The Guardian Children's Books podcast

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This is the place for bibiophiles to meet and quiz their literary heroes. It’s a fun listen full of passionate young readers asking their favourite authors brilliantly insightful questions

The Guardian


    • Apr 29, 2016 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 13m AVG DURATION
    • 82 EPISODES


    Latest episodes from The Guardian Children's Books podcast

    Cecelia Ahern: ‘public shaming moved me to write Flawed' - Guardian children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2016 20:05


    Cecelia Ahern explains how she was moved to write her first YA novel, Flawed, by her dismay at society's increasingly finger-pointing culture. Guardian children's books site members Harriet, Amy and Rebecca grill her on the book, which is set in a powerfully realised society in which perfection is valued above humanity

    Jacqueline Wilson for Guardian children's books podcast: 'This is a story competition about your imagination'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2016 12:16


    Jacqueline Wilson speaks to Michelle Pauli as she launches her creative writing competition for 7 – 12 year olds, where the prize is to have the winning story published in one of her books! Here she gives you tips about getting started, inventing characters and what the judges will be looking for Find out more about the competition and enter here! Plus check out the first chapter of Jacqueline Wilson's newest book, Rent a Bridesmaid

    Gavriel Savit: 'I've never known the end of a chapter in my life' - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2016 27:51


    Harrowing second world war tale Anna and the Swallow Man has taken teen readers by storm. Teen site members Lottie is Dottie and Ayesha got to ask the author about the mythologisation of the Holocaust, deep and dark things, stories without end and the meaning of life Also read Remembering the people of the Holocaust

    Women in fantasy – the children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2016 35:26


    Get a fascinating insight into the world of teen/YA fantasy in this podcast with four amazing fantasy authors. Samantha Shannon, Sally Green, Lucy Saxon and Alwyn Hamilton talk world building, feminism, sex and why we need to stop comparing all female characters to Katniss Everdeen – however wonderful she is! Enter our signed fantasy books giveaway!

    Guardian children's books podcast with Owen Jones: 'there's a craving for an alternative to how things are run'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2015 19:36


    Political commentator Owen Jones is grilled by teen site members CaraErica, Patrick and TheBookAddictedGirl on the writers who inspired his democratic socialist politics, the advice he'd give his 16-year-old self, and how young people should get involved in politics – and why… The Establishment is our current Teen book club read – find out what else is happening here

    Jeff Kinney: 'the joke always comes first' – children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2015 8:28


    Find out what Jeff Kinney's favourite Diary of a Wimpy Kid book is, why he really did wrap himself in toilet paper in Middle School and how he ALWAYS has writer's block in this fabulous interview by the Eye Boggling Blurbs book group Win signed copies of the complete set of 10 Diary of a Wimpy Kid books

    Guardian children's books podcast with Sandi Toksvig: 'children disappear in history'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2015 22:34


    Sandi Toksvig reads from and talks about her latest book, A Slice of the Moon, an action-packed story of one family's journey across the world as they leave behind their home in Ireland during the potato famine and travel to America

    Children's books podcast: Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers on their picture book, Imaginary Fred

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2015 14:29


    Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl novels, and award-winning picture book creator Oliver Jeffers have paired up to create a book about imaginary friends, Imaginary Fred. Find out how they met by chance, collaborated across continents by skype, and, of course, whether they have their own imaginary friendsBuy Imaginary Fred at the Guardian bookshop

    Celebrate Poetry Day with Joseph Coelho - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2015 9:46


    Prepare to be thrilled as Joseph Coelho performs poems from his prize-winning collection, Werewolf Club Rules, and offers his suggestions for your own poetry writing

    Annabel Pitcher: 'we don't have to aspire for more, more, more to be happy' - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2015 20:18


    The author of My Sister Lives on The Mantelpiece talks to site member The Dormouse about her new book, Silence is Goldfish, which she wrote for all the limelight-avoiding introverts out there

    Sally Gardner: I wandered so far into the dark, dark wood I forgot to come out again - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2015 11:19


    On the 10th anniversary of her first book I Coriander, Sally Gardner talks to site member Patrick about writing historical novels, the power of fairy tales, dyslexia and why the school system needs a big shake up

    Ally Carter talks about her new Embassy Row series – children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2015 19:41


    The best-selling Gallagher Girls author spills the beans on All Fall Down, the first in her thrilling new Embassy Row series – and answers questions on her life and books from teen site members• Plus we have five signed copies of All Fall Down to give away! See below for details

    Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer talk about Off the Page - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2015 15:33


    Mother and daughter writing duo Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer talk to Michelle Pauli about the premise behind their funny YA romance, Off the Page, in which a fairytale prince leaves his storybook to experience life and love in high school, and describe the ups and downs of co-writing with the person who knows you - and sometimes annoys you - best

    Maria V Snyder talks Shadow Study and beyond - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2015 10:08


    Site member Tashtastic caught up with Chronicles of Ixia creator Maria V Snyder, when the US novelist was on a rare visit to the UK – listen in to their conversation here!

