Stefan Karlsson
@stefankarlsson
Poet & kidlit writer. Marbling & book artist. Based in Portland, OR 🌲
For day 4 of my #kidlit version of #TheSealeyChallenge, I enjoyed this hilarious & thoughtful collection of pet poems by @brianbilston.bsky.social Here’s the opening poem plus a short one that made me laugh 😂🐶 #poetrycommunity #SealeyChallenge @sealeychallenge.bsky.social
For day 3 of my #kidlit version of #TheSealeyChallenge, I read this delightful collection of School Poems for Two Voices by @betsyfranco.bsky.social This book would make such a fun back-to-school read-aloud, with opportunities for every kid in the class to participate! 🚌✏️ #SealeyChallenge
For day 2 of my #kidlit version of @sealeychallenge.bsky.social, I read this zany book from NYRB Kids by Remy Charlip. Part poetry book part riddles part circular stories part wordy wonderful pure delight 💚 #TheSealeyChallenge #poetry #sealeychallenge @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social
I’m hoping to complete a #kidlit version of the @sealeychallenge.bsky.social this August! I started with this moving, funny, & heartwarming anthology edited by Irene Latham & @charleswaters.bsky.social Here’s a powerful poem I love by @margaritaengle.bsky.social 💜 #TheSealeyChallenge
Here’s my July reading, including several new #middlegrade books. I also read lots of wonderful #picturebooks last month. Here are my four favs, including books by @meanwhileplaces.bsky.social, @jesshgn.bsky.social, and more! #amreading #kidlit
I happened upon a Napping Tournament. Congrats to the winners, but this match was a snooze.
Here’s my June reading, including new picture book favorites by @studioespinosa.bsky.social, @jessiesima.bsky.social, @stevendraws.bsky.social, @laurelsnyder.bsky.social, & more! #amreading #kidlit
Marbled bookmarks are back in stock on my Etsy! I enjoyed making this colorful new batch 📚😊 #Etsy #SummerReading #bookmarks
🌈 New handmade notebooks! In honor of Pride Month, I'll be donating 20% of my Etsy sales through June 30th to @pflag.org, whose work supports LGBTQ+ youth, families, & communities across the country. #Handmade #WritingCommunity #CraftSky
I’m excited to have a few poems for kids included in the upcoming Silly Society Anthology! I’ve never been more grateful to be called silly! 😁 #poetry #poetrycommunity #kidlit
So many excellent #picturebooks lately! Here are a few recent favs: Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation by Carole Boston Weatherford & R. Gregory Christie A Door Is to Open by Kyo Maclear & Julie Morstad Navigating Night by Julie Leung & Angie Kang The Fountain by Lisa Loffredo #kidlit
It’s the 2 year anniversary of my #kidlit poetry YouTube channel! 🎈Thanks to everyone who has supported my illustrated poems for kids! 💚 I’ll have more updates soon! 📖 #poetry #poetrycommunity
New batch of handmade bookmarks! 📚🔖 This is one of my favorite batches I’ve made—lots of fun color combos. Just in time for your summer reading! ⛱️📖 #writingcommunity #craftsky #bookmarks #reading
No rhyme or reason, Mother Goose nests where she likes. A story is born. #haikusaturday #haiku #poetrycommunity #mothersday
Today I enjoyed this clever #kidlit collection of false apology poems by Gail Carson Levine, inspired by William Carlos Williams’ “This Is Just to Say” poem. Very fun illustrations by Matthew Cordell! Nice to get back to reading children’s poetry books 😊 #poetryforkids #poetry
New marbling patterns taking flight 🪽 It’s been awhile since I’ve made any marbled artwork, but I recently turned this paper into a handmade notebook for a friend and it made me want to get back to #marbling and #bookbinding! So hopefully that means more updates soon 🎨📚💙 #craftsky
Mindful trailblazer, banana slug slows down to ooh and aah, ooze awe. #haikusaturday #haiku #poetrycommunity
Some recent favorite #PictureBooks! 👑 Ruthie by Esmé Shapiro 🕳️ Her Muddy Majesty of Muck by Beatrice Alemagna 🎈 While We’re Here by @annewynter.bsky.social & Micha Archer 🐭 102 by @cordellmatthew.bsky.social What are your recent favs? #kidlit #booksky
Happy #PoemInYourPocketDay! I’m filling my pockets with poetry zines that I hope to share. What poems are you taking with you today? #NationalPoetryMonth #kidlit #poetry
Today I met one of my favorite #KidLit illustrators, Doug Salati! I got a signed copy of Words with Wings and Magic Things, the book he made with Matthew Burgess & one of my fav children’s poetry books of 2025. Here’s a poem I love from this stellar collection! 🪽 #NationalPoetryMonth
For today’s #NationalPoetryMonth pick, here’s a groundbreaking poem by Joan Bransfield Graham from her book of concrete poems AWESOME EARTH, with vibrant illustrations by Tania García. This book is such a fun intro to concrete poems, geology, and geography! #kidlit #poetry
For today’s #NationalPoetryMonth pick, here’s a hard-hitting poem from Simon Mole’s excellent book STOMP AND CHOMP: MY FIRST BOOK OF DINOSAURS! 🦖🦕 Dino fans will love learning fun facts through these clever poems. Plus the illustrations by Matt Hunt are wonderful! #kidlit #poetry
Today’s #NationalPoetryMonth pick is “Wood” by Janet S. Wong from her book KNOCK ON WOOD: POEMS ABOUT SUPERSTITIONS, w/ enchanting illustrations by Julie Paschkis ✨ I also recommend checking out their book NIGHT GARDEN, one of my fav #kidlit poetry books! #poetrycommunity
For today’s #NationalPoetryMonth picks, here are two #picturebooks that encourage kids to find poetry in the world around them & within themselves 🐿️🪴💚 Love these beautiful books by Micha Archer, the late great @kateywrites.bsky.social, & @heatherbrockmanlee.bsky.social! #kidlit #poetrycommunity
The spooky #kidlit poetry website Scaryness.com has a call for submissions on the theme of “Historical Horrors” about “strange, weird, and gruesome events” of world history. They’re particularly interested in contributions on cultures other than European and American.
Congrats to @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social on winning the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award! Exciting news for children’s poetry 💙 #kidlit #childrenspoetry
Yearning for peace, I almost overlook the summer snowflake. #haikusaturday #haiku #poetrycommunity