Podcasts about dicamillo

Sandy with Dicamillo's on last-minute shopping full 123 Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:25:27 +0000 R5TNIVRiiAyi6d9kDoPBivL53QBMv89q news WBEN Extras news Sandy with Dicamillo's on last-minute shopping Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-li

Beloved children's author Kate DiCamillo published three new books this year: “Ferris,” “Orris and Timble: The Beginning,” and “The Hotel Balzaar.” She has two more coming next year — plus 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the book that started it all, “Because of Winn-Dixie.”She is a prolific writer, a lifelong reader and a delightful human. Which made her the perfect guest to close out Talking Volumes celebratory 25th season on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Talking Volumes: Kate DiCamillo No stranger to the stage at the Fitzgerald Theater, DiCamillo came with stories and quips. She and host Kerri Miller talked about the impact of Winn-Dixie on DiCamillo's life, what she knows now that she didn't know then, and how stories can change your life.It was an evening full of wonder and laughter. Singer-songwriter Humbird was the special musical guest. Click here.

Kate DiCamillo joins us to talk about her work from Because of Winn Dixie to The Puppets of Spelhorst and beyond. DiCamillo and co-host Jenna Seery discuss her start as a writer, the joys a good book can bring, the importance of reading for young people and more. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.           Featured Books (Episode): The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo Ferris by Kate DiCamillo The Watsons Go to Birmingham — 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond Holes by Louis Sachar The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo The Giver by Lois Lowry Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Howard's End by E.M. Forster On Beauty by Zadie Smith Featured Books (TBR Top Off): The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo

This episode is brought to you by Thigh Society. Say 'I do' to all-day comfort with no-chafe, no-sweat slip shorts by Thigh Society. Go to thighsociety.com and use code PRENUP15 to save 15% ! Welcome back to The Pre Nup, the wedding-obsessed podcast designed to help you plan your dream day! I'm your host, Adriana, and each week, I'm joined by the industry's top professionals, celebs, influencers, and friends who are sharing their best tips, advice, and mistakes they've made so you don't have to. In this episode, we are excited to welcome TikTok sensation and 2025 bride-to-be, Julia DiCamillo! We dive deep into her wedding planning journey, covering everything from her love story with fiancé Sam to choosing the perfect vendors, and the highs and lows of planning without a wedding planner. Julia also shares her engagement story, dress shopping experiences, and how she's staying organized amidst all the chaos. Plus, we discuss the importance of staying true to your vision and leaning on your support system to create a stress-free wedding day. Episode Highlights: - Introduction to The Pre Nup Podcast and our guest, Julia DiCamillo - Julia's love story with Sam and the engagement - Navigating wedding planning without a planner - Choosing vendors and staying true to your vision - The engagement photo shoot: inspiration and behind-the-scenes - Real-life wedding planning tips and advice - Premarital Counseling: Listener question on wedding guest plus-ones - The Afterparty: Fun wedding questions with Julia This episode is brought to you by Thigh Society. Say 'I do' to all-day comfort with no-chafe, no-sweat slip shorts by Thigh Society. Go to thighsociety.com and use code PRENUP15 to save 15%. We love hearing from you! Feel free to reach out to us at podcasts@lovestoriestv.com with your feedback or suggestions for the next episode.

It was my great pleasure to speak with Dr. John DiCamillo about end of life issues and bioethics. Thank you very much to of for the introduction!SummaryDr. John DiCamillo from the National Catholic Bioethics Center discusses end-of-life issues, specifically euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. He explains that euthanasia is the deliberate taking of human life to eliminate suffering, either through commission or omission. Assisted suicide, on the other hand, is when the patient themselves takes action to end their own life with the help of a healthcare professional. Dr. DiCamillo emphasizes the importance of treating suffering rather than eliminating the sufferer, and highlights the need to address the spiritual and emotional aspects of suffering as well. He also encourages individuals to support and sustain the dignity of human life in their own families and communities as a way to change the culture surrounding end-of-life issues. In this conversation, Dr. John A. DiCamillo discusses the distinction between ordinary and extraordinary means in medical care and the importance of making prudential judgments based on the benefits and burdens of treatment. He explains that the Church teaches that basic human care, including nourishment and hydration, is always morally obligatory. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as when the treatment is not achieving its intended purpose or when it is causing serious harms or complications. Dr. DiCamillo emphasizes that the finality of nutrition and hydration is to nourish and hydrate, not to heal or cure medical conditions.Takeaways* Euthanasia is the deliberate taking of human life to eliminate suffering, while assisted suicide is when the patient themselves takes action to end their own life with the help of a healthcare professional.* Treating suffering rather than eliminating the sufferer is a key principle in Catholic moral theology.* Addressing the spiritual and emotional aspects of suffering is important in addition to medical treatment.* Supporting and sustaining the dignity of human life in families and communities can help change the culture surrounding end-of-life issues. The distinction between ordinary and extraordinary means in medical care is based on the judgment of whether a treatment offers a reasonable hope of benefit without imposing excessive burdens.* Prudential judgments about medical care should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific circumstances and the individual's overall life circumstances.* Basic human care, including nourishment and hydration, is always morally obligatory, but there are exceptions when the treatment is not achieving its intended purpose or is causing serious harms or complications.* The finality of nutrition and hydration is to nourish and hydrate, not to heal or cure medical conditions.Sound Bites* "Treat the suffering, don't eliminate the sufferer."* "Average Catholics in a parish who are calling us for help with decisions, but they're already like, 'Yeah, I've been taking care of my mother for 15 years at home.'"* "Just be a witness right where you are. Do what you can."* "Make your voice heard at that time too so that your local communities and political communities, again from the local level up through the state and the national level, your voice does matter in that way as well."* "If we transgress some of these things we are participating in the culture of death whether we acknowledge it or not."* "Ordinary and extraordinary means simply come down to a judgment of does this treatment offer a reasonable hope of benefit without imposing excessive burdens."Do you have a question for the National Catholic Bioethics Center's ethicists? Click HERE to submit a question!Thanks for listening to Good Distinctions! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Keywordsend-of-life issues, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, suffering, dignity of human life, culture change, ordinary means, extraordinary means, medical care, prudential judgment, benefits and burdens, basic human care, nourishment and hydration This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.gooddistinctions.com

This episode of Reading with Your Kids featured several guests discussing literacy and children's books. Monica Mancillas returned to celebrate her new book "Sing It Like Celia," which tells the story of a 12-year-old girl dealing with her mother's disappearance through joining a band and learning about salsa music. Mancillas discussed drawing from her own experiences with family separation and the importance of representation in literature. The show also welcomed Eden Estabrook to discuss her book "Arnie the Armadillo Goes to Antarctica," which introduces young readers to complex vocabulary words in a fun and engaging way through illustrations and repetition in the story. Estabrook aimed to challenge the idea that young children can't learn advanced words, citing research showing their ability to learn language at a young age. A highlight of the episode was an interview segment with celebrated author Kate DiCamillo. She shared her early struggles with learning to read and how her mother used personalized flashcards and a non-phonics approach to help DiCamillo discover the empowerment of literacy. DiCamillo emphasized the value of conversations about difficult topics in books and finding trustworthy role models. Overall, the episode celebrated diverse children's literature and promoted literacy as a way for families to bond through reading together and discussing important themes and vocabulary. The guests encouraged expanding views of what young readers are capable of and continuing efforts to make reading accessible to all. Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

Today’s Material: Great Joy, DiCamillo  Good News of Great Joy Advent Collection, Vincent Welcome to “Advent Reflections with Donna Otto,” a special podcast series where Donna shares her favorite books,

Kate DiCamillo has probably been honored as much or more than any living American children's author. If her awards were all displayed on a mantle, she'd probably need dozens of fireplaces. And she's a delightful conversationalist. Her new book is The Puppets of Spelhorst. Her most widely read book, The Tale of Despereaux, is out with a special 20th anniversary edition. Dicamillo's love with telling stories is in everything she has ever written. Since Kate is from Minneapolis, we feature one of the largest independent bookstores in the twin cities - Magers & Quinn.  Books mentioned in this podcast:   The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo  The Puppets of Spelhorst - Kate DiCamillo  The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Kate DiCamillo  The Beatryce Prophecy - Kate DiCamillo  Louisiana's Way Home - Kate DiCamillo  Paddington - Michael Bond  Hello Lighthouse - Sophie Blackall  If You Come to Earth - Sophie Blackall  Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear - Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall  Wellness - Nathan Hill  Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edward Tulane was the first work by a woman to be commissioned by Minnesota Opera as part of the company's New Works Initiative. Said composer Paola Prestini: "I'm immensely grateful that Minnesota Opera chose me for this adventure, and hope that this opera brings new audiences to our stages. The themes found in the DiCamillo novel, woven into a brilliant and unique libretto by Mark Campbell gave me the perfect springboard for an opera about hope and transformation! The opportunity to unleash my imagination into sound worlds for underwater fish, a zany doll shop, and ultimately a cast of characters that guide our leading soul with love and wisdom has been delightful. We all are in need of magic and transformation, and Edward's journey brings it in spades.”Track Listing:1 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 12 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 23 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 34 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 45 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 56 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 67 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 78 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 89 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 910 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 1011 Edward Tulane, Act 1 Scene 1112 Edward Tulane, Act 2 Scene 113 Edward Tulane, Act 2 Scene 214 Edward Tulane, Act 2 Scene 315 Edward Tulane, Act 2 Scene 416 Edward Tulane, Act 2 Scene 517 Edward Tulane, Act 2 Scene 618 Edward Tulane, Act 2 Scene 719 Edward Tulane, Act 2 Scene 820 Edward Tulane, Act 2 Scene 9Help support our show by purchasing this album  at:Downloads (classicalmusicdiscoveries.store) Classical Music Discoveries is sponsored by Uber and Apple Classical. @CMDHedgecock#ClassicalMusicDiscoveries #KeepClassicalMusicAlive#CMDGrandOperaCompanyofVenice #CMDParisPhilharmonicinOrléans#CMDGermanOperaCompanyofBerlin#CMDGrandOperaCompanyofBarcelonaSpain#ClassicalMusicLivesOn#Uber#AppleClassical Please consider supporting our show, thank you!Donate (classicalmusicdiscoveries.store) staff@classicalmusicdiscoveries.comThis album is broadcasted with the permission of Crossover Media Music Promotion (Zachary Swanson and Amanda Bloom).

