Episodes
Nicole and Matthew discuss how this time of safe-at-home is giving readers and bookmakers opportunity to reimagine our world through activism, design, kindness, and mindfulness.
Published 05/14/20
Nicole and Matthew discuss the creative ways books and bookmakers are connecting with readers during stay-at-home regulations. Joining is special guest Christina Soontornvat, author of A Wish in the Dark and co-founder of the Everywhere Book Fest.
Published 04/30/20
Nicole and Matthew discuss food insecurity, how interconnected we are, and the capacity in all of us to be a helper.
Published 04/16/20
Nicole and Matthew look back on a year of the Kidlit These Days podcast and highlight some of their favorite episodes and interviews.
Published 04/02/20
Nicole and Matthew discuss the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of racism and social media, how the virus is impacting school kids and families, and how the kidlit community is responding.
Published 03/19/20
Nicole and Matthew discuss the need for more inclusive representation of all kids of bodies in children’s literature, accepting how different does not equal wrong, and the idea of normalizing “normal”. Joining is special guest Jessica Sanders, author of Love Your Body.
Published 03/05/20
Matthew and Nicole discuss combatting xenophobia by adopting a stance of cultural humility and helping shape children’s understanding of a broader world, rich with hundreds of cultures, languages, and people both very similar and very different from their own.
Published 02/20/20
Matthew and Nicole discuss the results of the 2020 Youth Media Awards, highlight some of their favorite books recognized, and how this awards year could impact the future of publishing. Joining is special guest Dr. Emily R. Aguiló-Pérez, who served on the 2018 Pura Belpré Award committee.
Published 02/06/20
Matthew and Jenn discuss anti-bias education, understanding our own white privilege, and listening to and learning about the challenges that many marginalized communities face.
Published 01/23/20
Karina and Matthew talk about the homelessness epidemic, how homelessness affects children, and the need for greater representation of poverty and homelessness in children's literature. Joining is special guest Alicia D. Williams, author of Genesis Begins Again.
Published 01/09/20
Karina and Matthew talk about the Youth Media Awards, educators doing mock book awards with their students, and we look back on some of our favorite Kidlit These Days episodes of the year. Joining is special guest Colby Sharp, 5th grade teacher, co-host of The Yarn podcast, editor of The Creativity Project, An Awesometastic Story Collection, and the co-author with Donalyn Miller of Game Changer: Book Access for All Kids.
Published 12/12/19
Karina and Matthew share gift ideas in the form of book boxes packed with choice reads and thoughtful add-ons perfect for the reader or readers in your life.
Published 11/14/19
Karina and Matthew talk about representation of neurodiverse individuals, giving authentic voice in children's literature, and building empathy for all students. Joining is special guest Elana K. Arnold, author of A Boy Called Bat and its sequels.
Published 10/31/19
Karina and Matthew talk about the climate change, young activists, and a needed willingness for adults to listen, not just to these young voices, but also to one another. Joining is special guest Carole Lindstrom, author of Girls Dance, Boys Fiddle and the upcoming We Are Water Protectors.
Published 10/17/19
Karina and Matthew talk about the booming graphic novel market, state book awards centering comics, and go-to resources for librarians and educators in support of reading comics. Joining is special guest Jen Wang co-founder and organizer of the annual Comics Arts Los Angeles festival and cartoonist of Stargazing and The Prince and the Dressmaker.
Published 10/03/19
Karina and Matthew talk about why books get banned, what book titles appear on ALA's Most Challenged Books list, and why Banned Books Week is a great time for celebrating. Joining is special guest Sonali Kumar, the Middle & Upper School Teacher-Librarian at the Washington International School in Washington, DC, and the author of the Unschooled Librarian blog.
Published 09/19/19
Karina and Matthew talk about looking honestly at history, tribal land acknowledgements, and engaging young people in the history going on today. Joining are special guests Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza, authors of An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People, adapted from the book by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz.
Published 09/05/19
Karina and Matthew talk about back-to-school anticipation, exceptional ways to get to school, and the resilience and determination each student possesses.
Published 08/22/19
Karina and Matthew talk about identifying a publisher by its "voice", focusing on the specific in order to connect with the universal, and they highlight some imprints and independent publishers who are centering diversity in different ways.
Published 08/08/19
Matthew and guest host Tirzah Price talk about the booming audiobook industry, the literacy benefits of audiobooks, and some of the stories and story narrators we can't stop thinking about.
Published 07/25/19
Karina and Matthew talk about the trailblazers in children's literature, including recognizing some of the first authors of color and indigenous authors to have their books traditionally published.
Published 07/11/19
Karina and Matthew talk about the LGBTQ representation in children's literature, anti-queerness and parallels with colorism and racism, and what LGBTQ-centered stories can mean for kids who have not yet encountered queer individuals.
Published 06/27/19
In this bonus courtesy of our SFF Yeah! podcast, Sharifah and Jenn discuss favorite kidlit from SF/F.
Published 06/20/19
Karina and Matthew talk about the ripples from recent synagogue attacks, books that center the Jewish faith and culture, and we're reminded that we are all made of stories.
Published 06/13/19
Karina and Matthew talk about the heart of the school, the disheartening trend of diminishing school libraries, and the inherent value of school libraries and school librarians in supporting a school, raising readers, and building global citizens.
Published 05/30/19