Summary In this episode, Federico Erebia joins Jennifer for an engaging conversation in which they explore the profound impact of literature on personal identity and the importance of representation in children's books. They discuss Federico's journey as a reader and writer, the significance of first books, and how stories can help children navigate complex emotions and experiences, particularly around themes of abuse and identity. The conversation culminates in a book talk about Federico's latest work, Pedro and Daniel, highlighting its unique perspective and relevance. The conversation concludes with a glimpse into Erebia's future projects, highlighting his commitment to storytelling and the power of literature. Show notes, including episode transcripts and information about connecting with this episode's guest, can be found here.  Chapters 00:00Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions   05:58The Reader's Heart and Personal Experiences   11:59Intersectionality in Literature   17:59Book Talk: Pedro and Daniel   23:57Narrative Techniques and Character Development   31:51Honoring the Past: HIV and Its Impact   40:38Looking Ahead: New Projects and Future Works

This weekly podcast invites you inside the minds and processes of kidlit history book creators, from idea to publication. Join the conversation each Wednesday! This week, host Selene Castrovilla chats with author Beth Anderson about her book "Thomas Jefferson's Battle for Science: Bias, Truth, and a Mighty Moose," a picture book about Thomas Jefferson's use of scientific methods to challenge faulty information and bias. The book tells the story of how Jefferson used scientific inquiry to prove that the new United States was just as good as the Old World. Jefferson was a science enthusiast who loved to measure the natural world, but he was furious when French scientist Count Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon published an encyclopedia that claimed America was inferior to Europe. Jefferson knew Buffon had never been to America, and he used scientific methods to gather evidence to prove Buffon wrong. #thomasjefferson #historyforchildren #podcast

Ambika Sambasivan and Suhani Parikh each had their own successful independent publishing company, Yali Books and Modern Marigold Books, but when they met in 2022, they realized that their companies had similar missions and that they could be even more successful if they combined their businesses.Ambika and Suhani join “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA)” to share details about the challenges and positive experiences that they ran into during the process of merging to create their new publishing company Sambasivan & Parikh. They discuss the legal issues that had to be decided; how they updated their distribution systems; how they combined their different backend systems; and much more.PARTICIPANTSAmbika Sambasivan and Suhani Parikh are co-publishers at Sambasivan & Parikh, a community-centered children’s press working to foster a more equitable and just future through the power of storytelling. They bring together their independently founded presses, Yali Books and Modern Marigold Books, to create a platform for underrepresented voices in children’s literature, built on empathy and respect. Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest trade association for independent publishers in the United States. As the IBPA Director of Membership & Member Services, Christopher Locke assists the 3,600 members as they travel along their publishing journeys. Major projects include managing the member benefits to curate the most advantageous services for independent publishers and author publishers; managing the Innovative Voices Program that supports publishers from marginalized communities; and hosting the IBPA podcast, “Inside Independent Publishing (with IBPA).” He’s also passionate about indie publishing, because he’s an author publisher himself, having published two novels so far in his YA trilogy, The Enlightenment Adventures.LINKSLearn more about the many benefits of becoming a member of Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) here: https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/membershipMake sure to check out the Sambasivan & Parikh website at https://www.sambasivanandparikh.com/Follow IBPA on:Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IBPAonlineX – https://twitter.com/ibpaInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ibpalovesindies/

Tim Harris is the bestselling author of several laugh-out-loud series for kids, including the 'Ratbags' series, 'Toffle Towers', 'Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables' and 'Exploding Endings'. Tim fills his stories with quirky scenarios, loveable characters and plenty of imagination. Tim’s ‘humour with heart’ writing style has seen his books receive multiple awards, including five KOALA Honour Books and a CBCA Notable. His books have been published in Australia and the USA and have been translated into numerous languages. In the 140th episode of The HYBRID Author podcast host Joanne (Zara Ellen) Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non fiction for authors, chats to Tim about:  his outstanding career in the children’s genre what qualities make for laugh-out-loud books tips for authors looking to make kids laugh-out-loud and much more.    https://www.timharrisbooks.com/ https://events.humanitix.com/book-launch-the-writer-the-hairdresser-and-the-nurse

Kylie Howarth is an award-winning, internationally published children’s book author-illustrator from Western Australia. She recently won the Western Australian Premier’s Book Award - Writer’s Fellowship, the WAYRBA Hoffman award and KOALA Honour award. She has been shortlisted for the SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrators Award, CBCA Book of the year awards, WAYRBA and the YABBA awards. Her hilarious new graphic novel series for early readers is out now. In the 137th episode of The HYBRID Author podcast host Joanne Morrell, author of young adult fiction, women's fiction and short non-fiction for authors, chats to Kylie about: her latest graphic novel for kids ‘Kev and Trev’ tips for authors and illustrators looking to adapt work into graphic novel format what winning the ‘Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards Writer’s Fellowship’ means for Kylie's work and much more. https://www.kyliehowarth.com/books

