Podcasts about hena khan

Hena Khan has been publishing books for children, including many that center Pakistani American and Muslim characters, for over two decades. She writes award-winning books in a multitude of formats, including picture books, middle-grade fiction, pick-your-path adventures, and graphic novels. Her stories are often centered around her culture, community, friendship, and family, and draw from her own experiences. Hena's bestselling novels include Amina's Voice and More to the Story. She is also the author of the Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream, Zara's Rules, and Super You! series. Hena's acclaimed picture books include Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, and It's Ramadan, Curious George. Her most recent books include Bhangra Boogie and Dark Nights and Light Hearts. She holds an MA in International Affairs from The George Washington University.Rhiannon Berry Adsit runs, bikes, swims, and writes whenever and where she can, gets unreasonably excited about beautiful trees, and has yet to meet a dog she didn't love. Born and raised in North Syracuse, Rhiannon graduated from LeMoyne College ('08) prior to earning her masters for Secondary English Education at Syracuse University. She taught at Liverpool High School for many years before moving to Lake Placid, where she currently teaches English and Creative Writing. She is the editor of LOCALadk Magazine and is often exploring the mountains with her husband Eric.

Hena Khan has been publishing books for children, including many that center Pakistani American and Muslim characters, for over two decades. She writes award-winning books in a multitude of formats, including picture books, middle-grade fiction, pick-your-path adventures, and graphic novels. Her stories are often centered around her culture, community, friendship, and family, and draw from her own experiences. Hena's bestselling novels include Amina's Voice and More to the Story. She is also the author of the Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream, Zara's Rules, and Super You! series. Hena's acclaimed picture books include Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, and It's Ramadan, Curious George. Her most recent books include Bhangra Boogie and Dark Nights and Light Hearts. She holds an MA in International Affairs from The George Washington University. Rhiannon Berry Adsit runs, bikes, swims, and writes whenever and where she can, gets unreasonably excited about beautiful trees, and has yet to meet a dog she didn't love. Born and raised in North Syracuse, Rhiannon graduated from LeMoyne College ('08) prior to earning her masters for Secondary English Education at Syracuse University. She taught at Liverpool High School for many years before moving to Lake Placid, where she currently teaches English and Creative Writing. She is the editor of LOCALadk Magazine and is often exploring the mountains with her husband Eric. About The Write Time The Write Time is a special series of NWP Radio, a podcast of the National Writing Project (NWP), where writing teachers from across the NWP Network interview young-adult and children's authors about their books, their composing processes, and writers' craft. You can view the archive at https://teach.nwp.org/series/the-write-time/

Join us for an engaging conversation with Hanna Khan, a prolific Pakistani-American children's book author from Rockville, Maryland. In this episode, Hanna talks about her life journey, growing up with Pakistani immigrant parents, and her extensive career in writing children's literature over the past 24 years. Discover her writing process, how she finds inspiration from her family and cultural heritage, and the challenges and joys of writing for young readers. Hanna also delves into her experiences with various writing formats, including picture books, middle grade novels, chapter books, anthologies, graphic novels and even a quote a day Islamic diary. She discusses the importance of representation and cultural identity in her work. This episode is filled with insights on writing, cultural nuances, and heartfelt discussions about the intersection of personal and professional life.You can find information about Dr. Elisabeth Paige at www.mindfulhappykids.com.

Send us a textHappy New Year! Raise a glass as we celebrate the vibrant world of children's literature, featuring insights from 12 amazing authors and illustrators who have been guests on the pod. Savor these excerpts about the power of storytelling, the importance of connection, and the elephant in the room -- standing up for and celebrating the freedom to read. Grace Lin (1:20) and Vanessa Brantley Newton (4:05) explore storytelling's impact and the transformative power of literature. Don't miss The Gate, The Girl, and The Dragon and Shake It Off .Trudy Ludwig (10:40) and Hena Khan (13:54) on Anxiety It's no secret that we live in an anxious post-pandemic world. Trudy and Hena share how they approach anxiety in Brave Every Day and Drawing Deena.Jason Chin (16:29), Candace Fleming (18:38), and Carole Boston Weatherford (22:25) on Curiosity, Context, and Nonfiction Storytelling Alicia D Williams (25:06) on Novels in Verse, Overcoming the Poetry Stigma, and Mid-AirConnection with Gayle Forman (32:25) and James Ponti (39:31) How can storytelling foster intergenerational dialogue and shared experiences? Don't miss Not Nothing and Sherlock Society.The Elephant in the Room: Beth Ferry (45:20) and Katherine Applegate (51:35) on the Freedom to Read We celebrate public libraries and the fight against censorship with Beth's Roar for Reading and Katherine's Wishtree.Links to Episodes:Grace Lin Vanessa Brantley Newton Trudy LudwigHena KhanJason ChinCandace FlemingCarole Boston WeatherfordAlicia D WilliamsGayle FormanJames PontiBeth FerryKatherine ApplegateSupport the showSubscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

