New Books in Children's Literature

In my conversation with author-illustrator Laurie Smollet Kutscera we celebrate the launch of her new picture book, Maya's Treasure (Peter Pauper Press, 2021), published just five months ago by Peter Pauper Press. "Keeping close the words and memories of her grandmother, a young girl is determined to craft a treasure from cast-off bits of shell." Laurie Smollett Kutscera was born in New York City,...

Growing Out of Communism: Russian Literature for Children and Teens, 1991-2017 (Brill, 2021) explores the rise of a new body of literature for children and teens following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent transformation of the publishing industry. Lanoux, Herold, and Bukhina first consider the Soviet foundations of the new literature, then chart the influx of translated...

On the eve of her new book release, I talk to bestselling children's author Beth Ferry about No Nibbling! (Roaring Brook Press, 2022), a tale filled with fantastic word play that will have kids laughing and insisting, One warm spring day, Derwood the goat planted a garden and patiently tended it as it grew. On that very same day, he noticed a dandelion puff--it was too early in the season, but Der...

I spoke with Katelyn Aronson about life and her wonderful new children's book Clovis Keeps His Cool (Page Street, 2021). Clovis used to struggle with his temper, but ever since he took over his late grandmother’s china shop, he’s been learning how to manage it. He pours tea, listens to soothing music, and always keeps Granny’s words in mind: “Grace, grace, nothing broken to replace.” But when riva...

Author-illustrator Amalia Hoffman is back with her three-day old book, Masha Munching (Yeehoo Press, 2022), a hilarious tale about a goat with an insatiable appetite and her journey to finding the best meal ever! When Masha discovers The Bistro Magnifique, where waiters serve fancy meals in bow ties, Masha thinks it’s her lucky day! But at a proper restaurant, can Masha satisfy her desire for wond...

PJ McIlvaine's debut picture book Little Lena and the Big Table (June 2019, Big Belly Book Co.), illustrations by Leila Nabih, is about a determined little girl tired of eating with her annoying cousins at the kid’s table, only to discover that the big table isn’t much better. PJ’s second picture book, Dragon Roar (MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing, October 2021), art by Logan Robers, is about a lonely...

Laura Sassi has a passion for telling stories in prose and rhyme. She is the author of five picture books including the best-selling Goodnight, Ark (Zonderkidz, August ’14). In our interview we discuss her two recent books, Little Ewe: The Story of One Lost Sheep (Beaming Books, Spring ’21)and her new board book with Zonderkidz, Bunny Finds Easter (Zonderkidz, Spring ’22) ! In addition to books, s...

Today I talked with author/illustrator Mike Malbrough about his new book Love is Here (Penguin, 2021). Told through poetic and lyrical text and accompanied by lush watercolor illustrations, a child takes a magical journey in search of love, only to find that it lived everywhere, in everything, even in one’s own backyard. A celebration of the interconnectedness of our lives and proof that love is a...

We live in a society that is extremely diverse, and we must find ways to treat each other with love and respect despite our differences. Little Miss Linda is a dark-skinned girl who has been treated cruelly because of the color of her skin. Her father is in the military, so she has had the privilege of living in various places around the world including Japan, Korea, Philippines, Alaska, and Germa...

Christine Taylor-Butler is the author of more than 90 books and articles for children and young adults, including her newest title The Get-Together (Reycraft Books, 2022). A graduate of MIT, she holds degrees in both Civil Engineering and Art and Design. Her interests ranges from writing nonfiction to science fiction. Christine lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She also wrote The Lost Tribes series...

Anne Renaud is an award-winning children’s author who writes in both French and English. Today we talk about her recent picture book, Gwendolyn's Pet Garden (2021). She has written more than 20 publications feature picture books and historical non-fiction books, and several more are due out this year. Her picture book biographies include: The True Tale of a Giantess: The Story of Anna Swan, The Bo...

Janie Emaus joins us to discuss her debut picture book, Latkes for Santa Claus which was released late in 2020 from Sky Pony Press. Her next blended holiday story, Easter Eggs and Matzo Balls will be released in spring 2023. In addition, Janie is the author of the young adult novel, Mercury in Retro Love and has a time travel romance forthcoming from Wild Rose Press. In 2016, she won honorary ment...