Kate DiCamillo—the author of Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, The Beatryce Prophecy, and many other novels—speaks with Harper's Magazine editor Christopher Beha about discovering her vocation in children's literature. DiCamillo discusses how her writing for children is shaped by a sense of responsibility toward them, and what children's literature can offer to adults. Rather than trading on double entendres and other devices that enliven children's stories for the parent reading at the bedside, DiCamillo recovers a child's sense of magic for adult readers—one that isn't displaced into a realm of fantasy. Read “On a Winter's Night”: https://harpers.org/archive/2022/12/on-a-winters-night-kate-dicamillo/ Subscribe to Harper's for only $16.79: harpers.org/save

This week on Coffee with a Journalist we're joined by Nate DiCamillo from Quartz. Nate is an economics reporter at Quartz and previously reported for CoinDesk and American Banker. During the episode, Nate talks about his shift in coverage for Quartz vs CoinDesk, the specifics and importance of data that he looks for in pitches, the proper timeline for embargoes, and more.

There's a new way for fans of local author Kate DiCamillo to enjoy her work — on stage with the Minnesota Opera. The stage adaptation of “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” runs through Oct. 16 and DiCamillo joined MPR News reporter Euan Kerr to talk about the process of collaborating with the Minnesota Opera on this project. Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation. Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.   We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here. 

On this inaugural episode of Castwave's newest podcast, Colin, Brian, and Sean (or Fatguy-in-training) discuss the local treasure that is DiCamillo's bread and how if you are ever in the WNY region, you should buy as many loaves as your arms can carry, because it's worth it. Our subject from this episode is Italian Scaletta Bread from DiCamillo's Bakery: https://www.dicamillobakery.com/ Show Theme: "Two Fat Guys Eat" by Derek Schiable - https://www.metrolabmusic.com

S2/E17

First Draft Episode #341: Jon Scieszka Jon Scieszka, former National Ambassador for Children's Literature and New York Times bestselling author best known for picture books with illustrator Lane Smith, including The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Math Curse, and more. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio Jacqueline Woodson, 2020 MacArthur Genius fellow, National Book Award winner, Newberry, Caldecott, and Coretta Scott King winner, former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Brown Girl Dreaming, Red at the Bone, Another Brooklyn, Before the Ever After and many, many more. She joins us to talk about her picture books with Rafael López, The Day You Begin and The Year We Learned to Fly. Hear her First Draft interview here. Dr Seuss, author of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Oh, the Places You'll Go!, Green Eggs and Ham and more Go, Dog, Go by P.J. Eastman Franz Kafka, author of The Metamorphosis, The Trial, The Castle, and more Jack London, author of The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and more Edgar Allen Poe, author of The Raven, The Masque of the Red Death, The Cask of Amontillado, and more Jon's Science Verse The Astronuts, Jon's series with Steven Weinberg Jonathan Baumbach, author of The Pavilion of Former Wives, Dreams of Molly and many more Thomas Pynchon, author of Gravity's Rainbow, Inherent Vice, and The Crying of Lot 49 Gabriel Garcia Marquez, author of One Hundred Years of Solitude, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, and more Carlos Fuentes, author of Aura, The Death of Artemio Cruz, and more Charles McGrath, former editor of The New York Times Book Review and former deputy editor of The New Yorker. He is currently a writer at large for The New York Times Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel Boy: Tales From Childhood and Going Solo are autobiographical books written by Roald Dahl Vladimir Nabokov, author of Lolita Oliver Jeffers, visual artist, climate activist, and author and/or illustrator of several New York Times bestselling picture books, including The Day the Crayons Quit, How to Catch a Star, The Fate of Fausto, and Here We Are, joins us to talk about his newest picture book, There's a Ghost In This House. Listen to his First Draft interviews here and here. Battle Bunny by Mac Barnett and Jon Scieszka Matt de la Peña, author of seven critically acclaimed young adult novels including Mexican Whiteboy and Newbery Medal–winning author of Last Stop on Market Street talks about his newest collaboration with illustrator Christian Robinson, Milo Imagines the World. Listen to his First Draft interview here. Adam Rubin, author of Dragons Love Tacos, Those Darn Squirrels, Robo-Sauce and more with Daniel Salmieri The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (TV show) Jon's autobiography, Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood, a memoir by Gary Paulsen, author of Hatchet Monty Python Saturday Night Live Jon Klassen, Caldecott Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the I Want My Hat Back series, who is back with a book he wrote and illustrated: The Rock From the Sky. Listen to his First Draft episodes here and here. The Far Side cartoon by Gary Paulsen Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson Guys Read Kate DiCamillo, is one of six people to win two Newbery Medals, for her novels The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses, and author of Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, National Book Award finalist The Tiger Rising, as well as New York Times bestselling novels The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Magician's Elephant, the Mercy Watson series, and more. DiCamillo was the U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for 2014 and 2015. Her most recent novel, Beverly, Right Here completes the trilogy of Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana's Way Home. Dog Man by Dave Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants Shannon Hale, author of Princess Academy, The Goose Girl, Austenland and more Adele Griffin, two-time National Book Award honoree and author of almost thirty books for Young Adult and middle grade readers, including The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone, The Becket List, and Sons of Liberty and Where I want to Be. Hear her First Draft interview here. Lisa Brown, illustrator of The Phantom Twin, The Airport Book and more Katherine Paterson, author of The Bridge to Terabithia, Jacob Have I Loved, and more Dave Shannon, author and illustrator of No, David! Loren Long, author and illustrator of Otis, Little Tree, and many more The Treehouse books (The 13-Story Treehouse all the way to The 143-Story Treehouse) by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton The Rijksmuseum, the museum that has Rembrandts available online Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of critically acclaimed books, including National Book Award finalist Ghost, Newberry and Printz-honored Long Way Down, Coretta Scott King Honoree As Brave as You, and his latest, middle grade Look Both Ways, which was just named to the National Book Award Longlist for Young People's Literature. Listen to his First Draft interviews here and here. Walter Dean Myers, author of Monster, The Glory Field, Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary Gene Luen Yang, former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and author and illustrator of American Born Chinese The Rabbit hOle's Explor-A-Storium The Real Dada Mother Goose: A Treasury of Complete Nonsense by Jon Scieszka and Julia Rothman   Thanks for Listening!  

First Draft Episode #336: Varian Johnson Varian Johnson, award-winning author of The Parker Inheritance, Twins, The Great Greene Heist, joins us to talk about his most recent middle-grade, Playing the Cards You're Dealt. The presenting sponsor for this episode is Sips By, a multi-brand, personalized monthly tea subscription box. Use offer code "draftsips” for 50% off your first Sips By box! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Then Again Maybe I Won't, and Iggie's House by Judy Blume Motown and Didi by Walter Dean Myers Virginia Hamilton, author of The People Could Fly: Black American Folktales, Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush, and more Sara Crowe, Varian's literary agent at Pippin Properties Andrew Karre, Executive editor at Dutton Books for Young Readers Cheryl Klein, editorial director at Lee & Low and formerly at Scholastic, and author of The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Holes by Louis Sachar Ally Carter, New York Times bestselling author of the Gallagher Girls series, the Heist Society series, the Embassy Row series, Not If I Save You First, Dear Ally: How Do You Write a Book?, and a new middle grade series that kicks off with Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor. (Hear her First Draft interview here) Kate Messner, author of Over and Under the Snow, All the Answers, Capture the Flag, and many (MANY) more The Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program Sharon Darrow, author of Trash, The Painters of Lexieville and more Rita Williams-Garcia, author of One Crazy Summer, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, Like Sisters on the Homefront, and more Tim Wynne-Jones, author of Blink & Caution, The Uninvited, and more Nick Thomas, Varian's editor at Scholastic, currently senior editor at Levine Querido Shannon Wright, illustrator of Twins Jenne Abramowitz, executive editor at Scholastic What Were the Negro Leagues? by Varian Johnson Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Two-time Newbery Award winner and the 2014-15 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Kate DiCamillo writes stories that matter. From the fantastical like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (which author Ann Patchett calls a “perfect novel”)  to the more realistic Raymie Nightingale series, DiCamillo always finds the balance between humor and heart. First and foremost a storyteller, her immensely popular books are beloved by kids, parents, teachers and critics. Kate DiCamillo's most recent book is The Beatryce Prophecy. Published by Candlewick Press and beautifully illustrated by Sophie Blackall, The Beatryce Prophecy is a compelling tale that opens our eyes to the sheer power of reading and storytelling to crack open the world. In this podcast, DiCamillo talks about how storytelling and reading both factor into her life, her writing process, why animals figure so prominently in her work, and her time as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Funny and thoughtful, Kate DiCamillo is as delightful to speak with as she is to read.  Follow us on:  Apple Podcasts   Google Podcasts

Two-time Newbery Award winner and the 2014-15 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Kate DiCamillo writes stories that matter. From the fantastical like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (which author Ann Patchett calls a “perfect novel”)  to the more realistic Raymie Nightingale series, DiCamillo always finds the balance between humor and heart. First and foremost a storyteller, her immensely popular books are beloved by kids, parents, teachers and critics. Kate DiCamillo's most recent book is The Beatryce Prophecy. Published by Candlewick Press and beautifully illustrated by Sophie Blackall, The Beatryce Prophecy is a compelling tale that opens our eyes to the sheer power of reading and storytelling to crack open the world. In this podcast, DiCamillo talks about how storytelling and reading both factor into her life, her writing process, why animals figure so prominently in her work, and her time as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Funny and thoughtful, Kate DiCamillo is as delightful to speak with as she is to read. 