It's official. Two years in a row makes it a tradition. The Reading Culture Yearbook is here. It's the year end celebratory episode where we look back and highlight some of our favorite moments in the form of awarding superlatives. Or, as we dubbed them last year and seemingly forgot, “The Readies”.This year's edition features awards such as “Best [Not] Meet Cute”, the “Owning It Award”, the “Merriam-Webster Award” (alternatively titled “most likely to know more words than Merriam-Webster”), and “The Teen Whisperer Award”.And just like last year, we promise to make you laugh, and potentially cry depending on how quickly you reach for the tissues.***Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. Show ChaptersChapter 1 - Best Alter EgoChapter 2 - The Teen Whisperer AwardChapter 3 - Full Circle Moment Chapter 4 - Best [Not] Meet CuteChapter 5 - Citizen of the World AwardChapter 6 - Odd Couple AwardChapter 7 - The All In AwardChapter 8 - Most Moving Dream Chapter 9 - Best Life Lesson From LiteratureChapter 10 - Owning It Award Chapter 11 - Most Likely to Rewrite the Stars Chapter 12 - Merriam-Webster AwardChapter 13 - Best Dinner Party GameLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

  Hena Khan is a prolific author of children's books including Amina's Voice and Amina's Song, the second of which won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature in 2022. She has enjoyed great success with picture books and middle-grade novels, but today we're talking about her newest endeavor, graphic novels. We are Big Time is the story of a teen girl whose family moves from Florida to Wisconsin. She joins the girls' basketball team at her new high school, who then try to overcome low expectations from their fellow students and show their neighbors that Muslim girls can shoot the rock with the best of them. We Are Big Time is illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers. 

