Debbie Ridpath Ohi

I used to be a book format snob ("ebooks & audiobooks aren't REAL books") but physical limitations have helped me embrace multiple formats...and I do more reading as a result.

Updated my "One Thing I've Learned" social blog:

By embracing multiple formats, I can read more books - One Thing I've Learned Also, physical limitations helped me learn how NOT to be a format snob.

Posted about I've been changing the way I use social media: moving away from traditional methods and embracing "open social blogging" instead. Better for my mental health, productivity, and is also helping me find the joy in blogging again:

Embracing open social blogging in the Atmosphere (and less traditional social media) - Debbie's Blatherings - by Debbie Ridpath Ohi Protecting my creative time and mental health

Thanks to Canadian kidlit champion and book blogger Helen Kubiw for sharing how she discovered ROSIE'S GLASSES by Dave Whamond , published by Kids Can Press. Helen will be joining as a regular contributor, hurray!

https://books.leaflet.pub/3muetswijek2f

Please browse my new collaborative book blog, "How Readers Find Books" for more found books, new ways to discover books, and other book boosters! https://books.leaflet.pub/

Delighted to have librarians, educators, book bloggers, and booksellers contributing! If you'd like to contribute a guest post, too, see the About page on the blog for guidelines and how to contribute -- thanks.

Huge thanks to librarian Becky Spratford for the opportunity to tell librarians about my new collaborative book blog, HOW READERS FIND BOOKS:

RA for All Off Until 9/8 But I Am Leaving You With a Project I am taking time off from blogging for vacation through Labor Day. I will be back on Tuesday 9/8. While I am gone, you should browse the arc...

Woohoo!! Launching *today*: JUST AS LONG AS WE'RE TOGETHER and HERE'S TO YOU, RACHEL ROBINSON by the amazing Judy Blume, reissued by Atheneum / SimonKIDS ... with my art on the cover! Like Judy's other books, these two titles are just as relevant today as they were when first published, with complicated families, shifting friendships, and the chaos of growing up—told with the honesty and heart only Judy Blume can bring. ❤️

It was a joy and an honour to work with Lauren Rille, Hope Kim, and Jin Soo Chun. Huge thanks to Judy and to Justin Chanda for the opportunity to illustrate this and other Judy Blume books. (I am crossing my fingers there will be many more, of course 🤞🏽🩷)

I posted more about my history with illustrating Judy Blume books as well as some behind-the-scene peeks at the process:

Out in the wild TODAY (!): Judy Blume covers with my art - Debbie's Blatherings - by Debbie Ridpath Ohi Plus a peek behind-the-scenes about how these covers were created

*New* on How Readers Discover Books: THE CLOUD THAT STUCK by Karen Krossing & Dorothy Leung ( Charlesbridge Publishing), discovered by Caroline Fernandez aka Parent Club:
https://books.leaflet.pub/3mtj6t7enfk2i

"The Cloud That Stuck" by Karen Krossing & Dorothy Leung - How Readers Find Books Discovered by Caroline Fernandez aka .bsky.social

Thanks to librarian Peter Musser, bookseller Stephen Baird, and educator/book blogger Ms. Yingling for contributing guest posts for my new book blog, HOW READERS FIND BOOKS. I also invited my kidlit author/illustrator pal Kevin Sylvester to contribute a guest post as well!

https://books.leaflet.pub/

p.s. I am actively seeking book bloggers, educators, librarians, and booksellers to contribute short guest posts! See the "About" page in my blog link above for more info.

How Readers Find Books Goal of this blog: (1) help readers find new ways to discover books, (2) help boost the book boosters, (3) boost books, (4) encourage more book people to join the ATmosphere.

I'm actively seeking book bloggers, indie booksellers, librarians, educators interested in contributing to my HOW READERS DISCOVER BOOKS blog. Info: books.leaflet.pub/about

One of my goals: to help boost the book boosters, help people find new ways to discover books, and (of course) boost books.

If you're interested, please don't reply below -- full info and instructions are in the link above. Note that at present, I am only looking for contributors who have an Atmosphere account (Bluesky, Blacksky, Pckt, Tangled, etc). More info about the Atmosphere here: https://lab.leaflet.pub/3mrq6ma5dgs2x

Meanwhile, feel free to browse posts so far on HOW READERS DISCOVER BOOKS: https://books.leaflet.pub/

How Readers Find Books Goal of this blog: (1) help readers find new ways to discover books, (2) help boost the book boosters, (3) boost books, (4) encourage more book people to join the ATmosphere.

Looking for a sweet, funny, uplifting picture book about friendship? Check out STILL FRIENDS by Troy Wilson and Mike Deas. Love the combo of laugh-aloud AND genuinely moving moments in text & art. Launches May 19, 2026 from Orca Book Publishers

More info at: www.orcabook.com/Still-Friends

Synopsis:

"On a trip to the park with his owner, a dog notices a statue of a little girl sitting on a bench.

Could this be a new friend? But when she stays stone-cold silent, he decides to ignore her right back. Besides, she doesn’t play fetch or give pets or offer treats. What’s the point?

But the more the dog visits her, the more he realizes that the girl has some good traits. Unlike his owner, she never makes him dress up in silly clothes or scolds him. She’s always there to listen, and to lean on. Even though she’s different, she’s there for him day after day, and the dog realizes that she might be a rock-solid friend after all."