The Children's Book Podcast

Arree Chung's newest picture book is called MIXED and it's due out at the beginning of July. It's a story of simple color theory, but it's also a story of what makes us the same and what makes us different. It's a story of mixing colors together, but it's also a story about new life and making the world more colorful. Arree (@arreechung) says that to make this story as relatable as possible, he had to make it as abstract as possible. I think the end result is nothing short of exceptional. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

We can do more good together. Today I'm asking for your help. Consider becoming a patron of The Children's Book Podcast by visiting www.patreon.com/matthewcwinner. Your support will help fund more interviews here and on location. It will help raise greater awareness for diverse books and the people that make them. And it will help expand the listenership to new, like-minded folks who care deeply about raising and supporting readers. So what do you say? Want to join me? Let's make this happen. Together. (and thanks!) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Rob Sanders (@RobSandersWrite) recently published his first nonfiction picture book, entitled PRIDE: THE STORY OF HARVEY MILK AND THE RAINBOW FLAG. Rob shares that this book is "just like any other book about equality", and he's not wrong, but I think the strongest quality of this book, thanks both to Rob's words and Steven Salerno's art, is that PRIDE saves space for the reader to ask questions, to study the book and the people depicted in it to see the familiar faces in all of our lives, and for the reader to understand that "gay" is not a word spoken out of hatred, but one spoken out of love and pride. As Rob shares, what started out as a book of celebration quickly revealed itself as a book of necessity. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Eric Bell (@IAmEricBell) made his middle grade debut with ALAN COLE IS NOT A COWARD, a funny and poignant story about the trials of middle school when you’re coming of age—and coming out. Eric and I talk about writing boys that are the emotional core of the story and how their relationships to one another are, in so many ways, exactly what every child is seeking as they grow up. I know I did. The relationships in Alan's life to his parents, his brother, and even to his crush are complex and fragile and just so tangible your heart my ache as you read, but then again readers of all ages will see themselves in part in Alan's life, I think. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Dave Eggers recently published a middle grade novel called THE LIFTERS, which centers around a boy named Gran who's looking for a chance to be a hero and a small town named Carousel with a big mystery. A young woman catches Gran's eye, if for no other reason than her strong sense of purpose, and following her leads Gran into a world beyond anything he's ever seen. It's the kind of story with a magic that will make you hope and wish you yourself could just open a door in the hillside. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Ebony Glenn are celebrating their picture book debut with MOMMY'S KHIMAR, a story about young Black American Muslim girl who loves to play with her mother's khimars. Jamilah uses her debut to emphasize the importance that children find joy and happiness in their identity. I love Jamiliah's reminder that there are a lot of muslim girls who are just happy, so why not make space in picture books to show those girls. Ebony's art celebrates that and more, capturing "black muslim girl joy", as my guests put it. What a beautiful book for our young readers and their parents to encounter! You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Jessica Love makes her picture book debut as both author and illustrator in JULIAN IS A MERMAID, a story about a young boy who imagines himself turning into a mermaid after encountering three women dressed as mermaids on the subway. The story is spacious, and here is what I mean by that. There is room in this story for readers to make their own connections, to build their own understandings. As Jessica so beautifully puts it in our interview, it's as if the artist is throwing a ball into the unknown and the reader has the chance to catch it. All of the magic is held or contained there in the suspense. I cannot wait for you to encounter this book. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Hey there, podcast listeners. Today, May 5th, some news was brought to my attention that relates to a recent episode of The Children’s Book Podcast. Author Junot Diaz faces sexual conduct allegations and an overwhelming number of women shared their own testimonies through the #metoo hashtag over the past 24 hours. Junot Diaz was featured on a recent episode of the podcast along with illustrator Leo Espinosa for ISLANDBORN, a picture book the did together. I have since removed that episode from the archive and updated the blog post promoting the episode to include this message. I, Matthew Winner, and The Children’s Book Podcast will not support the works of individuals accused of misogynistic acts, sexual predation, or any other offense against women. That behavior is intolerable and individuals recently or historically exhibiting that behavior are not welcome here.   I welcome you to listen to my conversations with some exceptional Latina authors and illustrators, including Juana Martinez Neal, Monica Brown,