Comic Reviews: DC o        Gotham City Sirens 1 by Leah Williams, Matteo Lolli, Triona Farrell Marvel o        Blood Hunters 1 by Erica Schultz, Robert Gill, Rain Beredo o        Spider-Man: Black Suit and Blood 1 by J.M. DeMatteis, Elena Casagrande; Alyssa Wong, Fran Galan; Dustin Nguyen; J. Michael Straczynski, Sumit Kumar, Craig Yeung, Dono Sanchez-Almara o        Uncanny X-Men 1 by Gail Simone, David Marquez, Matt Wilson o        Venom War 1 by Al Ewing, Iban Coello, Frank D'Armata; Al Ewing, Carlos Nieto, Frank D'Armata o        Marvel Unlimited §  Dogpool 3 by Mackenzie Cadenhead, Enid Balam §  Savage Wolverine 1 & 2 by Tom Bloom, Devmalya Pramanik Boom o        Garfield 1 by Ryan Estrada, Sarah Graley, Axur Eneas o        Red Before Black 1 by Stephanie Phillips, Goran Sudzuka, Ive Svorcina Dark Horse o        Arkham Horror: The Terror at the End of Time 1 by Cullen Bunn, Andrea Mutti, Valerio Alloro o        Prodigy: Slaves of Mars 1 by Mark Millar, Stefano Landini, Michele Assarasakorn IDW o        Godzilla Rivals: Vs. Manda by Jake Lawrence o        Monster High: New Scaremester 1 by Jacque Aye, Caroline Shuda Image o        C.O.W.L. 1964 1 by Kyle Higgins, Alec Siegel, Rod Reis o        Cyber Force: Shootout by Billy Muggelberg, Bruno Abdias, John Starr o        Ore: A Starhenge Graphic Novella by Liam Sharp o        Power Fantasy 1 by Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard Mad Cave o        Kosher Mafia 1 by David Hazan, Sami Kivela Oni o        EC: Cruel Universe 1 by Matt Kindt, Kano; Corinna Bechko, Caitlin Yarsky, Michael Atiyeh; Chris Condon, Jonathan Case; Ben H. Winters, Artyom Topilin, Brittany Peer OGN Countdown o        A Phone Call Away by Rich Douek, Russell Olson o        Cat on the Run Vol 2: Cucumber Madness by Aaron Blabey o        Life in the Present by Liz Climo o        HoverGirls by Geneva Bowers o        Beneath by Steven DeKnight, Michael Gaydos, Toben Racicot o        Bendy: Dreams Come to Life by Christopher Hastings, Adrienne Kress, Alex Arizmendi o        We are Big Time by Hena Khan, Safiya Zerrougul o        Unico: Awakening by Samuel Sattin, Osamu Tezuka, GuriHiru o        Molly and the Bear: An Unlikely Pair by Bob Scott, Vicki Scott o        Loving, OH by Matthew Erman, Sam Beck o        How it All Ends by Emma Hunsinger o        Pet Wizards by Kirk Scroggs Additional Reviews: My Neighbor Necromancer, Legends of Tomorrow final season, surprise reality TV review (Blue Ribbon Baking Championship), Trap, Stephen King's Holly News: David Lynch retirement, HBO sneak peak, Box Office records, D23, Avatar 3 title, Inside Out spinoff series, Monster Trucks movie, Toy Story 5 plot, Hoppers, Incredibles 3 by Brad Bird, Zootopia 2 details and casting, DD s2 confirmed, Iron Heart, Marvel animation news for X-Men/Spidey/What If, Disney Parks announcements, new Transformers all-ages OGN from Skybound, Omninews, James Wan rebooting Creature From the Black Lagoon Ray pitches Inside Out 3 Trailers: Moana 2, Win or Lose, Agatha All Along, Skeleton Crew, Snow White, Mufasa Comics Countdown (07 August 2024): 1.     Deviant 7 by 2.     Birds of Prey 12 by Kelly Thompson, Javier Pina, Sophie Campbell, Gavin Guidry, Jordie Bellaire 3.     Power Fantasy 1 by Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard 4.     Public Domain 7 by Chip Zdarsky, Rachael Stott 5.     Uncanny X-Men 1 by Gail Simone, David Marquez, Matt Wilson 6.     C.O.W.L. 1964 1 by Kyle Higgins, Alec Siegel, Rod Reis 7.     Boy Wonder 4 by Juni Ba, Chris O'Halloran 8.     Space Ghost 4 by David Pepose, Jonathan Lau, Andrew Dalhouse 9.     Kosher Mafia 1 by David Hazan, Sami Kivela 10.  Doctor Strange 18 by Jed MacKay, Pasqual Ferry  

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This week, award-winning author Hena Khan returns to the podcast. Known for her compassionate and relatable books for children that draw on her experiences as a Pakistani-American Muslim, Hena has 5 new books releasing in 2024.  We discuss the creative process behind this banner year of books, what she hopes young readers take away from these stories, the impact of book bans, and much more. If you're a teacher, librarian, or parent looking for summer reading titles for your kids, this would be a great episode to tune into.

The Mamas are headed to the library to kick off summer right with books set in their favorite public space. After fangirling over cherished library memories, the Mamas chat about Middle Grade books (for ages 8-12) where, in one school library, fictional villains jump out of books and, in another school library, books are banned until a secret library is created by kid heroes. Then Heather shares new picture books that will get little ones excited for summer library programs. And, of course, Margie has a grown up book set in a small town library where a serial killer is hiding out. It's always murder with her (insert eye roll - wait, maybe don't roll your eyes at Margie, might not be safe).If you're a fan of libraries and librarians, check out this episode! (pun intended)Book Chat:Picture BooksBehind My Doors: the Story of the World's Oldest Library by Hena Khan and illustrated by Nabila AdaniThe Loud Librarian by Jenna Beatrice, illustrated by Erika Lynne JonesNo Cats in the Library by Lauren EmmonsMiddle Grade BooksThe Story Thieves series by James RileyBan This Book by Alan GratzGrown Up BookHow Can I Help You by Laura Simswww.twolitmamas.com

Raise Your Words host Amani sits down with Author Hena Khan to talk about writing books for young readers. Hena Khan is the author of Zara's Rules, Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream, and other books. You can follow Hena on Instagram @henakhanbooks. Follow Raise Your Words on IG @raiseyourwordspod! Stay tuned for more!

