Traci Sorell and Joseph Erb, author and illustrator of Clack, Clack! Smack! A Cherokee Stickball Story (Charlesbridge Publishing), talk about creating community and feeling as important as anybody else. Visit Traci online at https://www.tracisorell.com Visit Joseph online at https://www.josepherb.com You can pick up your own copy of Clack, Clack! Smack! A Cherokee Stickball Story (Charlesbridge Publishing) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping...

Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and LeUyen Pham, creators of the The Princess in Black series (Candlewick Press), talk about tapping into a world they created a decade ago. Visit Princess in Black online at https://www.princessinblack.com/ You can pick up your own copy of The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe (Candlewick Press) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. You can also use my affiliate link by clicking on the...

Booki Vivat, author and illustrator of Meet Me on Mercer Street (Scholastic Press), talks about the overwhelming sense of unfairness of a childhood friend moving away as well as the eventual understanding that things are a lot more complicated than you know. Visit Booki online at https://bookivivat.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Meet Me on Mercer Street (Scholastic Press) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. You can...

Supriya Kelkar, author and illustrator of And Yet You Shine: The Kohinoor Diamond, Colonization, and Resistance (Candlewick Press), talks about her middle grade picture book about colonization and the people of the southeastern diaspora. Visit Supriya online at https://supriyakelkar.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Barrio Rising: The Protest That Built Chicano Park (Dial Books) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. You...

María Dolores Águila, author Barrio Rising: The Protest That Built Chicano Park (Dial Books), illustrated by Magdalena Mora, talks about the building social capital through a story only we can tell. Visit María online at https://mariadoloresaguila.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Barrio Rising: The Protest That Built Chicano Park (Dial Books) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. You can also use my affiliate link by...

Wade Hudson and Don Tate, author and illustrator of The Day Madear Voted (Nancy Paulsen Books), talk about fighting for rights and books that save lives. Visit Wade online at https://justusbooks.com/founders/ Visit Don online at https://www.zettaelliott.com/ You can pick up your own copy of The Day Madear Voted (Nancy Paulsen Books) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. You can also use my affiliate link by clicking on the...

Zetta Elliott, author of The Oracle’s Door (Rosetta Press), talks about historical fantasy and explains that if people don’t understand Black history, it might be difficult to understand things going on in our country today. Visit Zetta online at https://www.zettaelliott.com/ You can pick up your own copy of The Oracle’s Door (Rosetta Press) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. You can also use my affiliate link by clicking...

Brian Selznick, illustrator of The Frindle Files (Random House Books for Young Readers), reminds us that sometimes we need others to push us further than we alone think we can go. Visit Brian online at https://brianselznick.com/ You can pick up your own copy of The Frindle Files (Random House Books for Young Readers) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. You can also use my affiliate link by clicking on the book’s name in our...

Lesléa Newman and Susan Gal, author and illustrator of Joyful Song: A Naming Story (Levine Querido), talk about the the first gift that you’re given in this world. Visit Lesléa online at https://lesleanewman.com/ Visit Susan online at https://www.galgirlstudio.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Joyful Song: A Naming Story (Levine Querido) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through https://bookshop.org/shop/ChildrensBkPod. I highly recommend...

Amanda Davis, author of 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag (Worthy Kids), talks about the importance of community and of sharing with other people when navigating grief. Visit Amanda online at https://www.amandadavisart.com/ You can pick up your own copy of 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag (Worthy Kids) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through https://bookshop.org/shop/ChildrensBkPod.  ...

James Ponti, author of The Sherlock Society (Aladdin Paperbacks), talks about the dynamic of constant change in series fiction. Visit James online at https://www.jamesponti.com/ You can pick up your own copy of The Sherlock Society (Aladdin Paperbacks) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through https://bookshop.org/shop/ChildrensBkPod. I highly recommend checking out the audiobook of The Sherlock Society or, really, any of James’ books! They are...

Dr. Seema Yasmin, author of The ABCs of Queer History (Workman Publishing), diversity upon diversity and queerness represented in fullness. Visit Seema online at https://seemayasmin.com You can pick up your own copy of The ABCs of Queer History (Workman Publishing) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through https://bookshop.org/shop/ChildrensBkPod. Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by...

