Lucy Ruth Cummins (@lucyruth), author-illustrator of A Hungry Lion, or a Dwindling Assortment of Animals, stops by the podcast to talk about knowing when to stop, playing it close to your chest, and the essential role of predators when make-believe playing as animals.

Esme Shapiro (@EsmeShapiro), author-illustrator of Ooko, stops by the podcast to talk about creating art intuitively, the many rebirths of her protagonist fox, and feeling connected to what she's doing.

Minh Le (@bottomshelfbks) and Isabel Roxas (@studioroxas), author and illustrator respectively of Let Me Finish!, stop by the podcast to talk about writing yourself into a corner, putting an idea out into the world to fail, and how much the interplay between text and illustration makes or breaks the book.

John David Anderson (@anderson_author), author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day, stops by the podcast to talk about trying to find the hero of the story, the shared narrative that exists among any group of friends, and the presence of Obi Wan Kenobi teachers.

Kelly Light (@KellyLight), author/illustrator of Louise and Andie: The Art of Friendship, the sequel to 2014's Louise Loves Art, stops by the podcast to talk about drawing from her imagination, what happens when a teacher really notices and supports, and having similar interests, but seeing things differently.

Lisa Brown (@lisabrowndraws), author/illustrator of The Airport Book, stops by the podcast to talk about text thievery, gender parity, and matching people to their luggage.

Jerzy Drozd (@Jerzy), creator of Boulder and Fleet, stops by the podcast to talk about practical ways to be a good person, why kids need to be reading comics now more than ever, and a cartoonist's greatest allies.

Kate DiCamillo, author Raymie Nightingale and the 2016 National Summer Reading Champion, stops by the podcast to talk about reasons to read this summer, some titles from her recommended reading list, and her habit of always making other people read books.

Scott McCormick (@I_am_Mr_Pants) and R.H. Lazzell, author and illustrator team behind Mr. Pants: Camping Catastrophe and other books in the Mr. Pants series, stop by the podcast to talk about breaking convention, kids who never read, and how to remain funny.

Christopher Silas Neal (@csneal), debut author/illustrator of Everyone..., stops by the podcast to talk about a big philosophy captured in a few words, the universality of feelings, and making space for the sadness along with the happiness.