We love sharing thought provoking conversations with fascinating people on Reading With Your Kids. We beging by chatting with the CEO of Reash Out And Read Marty Martinez. Marty tells us Reach Out and Read,  trains pediatricians to integrate books into well-child visits to promote early literacy. He explained how shared reading helps children's brain development and bonding with parents. Later in the episode we meet author Hena Khan. Hena tells us her new anthology "The Door is Open" is a collection of stories written by South Asian American writers. She also shared about her upcoming graphic novel "We Are Big Time" based on a girls basketball team. Additionally, she talked about her middle grade novels "Drawing Deena" and co-authored book "Like a Boss." Throughout the episode, the importance of reading with children from a young age was emphasized, as well as using books to inspire creativity and build emotional connections between families. Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com  Click here to learn more about Read Out And Read - https://reachoutandread.org/ 

Here we talked about the history of numerology and give a list of life's path of numbers from 1 to 9. To discover your life's path of numbers take your birthday, birth month, and birth year and added all together. For example, June 15 1970; add 6+1+5+1+9+7+0 = 29 ==> 2+9 =11 ==> 1+1 = 2 and reduce the total by adding the digit to get to a single digit. Here we touched a bit on repeating angel's number, their significance and symbolic values. Lastly, a story of Muslim book of numbers called One Sun and Countless of Stars by Hena Khan. This was a tribute 7 gratitude to the father of Algebra and computer science Muhammad Ibn Al Khwarizimi.

And then they realized: They were no longer little girls. They were little women. Joining us for the final episode of the podcast are Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo. Rey and Bre are the author-illustrator team behind Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, a graphic novel adaptation of Little Women. Rey is also the New York Times bestselling author of many other books, including the award-winning Free Lunch. Bre has illustrated a number of graphic novels and comics, including most recently The Dog Knight. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

Have you read a middle grade novel in verse recently? This month, we're reading Jasmine Warga's Other Words for Home (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), which is perfect for the Unabridged Reading Challenge 2024 category featuring a middle grade novel in verse. Jen and Ashley discuss the book club pick and share our pairings including Thanhhà Lai's Inside Out and Back Again (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm), Hena Khan's Amina's Voice (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Janika Oza's A History of Burning (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm).   We're continuing to add exclusive content over on Patreon. In addition to monthly bonus episodes, we are now releasing more content on Patreon for subscribers. We appreciate your support so much, and it helps cover the cost of maintaining our podcast. If you haven't joined us there yet, you can check the details out here.   Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and links to the books mentioned in the episode. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.   Want to support Unabridged?     Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. | Join our Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. | Visit our curated list of books at Bookshop.org. | Become a patron on Patreon. | Check out our Merch Store. | Visit the resources available in our Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Wedding march or funeral dirge? We're joined to discuss the penultimate (and Peyton's least-favorite) chapter of Little Women by film critic Willow Catelyn Maclay. Willow is a film critic for publications like The Village Voice, Roger Ebert, Vulture, Little White Lies, Cleo Journal, MUBI Notebook, and many, many more. She has done freelance work with Netflix and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Most recently, she co-authored the book Corpses, Fools, and Monsters: An Examination of Trans Film Images in Cinema. It's due out on July 9, 2024, and it's available for pre-order now. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

