The Book Faire: Children's Literature for Grownups

This week is a doozy. We are briefly outlining 40 bills introduced that targetlibraries and public schools across the united states. States with legislative sessions that have happened/are ongoing this year: Alabama Arizona Georgia Iowa Idaho* Indiana Kansas Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Missouri Nebraska Tennessee Utah* Virginia Wet Virginia (Most bills introduced this year) Wisconsin Wyoming *Hav...

Children's Book Week 2024 kicks off on Monday May 6th. Good Books Young Troublemakers Book Club. Notable Releases: I'll Be Waiting for You by Mariko Turk Puggleton Park by Deanna Kizis, illustrated by Hannah Peck Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo References 2024 Children's Book Week Unveils Event Firsts: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/94...

This week's Book Report highlights the struggle of book bans across the United States as well as publishers and authors who are joining the fight. Notable Releases: A Game of Noctis by Deva Fagan The Night War: by Kimberly Burbaker Bradley Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin The Black Girl Survives in This One edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennel References New PEN America Report Fi...

Welcome to a new episode format! Weekly(ish) Book Reports will cover recent headlines related to YA and children's literature, as well as new releases worth keeping an eye on. This week sees three debut books, two of which feature Asian voices in time for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Notable Releases: We Who Produce Pearls (Picture Book) by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Amanda P...

Follow the story of sixteen-year-old Micah Hunter, whose dreams shatter due to a mysterious illness. Alongside the headstrong Evie Thompson, both navigating their challenges, the book explores their deepening connection. Uncover the poignant twists as Evie helps Micah uncover his illness's truth, all while harboring her own hidden health struggles. Join Micah as he faces the toughest decision of h...

The holiday season is kicking off early at the Book Faire with The Wish that Saved Christmas by Kate A. Harvey! A heartwarming adventure of a young girl's doll that comes to life when she makes a wish to help her family in their time of need. The book is sweet and magical, but unfortunately falters in the second half.

In this episode, we interview Miki Taylor, the talented debut author behind the upcoming children's book, 'Bentley's Fantabulous Idea,' set to hit shelves on September 28th. We delve into Miki Taylor's creative process, the inspiration behind her heartwarming story, and the exciting journey of bringing Bentley's fantastical world to life. Discover the magic behind this enchanting new release and g...

*Percussion provided by the Professor ** I did my best with some of the pronunciation of terms in this book Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans is the debut novel by Nigerian American writer Isi Hendrix. It follows Adia as she embarks on a magical journey across the land of Zaria to uncover the secret behind Emperor Darian and a series of fires across the world.

Follow the podcast on Threads @bookfairepod Email @ bookfairepod@gmail.com Support @ Patreon.com/thebookfaire Tune in to explore how "The Last Unicorn" subverts stereotypes and showcases the importance of protecting our natural world. Discover the captivating characters who challenge traditional roles and embark on transformative journeys of self-discovery. We'll delve into the remarkable storytel...

This week on the Book Faire, we delve into Coville's experiences with television and film adaptations of his works, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of bringing stories to life on the screen. We also discuss the challenges of writing for young readers and the importance of treating them with respect and intelligence, avoiding the trap of talking down to them. Discover the secret...

This week on the Book Faire: an inspiring interview with Jonathan and Lynn Greenberg, the passionate mother and son duo behind the children's picture book "Robby the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport Adventure." Drawing from Jonathan's personal experiences with dyslexia, this uplifting tale redefines dyslexia as a difference rather than a disability. In this episode, we delve into the creative process...

This month we delve into the enchanting world of "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega, an instant New York Times Bestseller! Join us as we explore the extraordinary journey of twelve-year-old Seven Salazar, a young witch eager to find her place in the magical town of Ravenskill. However, on the night of the Black Moon Ceremony, Seven's dreams take an unexpected turn. Instead of being placed in a pow...

CONTENT WARNING: In this episode, we briefly discuss suicide, depression, and sexual abuse. Video of Laurie Halse Anderson speaking about her books being challenged at a school board meeting https://www.tiktok.com/@cbsdschoolboardwatch/video/7210809950405152043 A.S. King joins Anthony for an interview on the Book Faire! We discuss Attack of the Black Rectangles, censorship among other topics.

In this book review podcast episode, we discuss "Attack of the Black Rectangles" by acclaimed author Amy Sarig King, published in September 2022. The story revolves around Mac, a 6th-grade student who, with his friends, tries to uncover who is censoring books in his school. The cover of the book sets the tone with redacted text and a black bar covering a child's mouth, highlighting how censorship...

Growing up is hard. It's important for children to have a safe space for them to be able to speak open and honestly. For the main characters of Gordon Korman's The Fort, that place turns out to be an underground bomb shelter.

CW: This is a more serious episode than our usual faire. Proceed with caution. Actor, writer, social media influencer Jeffery Self presents a tale as old as time. A teenager struggling with self worth, trying to find where they're future will lead and struggling with being gay in Florida. The film referenced in the book and in this podcast is To Wong Fu: Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar release...

R. L. Stine has sold hundreds of millions of books worldwide, over a hundred different individual titles inspiring millions of children and adults since 1993. His newest series, Goosebumps SlappyWorld introduces a new generation of readers to children's horror, his unique style of writing as well as hopefully a love for reading!

This week on the podcast, Anthony sits down with Elisha Kemp, self published author of the Tobias Finch series: Latent Wolf, Accidental Alpha and Wolves of War are all available on Amazon in hardback, paperback, ebook and audiobook (Narrated by the Book Faire's own Anthony Soto)

The debut novel by Naomi Gibson; a book that recently took over #booktok on tiktok. Every Line of You is a gripping thriller/sci-fi/romance/horror/mystery that covers themes of grief and trauma around a 17 year old girl named Lydia, her father who left and her deceased brother who lives on, in name only through an Artificial Intelligence program she spent years crafting into exactly what she wante...

Don't judge a book by it's (cartoonishly drawn) cover! Wings of Fire is a series that released just after I graduated high school, otherwise it would have been the kind of thing I would have loved to pick up from the Scholastic Book Fair. The Dragonet Prophecy is first in the series by Tui T. Sutherland and sets up a wonderful fantasy world inhabited by dragons of different races, such as Sea Wing...

I Know Your Secret is a modern juvenile mystery novel. Each of the main characters holds a deep, dark secret. Something personally devastating if revealed. When someone anonymously emails them threatening to expose their pasts, Gemma, Todd, Ally and Owen have to work together to unravel the mystery before it's too late. Content Warning: inappropriate relationships | This book addresses inappropria...

Philip Reeve's 2001 YA novel Mortal Engines, which was later adapted to a film in 2018. The novel has some wonderful ideas such as nonrenewable resources and the dangers of patriotism. However it falls short of delivering a satisfying reading experience, choosing to structure moments as if it were a film being shown  on a screen instead of an omnipotent third person narrative.

Mary Pope Osborne's iconic series The Magic Treehouse sends two siblings around the world and across time. It teaches us to appreciate history and surprisingly, how to learn. 

A  humble little podcast discussing children's literature as a grownup.

One of the main pillars of the Scholastic Book Fair, the Animorphs series by K. A. Applegate is beloved by many that grew up in the 90s and early 2000s. What can a sci-fi/fantasy series about children fighting against a hidden alien invasion? Surprisingly, quite a lot. Step into the Book Faire with me as we learn a little about empathy and overcoming limitations.