Today we welcome Suhasini Gupta of the Picture Book Peeps to the Curious Compassionate Podcast. Suhasini talks about the launch of her debut picture book, Kai Po Che: Mini’s Perfect Kite, how kites are like dreams, and how she got kids to fly kites inside. Suhasini describes how she went from engineering to writing, including reaching for emotions that were previously unaccessible. She talks about her ambitious two-year plan that got her to her first book deal, and how living in the US turned her into more of a reader and writer.

Suhasini’s debut picture book is Kai Po Che: Mini’s Perfect Kite, published by Gnome Road Publishing.

Find instructions on how to make your own kite with kids here: https://www.thesusankam.com/books/crafts

Find Suhasini on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesusankam/

The book Suhasini mentioned that inspired her is Five Point Someone: What Not to Do at IIT by Chetan Bhagat.

Thanks for listening!

Find the Picture Book Peeps on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picturebookpeeps/

In this episode of the Curious Compassionate, Emily Dangremond and Joyce Uglow discuss Joyce’s new book, STUCK: the Story of La Brea Tar Pits. We discuss the process of finding a topic to write about related to tar pits and fossils; scientific research and working with scientists that vetted the book; and how Joyce became a picture book writer. Joyce quizzes Emily on which animal was found the most in the tar pits, and which plant—see if you can guess correctly!

Find Joyce Uglow at the following links:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jpuglow

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jpuglow/?hl=en

Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jpuglow.bsky.social

Substack https://substack.com/@jpuglow

Website: https://joyceuglowauthor.com

Hunger. It’s something all of us feel at some point in our lives but our experiences vary almost infinitely. In this episode of The Curious Compassionate, author Roxanne Chester talks with author Gina Soldano-Herrle about her picture book, Nia’s Rescue Box, and the inspiration behind it.

“I wanted to make it as accessible as possible. Everyone’s been hungry before. But there’s a difference between being hungry and being hungry and not knowing the next time you’ll be able to eat again.” – Gina Soldano-Herrle

Get ready because we’re going for it–shame, embarrassment, needing help. All kinds of things that we may try to avoid or not talk about are being brought to light today.

In the United States, 40% of all food ends up as waste. That equals about 133 billion pounds (yes with a B) every YEAR. That’s just one country. 

“Anyone can shop. You don’t have to qualify, you don’t have to justify your experience being there. You don’t have to explain to anyone why you need help.” – Gina Soldano-Herrle

Nia’s Rescue Box is a doorway into a possible solution for hunger and waste. Sometimes it’s asking for help or offering it before one can ask, sometimes donating food when you know you won’t eat it before it goes bad, sometimes asking a store what happens to the food that’s past expiration date but still good and forming a partnership. 

These are all ways to get involved, to be a part of a movement to revalue food and revalue people.

“I saw how it was really this dual purpose solution. It’s not just helping one area, it’s not just providing food for people in the community, it's also preventing food from being wasted.” – Gina Soldano-Herrle

A Few Highlights:

* The difference between a food bank and a food rescue.

* Ways to ask for help and how to embrace the idea of community and building a network of support.

* Sometimes it’s better to offer help because most of us do feel uncomfortable asking.

* Gina’s time at the inspirational food rescue behind the book.

* Beet chips.

* Little free libraries and little free pantries.

* Making a difference by being open to inviting people in.

* Get your child involved, pick out 3 things at the store to donate to a local pantry.

* Fermented bananas, mangoes, liquefied sweet potatoes, and watermelon popcorn.

Links🔗:

Gina’s website

Gina on Instagram, Twitter, and Substack

Picture Book Peeps on Instagram

Book Recommendations📚:

Nia’s Rescue Box by Gina Soldano-Herrle, illustrated by Abi Joy Eaton available everywhere books are sold including Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Peña, pictures by Christian Robinson

Lulu and The Hunger Monster by Erik Talkin, illustrated by Sheryl Murray

Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki

Lunch Every Day by Katherine Otoshi

Maddi’s Fridge by Luis Brandt, illustrated by Vin Vogel

Everybody Eats by Jasmine Crowe, illustrated by Nadia Fisher

“Here at The Curious Compassionate we use picture books to build compassion and empathy, one picture book at a time. And we encourage readers to reach out and build understanding.” – Roxanne Chester

Tools🧰:

Vindeket Foods (Food Rescue in Fort Collins, CO)

Food Rescue US

Have a book for us that isn’t listed above? Or is there a topic that you want us to explore on a future episode? Leave a comment below. Thanks for listening!