First Draft Episode #304: Chris Grabenstein Chris Grabenstein is the New York Times bestselling author of the Lemoncello series, the Wonderland series, the Haunted Mystery series, and The Island of Dr. Libris. He is also the co-author, with James Patterson, of the #1 Bestsellers I Funny, House of Robots, Max Einstein and many others. He joins to talk about his newest middle grade series, Dog Squad, out now! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Mad Magazine Rocky & Bullwinkle (TV show) The Twilight Zone (TV show) Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White American Heritage magazine Bruce Willis (actor) Kathy Kinney (comedic actor) Jane Brucker ((comedic actor) James Patterson is the world’s bestselling writer, known for the Alex Cross series, the Women’s Murder Club series, the Michael Bennett series, and many more Cheers (TV show) Michael Bay (producer, director) Woody Harrrelson (actor) Orlando Jones (actor, writer) On Writing by Stephen King Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider, and Pop Goes the Weasel are some of the nursery-rhyme-themed James Patterson books that inspired Chris to name his first detective novels after carnival rides Shine by Chris and J.J. Grabenstein Robin Williams (actor, comedian) Jim Henson (creator of The Muppets) Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of mysteries and urban fantasy novels, including the Sookie Stackhouse urban fantasies (which inspired the True Blood TV show), the Aurora Teagarden mysteries, the Lily Bard mysteries, the Harper Connelly urban fantasies, the Midnight, Texas novels, and the Gunnie Rose books, set in an alternate history America. Beth Hughes, illustrator of Dog Squad The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators How to Write a Mystery edited by Lee Child  

This week we revisit Season 1, Episode 6 of our favourite show: Jackass! Mikey and Chris are convinced this is the best episode of the season so far, but Jay has his reservations. This episode features stunts such as: Mr. Mean Bull with Johnny Knoxville BMX Joust with Bam and Brandon Department Store Baseball with Danger Ehren And the entire team faces off in Poo Joust! Dust off those lances, because this one is full of jousts!

John Di Camillo, a staff ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, offers moral principles to guide decision-making in bioethics and discusses how to answer common bioethical questions about such issues as vaccinations, infertility, abortion, and end-of-life with charity and Church teaching.

SET I : Thanksgiving Count-Off – Xmas Goose – Scrooged reboot – Paranormal Pickle – Eggnog at the Jug – Plexiglas Santa – Adventures in Flight – Cast of Characters – Whipped cream Bug Postcard – reunited and it feels so good – Always on the Run – New Phoes on Soundcloud Moon Dogg at the jug 12/11 Thurman’s recipes SET 2 : DiCamillo’s Delay – No Slade Smitty – None of them are real – The real Slade Smitty – Dick McDonalds – Dulles Confusion – Seatbelt Extender – Spread out for Balance – Flying is Fucking Crazy – Sleep Demon – Captain almost starts a race war – Travel Buddies – 7 Unbreakables – Funniest Rock Star Death – Faking Slade Smitty – Music: Phriendly Phoes – “We Get Dark” 12/8/20 – https://soundcloud.com/user-880084629/sets/the-corona-sessions-vol-2-12820 - www.thurmopolis.com

First Draft Episode #266: Adele Griffin Adele Griffin, two-time National Book Award honoree and author of almost thirty books for Young Adult and middle grade readers, including The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone, The Becket List, and Sons of Liberty and Where I want to Be. Today’s episode is brought to you by Caveda, which leads group focus sessions for a worldwide community everyday on Zoom. First Draft listeners can try a free, three hour cave with promo code "FIRSTDRAFT" at caveday.org/firstdraft This episode is sponsored by Revision Season, a seven-week, virtual master class in revising your novel, led by Elana K. Arnold, author of Printz honor winner Damsel and National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and more. Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode Agatha Christie, author of Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and more Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery OMG Book Festival Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Great Shelby Holmes, Past Perfect Life, and more Twilight by Stephenie Meyer John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska, and many more Nancy Paulsen at Penguin Graphic novelist Lisa Brown collaborated with Adele on Picture the Dead Kate DiCamillo is one of six people to win two Newbery Medals, for her novels The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses, and author of Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, National Book Award finalist The Tiger Rising, as well as New York Times bestselling novels The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Magician’s Elephant, the Mercy Watson series, and more. DiCamillo was the U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for 2014 and 2015. Listen to her First Draft interview here. Wilder Girls by Rory Power Sarah Mlynowski, author of Just a Girl and a Boy in a Little Canoe, the Whatever After series, and co-author of Upside-Down Magic Julia DeVillers is the author of Liberty Porter, First Daughter series and the coauthor of the Trading Faces series Michael Buckley, author of The Sisters Grimm series, the National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society (N.E.R.D.S.   I want to hear from you! Have a question about writing or creativity for Sarah Enni or her guests to answer? To leave a voicemail, call (818) 533-1998 or send an email to mailbag @ firstdraftpod dot com! Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni Every Tuesday, I speak to storytellers like Veronica Roth, author of Divergent; National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jason Reynolds; Leigh Bardugo, author of Ninth House and the Grishaverse series; Creator of Sex and the City Candace Bushnell; YouTube empresario and author Hank Green; Actors, comedians and screenwriters Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham; author and host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast Linda Holmes; Bestselling authors and co-hosts of the Call Your Girlfriend podcast, Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow; Michael Dante  DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender; John August, screenwriter of Big Fish and co-host of the Sciptnotes podcast; 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. Track Changes If you’re looking for more information on how to get published, or the traditional publishing industry, check out the Track Changes podcast series, and sign up for the Track Changes weekly newsletter. Support the Show Love the show? Make a monthly or one-time donation at Paypal.me/FirstDraft. Rate, Review, and Recommend Take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts 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? Just click the Share button at the bottom of this post! Thanks again!

Taking up the Challenge of becoming Uncomfortable: George DiCamillo comes from Cleveland, Ohio athletic royalty. This 2x State champion from St. Ignatius High School, National Finalist at the University of Virginia, and 3x ACC Champion comes from great lineage. His Father, Ralph was an All-State Wrestler at Benedictine and his Uncle Gary a 3 sport star at St. Joe's and All-American at the University of Alabama. As well as legendary PGA Tour professional and local Hall Of Fame Golfer. That DNA shines through during the interview with Coach Cimoroni. His continual striving and searching for excellence while pushing himself to the limits of being uncomfortable are deeply insightful into this special young man. George is an up-and-coming young financial executive at Lincoln Electric and he shares with us how the wrestling room prepared him for the challenges in life and in business. Come hear how George only fails FORWARD! This Episode's Sponsors: CIMORONI COUTURE: Call Today: (216)-287-1522 SERVEPRO: Call Today: 216-464-4498 or visit: www.servprobeachwoodshakerheightsclevelandheights.com  AFFINITY WHOLE HEALTH: www.feelgreatcleveland.com Coach Cimoroni's Covid-19 Address: www.mvpodcasting.com/bloodtime More on Coach Cimoroni and "Blood Time" at: www.mvpodcasting.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bloodtime/support

In this episode, the final installment of Dom's adventures in real estate, there are near death experiences, murder, and fun facts about why electricity is scary.

In this weeks episode, we interview local real estate investor Dominic DiCamillo to find out how his foray into real estate has ruined him. In part 1 of this pair of episodes, we focus on the financial side of real estate. What's a mortgage? How do I get one? Is math important? The answer to all of these and more provided by a man who has been been truly and completely ruined.

First Draft Episode #235: Kate DiCamillo Kate DiCamillo is one of six people to win two Newbery Medals, for her novels The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses, and author of Newberry Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, National Book Award finalist The Tiger Rising, as well as New York Times bestselling novels The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, The Magician’s Elephant, the Mercy Watson series, and more. DiCamillo was the U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for 2014 and 2015. Her most recent novel, Beverly, Right Here completes the trilogy of Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana’s Way Home. This episode of First Draft is brought to you by Steven Sater’s Alice By Heart, a debut young adult novel in which the Tony Award-winning co-creator of Spring Awakening tells the story of a young girl who takes refuge in a London Tube station during WWII and confronts grief, loss, and first love with the help of her favorite book, Alice in Wonderland. Alice By Heart is out from Penguin Random House now. Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life Christopher Paul Curtis, author of Newberry Medal book Bud, Not Buddy and Newberry Honor book The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 and Elijah of Buxton Katherine Paterson, author of Newberry Medal books Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved, as well as Newberry Honor book The Great Gilly Hopkins Karen Hesse, author of Newberry Medal book Out of the Dust Kara LaReau was Kate’s editor for Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tiger Rising, The Tale of Despereaux Poets & Writers magazine Holly McGhee, founder and creative director at Pippin Properties Blank Check with Griffin and David (podcast) The quote Kate shares from Katherine Paterson is from Paterson’s 1988 essay, “Hope is More Than Happiness.” (New York Times). How to Talk so Kids Will Listen And How to Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish Karen Lotz, president of Candlewick Linda Sue Park, author of A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story and A Single Shard Kate was also the 2014 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Ann Patchett, author of Bel Canto, State of Wonder, The Magician’s Assistant, and many more, owns Parnassus bookstore in Nashville, Tenn. I want to hear from you! Have a question about writing or creativity for Sarah Enni or her guests to answer? To leave a voicemail, call (818) 533-1998. Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni Every Tuesday, I speak to storytellers like Veronica Roth, author of Divergent; Linda Holmes, author and host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast; Jonny Sun, internet superstar, illustrator of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Gmorning, Gnight! and author and illustrator of Everyone’s an Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too;  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!

