The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

In this episode of the Growing Readers Podcast, I talk with author Rajani LaRocca about Bracelets for Bina's Brothers, a picture book that celebrates diversity, math, and the power of storytelling!

Rajani LaRocca has burst into the world of children's books with a bunch  of incredible titles and there are many more on the way. Born in India,  raised in Kentucky, she now lives in Boston, where she practices  internal medicine and writes her heart out, sharing stories that connect  us to other people across distance, time, and culture. We talk mostly  about her latest picture book, Bracelets for Bina's Brothers, part of the Charlesbridge Storytelling Math series. We also chat briefly about her stunning middle-grade novel, Red, White, and Whole, written in verse about an Indian American girl whose life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia.

Order a copy of Bracelet's for Bina's Brothers via Bookshop.org

Order a copy of Bracelet's for Bina's Brothers via Amazon

Visit Rajani LaRocca at https://www.rajanilarocca.com/

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

In this episode of the Growing Readers Podcast, I talk with debut author Jasmine A. Stirling about A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, a picture book biography about the beloved and enduring writer and how she found her unique voice.

This conversation with Jasmine is equally as inspiring as it is empowering. You'll very quickly realize that her knowledge of Jane Austen is extensive. We learn why this historical figure is such an important role model for our children—both girls and boys. Jane Austen is known for her swoony romances, but there is so much more to her than we are sometimes led to believe. Jasmine wants young people to see that creative mastery is the product of experimentation, persistence, and life's hard-won battles.

Order a copy of A Most Clever Girl via Bookshop.org

Order a copy of Nicky & Vera via Amazon

Visit Jasmine A. Stirling at https://jasmineastirling.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/jasmine.a.stirling/

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

In this episode of the Growing Readers Podcast, I talk with bestselling superstar duo Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham about Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn, a delightful kitty and unicorn story that celebrates the magic of friendship—and being exactly who you want to be!

Is there anything that this pair of incredible women cannot do? Besides the multitude of books they have created individually, they have collaborated on a middle-grade graphic novel series (Real Friends), an early chapter book series (The Princess in Black), and now a picture book series. In this conversation, we take a deep dive into the adorable Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn and how their friendship led to its creation and allowed them to make a truly meaningful picture book.

Order a copy of Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn via Bookshop.org

Order a copy of Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn via Amazon

Visit Shannon Hale at https://shannonhale.com

Visit LeUyen Pham at https://leuyenpham.com

In this episode, Peter Sís and I talk about 'Nicky & Vera,' an incredibly poignant story of a quiet hero and the resilience of a young child of the Holocaust. We never intended to turn this over-the-phone chat about Nicky & Vera into a podcast, but it begged to be shared. We talk about what it means to be a hero, the research and history behind his new book, creating art during a pandemic, and so much more. 

Order a copy of Nicky & Vera via Bookshop.org

Order a copy of Nicky & Vera via Amazon