The Children's Book Podcast

Exploring big ideas and the way that stories can help us feel seen, understood, and valued. The Children's Book Podcast features insightful and sincere interviews with authors, illustrators, and everyone involved in taking a book from drawing board to bookshelf. Hosted by a teacher and school librarian, each episode seeks to connect kids and listeners of all ages to powerful, impactful, and lasting stories, and the people who tell them.

Books Help You to Know Yourself with Jon Klassen 06/18/2024

Going All-In on Interests with Lynne Kelly 06/11/2024

Perfectly Lovable Exactly the Way You Are with Kaz Windness 06/05/2024

Whale Fall by Melissa Stewart 05/28/2024

The Wild Ones by Megan Lacera and Jorge Lacera 05/21/2024

No World Too Big edited by Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley 05/14/2024

The Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker 05/08/2024

Look Up!: Fontaine the Pigeon Starts a Revolution by Britt Gondolfi and Amanda Romanick 04/30/2024

A Work In Progress by Jarrett Lerner 04/28/2024

Unicorn Boy by Dave Roman 04/19/2024

Martina Has Too Many Tías by Emma Otheguy 04/12/2024

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo 04/05/2024

I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots by Lid’ya Rivera 03/29/2024

Dim Sum, Here We Come! by Maple Lam 03/22/2024

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu 03/15/2024

Mirror to Mirror by Rajani LaRocca 03/06/2024

Make Way for Fenway by Victoria J Coe 02/28/2024

Rainbow Shopping by Qing Zhuang 02/21/2024

Raising a Hero by Laura Numeroff 02/16/2024

The Sydney Taylor Book Award 2024 Winners, Honors, and Notable Books 02/09/2024

Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck 01/31/2024

The Fire of Stars by Kirsten W. Larson 01/24/2024

This is Not My Home by Eugenia Yoh and Vivienne Chang 01/17/2024

You Are a Universe with Jason Chin 09/07/2023

You Are a Universe with Jason Chin Jason Chin shares , a dive into the microscopic building blocks of life. BOOK DESCRIPTION: by Jason Chin Jason Chin, winner of the Caldecott Medal for Watercress, dives into the microscopic building blocks of life in this companion to the award-winning Your Place in the Universe. In Your Place in the Universe, Jason Chin zoomed outward, from our planet, solar system, and galaxy to the outer reaches of the observable universe. Now, Chin reverses course, zooming in past our skin to our cells, molecules, and atoms, all the way down to particles so small we can't yet even measure them. Like its companion, The Universe in You is a mind-boggling adventure that makes complex science accessible and enjoyable to readers of any age. Impeccably researched, wholly engrossing, and with extensive backmatter for additional learning, The Universe in You is another knockout from the award-winning creator of Redwoods, Grand Canyon, and other distinguished works of nonfiction for young readers. ADDITIONAL LINKS: Jason Chin website - Purchase the Book - by Jason Chin TALK ABOUT THE EPISODE: What is the biggest thing you know on Earth? What about the smallest? How does your size compare to these things? How does it make you feel to know that you are made of the same molecules and atoms that make up every single thing in the universe? What do you wonder about things bigger than you? What do you wonder about things smaller than you? CREDITS: This podcast episode of The Children’s Book Podcast was written, edited, and produced by Matthew Winner. For a full transcript of this episode, visit . Write to me or send me a message at . Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (). Our music is by Podington Bear. Podcast hosting by Libsyn. You can support the show and buy me a coffee at . We are a proud member of Kids Listen, the best place to discover the best in kids podcasts. Learn more at . Fellow teachers and librarians, want a way to explore building a stronger culture of reading in our communities? In The Reading Culture podcast, Beanstack co-founder Jordan Bookey hosts conversations that dive into beloved authors' personal journeys and insights into motivating young people to read. And I am a big fan! Check out with Jordan Bookey, from Beanstack. Available wherever podcasts are found. DISCLAIMER: Bookshop.org affiliate links provided for any book titles mentioned in the episode. Bookshop.org support independent bookstores and also shares a small percentage of any sales made through this podcast back to me, which helps to fund production of this show. /episode/index/show/793f0cfc-f199-4564-af9c-d6dcc5aa97d0/id/27940497