“A book is only 32 pages so I really need to be concise with words. Each word holds weight. I would say–I would argue that creative writing is even harder because it’s not just about clarity, it really is about beauty, and the art, and the flow. That is creative writing.” – Roxanne Chester

A Few Highlights:

The inspiration behind the book.

The bag that holds everything.

How do writing and law intersect?

Favorite resources for people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

Best questions from readers: what is your favorite frosting on a cupcake?

Creating a safe space to talk about difficult questions.

“I would want readers to build empathy and to be able to put themselves in another person’s shoes and to really see a different perspective.” – Roxanne Chester

Links🔗:

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

The New York Writers Coalition’s Black Writers Program

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

Roxanne’s website

Tools🧰:

National Coalition for the Homeless

National Alliance to End Homelessness

Project Homeless Connect

Our Community LA

Stay tuned for the next episode with The Curious Compassionate and make sure you’re up to date by subscribing (100% free always) today!

If you’ve ever been or considered what it is like to be unhoused, you won’t want to miss this episode. As a topic that is often avoided or literally hidden from view, we dive into the reality of homelessness in the United States.

It looks different than you’d expect and is more prevalent than you can imagine. So, how do we have a conversation about it with our children? Well, you’ll have to listen in to find out.

“For younger children, it’s about keeping my answer simple, speaking truthfully. So I’m explaining how homelessness is not a crime. It is a problem and people can become homeless for lots of different reasons.”

–Roxanne Chester

Book Recommendations📚:

This Is My Bag: A Story of the Unhoused by Roxanne Chester, illustrated by Abraham Matias

The Bright Side by Chad Otis

Dear Librarian by Lydia M. Sigworth, illustrated by Romina Galotta

The One with the Scraggly Beard by Elizabeth Withey, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield

A Kid is A Kid is A Kid by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Qin Leng

Lunch Every Day by Kathryn Otoshi

“I feel community starts with the people next to you. So it’s about talking to your neighbor, having a neighborhood party, engaging and connecting with your community.”

–Roxanne Chester

Recommended Resources 🧰:

National Coalition for the Homeless

National Alliance to End Homelessness

Project Homeless Connect

Our Community LA

“I feel it’s about starting small, with we. And we can start at a very individual person next to you level, and then it grows bigger and bigger. And that’s how we actually get to a community of we.”

–Roxanne Chester

Have a book for us that isn’t listed above? Or is there a topic that you want us to explore on a future episode? Leave a comment below. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe now (100% free) and never miss another episode.

“When you tell a story enough times, it needs to be written down.” — Wendy Goldstein

A Few Highlights:

* Oscar’s dance moves and the legacy they’ve inspired as a therapy dog.💃🦮🐕‍🦺

* What happens when circumstances conspire to make achieving your therapy dog certification impossible?

* What can a dog do? You will definitely be surprised.

* The truth behind his fictional story.🐕‍🦺🐶🦮🐕

* Stay tuned for upcoming adventures in The Oscar Tales!

Links🔗:

Oscar’s Blue Bandana by Wendy Goldstein

Oscar Tales - Adventures of Oscar, Wendy’s Therapy Dog

Tools🧰:

Dog Cognition Lab

American Kennel Club - Canine Good Citizen

American Kennel Club - Therapy Dog Program

New York Therapy Animals

Stay tuned for the next episode with The Curious Compassionate and make sure you’re up to date by subscribing (100% free always) today!

In this episode, Picture Book Peeps members Christine J. Ko and Wendy Goldstein talk about animals, particularly domesticated ones such as dogs, and what they mean to us.

Wendy is the author-illustrator of Oscar’s Blue Bandana which is inspired by her own Havanese dog Oscar and his adventures in training to become a service animal.

Whether we have pets or other domesticated animals in our own homes or not, they play a big part in our lives from how we interact with them in public to how we produce much of our food.

We hope you enjoy this episode and the recommended list of books and resources below!📚📚

Picture books have always historically used animals for a reason because they’re not threatening to the kids. Yet, the messages they’re sending to the kids are important themes for children to understand. — Wendy Goldstein

Further Reading📚:

Kids:

Oscar’s Blue Bandana by Wendy Goldstein

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne illustrated by Ernest Shepard

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber

Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle illustrated by Lian Cho

The Scariest Kitten in The World by Kate Messner illustrated by MacKenzie Haley

How to Get Your Octopus to School  by Becky Scharnhorst illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett

Pig and Horse and The Something Scary by Zoey Abbott

Adults:

Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond by Alexandra Horowitz

Being a Dog: Following the Dog into the World of Smell by Alexandra Horowitz

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

What is A Dog?: A Memoir by Chloe Shaw

Resources:

Dog Cognition Lab

American Kennel Club - Canine Good Citizen

American Kennel Club - Therapy Dog Program

New York Therapy Animals

Oscar Tales - Adventures of Oscar, Wendy’s Therapy Dog

Have a book for us that isn’t listed above? Or is there a topic that you want us to explore on a future episode? Leave a comment below. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe now (100% free) and never miss another episode.

