Category: Children’s

Ep. 99: Jason Chin & Andrea Wang on the 2022 Caldecott Medal Winner, Watercress

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This week, we have a very special episode. I’m speaking with the team behind this year’s Caldecott winning picture book, Watercress: Andrea Wang and Jason Chin. In case you’re not familiar, the Caldecott is basically the Academy Award for picture books, so this is very exciting! Watercress also won a Newbery Honor and the Asian Pacific/Pacific American Award for Literature.

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“Andrea Wang’s heartfelt and nuanced intergenerational story comes to life through Jason Chin’s brilliant watercolors, making Watercress a feast for the senses. But be warned: Come prepared with tissues.”~ Minh Lê, for NPR

 

 

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author/Illustrator:

Andrea Wang is an acclaimed author of children’s books. Her book Watercress was awarded the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a New England Book Award, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. Her other books, The Many Meanings of Meilan, Magic Ramen, and The Nian Monster, have also received awards and starred reviews. Her work explores culture, creative thinking, and identity. She is also the author of seven nonfiction titles for the library and school market. Andrea holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing for Young People. She lives in Colorado with her family. To learn more about Andrea Wang and follow her on social media visit https://andreaywang.com.

Jason Chin is a celebrated author and illustrator of many children’s books including Your Place in the Universe, Miranda Paul’s Nine Months: Before a Baby is Born, a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book,  and Andrea Wang’s Watercress. His book Grand Canyon was awarded a Caldecott Honor, a Sibert Honor, and the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award. His other acclaimed nonfiction titles—Redwoods, Coral Reefs, Island: A Story of the Galápagos, and Gravity—have received numerous starred reviews and other accolades. He is also the illustrator of Stephanie Parsley Ledyard’s debut title, Pie Is for Sharing, and Miranda Paul’s Water Is Water. Jason lives in Vermont with his wife and children. To learn more about Jason Chin and follow him on social media visit https://www.facebook.com/authorjchin/.

 

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

 

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Register for the Newburyport Literary Festival

NLF Register now IG

Looking for more bookish conversations? Registration is now open for the 2022 virtual Newburyport Literary Festival: https://newburyportliteraryfestival.org/2022-schedule-of-events/.  

I hope to see you at my session: Romance by the Book with Lauren Kate (By Any Other Name) and Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegmund-Broka (The Roughest Draft)! Register here.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 98: 2022 Newbery Medal Winner- Donna Barba Higuera

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This week, I’m honored to be speaking with this year’s Newbery Medal winner, Donna Barba Higuera, author of The Last Cuentista.

In the book, 12-year-old Petra Peña’s suspended animation fails during the 370-year journey to a new planet after Earth is destroyed, so when all the other children are mysteriously reprogrammed and the adults purged, Petra becomes the lone bringer of Earth’s now forbidden stories and her grandmother’s Mexican folklore to a changing humanity.


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     “Deftly blends Mexican folklore with science fiction in this thrilling and emotional post-apocalyptic novel.” —Shelf Awareness, Starred Review

 

 

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

 

Donna Barba Higuera’s Middle Grade and Picture books reinvent history, folklore, and or her own life experience into compelling storylines. She lives in Washington State with her husband, four kids, three dogs and a frog. 

​Her books include Lupe Wong Won’t Dance, El Cucuy (coo-coo-ee) Is Scared, Too!, and The Last Cuentista, and have won awards including: the Newbery medal, both Pura Belpré medal and honor, PNBA best book of the year award,  and the Sid Fleischman award for best children’s humor book of the year.

To learn more about Donna Barba Higuera and follow her on social media visit https://www.dbhiguera.com.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

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Register for the Newburyport Literary Festival

NLF Register now IG

Looking for more bookish conversations? Registration is now open for the 2022 virtual Newburyport Literary Festival: https://newburyportliteraryfestival.org/2022-schedule-of-events/.  

I hope to see you at my session: Romance by the Book with Lauren Kate (By Any Other Name) and Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegmund-Broka (The Roughest Draft)! Register here.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 91: Debbi Michiko Florence on Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai

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Today my guest is Debbi Michiko Florence, whose new middle grade novel Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai is sure to fly off library and classroom shelves and into the hands of young readers.

Debbi Michiko Florence is also the author of Keep It Together Keiko Carter, the Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series, and the co-author of a picture book biography, Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites. A former classroom teacher, Debbi has spoken on panels at conferences and book festivals, taught writing workshops for children and adults, and loves doing author visits at schools and libraries. She is on the faculty of The Highlights Foundation. A third-generation Japanese American, born and raised in California, Debbi now lives in Connecticut where she writes in her studio, The Word Nest.