Alison Green Myers and George Brown are the Program Director and Executive Director, respectively, of the Highlights Foundation, a retreat center in the beautiful Pocono Mountains in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Each year, the Highlights Foundation offers more than 40 workshops covering a wide range of topics and offering encouragement for both beginning and published authors and illustrators. Workshops are led by children's publishing professionals, including editors, authors, art directors, publishers, agents, academics, and others who are there to help you realize your creative goals. I invited Alison and George onto the show to learn more about how the Highlights Foundation began, their role in supporting diverse and own voices, and where they'd like to lead the organization into the future. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Veera Hiranandani is the author of THE NIGHT DIARY, a middle grade novel that takes place during the Partition of India in 1947. The story centers around Nisha, a 12-year-old girl who journals daily to her late mother. Nisha uses this channel to process the events going on around her, and to find her place among a country newly divided. Nisha is half-Muslim, half-Hindu, an as her family is forced to flee to the recently established Pakistan she encounters a world turned upside-down as she, her twin brother, her father, and grandmother make the plight north. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Jewell Parker Rhodes is the best-selling author of NINTH WARD and TOWERS FALLING. In GHOST BOYS, her newest middle grade novel, Jewell shares a beautiful and devastating story about a young black boy killed by a police officer. About writing the story, Jewell says "I wasn't sure I was going to make it through." Jewell writes with great strength, conviction, and love, leaving an undeniable story through which readers of all ages, colors, and backgrounds can connect. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Juana Martinez-Neal makes her picture book debut as both author and illustrator in ALMA AND HOW SHE GOT HER NAME, a story that carries with it a simple and sincere message: everybody has a name, and every name has a story behind it. Juana talks about not have the distance from her own story to maintain a more autobiographical focus, and yet in turning her gaze to the fictional Alma she opens up the story to be that much more universal. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Megan McDonald is the best-selling author of the JUDY MOODY series which see's the release of it's 14th book this month in JUDY MOODY AND THE RIGHT ROYAL TEA PARTY. Megan talks about how she came to know Judy and how, through exploring stories from her own childhood as the youngest of five daughters, Judy came to be in the format we know her from today. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Samantha Berger is the best-selling picture book author of CRANKENSTEIN, SNOOZEFEST, and MARTHA DOESN'T SAY SORRY. Mike Curato is the author illustrator of the LITTLE ELLIOT series, and the illustrator of WORM LOVES WORM by JJ Austrian and ALL THE WAY TO HAVANA by Margarita Engle. They first picture book together is called WHAT IF... and it publishes on April 10, 2018. Sam and Mike are no strangers to this podcast, and I learn something new each time I talk to them. Today our conversation illuminated turning pain into art, the indomitable triumph of the human spirit and creativity, but one of the things I valued most was the emphasis on the truth that nothing can take away from you, who you are, and what you have to say. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Ben Clanton is the author illustrator of PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY, the newest book in his NARWHAL AND JELLY graphic novel series. In this newest installment Narwhal breaks his meal routine of all waffles all the time in order to try a new treat at Jelly's suggestion with hilarious results. This series is hilarious and one of the things I love most about these books has been the opportunity to read them aloud with my 7-year-old son. They never fail to crack us up. There's a scene in this new book that we also connected over: Jelly hesitates to give Narwhal a peanut butter cookie without first making sure that Narwhal isn't allergic. Like many kids, my son has a peanut allergy. The way that Ben handled this scene and empowered Narwhal's friend as a source of concern and protection was something that really spoke to us both. You can access even more information about this book and its author illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podca

Vesper Stamper is the author illustrator of WHAT THE NIGHT SINGS, a lushly illustrated novel about a teen Holocaust survivor, who must come to terms with who she is and how to rebuild her life. The question driving Vesper's writing was this: How do people subjected to unfathomable tragedy not just survive, but go on to thrive? The human spirit is a curious and, at times, unbreakable thing. Stories of strength and survival are always garnering our attention, but amid all of that I found this story to be doing something new to me. And that is that it followed survivors from the moment they grasped hold of their freedom through the months and years of tragedy, wartime fallout, and family up-ending to follow. This is a story that I hope you'll read and discuss and share. 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

Maria Dismondy is the author of THE FRUIT SALAD FRIEND and founder of Cardinal Rule Press, an independent publishing company. Maria's newest picture book addresses the notion that people are not always kind, but surrounding yourself with friends who are kind and trustworthy can go a long way. It's a story I'd guess Maria has lived a number of times throughout her life. I admire Maria for the work she's done to bring such positive and empowering stories to our young readers, and to do so over years of hard work, research, and assembling a noteworthy team. 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

Baptiste Paul and Jacqueline Alcántara are the author and illustrator of THE FIELD, a picture book about pick-up game of soccer in a village in St. Lucia that could be any pick-up game in any town with any kids. It's Baptiste's debut as a picture book author and Jackie's debut as a picture book illustrator. What stories and storied backgrounds each bring to THE FIELD will enrich your experience with this beautiful book even more so, and so it's my pleasure to bring this conversation to you. 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

Jane Yolen is the beloved and prolific author of over 365 books for children and teens, including this year's releases of A BEAR SAT ON MY PORCH TODAY, MAPPING THE BONES, and MEET ME AT THE WELL. To celebrate such a milestone publication year, Jane and daughter Heidi have kicked off #Yolen365, a daily celebration and book pairing of each title in Jane's catalog to a calendar holiday, festivity, or fun fact. Our conversation includes stories that span of Jane's experiences in publishing that span her career so far. Rest assured, we were in no shortage of things to talk about in laughs and wonder, reflection and celebration. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Kate Hoefler and Noah Klocek are the author and illustrator of Great Big Things, a picture book about a mouse who journeys beyond great obstacles and ever greater distance to deliver something to the one love. Kate talks about how picture books are all about the space between and how it's up to the reader to fill in the gaps. They both share how every book, in some way, is about perspective. This is a quiet picture book with a whole lot to say. You can access more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message