on preaching
Down on Vatican row🎶

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Reposted by 〰️ julie mclaughlin 〰️

Robin Stevenson @robinstevenson.bsky.social · May 3

K is for Kavanaugh, chugging his beer; L for lies to fuel hate and fear...

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