The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

In this episode, Bianca talks to the awesome duo Julio Torres and Julian Glander, creators of the picture book I Want to Be a Vase. With its themes of confidence and embracing one's true identity, this book makes for a dynamic and important conversation starter.

Julio Torres is a comedian, the creator of the HBO special My Favorite Shapes, and has written for Saturday Night Live. He’s also one of the masterminds behind Los Espookys, HBO’s Spanish-language comedy about a group of horror enthusiasts.

Order copies of I Want to Be a Vase on Bookshop.org or Amazon.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Resources:

Visit Julio Torres on Instagram @SpacePrinceJulio.

Visit Julian Glander at Glander.co.

HBO special My Favorite Shapes.

Discussion Topics:

In this episode, Bianca talks to WGA-winning and Emmy-nominated comedy writer Glenn Boozan about her picture book for adults that sheds some humor on parenting, There Are Moms Way Worse Than You: Irrefutable Proof That You Are Indeed a Fantastic Parent.

Glenn Boozan's credits include Conan, Comedy Central’s Lights Out with David Spade, Sarah Silverman’s I Love You, America on Hulu, and TruTV’s Adam Ruins Everything. She lives in Los Angeles, a 30-minute drive from her mother, which apparently is still too far.

Order copies of There Are Moms Way Worse Than You: Irrefutable Proof That You Are Indeed a Fantastic Parent on Bookshop.org or Amazon.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Resources:

Visit Glenn Boozan here: https://www.instagram.com/glennboozan

Sh*tty Mom by Laurie Kilmartin

Discussion Topics:

In this episode, Bianca talks to two amazing guests about The Welcoming Library, an initiative that sparks conversations on immigration through the reading of picture books. It's a program led by the non-profit organization I'm Your Neighbor Books, so Bianca talks with Kirsten Cappy, who co-founded I'm Your Neighbor Books in 2012. She brings 20 years of experience using children's books and the companion tools she creates to increase curiosity, empathy, and cultural competency. Kirsten was named one of the Boston Globe's Everyday Heroes for her work on The Welcoming Library.

Bianca first learned about I'm Your Neighbor Books and their signature project, The Welcoming Library, from our friends at AudioFile Magazine. Each month on The Children's Book Review, we feature a curated list of the best new audiobooks for kids, as selected by the editors at AudioFile. These lists are constantly blowing us away with the inclusion of incredible stories, diverse characters, and fantastic casts of voices and music. So, when the AudioFile team mentioned they are now a proud supporter of The Welcoming Library, Bianca wanted to learn more and share it with you. So also joining the conversation is AudioFile Magazine's editor and founder Robin Whitten. Robin is passionate about audiobooks and the magic of the listening experience. 

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review (coming soon).

Resources:

Visit The Welcoming Library website: https://imyourneighborbooks.org/welcoming-library/

The Welcoming Library audiobooks list: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/lists/welcoming-audiobooks/

AudioFile Magazine on the audiobooks in the project: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/articles/listen-to-welcome-listen-to-belong/

Visit the In Her Presence website: https://inherpresence.org/

Discussion Topics:

In this episode, Bianca talks to Aaron Blabey, the #1 New York Times Bestselling Australian author with around 30 million books in print. He is also the co-executive producer of The Bad Guys movie by DreamWorks Animation and that’s what we’re here to talk about—the adaptation of the illustrated children's graphic novel series. The book series and the movie center around a gang of anthropomorphic animals known as the Bad Guys who attempt to perform good deeds to change society's perception of them as criminals, despite their efforts usually going wrong.

Order copies of The Bad Guys on Bookshop.org or Amazon.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Resources:

The Bad Guys official movie website.

Watch The Bad Guys movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpDuBXB_glk&t=2s.

Aaron Blabey's website.

Order copies of Pig the Pug and Thelma the Unicorn

Discussion Topics:

In this episode, Bianca talks with New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale about her new picture book, This Is Not For You, and the implications of applying genders to book—that's a girl book or that's a boy book.

Shannon Hale is the author of over thirty children's and young adult novels, including graphic novel memoirs Real Friends and Best Friends, and multiple award winners The Goose Girl, Book of a Thousand Days, and Newbery Honor recipient Princess Academy. She also penned three books for adults, beginning with Austenland,  which is now a major motion picture starring Keri Russell. With her husband, Dean Hale, she co-wrote over a dozen books, such as the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge and illustrated chapter book series The Princess in Black. They live with their four children near Salt Lake City, Utah.