In today's society, childhood anxiety is increasingly visible, as more young people and their families find themselves grappling with these silent battles. On this week's episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, award-winning author Hena Khan discusses her latest book, Drawing Deena.  In Drawing Deena, Hena addresses the subtle onset of anxiety that is often overlooked by adults. We talk about the necessity of proper support systems within schools and how cultural stigmas can prevent access to these vital resources. Her portrayal of Deena is not just about the internal turmoil of anxiety but also about the external factors such as family dynamics, creativity, and the unique challenges faced by children of immigrants. One of the topics we explore is the impact of social media on today's youth. We talk about the intricacies of managing an online presence and the emotional toll it can take on us. Hena shares a poignant passage from Drawing Deena, depicting the character's surprise at the positive reception of her artwork online, highlighting the double-edged sword of social media validation. One of the many things I love about Hena Khan is the way she centers Muslim characters in many genres, allowing them to be proud of their cultures and identities while experiencing relatable middle grade pressures and struggles. A sampling of her work includes  Amina's Voice, Amina's Song, More to the Story, Zara's Rules for Living Your Best Life, One Sun and Countless Stars, Zain's Super Friday, Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets, Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, Like the Moon Loves the Sky, and Unicorn Rescue Society: Secret of the Himalayas.  Her transition from picture books to middle-grade novels reflects the growth of her own children and the feedback from her readers. In addition to Drawing Deena, Hena's upcoming projects are showcased, including Like a Boss, The Door is Open, We Are Big Time, and Behind My Doors: The Story of the World's Oldest Library. Hena shares her hopes and the inspiration she draws from young readers, highlighting their innate sense of fairness and potential to shape a better future. Support the showRead the full show notes, visit the website, and check out my on-demand virtual course. Continue the adventure at LinkedIn or Instagram. *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

According to the CDC, anxiety affects approximately one in 11 children aged 3-17. A panel of experts recently recommended that all children 8 and older be screened for anxiety. Award-winning Pakistani American writer, Hena Kahn, hopes to help address America's mental health crisis among children in her middle grade novel, Drawing Deena. Deena is a lovable and relatable young artist who struggles with anxiety, who wants her parents to stop fighting and having money woes, and dreams of being a painter like her idol Vincent van Gogh. She learns to stand up against bullies of all ages and that it's okay to ask for help when you need it. Deena's never given a name to the familiar knot in her stomach that appears when her parents argue about money, when it's time to go to school, or when she struggles to find the right words. She manages to make it through each day with the help of her friends and the art she loves to make. While her parents' money troubles cause more and more stress, Deena wonders if she can use her artistic talents to ease their burden. She creates a logo and social media account to promote her mom's home-based business selling clothes from Pakistan to the local community. With her cousin and friends modeling the outfits and lending their social media know-how, business picks up. But the success and attention make Deena's cousin and best friend, Parisa, start to act funny. Suddenly Deena's latest creative outlet becomes another thing that makes her feel nauseated and unsure of herself. After Deena reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help and that, with the right support, Deena can create something truly beautiful.

Today I got to talk with an absolute powerhouse of a young readers writer. Hena Khan has done it all, middle grade, picture books, anthologies, graphic novels... there is no telling what she'll come up with next! Today I got to discuss her newest middle grade novel DRAWING DEENA. It was originally pitched to be a spin-off of one of her other novels (listen to the ep to find out which one...) and has turned into a delightful book of it's own after severing those ties. Hena is amazing and I highly recommend you check her and her works out! Follow Hena Follow On The Shelf Map of Indie Bookstores (now with Curious Iguana!) Get DRAWING DEENA Curious Iguana Books (MD) Quail Ridge Books (NC) Odyssey Books (MA)

On this episode, I talk with Hena Khan about her new middle grade book, Drawing Deena. We also talk about kids and anxiety, encouraging kids to write, and seeing all kids represented in children's literature.From the publisher: From the award-winning author of Amina's Voice and Amina's Song comes a tenderhearted middle grade novel about a young Pakistani American artist determined to manage her anxiety and forge her own creative path.I love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to Libro.fm. For the same price as other major audiobook providers, you can find all your favorites as well as curated lists of audiobooks written by or recommended by guests of the Middle Grade Matters podcast. Click here to learn more! Consider buying your books from the Middle Grade Matters Bookshop, where proceeds support this podcast as well as independent bookstores everywhere. For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter, and follow Middle Grade Matters on Instagram and Twitter.If you're enjoying this podcast, please be sure to follow us and please leave us a review.

