Kidlit Love: Conversations with Picture Book, Middle Grade and YA Authors
This podcast celebrates all things children's literature for the adult reading to their inner child AND connecting the young readers in their lives with books. Each week, I host bookish conversations with children's literature authors to learn about their backstory, their journey to writing, their books and their hopes for readers. This podcast is for you if you love reading children's literature, are an educator or librarian looking for books to share with students or are a caregiver finding new titles to share with loved ones.
Episodes
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Shifa Saltagi Safadi about the first two books in her new Amina Banana Series: Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship and Amina Banana and the Formula for Winning.
This new series is about a determined and clever third grader with a STEM twist and includes lists, science experiments and recipes, too.
Come listen as we talk about the life lessons embedded inside the in...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Tony Keith Jr. about his newest young adult poetry collection: Knucklehead.
Knucklehead is a brilliant and electric poetry collection that subverts a narrow way of thinking and empathizes with young people who are misunderstood and unheard.
Come listen as we talk about the power of words on the page and on the stage, the all-encompassing audience it was written for and the...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Maryrose Wood about her newest middle grade novel: Bad Badger: A Love Story.
In this illustrated chapter book, readers meet Septimus, a badger who fears he may not be a badger at all. When a gull lands on his windowsill, Septimus thinks he may have finally met a true friend, until he goes missing and Septimus must decide what to do next.
Come listen as we talk about the tru...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Joanna Ho about her newest picture book: BECOMING BOBA.
This charming picture book celebrates self-love and identity and reminds readers that there is always room for unique flavors in our communities. It’s cute and charming, yet has deeply important messages, too.
Come listen as we talk about Joanna’s original intent for this picture book, the cultural significance of bob...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Brittany Pomales about her debut picture book: It Started with a P.
This is a hilarious, alliterative read aloud where a young king decides on the morning of his birthday that everything with the letter P must go.
Come listen as we talk about Brittany’s journey to her debut picture book, the art of writing funny books for kids, her KidLit HaHa Week and the little spurprise...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Sarah Kurpiel about her newest picture book: A Little Like Magic.
This charming book highlights the rewards of stepping outside of your comfort zone and finding inspiration in art and the natural beauty of the world.
Come listen as we talk about how Sarah taught herself to draw, the magic and themes inside of her book and her beautiful hopes for readers.
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Lea Anne Borders, the founder and CEO of Bookelicious.
Bookelicious is a platform that uses cutting-edge technology to match kids with the books they’ll love, helping them build strong reading identities and inspire them to read more, a mission that I also share here on the podcast.
Come listen as we talk about the importance of summer reading, the innovative way Bookelicio...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Hope Larson about her newest middle grade graphic novel: Very Bad at Math.
In this semi-autobiographical graphic novel, readers meet Verity, an 8th grader who is seemingly perfect at everything….except math, something Verity tries to keep a secret.
Come listen as we talk about the important role that comics and graphic novels play in a reading life, the personal connections...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Rosanne Parry about her newest middle grade novel: A Wolf Called Fire.
This book is an immersive, wilderness survival story of a wolf pup known as Warm. In it, you’ll experience all of the expected ups and downs of surviving in the wild and gain an in-depth understanding of what it means to be part of a wolf pack. I was completely hooked.
Come listen as we talk about Rosan...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Rainie Oet about her debut middle grade novel: Glitch GIrl.
This is a lyrical novel-in-verse that places transness and neurodiversity front and center in the most raw, real and beautiful way. It will go straight to your heart.
Come listen as we talk about Rainie’s love of poetry and how it connects to her published books, the role that books can have in finding yourself an...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Lisa Tolin about her newest picture book: Can You Imagine? The Life & Art of Yoko Ono.
This biography explores the art, music and creativity of Yoko Ono’s extraordinary life with breathtaking beauty and illustrations.
Come listen as we talk about Lisa’s real-life connection to Yoko Ono that sparked the idea for this book, the themes of collective imagination and activi...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Jacqueline Davies about her new graphic novel adaptation of The Lemonade War.
The original book was published back in 2007 told the story of two siblings literally caught in a lemonade war. This new graphic novel version captures the original story in a new, fresh, visual way.
Come listen as we talk about the real-life inspiration behind the original novel, the ways that ...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Marie Benedict and Courtney Sheinmel about their newest middle grade historical fiction novel: The Secrets of Lovelace Academy.
This middle grade novel is about Lainey, an almost teenager who lived most of her life at the Sycamore Home for Orphaned Children, until a chance encounter at an open house changed her life forever.
Come listen as Marie and Courtney share their ori...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Sean David Hutchinson about the first book in his debut middle grade series: A Home for Unusual Monsters.
In this book, 12-year-old Sam and her friends search for clues that lead them to the secret hiding places of strange and unusual monsters. It’s captivating and riveting from the outset and goes into deeper themes like prejudice, grief and what it means to be a family, ...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Rebecca Walker about her debut picture book: Time for Us.
This beautifully written and illustrated picture book celebrates the precious times between a mother and her son and is perfect for all caregivers to read with the children in their care.
Come listen as we talk about the incredible power of telling our stories, the beauty in being present with the children in our l...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Saadia Faruqi about her newest middle grade novel: The Strongest Heart.
This book is a poignant exploration of mental illness, the impact it has on families and the love and hope it takes to begin telling a different tale.
Come listen as we talk about Saadia’s spark for writing children’s literature, the pieces of herself on the pages and her dual hopes for readers. You won...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Jamie Michalak about her newest picture book: Hazel the Handful.
In this delightful picture book, readers follow the adorable puppy, Hazel, through a typical day at home as a very important dog, until the baby arrives, that is, and everything changes. It’s for dog-lovers, expanding families and everyone in between.
Come listen as we talk about Jamie’s childhood experiences...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Gloria Huang about her newest middle grade novel: Kaya of the Ocean.
This is an exciting, fresh, beautiful middle grade fantasy about embracing who you really are and is for every reader, everywhere, young and old. It’s sure to leave a mark on your heart as it did mine.
Come listen as we talk about the beautiful parallel entry points for readers, the important lessons of ...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Meera Trehan about her newest middle grade novel: Snow.
The book is both a beautiful and haunting fantasy where an imprisoned princess needs the help of a girl from the modern world to undo a wish gone wrong and save her snowy kingdom.
Come listen as we talk about Meera’s shift from law to writing, the way she needs her worlds to make sense and my favorite elements of the...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Vicky Fang about her newest releases in her Ava Lin series: Ava Lin Best Friend and Ava Lin One of a Kind.
The Av Lin series is a delightful collection of books about a first grader who is good at making things, eating snacks and writing lists. These books have a mix of humor and heart, laughter and learning.
Come listen as we talk about Vicky’s path into children’s litera...
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