Book Party over Comedy Clubs: Fatherhood, Reading, and Andrew Ginsburg

In this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes author, stand-up comedian, and personal trainer Andrew Ginsburg to celebrate his powerful picture book, The Colors of My Sky.

Andrew shares the story of Lester, a blue butterfly whose mother only lets him play with other blue butterflies. At school, Lester wants to be friends with butterflies of many colors, but his mother keeps insisting that “blue is the finest butterfly.” Finally, Lester invites her to a party and gently shows her that the sky isn’t just blue—it can be gray, pink, orange, and more—each color reflected in his friends’ wings. Through this simple, kid-friendly story, Andrew explores themes of racism, exclusion, and acceptance in a subtle and accessible way.

Andrew talks about the real-life inspiration for the book: his children’s blue eyes, his own brown eyes, and a funny (and slightly brutal) comment from his son that got him thinking about how we put certain traits on a pedestal. He and Jed dive into how picture books can spark big conversations about diversity, change, and identity.

Listeners also hear about Andrew’s journey from personal training and stand-up comedy to writing for children, his love of school visits, and why reading aloud to his kids—“book party” every night—became more important to him than performing in comedy clubs. The episode is a warm reminder that reading together, embracing change, and celebrating differences can shape kinder, more open-hearted kids—and parents.