Vashti Harrison (@VashtiHarrison), author and illustrator of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, stops by the podcast to talk about finding the truth in her subjects' stories, seeking a language for serenity and happiness, and how being true means something.

Shawn Harris, illustrator of Her Right Foot, stops by the podcast to talk about the importance of balancing text and art, helping to create a casual text book, and reminding us what She means now.

Melissa Stewart (@mstewartscience), author of Can an Aardvark Bark?, stops by the podcast to talk about good solid science, layered text, and the pacing of nonfiction picture books.

Jannie Ho (@JannieHo), author and illustrator of Bear and Chicken, stops by the podcast to talk about having the sensibility of a kid, getting over fears, and loving colors.

Bao Phi, author of A Different Pond, stops by the podcast to talk about expressing gratitude, a generation working hard invisibly, and being thankful for having distance from childhood attitudes.

Live onstage at the Baltimore Book Festival with Ronald L. Smith (@RonSmithbooks), Renee Watson (@reneewauthor), and Carole Boston Weatherford.

Toni Yuly (@toniyuly), author and illustrator of Thank You Bees, stops by the podcast to talk about her simple and spontaneous message of gratitude.

Jared Reck (@reckj), debut author of A Short History of the Girl Next Door, stops by the podcast to talk about writing in front of students, books that can make you a sniveling mess, and the sting of unrequited love.

Julie Segal Walters (@J_S_Dub) and Brian Biggs (@mrbiggsdotcom), author and illustrator of This is Not a Normal Animal Book, stop by the podcast to talk about creating a metafiction book over animal classifications, incorporating the voices of a parent and a precocious child, and asking "what the heck is going on here?"

Tillie Walden (@TillieWalden), cartoonist of Spinning, stops by the podcast to talk about creating love and empathy with other people, the strong feeling of not wanting to be in fear of your own story, and the difficulty of defining coming out in any universal way.