“Plants are people too! Trees are individual beings that are alive, they have their own lifetimes. They can’t run and hide, they can’t attack the way we think of animals doing that. But they are living beings.” - Emily Dangremond

A Few Highlights:

* Caterpillar outbreaks, defoliated trees, and juneberry season all played a part in the inspiration for Meet the Trees.🌲🌳

* Native planting/landscaping including Serviceberry trees otherwise known as Saskatoons (in Canada) – my new favorite word.

* The hidden history of the pine tree from the original drafts and possibly some more trees to meet in the future?🌲🌳🌴

* The differences between Aspen and Birch trees.

* Survival tactics trees have evolved as they face different disasters, pests, and challenging environments.

“Learn more and get to know the plants, animals, and fungi in your own neighborhood.” - Emily Dangremond

Links🔗:

Kids Questions Answered (Emily’s podcast)

Meet the Trees by Emily Dangremond illustrated by Summer Morrison (preorder before July 9!) on Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes and Noble

Tools🧰: 

Seek App by iNaturalist 

Merlin Bird Identification App

Organizations-Birds🦉: 

National Audubon Society

The New York City Bird Alliance

Nature Conservation🌱:

The Nature Conservancy

Mission Blue

Ocean Conservancy

World Wildlife Foundation (WWF)

Sierra Club

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Arbor Day Foundation

International Database of Native Plant Societies

Check out your local science or natural history museums for other conservation programs in your area.

Stay tuned for the next episode with The Curious Compassionate and make sure you’re up to date by subscribing (100% free always) today!

In this episode, Roxanne Chester and Gina Soldano-Herrle talk about co-Picture Book Peep Member Emily Dangremond’s book, Meet the Trees. Emily’s book inspires a personal connection with readers to each of the trees depicted (Juneberry, Aspen, Oak) as their stories unfold.

As nature is such a huge force in our world, this conversation serves as more of a spark to alight whichever trail you choose to follow. We cover a wide range of natural relationships from how we feel about the moon to trees and even natural disasters. 

Find the tornado (or grasshopper) and create that personal connection with nature as you follow your curiosity.🦗🌪️ -Gina Soldano-Herrle

Within the natural world, there are many avenues one can explore. In our conversation, we talk about movements such as The Bird Alliance within the United States and how some conservation organizations are moving to more inclusive practices.

We would like to thank authors Lynn Becker and Karen Greenwald for sharing their thoughts with us about the moon and natural disasters respectively. 

Nature is versatile and ever changing. It can be calming, destructive, or regenerative. Whatever your avenue into explore the natural world is (I highly recommend tardigrades!), remember that all relationships, even those with unstoppable forces start with respect.

“We can’t control nature but we can control our own behavior and just show the respect to the natural world it deserves.” - Karen Greenwald

Further Reading📚:

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the beautiful books about nature out there. These titles aim to inspire you to explore further.

Plants🌲🌳🌷

Meet The Trees by Emily Dangremond illustrated by Summer Morrison

My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me by Roxanne Troup illustrated by Kendra Binney

Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees by Michelle Schaub illustrated by Anne Lambelet

The Wall and the Wild by Christina Dendy illustrated by Katie Rewse

Stand as Tall as the Trees: How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest by Patricia Gualinga and Laura Resau illustrated by Vanessa Jaramillo

Eco Girl by Ken Wilson-Max

What the Garden Tells Me by Monica Mikai

Here Are the Seeds by JaNay Brown-Wood illustrated by Olivia Amoah

Be a Tree by Maria Gianferrari illustrated by Felicita Sala

Animals🦌🐍

Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth’s Colorful Creatures by Susan Johnston Taylor illustrated by Annie Bakst

An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story by Laura Roettiger illustrated by Debbie Palen

Jumper: A Day in The Life of The Backyard Jumping Spider by Jessica Lanan

Worm and Caterpillar are Friends by Kaz Windness

Little Otter by Julie Abery illustrated by Suzie Mason

Just a Worm by Marie Boyd

Nudi Gill: Poison Powerhouse of the Sea by Bonnie Kelso

The Three Little Tardigrades by Sandra Fay

Trick or Treat Bugs to Eat by Tracy C. Gold illustrated by Nancy Leschnikoff

Up, Up and Away: Monarch Butterflies by Marta Magellan illustrated by Mauro Magellan with photos by James Gersing

