Laura Alary

Want more picture book news? Follow our 2026 Bluesky #PictureBooksEh creators through our Starter Pack!

I'm so happy to be part of this wonderful collective again in 2026, with two new books: The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne and Around the Circle (and possibly a third in the fall). #canadianwriters #canadianillustrators #picturebooks

"Other children looked up at the stars and imagined...celestial campfires, twinkling diamonds...But Cecilia saw a mystery to be solved."- @lauraalary.bsky.social

My review: www.jeannewalkerharvey.com/single-post/...
@ebyrbooks.bsky.social @eastwestcoast.bsky.social @steamteambooks.bsky.social

Thanks for reading and sharing, Jeanne!

The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars - Judy Bradbury Meet Cecilia Payne, whose pluck, smarts, and curiosity led to impressive accomplishments despite obstacles she faced as a woman astronomer.

THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE: DISCOVERING THE STUFF OF STARS by @lauraalary.bsky.social & Yas Imamura is a top pick for Women’s History Month. Resources & interview on Children's Book Corner blog incl. extensive list of biographies. #EduSky #KidLit #Libsky
www.judybradbury.com/biography/th...

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview, Judy. Thank you for putting so much time and thought into your blog.

Thank you for the warm review @ccmalandrinos.bsky.social

Thank you so much for reading and review our book! I agree wholeheartedly that the illustrations are stunning.

Margin Notes for March includes reflections on branding, identity, finding your path--and some #picturebook picks for #Lent and #Easter. mailchi.mp/145bc1a68e2a... #newsletter #picturebooks

Thanks for sharing the post!

Starring Cecilia The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne – written by Laura Alary, illustrated by Yas ImamuraEerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: her name has the ring of poetry.  Before she m…

It's a great feeling when a reviewer reads your book with as much attention and care as Emily Schneider has in this Imaginary Elevator blog post on The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: imaginaryelevators.blog/2026/02/25/s... @ebyrbooks.bsky.social #kidlit #picturebook #womeninscience #womeninstem

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we're celebrating all the past, current, and future world changers! ⚛️🔭🧪

Read about one of these #feminist pioneers in THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE —available now. #everyvoiceinscience #womeninstem #girlsinstem

What a pleasure to have a chance to chat with illustrator @yasimamura.bsky.social about our new book, The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne! @ebyrbooks.bsky.social lauraalary.ca/2026/02/08/a... #ceciliapayne #womeninstem #picturebookbiography #picturebookillustration #STEMbooks

Thanks! I really appreciate that.

A new month means a new issue of Margin Notes. This month includes notes on books for troubled times, and the connection between reading, memory, and resistance, along with book news and picture book picks. Find it here: mailchi.mp/fe9e3d0472f0... #newsletter #picturebooks #marginnotes

The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne, by Laura Alary Cover for Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars, by Laura Alary, illustrated by Yas Imamura, published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

NEW POST: "The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne" by @lauraalary.bsky.social!

"I feel akin to Cecilia: she was sometimes shy and socially awkward, a voracious reader, and broadly curious.... But the moment in Cecilia’s life that touched me most was when that self-confidence faltered."
#kidlit

Thanks for sharing! I appreciate the support.

Warm thanks to @deborahkalb.bsky.social for the chance to talk about The Curious Life of #CeciliaPayne, a picture book biography about the young #astronomer who figured out what stars are made of ⭐ @ebyrbooks.bsky.social #womeninSTEM

Thanks again for the opportunity to talk about the book, Deborah!

The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne - Perfect Picture Book Friday - Jilanne Hoffmann I am smitten by the women of science who stayed the course, no matter the obstacles thrown in their paths. And I am smitten by this book about Cecilia Payne, the woman who discovered “the stuff of sta...

Beautifully written and illustrated, inspiring story of Cecilia Payne, a #womaninSTEM who only wavered once in the face of wrong-headed criticism. Turned out she was right! 📚👍 #STEM #librarians #EduSky #kidlit jilannehoffmann.com/2026/01/23/t...

I feel you really "got" what I hoped to convey in this story. Thank you for your thoughtful review!

Simply 7 with Laura Alary: THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE You know what I love about books written on the same topic? How very different they can be! EVEN when they’re nonfiction!

I appreciate the chance to talk in more depth about The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne and Jena Benton's thoughtful questions allowed me to do that: jenabenton.com/2026/01/22/s... #ceciliapayne #womeninstem #picturebookbiography @ebyrbooks.bsky.social @yasimamura.bsky.social

I'm very excited that The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne is among this constellation of starred books! 🌟 #ceciliapayne #picturebooks #astronomy #womeninstem @ebyrbooks.bsky.social

Thank you to the New England Independent Booksellers Association for the chance to present THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE, illustrated by @yasimamura.bsky.social and published by @ebyrbooks.bsky.social Watch for it on January 27th, 2026🌟 #ceciliapayne #womeninSTEM #picturebookbiography

I'm delighted to see Who Needs the Dark? on this list. Thank you to The Children's Book Council for highlighting these dreamy books! @cbcbooks.bsky.social #picturebooks #readaloud #storytime

Thanks! I am excited for sure!

Check out Betsy's preview of our Spring 2026 titles! Thank you again and again, @fuse8.bsky.social!

THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE | Kirkus Reviews Every constellation tells a story, and the tale of astronomer Cecilia Payne (1900-1979) is one of curiosity and discovery.

The Curious Life of Celia Payne provides a “stellar salute to the feminist scientist who showed us what stars are truly made of” @ebyrbooks.bsky.social Booth 206 #AASL25 www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

So honoured to be on this list! The Curious of Life of Cecilia Payne will be published on January 27th 🌟 #picturebookbiography #picturebook #womeninstem

Thanks for sharing this!