Brian LaRossa
@brianlarossa.com
Executive Art Director at Scholastic (Picture Books). Educator at Pratt (Typography) & CCNY (Critical Writing). Speaker (SCBWI et al.). Writer of Fiction (Agent: @liznealon.bsky.social). 523rd Bluesky account. NYC. He/Him. www.brianlarossa.com.
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Hey #kidlit, let’s say… I published a picture book and offered a portfolio review to any illustrator who showed me a receipt proving that they preordered 5 copies along with a promise to wrap and gift 4 of them… would that be weird? Or cool?
Like if cool.
Scold if weird.
Like if cool.
Scold if weird.
September 22, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Hey #kidlit, let’s say… I published a picture book and offered a portfolio review to any illustrator who showed me a receipt proving that they preordered 5 copies along with a promise to wrap and gift 4 of them… would that be weird? Or cool?
Like if cool.
Scold if weird.
Like if cool.
Scold if weird.
Will be teaching advanced illustration at CCNY in the Spring.✨
September 22, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Will be teaching advanced illustration at CCNY in the Spring.✨
Strangely, people are often surprised when I point out that there are only 3 aspect ratios that a book can be: portrait, square, and landscape.
The other day I surveyed the aspect ratios of ALA award winning picture books: the vast majority were portrait.
The other day I surveyed the aspect ratios of ALA award winning picture books: the vast majority were portrait.
September 20, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Strangely, people are often surprised when I point out that there are only 3 aspect ratios that a book can be: portrait, square, and landscape.
The other day I surveyed the aspect ratios of ALA award winning picture books: the vast majority were portrait.
The other day I surveyed the aspect ratios of ALA award winning picture books: the vast majority were portrait.
Automatically?! 🤯💙❤️
September 19, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Automatically?! 🤯💙❤️
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NEWS: I don’t like transphobes and here is a short list of why.
1) They are full of shit.
1) They are full of shit.
September 19, 2026 at 5:25 PM
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These are so lovely.
New from Letterform Archive Books, the first of a new line featuring reproductions of our favorite collections: Creative Papers. letterformarchive.org/shop/wood-ty...
#WoodType #HarrildAndSons #Stationery #GiftWrap #TypeSpecimens #Typography
#WoodType #HarrildAndSons #Stationery #GiftWrap #TypeSpecimens #Typography
Wood Type Creative Papers: Nineteenth-Century Letterforms on Display (For Gift Wrap, Crafting, Decor & more) | Letterform Archive
16 oversize sheets featuring the bold letters and vibrant colors designed to captivate audiences near and far In the 1800s, as people migrated to urban centers, and the walls of the city increasingly ...
letterformarchive.org
September 19, 2026 at 10:51 AM
These are so lovely.
“Getting answers from a bot can create ‘the illusion of learning’ for students who reach for A.I. ‘at the first hint of struggle,’ the M.I.T. committee wrote in its August report.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...
An M.I.T. Report Warns A.I. Is Causing ‘Cognitive Surrender.’ Universities Are in a Bind. (Gift Article)
As A.I. upends education, university leaders have been all over the map about how to respond. It can be very confusing for students.
www.nytimes.com
September 19, 2026 at 10:51 AM
“Getting answers from a bot can create ‘the illusion of learning’ for students who reach for A.I. ‘at the first hint of struggle,’ the M.I.T. committee wrote in its August report.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...
Reposted by Brian LaRossa
Still punk as fuck, I whisper to myself as I get into bed at 8:50pm
September 19, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Still punk as fuck, I whisper to myself as I get into bed at 8:50pm
Reposted by Brian LaRossa
Since 2020 I’ve been aggressively writing fiction for adults finishing 4 novels.
People are constantly telling me I should try writing a picture book. I’ve always resisted.
Welp, my agent @liznealon.bsky.social finally convinced me to give it a try and guess what #kidlit… I liked it.
💙❤️
People are constantly telling me I should try writing a picture book. I’ve always resisted.
Welp, my agent @liznealon.bsky.social finally convinced me to give it a try and guess what #kidlit… I liked it.
💙❤️
September 18, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Since 2020 I’ve been aggressively writing fiction for adults finishing 4 novels.
People are constantly telling me I should try writing a picture book. I’ve always resisted.
Welp, my agent @liznealon.bsky.social finally convinced me to give it a try and guess what #kidlit… I liked it.
💙❤️
People are constantly telling me I should try writing a picture book. I’ve always resisted.
Welp, my agent @liznealon.bsky.social finally convinced me to give it a try and guess what #kidlit… I liked it.
💙❤️
Since 2020 I’ve been aggressively writing fiction for adults finishing 4 novels.
People are constantly telling me I should try writing a picture book. I’ve always resisted.
Welp, my agent @liznealon.bsky.social finally convinced me to give it a try and guess what #kidlit… I liked it.
💙❤️
People are constantly telling me I should try writing a picture book. I’ve always resisted.
Welp, my agent @liznealon.bsky.social finally convinced me to give it a try and guess what #kidlit… I liked it.
💙❤️
September 18, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Since 2020 I’ve been aggressively writing fiction for adults finishing 4 novels.
People are constantly telling me I should try writing a picture book. I’ve always resisted.
Welp, my agent @liznealon.bsky.social finally convinced me to give it a try and guess what #kidlit… I liked it.
💙❤️
People are constantly telling me I should try writing a picture book. I’ve always resisted.
Welp, my agent @liznealon.bsky.social finally convinced me to give it a try and guess what #kidlit… I liked it.