If Tigers Disappeared by Lily Williams

Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks by Jolene Gutiérrez

Bird House by Blanca Gómez

Natural Events🌪️🌋⛈️

The Mud Angels: How Students Saved the City of Florence by Karen Greenwald illustrated by Olga Lee

Fire Flight: A Wildfire Escape by Cedar Pruitt illustrated by Chiara Fedele

I Am a Tornado by Drew Beckmeyer

A Party for Clouds: Thunderstorms (Bel the Weather Girl) by Belinda Jensen illustrated by Renee Kurilla 

The Sky Stirs Up Trouble: Tornadoes (Bel the Weather Girl) by Belinda Jensen illustrated by Renee (contains tornado cake recipe)

Water🌊🌊

Tell Me about Oceans by Lisa Varchol Perron illustrated by Jennifer Falkner

The Planet We Call Home by Aimee Isaac illustrated by Jaime Kim

Aqua Boy by Ken Wilson-Max

Great Carrier Reef by Jessica Stremer illustrated by Gordy Wright

Deep, Deep Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench by Lydia Lukidis

Land

A Stone is A Story by Leslie Barnard Booth illustrated by Marc Martin

Hide-and-Seek by Molly Cranch

Over and Under the Canyon by Kate Messner illustrated by CHristopher Silas Neal

Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd illustrated by Abigail Halpin

Look by Gabi Snyder illustrated by Samantha Cotterill

Outside In by Deborah Underwood illustrated by Cindy Derby

Beyond🌝🌌

June Moon by Lynn Becker illustrated by Nate Carvalho

Max and the Tag Along Moon by Floyd Cooper

River of Dust: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon by Jilanne Hoffman illustrated by Eugenia Mello

Light Speaks by Christine Layton illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell

Humongous Fungus by Lynne Boddy illustrated by Wenjia Tang

Know someone who might enjoy this, share this episode with the button below.

Resources:

If you want to get involved, learn more, or prepare to connect with the natural world, check out the tools and organizations below.

Tools🧰: 

Seek App by iNaturalist 

Merlin Bird Identification App

Organizations-Birds🦉: 

National Audubon Society

The New York City Bird Alliance

Nature Conservation🌱:

The Nature Conservancy

Mission Blue

Ocean Conservancy

World Wildlife Foundation (WWF)

Sierra Club

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Arbor Day Foundation

International Database of Native Plant Societies

Check out your local science or natural history museums for conservation programs in your area.

Other Useful Links🔗:

Lynn Becker

Karen Greenwald

Have a book for us that isn’t listed above? Or is there a topic that you want us to explore on a future episode? Leave a comment below. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe now (100% free) and never miss another episode.

We are so happy to feature one of our own Picture Book Peeps, Christine J. Ko today. She is in conversation with Gina Soldano-Herrle about her book Sound Switch Wonder (coauthored with Owen Whang and illustrated by Katie Crumpton) as well as her writing journey. 🖋️

I just wanted a book with a main character with cochlear implants without it being about them being deaf…Just a book with them out there in the world. - Christine J. Ko

Here are some highlights:

* The 5 years it took her from first draft to book!

* Examining writing and identity—can one write a fictional book outside of their experience? The fallacy within that idea as well as the need for yes and.

* Her hopes for the diverse books movement to promote curiosity. Curiosity about other experiences outside of ourselves.

* Increasing awareness can form bridges between us. This and the books that do this can also help us modify our beliefs because we all have bias. It’s a part of being a human.

* Common questions from her readers and misconceptions about sign language.

* The experience of coauthoring a book with her child. He’s a debut author at 13!

This is what literature’s about, making a new world. - Christine J. Ko

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources:

AG Bell

Hands and Voices

John Tracy Center

Gallaudet University

American School for The Deaf

Recommended Reading and Watching📚: 

Sound Switch Wonder by Christine J. Ko and Owen Whang, illustrated by Katie Crumpton

Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language by Joanna Que and Charina Marquez, illustrated by Fran Alvarez, translated by Karen Llagas

Mystery of Aaravos

Deaf U.

CODA

If there are books or shows you’d recommend with deaf or hard of hearing representation, let us know in the comments below!

Links:

Christine J. Ko on Twitter, Instagram and her website

The Sound Switch Wonder website

Sound Switch Wonder at Turner Publishing, Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon

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