According to the CDC, anxiety affects approximately one in 11 children aged 3-17. A panel of experts recently recommended that all children 8 and older be screened for anxiety. Award-winning Pakistani American writer, Hena Kahn, hopes to help address America's mental health crisis among children in her middle grade novel, Drawing Deena. Deena is a lovable and relatable young artist who struggles with anxiety, who wants her parents to stop fighting and having money woes, and dreams of being a painter like her idol Vincent van Gogh. She learns to stand up against bullies of all ages and that it's okay to ask for help when you need it. Deena's never given a name to the familiar knot in her stomach that appears when her parents argue about money, when it's time to go to school, or when she struggles to find the right words. She manages to make it through each day with the help of her friends and the art she loves to make. While her parents' money troubles cause more and more stress, Deena wonders if she can use her artistic talents to ease their burden. She creates a logo and social media account to promote her mom's home-based business selling clothes from Pakistan to the local community. With her cousin and friends modeling the outfits and lending their social media know-how, business picks up. But the success and attention make Deena's cousin and best friend, Parisa, start to act funny. Suddenly Deena's latest creative outlet becomes another thing that makes her feel nauseated and unsure of herself. After Deena reaches a breaking point, both she and her mother learn the importance of asking for help and that, with the right support, Deena can create something truly beautiful.

Hena Khan called in for a lively chat about her new book for young readers, Drawing Deena.HENA KHAN is a Pakistani American writer, and winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature She is the author of the middle grade novels Amina's Voice, Amina's Song, and More to the Story, Drawing Deena, and the Zara's Rules series and picture books Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, and It's Ramadan, Curious George, among others. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland, with her family. You can learn more about Hena and her books by visiting her website at HenaKhan.com or connecting with her @HenaKhanBooks and https://www.instagram.com/henakhanbooks/

We're joined today by Claire Forrest, the award-winning author of Where You See Yourself, to chat all about the two youngest members of the March family -- well, the Brooke family. It's perhaps the most heterosexual chapter of this book to date, but we soldier on, and we also chat about Claire's outstanding debut novel and her publishing journey as a woman with cerebral palsy.  Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

Jen and Ashley read and discuss Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Little Women (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm). This one is perfect for the Unabridged Reading Challenge category about a classic written before 1950! Check out our reading challenge here. We also share our pairings including Hena Khan's More to the Story (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm) and Geraldine Brooks's March (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm).   If you'd like to hear more about Little Women, be sure to tune in to hear our upcoming Patreon exclusive episode on February 1st when we share our thoughts about Greta Gerwig's film adaptation! We appreciate your support on Patreon so much, and it helps cover the cost of maintaining our podcast. If you haven't joined us there yet, you can check the details out here.   Visit the Unabridged website for our full show notes and links to the books mentioned in the episode. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.   Want to support Unabridged?     Become a patron on Patreon. | Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. | Join our Unabridged Podcast Reading Challenge. | Visit our curated list of books at Bookshop.org. | Check out our Merch Store. | Visit the resources available in our Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Amy and Laurie play the newlywed game, smear the Irish, and invent Reaganomics. What a whirlwind! With us to discuss everyone's favourite (?) femme4femme couple are sister duo Mel and Teghan Hammond, authors of the forthcoming novel Lucy Uncensored. The novel stars a trans theatre nerd named Lucy who faces challenges when her school board bans her queer adaptation of “The Tempest.” Mel also worked as an editor at American Girl for several years, where she wrote award-winning and acclaimed books on pets, body image, and loving the earth. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

Jo falls asleep fantasizing about becoming a literary spinster with a pen for a spouse. What follows had better be a dream sequence. Here to heap vials of wrath on the head of one Lou Alcott is legendary Dickinson scholar Martha Nell Smith. Dr. Smith is the Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, Professor of English, and Founding Director of the Maryland Institute of Technology in the Humanities at the University of Maryland. She was the president of the Emily Dickinson International Society and the coordinator and executive editor of the Dickinson Electronic Archives at the University of Virginia. She is the editor and writer of countless works on the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson, and the film Wild Nights with Emily is largely based on her scholarship, as is the bevy of Emisue fanfiction on AO3. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

