This week's conversation is with - according to their website - artist, author, aunt, and alliterator Anne Appert. And yes I had to re-record all those a-words a bunch of times to get this right.

Anne's the author-illustrator of Blob, a book with which I hope you're familiar, which champions individual self-expression, even if it doesn't mean adhering to strict labels other than "I'm me." Their follow-up book comes in winter 2024 and is titled 'What If You Wish,' and really takes a hard look at that central, childlike question, exploring in a gentle way what it means to consider possibilities.

There's a cautionary tale in here about leaving your work up on Instagram, but at least in Anne's case that turned out wonderfully. If you haven't before, visit Anne's website at anneappert.com and in particular, head over to their Ko-Fi (or coffee, however you say it) shop for some incredible sticker packs and prints that I've picked up, myself.

Josh is here, Brenna is here, and Jon is here! And our Linktree is here (please subscribe!).

(PS, listen to the first few minutes of our conversation, pause, and then check out the Sparkle Suit!)

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Our reviews this week:

I Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnon

I Am Me: A Book Of Authenticity by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

The Bread Pet by Kate Depalma, illustrated by Nelleke Verhoeff

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Check out (something close to) Anne's amazing typewriter keyboard here!

Check out our awesome quokka artist Maddie Frost!

And finally, if you'd like to support the podcast and ALSO want to celebrate a friend, an achievement, or a friend's kidlit achievement, we'd love it if you'd purchase a Community Shout-Out to help keep the lights on!