BookHuddle with Readgab

No one likes to fail. It isn’t fun. But it is how we grow. The way authors Kate and Nate illustrated this powerful theme while providing an entertaining story fascinated me and I am so thrilled that they joined me in this podcast episode to discuss it. I love all that I learned about their creation and the thoughts that went into Confessions of a Mango. There is so much more to the story than the...

Maria Dolores Aguila is both a picture book and middle grade author of historical fiction. Her novel in verse, A Sea of Lemon Trees won both a Newberry Honor and Pura Belpre Honor. Find out how this book has changed her and more in today's episode.  Find author Maria Dolores Aguila https://mariadoloresaguila.com/ https://www.instagram.com/maria.d.aguila/ A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores...

When Diane Debrovner decided to write a middle grade book about a character with blind parents she decided that she would like a coauthor and so she approached her friend Stacy Cervenka. Stacy adds her unique perspective with her blindness and the experiences she knows about many other individuals. Diane also brings us an animal's point of view as many chapters in the book are told from the p...

Caldecott Award Winning author and illustrator Matthew Cordell talks about the importance of curiosity and how this trait features in his newest picture book, 102. I was so surprised to discover that the brilliantly illustrated picture book was drawn with a multi-color pen. Learn more about this fascinating creator in today's interview.  Find Matthew Cordell https://www.matthewcordell.com/ ht...

Have you ever wondered about the greatest aspects about being an author? Or about the lowest moments? While discussing PJ Gardner's newest book I thought it was the perfect time to delve into some of these questions since the title of this book is: Worst in Show. Find author PJ Gardner https://www.pjgardnerswitzer.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pjgardnerswitzer/ Worst in Show by PJ Gardner ht...

Chapters 00:00 Meet illustrator Carmen Mok 02:48 How did Carmen Mok get into illustrating books 05:15 What made Carmen want to stay in illustration? 08:39 Carmen’s process from start to finish for when her illustrations are in a published work 12:16 How the art directors feedback effects Carmen’s illustrations 13:53 After Carmen receives the manuscript what does she do to enhance the story through...

Bring on the high stakes tension! April Henry is a New York Times bestelling author of young adult and adult fiction books. In this episode we discuss her 32nd book, In the Blood. What is it like to go all in researching for these thrillers and what are some of April's experiences with writing them.  Find author April Henry https://www.aprilhenry.com/ https://www.instagram.com/aprilhenrybooks...

Do your readers love fantastical shapeshifter books? Werewolves? Vampires? Sharks? Malia Maunakea joins us to talk about her newest middle grade fantasy based on Hawaiian legends. The Shark Prince is about a boy cursed to transform into a shark. You decide if it is a curse or a blessing.  Find author Malia Maunakea  https://www.maliamaunakea.com/ https://www.instagram.com/maliamaunakea/ https://ww...

Philip Stead is best known for his writing and illustrating of picture books, but after a little convincing from others and a lot of creativity on his part he recently published his first middle grade novel. "A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic or Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm a Story Out of Order" quickly became a New York Times bestseller for children and in this episode yo...

Poetry is not something that should be dreaded by students or adults. John shares how poetry can be found in multiple forms and can be a benefit to children and teens in many ways. Not only has John written a number of beautiful picture books, but John has a New York Times bestselling novel in verse, Louder than Hunger.  Find author John Schu https://www.johnschu.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mrs...

Kids love animal stories because kids love animals, but these stories can also teach us so much about ourselves and the world. 

Join Shakirah and I discussing one of my favorite books of the year, Here Lies a Ghost. The mystery of the moving coffins of the Chase Vault is one of the top 100 greatest unsolved mysteries in the world. Middle grade author Shakirah Bourne shares with us how she went from a young girl exploring the vault to a writer who crafted a ghost story that includes real people from history. After this inte...

There is so much going on in this discussion because there is so much going on in the incredible book, The Blue Dress, by Rebecca Morrison. We talk about body image, being your authentic self, being an immigrant, complicated mother/daughter relationships. Find author Rebecca Morrison https://www.rebeccakmorrison.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccamorrisonwriter/?hl=en  Facebook: http...

