@hunderdown
I'm a children's book editor, teacher and workshop presenter, owner of The Purple Crayon website -- www.underdown.org I post about #kidlit, but I do have opinions about other things and will share them as well.
Really does feel like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Bad enough to steal people's work, but at least they have the facade of fair use (I beg to differ). This is wholesale impersonation without consent and for profit. This has to violate a law, no?
Exciting news: CAT Agent Christie Megill is actively looking for illustrators! If you make art for kids and you've been thinking about finding an agent, this is your sign. She'd love to see what you're creating!
Tsultrim Dolma’s YA Memoir; Stacey Lee on America at 250; Licensing News + more in the latest Children’s Bookshelf! buff.ly/PzJ1wzT
Even as a cynical scholar of rape culture, I'm shocked that this isn't the headline story on domestic politics everywhere right now. It's just an unfathomable abuse of power, in clear violation of the law.
LOL. Seriously, my assumption is that most of it just went into the bank account of the folks that produced it, with a big chunk of THAT coming back to Noem via untraceable channels.
How do you spend $220 million on a one-minute ad?
"AI, like war, is a hyper-masculine fantasy of God-like power. But it’s nothing of the sort: it’s just a story, a myth, that’s being imposed on us by a self-interested cohort of unaccountable men succoured by a pliant and incurious press."
New book deals for @kyomaclear.bsky.social @audreyhelenweber.bsky.social @michaelgenhart.bsky.social @artsypabster.bsky.social + more buff.ly/OlJTxl6
Eugenio Suárez had his U.S. citizenship application canceled The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a story yesterday about Latin American ballplayers who are concerned about Trump's authoritarian crackdown on immigrants. A lot of the story is stuff you've read before, with players and team officials talking about "being careful," and making sure they carry their work permits and other documentation with them, as if there is some level of reasonable precaution someone can take to stave off an arbitrary and capricious secret police force. I mean, they're arresting and imprisoning citizens, so I don't know what makes anyone think that a ballplayer, even one carrying their visa, is immune from Trumpist brutality. But honestly, what else can they say? To speak up more loudly likely puts a target on their back. I mean, it's not crazy to think that someone like Stephen Miller or whichever sadists are calling the shots at ICE and Border Patrol these days might want to make a special point of going after a high-profile critic of the Regime, especially if they are a Mexican, Dominican, or Venezuelan ballplayer. Meanwhile this from Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez is truly screwed up. After talking about how one of his family members had their TPS status revoked, he said this:
Suárez said he himself was scheduled to go through his U.S. citizenship processing in December until he was informed his application was canceled. His wife, who also is from Venezuela, had already completed hers, he said. “They shut down everything, so I couldn’t have it. Because of the Venezuela thing,” he said. “It is what it is. I respect the decision.” I'm not sure how anyone can "respect" that decision but, again, what the hell else can someone in Suárez's position say to the press? That's especially when the players are being hung out to dry by Major League Baseball, which seems more concerned about upsetting Donald Trump than it is about its players being subjected to brutal and lawless federal agents. Get a load of Rob Manfred here:
“Look, obviously I worry about anything that could be disruptive to the very best players in the world being out on the field," Manfred said in response to a question from The Enquirer. "But the prospect of that disruption, given that our players all had visas, it’s speculation at this point.” The Enquirer has reached out to the commissioner's office twice in recent weeks to see whether anything has changed but has not received a response. I'm not sure how anyone could read the news over the past two or three months and think that the brutalization of Latin Americans in this country is the stuff of "speculation" or that if someone has their paperwork in order they're all safe, but that's Rob Manfred for ya. In contrast, an anonymous MLB employee is quoted in the story saying that MLB is not doing enough and that he fears that it will take a high-profile incident involving a player – “something bad” he said – before the league gets more proactive in protecting its personnel. Unfortunately, history has shown us over and over again that this person is correct. MLB only reacts to problems. It's never proactive when it comes to anything negative or controversial. The league, led by Ostrich-in-Chief Rob Manfred, loves to bury its head in the sand. I too hope nothing bad happens. But I am nowhere near as optimistic – or is it deluded? – as Rob Manfred is on this score.