One Hundred Percent Loving Who We Are As Humans with NoNieqa Ramos (R) 08/31/2023

This is a Story with John Schu and Lauren Castillo (R) 08/17/2023

The Power in Our Hands with Torrey Maldonado (R) 08/10/2023

Your Story Matters with Alphabet Rockers (R) 08/03/2023

The Common Language of Tea with Andrea Wang 07/27/2023

The Common Language of Tea with Andrea Wang Andrea Wang shares , a story that reminds us that when you're looking to communicate with people, you look for a common bond. BOOK DESCRIPTION: by Andrea Wang; illustrated by Hyewon Yum Though they may speak different languages, kids from all over the world come together to enjoy the shared pastime of tea in this delicious book for young readers. When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can't speak English, neither can anyone else. That's when she has a brilliant idea to host a tea party and bring them all together. Luli removes her teapot, thermos, and teacups from her bag and calls out "Chá!" in her native Chinese. One by one, her classmates pipe up in recognition: in Russian, Hindi, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili. Tea is a tasty language they all know well, and it gives them a chance to share and enjoy each other's company. When all the tea is gone and it's time for dessert, Luli gets to use her favorite English word, cookie! After that, the playroom isn't so quiet. Informed by her own experience as the child of Chinese immigrant parents, Andrea Wang makes the point that when you're looking to communicate with people, you look for a common bond. The word for "tea" is similar in many languages, and tea becomes the unifying metaphor that brings a diverse group of children together. Additional material at the back of the book explores the rich and ancient history of tea drinking across cultures all around the world and contains maps, statistics, and fascinating details that will delight young readers. NOTABLE QUOTES: (7:33) “I write the kind of stories I do to keep a connection to [my parents]. And it's sort of my way of keeping a conversation with them because they're no longer with us. I feel like I didn't really understand my parents until I was a grownup and what they had gone through in their childhoods in China. And so this is just my way of honoring them and writing about some of the things that we shared as I was growing up with them.” (8:31) “It's really hard to give up everything you've ever known and move somewhere completely different, where you don't speak the language that well or at all.” (13:45) “Just being respectful of people from different cultures is huge. Just instead of reacting with fear, but reacting with curiosity perhaps.” (14:19) “We all have our own story that's going on from day to day. And then, when someone comes in or we're put into a new situation, we're suddenly thrust into the middle of someone else's story. I. We have to observe and react and figure out what's going on.” (18:22) “Reach out and make a new friend. You might not think that they look like you or that you have anything in common, but if you just try a little bit, share some of yourself, like Luli shared some of herself and her culture, you might find that you actually have a lot in common.” ADDITIONAL LINKS: Andrea Wang website - Purchase the Book - by Andrea Wang; illustrated by Hyewon Yum TALK ABOUT THE EPISODE: Have you ever had tea? What kind of tea did you have last? Were you drinking tea with someone else? Where were you? Try to bring back memories of why, what, when, where, and why in order to bring even more details to mind. Have you ever welcomed a new student into your classroom? What words or actions did you share to help make that person feel more comfortable and welcomed? What things did you and your class do to get to know the new person better? What does it mean to belong? How does it feel to belong? What types of words or actions could you share with someone new in order to make them feel like they belong? CREDITS: This podcast episode of The Children’s Book Podcast was written, edited, and produced by Matthew Winner. For a full transcript of this episode, visit . Write to me or send me a message at . Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (). Our music is by Podington Bear. Podcast hosting by Libsyn. You can support the show and buy me a coffee at . We are a proud member of Kids Listen, the best place to discover the best in kids podcasts. Learn more at . Fellow teachers and librarians, want a way to explore building a stronger culture of reading in our communities? In The Reading Culture podcast, Beanstack co-founder Jordan Bookey hosts conversations that dive into beloved authors' personal journeys and insights into motivating young people to read. And I am a big fan! Check out with Jordan Bookey, from Beanstack. Available wherever podcasts are found. DISCLAIMER: Bookshop.org affiliate links provided for any book titles mentioned in the episode. Bookshop.org support independent bookstores and also shares a small percentage of any sales made through this podcast back to me, which helps to fund production of this show. /episode/index/show/793f0cfc-f199-4564-af9c-d6dcc5aa97d0/id/27574527

