The Children's Book Podcast

Rob Sanders, author of Book Comes Home: A Banned Book’s Journey (Random House Books for Young Readers), illustrated by Micah  Player, joins Matthew to talk about the final stage of publication: readers.   Visit Rob Sanders online at www.robsanderswrites.com   Other helpful links: All About Picture Books: A Retreat for Storytellers (June 1–4 at the Highlights Foundation) alongside friends of the show Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Kaz Windness Writing the Rainbow with kidlit notable Lesléa Newman  Nonfiction Picture Books: Exploring Forms and Creative Voices    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 cof

Suzy Ultman (I Like Your Chutzpah And Other Yiddish Words You'll Like) shares what is giving her hope today: looking for the helpers.   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.  

Kelly Leigh Miller, author illustrator of Cloud Puppy: Game On! (Atheneum Books for Young Readers), joins Matthew to talk about raising Tamagotchi, adoring Sanrio characters, and balancing the cute and the weird in her own storytelling.   Visit Kelly Leigh Miller online at www.kellyleighmiller.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.  

Parul L. Bhandari (Shine a Light on Diwali) shares what is giving her hope today: that people are good and that people are going to keep sharing stories despite what they’re being told by the world around them.   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.  

On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, Lizzo visited the Library of Congress as their guest and was treated to the largest flute collection in the world. The instrument she played and, indeed, the very act of playing it, are Worth Noting.  This is a rebroadcast of an episode of Worth Noting that originally aired Oct 08, 2022 on A Kids Co. On May 8, 2025 President Donald Trump fired the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, via email, a move that immediately drew sharp condemnation from her supporters. This episode is being rebroadcasted to highlight just one of many highlights in the impactful term of our 14th Librarian of Congress, who was appointed to the position by President Barrack Obama and served as the first female and first African American Librarian of Congress.

Matt de la Peña and Loren Long, author and illustrator of Home (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers), join Matthew to talk about encountering diversity and exploring alongside the reader.   Visit Matt de la Peña online at mattdelapena.com Visit Loren Long online at lorenlong.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.

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.