The Reader’s Heart Podcast

What does it mean to create stories that remind readers they belong, not just to a community, but to one another? In this episode, Jennifer chats with acclaimed author and Heartdrum co-founder Cynthia Leitich Smith about the books, relationships, and communities that have shaped her life as a reader and writer. Together, they explore the importance of authentic Indigenous representation, military...

What does it mean to help young people carry burdens they didn't create? In this episode, Jennifer chats with Newbery Medal-winning author Tae Keller about her latest novel, When Tomorrow Burns. Together, they explore climate anxiety, online radicalization, toxic masculinity, and the pressure many young people feel to somehow fix the challenges they have inherited. Most importantly, they discuss w...

In this episode, Jennifer chats with Kate Messner to discuss her love for middle grade novels, her writing process, and her latest projects. Discover the inspiration behind Kate's popular series, "The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class," and her journey in writing her first verse novel, "The Trouble with Heroes." Show notes, episode transcripts and other goodies can be found here .  Chapters Introduction and...

In this episode, Jennifer chats with Rex Ogle to talk about his journey from working behind the scenes in publishing to becoming one of the most beloved authors writing for young readers. Their conversation explores the importance of normalizing discussions around mental health, and why it's crucial to have more books that help boys navigate what it truly means to “be a man” in a world that too of...

In this episode, Jennifer LaGarde and Natalie Lloyd explore their shared love for literature, the impact of childhood reading experiences, the importance of authentic representation in books and, of course, Dolly Parton. They discuss the joys of audiobooks, the challenges of writing about disability, and the significance of creating relatable characters. Natalie shares insights into her writing pr...

In this episode, Jennifer chats with two-time Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly. Their conversation delves into themes of anxiety, character development, and the importance of positive adult figures in children's literature. Erin reflects on her journey as a writer, her influences, and her background in journalism, which has shaped her writing style. The conversation concludes with a glimpse int...

In this episode, Jennifer chats with Allie Millington about the profound impact of literature, particularly middle grade books, on identity and connection. They discuss the themes of loneliness and bravery in Millington's book Olivetti,'and the importance of fostering authentic connections in a hyper-connected world. Millington shares her experiences with young readers during school visits, the si...

In this engaging conversation, Padma Venkatraman chats with Jennifer about her new novel in verse, Safe Harbor, exploring themes of belonging, empowerment, and mental health representation. They delve into Padma's personal reading journey, her experiences as a writer, and the significance of music and nature in her storytelling. The discussion also touches on Padma's future projects and the import...

Summary: New York Times best selling author, Dashka Slater, joins Jennifer LaGarde to explore the profound impact of literature on young readers, the journey of becoming a writer, and the intersection of journalism and storytelling. Dashka shares her early reading experiences, her path to writing for young people, and the challenges of addressing complex social issues through her work. The discuss...

Summary In this episode, Federico Erebia joins Jennifer for an engaging conversation in which they explore the profound impact of literature on personal identity and the importance of representation in children's books. They discuss Federico's journey as a reader and writer, the significance of first books, and how stories can help children navigate complex emotions and experiences, particularly a...

Summary In this conversation, Jennifer and chat's with Paula Yoo about her love for writing narrative non-fiction and how her background in journalism influences her work. They also explore the power of literature for young people in shaping their hearts and understanding the world. Paula shares her experience as a reader, starting with her childhood love for Charlotte's Web and how it influenced...

In this conversation, Jeff Zentner chats with Jennifer  about his reader's heart and his writing process. They discuss the power of literature written for young people to shape hearts and help readers navigate the world. They also explore the themes of found family and redefining masculinity in Zentner's books. They delve into Jennifer favorite Jeff Zentner book: Rayne and Delilah's Midnight Matin...

In this episode Debbi Michiko Florence chats with Jennifer about her love for children's literature and the power of books to shape our hearts. She shares her own experiences as a reader, from her childhood memories of her parents reading to her and weekly trips to the library, to her rediscovery of reading for pleasure after college. Debbi emphasizes the importance of authentic representation in...

In this conversation, Jennifer LaGarde and Katherine Marsh discuss the power of children's literature and the influence it has on shaping readers' hearts. They explore Katherine's own reader's heart and how it informs her writing. They also delve into the themes and characters of Katherine's book, Medusa, and the importance of representation and empathy in literature. They discuss the challenges o...

In this conversation, Jennifer chats with Elly Swartz discuss the power of children's literature to shape hearts and minds. They explore the importance of books in helping readers navigate life's emotions and connect with themselves and others. They also discuss the influence of social media on storytelling and the inclusion of themes like forgiveness in Swartz's books. Swartz shares her love for...

In this conversation, Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey chat with Jennifer about story as an engine for empathy and ceativity. They discuss their reader's hearts and how childhood reading experiences shaped their love for storytelling. They also talk about their book, The Last Stand, with Antwan Eady and the process of illustrating it. The conversation concludes with a discussion of their upcoming proje...

In this conversation, Jennifer chats with Ann Braden, an author who writes books that empower kids to find their voice and make a difference in the world. Ann shares her journey as a reader and writer, highlighting the books that had a profound impact on her life. She discusses the importance of recognizing our own voice and the power it holds. Ann also explores the themes in her books, such as fa...

Jennifer chats with author Erin Bow who shares a bit about her journey as a reader and writer, from her childhood love of books to her success as an author. She emphasizes the importance of reading widely and falling in love with reading as a child. Erin also shares her passion for trashy page-turning storytelling and the influence it has on her writing. But most of their conversation focuses on t...

In this episode, Jasmine Warga chats with Jennifer about the power of read alouds, using stories as conversation starters, and the importance of representation in literature. Jasmine shares her personal journey as a reader and writer, and how books helped her feel less alone. They also talk about Jasmine's latest book, A Rover's Story and her upcoming mystery novel set in an art museum: A Strange...

In this episode, Torrey Maldonado chats with Jennifer about children's literature, his work and the magic of teaching middle school! They discuss the power of children's literature and how it can shape readers' hearts and help them navigate the world. Torrey shares his own experience as a reader and how he found storytelling through cinema and comics. He also talks about his teaching background an...

Mike Curato joins Jennifer to discuss the power of children's literature to shape our hearts and navigate the world with compassion. They explore their own experiences as readers and artists, emphasizing the importance of personal storytelling and self-expression. They also discuss the impact of social media on creativity and self-perception. Mike shares his approach to school visits, focusing on...

In this episode, Ami Polonsky joins Jennifer to discuss the power of storytelling and the importance of accessible reading. They explore how being a teacher influences Ami's storytelling and how her books empower young readers to make a difference. They also discuss the relevance of stories like World Made of Glass in today's world and the need for diverse voices in literature. Ami shares her upco...

In this episode, Chrystal D Giles joins Jennifer LaGarde to discuss the power of children's literature to shape readers' hearts and provide guidance in navigating the world. Chrystal shares her experiences as a young reader and how she now gravitates towards contemporary realistic fiction that tackles social and cultural topics. They also discuss Chrystal's book, Not An Easy Win, which follows the...

In this conversation, Chris Baron chats with Jennifer about the power of children's literature in shaping readers' hearts and helping them navigate tough situations. Chris shares his own experiences as a reader, giving a shoutout to his 3rd grade teacher, and how books became a stable presence in his life. They also discuss the influence of comics on both their readers' hearts. Chris shares the in...

In this conversation, Chris Barton joins Jennifer to chat about his reading habits, research process for nonfiction books, and the importance of balancing serious topics with joy in children's literature. They discuss the role of personal experiences in writing and the impact of books in helping children cope with tragedy. Chris shares his love for book dedications and the inspiration behind his w...