Weird books are some of the best books! Michael Buckley shares his experience writing The Weirdies series in this author interview on BookHuddle where we learn to embrace and love the weird! Find middle grade author Michael Buckley  https://www.michaelbuckleywrites.com/ https://www.instagram.com/whatsupbuckley/ Chapters 00:00 Meet author Michael Buckley 02:50 What is The Weirdies by Michael Buckle...

Jen takes us behind the scenes in her writing the Isle of Ever and book 2, The Curse Breaker. We get to hear all about how it came together and maybe you'll have some questions at the end so maybe you should follow Jen Calonita on her socials and read all of the books in the Isle of Ever series.  Find author Jen Calonita  https://www.jencalonitaonline.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jencalonit...

In our lives we are always growing, always changing, and yet some aspects of us stay the same. We are never defined by just one thing; there is never just one thing going on in our lives. It is hard to explain A Scar Like a River with just one word. If I had to, I would say it is heavy or emotional, but I would hope that the hearer would remember that either of those words can mean so many things....

Middle grade author and winner of the Schneider Family Book Award Honor for her book The Strongest Heart talks to us about her newest book Some of Us Are Brave, how we can be brave and also how to make it a conversation with our kids. Find author Saadia Faruqi https://saadiafaruqi.com/ https://www.instagram.com/saadiafaruqi/ The Strongest Heart by Saadia Faruqi https://www.amazon.com/Strongest-Hea...

I had such a fantastic time reading Birdy and then talking to the author N. West Moss about how she crafted this beautiful story! We talk about the benefits of journaling, how reading and writing help us process our thoughts and emotions and so much more in this middle grade author interview! Find middle grade author N. West Moss https://www.nwestmoss.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nwestmoss/ http...

Claire Swinarski created a beauitiful historical fiction/contemporary middle grade book called Each and Every Spark. I had a wonderful time talking to her about this story, how important it is to have good art during hard times and researching/creating a work of historical fiction. Also, we love good food! Find author Claire Swinarski https://www.claireswinarski.com/ https://www.instagram.com/clai...

Children's stories can be fun, silly, entertaining, important, and thought-provoking all within one book. In this episode Shifa and I discuss both her chapter book series and her middle grade novel in verse. She talks about how both can be used to create meaningful conversations with kids and how some topics are best approached through the pages of a story.  Find author Shifa Saltagi Safadi h...

How do you pass the 'interview' to win the Newberry? How to keep a story short? And a whole lot of fun are in store for this middle grade author interview with Newberry Honor winner Daniel Nayeri. Find Daniel Nayeri https://www.danielnayeri.com/ https://www.instagram.com/danielnayeri/ https://www.facebook.com/danielnayeri The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri https://www.amazon.com/...

What can you learn about yourself as you develop a relationship with another person? Or as you develop a relationship with an animal? How will you grow as an individual? Lynne Kelly's beautiful new book, Three Blue Hearts, is about a boy on a summer vacation where he rescues a hurt octopus and discovers a summer of love and growth that he didn't see coming. Find middle grade author Lynne...

LeUyen is the illustrator of The Princess in Black series written by Shannon and Dean Hale as well as other books with Shannon. She has been an illustrator for 30 years now with over 140 books published and has also written/illustrated her own books. She was awarded the Caldecott Honor for the book Bear Came Along (written by Richard T. Morris). In this episode we chat about what it is like to be...

The last week of December Annisha from Reading in the Middle and I got together to talk about our most anticipated books of 2026. These are just some of the middle grade books that we are super excited to read this year. Keep listening to future episodes as we continue to read and discover more amazing children's books. And share with us which ones we missed and what you look forward to readi...

There were so many wonderful middle grade books released in 2025, and in this episode Melissa Taylor and I discuss just some of the best books of 2025 from our lists. Want to hear more of my favorite books from 2025 then check out this episode next https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/42-the-best-books-of-2025-so-far-shannon-balloon/id1752315662?i=1000715323257 Find children's book author an...