Dream Gardens: Talking Up the Children's Books We Love

For my ninety-second Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Anita Nahta Amin about the novel Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin. Martin’s novel is a re-telling of the fairy tale “Snow and Rose” in which two sisters encounter enchanted places and strange characters in their search for their missing father. A magical and engaging story full of Martin’s distinctive illustrations.

Anita Nahta Amin is author of several chapter books including The Legacy of Rashmi Bazaar. Her picture book Raja’s Pet Camel: The Magic of Hope was published last year. You can find her website at www.anitaaminbooks.com

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Ann Burg about the novel The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. It will be published on Monday, February 1, 2021.

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For my ninety-first Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Mathew Klickstein about the classic picture book The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss. The Yooks eat bread with the butter-side up, and the Zooks eat bread with the butter-side down, which can only mean one thing-War! A both very silly and very serious look at Cold War politics which is still, unfortunately, just as relevant as ever.

Mathew Klickstein  a writer who has developed projects across multiple platforms including non-fiction, filmmaking, theater and comic books. His latest project is the middle grade book The Kids of Widney Junior High Take Over the World. You can find his website at www.mathewklickstein.com. Part of the proceeds from Mathew’s book will go to support L.A. Goal. You can find more information about L.A. Goal at lagoal.org.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Anita Nahta Amin about the novel Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin . It will be published on Monday, January 18, 2021.

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For my ninetieth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Amy Hest about the middle grade novel Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. When Leigh Botts writes a letter to his favorite writer, Boyd Henshaw, little does he suspect that response he gets will lead him on a journey to learn what it takes to be a writer. A classic children’s novel about writing and living and knowing when to let go.

Amy Hest is author of many books, such as  Remembering Mrs. Rossi, When Charly Met Grandpa,  The Dog Who Belonged To No One, and Letters to Leo. Her latest novel is The Summer We Found the Baby. You can find her website at www.amyhest.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Mathew Klickstein about the picture book The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Suess. It will be published on Monday, January 4, 2021. There will be no podcast on the third Monday in December, but starting January 2021 the podcast will continue to be posted on the first and third Monday of each month.

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For my eighty-ninth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed illustrator Holly Hatam about the middle grade novel Just As Long As We’re Together by Judy Blume. Thirteen year old Stephanie has been with friends with Rachel for as long as she can remember. But when a new girl, Alison, enters her life, Stephanie must figure how to gain a friend without losing her old one.

Holly Hatam is illustrator of such books as Dear Girl, Dear Boy, Dragons are Real,  and Happy Right Now. Her latest book  is Dear Baby, with text by Paris Rosenthal. You can find her website at www.hollyhatam.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Amy Hest about the middle grade novel Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. It will be published on Monday, December 7, 2020.

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For my eighty-eighth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Janae Marks about the first book in the Baby-Sitter’s Club series, Kristy’s Great Idea. Kristy and her three friends – Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey – start a babysitting service called The Baby-Sitter’s Club. What follows is a story of friendship, family, and a whole lot of baby-sitting misadventures. The first of many, many books in a series that is still going strong for more than thirty years.

Janae Marks is author of the middle grade novel From the Desk of Zoe Washington. You can find her website at www.janaemarks.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with illustrator Holly Hatam about the middle grade novel Just As Long As We’re Together by Judy Blume. It will be published on Monday, November 16, 2020.

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For my eighty-seventh Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Angela Dominguez about the middle grade novel Pie in the Sky , written and illustrated by Remy Lai. Eleven year old Jingwen has to deal with moving to a new country, his annoying little brother, as well as the grief of losing his father. It’s all too much, so Jingwen decides to secretly bake all of the cakes from his fathers Pie in the Sky bakery in the hopes that somehow life will turn out a little bit better once he’s finished.

Angela Dominguez is an award winning illustrator and author of  such books as Marie Had a Little Llama, and I Love you Baby Burrito, as well as the Stella Diaz books Stella Diaz Has Something to Say and Stella Diaz Never Gives Up. In addition, Angela also teaches at the Academy of Art University. You can find her website at www.angeladominguezbooks.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Janae Marks about the middle grade novel The Babysitter’s Club: Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin. It will be published on Monday, November 2, 2020.

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For my eighty-sixth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Paula Chase Hyman about the upper middle grade novel Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee. Seventh grader Mila doesn’t know what do at when a group of boys start harassing her in increasingly uncomfortable ways, but she soon finds some allies and her own voice in this timely and empowering story.

Paula Chase Hyman is author of  such books as the Del Rio Bey series, and the middle grade novels Dough Boys and So Done. Her latest middle grade novel is Turning Point. In addition, she is one of the founders and a contributor to the Brown Bookshelf Blog. Her website can be found at paulachasehyman.com (previously paulachasebooks.com), and the website for the Brown Bookshelf can be found at thebrownbookshelf.com.  

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Angela Dominguez about the novel Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai. It will be published on Monday, October 5, 2020.

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For my eighty-fifth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Tricia Elam Walker about the children’s picture book Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale, written and illustrated by John Steptoe. Inspired by an Zimbabwe folktale, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is a Cinderella-like story about two sisters search for a mysterious king. Their search leads to strange encounters and a discovery that it’s what’s in your heart that matters most. 

Tricia Elam Walker in an assistant professor of Creative Writing at Howard University and author of the novel Breathing Room. Her picture book, Nana Akua Goes to School was just published this year. You can find her website at triciaelamwalker.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Paula Chase Hyman about the novel Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee. It will be published on Monday, October 5, 2020.

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For my eighty-fourth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author and motivational speaker Michael Arterberry about the classic children’s picture book Curious George. This was the first of a many picture books featuring George, a very curious monkey, whose curiosity sometimes gets him into a bit of trouble, though not too much.

I have to add one correction to the podcast. I stated the author was H.A. Rey, but it was actually co-written by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey, who were married. Margret Rey’s name was left off the first few Curious George Books because the publisher at the time (1941) felt there were already too many woman writing children’s books (!). Her name was included in later books, as it should have always been. It was neglectful on my part not to have included it as well.

Michael Arterberry is a motivational speaker and author of the memoir God was Holding my Hand  and the motivational book Be Encouraged!!! 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement. He is also founder and executive director of  Youth Voices Center, Inc. You can find his website at www.michaelarterberry.com and the website for Youth Voices Center at www.youthvoicescenter.org.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Tricia Elam Walker about the picture book Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe. It will be published on Monday, September 21st, 2020.

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For my eighty-third Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author and storyteller Antonio Sacre about the classic fantasy novel The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien. Bilbo Baggins is a Hobbit like any other, wanting nothing more than to sit in his comfortable home with his pipe. But when adventure coming knocking on his door, literally, Bilbo sets off to meet trolls and dragons and elves and more adventure than he ever knew was possible.

Antonio Sacre is author of  such books A Mango in the Hand and My Name is Cool. He is also story teller who story telling recordings include Looking for Papito and High Five Dad. His latest story album is “World’s Second-Best Dad” which just won a 2020 Family Choice Award and a 2020 National Parenting Product Award. You can find his website at antoniosacre.com

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author and motivational speaker Michael Arterberry about the classic children’s picture book Curious George by H. R. Rey. It will be published on Monday, September 7th, 2020.

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