Abbiamo interpellato Giulia Di Camillo, centrocampista del Chieti e penna di Donne nel Pallone, e Norma Morandi, ex redattrice sportiva, per parlare di calcio femminile in Italia.Dove sta andando? Quali difficoltà incontro una ragazza durante la sua carriera di calciatrice? Quanto è lontana la conquista del professionismo per i campionati femminili? Ben tornati su Rosso Diretto.

INTERVIEW WITH KATE DICAMILLO Kate DiCamillo's writing journey has been a truly remarkable one. She grew up in Florida and moved to Minnesota in her twenties, when homesickness and a bitter winter led her to write Because of Winn-Dixie—her first published novel, which became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor. Since then, she has been a National Book Award finalist, won two Newbery Medals and was named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. She now has almost 30 million books in print worldwide. In this interview, we dig into Kate's newest book Beverly, Right Here and talk about characterization through dialogue, including: Do you think about showing v. telling while you’re writing, or do you naturally fall into it? What do you find most challenging about writing dialogue? Has your dialogue changed in your protagonists over the years? Is it hard to switch between writing dialogue for kids, teens, and adults? Check out our amazing new self-led course, Revision Power at writingforchildren.com/revisionpower

Our guest on today's episode is the award-winning writer Kate DiCamillo, whose books include contemporary classics like Because of Winn Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Flora and Ulysses. DiCamillo is one of a handful of writers to win American Library Association's prestigious Newbery Medal twice, and in 2104 was named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. DiCamillo writes books for young readers across many age ranges, and she's the rare writer who can both sweep a family away into a world of fantasy, like that inhabited by the mouse Despereaux, or precisely render an American small town like the Naomi, Florida of Because of Winn-Dixie. Her new novel Beverly, Right Here is the story of a young girl who sets out in search of a new life, and it's part of a triptych of moving, funny and absolutely memorable stories set in the small-town south that began with Raymie Nightingale and continued with Louisiana's Way Home. Kate DiCamillo joined B&N's Bill Tipper in the studio for a talk about the experiences that became the wellsprings of her fictional worlds.

Buttigieg raised a boatload of money in April, an analysis of which candidates are on which nights of the debates and how much it matters, a look at what’s driving media coverage of Warren, and Booker talks about being vegan on the BET show Black Coffee.Links:Pete Buttigieg raised staggering $7 million in April alone (Politico)Fundraising totals for 2020 as reported so far—currently Q1 (and prior) only (FEC) April Quarterly/Monthly report notice for presidential committees (2019) (FEC)Pete Buttigieg makes star turn in town hall spotlight (CNN)4 of the 5 Top-Polling Democrats Land on Same Primary-Debate Night (NY Mag) 2020 Democratic Presidential Nomination (RCP)The Democratic Debate Lineups Are Set. Here’s What to Expect. (NYT)California Democratic 2020 presidential primary is a wide-open race, poll finds (LA Times) Release #2019-02: California’s Democratic Presidential Primary Race A Wide Open Affair. Biden holds slim lead; Kamala Harris currently running fourth in her home state. (DiCamillo, Mark)Why Elizabeth Warren is surging (Paul Waldman)Democrats Are Reviving an Old Populist Tradition (NY Mag)Grassroots Not Grass-Fed: The US Might Be Getting Its First Vegan President (Forbes)Cory Booker On Reparations, Why He’d Choose A Female VP & Being Vegan | Black Coffee (Youtube/BETNetworks)Primary Ride Home on Facebook

What do you do when there is a problem affecting you or your loved one? Nikki Puzzo found a simple solution to make her daughter, Stella's, recovery from surgery more comfortable. She joined forces with longtime friend, Joanne DiCamillo to create a company around the amazing zipOns® adaptive pants. Nikki Puzzo lives in Swampscott, MA with her two daughters Chloe and Stella, and their dog Benji. Joanne DiCamillo also lives in Swampscott with her daughter Mia and chihuahuas Junie and Nuggie. Nikki runs a nonprofit called Stepping Stones for Stella, which donates all-terrain buggies to children with disabilities. Together, Nikki and Joanne formed befree, LLC and are the creators of zipOns® patented adaptive pants. They were inspired by Nikki’s daughter Stella, who has cerebral palsy. Her challenges and struggles with dressing and undressing highlighted the lack of inclusive fashion available to meet the needs of the differently abled. Please check out  and support these two amazing momtrepreneurs here: http://www.befreeco.com/

