PODCAST

New Books in Children"s Literature

New Books Network

Interviews with authors of children"s literature about their new books

arts books

All Episodes

49:18

Betsy Bird, "Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme" (Union...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/05/18

Betsy Bird is the Collection Development Manager of Evanston Public Library and the former Youth Materials Specialist of New York Public Library. She writes for the School Library Journal blog A Fuse #8 Production and reviews for Kirkus. She is the host of the Story Seeds podcast as well as the co-host of the Fuse 8 n' Kate podcast that she creates with her sister. Betsy is the author of picture books, anthologies, and the middle grade novel Long Road to the Circus, illustrated by David Small. In

45:59

Penny Parker Klostermann, "The Spider Lady: Nan...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/05/12

In our candid and splendid interview, Penny Parker Klostermann introduces her new nonfiction picture book Spider Lady: Nan Songer and Her Arachnid WWII Army (Astra/Calkins Creek, 2025), illustrated by Anne Lambelet, which launched just a few days ago! We also talk about her recent Martian escapade, Merry Christmas, Dear Mars illustrated by Estrela Lourenço (Godwin Books, 2024) and There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight" illustrated by Ben Mantle (Random House, 2015)). Penny shares her

46:09

Marissa Valdez, "Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear"...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/05/02

Marissa Valdez is a #1 New York Times best-selling children’s book author and illustrator. Her clients include Penguin Random House, Candlewick, Hachette, Macmillan, and Highlights Magazine for Children. In our interview we celebrate her new picture book Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear (Roaring Brook Press, 2025), which she both authored and illustrated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39:19

Michael Parkin, "Wrong Time Rooster" (Flying Eye...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/04/25

Michael Parkin is an international illustrator, working with the New York Times, the New Yorke, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and others. Several years ago he decided to follow his passion for picture books, and is now celebrating publication of his endearing, kid-centric debut picture book,Wrong Time Rooster (which he both wrote and illustrated), which was just published by Flying Eye Books (Feb., 2025) in the UK. Michael talks about his career in art and illustration, his

42:32

My First Tanakh Stories Set (4vs.): Avraham, Miriam,...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/04/04

The Koren My First Tanakh Stories brings the characters and wisdom of Torah to to life for the whole family. Engaging with Tanakh stories from a young age with a trusted grown-up sets a child's foundation for future learning, helps develop core values, and sets a foundation for Torah learning in the home and with the family. With a story loyal to the Tanakh text alongside beautiful illustrations, every page is designed to be appealing and engaging to adults and children alike while sparking an

38:20

Joyce Uglow, "Stuck! the Story of the La Brea Tar...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/03/23

In this interview with children's author Joyce Uglow, we celebrate her brand new debut picture book Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits (Bushel & Peck Books, 2025), illustrated by Valerya Milovanova. Her beautiful book was published only two weeks ago and has already gone into its second printing! We talk about Joyce's life and career in teaching and education, and how her love of writing eventually developed into a career in writing for children, as well as poetry. Joyce's advice to aspiring

48:02

Audrey Perrott, "A Hat for House: One Storm, Many...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/03/22

In our lovely interview, Audrey Perrott talks about her new book, A Hate for a House: One Storm, Many Helpers, illustrated by Druscilla Santiago and published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (November 12, 2024).We also talk about Audrey's writing career, starting when she was six years old, stapling papers together and scribbling stories in her bedroom until all hours of the night. Audrey studied English and Children’s Literature at the University of Florida and has published nine

51:35

A Chat with Author-Illustrator Selina Alko

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/03/21

In this exciting interview, I talk to author-illustrator Selina Alko about the new book which she illustrated, The Keeper of Stories (Simone & Schuster, 2025), written by Caroline Kusin Pritchard), her own picture book celebrating the life and art of Joni Mitchell (Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell (HarperCollins, 2020)), her upcoming books, and her life and career as an artist and illustrator.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

47:36

Rachelle Bergstein, "The Genius of Judy: How Judy...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/03/07

Everyone knows Judy Blume.Her books have garnered her fans of all ages for decades and sold tens of millions of copies. But why were people so drawn to them? And why are we still talking about them now in the 21st century? In The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us (Atria, 2024), her remarkable story is revealed as never before, beginning with her as a mother of two searching for purpose outside of her home in 1960s suburban New Jersey. The books she wrote starred regular

49:13

Sam Arthur on Publishing Children's Books

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/03/01

In this, our first interview with Sam Arthur, co-founder and creative director of Flying Eye Books, talks about his love for visual books led him into children's publishing, how he decides on which manuscripts to pursue, and his tips for aspiring authors of picture books: play close attention to the picture book format, usually 12 or 13 double spreads, write stories with humor and characters that we feel for, and write primarily for the children, not the adults.Learn more about your ad choices

51:43

Bea Birdsong, "Goat Is the G.O.A.T." (Nancy Paulsen...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/02/24

