The Children's Book Podcast

Sophy Henn (@sophyhenn), author illustrator of Pom Pom Panda Gets the Grumps, and Where Bear?, stops by the podcast to talk about instinctive writing, letting the characters tell you the story, and those days you get up and it's just wrong. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Adam Rubin (@Rubingo), New York Times bestselling author of Dragons Love Tacos, Those Darn Squirrels, and most recently of Robo-Sauce, all illustrated by Daniel Salmieri (@DanielSalmieri), stops by the podcast to talk about writing what you like, feelings of being a person in a position of authority doomed to screw stuff up. and how this is definitely not a presentation about monkeys. --- Send in...

Sigmund Brouwer (@BrouwerSigmund), author most recently of Unleashed, published by Orca Book publishers (@orcabook) and one of three books in the Retribution trilogy, stops by the podcast to talk about great stories connecting like great songs, lettering the story dictate the characters, and how a book is just a delivery system for stories. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-...

Ginee Seo, children's publishing director at Chronicle Books (@ChronicleBooks, @ChronicleKids), stops by the podcast to talk about constant magic around every corner, missing train stops on account of reading, and making books that matter. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Matt Phelan (@MattPhelanDraws), illustrator of Marilyn's Monster, which is written by Michelle Knudsen (@michelleknudsen) and published by Candlewick Press (@Candlewick), stops by the podcast to talk about studying theater, the parallels between drawing and playing an instrument, and the one scene in any book that's the real reason for doing it. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/child...

Philip Stead and Erin Stead, author and illustrator respectively of Lenny & Lucy, which is published by Roaring Brook Press (@MacKidsBooks), stop by the podcast to talk about infusing work with sincerity, living by the "don't say mean things" motto, and trying to create content just as relevant now as the day it was published. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/m...

Jon Scieszka (@Jon_Scieszka), editor of Guys Reads: Terrifying Tales, which is published by Walden Pond Press (@WaldenPondPress), and other of a ton of bestselling books including The Stinky Cheese Man, Knucklehead, and the Frank Einstein series, stops by the podcast to talk about storytelling with a purpose, appreciating the ways that kids are intelligent, and how giving readers choice in what th...

Lou Anders (@LouAnders), author of Nightborn; Thrones and Bones (Book 2), which is published by Crown Books for Young Readers (@randomhousekids), stops by the podcast to talk about creating an accessible, appropriate, and modern secondary world fantasy, the epic task of world-planning, and creating games to play with readers. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/me...

Julie Sternberg (@SternbergJulie), author of Secrets Out!; The Top Secret Diary of Celie Valentine (Book 2), which is published by Boyds Mills Press (@boydsmillspress), stops by the podcast to talk about incorporating podcasts into the general school curriculum, what results when you book's structure is fighting with the format, and the happiest time in her childhood. --- Send in a voice message:...

K.A. Holt (@karianneholt), author of House Arrest, which is published by Chronicle Books (@ChronicleKids, @ChronicleBooks), returns to the podcast to talk about writing out of order, pulling all the story threads apart, and accepting help doesn't mean you're accepting weakness. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Lizi Boyd, author illustrator of Big Bear, Little Chair, which is published by Chronicle Books (@ChronicleKids, @ChronicleBooks), returns to the podcast to talk about unexpected opposites, the way a good editor knows how to mine the good stuff out of you and your work, and the value of acknowledging you just need to "go and draw sheep." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book...

Mike Curato (@MikeCurato), author illustrator of Little Elliot, Big Family, which is published by Henry Holt and Company (@HenryHolt, @MacKidsBooks),  returns to the podcast to talk about setting a story in a time predating modern technology, seeing your character come to life with the help of Merrymakers (@merrymakersinc), and celebrating the family that you have and the families that you make. -...

Alison Oliver, illustrator of the Babylit (@babylitbooks) board book series written by Jennifer Adams (@BabyLitJen) and published by Gibbs Smith Books (@GibbsSmithBooks),  stops by to talk about the way a parent can bring even more to the story, the highest compliment a book illustrator can receive, and the greatest character ever (Take a guess! You know you want to!). --- Send in a voice message:...

Josh Funk (@joshfunkbooks), debut picture book author of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast, published by Serling Children's Books (@SterlingKids), stops by to talk about culinary chaos, emoting food, and creating story ideas by asking "what do I want to see illustrated?" --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Joel Grayson (@BOWJoel), beloved bookseller at NYC's renowned Books of Wonder (@BooksofWonder), stops by to talk about who determines if it's a "boy book" or a "girl book", the two kinds of people who work in children's bookstores, and doing whatever it takes to get you to the story. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Rubin Pingk (@RubinPingk), debut picture book author illustrator of Samurai Santa, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (@SimonKIDS), stops by to talk about creating a book trailer, the hinderance of having everything at your fingertips, and how storytelling can be like a magic trick. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Katherine Applegate (@kaaauthor), author most recently of Crenshaw, published by Feiwell and Friends (@FeiwelFriends), and recipient of the Newbery Award in 2013 for The One and Only Ivan, stops by to talk about considering sound more than plot, a sophisticated and charming way to deal with things, and finding just the right word. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podca...

Ed Vere (@ed_vere), author illustrator most recently of Max the Brave, which is published by Sourcebooks (@SBKSLibrary), stops by to talk about storytelling with a jazz trio, a stubborn and tenacious cat, and how it's all in the eyes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Jarrett J. Krosoczka (@StudioJJK), author illustrator most recently of It's Tough To Lose Your Balloon, which is published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers (@AAKnopf @MacKidsBooks), stops by to talk about writing a self-help book for young readers, giving a positive twist to awful things, and how a beloved Peanuts character made his way into the new Comics Squad collection. --- Send in a...

Emily Arrow (@HelloEmilyArrow), the talented singer songerwriter behind The Dot Song and many other amazing song adaptations of picture books, stops by to talk about finding the melody in her favorite picture books, feeling happiest when people are singing along, and how her life experiences led her to performing storytimes for young children. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childre...

John Hendrix, illustrator most recently of McToad Mows Tiny Island, written by Tom Angleberger (@OrigamiYoda) and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers (@abramskids), stops by to talk about thinking of himself as a design-a-strator, creater a charactor that's way bigger than explained, and the third thing that comes from working together. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childr...

Loren Long (@lorenlong), author illustrator most recently of Little Tree, published by Philomel Books (@PhilomelBooks), stops by to talk about a simple story about a simple tree, finding a safe harbor in picture books, and letting go. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Don Tate (@Devas_T), author illustrator of Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton, published by Peachtree Publishers (@peachtreepub), stops by to talk about the first African American to be published in the South, seeing the world with big-headed people, and the history of the SuperSoaker. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Eric Wight (@Eric_Wight), illustrator most recently of Everyone Loves Bacon, written by Kelly DiPucchio (@kellydipucchio) and published by Farrar Straus & Giroux (@fsgbooks), stops by to talk about candied pickles, the six hours until agent Steven Malk said "yes", and how being able to draw is like learning another language. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/mes...

More books. More reviews. More friends. It's the Best Books Ever, with special guests Julie Falatko (@JulieFalatko) and Carter Higgins (@CarterHiggins), here on the Let's Get Busy podcast! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message