Intro Hi everyone! This is Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a 5th grade teacher, a mom of two girls, and enjoying my extra reading time over the holiday break and the chance to relax. This is episode #66 and today we are celebrating some of the best middle grade books published in 2018. Main Topic - The Top 20 Middle Grade Books of 2018 I’m a bit of a data nerd, and I have always been into tracking my reading - from my color-coded index card system in high school to my alphabatized Excel Spreadsheet in the early 2000s to now where I do a mix of Goodreads and a bullet journal. So looking back over the last couple of years since I started doing this show, in 2016 I read 60 middle grade books with 31 of those published in 2016. And my top three books of that year were Booked, Ms. Bixby’s Last Day, and The Wild Robot. (You can find that list here.) Last year, I read 79 middle grade with 55 of those published in 2017. A jump I will totally attribute to the intensity of being on the CYBILS committee. And my top three books of 2017 were Posted, Refugee, and Orphan Island and my top three graphic novels last year were Real Friends, Pashmina, and All’s Faire in Middle School.  (You can find the full list here.) This year, I read 59 middle grade books with 41 of those released in 2018. Before I start - a quick caveat. Selecting ONLY 25 titles was almost impossible.  I enjoyed just about every book I read this year, and I know each one will find it’s reader.  So how to choose the top twenty-five? I have two criteria - the writing is immersive (a book I couldn’t put down) and the story has that something special - unique character, an intriguing plot twist, or a thought-provoking theme (a book I can’t forget).   And again this year, I decided to separate out the graphic novels so be on the lookout for another best of podcast soon featuring just the middle grade graphic novels.    Okay, let’s get to it!  Here are my Top 25 middle grade novels of 2018: Granted by John David Anderson From the author of the soon-to-be movie, Ms. Bixby’s Last Day and last year’s amazing Posted is this story about Ophelia Delphinium Fidgets - one of the few remaining fairies entrusted with the job of Granter - a fairy who ventures into the dangerous human world to grant a wish. Ophelia’s increasingly difficult quest to grant a little girl her wish of a purple bike will keep you turning the pages. And her reluctant friendship with the slobbery dog Sam - along with some other hilarious touches like Ophelia’s special song - will make this novel one you won’t forget.   Where the Watermelons Grow by debut author Cindy Baldwin This book - better than any I’ve read - captures the heat and the swelter of a scorching-hot drought-ridden summer. Our protagonist, Della, is feeling the weight of that and also the burdon of her mother’s re-emerging schizophrenia. But this novel is also laced with the sweetness of friendship and watermelon and hope and a touch of maybe magical honey.     Every Shiny Thing by Cordelia Jensen & Laurie Morrison This dual narrative novel is about Lauren and Sierra.  The two girls end up living next to each other and becoming friends when Lauren’s neighbors become Sierra’s foster parents.  As Lauren starts to become more aware of her priviledge, she comes up with a - shall we say “ill-advised” Robin Hood scheme that quickly starts to spiral out of control.  Watching Lauren and Sierra get deeper and deeper and deeper into that pit and wondering how on earth they were going to dig themselves out is what kept me turning those pages. And what makes this book unique and fresh was the strength of the two perspectives - Lauren’s chapters in prose and Sierra’s in verse.   The Three Rules of Everyday Magic by Amanda Rawson Hill Believe. Give. Trust. With those three magical rules passed on to her from her grandmother, Kate tries to grapple with the changes in her life. Divorce, faltering friendship, and her grandmother’s worsening dementia. Along with the typical difficulties of a 12 year old! I loved this book for its blend of beautiful prose and realism.   Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya This middle grade coming of age novel tells the story of 8th grader Marcus Vega who ends up traveling to Puerto Rico with his mom and younger brother in search of the father who seemed to abandon them years ago. And yes, his journey is about discovering family, but it’s also about discovering his culture. This book is a beautiful homage to Puerto Rico and a story that captures the experiences of many kids with family connections that represent multiple languages and backgrounds.  It reminds me a bit of the graphic novel Crush with a twist of Torrey Maldonado’s Tight.   The Frame Up by Wendy McLeod MacKnight This novel was not only unforgettable but it utterly changed the way I experience walking into a musuem forever. And to me - that is the mark of an excellent book. It makes you see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Frame-up is set in a real-life place - the Beaverbrook Gallery in New Brunswick, Canada. And the art director’s son soon discovers that the paintings are…. alive. And they can travel into other paintings - which is completely fascinating when you consider that this museum includes art from different eras. And multiple paintings of the same person.  What the author does in this world is spell-binding. But things start to get dicey when suddenly the art director’s son and Mona, a young girl in one of the museum’s prized paintings, find themselves desperately trying to stop both an art heist and a plot to destroy their community forever.   Everything I Know About You by Barbara Dee This book was a fun mix of humor and history intermixed with realistic depictions of issues that young people are coping with - like body shaming and eating disorders and figuring out that whole friendship thing while staying true to yourself and your values.  What made this book stay with me long after that last page was read was the main character, Tally, whose self-confidence and style and body positivity are inspiring.   So Done by Paula Chase This upper middle grade coming of age story centers around friends Mila and Tai.  The girls have spent the summer apart and as fall starts, it has become more and more clear that their friendship is sputtering out. And yes, part of that is typical things like finding new interests and more focus on boys, but there is this one massive secret hanging over both girls’ heads that threatens to not only destroy that friendship, but could destroy families, too.The slow, shocking reveal of what that secret really IS kept me turning the pages and what made this book stick with me so long afterward are the voices of the characters that are so fresh and unique and real!  During the first chapter, I had a huge smile on my face because I was so happy to be reading a book that sounds like some of my students when they are talking to each other - and don’t think any adult is within earshot. Chase has this incredible knack for voice, and I cannot wait to see what other middle grade books she has coming our way!   The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson Johnson has expertly woven together multiple storylines across two different eras that are beautifully fused together in the final chapters.  The main character, modern-day Candice, discovers a decades old mystery that takes her and the quiet bookworm boy across the street on a quest for a long-lost treasure. But to figure out the clues, they have to delve into some long buried town history that some folks would rather keep hidden. This book is rich with details and touches on topics that are not common in middle grade - like the end of segregation and its impact on black schools and the concept of passing. It’s beautifully written and if you have older middle grade kids who loved The Westing Game and who love mysteries, this is a great book to put in their hands.   You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P! by Alex Gino Alex Gino’s second novel for middle grade readers is a sweet story about Jilly, White and hearing, who befriends a Deaf Black ASL user on a fandom website where they connect over their mutual love of a fantasy series. When Jilly’s new baby sister is born Deaf,  she and her parents struggle with which expert advice to follow and everyone makes some missteps along the way. Based on reviews from those in the Deaf community, Gino does seem to get that representation right. To me this book is one to have in your classroom or library because it shows one character’s pathway through learning about incredibly important but tricky topics like white priviledge, racism, micro-agressions, and abelism. And done in a way with warmth and heart.   Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez I’ll admit - this one almost got past me!  I was at school and had forgotten my book at home. And so on a whim, I picked up this book from my classroom library and promptly forgot that any other book existed and promptly fell for Stella’s sweetness and charm. Stella is a third grader, born in Mexico, but now living in Chicago with her mom and older brother. She’s struggling with being in a different class than her best friend, Jenny,  and dealing with the accompanying worries that Jenny might be forming a closer relationship with another girl. Stella is also figuring out where she fits in with her outgoing family since she is more quiet and is working through some speech difficulties. Three things stand out to me about this book - its utter realness, the excellent illustrations sprinkled throughout, and also the fact that this novel intersperses Spanish in the most organic and well-executed way that I’ve ever encountered before. They pop up frequently and naturally, and yet I feel confident that most non-Spanish speaking readers can fairly easily figure out what those words mean from the context.   Takedown by Laura Shovan I LOVE books that immerse me in a subculture - like Victoria Jamieson’s Roller Girl, and the Irish dancing in Kate Messner’s The Seventh Wish. I was fascinated to learn about wrestling moves and the tournament process in this novel. And of course it doesn’t hurt that the two main characters - Mikayla (known as Mickey) and Lev are written so vividly and honestly. Told in alternating point of view chapters, Mickey and Lev are each dealing with their own middle school difficulties of faltering friendships and dicey family dynamics. When they both wind up wrestling for the same elite traveling team, Lev needs to cope with having a new wreslting partner (a girl), and Mickey has to deal with a wrestling culture that isn’t exactly keen to accept her. How these two characters grow and how their stories intertwine have stayed on my mind - months later.   Good Dog by Dan Gemeinhart Another incredible story from a favorite author of so many of my students. Good Dog is told from the point of view of Brodie - a dog who we meet just after he’s entered the great beyond after his death. And as our sweet, noble Brodie figures out the rules of this new place, and makes some friends, he remembers more of his past life on Earth. And remembers the danger that his boy, Aidan, is still in. And Brodie has to decide whether to move on to that ultimate Forever or if saving his boy from that threat is worth the awful price he’ll have to pay to even attempt helping him.  I love this book for so many reasons - but mostly for how it quietly but powerfully connects with Gemeinhardt’s previous novel, The Honest Truth.  I don’t want to say more, but…. if you have a kid who has read and loved that book - give them Good Dog right after.   Escape from Aleppo by N. H. Senzai This is another novel that snuck up on me and then wouldn’t let go of my heart. For the last couple of years, my 5th graders and I have read Home of the Brave together as the first read aloud. This year I decided to have their book clubs centered around refugee and immigrant stories - with a focus on #ownvoices novels. And Escape from Aleppo was the only book club choice I hadn’t yet read - and so I read along with the kids in that club and followed their reading schedule and joined their discussions. And I completely agree with their assessment - this book is fabulous. It’s about 14-year-old Nadia, who we meet as her family is evacuating their home in Syria in an attempt to flee to Turkey. But in the carnage, Nadia ends up separated from her family and has to make her way through the city of Aleppo in a dangerous effort to reunite with them and to figure out who in the war-torn city she should trust to help her. What stands out to me most is the searing depiction of modern-day war and how much my students saw themselves in Nadia’s flashbacks to pre-Arab Spring Aleppo. Scenes were everything seems stable and Nadia is all about the latest episode of her favorite reality TV singing show and what color she should paint her nails. If you are looking for a companion book to Alan Gratz’s Refugee, this is an excellent choice. And one that will stay with you for a long, long time.   Rebound by Kwame Alexander This is the much-awaited prequel to the much-loved and much-awarded, novel-in-verse The Crossover. This book is all about Josh & Jordan’s father - Chuck “Da Man” Bell. But - this is an origin story. So when we first meet him, he is just Charlie - an 80’s kid reeling from a family tragedy and trying to find his way forward and trying to find his smile again. When home becomes tense, he is involuntarily shipped off to his grandparent’s house for the summer where he starts to find that path forward. I loved this book for it’s awesome illustratations and all those great 80s references.   Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson Esteban, Tiago, Holly, Amari, Ashton, Haley - these six kids are brought to an abandoned art room each Friday, left on their own, and allowed to simply talk. And eventually - their stories unfold. Stories of deportation, of harassment, of parent death and incarceration. Of hope and of despair.  And by the end of that year, they have formed a bond and a vow to harbor each other. It’s Jacqueline Woodson so you know it’s gorgeously written, but it also speaks to a great need for empathy in our country right now. And I can attest that it’s not just one of those “important” books that kids don’t really like. It was one of the top requested book club selections and currently has a huge waiting list in my room, so I can vouch for it’s kid appeal.   Small Spaces by Katherine Arden Okay - this book creeped me the heck out! And it was glorious! This paranormal horror story is about a young girl named Ollie whose mom tragically died last year, and understandably - Ollie is withdrawn and rather raw.  One fall day, Ollie disovers this strange book that tells the legend of two local brothers who come under the influence of The Smiling Man - with horrific results. When Ollie takes a field trip to a nearby farm, she and her friends Coco and Brian end up in an other-wordly battle to survive the lure of those mysterious forces. This book is so immersive and atmospheric and has one brilliant twist at the end that has me shuddering just thinking about it! Oh - and if you’re the type of person that isn’t at all freaked out by scarecrows - read this book and that will change.   Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed There has been sooo much love for this book this year - and if you haven’t yet read it, I will add my voice to all the others telling you…. it’s incredible.  This novel is about a young Pakistani girl whose dream is to finish her education and to become a teacher. But when her mother is struggling with depression after having her fifth baby - another girl - Amal ends up staying home to take of the household. And then, to make matters far worse, she ends up insulting a poweful man in her village and be forced into indentured servitude to work off her family’s debt to him. It was this section of the book and Amal’s complicated relationship with man’s family and other servants that was the most compelling to me.  Amal Unbound was the  middle grade pick for the 2018 Global Read Aloud and is worthy of a spot in any middle grade collection.   Blended by Sharon Draper As 2018 came to a close, I started scouring the social media feeds of readers whose taste I rely on to see what books from the previous year I may have missed. And by far the one that I kept bumping into… was Blended. And oh were they right to push me to read it! And...confession time - this is the first Sharon Draper book I have read! You may already know her work from Out of My Mind or Copper Sun.  This novel is about an 11-year-old girl - Izzy to her mom but Isabella to her Dad.  Her parents are divorced and every week Isabella has to switch - switch households, switch bedrooms, switch backpacks, switch expectations…. and sometimes feels like she has to switch identities. Her father is black and and lives a far more swanky lifestyle now and Isabella’s mother is white and their home definitely has a more casual vibe. I loved this book because I know how many students can relate to Izzy’s frustrations with parental tug-of-war and that awkwardness with people coming into their lives. But this book had so many more themes that will definitely strike a chord with kids today - racial profiling, school threats, micro-agressions, police shootings, and the myriad other things that make up children’s day-to-day experiences. The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden Ahhh - this book!  I just…. Okay - plot first. This is the story of Zoey - a seventh-grader whose primary goals in life are to keep her two young siblings quiet and out of the way of her mom’s boyfriend and his father, to scrounge up enough for them to eat, and to stay completely invisible at school. But all of those things become tricky when her teacher pushes her to join the Debate Club after school. This book is about rural poverty, the nuances of the gun debate, domestic vioience… but the way those threads play out are not at all what I had expected - and so much better. This is the novel I wish I had read as a young middle school teacher when I thought that giving an hour’s worth of homework that required colored pencils, a ruler, and internet access was a perfectly acceptable thing to do.     Front Desk by Kelly Yang Another stand-out debut! And every time I see another starred review or another reader gush about this book, it just makes me heart a little more happy. Front Desk is about Mia Tang whose family - recent immigrants from China - wind up running a motel under less than ideal circumstances. Mia’s expectations of life in America - juicy burgers, a pet dog, a yard, and big pool - differ A LOT from her true life, which she keeps hidden from her classmates. Her life is tough. But once she starts to harness the power of her writing, Mia starts to realize that even the big injustices in life can start to change. Front Desk was another fall favorite of my students and a perfect book club book.  And the last time I checked, it was offered through Scholastic for a great price. The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown When a sequel comes out to a book that you adored - characters who have found a home in your heart - it’s with trepidation that you crack open that cover and start a new journey with them. Oh but thank you Peter Brown because you did not disappoint and in fact…. I may love this story even more than the first. It’s hard to say anything without giving away the first book if you haven’t read it yet. (And if that’s the case - get on that!) But I will say that this sequel has more action, more human interactions, and therefore - more personal connections that kids can latch onto. And it deals with some big moral and ethical questions!  It’a a brilliant story with a touch of the Iron Giant, a sprinkle of The Odyssey, and a little dash of The Good Place.     Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes This is the story of Jermone - a young black boy playing outside his home with a small toy gun. A black boy who gets shot and killed by a police officer in the first pages and whose presence haunts the rest of the pages - and whose story - along with the other boys - haunts me still.  And I can see in my classroom the impact it makes on the young kids who read it. There are instantly caught by that first title page - “Dead” - and those first words - “How small I look. Laid out flat, my stomach touching the ground. My right knee bent and my brand-new Nikes stained with blood.”  Jerome is the first ghost boy we meet, but later there will be Emmett Till and others who get to tell parts of their stories. This book was both completely immersive and has that quality of staying with you long after you’ve read it. And it’s a rare book that deals honestly with racism and police violence in a way that is age appropriate and clear.  And so many people have said, “This is an important book.” It IS - but don’t get it just because of that - get it and read it with kids because it’s an excellent book. Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo This is, I believe, the first sequel that Kate DiCamillo has ever written. And if this is the quality of a DiCamillo sequel then I hope she writes a TON more - because this book ripped me apart and put me back together again. And I mean that in the best possible way! This book is the follow-up to Raymie Nightingale and focuses on Raymie’s quirky friend - Louisiana Elefante. Lousiana’s grandmother wakes her up in the middle of the night, piles her into the car, and is off to face her reckoning with the curse that has hung over their family’s head. Well, they end up in a Georgia Motel run by a cranky lady - where Louisiana has to take on more than anyone her age should have to.  But also learns a lot about grace and the goodness of humankind as well. Raymie Nightingale was a book I liked pretty well, but nothing compared to this. It’s like this story sat in a rock tumbler until all the extra grit fell away and this sparkling gem emerged at the end.   Tight by Torrey Maldonado This book was fast-paced, fresh, and had such a…. bite to it!  It’s the story of 6th grader, Bryan, who loves comics, who loves drawing superheroes, and who loves his mother and a life of no drama. His dad brings enough of that into their life. Money in their family is… tight. So he worries about that and worries about being perceived as “soft” - not tough enough. But then his parents, sort of... set him up with a friend - this neighborhood kid named Mike. And at first, Bryan resists. He gets  weird vibe from this kid. But then the boys bond over comics and Netflix shows and spend more and more time together. They’re tight. But that friendship turns toxic when Mike starts luring Bryan into skipping school, hopping the turnstiles in the subway...and worse. Tight is an exceptional books - raw and real. If you have kids who like Jason Reynold’s Ghost and who liked the Miles Morales Spiderman - this is the book for them!   Alright - those are my top 25 middle grades books of 2018. Now - I want to hear from YOU! What were your favorite reads of the last year and which ones should I make sure to read in the year ahead? Closing Alright, that wraps up our show this week! If you have a question about how to connect kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love or a suggestion about a topic we should cover, I 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. Books Between is a proud member of the Lady Pod Squad and the Education Podcast Network. This network features podcasts for educators, created by educators. For more great content visit edupodcastnetwork.com Thank you so much for joining me this week. You can get an outline of interviews and a full transcript of all the other parts of our show at MGBookVillage.org. And, if you are liking the show, please leave us some love on iTunes or Stitcher so others can discover us as well.   Thanks and see you soon!  Bye!

