BookSmitten

Beloved author Jerry Spinelli is back with a new book FIFTH GRADE TOP DOGS! He's the author of memorable books like Maniac Magee, Stargirl and Crash. Hear how Jerry structured his 44-year writing career and how Kelly read FOURTH GRADE RATS back when she was in fourth grade.

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:

• ⁠Flying Lessons & Other Stories⁠ Edited by Ellen Oh
• ⁠Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• ⁠Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• ⁠The Electric Slide and Kai⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
• ⁠The Swag is in the Socks⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• ⁠Eb & Flow⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• ⁠Ready, Set, Dough!⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• The Band in Our Basement by Kelly J. Baptist; illustrated by Jenin Mohammed
• ⁠See You in the Cosmos⁠ by Jack Cheng
• ⁠The Many Masks of Andy Zhou⁠ by Jack Cheng
• ⁠Jumped In⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott
• ⁠American Road Trip⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott
• ⁠No Going Back⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott
• ⁠The Griffins of Castle Cary⁠ by Heather Shumaker

• Kelly J. Baptist: ⁠kellyiswrite.com⁠
• Jack Cheng: ⁠jackcheng.com⁠
• Patrick Flores-Scott: ⁠patrickfloresscott.com⁠
• Heather Shumaker: ⁠heathershumaker.com⁠

Find us online: Contact us: ⁠

[email protected]⁠

Bluesky: @booksmitten.bsky.social

Produced by Patrick Flores-Scott and Heather Shumaker

It’s 25 years since “Because of Winn Dixie” was published, which means 25 years of readers enjoying the heart and honesty of Kate DiCamillo. We’re delighted to share this conversation with one of kidlit’s most beloved authors, and chat with Kate about her unforgettable characters and craft. As Kate says, “Characters are people I’ve discovered, not made up.” Come discover Kate’s world with us!Our Books for Children and Young Adults:

• ⁠Flying Lessons & Other Stories⁠ Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
• ⁠Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• ⁠Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• ⁠The Electric Slide and Kai⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
• ⁠The Swag is in the Socks⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• ⁠Eb & Flow⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• ⁠Ready, Set, Dough!⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist
• ⁠See You in the Cosmos⁠ by Jack Cheng
• ⁠The Many Masks of Andy Zhou⁠ by Jack Cheng
• ⁠Jumped In⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott
• ⁠American Road Trip⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott
• ⁠No Going Back⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott
• ⁠The Griffins of Castle Cary⁠ by Heather Shumaker

• Kelly J. Baptist: ⁠kellyiswrite.com⁠
• Jack Cheng: ⁠jackcheng.com⁠
• Patrick Flores-Scott: ⁠patrickfloresscott.com⁠
• Heather Shumaker: ⁠heathershumaker.com⁠
• 
  

Find us online: Contact us: ⁠

[email protected]⁠

X/Twitter: ⁠@booksmittenpod⁠  

Bluesky: @booksmitten.bsky.social

Produced by Patrick Flores-Scott and Heather Shumaker

Robin's website 

Far from the Tree

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:

• Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
• Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
• Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
• The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
• The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
• Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
• Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
• See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
• The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
• Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
• American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
• No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott
• The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:

• Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
• Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
• Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
• Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Contact us: [email protected]

X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
 

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:

• Linda Sue Park’s Website
• Gracie Under the Waves
• A Long Walk to Water
• We Need Diverse Books

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:

• Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
• Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
• Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
• The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
• The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
• Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
• Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
• See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
• The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
• Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
• American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
• No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott
• The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:

• Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
• Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
• Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
• Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Contact us: [email protected]

X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
 

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:

• Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
• Louder than Hunger by John Schu
• The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead
• Writing with Pictures by Uri Shulevitz
• How to Write Picture Books by Linda Ashman

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:

• Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
• Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
• Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
• The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
• The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
• Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
• Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
• See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
• The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
• Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
• American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
• No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott
• The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:

• Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
• Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
• Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
• Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Contact us: [email protected]

@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:

• Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
• Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
• Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
• The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
• The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
• Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
• Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
• See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
• The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
• Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
• American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
• No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott
• The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:

• Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
• Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
• Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
• Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Contact us: [email protected]

X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
 

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:
SCBWI Marvelous Midwest 2024
Gary D. Schmidt
Sherri L. Smith
James Solheim
 

Interviewees:
Aaron Fox (MO)
Debbie Gonzales (MI)
Kat Higgs-Coulthard (MI)
Leslie Helakowski  (MI)
Danielle Defoe (MI)
Kathy Halsey (OH)
Amy Flynn (OH)
Sheila Willobee (MI)
Kathy Groth (WI) -  Sunken Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, Ocean Party (Illustrated by Becca Hart)
Joyce Uglow (WI) - Stuck: The Story of the La Brea Tar Pits (Illustrated by Valerya Milovanova )

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Email us: [email protected]

@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:

• Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
• Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
• Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
• The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
• The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
• Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
• Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
• See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
• The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
• Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
• American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
• No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott
• The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:

• Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
• Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
• Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
• Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Contact us: [email protected]

X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
 

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds; Illustrated by Peter Brown

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Email us: [email protected]

@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:

• Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
• Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
• Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
• The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
• The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
• Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
• Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
• See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
• The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
• Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
• American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
• No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott
• The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:

• Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
• Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
• Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
• Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Contact us: [email protected]

X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
 

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw; Illustrated by Margot Apple

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Email us: [email protected]

@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Our Books for Children and Young Adults:

• Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
• Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
• Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
• The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
• The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
• Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
• Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
• See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
• The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
• Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
• American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
• No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott
• The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker

Find us online:

• Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
• Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
• Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
• Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com

Contact us: [email protected]

X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
 

Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken