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3 episodes with Adam Gidwitz
4 episodes with Adam Gidwitz
4 episodes with Adam Gidwitz
2 episodes with Adam Gidwitz
2 episodes with Adam Gidwitz
2 episodes with Adam Gidwitz
3 episodes with Adam Gidwitz
2 episodes with Adam Gidwitz
2 episodes with Adam Gidwitz
Today's debate is a showdown between two beloved stories — Matilda vs. Alice in Wonderland! Author and “Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest” podcast host Adam Gidwitz defends Roald Dahl's tale of brainpower and rebellion, while filmmaker and rapper Jun Sekiya sings the praises of Lewis Carroll's whimsical world of wonder. Who will be crowned the Smash Boom Best? Head on over to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who YOU think won!This week's sponsor:Experience Disney's Snow White, only in theaters March 21. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.Also… do you have your Smarty Pass yet? Get yours today for just $5/month (or $45/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today. As an added bonus, your Smarty Pass will grant you access to a super special debate starring Sanden and Molly!
Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest Season 5 is in the works—but that's not the only exciting news! Adam Gidwitz is also hitting the road for his new book, Max in the Land of Lies. If you loved Max in the House of Spies (a five-star, Best of the Year pick), you won't want to miss the epic conclusion. You can join Adam on tour as he discusses and signs Max in the Land of Lies. Get signed copies and tour details: adamgidwitz.com Tour stops: • Brooklyn, NY • Winston-Salem, NC • Manhattan Beach, CA • Doylestown, PA • Lititz, PA Want to hear a Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest Season 5 fairy tale before anyone else? Show up at an event, say the secret password, and if 10 Grimmers are there, Adam will tell a brand-new story live. Listen to the announcement to find out the password. Support Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest by pre-ordering Max in the Land of Lies, spreading the word, and subscribing to Pinna.fm with code GRIMM for a discount after a 7-day FREE trial!
SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-2025-sydney-taylor-book-awards.html TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/g5yluS6SsAbhu4hkoKy62TZUgac?utm_source=copy_url The winners of the 2025 Sydney Taylor Book Awards, recognizing the best Jewish children's and young adult literature of the year, were announced on January 27, 2025 at the American Library Association's Youth Media Awards event. Aviva Rosenberg is the current chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award committee, and she joined us to discuss the 2025 winners of the award. LEARN MORE: Sydney Taylor Book Awards ALA's YouTube channel, where you can watch a recording of the announcement Heidi's unofficial 2025 Sydney Taylor shortlist Get more Jewish kidlit news & calls to action in The Book of Life Substack newsletter 2025 SYDNEY TAYLOR BOOK AWARDS Scroll down to see all the winning titles listed, with links to any past podcast appearances by the authors on The Book of Life. FYI, the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour will take place in early February, and I will be interviewing Joshua S. Levy about Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop. Details will appear soon at JewishLibraries.org. Picture Book Winner: An Etrog from Across the Sea by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky, illustrated by Stacey Dressen McQueen, published by Kar-Ben Middle Grade Winner: The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival by Estelle Nadel, Bethany Strout, and Sammy Savos, illustrated by Sammy Savos, published by Roaring Brook Press Young Adult Winner: Night Owls by A.R. Vishny, published by HarperCollins Podcast interview with A.R. Vishny forthcoming - watch this space ~~~ Picture Book Honors Joyful Song by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal, published by Levine Querido Podcast interview with Lesléa and Susan about Joyful Song: June 2024 Rising by Sidura Ludwig, illustrated by Sophia Vincent Guy, published by Candlewick Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan's Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants by Norman H. Finklestein, illustrated by Vesper Stamper, published by Holiday House The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Alianna Rozentsveig, published by Rocky Pond Books Middle Grade Honors Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, published by Nancy Paulsen Books Podcast interview with Ruth about Across So Many Seas: May 2024 Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy, published by Katherine Tegen Books Podcast interview with Josh about The Jake Show: August 2023 Just Shy of Ordinary by A.J. Sass, published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Podcast interview with A.J. about Ellen Outside the Lines: June 2023 Young Adult Honors Trajectory by Cambria Gordon, published by Scholastic Press The Forbidden Book by Sacha Lamb, published by Levine Querido Podcast interview with Sacha about When the Angels Left the Old Country: January 2023 ~~~~ Picture Book Notables Mr. Katz and Me by Marc Kornblatt, illustrated by Nanette Regan, published by Apples & Honey Press Everybody's Book: The Story of the Sarajevo Haggadah by Linda Leopold Strauss, illustrated by Tim Smart, published by Kar-Ben Podcast interview about the Sarajevo Haggadah, with Geraldine Brooks about People of the Book: April 2008 Sharing Shalom by Danielle Sharkan, illustrated by Selina Alko, published by Holiday House Middle Grade Notables Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz, published by Dutton Books for Young Readers Podcast interview with Adam about Max in the House of Spies: July 2024 Things That Shimmer by Deborah Lakritz, published by Kar-Ben Podcast interview with Deborah about the Friends for LQ Auction: August 2023 Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf by Deke Moulton, published by Tundra Books Podcast interview with Deke about Benji Zeb: November 2024 Young Adult Notables The Ballerina of Auschwitz: Young Adult Edition of The Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger with Esme Schwall, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers Inkflower by Suzy Zail, published by Walker Books Australia ~~~~ 2025 Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award Winner:"When You Write Back" by Hanna R. Neier The Sydney Taylor Book Awards are sponsored by Jo Taylor Marshall, daughter of All-of-a-Kind Family author Sydney Taylor. I interviewed Jo Taylor Marshall on The Book of Life in January 2024 CREDITS: Produced by Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel Co-sponsored by the Association of Jewish Libraries Sister podcast: Nice Jewish Books Theme Music: The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band Newsletter: bookoflifepodcast.substack.com Facebook Discussion Group: Jewish Kidlit Mavens Facebook Page: Facebook.com/bookoflifepodcast Instagram: @bookoflifepodcast Twitter: @bookoflifepod Support the Podcast: Shop or Donate Your feedback is welcome! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 561-206-2473.
Hello, Undertow listeners! This week, we're thrilled to introduce you to a different sort of podcast from the Realm network, one the whole family can enjoy: Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest. Happy holidays!! It's Grimm fairy tales like you've never heard before! On every episode of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, bestselling author Adam Gidwitz retells a classic fairy tale to a group of inquisitive kids, who anticipate plot twists, crack jokes, and share their own perspectives on these very Grimm tales. Every episode is rated on a scale of Grimm, Grimmer, or Grimmest, so you can choose your level of spookiness! To listen to more episodes, find Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest on any podcast platform or visit: lnk.to/GrimmGrimmerGrimmest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hello, Undertow listeners! This week, we're thrilled to introduce you to a different sort of podcast from the Realm network, one the whole family can enjoy: Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest. Happy holidays!! It's Grimm fairy tales like you've never heard before! On every episode of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, bestselling author Adam Gidwitz retells a classic fairy tale to a group of inquisitive kids, who anticipate plot twists, crack jokes, and share their own perspectives on these very Grimm tales. Every episode is rated on a scale of Grimm, Grimmer, or Grimmest, so you can choose your level of spookiness! To listen to more episodes, find Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest on any podcast platform or visit: lnk.to/GrimmGrimmerGrimmest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's debate throws two timeless tales into the ring for a clash of the classics. It's Jack and the Beanstalk vs. The Ugly Duckling! In this epic showdown, author and “Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest” podcast host Adam Gidwitz climbs to the top for Jack and the Beanstalk, while author Soman Chainani helps The Ugly Duckling soar to new heights! Who will be crowned the Smash Boom Best? Head on over to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who YOU think won!This week's sponsor is:Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined.Also… do you have your Smarty Pass yet? Get yours today for just $5/month (or $45/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today. As an added bonus, your Smarty Pass will grant you access to a super special debate starring Sanden and Molly!
That's right, the news you've been waiting for is finally here! We've got a special message from Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest host Adam Gidwitz. Drumroll please…If you're craving fairy tale magic this fall, then mark your calendars! We're throwing a live listening party with Adam Gidwitz himself at Brooklyn's Central Library on Saturday, November 2nd at 1:00 PM. Be the first to hear two brand-new stories! For more details, visit tinyurl.com/GrimmEvent. Don't forget to hit subscribe on your favorite podcast app to stay updated on all things Grimm!
SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/10/festive-friends-part-i-teshuvah-and.html TRANSCRIPT: https://otter.ai/u/x1-e3vOomTqZOrPvQPzePL4ZOKQ In honor of this holiday-packed month, I've got a 2-part series for you. I'm calling it Festive Friends, because each episode features a pair of friends talking about books relevant to our fall holidays. Here in Part I, the Festive Friends are Gayle Forman, author of Not Nothing, and Marjorie Ingall, author of Getting to Sorry. While neither of these books are explicitly about Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, they are both about teshuvah, growth, and the art of apology, perfect for this season. I invited this duo not only because of their excellent books but because of their Big BFF Energy, which is a joy to behold. This is Gayle's first appearance on the podcast, but Marjorie has been a frequent guest. Her past appearances include: Enough with the Holocaust Books for Children! (2015), Mamaleh Knows Best (2017), A Field Guide to Jewish Kidlit (2019), and The Mitzvah of Voting (2020 & 2024). In Part II, available now, you'll hear from Erica Lyons and Christina Matula, friends and co-authors of the picture book Mixed-Up Mooncakes, about a Chinese Jewish family celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival and Sukkot. LEARN MORE: Festive Friends Part II with Erica Lyons and Christina Matula Gayle Forman's website Marjorie Ingalls' website, and SorryWatch Buy Not Nothing Buy Getting to Sorry Reading Recommendations: Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz, The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say by Leila Sales, I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff, A Bargain for Frances by Russell Hoban, the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, Lily's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes Gayle volunteers with TheStatesProject.org and AuthorsAgainstBookBans.com Gayle's interview at The Horn Book (has a spoiler, read after finishing the book) Heidi's "Jewish Joy with Ruth Behar" guest post on Multicultural Kid Blogs Learn about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year (October 2-4, 2024) Learn about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement (October 11-12, 2024 ENTER THE DRAWING Post a review of The Book of Life or Nice Jewish Books, or BOTH, on social media or on any podcast player such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Take screenshots of your reviews and email the images to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com. You'll be entered into a drawing for a special tote bag with the logo of The Book of Life on one side and Nice Jewish Books on the other. Every review you send is an entry in the drawing, and multiple entries are allowed. The deadline to email us is October 24th, 2024, the beginning of the ultimate Jewish celebration of reading, Simchat Torah. Your posts will help our podcasts find more listeners, and help more readers find great Jewish books! "JEWISH JOY" SERIES ON MULTICULTURAL KID BLOGS I am pleased to announce that Multicultural Kid Blogs has invited me to do a "Jewish Joy" series of interviews with diverse Jewish authors. The first one features Ruth Behar, who was on the podcast in May 2024 to talk about her novel Across So Many Seas.
SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2024/07/espionage-secrets-suspense-holocaust.html Two incredible authors, Adam Gidwitz and Steve Sheinkin, joined me to talk about their most recent books, Max in the House of Spies and Impossible Escape. As many listeners know, I tend to avoid Holocaust books because I've kind of overdosed on them during a long career of working with Jewish children's literature... but both of these books are SO good that I couldn't ignore them. Max in the House of Spies is middle grade historical fantasy fiction and Impossible Escape is young adult nonfiction. They are very different books, but they also make a great pairing... as do Adam and Steve, who are friends in real life. Impossible Escape was a 2024 Sydney Taylor Honor Book (young adult category). It remains to be seen whether Max in the House of Spies will become an award winner, but it seems likely to me! LEARN MORE: Transcript of interview Adam Gidwitz's website Steve Sheinkin's website Adam recommends An Account Rendered by Melita Maschmann, and Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport, a documentary film and book by Mark Jonathan Harris and Deborah Oppenheimer Adam's podcast Grim, Grimmer, Grimmest Steve's YouTube show Author-Fan Face-Off Adam's Sydney Taylor Book Award winner (middle grade category): The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog | 2017 podcast interview about Inquisitor's Tale ANNOUNCEMENT: The Book of Life is now available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@bookoflifepodcast
This episode of Reading with Your Kids featured conversations with two authors of middle grade novels. Stephanie Brick discussed her book "The Secret Doors of Cannondale," about an outcast girl who discovers secret portals to magical worlds. Brick drew inspiration from her childhood love of exploring secret passageways and hideouts. She and Jed Doherty talked about how co-reading books can help kids build resilience through discussing themes like self-esteem and loss. Adam Gidwitz then shared about his spy thriller "Max in the House of Spies," inspired by true stories of children rescued from Nazi Germany. The authors and Jed discussed the importance of understanding different perspectives in history and fiction. They also talked about using books to have meaningful conversations about current issues like refugee crises. Both authors reflected on how researching and writing their novels changed their own views on understanding complex characters and situations. Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com
Author Adam Gidwitz is giving a talk this week to celebrate the release of his new book: Max in the House of Spies For more information about the event on Wednesday, March 13, please visit cellardoorbookstore.com And order Max in the House of Spies, available now!
Author Adam Gidwitz from Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, is giving a talk this week to celebrate the release of his new book: Max in the House of Spies For more information about the event on Wednesday, March 13, please visit cellardoorbookstore.com And order Max in the House of Spies, available now!
Author Adam Gidwitz, from Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, is giving a talk this week to celebrate the release of his new book: Max in the House of Spies For more information about the event on Wednesday, March 13, please visit cellardoorbookstore.com And order Max in the House of Spies, available now!
In this Forecast episode, Chrissie shares the ten kidlit releases she is most looking forward to in Feburary 2024. She also shares a speed round of ten more next-in-series that the kids in her library can't wait to read.FEATURED TITLES:Picture BooksThe Door That Had Never Been Opened Before by Mrs. and Mr. MacLeod, out 2/6Lucky Duck by Greg Pizzoli, out 2/6The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn by Shawn Harris, out 2/6I Do Not Eat Children by Marcus Cutler, out 2/20Pretty Ugly by David Sedaris, out 2/27Middle GradeAcross So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, out 2/6Heroes by Alan Gratz, out 2/6The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber, out 2/6Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz, out 2/27GraphicsWildfuli by Kengo Kurimoto, out 2/6SPEED ROUND (Next in Series)Middle GradeCity Spies: Mission Manhattan by James Ponti, out 2/6Finally Heard by Kelly Yang, out 2/27Finding Bear by Hannah Gold, out 2/27The Last Bookwanderer by Anna James, out 2/27GraphicsWaverider (Amulet 9) by Kazu Kibuishi, out 2/6Eowulf: Of Monsters and Middle School by Mike Cavallaro, out 2/13The Love Report, Volume 2 by Beka and Maya, out 2/13Agents of SUIT: From Badger to Worse by John Patrick Green, out 2/20Wombats! Go to Wizard's Wharf by Maddie Frost, out 2/20Hilo: Rise of the Cat by Judd Winick, out 2/27Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can follow the show on Instagram @bookdelightpod, follow Chrissie on Instagram @librarychrissie, and subscribe to Chrissie's kidlit newsletter at librarychrissie.substack.com. If you want to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Substack. For $7/month, you are helping to pay the costs of the show and receive exclusive content like extra booklists, roundups of kidlit books that have received starred reviews, reviews of books Chrissie did not like, and more.
Today we're featuring an episode from the podcast Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest. It's a wildly enchanting fairy tale podcast made in partnership with Adam Gidwitz, bestselling author of A Tale Dark and Grimm. Each episode features a classic fairy tale, bringing to life a world full of curious creatures and mischievous foes. Before we get into that episode, we have an extra special treat – an interview with Adam Gidwitz! The wonderful Wil Williams, a podcast industry expert who also happens to work at Tink Media, got to chat with Adam about the show and his work. They talk about how fairy tales inspire such similar thoughts and questions from kids all across the US, why spooky stories appeal to kids, and how podcasts like Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest might make it easier for them if they're curious. As a former teacher, Adam thinks a lot about the ways kids interact with stories and the world, and he shares some really helpful insights about what we let kids read. You can find more episodes of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest in your favorite podcast apps. A production of Tink Media. Executive Produced by: Lauren Passell Produced by: Devin Andrade and Andreea Coscai Interview by: Wil Williams Edited by: Devin Andrade Theme music by: Aakshi Sinha Follow Tink for more!
Bestselling author and podcast host Adam Gidwitz (Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest) tells us of his brother's premonition and some of his favorite spooky fairytales. Listener, Jazz, has a ghost who plays hide and seek with their belongings.Please send us your own true paranormal experiences in either a voice memo or e-mail to funnyfeelingpod@gmail.com.Rocket Money is a personal finance app that finds and cancels your unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps you lower your bills—all in one place. Stop wasting money on things you don't use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions – and manage your money the easy way – by going to RocketMoney.com/FUNNYFEELING.Our show today is sponsored by Microdose Gummies… Microdose Gummies deliver perfect, entry-level doses of THC that help you feel just the right amount of good. Microdose is available nationwide. To learn more about microdosing THC go to Microdose.com and use code: FUNNYFEELING to get free shipping & 30% off your first order.Advertise on A Funny Feeling via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On Today's Show"The world is so complex, right? No theory that anyone has can be accurate because the only accurate model of the world is the world. There are too many complexities. ... And so what literature does is it catalogues the unique and particular truths of the world and a really great writer, a Jane Austin, Chekhov, Kate DiCamillo, will take one of those truths and reveal it to you in a narrative way that's just so deeply satisfying." - Adam Gidwitz As a young adult, Adam Gidwitz was on a hunt for the truth. He searched in philosophy and religion, but eventually found literature to be the ultimate source for the small truths this world can provide. Despite being a natural storyteller since childhood, Adam didn't understand view himself as a writer. It wasn't until he was a teacher and began writing to entertain his students that he saw this potential in himself.After finding success in A Tale Dark and Grimm, The Inquisitor's Tale, and various other stories, Adam is preparing to release a new children's novel that will dive into a monstrous setting to tell a particularly hard truth: bad people are still human, and their motivations are endless. In today's episode, he joins to share more about his approach to telling this story, how he found his unique voice and why he believes fiction is the best vehicle for learning about the world.ContentsChapter 1 - Writers Don't Always Write (2:36) Chapter 2 - Adam's House (5:10) Chapter 3 - Slow and Steady (9:36)Chapter 4 - The BFG (12:15)Chapter 5: Not Johnny Tremain (17:10)Chapter 6: Discovering Truths (22:06)Chapter 7: Thinkers, Poets, and Monsters (26:39)Chapter 8: I Wish I Was Cast As… (31:37) Chapter 9: Grimmly Ever After (32:49)Chapter 10: Beanstack Featured Librarian (34:17)This episode's Beanstack featured librarian is Jenny Lee Ryan, the program coordinator for Farmington Public Library in New Mexico, and also a former radio show host. She gave us some of her best tips for getting readers engaged in their programming.Links https://www.adamgidwitz.com/ thereadingculturepod.com/adam-gidwitz www.beanstack.com
Adam Gidwitz is a wonderful storyteller. In fact, he tells stories in books, on TV, and on his very own podcast called Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest. Today, though, he adds "guest on Withywindle" to that long resume! He joined us to talk about his favorite snacks, his favorite books, and his favorite fairy tales. Plus, as always, this episode has plenty of joking, riddling, Lazy word-ing, and much more! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Simon Otto, the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy's head of character animation, is the executive producer of new Netflix animated series A Tale Dark & Grimm. It's based on books by Adam Gidwitz and premieres this Friday October 8th. Otto dives into this unique Hansel & Gretel adventure and also teases a major animated feature he's directing.
Adam Gidwitz is a prominent young adult writer. He has an upcoming Netflix show debuting in October. His books sell well all over the world. So why be a children's author rather than an author who writes for adults? Adam writes for young adults and children because he hopes to influence them to live healthy, productive, community-centered lives. He uses modern interpretations of fairytales to accomplish this goal. Adam knows the young people are open to good ideas. However, fairytales teach children to draw their own conclusions, stand up for what they believe in, and throw their shoulders behind more significant causes the world and their generation face. Adam also understands that once adults develop a set of core beliefs, it is almost impossible to get those adults to change their minds. A fair amount of psychological and sociological research back this up. You can test this right now. Think about your core negative beliefs. What would it take for someone to get you to change your core beliefs? Please understand I am a big fan of my core beliefs. I imagine you feel the same way about your core beliefs. I vote for the good core beliefs like "do unto others as you would want them to do onto you." I vote against the core destructive beliefs. For example, con artists believe all people are greedy, so they deserve to be conned and tricked. You can easily see how these two examples would fit nicely into a modern fairytale that might point a child in a productive direction. In this terrific conversation with Adam, you will quickly sense his enthusiasm for his career as a children's author. He is also a fantastic teacher and a storyteller who has spent many hours in classrooms worldwide telling fairytales to students. He also has a podcast called Grim, Grimmer, and Grimmest. Finally, toward the end of this conversation, you will discover that Adam is also a political activist. He focuses on how to organize and implement good voting practices on a state level. I'll leave it up to you to determine how Adam combines his career as a writer and his commitment to the political process into his fascinating Brooklyn New York life. Enjoy the show:
Listen to why youth librarian, Lisa K thinks you should read The Unicorn Rescue Society Book 1: The Creature of the Pines by Adam Gidwitz. Written for: 3rd-4th Graders Genre: Fantasy, adventure Themes: magical creatures, friendship Check it out here: https://search.westervillelibrary.org/iii/encore/search/C__St%3A%28creature%20of%20the%20pines%29__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
The first half of our deep dive in Captain David Gold, lead character of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers eBook series, and one of the most prominent Jewish characters in the Star Trek literary world. Guest Heidi Rabinowitz, host of The Book of Life podcast and Jewish children's librarian, joins us to unpack these stories and the state of the Jewish children's literary world. -- HSHW: "Creative Couplings" by Glenn Hauman & Aaron Rosenberg, which can be found in the anthology book Star Trek: Corps of Engineers: Creative Couplings, or alternatively in Books #47 and #48 of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers (S.C.E.) eBook series; and the short story "An Easy Fast" by John Ordover, which can be found in Tales from the Captain's Table, edited by Keith R.A. DeCandido. -- List of other books and media discussed or mentioned in this episode: Star Trek: The New Voyages 2, edited by Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath; K'TonTon by Sadie Rose Weilerstein; Atalanta; All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor; The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket; Fascinating: The Life of Leonard Nimoy by Richard Michelson; Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good by Nancy Werlin; Anya and the Dragon and Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack; The Inquisitor's Tale, Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz; The Way Back by Gavriel Savit; The Last Shepherd; Kasper Mützenmacher's Cursed Hat by Keith R. Fentonmiller; The Golem and the Jinni and The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker. -- Listen to Heidi's recent interview with Nancy Werlin, author of Zoe Rosenthal is Not Lawful Good here: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2021/08/zoe-rosenthal-is-not-lawful-good.html
After hearing the news that the estate of Dr Seuss was going to stop publishing several of their more questionable and outdated titles, Gary and Becca gathered booksellers Jenni, Kylie, and Kelly to chat about some of their favorite children's books, from ones they grew up with to new ones on our shelves today! There are a ton of recommendations in this episode, so be sure to check out the list below! The Story of Babar by Jean De Brunhoff My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett The 13 Clocks by James Thurber Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds by David A. Adler and Susanna Natti Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Animorphs: The Invasion by K.A. Applegate Goosebumps #1: Night of the Living Dummy by R.L. Stine Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell Small Spaces by Katherine Arden City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown Once Upon a Space-Time by Jeffrey Brown Princess Pulverizer #1: Grilled Cheese and Dragons by Nancy Krulik and Ben Balistreri Princess in Black by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and LeUyen Pham The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee Neither by Airlie Anderson Warriors #1: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter George by Alex Gino I'm Not a Girl by Maddox Lyons, Jessica Verdi, and Dana Simpson And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, and Henry Cole Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones The Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones Inkheart by Cornelia Funke Test of Courage by Justina Ireland The Girl and the Ghost by Hanna Alkaf The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz and Hatem Aly You can now find us on Patreon! Unlock exclusive content by subscribing today! Special thanks to Austin Farmer for letting us use the track "Kill the Farm Boy", from his album Bookshelf Symphony Orchestra! Send us your questions to podcast@mystgalaxy.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok! And support the store by ordering books at mystgalaxy.com!
Book talk about Gimm Conclusion by Adam Gidwitz
Adam Gidwitz answers some of your most burning questions on all things Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest. Plus, Adam and Pinna producer Ilana Millner take you behind the scenes, and reveal some of the ins and outs of the Grimm world.
Jennie and Marcy talk with Adam Gidwitz, winner of the 2017 Newbery Honor for The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog. Adam Gidwitz is the author of the Newbery Honor winning THE INQUISITOR'S TALE, the best-seller A TALE DARK AND GRIMM and its companions, and the new series THE UNICORN RESCUE SOCIETY. He also has a forthcoming podcast from Pinna called GRIMM, GRIMMER, GRIMMEST. Adam was a teacher for eight years in Brooklyn, NY. Now he writes full time, which means that he spends a few hours a day writing, and spends the rest of the time lying on his couch staring at the ceiling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Pod-Crashing Episode 74 with Adam Gidwitz Grim Grimmer Grimmest. The Hair-Raising, Original Podcast Series Based on the Grimm Fairy Tales. Every episode is a story retold with a fresh and surprising twist. Featuring curious creatures and mischievous foes, each story punctuated by hilarious commentary from a classroom of kids who question their way through these creepy tales. The podcast series is the perfect entertainment alternative to screen time for kids whether listening at home, on the go, in cars, or in classrooms nationwide, and it activates kids’ imaginations and instigates fantastic, fun conversation.
Whether your family is doing e-learning, homeschooling, unschooling, striking, or hiding out in a bunker to avoid the latest natural disaster, you need The Creativity Project book to fill your time and sparkle your creativity. If you’re not sure if this book is for you, listen as the mamas give the hard sell (no, there’s no money in it for them although they’ll take your money if you’re offering) for literary advocate Colby Sharp and his unique prompt-response anthology along with tips to keep your kids learning, growing and creating. The Creativity Project, edited by Colby SharpThis collection of prompts and responses from dozens of well-known children’s authors is the brainchild of teacher and literary advocate Colby Sharp (5 Questions with Mr. Sharp), who invited some of the best storytellers in Kidlit to share a prompt. Then the artists swapped prompts and let their imaginations run wild. The results appear in The Creativity Project book in the form of stories, drawings, poems, and comics. A section titled Prompts for You, is a call to action at the end that encourages readers to create their own awesome works of art. The Mamas couldn’t call out every contributor in the book, but they did discuss the works of these authors and illustrators: Sherman Alexi, Kate Messner, R.J. Palacio, Dav Pilkey, Minh Le, Victoria Jamieson, Lemony Snicket, Jennifer L. Holm, Chris Grabenstein, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Adam Gidwitz, Sophie Blackall, Kate DiCamillo, and Kat Yeh. Pick 6: The mamas’ tips for sparking creativity at home or school1. Poetry Friday Anthology2. Scholastic Story Starter Scrambler3. Story Prompts from Think Written and Squibler4. Painting with ice5. Ice Play6. Airport Stories Episode Reference Links:Tomie’s Little Book of Poems by Tomie dePaolaWhere the Sidewalk EndsHank Zipzer by Henry Winkler
Pod-Crashing Episode 74 with Adam GidwitzGrim Grimmer Grimmest. The Hair-Raising, Original Podcast Series Based on the Grimm Fairy Tales. Every episode is a story retold with a fresh and surprising twist. Featuring curious creatures and mischievous foes, each story punctuated by hilarious commentary from a classroom of kids who question their way through these creepy tales. The podcast series is the perfect entertainment alternative to screen time for kids whether listening at home, on the go, in cars, or in classrooms nationwide, and it activates kids’ imaginations and instigates fantastic, fun conversation.
Pod-Crashing Episode 74 with Adam Gidwitz Grim Grimmer Grimmest. The Hair-Raising, Original Podcast Series Based on the Grimm Fairy Tales. Every episode is a story retold with a fresh and surprising twist. Featuring curious creatures and mischievous foes, each story punctuated by hilarious commentary from a classroom of kids who question their way through these creepy tales. The podcast series is the perfect entertainment alternative to screen time for kids whether listening at home, on the go, in cars, or in classrooms nationwide, and it activates kids’ imaginations and instigates fantastic, fun conversation.
Pod-Crashing Episode 74 with Adam Gidwitz Grim Grimmer Grimmest. The Hair-Raising, Original Podcast Series Based on the Grimm Fairy Tales. Every episode is a story retold with a fresh and surprising twist. Featuring curious creatures and mischievous foes, each story punctuated by hilarious commentary from a classroom of kids who question their way through these creepy tales. The podcast series is the perfect entertainment alternative to screen time for kids whether listening at home, on the go, in cars, or in classrooms nationwide, and it activates kids’ imaginations and instigates fantastic, fun conversation.
Adam Gidwitz (@AdamGidwitz) and Emma Otheguy (@EmmaOtheguy) share THE MADRE de AGUAS OF CUBA, book #5 in the UNICORN RESCUE SOCIETY series, illustrated by Hatem Aly. If you have been following along with this chapter book series, you have no doubt noticed that it’s doing something a little different than the other books out there. Series frontrunner Adam Gidwitz has paired up with a different #ownvoices author for each of the books since the first sequel. The resulting titles have taken readers all around the world to explore region-specific mythical creatures while also exploring the intersection of culture and current events. The latest installment takes place in Cuba and at the hands of skilled storyteller Emma Otheguy the characters seek to rescue a mysterious creature amid a threat to the area’s water supply. As Adam would say, this book and the others in the series are filled with “serious fun”. And if this is your first entry into the series, have no fear. This book is a great starting point and catches readers up within the first few pages. You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/blog. Get a copy of this book and support independent bookstores (and this podcast) by visiting our BookShop Store. Thank you to this week's sponsor: Picture Book Summit Bookclub (Patreon) Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons.
This episode is a reading of the 1st half of chapter 1 of the book, "A Tale Dark & Grimm" by Adam Gidwitz.
Join the Two Lit Mamas as they disappear into their favorite Middle Grade series and forget about the dumpster fire that is 2020 for a while. The mamas talk Star Wars, supernatural powers and even exchange a recipe for Café de Olla, all while giving big props to genius authors who make parents cringe and kiddos cheer. So, go ahead, get lost in a neighborhood of make believe with the mamas. You might feel better – at least for 30 minutes. Margie’s FavesA New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy by Alexandra Bracken, So You Want to Be a Jedi by Adam Gidwitz and Return of the Jedi, Beware The Power of the Dark Side by Tom Angleberger are three very different retellings of the original Star Wars movies from the 1970s and 80s. Though completely different in style, the three books fit together to tell the stories, from Luke Skywalker's and Princess Leia’s meet cute (ewww, they’re brother and sister) to the defeat of their faaather.The Genius Files is a series of five books by Dan Gutman following the McDonald twins, Coke and Pepsi, on a pop culture filled cross-country road trip. While their parents are enjoying the sights, the twins find themselves being hunted by a team of bad guys because Coke and Pepsi are no ordinary kids. The twins have been chosen for a secret government organization known as The Genius Files.Heather’s FavesWar usually brings death and devastation but, for Ada, it might save her from abuse and misery. Set in the English countryside during WWII, The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, complete a coming of age story about a 10-year-old girl who learns to love life at a time when bombings and German spies are a normal part of living. Watch out world, the Beatumont children are coming into their powers and they can’t control them. Will there be a new mountain range in Kansas or a great lake in the desert? Anything is possible in this three book fantasy adventure series by Ingrid Law which includes Savvy, Scumble and Switch. Each book follows a new family member on the wild ride of discovering his or her powers. Pick 6: Great Shows Based on BooksMatildaThe House with a Clock in the WallsAnne with an EHolesDiary of a Wimpy KidSeries of Unfortunate EventsShow Reference Links:VIA Character Strengths SurveyCafé de Olla40th Anniversary Star Wars article with Adam GidwitzOrigamiyoda.comJedi AcademyCommon Sense MediaTwo Lit Mamas Blog
Star Warsból sohasem lehet elég. Ennél már csak az a jobb, ha egy kérdés van a címben. Nem? :) Köszönöm Dominik! zene: Clap! Clap! - "Kuj Yato" hang: freesound.org kép: Masha Raymers fotója a Pexels oldaláról
Matthew and Nicole discuss combatting xenophobia by adopting a stance of cultural humility and helping shape children’s understanding of a broader world, rich with hundreds of cultures, languages, and people both very similar and very different from their own. This episode is sponsored by: Book Riot’s Read Harder 2020 Challenge Get Booked: The Handsell Libro FM Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Countering Islamophobia Through Education Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus Books to Help Kids Understand What It’s Like to Be a Refugee In the Face of Xenophobia: Lessons to Address Bullying of South Asian American Youth How to Support Immigrant Students and Families: Strategies for Schools and Early Childhood Programs Asking For A Friend: Help! My Kids Only Have White Friends Antiracist Book Festival They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott; illustrated by Harmony Becker Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust by Loic Dauvillier, Marc Lizano, and Greg Salsedo BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: PICTURE BOOKS: Under My Hijab by Hena Khan; illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S. K. Ali; illustrated by Hatem Aly Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow; illustrated by Ebony Glenn Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez,; illustrated by Jaime Kim Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh The Journey by Francesca Sanna I Am Not A Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer, illustrated by Gillian Newland MIDDLE GRADE: The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande (The Unicorn Rescue Society #4) by Adam Gidwitz and David Bowles; illustrated by Hatem Aly Front Desk by Kelly Yang Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis with Traci Sorell CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).
S4 E65: In this episode, meet Adam Gidwitz, Adam Grant & Allison Sweet Grant, and John Cena. Discover the inspiration behind A Tale Dark and Grimm, listen to husband and wife writing team Adam and Allison discuss The Gift Inside the Box, and hear how John Cena applies “elbow grease” in his own life. Plus, learn the one question that may change dinnertime conversations with your kids forever. A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz: https://www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/book/306780/a-tale-dark-and-grimm/ The Gift Inside the Box by Adam Grant and Allison Sweet Grant: https://www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/book/610620/the-gift-inside-the-box/ Elbow Grease vs. Motozilla by John Cena: https://www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/book/609295/elbow-grease-vs-motozilla/
Are unicorns real? Who made them up? Where do they come from? What do they eat, how big are they, and do they have rainbow manes? We're answering all of your questions about unicorns-and learning about other mythical creatures as well with Adam Gidwitz, creator of The Unicorn Rescue Society and Dana Simpson cartoonist and author of Phoebe and Her Unicorn.
In this episode we share our paths to the school library, discuss Chatterpix and OneTab, and booktalk The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz and Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback. Links for what we discuss: The Inquisitor's Tale (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313397/the-inquisitors-tale-by-adam-gidwitz-interior-decorations-by-hatem-aly/9780142427378/) Joseph had a Little Overcoat (https://www.worldcat.org/title/joseph-had-a-little-overcoat/oclc/40159006) Chatterpix (http://www.duckduckmoose.com/educational-iphone-itouch-apps-for-kids/chatterpixkids/) OneTab (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/onetab/chphlpgkkbolifaimnlloiipkdnihall?hl=en) ECU Master of Library Science (https://education.ecu.edu/idp/idp-library-science/) ALA accreditation (http://www.ala.org/educationcareers/accreditedprograms) NCWiseOwl (http://www.ncwiseowl.org/) PJ Library (https://pjlibrary.org/home), Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (https://imaginationlibrary.com/) Infinite Flipper (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-p7HymHkKI) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/techplusbooks/message
In this special edition of our podcast This Is the Author, we’re celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month by asking celebrated children’s authors to share some of their favorite library memories. Listen to John Cena, Ann Bausum, Steve Sheinkin, and Adam Gidwitz share why libraries are so special to them, and why getting a library card is the first step to a lifetime of adventure!
Author Adam Gidwitz shares his journey to becoming a published author.
Ages 6-12. Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest is a wildly enchanting fairy tale podcast series made in partnership with Adam Gidwitz, bestselling author of A Tale Dark and Grimm. Weaving in and out of a classroom of witty grade-schoolers and a world full of curious creatures and mischievous foes, each episode features a Grimm fairy tale retold with a surprising flourish. This Grimm episode tells the epic tale of a selfish princess, an enchanted talking stove, and a very odd adventure.
Theater Education professor, Julia Ashworth talks about theater for young audiences. Adam Gidwitz chats about his book series "A Tale Dark and Grimm". And Kathleen Brown of the University of Utah's reading clinic discusses word recognition instruction. Along with our interviews we’ll have storytime with book review of "When You Reach Me", learn some librarians' favorite books, and gather around the Librarians' Table to chat about academic librarians.
First Draft Episode #188: Ally Condie Ally Condie, New York Times bestselling author of the Matched series, as well as Summerlost and The Darkdeep, co-written with Brendan Reichs. In this conversation, Ally talks about what inspired her to get an MFA after establishing herself as a bestselling author, always working on two things at once, and how the 2016 election gave Ally enough rage to write her newest young adult novel, murderous revenge story The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe. Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode The Planet of the Apes movies, which were filmed near where Ally grew up in rural Utah Ally was inspired by a blog post by Shannon Hale, New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Academy and Austenland, where she wrote about writing 1,000 words a day. Ally was inspired by Shannon to commit to daily word goals. She started with 500. Lisa Mangum, editor at Shadow Mountain press, which released Ally’s first few books Brandon Mull, New York TImes bestselling author of the Fablehaven and Beyonders series, who got his start at Shadow Mountain PressChris Shoebinger, publishing director at Shadow Mountain Press, who released Ally from her publishing contract so she could pursue a bigger contract for Matched Jodi Reamer, literary agent at Writer’s House, who also represents Tahereh Mafi, New York TImes bestselling author of the Shatter Me series (listen to her First Draft episode here), Ransom Riggs, New York Times bestselling author of the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series (listen to his First Draft episode here), John Green, New York Times bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska, and Stephenie Meyer, author of the global phenomenon Twilight series Julie Strauss-Gabel, publisher at Dutton Books, who has edited John Green, Adam Gidwitz, New York Times bestselling author of A Tale Dark & Grimm and The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog, and Gayle Forman, New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay and I Have Lost My Way The Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in writing for children, the program Ally attended Emily Wing Smith, author of The Way He Lived and All Better Now, and Carol Lynch Williams, author of The Chosen One and Glimpse, two Utah authors Ally was friends with who also attended the Vermont College of Fine Arts for the MFA program Kekla Magoon, author of National Book Award Longlisted X: A Novel (written with Ilyasah Shabazz), Coretta Scott King-honored The Season of Styx Malone and How it Went Down, and was Ally’s mentor at the Vermont program and helped her with an early draft of Poe Blythe An Na, author of Printz winner and National Book Award long-listed A Step From Heaven, as well as Wait For Me and The Place Between Breaths, was also an advisor at the Vermont College of Fine Arts Martine Leavitt, author of Keturah and Lord Death, and Calvin, who Ally calls “a stone cold genius.” Martine helped Ally work on a project during her Vermont residency. Quentin Tarantino’s advice to screenwriters was to delete the last two lines of dialogue from every scene, which Alfred Gough and Miles Millar--creators of Smallville and Into the Badlands shared with me on their recent First Draft episode. That’s similar to Ally’s feeling that sometimes she writes past the natural ending of a chapter. Brendan Reichs, New York Times bestselling author of Genesis, and co-writer of Virals with his mother, New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs, and The Darkdeep with Ally. Brendan and Ally fortuitously decided to pursue an MFA at Vermont at the same time. YALLWEST and YALLFest, two national young adult and middle grade book festivals held in Charleston, S.C. and Los Angeles. Ally is on the board of the festivals, alongside Brendan Reichs and Margaret Stohl, New York Times bestselling author of the Beautiful Creatures series, Red Widow and Royce Rolls (listen to her First Draft episodes here and here) Stranger Things meets The Goonies, the pitch for Ally and Brendan’s co-written middle grade series, The Darkdeep Ally’s pitch for Poe Blythe is: “Mad Max: Fury Road meets Firefly meets something really lovey.” I got a distinctly Heart of Darkness (by Joseph Conrad) vibe from Poe when I read it! Write Out, the non-profit organization Ally founded as a way to bring authors to kids in rural Utah Brendan Reichs, Shannon Hale, Soman Chainani (author of The School for Good and Evil series--listen to his First Draft interview here), and Yamile Saied Mendez (author of Blizzard Besties: A Wish Novel, and the forthcoming On These Magic Shores) are among the authors who volunteer at Write Out Ally and I urge listeners to Marie Kondo your fear -- go write that angry revenge novel!!!! Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni Every Tuesday, I speak to storytellers like Veronica Roth, author of Divergent; Michael Dante DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender; John August, screenwriter of Big Fish, Charlie’s Angels, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; or Rhett Miller, musician and frontman for The Old 97s. Together, we take deep dives on their careers and creative works. Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s free! Rate, Review, and Recommend How do you like the show? Please take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your honest and positive review helps others discover the show -- so thank you! Is there someone you think would love this podcast as much as you do? Please share this episode on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or via carrier pigeon (maybe try a text or e-mail, come to think of it). Just click the Share button at the bottom of this post! Thanks again!
This week, we welcome back one of our favorite guests: Tom Angleberger! Tom was actually one of our very first guests, WAY BACK on Episode 23. He was also the first guest to come back for a second appearance (with fellow Star Wars authors Alexandra Bracken and Adam Gidwitz on Episode 33). And now he's the first to hit another milestone: the threepeat! On this episode, I'm joined by Meg Humphrey to geek out about Tom's criminally underappreciated The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fear. And the 10th anniversary of Origami Yoda. And what else he's got up his sleeve. Buckle up!
Mark Pryor 01:50 Mark Pryor, novelist Amber Elby, YA novelist Dylan Powell, mystery writer George Vance McGee, author Daniel Peña, novelist Leza Cantoral, author and panda Cat with book Phuc with dog Mark Pryor is the author of ten novels, including The Hollow Man, which introduced everyone’s favorite misanthrope*, Dominic. His latest, The Book Artist, a Hugo Marston novel, launches February 2019. He has also published the true-crime book As She Lay Sleeping. A native of Hertfordshire, England, he is an assistant district attorney in Austin, Texas, where he lives with his wife and three children.Laura Elvebak 12:03Born in North Dakota, but raised in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Laura draws from her nomad kind of existence in various cities to craft her mysteries with a touch of noir. Laura’s writing career follows a winding career path through oil and gas companies, law firms, a stint as a go-go dancer in the sixties. Amber Elby 18:45Amber Elby was born in Grand Ledge, Michigan but spent much of her childhood in the United Kingdom. She began writing when she was three years old and created miniature books by asking her family how to spell every, single, word. She studied creative writing at Michigan State University’s Honors College before earning her Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting at the University of Texas at Austin. She currently resides in Texas with her husband and two daughters and spends her time teaching, traveling, and getting lost in imaginary worlds. Dylan Powell 25:22Dylan Powell is an award-winning author who writes crime stories, mystery fiction and books about Texas. Powell's work has been featured in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, the Best American Mysteries 2018 and a host of fine truck stop bathroom walls across the Texas badlands. Kathryn Lane 33:07Kathryn Lane is the award-winning author of Coyote Zone, the second book in the Nikki Garcia thriller series. A transplant to Houston, Lane draws inspiration for her work from her love of world travel. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the Writers League of Texas, and she lives in the Woodlands, Texas with her husband, Bob.George Vance McGee 40:56Born in Austin, George Vance McGee is a liberal arts graduate from the University of Texas. He is the author of Attractive Tales from Grand Cities: A Social Memoir. He spent five years living and working in NYC before returning to his hometown of Austin, where he writes and works as a realtor. Daniel García Ordaz 49:53Daniel García Ordaz is the founder of the Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival and the author of You Know What Iâ’m Sayin’? (El Zarape Press, 2006) and Cenzontle/Mockingbird: Songs of Empowerment (FlowerSong Books, 2018). His writing centers on the creative power of language. García has been a featured reader and guest at numerous literary events, including the Dallas International Book Fair, McAllen Book Festival, Texas Library Association, and Border Book Bash.Daniel Peña 57:45 Daniel Peña is a Pushcart Prize-winning writer and Assistant Professor in the Department of English at the University of Houston-Downtown. He was formerly based out of the UNAM in Mexico City where he worked as a Fulbright-Garcia Robles Scholar. A graduate of Cornell University and a former Picador Guest Professor in Leipzig, Germany, his writing has appeared in Ploughshares, The Rumpus, the Kenyon Review, NBC News, and Arcturus among other venues. He’s currently a regular contributor to the Guardian and the Ploughshares blog. His novel, Bang, is out now from Arte Público Press. He lives in beautiful Houston, Texas. David Bowles 01:07:49A Mexican-American author from deep South Texas, David Bowles is an assistant professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Recipient of awards from the American Library Association, Texas Institute of Letters and Texas Associated Press, he has written a dozen or so books, including Flower, Song, Dance: Aztec and Mayan Poetry, the critically acclaimed Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Mexican Myths, and They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems, which is a recent recipient of the Claudia Lewis Award. In 2019, Penguin will publish The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande, co-written with Adam Gidwitz, and Tu Books will release his steampunk graphic novel Clockwork Curandera. In April 2017, David was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters for his literary work.Leza Cantoral 01:18:39Leza Cantoral is a Xicana writer & editor who lives on the internet. She is the Editor in Chief of CLASH Books & host of the Get Lit With Leza podcast where she talks to cool-ass writers. Tragedy Queens: Stories Inspired by Lana Del Rey & Sylvia Plath is a CLASH Books anthology of stories that she edited as a result of being a Lana Del Rey & Sylvia Plath megafan. You can find her on YouTube at Get Lit With Leza. She blogs at lezacantoral.com.A Texas-sized thank you to all of the authors who were generous enough to share their time at the festival with us. Please do click through to each of the authors’ sites and support these women and men of the word by buying more books & by reading more widely today.**misanthropy is a really fun word. I mean, so fun.
SHOW NOTES: https://jewishbooks.blogspot.com/2019/01/beyond-holocaust-and-holidays-writing.html "Beyond the Holocaust and Holidays: Who Are We and What Are We Writing?" is a symposium for Jewish children's literature, welcoming novelists and publishing professionals to Honesdale, PA, March 15-18, 2019. A stellar faculty will lead discussions on issues both practical and philosophical. For this episode of The Book of Life, we've gathered four of those faculty members for our own discussion: Adam Gidwitz, Susan Kusel, Katherine Locke, and Rena Rossner. Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to bookoflifepodcast@gmail.com or call our voicemail number at 561-206-2473.
WBZ's Doug Cope speaks with author Adam Gidwitz about how he used Grimm's Fairytales to keep kids in his classroom quiet.
WBZ's Doug Cope speaks with author Adam Gidwitz about how he used Grimm's Fairytales to keep kids in his classroom quiet.
What better time to introduce Kate to the work of Dave McKean than when it's almost Halloween! Betsy tries to give her sister a good dose of nightmare fuel, but somehow the two just end up talking about what an old wolf melody would sound like and whether Dave McKean has ever drawn a bunny (he has... and it's weird). Source Notes: - There was indeed a virtual reality version of The Wolves in the Walls. Variety Magazine had the scoop, and they even made a trailer for it. Behold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLp07Grch-o - The video quality is not the best, but this will give you some sense of the stage production of The Wolves in the Walls that occurred: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_P4AxAagHU - As Betsy mentioned, this past weekend she interviewed Adam Gidwitz at SLJ's Summit. His new podcast Grimm Grimmer Grimmest is more than a little delightful. Do check it out: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grimm-grimmer-grimmest/id1436651521?mt=2 - For the full Show Notes, please visit us at http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2018/10/29/fuse-8-n-kate-the-wolves-in-the-walls-by-neil-gaiman-ill-dave-mckean/
Squirrel Eats Jack-O-Lanterns, Favorite Candy Bars, & Adam Gidwitz The Hair-Raising, Original Podcast Series Based on the Grimm Fairy Tales Premieres for FREE October 21st on the Apple Podcast App Halloween will never be the same again thanks to Pinna--the premiere screen-free, ad-free audio entertainment app for kids--and Adam Gidwitz, Newbery Honor winner and best-selling author of A Tale Dark and Grimm. Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, a funny, spooky, original podcast series for kids--based on the Grimm fairy tales--premieres for FREE on October 21st on the Apple Podcast App (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/grimm-grimmer-grimmest/id1436651521?mt=2) For more information, visit: www.pinna.fm/grimmest. Every episode of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest features a Grimm fairy tale retold with a fresh and surprising twist. Featuring curious creatures and mischievous foes, each story is punctuated by hilarious commentary from a classroom of kids who question their way through these creepy tales. Starting October 21st, the ten-episode series will roll out one new show each day leading up to Halloween—during which time the series will be free to listeners via the Apple Podcast App. This podcast series is the perfect entertainment alternative to screen time for kids whether listening at home, on the go, in cars, or in classrooms nationwide, and it activates kids’ imaginations and instigates fantastic, fun conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Basque Dragon is Newbery Honor winning author Adam Gidwitz's newest book in his Unicorn Rescue Society series. It is a tale of fantasy that takes the main characters on a cross-Atlantic adventure to Basque Country in search of a missing dragon. Gidwitz will be appearing at Rediscovered Books on October 13 and he joins Idaho Matters on Monday to talk about what inspired him to set his story in the Basque region.
Time to get spooky! The babes go dark (and grim) in this episode as they discuss rather disturbing retellings of the Grimm fairy tales in A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. Don’t listen if you have a weak stomach, hate creepy stuff, and if you’re sick of hearing us talking about crappy parents. […]
Readers at the Neshobe School in Brandon are really getting into Adam Gidwitz 's book The Inquisitor's Tale, which takes place in the Middle Ages — meaning that with the help of imagination and technology, they are literally putting themselves into the narrative.
Today's books are: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. HarperCollins, 1963. A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2010. Read this fabulous article on the career of children's book editor Ursula Nordstrom. Her collection of letters, Dear Genius, is very high on my to-read list. You must see Maurice Sendak on The Colbert Report. Here's the link to Part 1. And Part 2. Find out about Adam Gidwitz and his life goals on his website. Last and most sadly, here's that Pew research on Americans who don't read books. Please come see me on Goodreads!
Intro Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect middle grade kids to books they will love. I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a mom of two young daughters, a 5th grade teacher, and… whew - coming off a tiring couple of weeks. How are you all holding up? I feel like I’ve been through the wringer, honestly. But - even though my entire family (and half my students) are battling colds and respiratory things and the news has been…. um..concerning, there have been some much needed bright spots. I took my first trip ever to DC last Saturday, and I watched the Youth Media Awards live webcast with my students last Monday morning. This is Episode #16 and Today we are discussing the Youth Media Awards and the featuring the 4 books that won Newbery Awards. Main Topic - 2017 Youth Media Awards Last Monday morning at 8am, I sat with my 18 pajama clad 5th graders and we had donuts and watched the Youth Media Awards live through the American Library Association website. They had their favorites that they were rooting for - The Wild Robot and Pax among them. But honestly, the day wasn’t really about the ultimate winners of those awards. To me, it was about honoring ALL children’s literature and showing my students that books for THEM, for an audience of children and teens are worthy of stopping everything and making a big deal of it. And, they learned about a lot of great books while they watched. They knew about the Caldecott and the Newbery, but now they know about the Alex Award, the Schneider Award, the Coretta Scott King Award and so many others that recognize the diversity in children’s literature. There were gasps when March got its fourth award and suddenly, every kid in that room wanted to know - wow, what is THAT book about? And when they learned about the Stonewall Award and that one of their all-time favorite authors, Rick Riordan, had won it for Magnus Chase - there were some opened minds that morning. Some of our favorites didn’t win - but that wasn’t really the point. The point is having a favorite that you are passionate about and discovering new books and authors that are going to stay with you forever. Book Talk - 2017 Newbery Award Books For our book talk segment this week, I’m going rebroadcast the two segments about the Newbery books that I have already featured on the show and then talk about the two others that earned recognition this past week. The novel that won the Newbery Award this year was Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon. And - yeah - I think I may screamed a tad when it was announced. Here’s what I had to say about this book back on episode 15. The Girl Who Drank the Moon Our second featured book today is The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. This is also an adventure survival story but a fairy tale fantasy with powerful witches, a poetic swamp monster, and a seemingly small dragon. The start of this story takes place in a gloomy village along a bog called The Protectorate run by a group of unscrupulous men called The Council of Elders. Each year, on the Day of Sacrifice, these elders take the youngest baby in the village and leave it in the woods. They do this, they claim, to appease an evil witch. Well, it turns out that there is actually a witch, a kind witch named Xan, who rescues these poor babies and feeds them on starlight while she journeys across the dangerous volcanic mountain to find a new home for them. Except one year, she accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight and enmagicks the child who grows to be uncontrollably powerful. The rest of the story is about Xan’s attempts to help her adoptive granddaughter harness that power, and what happens to the villagers left behind in The Protectorate - including a young Elder-in-Training named Antain who starts to have doubts, and the girl’s mother who ends up going mad and being locked in a tower with secrets of its own. It is beautiful and powerful. And here are three more things I loved about Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon: The magic. This is not your typical sparkly, wand summoned magic. It’s earthy and primal and often exists as something almost separate from the characters. Flowers spring from footsteps. And there is a flock of paper birds that swarm and cut and lead and protect in a way that is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. I loved how unique the magic in this book was. The love you feel for the characters. Somehow Barnhill has written them in a way where you feel this deep sense of warmth and protectiveness and empathy for them. Xan, the witch, is getting older and she desperately wants to impart all of her knowledge that she can to her granddaughter, who she’s named Luna. But that same spell that protects her makes it so that she can’t get through to her. And you keep hoping that Luna will discover who she is and maybe be reunited with the mother she was so brutally ripped away from. And all the people in the village - especially Antain and his wife - who are under the thumb of the Council of Elders. I just felt so much love for this characters. What this story has to say about truth and power. In this book, there are some who feed off of other people’s misery. Those who raise themselves by putting others below them, by controlling what stories get told, and by spinning lies. But - there comes a time when the people start to realize how much power they actually have when they band together to use it. Loved it. The Girl Who Drank the Moon is lush and quirky and whimsical and funny and full of adventure. And I can’t wait to read everything else Kelly Barnhill has ever written because this was one powerhouse of a book. Freedom Over Me The first Newbery honor book announced was Freedom Over Me by Ashley Bryan. Well, I was totally wrong when I predicted that a picture book would not be included this time. And I’ll admit that this gorgeous and powerful picture book slipped by me this year. When I got this book, one of the first things I noticed was the cover featuring the images of eleven enslaved black men, women and children whose faces appear in the links of circled chain. Wow. And then flipping open the book and skimming, my heart stopped when I noticed the prices under each face. $300, Stephen age 32. Or $400, Charlotte, age 30 and her child, Dora, age 8. Whew - I hadn’t even read the text yet and this book had struck me. Before I talk about the text, the illustrations are gorgeous bright yellows and purples and greens in a Van Gogh style where you can see the swirls and textures on the each page. And in the background of several of the pages are images of legal documents showing the sale of these people as property. Okay - the text. Freedom Over Me is a book of poems - each one from the point of view of an enslaved man, woman, or child who live on the same plantation and are about to be sold. They share remembrances of their homes and childhood in Africa, their work on the plantation, and their hopes and dreams for the future. What’s fascinating is that the seeds of this book came from real slave-related documents that the author had acquired and his wish to honor the humanity of these people lost to history. It’s beautiful, and moving, and just stays with you a long time. Also receiving a Newbery Honor this year was the incredible The Inquisitor’s Tale. Here’s what I had to say about this book back in Episode #10. The Inquisitor’s Tale Our final book featuring an abundance of surprising twists is The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz. I have been texting, tweeting, and talking about this book so much in the past month that when I type the letter I into my phone, it automatically suggests “Inquisitor” as the first option. This novel is a medieval adventure story about three magical children (and a dog) who are pursued by various agents of the Inquisition. The first is a young girl named Jeanne (sort of like a young Joan of Arc) who has fits and sees visions. Then we meet the talkative and tall monk-in-training, William - an eleven year old whose unusual dark skin is likely the result of a relationship between his crusading father and a North African woman. Since this is 1242 France, his appearance and supernatural strength immediately have people seeing him as dangerously different. And finally, there’s little Jacob - a wise Jewish boy reeling from the recent death of his parents and just starting to realize his powers to heal others. Eventually all three are both hailed and condemned as saints and have to outwit and outrun their pursuers. The story is so gorgeously detailed and interconnected that any description I give you of this novel is NOT going to do it justice. You just have to get it and read it yourself. The fact is there are so so many big and little things I loved about this book, but I have committed to limiting myself to three. I have to start with the illustrations. Just like many real medieval texts had illuminations in the margins, The Inquisitor’s Tale includes dozens and dozens of intricate sketches by Hatem Aly. There is so much to explore there but I think what is most fascinating is the note at the beginning of the novel explaining that the drawings might actually