💙❤️
we’re waking up with bell biv devoe’s first album over here don’t @ me
September 15, 2026 at 11:24 AM
we’re waking up with bell biv devoe’s first album over here don’t @ me
Let me tell you, as the AI era continues to intensify, making the future harder to imagine than it ever has been, it is also becoming harder to teach.
September 14, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Let me tell you, as the AI era continues to intensify, making the future harder to imagine than it ever has been, it is also becoming harder to teach.
First day of public school in NYC. One of my favorite days of the year.
The social energy in the city goes from 4 to 11 overnight. Let’s goooooo!
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The social energy in the city goes from 4 to 11 overnight. Let’s goooooo!
💙❤️
September 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
First day of public school in NYC. One of my favorite days of the year.
The social energy in the city goes from 4 to 11 overnight. Let’s goooooo!
💙❤️
The social energy in the city goes from 4 to 11 overnight. Let’s goooooo!
💙❤️
Now that the Apple Watch will record and transcribe everyone’s conversations all the time ugh who will be first to market with a watch that does the only two things I need a watch to do:
1. Tell time.
2. Scramble Apple Watch Recordings
1. Tell time.
2. Scramble Apple Watch Recordings
September 9, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Now that the Apple Watch will record and transcribe everyone’s conversations all the time ugh who will be first to market with a watch that does the only two things I need a watch to do:
1. Tell time.
2. Scramble Apple Watch Recordings
1. Tell time.
2. Scramble Apple Watch Recordings
Mike D’s new album is 🔥
September 9, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Mike D’s new album is 🔥
Reposted by Brian LaRossa
Find yourself someone who loves you as much as the New Yorker wants you to re-activate your unlimited access
September 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Find yourself someone who loves you as much as the New Yorker wants you to re-activate your unlimited access
Reposted by Brian LaRossa
Invitation for “Black Artists in the New York Scene,” 1974
illustrated by Dindga McCannon
#PeoplesGDArchive
#GDArchive
illustrated by Dindga McCannon
#PeoplesGDArchive
#GDArchive
September 9, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Invitation for “Black Artists in the New York Scene,” 1974
illustrated by Dindga McCannon
#PeoplesGDArchive
#GDArchive
illustrated by Dindga McCannon
#PeoplesGDArchive
#GDArchive
This summer I learned to 1) solve a Rubik’s cube 2) finger whistle. And thus the great conjunction has been enacted.
September 9, 2026 at 3:30 AM
This summer I learned to 1) solve a Rubik’s cube 2) finger whistle. And thus the great conjunction has been enacted.
Thinking lately about how sensing change or opportunity on the horizon can make me impatient, and how that impatience can lead me to force things. Trying to remember that patience isn’t passivity.
September 8, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Thinking lately about how sensing change or opportunity on the horizon can make me impatient, and how that impatience can lead me to force things. Trying to remember that patience isn’t passivity.
Reposted by Brian LaRossa
One of the things I hate most about AI is that now I first approach a lot of art with suspicion instead of awe
September 8, 2026 at 4:57 AM
One of the things I hate most about AI is that now I first approach a lot of art with suspicion instead of awe
Reposted by Brian LaRossa
TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
September 5, 2026 at 6:08 PM
TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Reposted by Brian LaRossa
Bluesky provides a mobile web view that runs great on my four-year-old phone and never pushes me to download an app. That is special and appreciated and I hope it continues.
September 5, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Bluesky provides a mobile web view that runs great on my four-year-old phone and never pushes me to download an app. That is special and appreciated and I hope it continues.
Okay! I used a random number generator and notified the winner. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to reply! I did take a close look at everyone’s art. Keep going and growing!
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Hey illustrators,
How about this, to celebrate the 1st #kidlitartpostcard of the fall season (Labor Day is so late this year!) I’m going to offer a free 1 hour portfolio review + coaching session via Zoom.
To enter share 1 image from your portfolio below and a winner will be chosen at random.
💙❤️
How about this, to celebrate the 1st #kidlitartpostcard of the fall season (Labor Day is so late this year!) I’m going to offer a free 1 hour portfolio review + coaching session via Zoom.
To enter share 1 image from your portfolio below and a winner will be chosen at random.
💙❤️
September 4, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Okay! I used a random number generator and notified the winner. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to reply! I did take a close look at everyone’s art. Keep going and growing!
💙❤️
💙❤️
Reposted by Brian LaRossa
Hey illustrators,
How about this, to celebrate the 1st #kidlitartpostcard of the fall season (Labor Day is so late this year!) I’m going to offer a free 1 hour portfolio review + coaching session via Zoom.
To enter share 1 image from your portfolio below and a winner will be chosen at random.
💙❤️
How about this, to celebrate the 1st #kidlitartpostcard of the fall season (Labor Day is so late this year!) I’m going to offer a free 1 hour portfolio review + coaching session via Zoom.
To enter share 1 image from your portfolio below and a winner will be chosen at random.
💙❤️
September 3, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Hey illustrators,
How about this, to celebrate the 1st #kidlitartpostcard of the fall season (Labor Day is so late this year!) I’m going to offer a free 1 hour portfolio review + coaching session via Zoom.
To enter share 1 image from your portfolio below and a winner will be chosen at random.
💙❤️
How about this, to celebrate the 1st #kidlitartpostcard of the fall season (Labor Day is so late this year!) I’m going to offer a free 1 hour portfolio review + coaching session via Zoom.
To enter share 1 image from your portfolio below and a winner will be chosen at random.
💙❤️