    David Levithan: why I wrote my latest novel as a musical - teen books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2015 17:51


    The bestselling author talks to site member Muchbooks about Hold Me Closer, his new novel written in musical form starring Tiny Cooper, a book companion to Will Grayson, Will Grayson which David wrote with John Green.Read the first chapter of Hold Me Closer

    John Hegley performs I am a Guillemot - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2015 2:14


    Find out everything you would ever, ever need to know about sustainable, self-restrainable Guillemot, who uses its bill a lot, in this immortal poem by John Hegley

    Judith Kerr reads from When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2015 11:08


    Judith Kerr reads from her award-winning book, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, about her escape from Nazi Germany during the second world war• Judith answers questions from our group site members and shares the real life stories behind her books and paintings in this interview

    Kate Saunders: why I wrote Five Children on the Western Front - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2015 6:32


    The winner of Costa children's books award 2014 talks to site members Noggin and Sailing46 about her sequel to E Nesbit's Five Children and It, set in the first world war

    James Frey talks about Endgame

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2014 14:33


    James Frey is giving $3 million of his own money as a prize for those who can solve the puzzles that run through his new trilogy Endgame. Here he tells site member JBOO1698 all about his crazy, magical idea – and his obsession with hidden history

    John Agard reads his poem Half Caste and talks about race – children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2014 15:15


    Listen to John Agard read his well known poem Half Caste and talk about how his Guyanan upbringing helped him become the writer he is today

    RJ Palacio on the power of kindness - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2014 8:50


    RJ Palacio reads from Wonder, and talks to Michelle Pauli about writing about a boy that has to face a world every day that can't face him back

    Dragons at Crumbling Castle by Terry Pratchett - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2014 3:08


    Julian Rhind-Tutt reads from Terry Pratchett's new book Dragons at Crumbling Castle• Meet the cast of Dragons At Crumbling Castle – gallery• Take the Terry Pratchett quiz• Find out how Terry Pratchett wrote his first stories as a cub reporter

    Kes Gray talks about his Daisy books - children's book podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2014 11:25


    Site member Katiedoglovesbooks gets to ask Kes Gray just why he ate lollies off the floor when he was a child and about his latest book Daisy and the Trouble with Sports Day

    Michael Morpurgo: why we should remember the first world war – children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2014 16:02


    Michael Morpurgo explains to site members Orli and Fernando why he writes about war. Plus hear Michael read a moving contribution from Raymond Briggs for his WW1 anthology Only Remembered

    Kate Greenaway medal winner 2014 Jon Klassen shines a light on how he creates his illustrations - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2014 12:10


    John Klassen talks us through the process of creating I Want My Hat Back and his collaboration with Lemony Snicket: The Dark

    Ansel Elgort on playing Gus in The Fault in Our Stars - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2014 6:41


    Ansel Elgort, star of the film of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, answers questions from the Guardian teens' book community about reading, making TFIOS movie and how the one thing he wants people to take away from watching it is hope

    How does Jo Nesbø decide whether to write crime or children's fiction? - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2014 11:32


    The Norwegian thriller writer talks about his obsession with farting, why he loves writing his Doctor Proctor books for children plus gives a lesson on how to pronounce his name this interview by children's reading group The Book Bunch

    Chris Bradford on the Bodyguard series - children and teen books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2014 12:40


    Young Samurai author Chris Bradford is grabbed by site member Freddy to talk about how he writes his Bodyguard series. Also hear a thrilling extract from Chris's latest book Bodyguard: Ransom

    Lauren St John rides a third One Dollar Horse - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2014 13:29


    Lauren reads from Fire Storm, the third book in her One Dollar Horse series. She answers questions from site member Cookonthebrightside on her books and her belief in animal rights

    Guardian children's books podcast - Non Pratt on Trouble

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2014 12:11


    Non Pratt reads from her first book Trouble about a teenage pregnancy and then answers questions from site member Merle NunnelyKeep up to date with the rest of the club, including Non's top ten teens in trouble, her introductory blog and site members' reviews

    Oksa Pollock: Guardian children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2014 13:45


    Oksa Pollock is a best-selling French teen book series about a girl with magical powers – it's being called the French Harry Potter. The series of six is finally being translated into English, with the second book The Forest of Lost Souls just out after the success The Last Hope. Authors Anne Pichota and Cendrine Wolf talk to Michelle Pauli about their remarkable journey from librarians to best-selling novelists

    Laura Dockrill talks about Darcy Burdock - children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2014 17:01


    Laura Dockrill, author of Darcy Burdock and Hi So Much, performance artist and shortlistee for the Waterstones children's book prize 2014, reads her hilarious and profound poem What Makes You You, gives tips on growing up, pet lambs and dealing with tangly hair – plus admits that Darcy, the heroine of her new series of books is 100 per cent based on her as a child.Read Laura Dockrill's five top tips for creative writing

    John Hegley on poems: Guardian children's books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2014 8:06


    John Hegley has been at the Imagine Festival at the Southbank centre in London, reading poems and singing songs. He stopped off to talk to children's site member KrazyKesh

    Guardian children's books podcast: Michael Rosen reads a schoolboy story

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2014 12:12


    Michael Rosen reads a story from Ten of the Best: School Stories with a Difference. This is the last in a series of five stories shared on Guardian children's books in connection with the Imagine children's festival at the Southbank Centre in London