contradict or question the text. That profound mix of humor, philosophy, and yes - savagery. There are gross jokes galore in this book. And I love how that is mixed in with deep philosophical and religious discussions between the children. At one point, Jacob asks that eternal question: Why would a good God let bad things happen? This is a book about saints and at some point it dawns on the children that most saints are martyred. In high school, I worked evenings in the rectory (the office) at St. Cecelia’s church and during down times, I would read this dusty old copy of Lives of the Saints. And the stories in there were appallingly gruesome - and this novel doesn’t really shy away from the awfulness of that. But, it does give some hope that people with intensely different beliefs might still find a way to work together and be friends. The character twists! I don’t want to say too much and ruin it, so I’m really holding a lot back here, but all throughout this book, you meet the most vile, nastiest characters and then suddenly… it flips and one of the narrators helps you see their point of view. And even if they’ve still DONE terrible things, you have more empathy for them. Then you realize that one of the key characters that have been telling you this story - You. Can’t. Trust. Ahhhh! I LOVED it - this book had me gleefully yelling at the pages. The Inquisitor’s Tale would make a fantastic read aloud, and I’ve heard the audio version is phenomenal. I think this novel is probably best suited for upper middle grade readers about ages 10-14 but I am sure any teen or adult who likes an historical adventure with some awesome fart jokes thrown in is going to really love it! Wolf Hollow And finally, the third Newbery honor book is one that you will not soon forget - Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk. I think just about every librarian I knew had this book in their hands at some point over the past year, and I finally started it last week and immediately knew I should have read it months ago. For some background, it’s an historical fiction set in 1943 rural Pennsylvania. And it’s about a 12 year old girl named Annabelle whose steady life gets derailed when this vicious, manipulative girl, Betty, arrives in town. She’s horrendous. You hate to speak ill of a child - even a fictional one, but - errr - she is clearly a sociopath or emotionally disturbed. The chain of lying that starts when this girl comes to town is tragic and yet - you could see it coming. I’ve got to say that I adored this book, but there were some times in the beginning that I had to put it down for bit when it got too intense. I can handle almost anything, but when kids are in danger - especially children the same age as my own - I have a bit of a tough time. There are these heart-rending moments when Annabelle is faced with moral dilemmas that would have adults cowering. And - it’s small but there’s this scene where Annabelle is in a clearing in the woods near her home and looking at this large stone with clear quartz veins running through it. And it suddenly hits her that this rock has been there long before her and everyone she knows and will be in the same place long after everyone is gone. And her life is nothing more than a flicker in time. It’s that moment of cosmic realization that we all eventually go through. I’ll just read a small passage from that page: “And I decided that there might be things I would never understand, no matter how hard I tried. Though try I would. And that there would be people who would never hear my one small voice, no matter what I had to say. But then a better thought occured, and this was the one I carried away with me that day: If my life was to be just a single note in an endless symphony, how could I not sound it out for as long and as loudly as I could.” That’s the line that I’m carrying forward with me today, this week, and for a long, long time. Closing Thank you so very much for taking the time to join me this week. You can get find a transcript of this show and all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com. And lots of other fantastic resources to lighten your heart and connect the children in your life to books they’ll love. Thanks again and see you in two weeks! Bye!
An interview with Adam Gidwitz, Sydney Taylor Book Award winning author of The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog. www.bookoflifepodcast.com
Intro Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect middle grade kids to books they’ll love. I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a 5th grade teacher, a mom of two daughters, and happy to be DONE with 2016 and onward to 2017! Typically we have a New Year’s Eve party at our house - last year was a disco theme - but this time my kids were not feeling so great and instead we had a quiet night. I set up my new bullet journal with my reading goals, played canasta with my kids, crocheted, and just cuddling on the couch under the heating blanket. I know - NOT a very cool New Year’s Eve celebration. But - it was wonderful and I hope yours was as well. So - hello to 2017! This is Episode #14 and today we are discussing some fun reading challenge ideas to kick off your new year, the most anticipated middle grade books coming out in 2017, and I’ll answer a question about what books to recommend for a 5th grader who has a high school reading level. Main Topic - Reading Challenges for the New Year One of the best things about the New Year is the reset that happens when December flips over into January and you have a full twelve months laid out in front of you with all the possibilities in the world! You’re past the indulgences of the holidays and ready to refocus, make some resolutions, build better habits, and set some goals. So today I’m going to talk about a few fun ideas for reading challenges this year that can help you connect with your community, keep you motivated, and maybe spur you to stretch yourself as a reader in 2017. Now our conversation today is geared toward personal reading goals for you, but these same ideas can be shared with the students and the children in your life. And as the lead reader in your library or classroom or home, sharing your own reading goals shows that you take your reading life seriously and that we’re all in this reading community together. I know that my first day back with my class, I’ll be sharing my Reading Challenge list with my students and helping them set up their own. So - if you are thinking about doing a reading challenge this year, here are a few ideas for you: Challenge Idea #1 - Set a number goal. Maybe that’s forty books or sixty books or a hundred books! Something that’s a bit of a stretch but still doable for you. Last year, I participated in the #SixtyBooks Challenge - I happened to see the hashtag last January and I thought, “I can do that!” And it’s been fantastic. One thing that kept me motivated was connecting to others doing the same challenge on Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads. So - if you decide to do any kind of challenge, connecting with other readers through social media helps keep you stay excited about it through the year. And if you want to join me this year, just check out #SixtyBooks and we can support each other! Challenge Idea #2 - Set a goal based on type of book. These can be found all over the internet this time of year. They are usually focused on adult books but you can easily read middle grade books within those categories and maybe make just a couple adjustments. A really great one is Book Riot’s yearly Read Harder Challenge which this year features tasks like read a debut novel, read a travel memoir, read a superhero comic with a female lead, or read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative. Those last two are definitely going on my list. I’ll leave a link to that in the show notes and what’s nice about the Book Riot challenge is that they have suggestions for each category, a Goodreads group, and in-person meetups throughout the year. Another Reading Challenge that my friend Emily told me about is the one from PopSugar. They feature 40 book categories with this year’s theme of diversifying and expanding your reading - love it! Some of their reading prompts are a book involving a mythical creature, a book recommended by a librarian (I love that one), a book by or about a person who has a disability, a book with a main character who is a different ethnicity than you, and some fun ones like a book with a red spine or a book set in a hotel. PopSugar also has an extra twenty prompts for those hardcore readers who finish early. They also have a Goodreads group and printable lists, and I’ll link to their site too so you can check that out. Another 2017 Reading Challenge that I discovered last week is one hosted by a site called Modern Mrs. Darcy. (Now - already with that name - I’m in!) What I really like about this challenge is that there are two paths you can follow: Reading for Fun or Reading for Growth. Each have just 12 tasks so they are doable and you might even have time to do both! On the Reading for Fun list are topics like a juicy memoir, a book you chose for the cover, and a book by a new favorite author. Those all sound comfy and great. On the other hand, if you want to stretch yourself and go for the Reading for Growth path there are options like a book that addresses current events, a book by an #ownvoices or #diversebooks author, or a Newbery Award winner or Honor book. That all sounds exactly what I need this year. Challenge Idea #3 - Create a Reading Time Capsule for the year. I wish I could remember where I saw this so I could give them proper credit, but this idea is similar to the practice of families jotting down happy memories throughout the year and tucking them into a jar to read on New Year’s Eve. This idea is to jot down favorite quotes and inspiring ideas from the books you’ve read throughout the year. I’m thinking that a nice adaptation would be instead of putting it in a jar, write it down in a journal or if you want to go more 21st century - challenge yourself to post on social media one inspiring quote or idea about every book you’ve read this year. And that could also make a very cool classroom project. Challenge Idea #4 - Do a Library Crawl! Unlike a pub crawl, which is typically done in one night and you can’t bring your kids. Or well, you really shouldn’t bring your kids. A Library Crawl can span the whole year, the summer, or maybe just Spring Break. And it’s way better when you bring your kids! Basically you challenge yourself to visit a set number of libraries in a set amount of time. Last summer, I was looking for some inexpensive things to do with my girls that would be fun, educational, and get us all out of the house and away from the electronics. So we challenged ourselves to visit 16 libraries during the summer of 2016. And we almost made it! I have a lot more to share with you about Library Crawls, how to do them, some fun ideas, and the unexpected benefits that I think I need to do a whole episode on it. Challenge Idea #5 - Little Free Library Challenge. Oh how I love Little Free Libraries! They are popping up all over my community, my friends are all getting them, my school is putting one up this spring, and that is our family summer project. There are a couple ways you could go about doing a Little Free Library Challenge. One idea is to simply visit as many as you can this year and maybe document your travels on social media. If you go to the Little Free Library website, you can find listings of all your local registered libraries shown right on a map. If you wanted to extend that into a Pay it Forward challenge, you could donate one book to each Little Free Library you visit. Challenge Idea #6 - Design Your Own Reading Challenge! Think of it as a 2017 Choose-Your-Own-Reading-Adventure. Take the best ideas of the options out there and create something for yourself. And these ideas are easy to layer. So you can set a number goal, participate in say, the Book Riot challenge or pick your own categories to read from the options you like, and maybe pick up those books while you do your library crawl. Whatever you decide, get your kids and students involved, too and I’d love to see what you’ve got planned for the year! You can send me an email at booksbetween@gmail.com or connect on Twitter or Instagram with the handle @Books_Between. Book Talk - Most Anticipated Middle Grade Books of 2017 In this segment, I share with you a few books centered around a theme. This week I’m highlighting some of the most anticipated books of the upcoming year. Some are new books in favorites series. Some are by favorite authors. Some are by debut authors. And some just sound fantastic! So, get ready to add to your wish list. And just a reminder - that you can find every book mentioned here AND a picture of the covers AND a link to pre-order them right through the Books Between Podcast link at AlltheWonders.com. So, no need to scurry and write things down. I’ve got your back, I know you’re busy, so it’s all right there for you. One quick note before I start - publication dates do change, so while I’ve mentioned the month each book is expected to release - things sometimes change. All right - let’s get to it! http://www.readbrightly.com/middle-grade-books-2017/ https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/74235.Middle_Grade_Novels_of_2017 Coming in January… Scar Island - a new action adventure by Dan Gemeinhart. So if you liked his other novels The Honest Truth or Some Kind of Courage (which I know you did!) , definitely get this one. A new Jerry Spinelli novel - The Warden’s Daughter. It’s set in 1959 Pennsylvania and oh it looks fantastic! Also in January, we’ll get the third Terrible Twos book - The Terrible Two Go Wild by Mac Barnett & Jory John. And the second Audacity Jones Book - Audacity Jones Steals the Show. AND another Victoria Coe Fenway & Hattie book - the Evil Bunny Gang! If you were a fan of Counting by 7s, like I am - then look for Holly Sloan’s new novel called Short - it’s about a small-for-her-age girl who gets cast as a Munchkin in a production of The Wizard of Oz. So fans of Oz will have something to love in this book, too! One book I’ve been really looking forward to this year is the short story collection put together in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. It’s called Flying Lessons & Other Stories and