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 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...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Kate Foster about her newest middle grade novel: The Unlikely Heroes Club.
This heart-warming book is about five dog-loving kids who have a mission to accomplish and a mystery to solve and it will hold space in my heart forever.
Come listen as we talk about the real-life inspiration behind the book, the incredible feeling of safety that will envelope readers and the practi...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Bernard Mensah about his newest picture books: Esi the Brave and Jollof Day.
Both of these books are filled with stunning beauty and capture the beauty and tradition of family culture.
Come listen as we talk about Bernard’s important mission in children’s literature, the many stories he is hoping to tell and where they come from and how important it is to read, read widely...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Mike Boldt about his new picture book: CANtaloupe and HoneyDO Bake a Cake.
This is his newest picture book in the Can Do series, a series filled with funny firsts that focus on a universal childhood experience and features two melons
with hilariously—and helpfully—opposite attitudes. In this book, Cantaloupe and HoneyDo want some cake, so they bake it together with hilariou...
On this bonus episode of the KidLit Love podcast, we’re honoring the right to read with Sabrina Baeta and Tasslyn Magnusson of Pen America.
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression and champions the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world, something we wholeheartedly believe and embrace on this podcast.
Come listen as we talk about the work PE...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Kathy MacMillan and Manuela Bernardi about their books: She Spoke: 14 Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World and She Spoke Too: 14 More Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World.
These multi-modal books are both a celebration and a call to action and feature 28 actual, literal voices of women making change in addition to the beautiful narrative insid...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Lindsay Currie about her newest middle grade mystery: It’s Watching.
This book is set in a real-life graveyard in Illinois and follows Josie and her friends as they try to land the perfect story for their school newspaper, but get so much more they didn't expect.
Come listen as we talk about the real life connections to the fictional spookiness, the deeper themes evid...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Nancy Castaldo about her newest releases: Whales in the City and Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River.
Both of these books explore the state of our rivers, particularly the Hudson River in New York, the history behind them and how readers can help protect them.
Come listen as we dive deep into Nancy’s research process for writing her books, the spark she hopes to lig...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Martin Stewart and David Habben about the first two titles in their middle grade series: Bridget Vanderpuff and The Baked Escape and Bridget Vanderpuff and The Ghost Train.
These middle grade novels are filled with mystery, mischief and melt-in-your-mouth delights. It’s the series I wish was written many years ago for my own childhood self, but my adult self was quite hap...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Sabrina and Eunice Moyle about the newest release in their graphic novel chapter book: The Cosmic Adventures of Astrid and Stella: Comet Together.
This book is fun, adventurous, humorous, bright, colorful and the ultimate enjoyable reading experience. Astrid and Stella are best friends who go on fun adventures together, learning about themselves and the world along the wa...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Bobbie Pyron about her newest middle grade book: Octopus Moon.
This novel-in-verse tells the story of a young girl navigating depression at the start of fifth grade. It’s deeply moving and powerful and one many readers are going to keep close to their hearts.
Come listen as we talk about Bobbie’s late bloom into children’s literature, the power of books as mirrors and wind...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Ben Khan about their newest middle grade comic: Mr. Muffins Defender of the Stars.
According to Publishers Weekly’s starred review, this book is an enchanting space opera in which aliens and humans find common ground despite differing cultures, foods, and worlds and learn the true meaning of home. I agree.
Come listen as we discuss the perfect analogy for how Ben builds th...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Teri Roche Drobnick about her debut picture book: Moving Day.
The book was inspired by the real-life story of moving a 139-year-old, 133-ton Victorian house six blocks and is delightfully told from the house’s perspective.
Come listen as Teri shares the unique dolls that sparked her writing in the children’s literature space, the real-life inspiration behind the book and h...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Brett Bean about the first book in his new chapter book series: Muk ‘N’ Honey: Treehouse Troubles.
This chapter book series combines simple text, lively illustrations and laugh-out-loud humor together for a delightful reading experience.
Come listen as we talk about his incredible backstory to children’s literature, the personal inspiration behind his new series and how he...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Nathan Fairbairn and Michele Assarasakornabout the fourth book in their middle grade graphic novels series PAWS: Hazel Has Her Hands Full.
The PAWS series is about a group of friends from diverse backgrounds and with different interests and family structures that come together in a dog walking club.
In this book, Hazel secretly takes on her first solo PAWS job in an effort...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Maria Scriven about the 6th book in her Nat Enough series: Nat a Chance.
The Nat Enough series tackles the growing pains of girlhood and adolescence with humor and heart, encouraging readers to be their authentic selves. In Nat a Chance, Nat doesn't think she is an athlete… but could that just be a story she's telling herself? This book has so much for readers, bot...
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Barbara Dee about her newest middle grade novel: Tear This Down.
This middle grade novel Is about a young girl who makes the choice to speak out against a problematic historical hometown figure, no matter the cost.
Come listen as we talk about her philosophy around writing children’s literature, the importance of o-questions in the book and in life, the important themes of...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.