E Train Talks Books: A Literacy Initiative

Welcome to TEENtober! Every October, public and school libraries across the country celebrate TEENtober, a month-long celebration that highlights teens, their voices, and the importance of reading. I'm celebrating TEENtober with a special E Train Talks interview featuring Christina Chatel and Marcia Kochel, the founders of IT'S TIME FOR YOUNG TEEN LIT, a movement advocating for a dedicated book ca...

Celebrating five years of E Train Talks with Steve Sheinkin on National Chess Day! What happens when the greatest chess player in the world faces off against a supercomputer capable of calculating millions of moves in seconds? In this episode of E Train Talks, I’m excited to welcome back New York Times bestselling author Steve Sheinkin to talk about his newest book, Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Mat...

I’m excited and extremely proud to welcome two amazing storytellers and Earth Heroes who have come together to tackle one of the biggest issues facing our planet, the climate crisis. Meet Meera Subramanian and Danica Novgorodoff. Meera is an award winning environmental journalist, author, and National Geographic Explorer who has spent much of her career writing about climate change, our environmen...

In his first graphic memoir, MEXIKID, Pedro Martín introduced readers to the unforgettable story of his childhood, family, and a memorable road trip to Mexico. The book went on to receive a Newbery Honor and the Pura Belpré Author and Illustrator Awards. Now Pedro is back with MEXIKID DREAMS, and readers once again get to step into the life of young Pedro as he dreams about his future and hopes fo...

Celebrating 5 years of E Train Talks with Terri Libenson! I’m so excited to welcome New York Times bestselling author, illustrator, and award-winning cartoonist Terri Libenson to E Train Talks! Terri is the creator of the hugely popular EMMIE & FRIENDS middle-grade series, which blends words, illustrations, and Terri's unique graphic-novel storytelling, while exploring friendship, anxiety,...

The hopes of humanity rest on the shoulders of one chess player. It's May 1997 in Manhattan, New York. World champion Garry Kasparov is about to begin a six-game chess match against Deep Blue, the cutting edge IBM supercomputer. MIND VS MACHINE, a middle-grade graphic novel by ​⁠Steve Sheinkin and Grandmaster Maurice Ashley and illustrated by Thien Pham, offers a unique perspective on one of t...

WELCOME TO 5 YEARS OF E TRAIN: Celebrating the World of Books! To kick off the celebration, I’m sharing my interview with award-winning children’s author and playwright @erindealey3097! Erin Dealey is a wonderful human and an incredibly talented storyteller. She has written more than 20 picture books filled with humor, heart, creativity, and stories that really connect with readers. I was so happy...

With Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY now in theaters, I’m going back to the legendary story that started it all, but this time in graphic novel form! In this E Train Talks Books review, I’m taking a look at THE ODYSSEY: A GRAPHIC NOVEL: DELUXE EDITION, written and illustrated by ​⁠ Gareth Hinds and published by ​⁠. Hinds transforms Homer’s ancient Greek epic into an exciting and understandable vis...

Welcome to my new book review series "Question in a Bottle." This is an E Train Talks video series where I answer questions about interesting upper-middle grade or YA books I've read and recommend! And in this episode, I'm spotlighting DOUBLE CROSSED: THE WWII SPIES WHO SAVED D-DAY! DOUBLE CROSSED: THE WWII SPIES WHO SAVED D-DAY by Rebecca E. F. Barone feels like you're stepp...

I was lucky enough to read an early copy of HOW TO BUILD A MIRACLE by New York Times Bestselling author Lynda Mullaly Hunt, best known for FISH IN A TREE! This beautiful story is filled with both heartbreak and hope, and by the end, Lynda has a way of putting the pieces back together, stronger than before. HOW TO BUILD A MIRACLE is a middle-grade story that tweens, teens, and adults alike will fin...

I was truly honored to welcome award-winning and NYT Bestselling author, Frederick Joseph to E Train Talks. In case you didn't know, ​⁠ is a three-time New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who has written powerful books for readers of all ages. In this interview, we discussed THIS THING OF OURS, EVERYTHING’S NOT LOST, and PLANTING HOPE, along with a few of his other meaningful and t...

“We were sick of the bad news. So we sought out to build more positive communities, one video at a time.” - Dude. Be Nice This episode is especially near and dear to my heart because my guests bring the worlds of “books and good deeds”together in one very special conversation. I’m joined by children’s book author and school social worker Sarah Scheerger and Brent Camalich, founder of dude. be nice...