features authors like Grace Lin, Matt de la Pena, Jacqueline Woodson and so many others. If you’re like me, and part of your Reading Challenge this year is to read more nonfiction and to read more diversely, then there’s two books to look for this January Pathfinders: The Journeys of 16 Extraordinary Black Souls by Tonya Bolden Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Powell. It’s the story of the civil rights case set up as a novel in verse. That should be amazing. Coming in February … This time I’ll start with nonfiction: We have Bats: Learning to Fly - the newest volume in the nonfiction graphic novel series called Science Comics. Then we have Kwame Alexander’s latest called The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life. A great nonfiction pairing for fans of Booked and The Crossover. Also in February, the highly anticipated Judd Winnick graphic novel Hilo 3 - huzzah! And the debut middle grade novel by picture book author and All the Wonders friend Carter Higgins. It’s called A Rambler Steals Home and it’s about baseball, and family, and friendship, and sweet potato fries - it’s incredible - you absolutely need to get this one! In fact, if you preorder A Rambler Steals Home from the Once Upon a Time Bookstore, Carter has offered to sign it for you before they ship it out to you. It’s a win-win-win! You get a signed copy of an awesome book, you support an independent bookstore, and you support an author you know and love. So, I’ll include that link in the show notes for you. In March, there are four books I am really looking forward to: Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Wissinger, which is the companion book to the 2015 book Gone Fishing. Forget Me Not by debut middle grade author Ellie Terry featuring a science-loving main character, Calliope, who has Tourette syndrome. A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold This one is about a kid who ends up caring for a baby skunk and tried to convince his mom to let him keep it. What could go wrong? And - we get a new Nathan Hale book this year! It’s not a Hazardous Tale’s book. In fact, it’s almost the opposite of that. It’s set in the future and Earth is being attacked by aliens who suck up the energy from electrical devices leaving our civilization under threat. And there’s a robot pony. It’s so different from Hale’s work that I’m familiar with, but it looks original and fresh and amazing and I can’t wait to read it. In April we have: The first book in a new mystery series by Adrienne Kress called The Explorers: The Door in the Alley. My students are really loving mysteries this year so this will make a great addition to my classroom library. Tito the Bonecrusher by Melissa Thomson. This is the story of a boy who seeks out the help of his favorite lucha-libre wrestler / action star to save his father from being deported to Mexico. That sounds fantastic and funny and... timely! May is going to be a stellar month for reading: Georgia Rules by Swing Sideways author Nanci Steveson And a new Lisa Graff novel called The Great Treehouse War. So if you liked Absolutely Almost or Lost in the Sun, look for this one this spring. A new Gordon Korman stand-alone novel called Restart about boy who was a bully who loses his memory and gets a fresh start. What an interesting premise! Another May release that I am so so excited about is Posted by Ms. Bixby’s Last Day author, John David Anderson. I loved Ms. Bixby so much - I can’t wait to see what Anderson has in store for us next! Then there’s a nonfiction book about Hamilton! It’s called Alexander Hamilton: How the Vision of One Man Shaped Modern America by Teri Kanefield And finally - mark your calendars and pre-order Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder because this book has been getting all the buzz. This novel keeps popping up everywhere I look! In June we have: A 6th Ranger in Time book called Escape from the Great Earthquake The third book in Phil Bildner’s Rip & Red series! This one is called Tournament of Champions. My students are going to psyched about this one! And a second book from A Distance to Home author Jenn Bishop called 14 Hollow Road. It’s about a 6th grade girl whose town is torn apart by a tornado and her family ends up living with the family of her crush, Avery, after both their houses are destroyed. A fun book in a new non-fiction series called Two Truths and a Lie: It's Alive! So, basically the reader is presented with three stories about the natural world and you have to guess which one is the lie. Sounds fun - and good practice for life. It’s a good thing I have July off from school, because there are some seriously awesome books being released that month: Including a new Comics Squad! Comics Squad #3: Detention I love these! They’re fun, they’re quick, and they introduce kids to new writers. Another book to look forward to in July is Our Story Begins : Children’s Authors and Illustrators Share Fun, Inspiring, and Occasionally Ridiculous Things They Wrote and Drew as Kids Oh - now that should be good! And also in July, we’ll get Spirit Hunters - the first middle grade novel by Ellen Oh - this one is the first of a new ghost story series. Can’t wait for that! And - I am also excited for July because that’s when Abby Cooper’s second novel, Bubbles, comes out! In this one, the main character can see other people’s thoughts. Oh god - can you imagine? August August is going to be fabulous because we get a new Cassie Beasley book. If you liked Circus Mirandus, her new novel is called Tumble & Blue and it’s about a curse, a swamp, and a golden alligator. So after August, publication dates get a little hazy. BUT - I hear there’s a new Katherine Applegate book coming called Wishtree. Also - there’s a fourth Al Capone at Alcatraz book coming out in the fall called Al Capone Does My Dishes. And the Rick Riordon’s third Magnus Chase book: The Ship of the Dead . And the third Mr. Lemoncello's Library - the Great Library Race And of course - I’ll keep you posted about all the amazing books headed our way so we can stay up to date. Those were some upcoming titles to look forward to in 2017. But. If I had to guess - the one book that you fall in love with this year, that one new book that your kids can’t put down. Is one that isn’t on this list and isn’t even on your radar right now. Most of my favorites of last year, I wasn’t even aware of them this early. And that’s exciting! There is so much to look forward to! Q & A Our final segment this week is Question & Answer time. Question: After sharing our Top 20 Middle Grade Books of 2016 list last week, I got this question from Jane: “Do you have an idea what book to get a 10-yr-old boy who reads on a 12th grade level?” And she added, “He is currently into the Warriors series.” Answer: That can be a tough situation. He CAN read Young Adult or Adult books, but you’ve got to be careful of the content, which might not be okay for a 5th grader. A quick example / horror story about that: when I used to teach 6th grade in a middle school, one of the reading assessments we gave was a computer program that would determine a reading level and would then print out a recommended list of titles for each kid. Sounds great, right? Well. I noticed that the kids who scored the highest were being recommended A CLOCKWORK ORANGE! I never ripped a piece of paper out of kid’s hand so fast! (Can you imagine if that went home?) So - anyway - just because the reading level is a good match, does not mean the book is a good fit. But - there are lots of middle grade books that have a higher reading level. And if he likes Fantasy, then there are some great books that I think he’ll like. I might try the Wings of Fire series. It has some similarities to Warriors - there are clans and battles and shifting alliances - but it’s dragons instead of cats. He might really like The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz or maybe The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin or even The Lord of The Rings which is more “high” fantasy. Another option that a friend recommended is The Riverman Trilogy by Aaron Starmer. So, Jane - let us know how things go and if you’ve found something that hits the mark. Closing Alright, that’s it for the Q&A section this week. If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or an idea about a topic we should cover, I really would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get a full transcript of this show and all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com. And when you are there, check out Matthew’s interview with Cozy Classics creators Jack and Holman Wang. I cannot stop reading and rereading these adorable little board books. And, if you are liking our show, I’d love it if you took a second to leave a rating or review on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks, Happy New Year, and see you in two weeks! Bye!
Intro Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast focused solely on middle grade readers and to help teachers, parents, and librarians connect them to books they will love. I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a 5th grade teacher, a mom of two daughters, and attending the Rochester Children’s Book Festival on November 12th! So if you are going to be there, let me know so we can connect. This is Episode #10 and Today we’re continuing our conversation about common classroom library mistakes (and how to fix them), talking about three novels with surprising twists, and I’ll answer a question about how to help a young reader who buys a lot of books but never finishes them. Main Topic - Common Classroom Library Mistakes (And How to Fix Them) - Part 2 Having a vibrant collection of books on hand for children to choose from is so crucial to fostering a love of reading. And more and more teachers, like I did, are discovering just how important it is to have a classroom library. And although today’s discussion is angled more toward teachers, there’s lots to take away for parents, librarians, or anyone who wants to get books into kids’ hands. In our last episode, we discussed six common mistakes that can happen when you are building a classroom library. And today we are discussing 6 more pitfalls - and again - every single one is a mistake that I have made. So - I’m only throwing myself under the bus! If you missed that episode please scroll back through your feed to find episode #9, but I’ll give a brief recap: #1 - Not getting rid of old books. #2 - Not having an easy check-out system. #3 - Not changing how books are displayed #4 - Not having enough non-fiction #5 - Not having a clear organizational system #6 - Not having student input into what books are included in the library So now, we’ll jump back in! #7 - Not having the second book in a series There are few things more frustrating as a reader than finishing a book on a cliffhanger and having to WAIT to get your hands on that second book. There’s also no more exciting thing than that anticipation! But… if you want readers to delve deeply into a series or make a connection with an author, it helps to have some of the next books available. I think that’s especially important when a more picky reader finally finds a series that they like. You really want to keep that momentum going and get them into that next book quickly before their enthusiasm wanes or they forget parts of the plot. I’m not saying you have to have EVERY single book in a series, but at least the first few of popular ones like Warriors, Dork Diaries, or the Percy Jackson series are good to have on hand. #8 - Not having enough diversity This is so, so important. And always has been, but finally there’s more attention being paid to this issue now. I started to ask myself, Does my classroom library reflect not only the students in my school but also the wider world? Will they find characters like themselves in those pages? And will they be the main character and not just the sidekick. Diversity can take so many forms: race, ethnicity, gender, family structure, religious views, gender identity, and disability (which is such a broad term but encompasses so many things from physical and cognitive disabilities to addiction). Campaigns like #WeNeedDiverseBooks and websites like disabilityinkidlit.com help keep the conversation going and provide resources and recommendations. One enlightening thing you can do with your students is to have THEM analyze the diversity in the classroom library. There’s a phenomenal blog post from Jess at Crawling Out of the Classroom with complete instructions and downloadable tally sheets you can use to make this really easy if you want to give it a try. I’ll put a link in the shownotes for you but I am definitely doing that this year. I think it will be eye-opening for me, and eye-opening for my students. #9 - Not having anything other than books I’ll say up front that I am still working on fixing this one. But some of the teachers I know with the most inspiring classroom libraries also make sure they include some up-to-date magazines, audio books, or travel brochures. I wish I could remember where I heard it or read about it, but one teacher or librarian collects sports car brochures that they nab from dealerships for their kids to read. How cool is that? #10 - Not having a variety of levels As I have mentioned on a previous episode - don’t dis the picture books! Picture books, easier Chapter Books, more challenging higher level MG - all should have a home in well-stocked classroom library. It embarasses me to admit, but when I used to buy books for my class, I would envision the typical on-grade-level reader and mainly get books targeted there. Now, I’m really trying to expand that out and also book talk more picture books and short chapter books so kids realize reading all kinds of books is okay. #11 - Not taking care of the books This is another lesson that took me WAY too long to learn. I would just get a book from the store or Scholastic, pop my name inside, and simply put it on the shelf and hope for the best. And you never want to get mad at a kid for accidentally wrecking a book or getting it dirty - I mean - heck - many of my books have chocolate smears or stains from spaghetti sauce. But - it’s worth some time and a bit of money to protect the investment of the books. So, teach kids how to care for books - using a bookmark, not bending corners of pages, and being gentle with them. One thing I do now is cover all the new books I get with clear contact paper. I always have a couple rolls on standby near my dining room table so whenever I have a spare minute I can toss aside the tablecloth and cover a few books. #12 - Not having anything new Up until last year, I would never purchase a new release - hardcovers are expensive! And sometimes you don’t know if they’re going to like it or not! But I have come to change my mind. Having a fresh new book that first week or even first day it’s released - it’s exciting! You’re in on the buzz about that book! Some of my students last spring were actually counting down the days to Kwame Alexander’s release of Booked because they loved The Crossover so much. And when I brought that book in the DAY it was available and cracked open the pages and we smelled the fresh new book smell - every kid in class signed up to get that book. Having new books also gets students paying attention to the work of their favorite authors and they’re on lookout themselves for new releases. I see some teachers even post a book release calendar in their classroom to boost that excitement. I am totally stealing that idea! Plus, it signals to kids that books aren’t old, dusty, unchanging things. There are fresh, new exciting books being born into the world every Tuesday. My hope is that you won’t make the many mistakes I did when first starting to gather titles for a classroom library and that your collection will start off in a much better place. Now, already, I am sure there are things I have missed, so please let me know. You can tag me on Twitter or Instagram or email me at booksbetween@gmail.com and I’ll share some of your thoughts and ideas in an upcoming episode! Book Talk - Three Novels with Surprising Twists In this segment, I share with you three books centered around a theme and discuss three things to love about each book. This week I’m sharing three novels with shocking plot twists: The Children of Exile, Be Light Like a Bird, and The Inquisitor’s Tale. These three books are very different - one is science fiction, one is contemporary fiction, and one is historical fiction. But all three had my jaw dropping at some point in the book. The Children of Exile The first book I want to share with you today is Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix. You may be familiar with her previous book Among the Hidden, which is the first novel in her Shadow Children series. Children of Exile is the first of what I am told will be a trilogy. It’s about 12 year old Rosi, who is being raised with her little brother in a small, structured, safe Utopian community called Fredtown. Due to some mysterious event in the past, Rosi and all the other children in her community were taken away from their home and their biological parents as infants and are now being raised by adults called “Freds”. Rosi and her estranged friend Edwy are the two oldest kids and are expected to look out for all the younger children. But that task gets incredibly difficult when abruptly they are sent back home to a world that is anything but safe, structured, and nurturing. So here are three things to love about The Children of Exile: Fredtown - I am not sure what it says about me, but I wanted to go live in Fredtown. There is order, reasonable rules, gentle parenting, and I particularly liked the guidelines around consent and power. Children are taught to ask permission before touching or tickling and they learn that it is immoral to overpower those that are younger or weaker than you. I would totally sign up to go live in Fredtown! And they memorize founding principles that are secular and based on the best human philosophies. For example, one of their principles is “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” And another is “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Which has you wondering… how did sayings from Martin Luther King, Jr, and Nelson Mandela find their way into this society? Big Themes - There is so much good stuff packed into these 43 chapters. This would make an excellent book club selection. There’s so much to talk about: racism, prejudice, human extinction, sacrifice, acceptance, religious tolerance, and how a common enemy can bring people together in ways you wouldn’t expect. The Cliffhangers - Haddix is a master at getting you to turn the page! Just a sampling, here’s the last line of Chapter 6: “Then someone grabbed my shoulder.” (Ahhh!) And later, at the end of Chapter 19: “...sneak out and meet me. There’s something I have to show you.” And I defy you to get to page 266 and stop reading. At that point, you are IN IT until the end. The Children of Exile is unputdownable and will have you reeling in those final chapters. It’s kind of like The City of Ember with a twist of The Twilight Zone and a great science fiction title to offer your middle grade readers. Be Light Like a Bird The second novel I want to talk about is a quieter book but the narrative builds to this moment of surprise that suddenly has you rethinking every character interaction that came before. Be Light Like a Bird by Monika Schröder is the story of Wren, a 12 year-old girl whose life is unraveling after her father suddenly dies in a plane crash. Her mother, instead of comforting her only child, is angry and decides to rip the girl away from her home and take her in the car across the country looking for a new start. They finally end up in Michigan where Wren makes unexpected friends, finds a cause to get behind, and slowly learns the truth about her mother’s erratic behavior. Here are three reasons to love about Be Light Like a Bird: How well the author gets that school setting.You can tell that Schröder has experience as a librarian and teacher in the descriptions of classroom life and interactions between the kids. Just as one example, there is a scene where Wren’s new teacher announces “Our next assignment will be a partner project.” And let me read to you what happens next: Everyone in the class quickly sought to make eye contact with their prefered partner. I looked over to Carrie, but her eyes were locked onto Victoria’s. “I will assign the partners,” Mrs. Peters said as she handed out the papers. Last week partners had been assigned randomly, with the help of the sticks of doom - Popsicle sticks that had our names written on them in black marker. Mrs. Peters would close her eyes and pull out two sticks, then read the names aloud, and that was that. It seemed fair to me. At least chance determined whom you had to work with. But this time, Mrs. Peters announced that we’d be working with someone at our table. As she went around the room assigning team partners, I held my breath and squeezed my thumbs inside my fists, hoping for a miracle. I think every kid, parent, teacher, and librarian can recognize and relate to that scene. How nature brings the characters together. One of the reasons that I really connected to Wren was that she’s a bird watcher - something I don’t do as much now, but just like Wren - I had a bird book by my side and recorded the date, location, and time of my bird sightings. (Personally, I was never very good at it. One day I spent 10 minutes looking at a pinecone through my binoculars trying to figure out what rare sparrow I was seeing my backyard.) Wren’s new birdwatching spot is Pete’s Pond - a quiet, calming place for her. Until it’s threatened and that it the catalyst which finally gets her to start connecting with other people and attempt to save it. How well the author understands grief and represents it as this cloud that hovers over Wren. There’s a scene where Wren is sitting in her father’s old car and inhaling the scent that is tied so intensely with her happy memories of him. When she starts a new school, she doesn’t tell anyone that her father recently died - not because she wants to forget it, but because she doesn’t want to be defined by that and also other people’s reactions are hard to deal with. And the importance of a friend who will simply let you cry by their side. Be Light Like a Bird is about family and friendship and grief. And ultimately - grief over what we had that was lost, but also grief over what we thought we had. It’s a beautiful book. The Inquisitor’s Tale Our final book featuring an abundance of surprising twists is The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz. I have been texting, tweeting, and talking about this book so much in the past month that when I type the letter I into my phone, it automatically suggests “Inquisitor” as the first option. This novel is a medieval adventure story about three magical children (and a dog) who are pursued by various agents of the Inquisition. The first is a young girl named Jeanne (sort of like a young Joan of Arc) who has fits and sees visions. Then we meet the talkative and tall monk-in-training, William - an eleven year old whose unusual dark skin is likely the result of a relationship between his crusading father and a North African woman. Since this is 1242 France, his appearance and supernatural strength immediately have people seeing him as dangerously different. And finally, there’s little Jacob - a wise Jewish boy reeling from the recent death of his parents and just starting to realize his powers to heal others. Eventually all three are both hailed and condemned as saints and have to outwit and outrun their pursuers. The story is so gorgeously detailed and interconnected that any description I give you of this novel is NOT going to do it justice. You just have to get it and read it yourself. The fact is there are so so many big and little things I loved about this book, but I have committed to limiting myself to three. I have to start with the illustrations. Just like many real medieval texts had illuminations in the margins, The Inquisitor’s Tale includes dozens and dozens of intricate sketches by Hatem Aly. There is so much to explore there but I think what is most fascinating is the note at the beginning of the novel explaining that the drawings might actually contradict or question the text. That profound mix of humor, philosophy, and yes - savagery. There are gross jokes galore in this book. And I love how that is mixed in with deep philosophical and religious discussions between the children. At one point, Jacob asks that eternal question: Why would a good God let bad things happen? This is a book about saints and at some point it dawns on the children that most saints are martyred. In high school, I worked evenings in the rectory (the office) at St. Cecelia’s church and during down times, I would read this dusty old copy of Lives of the Saints. And the stories in there were appallingly gruesome - and this novel doesn’t really shy away from the awfulness of that. But, it does give some hope that people with intensely different beliefs might still find a way to work together and be friends. The character twists! I don’t want to say too much and ruin it, so I’m really holding a lot back here, but all throughout this book, you meet the most vile, nastiest characters and then suddenly… it flips and one of the narrators helps you see their point of view. And even if they’ve still DONE terrible things, you have more empathy for them. Then you realize that one of the key characters that have been telling you this story - You. Can’t. Trust. Ahhhh! I LOVED it - this book had me gleefully yelling at the pages. The Inquisitor’s Tale would make a fantastic read aloud, and I’ve heard the audio version is phenomenal. I think this novel is probably best suited for upper middle grade readers about ages 10-14 but I am sure any teen or adult who likes an historical adventure with some awesome fart jokes thrown in is going to really love it! The Inquisitor’s Tale, Be Light Like a Bird, and The Children of Exile are three terrific middle grade books with twists you will love. Q & A Our third and final segment this week is Question & Answer time. Question: Last week we had our first round of parent-teacher conferences, and the reading specialist and I were asked the following question: “I keep buying my son tons of books. He seems excited about reading them, but then he rarely finishes. What can I do?” Answer: So here were our suggestions. My thought was to help them build some momentum in the book by reading it with them to start off. So, you might read aloud the first few chapters together - maybe alternating who is reading it out loud. Then, make a plan where you each read the next chapter on your own and meet up to chat about it in a couple days. Then you might increase that to two chapters or three or pull back if they are getting confused. My colleague, Kelly, recommended finding books with shorter chapters. It’s easier to stay focused when the reading chunks are smaller. And we both agreed that helping kids understand that every book has a slow part is important. But, if you can shepherd them through that part, it does pick up again. Closing Okay that’s it for the Q&A section this week. If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or an idea about a topic we should cover, I really would love to hear from you. You can email me at booksbetween@gmail.com or message me on Twitter/Instagram at the handle @Books_Between. Thank you so much for sharing your time with me this week. You can get a full transcript of this show with links to every book and resource I talked about today by going to BooksBetween.com/10 which will take you to our home at All the Wonders where you can discover other wonderful kidlit resources. And, if you are liking the show, please help us out by sharing on social media or leaving a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you in two weeks! Bye!
Adam Gidwitz (@AdamGidwitz), author of The Inquisitor's Tale, stops by the podcast to talk about his natural mode of storytelling, writing by reading aloud, and preserving space in the story for breathing room.
Dec. 7, 2015. In the Library's Young Readers Center, authors Tony Diterlizzi, Alexandra Bracken, Adam Gidwitz and Tom Angleberger wrote and presented an original script in a readers theater presentation that represented scenes from each of their new books based on the Star Wars saga. For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=7228
For this author roundtable episode, we're joined by Alexandra Bracken, Adam Gidwitz, and Tom Angleberger, who all recently wrote middle grade novel retellings of the original Star Wars trilogy.
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