Kidlit Love: Conversations with Picture Book and Middle Grade Authors

Happy Monday! I hope you’ve enjoyed the holiday weekend and as my last podcast episode reminded us, stopped the stream of social media and focused on what mattered most to you. This week, I’ve got a fun episode with Susan Rose & Silvia Lopez talking about their latest book focused on celebrating life’s special moments. Press play and take a listen! Stephanie Book Birthdays and Other Book Reviews🎈...

Happy Friday! The holiday weekend is here and is this bonus podcast episode is the perfect reminder to stay present, take a breath unplug from your devices and plug into the connections around you. I think it’s a lesson we all need to learn and a book we all need to read! Stephanie E234: Unplug & Reconnect: STREAM by Aida Salazar On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Aida Sa...

Happy Monday! I’m not sure how it happened, but the month of June is coming to a close and July is almost here! Time is moving so quickly and I am determined to better enjoy the coming month more than I did the last one. Enter books. I’ve got a collection of picture books to share that will help you sink into a lovely summer season and make the most of the days ahead. They’re beautiful and delight...

Happy Monday! Monday always feels better after a weekend full of books, bookstores and bookish friends. Lucky for me, this feeling will continue as I release an episode that will wrap you in love, too. Pooja is a repeat guest on the podcast and we had an important conversation for all. Keep scrolling to get all the details on the new episode! Happy reading! Stephanie Caring in Community: TOGETHER...

Hello Everyone, This. This book. This book is the quintessential middle grade book for middle grade readers, adult readers with an inner child and ANYONE who loves books. I’m so excited about the surprise I share at the end. If you’re interested in joining my book club relay for this book, please reach out and/or comment below. Let’s bring the book club to life together! Keep scrolling to get all...

Happy Monday! In upstate New York, summer feels like it has arrived! The weather is warmer, the days are longer and there’s more time for reading books we love. I’ve had a couple of listeners/readers reach out to ask if I’m offering any summer book clubs, writing sessions or other KidLit fun and I have thought about a few ideas that I’d love your feedback on. Could you take a moment to respond to...

Hello Everyone, As promised, here’s the bonus episode I mentioned earlier in the week with Jerry Spinelli. From my first teaching position to now, his books have been in my classroom library and my home bookshelf and I’m thrilled to help him launch his newest release! Keep scrolling to get all the details on the new podcast episode! Happy reading! Stephanie E229: Finding Your Way: FIFTH GRADE TOP...

Happy Monday! It’s a busy week here on the KidLit Love podcast! Today, I’m releasing a delightful episode with Maddie Frost about her newest book PERFECT for the summer season. Then, on Thursday, I’ll release an episode with Jerry Spinelli about his newest release. It was a dream-come-true-full-circle-moment for me as an educator! =) Keep scrolling to get all the details on the new podcast episode...

Happy Monday! If I’m completely honest, my weekend wasn’t all that happy. One of our family dogs, our teeny-tiny Lucy, passed away and it has been hard. But like always, I turn to books and notebooks to help me get through most things and this experience is no exception. It reminded me how so many of us grieve the death of a family pet and that I could create a comforting kidlit book list for thos...

Happy Monday! It’s still only May, but I am gearing up for a lovely season of summer reading, building my stack and planning my bookish field trips to local book stores and bucket list experiences. I’d love to know what books are already on YOUR kidlit summer TBR and where you plan to head for bookish excursions, if you have them planned. Let’s create a kidlit calendar of bookish fun! Keep scrolli...

On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Priya Swaminathan about her debut middle grade novel: DEEPA, M.D. This is a heart-warming and funny book about a seventh grader who decides to become a medical detective alongside her Uncle as she juggles friendship, family and middle school…when everyone knows her as the girl who has cancer. Come listen as we talk about Priya’s admirabl...

Happy Monday! There has been a lot of upheaval in the world of children’s literature over the past couple of weeks and the only thing I know for sure is this: Children’s literature matters more than ever and I am proud to be a part of the profession sharing books that might be exactly what a reader needs next to feel seen, heard, acknowledged, inspired and part of something bigger than themselves....

