The Children's Book Podcast

Angela Joy shares BLACK IS A RAINBOW COLOR. This beautiful book, illustrated by one-to-watch and the one-to-wow Ekua Holmes, is Angela's debut to the children's book world. The book answers a question from her daughter, and it also bears witness to history, to legacy, and to community. Angela included robust back matter, incorporating an author's note, an explanation of phrases referenced, a selection of poems from poets mentioned, a timeline entitled "And What Shall We Call You?", and a playlist. This picture book has its own playlist! But what I will also say is that this picture book has its own presence, and it's one that I hope many, many adults will welcome into their reading spaces and those spaces they share. You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Ann Braden (@annbradenbooks) shares THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTOPUS. This is a story about the strength of a 12-year-old girl named Zoey, even from before the moment when she realized she possessed such strength. It is a story about the things people tell us about ourselves and others, and how those things can become truths if we believe them, for good or for harm. It is a story about depending on someone to provide for you, and being taken advantage of and degraded because of your dependence. But most of all, it is a story that is true for many, many children and families. And it's on us to see these children. It's on us to see these families. You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Rajani LaRocca (@rajanilarocca) shares MIDSUMMER'S MAYHEM. Mimi, the main character in Rajani's middle grade debut, enters a baking competition at her town's newest sweet spot, but things aren't quite as they appear. The baked goods they sell are awful and overpriced, the employees seem to be speaking exclusively in rhyme, and crowds of locals are inexplicably showing up in droves for the bakery's latest confections. Mimi's dad is a food writer and has just returned from a trip abroad, but he won't be any help to her because he's not acting himself, though Mimi seems to be the only one to notice. Has he completely lost his sense of taste? It's not long before everyone around her is just acting… off, but Mimi is determined to let nothing distract her from creating the most inventive and memorable treats this bakery has ever known. I've been waiting a long while to read this book and it's just so good, there's no way I could resist kicking off the new year with a read so sweet! You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Let's get up-to-date on plans for the podcast in 2020, including the introduction of Matthew In The Stacks, a brand new podcast available to Patrons. This show follows an ask-me-anything style format in which authors and illustrators submit questions they have about the libraries, librarians, and all things bookish. It's a chance to turn the tables and for me to offer insight into how libraries work from the perspective of one school librarian. The episodes are about 10-minutes in length and they release on the 15th and 30th of every month exclusively on Patreon. The first two episodes are already up and I'm including one here for you to enjoy with a question submitted by Margarita Engle, renowned poet and children's book author. She asks, "Are librarians aware that some authors are wounded by the phrase "weeding?" Is there a less demeaning word that could be used for removing our older books?" Enjoy listening! Visit our Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Jin Xiaojing shares I MISS MY GRANDPA. This stunning picture book examines remembering a lost loved one through the memories and characteristics of other family members. It is without doubt a book that will stop you in your tracks, without question one of the most stunning and memorable picture books I read this year. This is our last interview episode of the year, and it's one I hope that will carry you into the new year with the promise and hope and wonder of all that children's publishing has to offer. You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Julie Fogliano (@oneredhen) shares JUST IN CASE YOU WANT TO FLY, illustrated by Christian Robinson. Julie's stories express themselves in poetic verse and they are some of my most beloved on our bookshelves. JUST IN CASE YOU WANT TO FLY grew from a playful game she used to engage her daughter. It's lines and page turns are filled with sincerity and humor. IF I WAS THE SUNSHINE, illustrated by Loren Long, praises the way our love and presence in one another's lives has the power to complete and complement the other unmatchingly. And we also talk about the origins of WHEN GREEN BECOMES TOMATOES: POEMS FOR ALL SEASONS, illustrated by the incomparable Julie Morstad. But mostly, we talk poetry. And we talk it a lot. Do enjoy. You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Today I invited contributors of THANKU: POEMS OF GRATITUDE to share their work with you today. This picture book, beautifully illustrated by Marlena Myles and edited by Miranda Paul, is something really special and I credit that to the exceptional list of contributors that made it possible. Each poet used a different poetic style and each gives thanks in a uniquely personal way, but I'll let them tell you about that. Contributors on today's episode (as they appear): Joseph Bruchac Kimberly Blaeser Padma Venkatramen Janice Scully Charles Waters Carole Lindstrom Carolyn Dee Flores Sarvinder Naberhaus JaNay Brown-Wood Diana Murray Megan Hoyt Jamie McGillen Vanessa Brantley-Newton Traci Sorell Edna Cabcabin Moran Liz Garton Scanlon You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Adam Rex (@MrAdamRex) shares ARE YOU SCARED, DARTH VADER?, which is nominated for our state book award. Adam also shares PLUTO GETS THE CALL, which is illustrated by Laurie Keller. Exploring fear, identity, and value through the context of humor (and Star Wars) takes just the right touch, and these books do so in wonderful ways. I've been working with a group of 3rd graders in a special podcasting seminar. Students nominate books for us to consider. Once we select the book and reach out to the author for an interview we begin creating questions based on the books on which our episode will focus. Our students had their fingers crossed about this particular interview and we all had a really, really great time interviewing Adam. We hope you enjoy! You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Gilly Segal (@really_gilly) shares I'M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT. This episode was recorded live at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland as part of the Baltimore Book Festival. Kimberly Jones, Gilly's co-author, had to cancel at the last minute and was sorely missed in this conversation. I'M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT is a YA novel told in two voices about two high school students, Lena and Campbell, who are forced to flee their school football game when a fight breaks out and a student is shot. Their path home sends them downtown through a coalescing riot akin to that of the 2015 riots in Baltimore in response to the death of Freddie Gray. It's a powerful and compelling novel that confronts racism and racial bias, all the while exploring what it looks like to be a survivor. You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message

Tiffany Jewell (@tiffanymjewell) shares THIS BOOK IS ANTI-RACIST, her debut book. Listeners, I cannot even do this interview justice in this intro. Tiffany Jewell is an anti-bias, anti-racist educator and leader. This book dropped like a bomb into my professional learning and having the opportunity to interview Tiffany was both an inspiration and an education. Tiffany speaks on allowing her students to show her where to go. That's something I've been working hard on as well. I'm going to keep on learning, and it's in no small way because of the work that Tiffany and others are doing to help show the way. By the way, I highly recommend participating in the Anti-Racist Book Club Tiffany co-hosts with Britt Hawthorne on Instagram. As Tiffany puts it regarding doing the work of anti-racism, we can't not talk about it. You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/childrens-book-podcast/message