Order a copy of This Book Is Not For You on Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Audible.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Resources:

https://shannonhale.com/

Real Friends

Best Friends

The Goose Girl

Book of a Thousand Days

Austenland

Rapunzel's Revenge

Marvel Unlimited

Discussion Topics:

In this episode, Bianca talks talk with bestselling author Gregory Maguire about his latest novel for kids, Cress Watercress.

Gregory is the author of the incredibly popular books in the Wicked Years series, including Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which inspired the musical. He is also the author of several books for children, including What-the-Dickens, a New York Times bestseller, and Egg & Spoon, a New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year. He lives outside Boston.

Order a copy of Cress Watercress on Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Audible.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Resources:

https://gregorymaguire.com/

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

What-the-Dickens: The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy

Egg & Spoon

https://www.davidlitchfieldillustration.com/

The Once and Future King

The Sword in the Stone

The Diamond in the Window

The Wizard of Oz

Wind in the Willows

Harriet the Spy

Discussion Topics:

In this episode, Bianca talks with multi-award-winning illustrator and author David Litchfield about his artwork in Cress Watercress, a novel written by Gregory Maguire, the author of the incredibly popular books in the Wicked Years series, including Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which inspired the musical.

David Litchfield started to draw when he was very young, creating comics for his older brother and sister. Since then his work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, and books and on T-shirts. His first picture book, The Bear and the Piano won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. He is also the illustrator of Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and War Is Over by David Almond. David lives with his family in Bedford, England.

Order a copy of Cress Watercress on Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Audible.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Resources:

https://www.davidlitchfieldillustration.com/

https://gregorymaguire.com/

When the Sky Glows

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

Cosgrove Hall

The Bright Agency

Camberwell College of Art

Easy Riders, Raging Bull by Peter Biskind

Discussion Topics:

In this episode, Bianca talks with the one and only John Schu about his debut picture book, This Is a School—a moving celebration of school and all it may signify: work and play,  creativity and trust, and a supportive community that extends beyond  walls

John Schu is the creator of the popular blog Mr. Schu  Reads, was the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs, a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University,  and a former classroom teacher and school librarian. He has visited schools worldwide and has met with over 130,000 students,  teachers, and administrators as he advocates for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, schools, and the libraries — and librarians — that connect them. This Is a School is his picture book debut. John Schu lives in Naperville, Illinois.

Order a copy of This Is a School on Bookshop.org or Amazon.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Resources:

https://www.johnschu.com/

http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/

The Gift of Story

Scholastic Book Fairs

Discussion Topics:

In this episode, Bianca talks with Diana Farid about her glorious coming-of-age novel written in verse, Wave, set in 1980s Southern California, about a Persian American girl who rides the waves, falls, and finds her way back to the shore.

Diana Farid is also the author of When You Breathe, published by Cameron Kids. She is a poet and a physician at Stanford  University. She lives in the Bay Area.

Order a copy of Wave on Bookshop.org or Amazon.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Resources:

Visit Diana Farid at https://dianafarid.com/.

When You Breathe, by Diana Farid

The Essential Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks

Surfer Magazine: https://www.surfer.com/

Discussion Topics:

In this episode, Bianca talks with Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth about her debut picture book What Will I Do with My Love Today? A wonderful addition to children's books by celebrities and picture books about love and friendship, Kristin Chenoweth's whimsical adventure about adopting a dog reminds young readers they have an abundance of love and kindness to share with all.

Kristin's career spans film, television, voiceover, and stage. She received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Pushing Daisies, won a Tony Award for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and received a Tony Award nomination for her original role of Glinda the Good Witch in the Broadway smash-hit Wicked. Kristin stars in the Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon! She also starred in the Netflix comedy feature Holidate, voiced the character Daisy in the HBO MAX film The Witches, and hosted the Food Network series Candy Land. Kristin remains a passionate supporter of charities, including the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center Foundation in her home state of Oklahoma, where she launched an annual Broadway Bootcamp providing young Broadway hopefuls with the opportunity to learn from mentors in the field.

Order a copy of What Will I Do with My Love Today? on Bookshop.org or Amazon.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Resources:

Visit Kristin Chenoweth at https://officialkristinchenoweth.com

Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center Foundation

Kirstin Chenoweth's Broadway Bootcamp

My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves

Discussion Topics: