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

Podcast #042

For my forty-second Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author and freelance writing consultant Mary Kole about her favorite children’s book, the classic middle grade novel  Holes by Louis Sachar.

Originally published in 1998, and awarded the Newbery in 1999, the novel tells the story of Stanley Yelnats, a boy who’s had nothing but bad luck in his life, no thanks to his “no-good-dirty-rotten pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather”. But things get even worse when Stanley is accused of stealing a pair of sneakers and sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile correctional facility where all the boys are forced to dig holes in the dry lake bed to, supposedly, build their character.  But does the camp director have another, more nefarious reason for the digging, and what does it LL have to do with the strange story of the bandit Kissing Kate Barlow from a hundred years before? Along the way Stanley will learn some surprising answers, as well as find a new friend in Hector Zeroni, who despite his nickname, turns out to be a lot more than a “Zero”. Part satire, part comedy, part mystery, and unlike any other book around, Holes is about finding out that the truth, and friendship, is sometimes where you least expect it.

Mary Kole is author of the WRITING IRRESISTIBLE KIDLIT: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers and a freelance consultant for writers. You can find Mary’s website about her book at kidlit.com and her website about her consulting services at marykole.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and now Spotify. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. 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 Kat Shepherd, talking about Lynne Rae Perkins middle grade novel Criss Cross. It will be published on November 1st.

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Podcast #041

For my forty-first Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed librarian and children’s book reviewer Michelle Callaghan about her favorite children’s book, the classic middle grade novel  Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh.

Originally published in 1964, the novel tells the story of eleven year old Harriet M. Welch, a precocious watcher of people in her school and around her neighborhood on the East Side of Manhattan. Harriet records her observations and her sometimes very pointed opinions of the people she spies on in the notebook she carries around with her everywhere.  But when that notebook ends up in the hands of her fellow classmates and they read what she has been writing about them, everyone, including her best friends Sport and Janie, turn their backs on her. And the only person in the world who understands her, her caretaker Old Golly, has moved away, Harriet feels completely alone, and isn’t quite sure what to do. Make amends? Take revenge? Is all very confusing, but somehow, with a few helpful words from Old Golly, Harriet finds her way through in her own unique way.  Harriet the Spy is a book that is still as funny and heartbreaking as when it was first published, with a character that is a true original.

Michelle Callaghan is  a children’s librarian in Canada and host of the book review site Fab Book Reviews . You can find Michelle’s website at fabbookreviews.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and now Spotify. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. 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 published on October 16th.

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An Interview with Matthew Winner

For my fortieth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed librarian and podcast host Matthew Winner about his favorite children’s book, the graphic novel  The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan.

Published in 2009, The Storm in the Barn is set in Kansas during the Dustbowl of the 1930’s, and focuses on eleven year old Jack who has more than his share of difficulties to deal with: the torment of town bullies, a disappointed father who he can’t please no matter what he does, and a sister who’s fallen ill.  But when a mysterious light in the family barn draws him out one night, he discovers a mysterious stranger hiding there who seems to have a connection with the lack of rain–a stranger who may not be human.  What can Jack do about this interloper, or is this only a case of “dust dementia’, and there’s no one there at all? Part historical fiction and part fantasy, this graphic novel  is a unique and captivating look at moment in American History as told through the eyes of a young boy trying to make sense of the world, natural and supernatural, in which he finds himself.

Matthew Winner is an elementary school librarian in Maryland, co-founder of the website All the Wonders and  host of the podcast The Children’s Book Podcast. You can find Matthew’s website at www.matthewcwinner.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and now Spotify. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

I will be taking a short break from podcasting until September 1st, 2018, when I will return with a new podcast with Michelle, a children’s librarian in Canada and host of the book review site Fab Books,  about Louise Fitzhugh’s classic children’s novel Harriet the Spy. During that time I will be making a few small changes to both the website and the podcast.  When I return on September 1st, please let me know what you think in the comments, or send me a note on the contact page.

The post Podcast #40: The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan appeared first on Dream Gardens.

An Interview with Laura Martin

For my thirty-ninth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Laura Martin about her favorite children’s book, the  middle grade fantasy novel  Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce, the first book of the Song of the Lioness series.

Originally published in 1983, Alanna: The First Adventure  is the first of four novels, the other three being In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, and Lioness Rampant.  Alanna is a  young girl with a gift for magic who wants nothing more than to be a knight, so she trades places with her brother, disguises herself as a boy, and travels to the palace to begin her training as a page.  There she must endure the hardships of  grueling practice and the torments of a viscous bully, and when a mysterious sickness finds its way to the castle and one of her closest friends, Prince Jonathan, she must dig deep within her magic reserves to find a way to save him. And that is just the beginning of her adventures, culminating, at least for this book, in a dangerous and eventful visit to the legendary Black City.

Laura Martin is the author of the Edge of Extinction series, including the books The Ark Plan and Code Name Flood, and the newly released middle grade novel Float. You can find Laura’s website at lauramartinbooks.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. The next podcast will be published on August 1st, 2018.

The post Podcast #39: Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness) by Tamora Pierce appeared first on Dream Gardens.

An Interview with Caroline Starr Rose

For my thirty-eighth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Caroline Starr Rose about her favorite children’s book, the classic middle grade fantasy novel  The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

Originally published in 1961,  The Phantom Tollbooth tells the story of a young boy named Milo who doesn’t quite know what do with himself until a he receives a mysterious package with a tollbooth that will take him on an adventure unlike anything he has ever known.  There he’ll meet Tock, a watch dog with an actual watch on his stomach, Alec Bings, a boy who will float in the air until he grows down and touches it, and King Aza who takes Milo to a banquet where the guests eat their words. Literally.  Along the way he’ll travel through the lands of Digitopolis and the Doldrums, among many others, in his quest to find the princesses Rhyme and Reason and restore balance to the kingdom. Full of memorable characters, fantastic situations, and rampant word play, The Phantom Tollbooth has been a favorite of children and adults for many years.

Caroline Starr Rose is the author of the middle grade novel Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mines, the picture book Ride On Will Cody, and coming in 2020, the middle grade historical novel Miraculous. In addition, she offers critique services through Writing One on One. You can find Caroline’s website at carolinestarrrose.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. The next podcast will be published on July 16th, 2018.

The post Podcast #38: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster appeared first on Dream Gardens.

An Interview with Cindy Mitchell

For my thirty-seventh Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed librarian Cindy Mitchell about her favorite kid’s book,  The Accelerati Trilogy by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman, which includes the books Tesla’s Attic, Edison’s Alley, and Hawking’s Hallway.

Published in 2015 through 2017 by Disney-Hyperion, the three sci-fi adventure books tell the story of a fourteen-year-old boy named Nick who is  trying to pick up the pieces of his life in a new Colorado home with his father and brother after the death of his mother in a house fire.  But that won’t be easy once he discovers a trove of what look like everyday objects in his attic, but which turn out to be inventions of the late Nikola Tessla, objects with extraordinary and sometimes dangerous powers.  When they get sold, Nick and his new found friends have to find them and assemble them into a single machine that just might save the world.  But they also have to contend with a secret organization known as the Accelerati, who want the objects for their own, not necessarily altruistic purposes, and are willing to do anything to get their hands on them, including getting rid of Nick.

Cindy Mitchell is a librarian for the South Jordan Middle School in Utah and host of the book review blog Kiss the Book. You can find Cindy’s website at kissthebook.blogspot.com

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. The next podcast will be published on July 1st, 2018.

The post Podcast #37: The Accelerati Trilogy by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman appeared first on Dream Gardens.

An Interview with Laurisa White Reyes

For my thirty-sixth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Laurisa White Reyes about her favorite children’s book,  The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear, written by Dan and Audrey Wood and illustrated by Dan Wood.

First published in 1989 by Child’s Play, this big picture book with a very long title tells a simple story about a mouse who finds a large and luscious strawberry, only to discover that  a bear may be on the prowl for it. What is a poor mouse to do to protect his new-found treasure? Full of big, bright pictures and a sly sense of humor, this book about sharing with others may leave you hungry for more just like it. As a bonus, if you have a copy of the book, or can lay your hands on one, follow along as Laurisa reads it at the end of the podcast.

Laurisa White Reyes is the an award winning author of  such middle grade novels as Mickey Malloy, Wonder Boy and the Seer of the Guilde series, YA novels such as Petals and The Crystal Keeper series, as well as non-fiction books like The Kids Guide to Writing Fiction . In addition Laurisa is Senior Editor of Skyrocket Press and teaches English composition at College of the Canyons. You can find Laurisa’s website at www.laurisawhitereyes.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. The next podcast will be published on June 16th, 2018.

The post Podcast #36: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Dan and Audrey Wood appeared first on Dream Gardens.

An Interview with Robert Kent

For my thirty-fifth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author and blogger Robert Kent about his favorite middle grade children’s novel,  The Witches by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake.

First published in 1983, The Witches tells the story of a young boy and his grandmother who stumble upon a devious plot cooked up by witches across the world. Led by the perfectly evil Grand High Witch,  they plan to turn every child into a mouse using Formula 87 Delayed-action mouse-maker and then wiping them out. Even after the boy is changed into a mouse himself, he and his grandmother come up with their own plan to turn the table on the witches and give them a taste of their own medicine.  Part horror, part comedy, and part fantasy-adventure,  The Witches is dark little novel that will either delight or appall the reader – or maybe even both! – but for Roald Dahl fans it is a must read for sure.

Robert Kent is author of the middle grade book Banneker Bones and the Giant Robot Bees and host of the blog Middle Grade Ninja. Robert also writes horror fiction for adults and conducts occasional writing workshops at the Indiana Writer’s Center. You can find Robert’s website at www.middlegradeninja.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. The next podcast will be published on June 1st, 2018.

The post Podcast #35: The Witches by Roald Dahl appeared first on Dream Gardens.

An Interview with Melissa Stoller

For my thirty-fourth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Melissa Stoller about her favorite middle grade novel,  The Art of the Swap by Kristine Asselin and Jen Malone.

First published in February, 2018 by Aladdin Press , The Art of the Swap tells the story of two young girls who live a century apart–Maggie, who lives at the Elms in 1905, and Hannah from the twenty-first century where the mansion is now a museum.  But thanks to a mysterious and magical mirror, they’ve  swapped bodies and centuries and have to figure out a way to get back. For Hannah, that means figuring out who was really responsible for an art heist and clearing the name of a young kitchen boy named Jonah. For Maggie, it means negotiating the perils of modern life, like cell phones, soccer practice, and boys. Part fantasy, part mystery, and part historical fiction, The Art of the Swap charts the adventures of these young protagonists who have a lot to learn about each other’s history as well as a lot about themselves.

Melissa Stoller is author of the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush and Ready Set, GOrilla, both coming out in 2018. In addition, she writes the Enchanted Snow Globe Collection series: Return to Coney Island, published in 2017, and The Liberty Bell Train Ride,  coming out this summer, 2018.  She is also author of the resource book The Parent-Child Book Club.  You can find Melissa’s website at www.melissastoller.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. The next podcast will be published on May 16th, 2018.

The post Podcast #34: The Art of the Swap by Kristine Asselin and Jen Malone appeared first on Dream Gardens.

An Interview with Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White

For my thirty-third Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed authors Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White about their favorite middle grade novel,  Wayside Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sacher.

First published in 1978 by Avon Camelot Books, Wayside Stories from Wayside School is a collection of thirty stories about a strange school with thirty classrooms built one on top of the other. There you will meet Mrs. Jewls, the teacher who thinks all her students are monkeys;  John, who can only read upside down and has to stand on his head to read the right way;  Leslie, who decides her toes are useless and tries to sell them; Calvin, who has to deliver a note to the nineteenth floor which was never built to a teacher who does not exist;  and many more. With its light-hearted absurd humor and  nonsensical situations, Wayside School has long been a favorite book of kids who want to get lost in a school that seems even nuttier than their own.

Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White  are co-authors of the middle grade novels Shivers! The Pirate Who’s Afraid of Everything  and Shivers!, The Pirate Who’s Back in Bunny Slippers as well as Time Travelers, which will be released this Spring.  In addition, Annabeth and Connor perform for school assembly programs and have produced several videos about the writing process for kids. You can find Annabeth and Connor’s website at annabethandconnor.com

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. The next podcast will be published on May 1st, 2018.

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