Mary DiCamillo, EdD, MT-BC, ET/P This podcast introduces prenatal music bonding and ways that siblings can interact and play with their siblings before birth.  Resources: Satt, B. J. (n.d.).  A sound beginning womb songs. Retrieved from https://wombsongs.com/brian-j-satt-ph-d/ DiCamillo,M. (2016). Sound Birthing Music. Retrieved from http://www.soundbirthingmusic.com/#/ Federico, G. F. (2017). A Musical Journey Through Pregnancy: Prenatal MusicRead more about Prenatal Music Bonding: Building Family Relationships Before Birth[…]

Ken DiCamillo, agent for William Morris Endeavor, speaks candidly about the world of the talent agent and how they choose the right venue for each artist. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at LIU Post in Brookville, is Long Island’s premier concert hall. For 37 years, Tilles Center has been host to more than 70 performances each season by world-renowned artists in music, theater and dance. Tilles Center is located at LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd, Brookville NY. For more information on how to purchase tickets, please contact our box office at 516.299.3100, or visit TillesCenter.org A production of WCWP Studios - LIU Post Public Radio. Visit us at WCWP.org

Brandon and Ben are back to the mic catching up with Ohio high school stand out and NCAA finalist George DiCamillo on episode 21! Hear George talk about overcoming adversity to finally get that proverbial monkey off his back and becoming an NCAA All-American. Don't miss this one! Follow us on twitter @theinsidetrip1, find The Inside Trip Facebook page, or email us at theinsidetrip1@gmail.com. Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spreaker, or SoundCloud. We welcome all comments, questions, suggestions, or just good old fashion shit talk. If you are listening, thank you! Please rate and review. We love feedback.

How 6x NCAA Champion Coach Cael Sanderson (Penn State Wrestling) gets the most out of his wrestlers.  How 3x NCAA Champion Coach Brian Boland (UVA Men's Tennis) has changed his coaching philosophy.  How George DiCamillo overcame three devastating losses to reach the NCAA finals. 