 

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

 

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Fans of Keep it Together, Keiko Carter will love this beautiful companion novel about Jenna Sakai and her struggle to “stay cool” when life gets messy. Jenna’s determination to avoid heartbreak by building walls between herself and those who love her comes at a lonely cost, but the journey leads to a deeper understanding of her own heart, and her capacity to love and be loved. A beautiful story about healing from heartbreak, and discovering the strength that comes from opening your heart to others. Jenna is a gem! -Jo Knowles, author of Where the Heart Is

To learn more about Debbi Michiko Florence, follow her on social media, and stay in the know about upcoming author events visit https://debbimichikoflorence.com/.

 

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 89: Soman Chainani, Author of Beasts and Beauty

Posted in Children's, Libraries, Podcast, Reading Life, Young AdultLeave a comment

I’m thrilled to share an episode today with author Soman Chainani. I’ve seen firsthand the way his School for Good and Evil series hooked kids on reading and young people will be excited to pick up his new collection of fairy tales, Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales. 

Soman Chainani’s debut series, The School for Good and Evil, has sold more than 3 million copies, been translated into 30 languages, and will be a major motion picture from Netflix in 2022. His new book, Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales released in September. A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia University’s MFA Film Program, Soman began his career as a screenwriter and director, with his films playing at over 150 film festivals around the world. He lives in New York City.

 

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

 

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A volume that transports readers to a place where the lines between beastly natures and beautiful appearances can be difficult to discern. Expertly crafted . . . Chainani’s writing is raw in what it lays bare on the page, perfectly appropriate to revisiting these beloved, ubiquitous stories that may have left readers with naïve expectations or dissatisfied conclusions. For any lover of fairy tales who seeks alternative endings. -Kirkus

To learn more about Soman Chainani, follow him on social media, and stay in the know about upcoming author events visit https://somanchainani.com/.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 81: Children’s Book Author Andrea J. Loney

Posted in Children's, Podcast, Read Aloud1 Comment

Aspiring kidlit writers, parents, teachers, and librarians: check out this fascinating behind the books conversation with children’s book author Andrea J. Loney.

Andrea is the author of Double Bass Blues, which won a Caldecott Honor. She also won the 2014 Lee & Low New Voices Award for Take a Picture of Me, James Vanderzee! and is the author of Bunnybear. 

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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“A book about a lot of things—music, and determination, and straddling worlds, and the celebration of Black boyhood and family—that nevertheless feels cohesive and effortless.” 

—Horn Book, Starred Review

To learn more about Andrea, follow her on social media, and stay in the know about upcoming author events visit https://andreajloney.com.

 

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page. 

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 71: Jamie Sumner, Author of Tune It Out

Posted in Children's, Podcast, Reading LifeLeave a comment

Aspiring writers and kid lit fans will enjoy my conversation with today’s guest, Jamie Sumner. Jamie is the critically acclaimed author of the middle grade novels Roll With It and Tune It Out as well as the adult nonfiction books Unbound and Eat, Sleep, Save the World.

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“A vivid, sensitive exploration of invisible disability, family bonds, and the complex reality of happily-ever-after.” — Kirkus Starred Review


I had to ration my reading of Tune It Out, I adored this heartfelt, compelling read and couldn’t bear to leave these characters. Grab this one and wrap it up for the kids in your life (and their librarians and teachers!). 

To learn more about Jamie Sumner and follow her on social media visit https://jamie-sumner.com. 

 


You can also listen and subscribe on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page. 

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Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. Thanks for supporting A Bookish Home and your local indies!

Ep. 69: Raùl the Third, Mass. Book Award Winner for Vamos!

Posted in Children's, Podcast, Read Aloud, Reading LifeLeave a comment

Today on A Bookish Home my guest is Raúl The Third, this year’s Massachusetts Book Award winner in the children’s picture book and early reader category for Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market. I had the honor of serving as a juror in this category and was so happy to get to discuss this wonderful picture book with Raúl!

Raúl is an illustrator, author, and artist living in Boston. His work centers around the contemporary Mexican-American experience and his memories of growing up in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. He is currently working on the expanded world of his Vamos! series, and illustrating the fourth volume of the Lowriders series, written by Cathy Camper.

About the Book:

“Richard Scarry’s Busytown gets a Mexican-American makeover in the marketplace of a buzzing border town from Pura Belpré Medal-winning illustrator Raúl the Third.

Bilingual in a new way, this paper over board book teaches readers simple words in Spanish as they experience the bustling life of a border town. Follow Little Lobo and his dog Bernabe as they deliver supplies to a variety of vendors, selling everything from sweets to sombreros, portraits to piñatas, carved masks to comic books!”