Our Differences Are a Good Thing with Tiffany Jewell 07/20/2023

Our Differences Are a Good Thing with Tiffany Jewell Tiffany Jewell shares , a book that teaches young children the words, language, and methods to recognize racism and injustice--and what to do when they encounter it at home, at school, and in the media they watch, play, and read. BOOK DESCRIPTION: by Tiffany Jewell; illustrations by Nicole Miles From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of This Book Is Anti-Racist, Tiffany Jewell, with art by Eisner-nominated illustrator Nicole Miles, The Antiracist Kid is the essential illustrated guide to antiracism for empowering the young readers in your life! What is racism? What is antiracism? Why are both important to learn about? In this book, systemic racism and the antiracist tools to fight it are easily accessible to young readers. In three sections, this must-have guide explains: Identity: What it is and how it applies to you Justice: What it is, what racism has to do with it, and how to address injustice Activism: A how-to with resources to be the best antiracist kid you can be This book teaches young children the words, language, and methods to recognize racism and injustice--and what to do when they encounter it at home, at school, and in the media they watch, play, and read. NOTABLE QUOTES: (5:07) “Anti-racism is making a choice to be active and resist racism.” (6:58) “All of those questions have been questions that real kids have asked me over time, my own students, my own kids, kids I've come across, worked with my friend's kids. So, when I look at certain questions, I am picturing very specific people.” (7:19) “It's a book I wanted in my classroom, but never had. I want it in my home. And now it can be.” (10:53) “With my friends, we have similarities that brought us together. But then it's the things that make us different that keep our friendships going. Otherwise, I think we'd get bored with each other.” (12:14) “Sometimes we don't feel like family, but we can be friends. And I think that's really important, too. And we don't even have to be friends. We just have to know that other people exist and we're not the same.” (13:57) “All of the things that made us different, made us a whole community.” (14:37) “The thing that makes us really special is we're all really different and we know how to be together and get along even though we're different.” (15:31) “I love not just teaching kids new things, but I love when the adults have those a-ha moments, too.” (19:22) “There's always some grownup who is there, ready to listen and redistribute some power. Cuz we got you and we trust you to move us along in a direction that is like more liberatory and anti-racist than where we are now.” ADDITIONAL LINKS: Tiffany Jewell website - Purchase the Book - “Arkansas Gov. Sanders signs a law that makes it easier to employ children” (NPR; March 10, 2023; accessed July 19, 2023) - TALK ABOUT THE EPISODE: What are words that you use to describe yourself? What words, attributes, characteristics, interests, practices, and observations make up your identity? Which of these things are describers that someone might notice just from seeing you for the first time? Which are things that take time to know? Or may be things about yourself and your identity that you keep private from others? What does justice look like? Can you think of any times when you have witnessed injustice, whether at school or on the news or in your community? What are ways that you might respond to these incidents of injustice? Who are people you could share with or work with in order to bring about positive change? Tiffany shared that this book was formed around many, many questions she received from readers and students. What question(s) do you have about identity, justice, activism, and/or antiracism? CREDITS: This podcast episode of The Children’s Book Podcast was written, edited, and produced by Matthew Winner. For a full transcript of this episode, visit . Write to me or send me a message at . Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (). Our music is by Podington Bear. Podcast hosting by Libsyn. You can support the show and buy me a coffee at . We are a proud member of Kids Listen, the best place to discover the best in kids podcasts. Learn more at . Fellow teachers and librarians, want a way to explore building a stronger culture of reading in our communities? In The Reading Culture podcast, Beanstack co-founder Jordan Bookey hosts conversations that dive into beloved authors' personal journeys and insights into motivating young people to read. And I am a big fan! Check out with Jordan Bookey, from Beanstack. Available wherever podcasts are found. DISCLAIMER: Bookshop.org affiliate links provided for any book titles mentioned in the episode. Bookshop.org support independent bookstores and also shares a small percentage of any sales made through this podcast back to me, which helps to fund production of this show. /episode/index/show/793f0cfc-f199-4564-af9c-d6dcc5aa97d0/id/27515505

The Children's Book Podcast

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