The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

In this episode, I talk with Jaimal Yogis and Vivian Truong, the creators of City of Dragons: The Awakening Storm. So many of you wrote in with questions and I got them answered for you! Jaimal Yogis is the author of Saltwater Buddha, The Fear Project, All Our Waves Are Water, and the children's book series Mop Rides the Waves of Life and Mop Rides the Waves of Change . His writing has also appear...

This episode is brought to you by our guest, author J.T Michaels. He's here to talk about his first book in an epic fantasy series, Jimmy Chartron and the Lost Keystone . Author J.T. Michaels has always loved storytelling, no matter the medium. Being immersed in a different world, whether it’s through books or video games, has also been an obsession for him. Years after writing for his school maga...

In this episode, I talk with the highly sought-after speaker and children's book author Trudy Ludwig! We discuss her new book, Brave Every Day , and how reading books can promote empathy and kindness. Trudy Ludwig is a nationally acclaimed speaker and an award-winning author who specializes in writing children's books that help kids cope with and thrive in their social world, including The Invisib...

This episode is brought to you by our guest, award-winning writer and filmmaker Chris Wieland. He's here to talk about his first book in the Kat Dylan Mysteries, The Crabtree Monsters . Chris is the father of two fierce children, including a tough, smart tween who helped him find the voice of his protagonist, Kat Dylan. He lives in Southern California with his family. Order copies of The Crabtree...

In this episode, I talk with your favorite author and illustrator, Bob Shea. We talk about many things, including the importance of reading for fun and his latest funny picture book,  I Am a Baby . Bob Shea is the author, illustrator, or author-illustrator of many well-loved picture books and chapter books, including the Ballet Cat and Dinosaur vs. series as well as Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty...

In this episode, Bianca talks to the awesome duo Julio Torres and Julian Glander, creators of the picture book I Want to Be a Vase . With its themes of confidence and embracing one's true identity, this book makes for a dynamic and important conversation starter. Julio Torres is a comedian, the creator of the HBO special My Favorite Shapes, and has written for Saturday Night Live. H...

In this episode, Bianca talks to WGA-winning and Emmy-nominated comedy writer Glenn Boozan about her picture book for adults that sheds some humor on parenting, There Are Moms Way Worse Than You: Irrefutable Proof That You Are Indeed a Fantastic Parent . Glenn Boozan's credits include Conan, Comedy Central’s Lights Out with David Spade, Sarah Silverman’s I Love You, America on Hulu,...

In this episode, Bianca talks to two amazing guests about The Welcoming Library , an initiative that sparks conversations on immigration through the reading of picture books. It's a program led by the non-profit organization I'm Your Neighbor Books , so Bianca talks with Kirsten Cappy, who co-founded I'm Your Neighbor Books in 2012. She brings 20 years of experience using children's books and the...

In this episode, Bianca talks to Aaron Blabey, the #1 New York Times Bestselling Australian author with around 30 million books in print. He is also the co-executive producer of The Bad Guys movie by DreamWorks Animation and that’s what we’re here to talk about—the adaptation of the illustrated children's graphic novel series. The book series and the movie center around a gang of anthropomorphic a...

In this episode, Bianca talks with New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale about her new picture book, This Is Not For You , and the implications of applying genders to book—that's a girl book or that's a boy book. Shannon Hale is the author of over thirty children's and young adult novels, including graphic novel memoirs Real Friends and Best Friends , and multiple award winners The Goose...

In this episode, Bianca talks talk with bestselling author Gregory Maguire about his latest novel for kids, Cress Watercress . Gregory is the author of the incredibly popular books in the Wicked Years series, including Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which inspired the musical. He is also the author of several books for children, including What-the-Dickens , a New York...

In this episode, Bianca talks with multi-award-winning illustrator and author David Litchfield about his artwork in Cress Watercress , a novel written by Gregory Maguire, the author of the incredibly popular books in the Wicked Years series, including Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which inspired the musical. David Litchfield started to draw when he was very young, cre...

