The Children's Book Podcast

Rachel Michelle Wilson (To Catch a Ghost) shares what is giving her hope today: the small moments in our every day.   This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.       For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes.   Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.   Be well. Read on. And don’t lose hope.  

Dara Horn, author of One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe (Norton Young Readers), illustrated by Theo Ellsworth, joins Matthew to talk about a path to a bigger world with bigger meaning.   Visit Dara Horn online at darahorn.com   For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes.   Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.   Be well. And read on.

Lil Miss Hot Mess (Make Your Own Rainbow: A Drag Queen's Guide to Color) shares what is giving her hope today: drag. Drag is all about changing how we look and how we show up in the world as a way of making the world more fabulous and more just and joyful for everyone in it.   This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.       For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes.   Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.   Be well. Read on. And don’t lose hope.  

Weshoyot Alvitre, author and illustrator of Brave (Kokila), joins Matthew to talk about a space to play and the cyclical nature of life.   Visit Weshoyot Alvitre online at weshoyot.com   For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes.   Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.   Be well. And read on.

Natasha Khan Kazi (Lulu in the Spotlight: A South Asian Wedding Story) shares what is giving her hope today: the bravery of everyday people.   This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.       For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes.   Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.   Be well. Read on. And don’t lose hope.

Matthew Burgess and Doug Salati, author and illustrator of Words with Wings and Magic Things (Tundra Books), join Matthew to talk about writing poems with kids.   Visit Matthew Burgess online at www.matthewjohnburgess.com Visit Doug Salati online at dougsalati.com   For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes.   Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.   Be well. And read on.

Charles Waters (If I Could Choose a Best Day: Poems of Possibility) shares what is giving him hope today: spending a lot of time in thought and, as much as possible, reading.   This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.       For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes.   Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.   Be well. Read on. And don’t lose hope.

Sara Andrea Fajardo, author of Crack Goes the Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration! (Knopf Books for Young Readers) and Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa: Join the Quest with Peru's Famed Scientist and Potato Expert (Roaring Brook Press), joins Matthew to talk about bringing out a little bit of mischief.   Visit Sara Andrea Fajardo online at https://sarafajardowrites.com   For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes.   Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.   Be well. And read on.

Padma Venkatraman (Safe Harbor) shares what is giving her hope today: the nature of hope itself. Even when we’re in dire circumstances, it’s something that keeps us going. This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.  For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.  Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. Read on. And don’t lose hope.

Matt Forrest Esenwine, author of A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers), joins Matthew to talk about working with friends on a A kaleidoscopic collection.   Visit Matt Forrest Esenwine online at https://mattforrest.com    For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes.   Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.    Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).    Our music is by Podington Bear.    Podcast hosting by Libsyn.    You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.   Be well. And read on.

Zetta Elliott (The Oracle’s Door) shares what is giving her hope today: art. Art has always been not just an expression of hope, but an act of resistance. This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.  For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.  Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. Read on. And don’t lose hope.

Shawn Harris, author of Let’s Be Bees (Neal Porter Books), joins Matthew to talk about making books with everything you need to put on a good show. Visit Shawn Harris online at www.shawnharris.info  For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.  Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. And read on.

Kaz Windness (Bitsy Bat, Team Star) shares what is giving her hope today: a commitment to being joyful and doing things that bring happiness as an act of rebellion. This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.     For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.  Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. Read on. And don’t lose hope.  

Kyle Lukoff, author of A World Worth Saving (Dial Books), joins Matthew to talk about his classic quest story involving a golem that protects trans kids. Visit Kyle Lukoff online at www.kylelukoff.com  For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.  Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. And read on.  

Lesléa Newman (Joyful Song: A Naming Story) shares what is giving her hope today: being in community with like-minded people who want to make the world a better place. This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.  For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.  Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. Read on. And don’t lose hope.  

Veera Hiranandani, author of Many Things at Once (Random House Studio), illustrated by Nadia Alam, joins Matthew to talk about feeling complex things and learning how not to get stuck in those feelings. Visit Veera Hiranandani online at www.veerahiranandani.com For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org. Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. And read on.

George Brown and Alison Green Myers, of the Highlights Foundation, join Matthew to introduce a partnership between the Highlights Foundation and the Children’s Book Podcast. Visit the Highlights Foundation online at www.highlightsfoundation.org   For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. And read on.  

Greg Foley, cartoonist of Dex Dingo: World's Best Greatest Ever Inventor (Disney Hyperion), talks about comics as a proper art form and how, at the heart, we’re all kids who don’t really understand anything. Visit Greg online at www.gregfoley.co You can pick up your own copy of Dex Dingo: World's Best Greatest Ever Inventor (Disney Hyperion) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. You can support this show in the process by using my affiliate link by clicking on the book’s name in our show notes.  For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. And read on.  

Heidi Rabinowitz, host of The Book of Life, looks back on two decades of creating a podcast about Jewish kidlit (mostly). Subscribe to the Book of Life podcast wherever podcasts are found, or go to jewishbooks.blogspot.com, Sign up for Heidi’s substack by visiting bookoflifepodcast.substack.com.  For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes. Be well. And read on.  

Introducing the winners and honors of the Sydney Taylor Book Award (2025), presented annually by the Association of Jewish Libraries to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Sydney Taylor Book Award Website - https://jewishlibraries.org/sydney_taylor_book_award/  2025 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour - https://jewishlibraries.org/2025-blog-tour-sydney-taylor-book-awards/  You can pick up your own copy of any of the titles featured today wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. You can support this show in the process by using my affiliate link by clicking on the book’s name in our show notes.  For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search “The Children’s Book Podcast” or click on the link in the show notes. Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You can suppo