It’s time for another update in one of my favorite series on this podcast: Classics From Other Countries. Normally on this show we like to consider children’s picture books from America, but how fair is that? Why not consider picture books deemed classics in other countries? So let’s jump on a plane and fly ourselves to Australia for our first Mem Fox classic.
“Picture books are especially great in that way because they can be as funny for a toddler as they are for an older sister and the parents and the grandparents, too. If the whole family can share a good laugh, that’s pretty life affirming, no matter what’s going on in the news that day.” We talk with Adam Rubin about his latest book and why humor is key.
Blisteringly honest with a respect for young readers that is sadly uncommon, Jerry Craft has created something revolutionary: An everyday black boy in a comic for kids.
Kyle Lukoff discusses his trans boy picture book When Aidan Became a Brother and explains why, to make use of a Rudolph metaphor, “we’re all jerk reindeers AND misfit toys at the same time.”
“The pee is simply the warm, wet catalyst that exposes the characters personalities.” Zach and Bob discuss unicorn pee, the difficulties of painting wet pants, and how kindness is king.
You know the drill. In my day job as a Collection Development Manager I spend my time looking at, and subsequently purchasing, books for adults. As a result, I come across books that have distinct children’s literature connections, but in unexpected ways. Today we’ll consider three books with odd ties to the field I know […]
There are books for kids that dare to be more thoughtful than pulse pounding. If chosen freely by a child, they can unlock something inside. Something that means more to the person reading than anyone else. The Line Tender carries this promise in its pages. It’s the right book for the right reader.
Today we’re going to rate the swag of 2019. From the best of the best to the absolute worst. I warn you. Glitter is involved.
Kate set me up with a challenge. We’ve been deeming too many books as “classics” later. What book could I produce that would engender more of a debate? Well, after all these episodes (82!) I think I’ve figured out Kate’s least loved genre. It involves childlike art. It involves kids who aren’t entirely saintly. Really, it was just a matter of time before we got to this one.
Today we’re going to try out a new series. Jump into the wayback machine with me, and let’s revisit books that came out more than a decade ago, that were stellar at the time. Does anyone remember them today? Do kids still find them in libraries? Bookstores?
The Girl and the Wolf by Métis author Katherena Vermette and Cree- Métis artist Julie Flett, is an original fairytale in the purest sense of the term. Essentially, it takes a European idea and flips it on its head. A book that cracks the limitations of the fairy tale form wide open.
I can think of no better time to present to you the truly wonderful smattering of science and math titles for kids out in 2019 that struck me as worth knowing. They look to the skies, the plants, even inside our own craniums, so as to teach and instruct our young readers. Let us thank them, then, by taking a gander at their contents.
Tomi Ungerer died just this past year on February 9th so it seemed logical to me that we should try to do one of his books on the show. This begs the inevitable question, which one should we do? I had so many to consider. I decided to go with the only one I ever saw adapted by Weston Woods.
Story Seeds, a new storytelling podcast, is looking for creative and outgoing kids between the ages of 7-12 to feature on their show. The podcast matches kids’ story ideas with the imagination of children’s authors.
We are pleased to yet again feature a piece today from Dr. Ellen Handler Spitz. In this round-up Dr. Spitz considers some of the texts we use when considering the whole of children’s literature.
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