Today I talked to Ameliia Hoffman, author of My Monsterpiece (Yeehoo Press, 2021) A kid-artist wants to frighten family members and friends by creating the scariest, meanest, most terrible monsters ever. A green tongue, pointy horns, sharp teeth, and terrible claws are sure to make everyone scream! But what happens when rather than running away in fright, they smile, laugh, and absolutely LOVE the...

Risa Cohen is the Creative Director of Sing into Reading, where she teaches children to read with music and love. In this interview, we talk to Risa about her life, musical career, and her success in teaching reading through music. Mel Rosenberg is a professor of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is also...

Rotem Omri is an award-winning children's book illustrator from Israel. Today we discuss her life, career and thoughts about illustrating for children (disclosure: Rotem has illustrated many of my online children's stories). Mel Rosenberg is a professor of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is also the fou...

Ruth Spiro writes innovative books for children on the topics of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Her areas of interest include the many benefits of introducing STEM subjects and makerspace activities to even the littlest learners. We discuss her recent book, Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever (Dial/PRH, 2021) and how she came to inspire youngsters with her many popular books. Me...

Colleen Paeff writes picture books from a book-lined office in an old pink house with a view of the Hollywood sign. She is the author of The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Pollution Problem (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2021) and Rainbow Truck, co-authored with Hina Abidi (Chronicle Books, 2023). Find her online at www.colleenpaeff.com and on Twitter and Instagram @Colleen...

Dr. Rajani LaRocca is a prolific children's author and also an esteemed physician. In our conversation we discuss her recent book Bracelets for Bina's Brothers (Charlesbridge, 2021), her life and craft, and juggling between careers and cultures. Mel Rosenberg is a professor of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his ow...

Anna Lazowski is an award-winning Senior Producer at CBC Radio, based in Winnipeg. She has an MA in journalism from the University of Western Ontario and a BFA (Honours) degree from the University of Manitoba. T. Rexes Can't Tie Their Shoes is her first book (2021, Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers) . Her second book, Dark Cloud, will be published by Kids Can Press in spring of 2023....

Kirsten Williams Lawson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes books for curious kids. Kirsten is the author of the picture book released several months back, A TRUE WONDER: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything, illustrated by Katy Wu (Clarion, 2021). She is also author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Calkins Cree...

In The Fairy Tellers: A Journey into the Secret History of Fairy Tales (John Murray, 2022), Nick Jubber unearths the lives of the dreamers who made our most beloved fairy tales: inventors, thieves, rebels and forgotten geniuses who gave us classic tales such as 'Cinderella', 'Hansel and Gretel', 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Baba Yaga'. From the Middle Ages to the birth of modern children's literatu...

Today I talked to Pamela Moritz about her charming rhyming story If I Lived with Noah (Apple and Honey Press, 2020). A young boy imagines being sequestered with Noah and all the animals on the ark. When the story begins, the protagonist is distracting his stuffed animal friends with a story as they shelter in a blanket tent during a big rainstorm. In the story, Noah (his family is absent in text a...

I talked with Karen Rostoger-Gruber and her sidekick, Maria (Karen is a ventriloquist) on her career and writing process and celebrated her Passover hagaddah (prayer book) with an amphibian twist: The Family (and Frog!) Haggadah (Behrman House, 2017). Take a traditional Haggadah text, and add vibrant and historical artworks, engaging activities, and compelling thought questions and activities to i...

Today I talked to Nancy Churnin about her book Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing (Creston Books, 2018). Irving Berlin came to the United States as a refugee from Tsarist Russia, escaping a pogrom that destroyed his village. Growing up on the streets of the lower East Side, the rhythms of jazz and blues inspired his own song-writing career. Starting with his first big hit, Alex...

Julie Hedlund and I talked about the trials and tribulations of being an author and how patience and perseverance led her to her recent success, Over, Bear! Under, Wear? (Philomel Books, 2021). Over and Under are two friends, and they're enjoying a day at the park. They go on the swings (Over goes over Under) and the seesaw (Under is under Over). They meet a hot-dog dog (who joins them for a hot d...