Booklist's Shelf Care

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, we celebrate Audiobook Month a little early with a conversation between host Susan Maguire and three audiobook listeners on the Booklist staff: Annie Bostrom, Maren Flessen, and Abby McCabe. They cover what they like to listen to, how they choose between reading with their eyes and their ears, and the fact that listening to an audiobook is, in fact, read...

Folks are probably well into planning for summer reading programs, so now is the perfect time to talk about Summer Scares! On this Episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to the folks involved. First, this year’s celebrity spokesperson, author Jennifer McMachon, joins Susan and readers’ advisory and horror expert Becky Spratford to talk about the adult and YA Summer Scares tit...

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire speaks to Seattle Public Library Reader Services Librarian Misha Stone about nerding out about reading, reading more (or at least reading more intentionally), and the thrill of the backlist (along with Heated Rivalry, of course). Then, Booklist’s Audio Editor Heather Booth drops some brief but powerful insight into what makes an audiob...

It’s bigger than Santa, it’s bigger than the Super Bowl…it’s Editors’ Choice! The full list is a highlight of our December issue, but every winter, Booklist editors gather ‘round the podcast mic and share some of their favorites from the list. Prepare your TBR piles, because we’ve got a little something for every reader. Here’s what we talked about: Donna: The Phoebe Variations, by Jane Hamilton T...

Fairy tale retelling are having a moment, a moment that has extended for, like, millennia, but now the trend feels particularly hot. Host Susan Maguire sat down with librarian and Booklist reviewer Lucy Lockley about what’s behind the fanfare and some titles and authors you should know. Then Audio Editor Heather Booth spoke to an art educator Heather Kostal about how she uses audiobooks in the cla...

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire sits down with two of our favorite Sara(h)s. First, librarian and Booklister Sara Martínez talks about REFORMA’s National Book Award winner and tips for Spanish-language collection development. Then, Sarah Hunter, Editor, Books for Youth and Graphic Novels, drops some book suggestions perfect for fall reading. Here's what we talked abo...

In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, we’re coming to you live from ALA’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Audio Editor Heather Booth chats with three authors who were excited to share insight into their forthcoming books and what libraries mean to them: Victor Piñeiro (The Island of Forgotten Gods, August 2025, Sourcebooks Young Readers), E. Lockhart (We Fell Apart, November 20...

Episode 42 Show Notes In this episode of Booklist’s Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to librarian and horror expert Becky Spratford about the forthcoming collection of essays she edited, Why I Love Horror, what Mary Shelley might think about the current trend of monster romance, and, of course, why she loves horror. Then Booklist’s Audio Editor Heather Booth presents an epic rant...

It’s time for Summer Scares, and the popular horror-reading program is in fine form again. Shelf Care host Susan Maguire spoke to librarian Becky Spratford, author Kendare Blake, and Booklist’s Julia Smith about this year’s selections for adult, teen, and middle-grade readers; transgressive horror; and Hellmouth Pokémon, as you do. She also spoke to Jocelyn Codner and Carina Stopenski, both of the...

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Katie Clausen, a Chicagoland children’s librarian, about what it’s like to be on the front lines of a book banning, who offers some tips and suggested language for dealing with a challenge. Then, on a lighter note, Susan talks to Audio Editor Heather Booth about what she’s been reading (and listening to) and loving lately. Her...

It’s that time of the year again, when the Booklist editors gather ‘round the proverbial fire and share some of their favorite reads of the year. Covering everything from our Top of the List titles to personal faves, this episode has a little something for every reader. Here’s what we talked about: Donna: We Loved It All: A Memory of Life. By Lydia Millet. (Adult Nonfiction Top of the List) The Mo...

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to two of her Friends, the co-chairs of the annual book sale at her local branch library. They talk about being picky about donations, pricing, layout, and the treasures they found at the sale. Then, Susan chats with new Books for Youth Associate Editor Kelly Ferreira about what they’ve been reading and loving lately. Here’s what...

Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors talk to book people. This Shelf Care interview is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. In this episode of Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter talked to Carole Boston Weatherford about her forthcoming picture book, The Doll Test: Choosing Equality, which will be out in November. You ca...

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire spoke to Allison Escoto of the Center for Fiction about book groups, being a solo librarian, and getting the opportunity to read nonfiction for the Carnegie Awards. Then, Audio Editor Heather Booth chats with librarian and author Van Hoang about the walking audiobook club she runs at her library. Finally, Susan and Adult Books Editor D...

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, we’ve got lots and lots of reading suggestions. First, host Susan Maguire is joined by Rebecca Vnuk, Executive Director, LibraryReads, for a mini-Read ‘n’ Rave, a version of the hit program that Booklist and LibraryReads host at ALA Annual. Then, Audio Editor Heather Booth talks to her daughter Julia about how libraries can help teens find good audiobook...

Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors get to talk to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Dreamscape Media. In this episode of the Shelf Care interview, Heather Booth talks with the creative team behind Rifts and Refrains, the audio-first production from Dreamscape Media's Dreamscape First Initiative. Ri...

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire sat down with Johanna Boyle and Marie Mulder from the Kent District Library in Michigan about the necessary work of the diversity audit, and what to do once the audit is done (hint: it involves spreadsheets). Then Audio Editor Heather Booth offers some solid suggestions for promoting your audiobook collection. Finally (oh, finally), Su...

This episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast is all about Summer Scares! The reading program, a collaboration between Booklist, the Horror Writers Association, United for Libraries, Book Riot, and NoveList, announced their title picks in February. Host Susan Maguire sat down with the folks behind Summer Scares to talk about the books they want you to read this summer, different levels of scariness, and...

Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors get to talk to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. In this episode of Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter talks with Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, whose new book, TOUCH THE SKY, goes on sale in May. Stephanie writes books in the San Francisco Ba...

Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors get to talk to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Capstone. In this episode of Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter talks with Patricia Kreiser about her debut picture book Always Together, which came out in January. Patricia Kreiser is an author and illustrator and...

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Stephanie Sendaula, librarian and memoir enthusiast, about what’s so great about memoirs and what makes a great author visit. Then Audio Editor Heather Booth shares some upcoming awards and lists that those who do collection development and listeners’ advisory will want to know about. Finally, Susan and Annie Bostrom, Senior E...

It’s December, and that means…Editors’ Choice! Booklist’s full list of our Editors’ Choice titles can be found in our December issue, but on this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, the Booklist editors share some standouts from the already stand-out list. Here’s what everyone talked about: Donna Seaman: Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon,...

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire sits down with librarian Nanette Donohue to talk about all aspects of collecting craft books. Then, Audio Editor Heather Booth chats with librarian Emily Borsa about the appeal of the celebrity memoir, whether read by the author or not. Finally, Editor, Books for Youth and Graphic Novels Sarah Hunter joins Susan to shout about a few bo...

Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series in which Booklist talks with book people! This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Yen Press. BonHyung Jeong (Bon) studied Cartooning at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her debut graphic novel was Kyle's Little Sister, made possible with the help of numerous people. She hopes to make connections with others through rela...

Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series in which Booklist talks with book people! This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Capstone Young Readers. Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American writer, interfaith activist, and cultural sensitivity trainer featured in O the Oprah Magazine. Author of the Yasmin Chapter book series, Saadia also writes middle grade novels such a...