Intro Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect middle grade kids between 8-12 to books they’ll love.  I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a teacher, a mom of two daughters, and totally into binge-watching the Netflix series The Crown. I’ve seen them all twice now. This is Episode #13 and today we are all about celebrating some of the best middle grade books published in 2016. Main Topic - The Top 20 Middle Grade Books of 2016 2016 has been a phenomenal year. For middle grade books. (Not so much for anything else, really!)  And for me, 2016 has been a standout year not only for the amount of books I’ve read, but for the quality of those books.  I’ve already exceeded my sixty book goal and I’m up to 75 at the time of this recording but not only that, I don’t think I’ve rated a book less than three stars all year. Maybe I’m doing a better job of picking things I’d like, but I just think there’s been some exceptional books published this year. So - just to give you some context of where this top 20 list comes from, here’s a bit of information. In the past year, I’ve read 60 middle grade books as of 12/19. Of those 60 - 31 were published in 2016 - so just about half of what I’ve read was new.  I will say that this year was light for me with nonfiction. I gotta work on that next year. So this list is all fiction and unlike other “Best of” lists out there, I did not separate out novels in verse or graphic novels. Everything’s all together. Alright here we go - these are my Top 20 middle grade novels of 2016. #20 - Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eager I’m not typically a huge fan of the magical realism genre but this novel took me on such a sweet journey last spring. I loved the sparse dangerous beauty of the New Mexico desert and the poignant story of Carol and her family caring for the grandfather who’s losing himself in dementia. This was a debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store! #19 - Rookie of the Year by Phil Bildner This novel is the second in the Rip & Red series - the first was A Whole New Ballgame. If you are into the Kidlit community, if you consider yourself a member of the Nerdy Book Club, then you are going to love this book because the teacher, Mr. Acevedo- he’s one of us. If he existed, we’d be following him on Instagram and bumping into him on #TitleTalk chat the last Sunday of the month on Twitter. This book is fun, warm and diverse without being about diversity. It’s simply great, and I can’t wait for book #3. #18 - Sticks & Stones by Abby Cooper Such a memorable book with a main character that you just want to wrap up in your arms and hug. Elyse suffers from a rare disorder where the words others use to describe her are imprinted on her skin - including her own thoughts about herself. This is a book about friendship, and courage, and learning to be kind to yourself. #17 - Like Magic by Elaine Vickers This is one of several fantastic books that came out this year that featured friendship trios, but these three girls took awhile to come together. Jade, Grace, and Malia each end up at the same library, at different times, and find something they need in this mysterious secret treasure box that the librarian has tucked away in the Lost & Found drawer. I think what I loved so much about this book was how it spoke to the power of libraries and librarians to bring people together. And how libraries can be sanctuaries for children and a place to find yourself. #16 - Eleven and Holding by Mary Penney First - this book made me laugh. The main character, Macy, is a riot. It was heartfelt but not saccharine and it had lots of mysteries to solve. And is it weird to say that I had a mini crush on Switch - the skateboarding bad boy? Yeah, that’s probably weird. Let me rephrase that. My 12 year-old self would totally have fallen for that kid. #15 - Wish by Barbara O’Connor 12 year-old Charlie is sent to go live with her aunt and uncle in what she considers a “hillbilly” town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. And she’s unruly and angry and yet…. The folks around her show such patience while she tries to sort everything out. It’s lovely and I liked that more rural setting. There’s also a dog that, actually - now that I think about it, follows a similar journey to our main character. #14 - The Tapper Twins Run for President by Geoff Rodkey The third novel in this series is all about the hilarity that ensues when Claudia and Reese Tapper both run for class president. It’s funny and oddly truthful about politics and running for office. Plus - I loved the twist ending. #13 - Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix This first novel in a new series had me on the edge of my seat for days. Cliffhanger after cliffhanger that build to this jaw-dropping moment that had me furiously calling and texting my friends who had already read it. So - go read it so you can tell me what you think! #12 - Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier Unlike Smile and Sisters and Drama, Ghosts is not based on Raina’s real-life but instead features a young girl named Catrina and her little sister, Maya who is living with Cystic Fibrosis. It touches on some hard-hitting themes (childhood illness and death) but somehow stays light at the same time. Again I was reminded of how much I love Telgemeier’s style - those crisp lines, curves, and great color palette. Already this book has disappeared from my classroom so I guess I’ll buying another one! #11 - Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan Featuring alternating narratives from Joe and Ravi, this book really gets what it’s like to flounder in school and to be the target of a mean kid.  I love that it takes place over one week, I love the humor, and I love the recipes in the back. This is a great choice for kid’s book clubs - it’s not too, too long and there’s a lot to discuss. #10 - Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo I got this novel last April when Kate DiCamillo came to Syracuse as part of a “lecture” series where, of course, she did NOT lecture. Instead, she focused on the kids in the audience. And not only answered the children’s questions in a way that made them feel heard and understood and but deftly framed those questions so that that both kids and adults left inspired and knowing a lot more about her and her writing process. At this event, she talked about how her family moving without her father coming along was inspiration for this story about a girl whose dad has left town with a dental hygienist. And Raymie is trying to figure out a way to get him to come back. As part of her grand plan, she ends up taking baton twirling lessons with these other two girls who each bring their own joys and pains to the story. It is wonderful and quirky in that beautiful diCamillo way. #9 - The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary by Laura Shovan This is a book that I recommend over and and over again - for so many reasons.  I love the poems, I love the storyline about kids coming together to try to save their school from being ripped down, I love how the different narrative pieces all fit together, I love how you see the characters grow and change through their poetry. It’s so, so good! #8 - Finding Perfect by Elly Schwartz Another incredible novel by a debut author. And a book that so many middle grade readers will be able to relate to - whether that’s navigating friendship with two very different people, eating take out for days when your family is overworked and too busy, or living with anxiety or OCD like the main character does. #7 - Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin Every once in awhile you read a book where the characters are so vivid and so real that months after you’re done reading the novel, you wonder about them. Will and Naheed and Aimee and Sergio would be in their twenties now. With all that’s going on in the world, I wonder what they would be thinking at this new turning point in our country’s history. #6 - The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner There’s so so much to love about this book and later on in the podcast I’m going to go into more detail about. But - I have to share with you the best summary of this book from the Author’s Note in the back. She calls it a “ magical-ice-fishing-Irish-dancing-heroin novel for kids.” Yes, it is! And it is glorious! #5 - When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin This is a book that you finish and you set down and immediately want to go read everything else that author has ever written. I’ll share more in the book talk segment later on in the podcast. #4 - The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz Three unlikely saints, an awful character who turns out to be good, a good character who turns out to be bad, disgustingly delicious French cheese, and…. a farting dragon. Now - don’t you want to know how all those connect? From what I hear, the audio of this novel is incredible - and you get to hear “The Song of Hildebrand” and other new music by medieval scholar and musician Benjamin Bagby. BUT - then you’d miss out on the dozens of medieval style illuminations by Hatem Aly in the paper copy. I think you just have to do both to get the full experience. #3 - Booked by Kwame Alexander Yes, this story is about 12-year-old Nick and his first real love, and his relationship with his parents, and soccer, and middle school bullies. BUT. It’s also about a bold librarian who slowly kindles in Nick a passion for books - often without Nick even quite realizing it.   #2 - Ms. Bixby’s Last Day by John David Anderson Oh how I loved this book. How I wished it wouldn’t end. This novel is another 2016 release featuring a trio of friends. Topher, Brand, and Steve band together to bring the last day celebration their teacher, Ms. Bixby missed when she had to leave school early.  Along the way they battle bakery owners, a creepy guy who tries to steal their money, and sometimes….each other. For me, the mark of an exceptional book, is one that can make me sob and laugh out loud and this book had me doing both. And, my #1 middle grade book of 2016 is: #1 - The Wild Robot by Peter Brown This is the first middle grade novel by picture book author and illustrator Peter Brown - and boy did he hit it out of the park! I have so much I want to say, but I’m going to hold off a little bit and save it for our book talk segment. So - those are my top 20 middle grade reads of 2016!  Now, I can already sense the emails coming my way saying, “Corrina - seriously - a best of 2016 list and you didn’t mention Wolf Hollow or Counting Thyme or The Rat Prince?”  And you know what? You’re probably right. Had I had a chance to read all those, they likely would have made this list. In fact, I’m halfway through Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon and oh - if the ending holds out - a powerhouse of a book. I want to read everything Kelly Barnhill has ever written,will ever write, including her grocery lists.  I know I missed some awesome ones. So a quick shoutout to some 2016 releases that are on my To Be Read list:   Top Want to Read Books from 2016   Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd The Rat Prince by Bridget Hodder Maxi’s Secret by Lynn Plourde Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt Paper Wishes by Lois Sepahban Gertie's Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley The Best Man by Richard Peck Swing Sideways by Nanci Turner Steveson Ghost by Jason Reynold   Annnd…. Likely lots more that I am missing! So - I want to hear from YOU - what were your favorite 2016 reads and which ones should be bumped up on my to be read list? You can pop me an email at booksbetween@gmail.com or connect on Twitter with the handle @Books_Between.   Book Talk - Three Amazing Books from 2016 In this part of the show, I share with you three books centered around a theme and discuss three things to love about each book. This week is all about the cream of the crop of 2016. Many of the titles in my Top 20 list, I’ve already featured on the podcast in previous episodes, and some I’ve talked about more than once. But there are a few of my favorites from 2016 that either didn’t fit into a theme I was focusing on for that show or they were very recent reads. The three of my top 2016 picks that I want to talk about with you are  The Seventh Wish, When the Sea Turned to Silver, and my #1 pick of the year - The Wild Robot.   The Seventh Wish First up is Kate Messner’s The Seventh Wish.  I read this book over the summer but it feels right to be talking about it in the winter. The book starts with this gorgeous image of ice flowers blooming on a frozen lake and takes place over one winter in the life of Charlie Brennan. And it’s a difficult winter for her. Her bright athletic older sister, Abby, develops a heroin addiction at college, her mother has a challenging new job, and suddenly everyone else’s problems have pushed her concerns way over to the side. And one day - while out ice fishing with her neighbors - she catches a fish that grants wishes. And Charlie has to figure out just how far that magic will go.  So here are three things I loved about Kate Messner’s The Seventh Wish:   The “I’m thinking of a word” game - So, Charlie and her family play this game where one person will announce “I’m thinking of a word.” and the rest of the family tries to guess what that word is. And whoever comes closest is the winner. And it sounds simple - and it is - but the true brilliance of this game comes in trying to justifying why “flashlight” is closer to “sunflower” than “rebellious” is!  It’s a lot of laughs, it gets you thinking and is now one of our favorite games to play in the car. The Irish Dancing - A major part of Charlie’s life is competing in Irish Dance competitions called feiseanna (“feesh-ee-AH-nuh) - the singular of that is feis (“fesh”). This is a completely foreign world to me, but suddenly I’m into hard shoes vs. soft shoes, the hornpipe and treble jig, strange uses for glue, and the ranking systems in competition. I love books where you can immerse yourself in something new. The Familiar Wintery Feel - So while all the Irish dancing details were totally new to me, the cold, blustery atmosphere of the setting was not. I live in Central New York - just outside of Syracuse, often touted as the Snow Capital of the United States. We get on average, 128” of snow every year.  Charlie’s family goes snowshoeing and ice fishing, and they wonder if when the sun comes out it will warm up from minus 22 degrees to a balmy zero. I think the setting is Northern New York or maybe Vermont, but it felt like it was written about my home. Charlie bundling up in layers of sweaters, snow pants, her puffy jacket, and two scarves is oh-so-familiar to me.   The Seventh Wish is not only a phenomenal and fun book, but also an important book. I’m not sure how things are in your community, but mine is struggling with a daunting heroin problem. And a book that addresses that in a realistic but hopeful way that is completely perfect for a middle grade reader is a necessity right now. It’s simply a fantastic book.   When the Sea Turned to Silver The second book I want to tell you more about, and one that I just finished a few days ago, is Grace Lin’s When the Sea Turned to Silver.  And I need to admit to you - this is the very first Grace Lin book I have read. And argh - why have I waited so long?! It was beautiful and lightly intricate and inspiring.  And I am sure if you have read the companion novels 2011’s Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and 2014’s Starry River of the Sky - you will get even more out of it than I did. But don’t feel like you have to read those other two first - I obviously didn’t and still understood and loved this book. This novel is about a young girl’s quest to rescue her grandmother from a cruel and vindictive Emperor, who is keeping the grandmother (and others) captive. The girl’s name is Pinmei and her grandmother is a famous Storyteller so as we are following Pinmei and her friend Yishan on their voyage to get back the grandmother, interspersed throughout that narrative are these traditional folktales.  Here are three things I loved about Grace Lin’s When the Sea Turned to Silver:   The interconnectedness of the stories. It is this slow crescendo of the main narrative and the folktales that come crashing together at the end. And all along the way, you know they are starting to connect to each other and characters and settings from one story are popping up in others - and STILL I was utterly surprised by how everything came together at the end. The focus on Honor.  Sometimes it seems like there’s a shortage of self-sacrificing, honorable people today. (Or maybe our culture doesn’t revere them as much as it should.) But this novel is full of characters like the scarred servant or the King of the Bright City of Moonlight who learn, eventually, to do the right and honorable thing even when it means danger and maybe death for themselves. It’s rereadability (is that a word?) - I don’t know but this was a book that as soon as I turned that last page, I had to go back and reread some of the stories now that I knew more about the characters and how the tales all connected. It reminded me a bit of when I finished the YA novel Challenger Deep - now that I know the secret, I want to go back and catch everything I missed and experience the story again with new eyes.   If you have a child that loves folk tales with lots of adventure and twists along the way, then When the Sea Turned to Silver would be a great recommendation for them.   The Wild Robot And I saved my best, my favorite of 2016 for last. Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot. “Our story begins on the ocean, with wind and rain and thunder and waves.” Oh - that first line gets me. You know how some books just happen to come into your life at the right moment to connect with you? That’s how this book was for me and my daughters. The first I heard of it was on the All the Wonders podcast when Matthew Winner interviewed Peter Brown and there was something so intriguing about the scenario of a robot stranded on a hostile, remote island, becoming a mother, and trying to survive and thrive. I immediately drove over to my bookstore, got a copy, and started reading it out loud with my girls that very night. We finished, a few weeks later, on Mother’s Day - and maybe that’s why the story of Roz sacrificing so much for the island - and the island sacrificing for her - touched us so much on that particular day. It was our first family book cry. We had to get more tissues and my husband rushed into the room wondering why we were all sobbing! It’s an incredible book and difficult to narrow it down to just three things to love, but here are a few things that I thought were exceptional about The Wild Robot. The illustrations - First, there are tons of them - every couple pages in every sort of perspective and shape: tall trees along the sides with a bear dangling over the text, an action scene charging across the bottom, two page spreads of a single crucial moment with just a small paragraph to the side, small inserts of just one animal, or one leaf. Peter Brown’s skill in picture book composition is clear in the layout and balance of the drawings and the words. The robot, Roz, is made of simple shapes and lines that really make it feel like it could take place at any time. And of course, I love his style of splatters and shading. The existential questioning that happens with this book. There’s just something about robot stories that lends itself to deep thinking about ethics and morality, the nature of the soul, and what it means to exist. So, I grew up in a Star Trek household. My mom is a trekkie and once got me a signed picture of my crush, Wil Wheaton, from a convention. I loved Next Generation, and particularly the episodes featuring Data, the android - there’s something about pushing the boundaries of programing that is intriguing. Putting a machine in a challenging, new environment and seeing what happens. At one point in the story, Roz and her adopted gosling son wonder what will happen if they push the button to turn her off.  Will she remember him if she turns back on? Will she be the same? Roz is devoid of emotion and yet she brings out so much tenderness and emotion in the reader. How fun and easy it is to read out loud. The chapters are really short so it’s nice to have those natural stopping points when you might just have a few minutes at home or in school.  And the character’s are vibrant and fun with great personalities to give voices to. I did Roz with the voice of Siri, which was loads of fun to do. I channeled Julia Sweeney for the goose, Loudwing and the fast-talking chipmunk, ChitChat was hilarious. The writing just has this great rhythm and it’s a joy to read out loud.   Absolutely go get The Wild Robot - I promise you won’t regret it.   Closing Okay, that’s our show for the week - and the last one of 2016. Look for our next episode on Monday, January 2nd, where I’ll be discussing the most anticipated middle grade books coming out in 2017 and some fun reading challenge ideas to kick off your new year!   And, 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, look for the other Best of 2016 lists to get more reading ideas. And, if you are liking the show, I’d love it if you took a second to leave  a rating or review on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you in two weeks!  Bye!

