Worth Noting

Jon Scieszka (@Jon_Scieszka), editor of Guys Reads: Terrifying Tales, which is published by Walden Pond Press (@WaldenPondPress), and other of a ton of bestselling books including The Stinky Cheese Man, Knucklehead, and the Frank Einstein series, stops by the podcast to talk about storytelling with a purpose, appreciating the ways that kids are intelligent, and how giving readers choice in what they read is a huge thing.

Lou Anders (@LouAnders), author of Nightborn; Thrones and Bones (Book 2), which is published by Crown Books for Young Readers (@randomhousekids), stops by the podcast to talk about creating an accessible, appropriate, and modern secondary world fantasy, the epic task of world-planning, and creating games to play with readers.

Julie Sternberg (@SternbergJulie), author of Secrets Out!; The Top Secret Diary of Celie Valentine (Book 2), which is published by Boyds Mills Press (@boydsmillspress), stops by the podcast to talk about incorporating podcasts into the general school curriculum, what results when you book's structure is fighting with the format, and the happiest time in her childhood.

K.A. Holt (@karianneholt), author of House Arrest, which is published by Chronicle Books (@ChronicleKids, @ChronicleBooks), returns to the podcast to talk about writing out of order, pulling all the story threads apart, and accepting help doesn't mean you're accepting weakness.

Lizi Boyd, author illustrator of Big Bear, Little Chair, which is published by Chronicle Books (@ChronicleKids, @ChronicleBooks), returns to the podcast to talk about unexpected opposites, the way a good editor knows how to mine the good stuff out of you and your work, and the value of acknowledging you just need to "go and draw sheep."

Mike Curato (@MikeCurato), author illustrator of Little Elliot, Big Family, which is published by Henry Holt and Company (@HenryHolt, @MacKidsBooks),  returns to the podcast to talk about setting a story in a time predating modern technology, seeing your character come to life with the help of Merrymakers (@merrymakersinc), and celebrating the family that you have and the families that you make.

Alison Oliver, illustrator of the Babylit (@babylitbooks) board book series written by Jennifer Adams (@BabyLitJen) and published by Gibbs Smith Books (@GibbsSmithBooks),  stops by to talk about the way a parent can bring even more to the story, the highest compliment a book illustrator can receive, and the greatest character ever (Take a guess! You know you want to!).

Josh Funk (@joshfunkbooks), debut picture book author of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast, published by Serling Children's Books (@SterlingKids), stops by to talk about culinary chaos, emoting food, and creating story ideas by asking "what do I want to see illustrated?"

Joel Grayson (@BOWJoel), beloved bookseller at NYC's renowned Books of Wonder (@BooksofWonder), stops by to talk about who determines if it's a "boy book" or a "girl book", the two kinds of people who work in children's bookstores, and doing whatever it takes to get you to the story.

Rubin Pingk (@RubinPingk), debut picture book author illustrator of Samurai Santa, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (@SimonKIDS), stops by to talk about creating a book trailer, the hinderance of having everything at your fingertips, and how storytelling can be like a magic trick.