The Children's Book Podcast

Steph Littlebird, author illustrator of You Are The Land (Nancy Paulsen Books), joins Matthew to talk about overcoming doubt and remaining hopeful.   Visit Steph Littlebird online at www.stephlittlebird.com     Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org .    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins ( https://stebs.design/ ).    Our music is by Podi...

Debbi Michiko Florence, author of The Mastermind's Trap (Aladdin), shares what is giving her hope today: young people and the connectors of readers to books.    This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Visit Debbi Michiko Florence online at debbimichikoflorence.com   Learn more about Boyds...

Steve Light, author illustrator of Gus & Sully All Week Long (Candlewick), joins Matthew to talk about distilling ideas to their most accessible and truest forms for our youngest readers.   Visit Steve Light online at stevelightart.com     Other helpful links: Steve Light at Boyds Mills Summer Camp for Writers and Illustrators: Session Two! - Get away for five days at our Summer Camp for fiction a...

*This episode is a rebroadcast. The original episode aired April 26, 2025 .   Lil Miss Hot Mess ( Make Your Own Rainbow: A Drag Queen's Guide to Color ) shares what is giving her hope today: drag. Drag is all about changing how we look and how we show up in the world as a way of making the world more fabulous and more just and joyful for everyone in it.   This is a new miniseries of indefinite len...

Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, author and illustrator of Fireworks (Clarion Books), join Matthew to talk about becoming a mirror for feelings and experiences in their ode to a summer day.   Visit Matthew Burgess online at matthewjohnburgess.com     Visit Cátia Chien online at catiachien.com     Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org .    Our podca...

Jordyn Taylor, author of The Rebel Girls of Rome (HarperCollins), shares what is giving her hope today:   remembering that even small acts of bravery can make a big difference.    This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Visit Jordyn Taylor online at jordynhtaylor.com   Learn more about Boy...

Chris Tebbetts, co-author of Dr. Zeus (Jimmy Patterson), with James Patterson, joins Matthew to talk about free-form school visits and moving stuff off the desk.   Visit Chris Tebbetts online at christebbetts.com     Other helpful links: Chris Tebbetts at Boyds Mills Just Do It! Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft (Spring) - Reach your writing goals! This workshop provides th...

Selina Alko, illustrator of The Keeper of Stories (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), written by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, shares what is giving her hope today:   the power of communities to come together..   This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Visit Selina Alko online at www.s...

Kaz Windness, author illustrator of Worm and Butterfly are Friends Always (Simon Spotlight), joins Matthew to talk about constantly dealing with loss and change.   Visit Kaz Windness online at www.windnessbooks.com/     Other helpful links: Kaz Windness at Boyds Mills Early Readers and Chapter Books: A Creative Retreat - Kids who are starting to read on their own need to find the books that meet t...

Laurel Snyder, author of The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah (Clarion Books), illustrated by Leanne Hatch, shares what is giving her hope today:  watching neighbors come together and support each other in the city of Minneapolis.   This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Learn mo...

Introducing the winners and honors of the Sydney Taylor Book Award (2026), presented annually by the Association of Jewish Libraries to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience.   Links: Sydney Taylor Book Award Website - https://jewishlibraries.org/sydney_taylor_book_award/   2025 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour - https://jewishlibraries.org/202...

I have a favor to ask you. Could you please write us a review wherever you listen to the show?   Tell us what you like about the podcast and who you'd love to hear next!   Maybe you love when we feature young adult authors. Maybe your favorite episodes are when we dig deep on craft. Maybe you find yourself looking forward to the Hope mini-episodes each week.   Whatever it is, we want to know! Are...

Abby White, author of D.J. Rosenblum becomes the G.O.A.T. (Levine Querido), shares what is giving her hope today: pockets of people are taking wonderful care of each other, despite the world being bad in a thousand ways right now.   This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Learn more about...

Sara Andrea Fajardo, author of Crack Goes the Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration! (Knopf Books for Young Readers) and Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa: Join the Quest with Peru's Famed Scientist and Potato Expert (Roaring Brook Press), joins Matthew to talk about bringing out a little bit of mischief.   *This is a rebroadcast of an episode that originally aired on A...

George Brown, executive director of the Boyds Mills, shares what is giving him hope today: the storytellers, and the stories they are dreaming of and creating to bring a little optimism and joy to children.   This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Learn more about Boyds Mills and their up...

Aron Nels Steinke, cartoonist of Speechless (Graphix) and the Mr. Wolf's Class series (Graphix), joins Matthew to talk about verbal expression, anxiety, and wanting to communicate   Visit Aron Nels Steinke online at www.mrwolfsclass.com .   Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org .    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins ( https://stebs.desi...

Kaz Windness ( Bitsy Bat, Team Star ) shares what is giving her hope today: a commitment to being joyful and doing things that bring happiness as an act of rebellion.   This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.       For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and s...

Torrey Maldonado, author of Just Right (Nancy Paulsen Books), illustrated by Teresa Martínez, joins Matthew to talk about finding and sticking to your places.   Visit Torrey Maldonado online at torreymaldonado.com     Other helpful links: Torrey Maldonado at Boyds Mills   Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org .    Our podcast logo was created by Du...

Aron Nels Steinke, cartoonist of Speechless (Graphix) and the Mr. Wolf's Class series (Graphix), shares what is giving him hope today: every morning is a chance for something new.   This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming progra...

George Brown, executive director of the Highlights Foundation, joins Matthew to talk about the rebranding of the Highlights Foundation as Boyds Mills.   Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org .    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins ( https://stebs.design/ ).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can suppo...

Nikki Grimes, author of A Cup of Quiet (Bloomsbury Children's Books), shares what is giving her hope today: the bravery, resilience, and determination of young people.   This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting ww...

Alexandra Villasante, author of Fireblooms (Nancy Paulsen Books), joins Matthew to talk about paying for our words.   Visit Alexandra Villasante online at alexandravillasante.com     Other helpful links: Alexandra Villasante at the Highlights Foundation LGBTQIA2S+ Voices at the Highlights Foundation - Craft and education, community-building, and resources and support for LGBTQIA2S+ creatives and p...

Yuyi Morales, author illustrator of  Little Rebels (Neal Porter Books), shares what is giving her hope today: taking care of something important to her.   This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfou...

Alison Green Myers, author of This Way to Happy (Dutton Books for Young Readers), joins Matthew to talk about the inconsistent upbringings and emotional rollercoasters.   Visit Alison Green Myers online at alisongreenmyers.com     Other helpful links: Alison Green Myers at the Highlights Foundation Summer Camp for Writers and Illustrators: Session One! - Our Summer Camp is a not-to-be-missed exper...

Alexandra Villasante, author of Fireblooms (Nancy Paulsen Books), shares what is giving her hope today: stopping and looking in community.   This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.    Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org . ...