In today's newsletter: MLB seems content to tell Latin players "if you follow the rules you'll be OK." I'm not sure how you can say that when an arbitrary, and capricious authoritarian government is unleashing its secret police force.
Also: fuck Rob Manfred. www.cupofcoffeenews.com/cup-of-coffe...
One day the NYT's editors will read these stories again and be ashamed of themselves. Mamdani called the attack "heinous," "criminal," "reprehensible," "terrorism," and "the antithesis of who we are." The insinuation that he's conflicted about this is disgraceful. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/n...
🚨🚨 Don’t miss out on your Anthropic claim! The deadline is fast approaching.
⭐ #Fiction #HBReviewoftheWeek THE TEACHER OF NOMAD LAND: A WWII STORY by Daniel Nayeri (Levine/ @levinequerido.bsky.social ): "Nayeri’s prose is lush + evocative, capturing the stark beauty of Iran’s mountainous landscapes + the traditions, languages, + beliefs..." www.hbook.com/story/review...
No Kings logo in black and yellow
Guerilla Advocacy is back!
Join us for a virtual No Kings rally focusing on anti-intellectualism and censorship. We have a stellar lineup of speakers. Want to participate but want to go out in person as well? Go for it! We start at 6:30 pm Central. You can register at the link below.
1/6
The British Book Awards Shortlists
The shortlists for the 2026 British Book Awards Books of the Year have been announced. There are two specifically children's categories, but the new Graphic Novels category has several children's books in it and Illustrator of the Year is entirely children's…
It’s day 98 of the ICE occupation of MN.
For almost 100 days, we’ve been doing everything we can to protect our immigrant neighbors. This is the next step to keeping our neighbors safe.
Call on Mayor Frey to sign the 60 day pre-eviction notice.
The 2026 #PBParty contest starts in one week. Can you believe it's almost here?
Are you ready?
The judges and I can't wait to read your entries soon.
So a deliberate choice by an experienced writer is simply a mistake... I see what you mean. Sadly, I think a lot of people will fall for it.
What is this supposed to prove?
Trump went to war and surrendered when hit by $4/gallon gas prices....
34 countries allow mail-in voting, most of them in Europe. Every single state, red and blue, allows mail-in voting, though a few require an approved excuse. It was never an issue until Trump lost and needed a scapegoat.
A purple crayon, the logo of Harold Underdown's website.
Reminder that I'm available for #kidlit editorial and consulting work on picture books, novels, nonfiction, and more. Information, including my rates, is on my website, but I'm happy to answer questions here. Please pass this on to anyone who might benefit. Thanks!
www.underdown.org/pced.htm
The data economy has made us dumber in ways that also make us vulnerable to authoritarian takover. We are have become both cynical and gullible in the sense we think we are too jaded be fooled and as a result are tricked more easily www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Just a reminder that Muslims have been on this continent since the first arrival of non-Indigenous people. They were among the first generation of Americans, and have been here ever since.
Are you a teacher, librarian, caregiver, or citizen of the US? Then you will want this book, which provides a gorgeous, thoughtful introduction to Indigenous history, life, and culture -- a modern heir to the classic THE PEOPLE SHALL CONTINUE. Check it out!
They are within us, as they always have been. The challenge is to set them loose...
Some more context in this (gift) article from the NYT.
The reason DOGE bro is so incapable of articulating a definition of DEI is because they used ChatGPT to decide which grants promoted this nebulous concept, and that turned out to be almost every grant issued under Biden, including one I wrote.
Moderate Democrats with columns in newspapers are constantly saying the Democratic Party is way too liberal on "social" issues. Moderate Democratic voters in real life do not feel this way. With some polling data from @gelliottmorris.com and @dataforprogress.org. newrepublic.com/article/2074...
Tailored for Local and Family Historians (or anyone who has wanted to engage with archaeology in their place-based historical work but is unsure where to start):
#LocalHistory #Skystorians @balhnews.bsky.social
