The Children's Book Podcast

Maria Dismondy is the author of THE FRUIT SALAD FRIEND and founder of Cardinal Rule Press, an independent publishing company. Maria's newest picture book addresses the notion that people are not always kind, but surrounding yourself with friends who are kind and trustworthy can go a long way. It's a story I'd guess Maria has lived a number of times throughout her life. I admire Maria for the work...

Baptiste Paul and Jacqueline Alcántara are the author and illustrator of THE FIELD, a picture book about pick-up game of soccer in a village in St. Lucia that could be any pick-up game in any town with any kids. It's Baptiste's debut as a picture book author and Jackie's debut as a picture book illustrator. What stories and storied backgrounds each bring to THE FIELD will enrich your experience wi...

Jane Yolen is the beloved and prolific author of over 365 books for children and teens, including this year's releases of A BEAR SAT ON MY PORCH TODAY, MAPPING THE BONES, and MEET ME AT THE WELL. To celebrate such a milestone publication year, Jane and daughter Heidi have kicked off #Yolen365, a daily celebration and book pairing of each title in Jane's catalog to a calendar holiday, festivity, or...

Kate Hoefler and Noah Klocek are the author and illustrator of Great Big Things, a picture book about a mouse who journeys beyond great obstacles and ever greater distance to deliver something to the one love. Kate talks about how picture books are all about the space between and how it's up to the reader to fill in the gaps. They both share how every book, in some way, is about perspective. This...

Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James are the award-winning author and illustrator of Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, recently the recipient of the Newbery Honor, the Caldecott Honor, the Coretta Scott King Author Honor, and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. And no wonder! The heart and voice both Derrick and Gordon poured into every page of this story gives it presence.  In our conversation...

Lee Wind is the author of Queer as a Five Dollar Bill, a novel for teens about a boy named Wyatt, some little known research about our 16th president, and a social media post that goes viral. In this conversation Lee talks about his Kickstarter campaign for the book, a decision he made after the publisher that previously acquired his manuscript dropped the book just a few months prior to productio...

Kobi Yamada is the author of What Do You Do with a Chance?, the final picture book in a best-selling series including What Do You Do with an Idea? and What Do You Do with a Problem?. In this conversation Kobi talks about the varied languages of creativity and how we're all finding our way through life. One of the most important concepts Kobi emphasizes in this conversation, to me, is that a book i...

Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Seghal are the authors of Festival of Colors, a new picture book celebrating Holi, the traditional Hindu spring festival. In this conversation Kabir and Sue talk about the celebration as a representation of true Indian culture. The share the harmony and respect for others that's at the heart of Holi and Kabir and Sue lift up the colors as the star character of the story....

Dear readers, listeners, and friends, For over two years, our team has celebrated great children's books and their creators by building what we hope has been a trusted resource for parents, teachers, and librarians. The website has been a labor of love, but in light of shifting demands on our time and energy, we've made the difficult decision to end the project. Therefore, on February 1, 2018, All...

Susan Hood (@sHood125), author of Shaking Thing Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World, stops by the podcast to talk about standing up, speaking out, and opening up the conversation to other women by commemorating in poetry the lives and accomplishments of a selection of historically impactful girls and young women. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Hey there, podcast listeners! Can you spare 5 minutes? I've made a survey in an effort to better know who listens to the show, how you're reacting to the episodes, and what you'd like to see more of. In just 5 questions and 5 minutes or less you can help me in a big, big way. And to to thank you, I'm going to give away a set of some recent favorite books including picture books, middle grade, and...

Dashka Slater (@DashkaSlater) and The Fan Brothers (@opifan64 and @igo2cairo), author and illustrators respectively of The Antlered Ship, stop by the podcast to talk about the spirit of asking questions, a thread of melancholy, and how sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Vanessa Brantley-Newton, author and illustrator of Grandma's Purse, stops by the podcast to talk about connecting with her readers, kids giving their parents a do-over, and the universal quest to give others what you never got. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

David Barclay Moore (@dbarclaymoore), author of The Stars Beneath Our Feet, stops by the podcast to talk about art's healing ability, Harlem as a symbol for blackness, and being different as an act of resilience. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Bryan Collier, author and illustrator of It's Shoe Time (Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series) and illustrator of Hey Black Child, stops by the podcast to talk about being different, beautifully perfect flaws, and creating the world you want to be in. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Ben Hatke (@BenHatke), cartoonist of Mighty Jack and the Goblin King, stops by the podcast to talk about his modern retelling of a classic fairy tale, an overgrown, scrappy garden, and a tale that grew in the telling. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Susanna Reich (@ReichWriter), author of Stand Up and Sing! and Fab Four Friends, stops by the podcast to talk about really enjoying the hunt of research, singing for a purpose, and the experience of how people become who they are. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Drew Daywalt (@DrewDaywalt), author of The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors and BB-8 On The Run, stops by the podcast to talk about writing things that all kids have access to, kids loving to be the villain, and trying to lose with all your might. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Penny M. Thomas, author of Nimoshom and His Bus, stops by the podcast to talk about Cree becoming a lost language, the respect shown toward elders among First Nation people, and her grandfather, a very resilient man who was always her favorite person. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Katherine Roy (@KRoyStudio), author and illustrator of How To Be an Elephant, stops by the podcast to talk about learning by copying, finding the balance and letting the watercolor do the talking. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Matt Tavares (@tavaresbooks), author and illustrator of Red and Lulu, stops by the podcast to talk about dealing with change, words (where they feel necessary), and filling the bird feeder. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Vashti Harrison (@VashtiHarrison), author and illustrator of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, stops by the podcast to talk about finding the truth in her subjects' stories, seeking a language for serenity and happiness, and how being true means something. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Shawn Harris, illustrator of Her Right Foot, stops by the podcast to talk about the importance of balancing text and art, helping to create a casual text book, and reminding us what She means now. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Melissa Stewart (@mstewartscience), author of Can an Aardvark Bark?, stops by the podcast to talk about good solid science, layered text, and the pacing of nonfiction picture books. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Jannie Ho (@JannieHo), author and illustrator of Bear and Chicken, stops by the podcast to talk about having the sensibility of a kid, getting over fears, and loving colors. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message