Maddie Frost, illustrator and author of Wombats!: Go Camping (Viking Books for Young Readers), talks about the graphic novel space and new female creators of comics coming out of the woodwork. Visit Maddie online at https://www.maddie-frost.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Wombats!: Go Camping (Viking Books for Young Readers) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through https://bookshop.org/shop/ChildrensBkPod. Our podcast logo was created...

Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr, author and illustrator of Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie War (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers), talk about creating a nexus of goodwill and curiosity that draws into conversation people from all over the place. Visit Robbi and Matthew online at https://robbiandmatthew.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie War (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by...

Renée Watson and Bea Jackson, author and illustrator of Summer is Here (Bloomsbury Publishing), talk about capturing in book form all that summer brings back to you. Visit Renée Watson online at https://www.Renéewatson.net/ Visit Bea Jackson online at https://www.beagifted.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Summer is Here (Bloomsbury Publishing) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. Our podcast logo was created by Duke...

In this Summer Episode Swap, Tree House Together hosts Kara and “T” ask, “Have you ever thought about how all the things you eat start with dirt?” Whether growing food to eat or flowers for beauty, gardening can be a rewarding and fun activity to do as a family. From earthworms to tools to the right amount of water, Kara and “T” talk about all the ingredients needed to help a garden to grow. Visit the Tree House Together podcast online at Tree House Together. Our podcast logo was created by...

Loren Long, author illustrator of The Yellow Bus (Roaring Brook Press), talks about his contemplative exploration of the life of a bus. Visit Loren online at https://lorenlong.com/ You can pick up your own copy of The Yellow Bus (Roaring Brook Press) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org. Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).  Our music is by Podington Bear.  Podcast hosting by Libsyn.  You...

In this Summer Episode Swap, The Lil Leaders Podcast host Tina Shepardson talks about ways to make recess more inclusive. Essie shares her experiences of helping kids during recess who feel lonely and/or look sad.  How? By listening to them and at the same time trying to figure out the best way to help. Inspired by the wonderful picture book, The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld, Essie shows compassion, advocacy, empathy, patience, connection, and true friendship through her actions.  Visit...

Kari Lavelle, the author of the Butt or Face? series (Sourcebooks) and Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers), illustrated by Bryan Collier, talks about the research before the research in crafting her unique nonfiction series that uses play to engage readers of all ages. Visit Kari online at https://www.karilavelle.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Butt or Face? series (Sourcebooks) and Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones...

Justin Colón, the author of The Quacken (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), illustrated by Pablo Pino, talks about breaking the rules in the kidlit space and contributing to the horror/comedy picture book canon. Visit Justin online at https://justincolonbooks.com/ You can pick up your own copy of The Quacken (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org or by downloading the...

Carter Higgins, the author and illustrator of Circle Under Berry (Chronicle Books), Some of These are Snails (Chronicle Books), and her latest, Round and Round the Year We Go, talks about acts of creative defiance in bookmaking. Visit Carter online at https://www.carterhiggins.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Circle Under Berry (Chronicle Books), Some of These are Snails (Chronicle Books), and Round and Round the Year We Go wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent...

Elisa Boxer and Susanna Chapman, the author and illustrator of Covered in Color: Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Fabrics of Freedom, talk about memorializing the lives of two artists who did what everyone was telling them could not be done. Visit Elisa online at https://elisaboxer.com/ Visit Susanna online at https://susannachapman.com/ You can pick up your own copy of Covered in Color: Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Fabrics of Freedom (Abrams Books for Young Readers) wherever books are found....

In this Summer Episode Swap, Picture Book Podcast host Chris Marland shares his “Teachers That Inspire Us” episode featuring Why Teaching?, written by Dr. Jen Mott and illustrated by Sara Relojo.   Visit Picture Book Podcast online at Picture Book Podcast   You can pick up your own copy of Why Teaching? wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org or by downloading the audiobook through Libro.fm. You can also use my affiliate link...

Jon Klassen, author illustrator of The Skull (Candlewick Press), proposes there's something about books that make you braver. Visit Jon online at https://www.instagram.com/jonklassen You can pick up your own copy of The Skull (Candlewick Press) wherever books are found. Consider supporting independent bookstores by shopping through Bookshop.org or by downloading the audiobook through Libro.fm. You can also use my affiliate link by clicking on the book’s name in our show notes. Our podcast...