In this, our third interview, we celebrate the brand new picture book of Bea Birdsong, Goat Is the G.O.A.T. (Nancy Paulsen Books, Feb. 2025), illustrated by Kelly Murphy. Bea is also the author of I Will Be Fierce!, Sam’s First Word, How to Spot a Best Friend, Boop!, with many more books coming out over the next two years. We talk about Bea's meteoric career, and how her unconventional approaches led her to find her agent, to book deals with major publishers, and international success. Learn more

54:56

Vivian Kirkfield, "One Girl's Voice: How Lucy Stone...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/02/18

In this, our second interview I speak with award-winning children's author Vivian Kirkfield about her gorgeous, brand new picture book, One Girl's Voice: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land (Calkin's Creek, Feb. 2025, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon). We talk about the life and pioneering career of Lucy Stone, how the book came about, and some of Vivian's own trials and tribulations on the way to literary success. Vivian shares her advice for aspiring authors (perseverance, passion and

54:11

Erica Lyons, "On a Chariot of Fire: The Story of...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/01/29

In this lively and fun interview, we celebrate award-winning author Erica Lyons' new picture book, On a Chariot of Fire: The Story of India’s Bene Israel, illustrated by Siona Benjamin (Levine Querido, 2024). We talk about her childhood passion for writing, and how her careers in law and publishing gave her the tools that helped catapult her into the world of children's publishing. We discussed her love of historical fiction, particularly on Jewish themes, and the importance of learning the rules,

39:13

Henry Herz, "I Am Gravity" (Tilbury House, 2024)

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/01/23

In our captivating interview (pun intended), we celebrate Henry Herz's new book I AM GRAVITY (Tilbury House, April, 2024), which combines lyrical text and fascinating artwork by illustrator Mercè López, and crisscrosses splendidly between science and art, fact and fancy. We also discuss his background in engineering, and how he morphed into a leading children's author.Henry has previously published many picture books, including MONSTER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES (Pelican), WHEN YOU GIVE AN IMP A PENNY

42:45

Rachel Michelle Wilson, "How to Pee Your Pants: The...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/01/19

In our engaging interview, Rachel talks about her hilarious new [picture book, How to Pee Your Pants: The Right Way (published by Feiwel & Friends, October 15, 2024) and the embarrassing real first-grade event which prompted her to write it (According to Rachel, it was 'directed by my little kid self'). Rachel grew up in Utah in a book-loving family, and talked about her dream trips to the Draper Library in the mountains, where they would pile the car full of books. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE turned

54:12

David Miles Talks Children's Books

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2025/01/14

David Miles is co-founder (together with his wife, Stephanie) and Publisher, Bushel & Peck Books, an up-and-coming West Coast children's publisher. In our illuminating interview, he talks about growing up with books, becoming a successful author, illustrator and industry professional, and then the sudden out-of-nowhere urge that led him and his wife to set up their own publishing house. David talks about the steps in creating a successful picture book, and gives sage and somewhat unorthodox advice

50:16

Lesléa Newman, "Hanukkah" (Words & Pictures, 2024)

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2024/12/29

Lesléa Newman is the author of over 85 books for readers of all ages, including the pioneering Heather Has Two Mommies. She has received many literary awards, and her books have been translated into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Serbian, Kazakh, and Chinese.In this, our second interview, we celebrate her new picture book, entitled Hanukkah (Words & Pictures, October 1, 2024), illustrated by the award-winning Israeli illustrator Rotem Teplow. We talk about how the book came to be, her

44:40

Maya Schleifer, "The Giant's House" (2022)

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2024/12/15

Maya Shleifer is a multi-disciplinary author, illustrator, and designer who has illustrated over a dozen children's books. Drawing helped Maya survive a difficult childhood in the Soviet Union, but only after becoming a mother did she begin to realize a growing passion for illustrating, and subsequently writing her own, picture books. We discuss her recent, award-winning picture book, The Giant's House, which has been translated into several languages (for example La maison du géant, Des Elephant,

31:56

Danielle Sharkan, "Sharing Shalom" (Holiday House, 2024)

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2024/12/10

Considering the alarming rise in hate and intolerance these days, Danielle Sharkan's new picture book, Sharing Shalom (Holiday House, Sept. 2024, illustrated by Selina Alko) is a welcome injection of positivity. Based on a true story of human kindness following vandalism of a Jewish synagogue, it is a book of unbridled hope. In our interview we talk about Danielle's meteoric rise as a children's author, her rediscovery of Judaism, and her advice for aspiring authors.Learn more about your ad

56:16

Mark Hoffmann, "Dirt Cheap" (Knopf Books for Young...

New Books in Children"s Literature ·

2024/11/29

Mark Hoffmann is an award winning illustrator, painter, author and professor. He was raised in Minnesota and earned his BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, and his MFA from UMass-Dartmouth. In our excellent discussion, we talk about what Mark calls "Virtual Vision," and how writing and illustrating picture books interact, focusing on the two wonderful picture books which he both wrote and illustrated, FRUIT BOWL (Knopf Books for Young Readers; 2018) and DIRT CHEAP (Knopf Books for Young Readers;

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New Books in Children"s Literature

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