The Children's Book Podcast

Happy Teacher Appreciation week! I hope you're sharing a whole lot of love for those individuals who work with our young minds each and every day. Schools are magical places and for many they are the source of countless formative memories in our journey of growing up and into the world. So… I recently started a new podcast with Karina Yan Glaser, New York Times bestselling author of the VANDERBEEKERS series. It's called KIDLIT THESE DAYS, it's produced by Book Riot, and on the show Karina and I examine the intersection between current events and children's literature. We're sort of your kidlit connoisseurs, shining a light on what's going on in the world and the books that can help us navigate through it. On our most recent episode we celebrated teachers both in the classroom and in our favorite books. The episode also features an interview with Corrina Allen, host of the Books Between Podcast and a 5th grade classroom teacher in New York. I'd love for you all to go check that episode out and you can find a link in the show notes below just by scrolling down on your podcast listening device. As a sort of bonus, it brings me great pleasure to share this interview with you today. Donalyn Miller (@donalynbooks) is renowned in education for her work in literacy and as an unflinching, unparalleled advocate for readers. Donalyn and I discuss the important role of teachers in raising readers, and she shares a moving story about a teacher who inspired her while she was in high school. Never have I felt closer to Donalyn than after this conversation. You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Andrea Tsurumi (@AndreaTsurumi) shares CRAB CAKE, a picture book about a cake-baking crab who does its thing among the ocean fauna, baking confections for all of the neighborhood animals. But crab's world is turned upside down when a garbage barge spills some of its load into the ocean. There's something Andrea said in our conversation that I'm still thinking about today, weeks after we spoke and that is, "In moments of extreme calamity it is a human thing to help." Andrea's blend of animal facts with humor and a beckoning for her readers to look close is something that I think makes CRAB CAKE absolutely irresistible. I love her line work and especially love her handle of story, pacing, and visual storytelling. You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Artwalks Bharat Babies Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Victoria Jamieson (@JamiesonV), Newbery honor-winning cartoonist of ROLLER GIRL is joined by audio producers Kelly Gildea (@gildeak) and Julianna Wilson (@JuliannaNWilson) to share the process of adapting a graphic novel for the audiobook format. ROLLER GIRL tells the story of Astrid, who decides that this summer she's going to forego the camp she's attended year after year with her best friend in order to try out roller derby camp. The book has a ton of heart and a fair share of bangs and bruises around the derby court. The ROLLER GIRL audiobook was produced by Kelly Gildea and Julie Wilson and they each join us to share a peek behind the scenes of casting and accomplishing a graphic novel adaptation for listeners. But wait?! Doesn't removing the visual element go against what a graphic novel is at its core? Oh believe me, dear listener, what we discuss in terms of serving the listeners and expanding access in this conversation is just awesome! You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Artwalks Bharat Babies Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Linda Sue Park (@LindaSuePark), Newbery Medal-winning author of A SINGLE SHARD shares her new picture book, GONDRA'S TREASURE. The story centers on a dragon whose mom's family comes from the West and while dad's family comes from the East. Gondra, like many children, is curious and open to her world and everything in it. She finds strength in all facets of her mixed race family and what I found reading the story was a strength in the definition of family, itself. Which is to say that this story has everything to do with belonging, ancestry, asking big questions, and discovering how you tell the story of your family. You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Artwalks Bharat Babies Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Breanna J. McDaniel (@readwellbewell) shares HANDS UP!, new picture book reframes the emotionally charged phrase by following a child throughout her morning, her family time, and her time in the community. There is intergenerational support illustrated throughout HANDS UP! and as I've been reading it aloud to children I am so in awe of how their eyes light up with each page turn, basking in the beautiful illustrations created by Shane W. Evans. Today I am feeling so, so grateful not only because I get to share this book and this conversation with you, but also because this book is out in the world, perhaps already being loved in your home or your classroom or library. You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Artwalks Bharat Babies Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Melanie Gillman shares AS THE CROW FLIES, a graphic novel following a group of queer teens who meet while stuck on a week-long Christian youth camp backpacking trip. AS THE CROW FLIES is a full-color, hand drawn webcomic that was published as a print volume in 2017 from generous Kickstarter backing. Melanie is an American queer non-binary cartoonist, illustrator, and lecturer, specializing in LGBTQ comics for Young Adult readers. Their award-winning comic has been recognized widely, receiving an Ignatz, an Eisner, the Society of Illustrators gold medal, and was named a Stonewall Honor by the American Library Association. You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Artwalks Bharat Babies Little Feminist Book Club Storyteller Academy And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Nidhi Chanani (@nidhiart) shares SHUBH RAATRI DOST/GOOD NIGHT FRIEND, a new board book in which two children say goodnight in both Hindi and Engilsh to all of the animals in their Indian farm home. There's an intimacy to sharing this moment with the characters in the book, as the sun goes down and as each goodnight offered is accompanied by thankfulness to what gift the object has given the children. Nidhi shares at one moment in our conversation the sentiment that caring for one another can look like sharing with someone or something and noticing when they are sharing with you. You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Artwalks Bharat Babies Little Feminist Book Club Storyteller Academy And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Hayley Barrett (@hayleybwrites) and Juana Martinez-Neal (@juanamartinez) are the author and the illustrator of BABYMOON, a new picture book about that period just after a baby is born, when time is intentionally set aside for a new family to rest and to fall in love together. The experience of motherhood is complex and our guests talk about their memories of wanting to do it all just right or perfect for their children. You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

A number of you have asked about plans to celebrate the 500th episode and, the truth is, you're all part of the plan. I end every episode of the show by asking guests, "I'll see a library full of children tomorrow morning. Is there a message I can bring to them from you?" And as most of you know, I really do see a library full of children each day. Actually, it's a school of about 600. Located just west of Baltimore. These students are on my mind with every single interview I record, and so I thought I'd use this milestone to center them a little more. I would love to give each of our students a book and a message. Maybe you're an author or illustrator and you have a book of your own you want to share. Maybe you're a teacher or a librarian or a parent and you have a favorite book you think a child would love. In celebration of 500 episodes of The Children's Book Podcast, I'm asking you to consider sending a message in a book to my students. My hope is that over the course of a month we'll gather 500 books or maybe even enough so that each child can have a book. It's a tall order, but it's also the very best way I can think to celebrate this milestone. Books can be mailed throughout the month of April to: Matthew C. Winner c/o Swansfield Elementary School 5610 Cedar Lane Columbia, MD 21044 Thank you for listening to the podcast, for caring about the guests I have on, and for helping spread the love for their books. I'm glad to have you on this journey with me. I'm including a mailing address in the show notes which you on right now on the device you're using to listen to this. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Susan Verde (@susanverde) shares I AM HUMAN: A BOOK OF EMPATHY, which is illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. I AM HUMAN carries with it an important yet all-too-overlooked truth: that you are flawed, but that does not make you bad. Susan reminds us all in this conversation that being seen is so important. I AM HUMAN is the third book in a series that includes I AM YOGA and I AM PEACE. If you have not yet discovered this series, I think they'll make you see your classroom, your children, or your readers, and maybe even yourself in a whole new way. You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message