In this video, I’m sharing my thoughts on EVERYTHING'S NOT LOST by Frederick Joseph, a powerful Young Adult novel that releases on October 20, 2026.In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, I’m highlighting EVERYTHING'S NOT LOST because of its deeply emotional and important themes surrounding grief, guilt, and mental illness. This story follows Ella as she navigates overwhelming loss, gui...

In my newest interview, I’m talking with bestselling British author and illustrator Katie Kirby! Katie is best known for creating the hugely popular LOTTIE BROOKS middle-grade series, which first launched in 2021 with THE EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING LIFE OF LOTTIE BROOKS.The LOTTIE BROOKS series has sold more than 1.6 million copies in the U.K., and Katie’s books have been compared to such hit series a...

WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE is a phenomenal young adult / upper middle-grade graphic novel written by librarian Jarrett Dapier and illustrated by AJ DungoAn empowering graphic novel inspired by the true story of a group of Chicago high students who stand up together and fight to overturn the system-wide ban of Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis.“WAKE NOW IN THE FIRE” IS A NATIONAL BESTSELLER & A BOOKLIST...

THE BLUE DRESS by author Rebecca Morrison is the perfect #kidlit story for anyone who’s felt like they don’t fit in or for readers trying to understand the daily struggles tweens and teens are going through. The story follows 12-year-old Yasmin Safavi, an Iranian American girl navigating body image issues, the pressure of her mother’s strict cultural expectations, and the emotional stresses of fri...

John Masiulionis is the founder of PR From The Heart, a leading PR firm in children’s literature, where he helps storytellers from well-known performers to acclaimed authors grow their platforms and share meaningful stories. John is also the author of the award-winning children’s picture book "Walking Each Other Home: Zachary’s Mission: A Hospice for Children," inspired by his personal e...

I’ve been interviewing authors for over four years, and this is my very first Passover Panel. I couldn’t be more excited to bring together such an incredible group of storytellers for a lively, meaningful, and festive conversation. In this special episode, we’re celebrating the middle-grade anthology ON ALL OTHER NIGHTS: A PASSOVER CELEBRATION IN 14 STORIES. Joining me from across the country are...

I am deeply honored to share my interview with the 2026 Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner Marcella Pixley, author of the middle-grade book, NESHAMA. Marcella Pixley is the the talented storyteller behind the profoundly meaningful middle-grade novel-in-verse, NESHAMA, and I'm so grateful to have the privledge to interviewer her. Marcella puts her heart and soul into her writing and it shows in he...

These are my thoughts on Neshama, the beautiful, award-winning middle-grade novel in verse by Marcella Pixley. Neshama, a Hebrew word meaning “soul,” “spirit,” or “breath,” is deeply rooted in Jewish spirituality, and it is the perfect title for such a meaningful, healing story. There is so much more I could say about this soulful novel in verse, but I highly recommend picking up a copy at your lo...

Purim is almost here, and I’ve the perfect way to start preparing for the holiday fun! Watch my interview to discover three brand new Purim themed stories that bring the holiday to life for young readers. In this special episode, I'm interviewing three wonderful children’s book authors: Nancy Churnin, Barbara Kimmel, and Varda Livney. Their stories beautifully capture Jewish holidays and tradi...

I’m excited to be hosting a special children's author panel conversation celebrating Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees, a eco-friendly holiday that invites us to reflect on growth, roots, and our connection to the natural world.🌳📚I’m honored to be interviewing three children’s book creators whose special Tu B’Shvat themed stories engage toddlers, young readers and families alike....

In this interview I speak with one of my favorite storytellers, award-winning author Torrey Maldonado! Torrey is a light in the darkness, and in the words of the great Maya Angelou, he's a "rainbow" in the world's cloud, spreading joy and positivity everywhere he goes, including in his books! I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to shine a light on his first picture book JUST...

My talk with New York Times Bestselling author Lance Rubin was nothing short of legendary! From deep talks about the pros and cons of AI, to a fun look back at his career in theater, to the celebration of his latest stories, this interview had it all! Lance is the author of the “Denton Little’s Death Date” a page turning phenomenal YA series, as well as a brand-new fantastic middle-grade book enti...

WELCOME TO MY HANUKKAH HEROES 2025 AUTHOR PANEL! In this video, I'm speaking with five wonderful Jewish storytellers, authors and illustrators, who've brought some of the sweetest and most meaningful Festival of Lights books to life. Their stories brighten the season for young readers from preschool through middle school. I invite you to join in the Hanukkah reading celebration, as we peek...