    Guardian children's books podcast: How to Train your Viking by Toothless the Dragon

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2014 40:21


    Cressida Cowell reads her book about Vikings and dragons from her series How to Train your Dragon. This is part four of five stories shared on Guardian children's books in connection with the Imagine children's festival at London's Southbank Centre

    Guardian children's books podcast: Roald Dahl's grandson reads Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2014 14:44


    Luke Kelly, grandson of Roald Dahl, begins the 50th anniversary year of Charlie and the Chocolate factory, by reading a passage from this classic story. This is part three of a series of five stories shared on Guardian children's books in connection with the Imagine children's festival at London's Southbank centre

    Guardian children's books podcast: Francesca Simon reads Horrid Henry's Nightmare

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2014 14:55


    Francesca Simon reads one of her Horrid Henry stories, Horrid Henry's Nightmare. This is part two of a series of five stories shared on Guardian children's books in connection with the Imagine children's festival at London's Southbank Centre

    Guardian children's books podcast: Jacqueline Wilson reads from Paws and Whiskers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2014 13:43


    Jacqueline Wilson reads a cat and dog story from her new anthology Paws and Whiskers. This is part one of a series of five stories shared on Guardian children's books in connection with the Imagine children's festival at London's Southbank Centre

    Guardian children's books podcast: Susan Cooper reads from Ghost Hawk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2014 12:51


    Susan Cooper, author of The Dark Is Rising series, reads from her new book Ghost Hawk about two boys living at the time of the first European settlement of the USA. She talks about it to Michelle Pauli

    Jonathan Stroud reads his Lockwood & Co story, The Dagger in the Desk

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2013 42:00


    Author Jonathan Stroud teamed up with Guardian children's books site members to create a brand new scary story. Listen if you dare …

    Rebecca Stead wins Guardian Children's fiction prize - books podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2013 14:39


    New York author Rebecca Stead has won the 2013 Guardian Children's fiction prize for her novel Liar & Spy. She answers questions from readers Charlotte Walden and Ginger Galey about the story, school life and being a writer

    Guardian children's books podcast: Marcus Sedgwick on his new adventure story

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2013 14:39


    Marcus Sedgwick reads from his latest adventure story She Is Not Invisible and discusses it with Henry Partridge, a blind teenager from a group that advised Marcus on the story.

    SF Said on new space story Phoenix

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2013 15:04


    SF Said, author of the award-winning book about a cat called Varjak Paw, talks to Michelle Pauli at the Edinburgh Book festival about his new story Phoenix, about an intergalactic battle between humans and aliensIf you want to see more about this epic quest across unexplored territories of the galaxy, watch the trailer filmed by illustrator Dave McKean

    Morris Gleitzman on his book about a boy in the holocaust, After

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2013 17:50


    Morris Gleitzman talks to Michelle Pauli about the last book in his series about a Jewish boy surviving in second world war Germany and answers questions from site members

    Guardian children's books podcast: Eoin Colfer on his new series WARP

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2013 14:41


    Eoin Colfer talks to Michelle Pauli at the Edinburgh international book festival about the first book in his new series WARP: The Reluctant Assasin. It's his first since he ended the Artemis Fowl series and involves time travel, FBI shenanigans and a superbly evil magician villain

    Guardian children's books podcast: Lauren Oliver on Requiem

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2013 11:11


    Lauren Oliver talks to Michelle Pauli about the third and last book in her Delirium trilogy, Requiem. It is set in a world in which "love is a contagious disease".

    Guardian children's books podcast: Saci Lloyd on Quantum Drop

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2013 15:23


    Saci Lloyd reads from her latest book, Quantum Drop, and answers questions about stories, characters, science and politics Read an extract from Quantum Drop, discover Saci Lloyd's top 10 political books for teens and find out more about the Teen book club

    Guardian children's books podcast: John Green on The Fault In Our Stars

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2013 20:06


    John Green reads aloud The Fault In Our Stars and answers questions from Guardian teenage readers about the book and his life and writing. This love story for teens about young cancer sufferers does contain some strong language

    Guardian children's books podcast: Annabel Pitcher talks about Ketchup Clouds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2013 16:59


    Annabel Pitcher talks to Michelle Pauli about her new novel for teenagers, Ketchup Clouds, and reads from the opening

    Guardian Children's Books podcast: Michael Grant on Gone

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2012 10:16


    Michael Grant, author of the Gone series, in which every person over 14 disappears, leaving a small community of kids in California trapped in a dome-shaped force field, and the BZRK trilogy, about a conspiracy to take over the world using nanotechnology, chats to site member Patrick about how he writes and how he reads Read Patrick's review of Michael Grant's event at the Edinburgh festival

    Guardian children's books podcast: Cornelia Funke on Ghost Knight

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2012 6:33


    Cornelia Funke, the German prize-winning children's author, visits Salisbury cathedral, which was the inspiration for her latest novel, Ghost Knight. Site member Patrick went to Salisbury to meet her, ask her questions and listen to her read from the book

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