I’m back with another bonus episode of the KidLit Love podcast! I try not to clog your Inbox with more episodes than you can listen to, but I could resist jumping at the chance to talk with Meredith Walker. She’s the co-founder of Smart Girls with Amy Poehler and has just released a book I think everyone needs to read: BE YOURSELF AND OTHER AND OTHER BAD ADVICE. It may be written for teens, but I...

Happy Monday! I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Alyssa Satin Capucilli with you this week! Biscuit is a beloved character for many and we talk about all the things related to this long-standing series in today’s episode. It’s a treat! Keep scrolling to see the new books that caught my attention this week, too. There are A LOT of amazing books celebrating their book birthdays! Book Birthda...

I’m back with another bonus episode of the KidLit Love podcast! This episode truly captures what I think books and reading can do for us: help us feel seen, help us feel better and help us learn how to make life better, too. You’re in for a treat with Lin Oliver! Happy listening! E221: Kindness & Mindfulness: POOCH ON THE LOOSE with Lin Oliver On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talkin...

Happy Monday! It’s the start of a new month, a new season and a whole new set of picture book and middle grade novels to share with you! This week, I’m sharing TWO episode with you. The first is an episode with a treasured author making her second appearance on the podcast (scroll down!) and the second will release on Thursday with an episode introducing a new middle grade series that is not only...

I’m back with another bonus episode of the KidLit Love podcast! I try to release only one episode a week so I do not overwhelm you with episodes to listen to, but there are just SO MANY amazing books coming out and this is one of them. Angela Cervantes has a special place in my reading heart because my daughter and I would read her books together and I was thrilled to talk with her about her newes...

Happy Monday! Our little corner of Substack is growing and more and more kidlit-lovers are finding their way to this space. I couldn’t be happier! I’m so grateful for the conversations I have and the incredible people I meet here and want to continue to nurture and grow it. I’ve included a poll a bit further down this post and invite you to share your wants and wishes for a community of kidlit lov...

Surprise! I’m here with a bonus episode to close out the end of National Library week with a delightful middle grade biography of an important bookish figure: Ursula Nordstrom. Plus, for the first time ever, I invited an additional guest on to share the book love with me. Scroll down to press play on the episode and get inspired! The Stories Behind the Story: BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU by Nancy Hud...

Happy Monday! No matter what’s going on in my life, reading ALWAYS makes me feel better and always has. Whether I escape into a fictional novel, learn something new in a non-fiction book or dip my toes into some poetry, life always feels better after a session of reading. But my favorite books to lean into when life feels hard are books that adults typically do not gravitate toward: picture books....

Happy Monday! I have some exciting news! I’ve always wanted to write a picture book and the over 200 episodes of my KidLit Love podcast have solidified that desire and lit a spark in my writing. The kidlit community is the BEST community and each author I’ve interviewed has provided such beautiful motivation for my own dream. And now, Boyds Mills has gifted me a scholarship to bring that dream to...

Happy Monday! There’s something magic about reading. We can get lost inside another world without ever leaving our home. We can escape to another time and location, connect with new friends, learn new information and feel seen by the page all within a single book. This week, I’m chatting with Philip Stead about his whimsical middle grade novel that gives readers permission to sink in and enjoy the...

On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Lauren H. Kerstein about her newest picture book: HOPE RODE. This picture book tells the true story of Kentucky’s packhorse librarians: the extraordinary woman who rode on horseback through the Appalachian mountains during the Great Depression to deliver books to communities that had none. It went right to my book-loving heart and it wil...

On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Rebecca Morrison about her debut middle grade novel: THE BLUE DRESS. In this book, an Iranian American girl navigates complicated relationships with her mother, her best friend and her body image. This novel is both unflinching and uplifting and ideal for readers of all ages, especially those who need a reminder that they are enough just...

On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking withJasmine Warga about her newest middle grade novel: THE UNLIKELY TALE OF CHASE AND FINNEGAN. This middle grade novel is inspired by true stories from zoos across the country and is about how the power of friendship can transcend anything, even species. It’s endearing, it’s heart-warming and it’s everything we love to see in a middle grade...