Who illustrated her first book? What does her new puppy look like? What’s she working on now?And how will she spend her MacArthur grant money? (Spoiler Alert: It’s an incredible answer) I talk to Jacqueline Woodson about all manner of things.
In Which the Blogger Conducts an Interview with a MacArthur Fellow (Hint: It’s Jackie Woodson!)
October 15, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Andreao and Elliotto Presento Sharko and Hippo: A Comic Interview
October 14, 2020 by Leave a Comment
Two yuksters yuk it up. If you’re a fan of hijinks, the Marx Brothers, and general silliness, you’re probably not going to want to miss this illustrated interview between the creators of Shark & Hippo.
Spread a Little Sunshine: A Classic Returns and an Interview with Barbara Bemelmans
October 13, 2020 by 2 Comments
“I never remember him sitting around in his pajamas with no plans for the day.” I interview Barbara Bemelmans, daughter of Ludwig Bemelmans (creator of Madeline), about the republication of a near forgotten classic.
Writing for the Least Boring People She Knows: Annie Barrows Talks Iggy
October 7, 2020 by Leave a Comment
“Grownups are delicate and easily upset.” Annie Barrows comes to the blog and her words are like a breath of fresh air. We talk about her Iggy books and why kids that would lick a goldfish on a dare if you ask them to, are a delight. Funniest interview you’ll read all day.
Meeting a Need: An Interview with Christine Mapondera-Talley, Founder of Global Kidz House
September 30, 2020 by 1 Comment
“I want my children and their friends to be able to read stories set in a big city like Lagos, Nigeria, a small-town high school in Norton, Zimbabwe, a suburban playground in Cairo, Egypt, a beach town or even a rural town anywhere.” A talk with Christine Mapondera-Talley, founder of the publisher Global Kidz House.
Above the Rim: An Interview with Jen Bryant and Frank Morrison
September 29, 2020 by Leave a Comment
At a time when athletes take a stand by sitting or kneeling down, this biography of Elgin Baylor, the first NBA to boycott games, has rarely been so timely. I talk with its creators about the quiet man that effectively changed the sport of basketball.
Trailer Premiere & Interview: Becoming a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery
September 24, 2020 by 2 Comments
She writes for children. She writes for adults. She writes and she writes and she writes. Now she has a new book out and a new trailer. I talk to Sy Montgomery about what it really takes to be a “good creature” in 2020.
Space Operas and Feline Martial Arts: An Interview with Yehudi Mercado
September 23, 2020 by Leave a Comment
In a publishing market where I can count all the Latinx comic creators for kids on one hand, artists like Yehudi Mercado are more needed than ever. Now he has two books out in 2020 with more on the way, and I just gotta ask the guy one thing: Star Wars or Star Trek?
Return of the Classics: An Interview with Don and Audrey Wood
September 14, 2020 by
“They’re not arguing. They’re writing.” Two classics by Don and Audrey Woods are out this year, remastered entirely. An unflinchingly honest look at publishing in the past, republishing today, and the logistics of remastering a beloved classic or two.
A Thousand Glass Flowers Is Never Enough: An Interview with Evan Turk
September 10, 2020 by
Early Renaissance feminism? Evan Turk delves deep in a talk about that precise topic, as well as informational fiction, Venice, glassblowing, and the art of using oil pastels and colored pencils on top of vivid watercolors.
Dual Cover Reveal & Interview: NO WAY, THEY WERE GAY? Hidden Lives and Secret Loves by Lee Wind
September 9, 2020 by
He’s been blogging about LGBTQIA+ kid and teen books for 13 years. His latest middle grade work of nonfiction reexamines the history so many kids haven’t been taught, shining a light on some of the amazing stuff he’s discovered.
Peter Brown Cover Reveal & Interview: Fred Gets Dressed
September 8, 2020 by
Think pink. Peter Brown premieres his latest picture book’s cover and talks at length with me about his process.
Deadpan, Page Turns, Storytelling & Digestion: An Interview with Adam Rex
September 3, 2020 by
Unlike most artists, Adam Rex alternates between writing & illustrating his own books and having others illustrate for him. After I saw two different 2020 titles, both equal in brilliance, I knew I had to ask the man a few questions.
The Pot Boileth Over: An Interview with Daniel Nayeri
August 19, 2020 by
Back in January I premiered the cover and an excerpt from Daniel Nayeri’s middle grade novel/memoir Everything Sad Is Untrue. As such, it is with extreme pleasure that I’m interviewing Daniel here today. We talk Sheherezade, stews, bulls, his mom, and why he should be writing the next Mandy Moore-worthy classic.
Fauja Singh Keeps Going: An Interview with Scholar and Activist Dr. Simran Jeet Singh
August 12, 2020 by
When a 100-year-old athlete in a turban popped up in an Adidas ad, Dr. Simran Jeet Singh immediately wanted to know more. In the end, he wrote a picture book biography of the world’s oldest marathon runner. We talk ageism, Sikh representation in picture books, and more.
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