Listen and subscribe on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

To learn more about Raúl The Third visit https://www.raulthethird.com.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

A Bookish Home has teamed up with Bookshop.org! Support A Bookish Home and independent bookstores at the same time when you purchase books from our new online bookshop!*

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Browse books by authors interviewed on the podcast, titles mentioned on the show, and more recommendations from your host and librarian, Laura Szaro Kopinski. 

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Is there an author or someone in the book world you’d love to hear interviewed on the podcast? Let me know in the comments or wherever you hang out on social media, I’m @abookishhome.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. Thanks for supporting A Bookish Home and your local indies!

Ep. 66: Amy Elizabeth Bishop, Literary Agent at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Posted in Books for Adults, Children's, Libraries, Podcast, Read Aloud, Reading LifeLeave a comment

Are you curious about the role of the agent in the publishing process? Tune into this week’s episode with Amy Elizabeth Bishop, Literary Agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.

On this episode you’ll also hear from Amy about one of her projects that was recently chosen for Reese’s Book Club and Book of the Month!

Amy joined Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2015, after completing an internship with them in 2014. Before diving into the world of publishing, she graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in Creative Writing.

Listen and subscribe on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

To learn more about Amy Elizabeth Bishop and follow her on social media visit https://www.dystel.com/amy-bishop.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

A Bookish Home has teamed up with Bookshop.org! Support A Bookish Home and independent bookstores at the same time when you purchase books from our new online bookshop!*

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Browse books by authors interviewed on the podcast, titles mentioned on the show, and more recommendations from your host and librarian, Laura Szaro Kopinski. 

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Is there an author or someone in the book world you’d love to hear interviewed on the podcast? Let me know in the comments or wherever you hang out on social media, I’m @abookishhome.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. Thanks for supporting A Bookish Home and your local indies!

Ep. 65: Kelly Yang, Author of Three Keys

Posted in Books for Adults, Children's, Libraries, Podcast, Read Aloud, Reading LifeLeave a comment

Today we have a special episode with one of my favorite kid lit authors, Kelly Yang. Librarians, parents, and teachers, her books are must purchases for your bookshelves!

Kelly Yang is the NYTimes Bestselling author of the middle grade novel Front Desk and its new sequel Three Keys, as well as a young adult novel, Parachutes. Front Desk won the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and was chosen a Best Book of the year by multiple Organizations including NPR, the Washington Post and the NY Public Library.

Kelly’s family immigrated to the United States from China and she grew up in California in circumstances very similar to those of Mia Tang in the the Front Desk books.. She went to college at thirteen, eventually graduating from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School. She is the founder of The Kelly Yang Project, a leading writing and debating program for children in Asia and the United States. Kelly has three children and splits her time between Hong Kong and San Francisco, California.

Listen and subscribe on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

To learn more about Kelly Yang and follow her on social media visit https://kellyyang.com.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

A Bookish Home has teamed up with Bookshop.org! Support A Bookish Home and independent bookstores at the same time when you purchase books from our new online bookshop!*

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Browse books by authors interviewed on the podcast, titles mentioned on the show, and more recommendations from your host and librarian, Laura Szaro Kopinski. 

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Is there an author or someone in the book world you’d love to hear interviewed on the podcast? Let me know in the comments or wherever you hang out on social media, I’m @abookishhome.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. Thanks for supporting A Bookish Home and your local indies!

Ep. 61: Kim Johnson, Author of This Is My America

Posted in Books for Adults, Children's, Libraries, Podcast, Summer ReadingLeave a comment

This week, I’m sharing an interview with Kim Johnson, author of the phenomenal and timely new young adult book, This Is My America.

Teens and adults alike, this is essential reading that provides a window into Black Lives Matter activism as well as the human impact of racism in our criminal justice system through the characters of Tracy and her family. 

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“Harrowing and worthwhile; a call-to-action from the anti-racist insights of a generation of black activists.”

– Kirkus, starred review

You can also listen on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

I hope you order This Is my America or pick it up at your local library. And if you are a teacher or librarian, this is a must purchase for your classroom or library shelves.

My prediction is before long there won’t be room for all the award medals on the cover of this classic in the making.

 

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

A Bookish Home has teamed up with Bookshop.org! Support A Bookish Home and independent bookstores at the same time when you purchase books from our new online bookshop!*

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Browse books by authors interviewed on the podcast, titles mentioned on the show, and more recommendations from your host and librarian, Laura Szaro Kopinski.

We hope this helps you discover your next favorite read! You can also browse titles here and then request them from your local library.

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What are you reading this summer? Share your recommendations and tag @ABookishHome.

Happy Reading and Listening!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. Thanks for supporting A Bookish Home and your local indies!