Bestselling author Kate DiCamillo knows a thing or two about books for young readers. The two-time Newbery Medalist has some recommendations for those buying books for kids this holiday season. WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with DiCamillo about what she looks for in books for young readers.

When Donato DiCamillo first picked up a camera he knew he would have a hard time putting it down. It became a reason for him to step out from a dark place, which he had struggled with for some time. The dark world in which he knew so well would soon come to light after being released from prison in 2011. His inspiration derived from many great documentary photographers, such as Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, Helen Levitt, Garry Winogrand, and William Klein, just to name a few, but it was Bruce Gilden and Klein's street photography that made Donato realize that he could scream through his images. His work is a constant search that's forged out of his own curiosities. They're derived from his own interpretation of people, as well as deep rooted moments in the physiological confines of his mind. "I love the amazing differences in people and how beautifully unique we all are. Good bad or indifferent; People never cease to amaze me, they often answer many of my own questions. The littlest detail, maybe in the eyes or the way someone walks can be the difference of making a photograph". Resources: Donato DiCamillo http://donatodicamillo.com Elias Williams http://www.eliaswilliams.com Nina Robinson http://www.ninarobinsonphotography.com Download the free Candid Frame app for your favorite smart device. Click here to download for iOS. Click here to download for Android Click here to download for Windows Support the work we do at The Candid Frame with contributing to our Patreon effort. You can do this by visiting patreon.com/thecandidframe or visiting the website and clicking on the Patreon button.

DiCamillo, Kate. RAYMIE NIGHTINGALE

Author Kate DiCamillo is out with her latest novel. The two-time Newberry Medalist ‘s latest book for young readers is Raymie Nightingale. WSIU's Jeff Williams recently talked with DiCamillo about the book for this edition of In The Author's Voice.

Sep. 5, 2015. At the 2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C., author Kate DiCamillo hosted a 30-minute Q&A featuring the award-winning Mercy Watson series for early readers and the new spinoff books featuring more stories from Mercy’s world. The presentation included a improvised musical and comedy program by Story Pirates, inspired by the series and based on ideas from audience, exploring themes of unconventional families and unconditional love. Speaker Biography: The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature of the Library of Congress and the Children’s Book Council, Kate DiCamillo is the recipient of the 2014 Newbery Medal for her novel “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures.” This is DiCamillo’s second Newbery, which the American Library Association confers for the “most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” DiCamillo also won the Newbery for “The Tale of Despereaux” in 2004. Her first published novel, “Because of Winn-Dixie,” won a Newbery Honor. She says of stories: “When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see each other.” DiCamillo celebrates the 10th anniversary of her Mercy Watson series with “Mercy Watson: Something Wonky This Way Comes” (Candlewick). Her new book is “Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon," which is the second book in the Tales from Deckawoo Drive series'a spinoff from Mercy Watson. For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=7007

DiCamillo, Kate. LEROY NINKER SADDLES UP

Kate DiCamillo is the author of numerous books for young readers, and she's coming to speak at the Bainbridge High School commons in a free talk co-sponsored by Eagle Harbor Books. In this podcast, she describes the subject of her talk -- which will be mostly directed toward 4th graders and parents of children of all ages. Kate is a Newbery Award winner and the Children's Book Council National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for 2014–2015.  Kate is also currently serving as the Ambassador designated by the Library of Congress. She is using this role to raise national awareness of the importance of young people's literature as it relates to literacy, education, and the betterment of lives -- young and old -- through stories that connect us. Her free presentation at Bainbridge High School Commons from 7 to 8pm on Thursday, February 26th, will attract both children and adults and will focus on how “Stories Connect Us.” She emphasizes the need for people of all ages to read aloud to each other. After moving to Minnesota from Florida in her twenties, a bitter winter helped inspire “Because of Winn-Dixie” — her first published novel which became a runaway bestseller and snapped up a Newbery Honor.  Her second novel, “The Tiger Rising”, went on to become a National Book Award Finalist. Her latest novel, “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures”, was released in Fall 2013 to great acclaim, including five-starred reviews, and was an instant New York Times bestseller. It features an exciting new format — a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations. It was widely acclaimed and honored. This West Sound Reads event is co-sponsored by independent bookstores in Kitsap County and the Kitsap Regional Library system. The event is free and open to the public. Customers who purchase DiCamillo's books in advance at Eagle Harbor Book Company or Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo will receive a ticket for two with priority seating at the no-charge event. Bainbridge High School is located at 9330 High School Rd. Credits: BCB host: Nancy Soule; BCB studio tech and publisher: Barry Peters; BCB audio editor Tim Bird.

August 30, 2014. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Kate DiCamillo appears at the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Speaker Biography: The National Ambassador for Young People's Literature of the Library of Congress and the Children's Book Council, Kate DiCamillo is the recipient of the 2014 Newbery Medal for her latest novel, "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" (Candlewick Press). This is DiCamillo's second Newbery, which the American Library Association confers for the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." The award is one of the most prestigious in young people's literature. DiCamillo also won the Newbery for "The Tale of Despereaux" in 2004. Her first published novel, "Because of Winn-Dixie," won a Newbery Honor. She says of stories: "When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see each other." DiCamillo's new book is "Leroy Ninker Saddles Up: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume One." For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=6383

Dicamillo, Kate. FLORA AND ULYSSES : THE ILLUMINATED ADVENTURES

DiCamillo, Kate. BINK AND GOLLIE, TWO FOR ONE

DiCamillo, Kate. LOUISE, THE ADVENTURES OF A CHICKEN

At first glance, it may appear that Kate DiCamillo waltzed onto the children's book scene and experienced nothing but success. Her first published novel, Because of Winn-Dixie, won a Newbery Honor in 2001. That book became a Hollywood film. In 2004 DiCamillo's book, The Tale of Despereaux, received the coveted Newbery Medal. But Kate DiCamillo's success did not happen overnight. For roughly a decade, before the public knew her name, DiCamillo worked odd jobs, submitted manuscripts, and collected nearly 400 rejection letters. "I decided a long time ago," DiCamillo says, "that I didn't have to be talented. I just had to be persistent." AdLit.org is a national multimedia project offering information and resources to the parents and educators of struggling adolescent readers and writers. For more interviews with young adult authors, visit us at www.AdLit.org, a national education service of public television station WETA. Funding is provided by grants from Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ann B. and Thomas L. Friedman Family Foundation.

DiCamillo, Kate. Tale of Despereaux

Our Date Anniversary coming up Hannah reviews: Ginsburg, M. & Maestro, G. (1973). What Kind of Bird is That? Crown: New York. Austin talks about: DiCamillo, K. (2006). Desperaux. Candlewick Press: Cambridge. Kathryn talks about composting Visit with Elizabeth David’s 12 of 12 Link to David’s 12 of 12 New Frappr Friends: Michael V., Salisbury, MD Mike M, Quincy, IL Dan W, Liverpool, NY Two Bare Feet: Move [...]