This week we discuss Home Grown Worries by Alex Donahue. We reviewed Alex’s other book, Leon & Chris, back in Episode 114 in 2022; he’s hoping that this is an improvement on that one as this is its spiritual successor. In turn, this episode is our spiritual successor to Episode 114. Once again, Donahue's book has great art for kids and it seems like he actually took some of our advice from last time; gone are nearly all of the mechanical writing errors and tedium! While we didn't feel the core story was very captivating, we're impressed with Donahue's masochism. Never have we had an author ask us to review their work - and go through with it - twice. If anything, this is a sign that he has the fortitude to keep refining his work and succeed as an author. Musings and derailments in this episode include: the bounds of furry art, Castlevania, and singing the fake song in the book. In addition to our usual barnyard language, today’s episode discusses violence and bullying between adolescents.

In this episode Debbi Michiko Florence chats with Jennifer about her love for children's literature and the power of books to shape our hearts. She shares her own experiences as a reader, from her childhood memories of her parents reading to her and weekly trips to the library, to her rediscovery of reading for pleasure after college. Debbi emphasizes the importance of authentic representation in children's literature and the impact her books have on young readers, particularly those who see themselves reflected in her characters. She also discusses her upcoming middle grade series, Last Chance Academy, and the joy of writing sweet romances for tween and early teen readers. Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing the books mentioned in this episode from Bookelicious, can be found here.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Fan Appreciation 01:08 Debbi's Reader's Heart  07:06 Common themes in The Reader's Heart 10:01 Books as safe spaces 12:21 Creating authentic characters 16:31 Debbi's journey as a writer 20:15 The powerful first crush 22: 12 Aliza Werner shout out 28:35 Introducing Last Chance Academy  34:14 Importance of stories that explore layered identities 36:01 Wrap up and conclusions

In this conversation, Jennifer LaGarde and Katherine Marsh discuss the power of children's literature and the influence it has on shaping readers' hearts. They explore Katherine's own reader's heart and how it informs her writing. They also delve into the themes and characters of Katherine's book, Medusa, and the importance of representation and empathy in literature. They discuss the challenges of getting kids to read and the need for books that cater to different reading levels and interests. Finally, they touch on Katherine's upcoming projects and the role of books in mother-daughter relationships. Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing the books mentioned in this episode from Bookelicious, can be found here.  Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Background   01:12 Katherine's Reader's Heart   05:02 The Importance of Middle Grade Literature   06:25 Representation and Empathy in Books   09:10 Book Talk: Medusa   16:10 The Characters of Medusa   21:32 Ava's Character Development   23:51 Mother-Daughter Relationships in Medusa   24:12 Medusa as a Read-Aloud   28:26 Writing for Different Reading Levels   29:22 Motivating Kids to Read   33:01 Upcoming Projects   36:06 Conclusion  

In this conversation, Jennifer chats with Elly Swartz discuss the power of children's literature to shape hearts and minds. They explore the importance of books in helping readers navigate life's emotions and connect with themselves and others. They also discuss the influence of social media on storytelling and the inclusion of themes like forgiveness in Swartz's books. Swartz shares her love for writing middle-grade books and the joy of connecting with young readers. They also touch on Swartz's upcoming book, Same Page, which tackles the themes of book banning, friendship, and finding common ground. Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing the books mentioned in this episode from Bookelicious, can be found here.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Shared Love for Children's Literature 09:00 The Influence of Social Media on Storytelling 13:13 The Power of Forgiveness in Swartz's Books 25:00 Exploring Book Banning and Friendship in 'Same Page'

In this conversation, Jennifer chats with Ann Braden, an author who writes books that empower kids to find their voice and make a difference in the world. Ann shares her journey as a reader and writer, highlighting the books that had a profound impact on her life. She discusses the importance of recognizing our own voice and the power it holds. Ann also explores the themes in her books, such as facing tough topics and finding hope in difficult times. The conversation emphasizes the need for connection and belief in oneself and others. For more information about this episode, including detailed show notes and a discount code from Bookelicious, visit: librarygirl.net  Chapters: 00:00 Introduction  00:54 Anne's Reader's Heart 03:07 Discovering a Love for History 04:32 Finding the Confidence to Write 05:30 Using Voice to Change the World 07:19 Writing Books for Kids to Find Their Voice 10:26 Facing Bullying and Overcoming Challenges 13:06 Book Talk: Opinions and Opossums  14:46 The Impact of Anne's Books on Readers 16:47 The Importance of Art in Understanding Our Times 19:35 The Need for Connection and Belief 25:01 Finding Joy in the Darkness 28:28 The Darkness Turned Inside Out 29:27 Conclusion and Gratitude