In this episode, Bianca talks with the one and only John Schu about his debut picture book, This Is a School— a moving celebration of school and all it may signify: work and play,  creativity and trust, and a supportive community that extends beyond  walls John Schu is the creator of the popular blog Mr. Schu  Reads, was the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs,...

In this episode, Bianca talks with Diana Farid about her glorious coming-of-age novel written in verse, Wave, set in 1980s Southern California, about a Persian American girl who rides the waves, falls, and finds her way back to the shore. Diana Farid is also the author of When You Breathe , published by Cameron Kids. She is a poet and a physician at Stanford  University. She lives in the Bay...

In this episode, Bianca talks with Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth about her debut picture book What Will I Do with My Love Today? A wonderful addition to children's books by celebrities and picture books about love and friendship, Kristin Chenoweth's whimsical adventure about adopting a dog reminds young readers they have an abundance of love and kindness to shar...

In this episode, Bianca talks with Grammy-winning singer, designer, entrepreneur, and the first-born daughter of reggae singers Bob and Rita Marley, Cedella Marley. They chat about her newest picture book Marley and the Family Band , which was inspired by a childhood growing up with music in her life. Cedella is the CEO of Bob Marley's recording label, Tuff Gong International, and the author of mu...

In this episode, Bianca talks with Jeanne Walker Harvey, the author of Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas . Jeanne has been a longtime docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Just like Alma Thomas, she believes that art brings us joy. Her other picture books include  Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines   and  My Hands Sing the Blues :  Romare...

In this episode, Bianca talks with Marc Brown, the creator of the bestselling Arthur Adventure book series which has over 160 million Arthur books in print. He also is the executive producer of the longest-running children's television series, Arthur , on PBS. We talk about the conception of Arthur, how the Arthur Adventures became a book and TV series, and, most importantly, we discuss Believe in...

In this episode, I talk with New York Times bestselling author Eva Chen and illustrator Sophie Diao about their picture book I Am Golden , a moving ode to the immigrant experience, as well as a manifesto of self-love for Chinese American children. Eva Chen is a first-generation Chinese-American who grew up in New York City. She blames her deviation from pre-med at Johns  Hopkins University on...

In this episode, I talk with noted anthropologist and educator Dr. Johnetta Betsch Cole and award-winning illustrator Nelda La Teef. We discuss their picture book, African Proverbs for All Ages, the first Oprah Book. It is a beautifully-illustrated, engaging picture book about the power of proverbs, how they evolve over time, and the wisdom of various cultures in Africa. A native of Jacksonville,...

In this episode, I talk with child-author Faith Abraham and her family about Faith's picture book, Superhero Faith. We talk about how when Mama (her grandmother) was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was inspired to create a story with the help of her mom. This book, Superhero Faith , is a demonstration of ways a young child can support a family member in need. Faith is creative, curious, adventur...

In this episode, I talk with acclaimed author Elaine Vickers about her tender picture book Thankful . Elaine is the author of the middle grade novels Like Magic and Paper  Chains, which have received starred reviews, Whitney Award nominations, Mighty Girl’s Book of the Year picks, PJ Library licenses, and sold translations in four languages. She is also the author of the YA novel,  Fadea...

In this episode, I talk with award-winning writer and librarian Betsy Bird about Long Road to the Circus . Betsy Bird’s books include Funny Girl , an anthology of humorous stories; and the picture books Giant Dance Party and The Great Santa Stakeout . Illustrated by Caldecott Medalist David Small ( Imogene’s Antlers ), Long Road to the Circus is the story of a girl who rides an ostrich straight to...

In this episode, I talk with Gayle Forman, an award-winning author and journalist whose articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Seventeen , Cosmopolitan , and Elle in the US. Gayle Forman’s novel, If I Stay , was released as a blockbuster movie starring Chloë Grace Moretz in 2014. Her most recent YA novel is We Are Inevitable . Gayle lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family....

In this episode, I talk with two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo, one of America's most revered storytellers. Today we're going to talk about The Beatryce Prophecy , a fantastical meditation on fate, love, and the power of words to spell the world. A few episodes back, I talked with two-time Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Sophie Blackall . Among many things, we discussed The Beatryce Pro...