In the wake of her sister's death, Jo decides to take up Beth's mantle and become the angel of the house. When that doesn't work, she heads over to Meg's place to hear the pitch for motherhood. When that doesn't work, she wonders if she made a mistake turning down Laurie's proposal. (Little does she know that Laurie and Amy are presently boning down in a rowboat in the Alps.) Whose path will she choose: Beth's, Meg's, or Amy's? Or is there another, weirder fourth option involving a verbally abusive German professor?  Here to track Jo's Career Day journey with us is Christine Jacobson! Christine is the associate curator of modern books and manuscripts at Houghton Library, Harvard University's rare book and manuscript library. She helps to steward, develop, interpret, and teach from the collections from 1800 through the present day, including the archives of one Louisa May Alcott. She holds a bachelor of arts in political science and Russian studies from Stetson University, a master's degree in Russian and Eurasian Studies from Harvard University, and a master's degree in library and information science from Simmons University. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

This week, Amy and Laurie consummate their love in a rowboat. Their romance has mystified readers and scholars for over a hundred years, but here, today, right now, award-winning author Torrey Peters will help us get to the bottom of it. (Spoiler alert: Laurie is the bottom.) Torrey is the author of the novel Detransition, Baby, which won the PEN/Hemingway Award for Best Debut Novel. It was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Gotham Book Prize. It was also a finalist for the Women's Prize, and more than twenty publications named it one of the best books of 2021. Her next book, Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones, is forthcoming. She rides a pink motorcycle, and she splits her time between Brooklyn and an off-grid cabin in Vermont. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

On Today's Show "There's these universal truths [...] specific details, but universal feelings and universal experiences that people hopefully can relate to. And that's what I go for in all of my books. Common humanity.” - Hena Khan Hena Khan didn't believe her perspective mattered. As a Pakistani-American Muslim, she grew up not seeing her or her family reflected in the media she was consuming. As any kid might do, she concluded that it was simply because her experience was not important, a realization that became clearer in hindsight. Recalling her childhood writing, she discovered she had unintentionally white-washed her own homemade family newspaper.Building confidence in her perspective was a gradual process, extending into adulthood. Initially lacking self-assurance, she began writing while toning down her cultural identity to conform to perceived publisher expectations. Over time, her confidence grew, and today, she is recognized for authentically portraying stories rooted in her culture and religion.Reflecting on her own reading experiences, Hena values shared human experiences that transcend cultural backgrounds. She aims to demonstrate that these relatable moments exist in stories featuring non-white characters and diverse cultures.Renowned for works such as "Amina's Voice," its sequel "Amina's Song," the "Zara's Rules" series, and "More to the Story," Hena Khan shares her journey of grappling with invisibility as a young reader and the evolution of her faith in herself and her unique perspective. She also recounts the unexpected connection to a book about Christian white sisters in the 1800s in her unconscious quest for stories reflecting her Muslim immigrant family.***Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. ***In Hena's reading challenge, "Read Desi" she encourages us to celebrate South Asian American writers.You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com.Today's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Allie Buffington, Library Media Specialist at  Holley Navarre Intermediate School in Santa Rosa County, Florida. She tells us about the importance of making the library a space that kids want to come back to.ContentsChapter 1 - “Religious Holiday” (2:38)Chapter 2 - Gogol Search (6:16)Chapter 3 - Little Women (and the Khanicles) (9:43)Chapter 4 - Three Cheers From Andrea (18:17)Chapter 5 - Just Living (22:18)Chapter 6 - Common Humanity (30:20)Chapter 7 - Curious About Curious George (33:50)Chapter 8 - The Door is Open (35:31)Chapter 9 - Read Desi (37:28)Chapter 10 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (38:54)Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup (for bonus content) Hena Khan Little Women by Louisa May Alcott | Goodreads Hena Khan's More to the Story is a Love Letter to Little Women | School Library Journal Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin  The Salam School for Girls  Alli Buffington's Library (this week's featured librarian) The Reading Culture on Instagram (to see reels of author conversations) Beanstack resources to build your community's reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

As we mourn our dear, sweet Beth, we sit down with author and journalist D.L. Mayfield to discuss what her story means. Why does Alcott portray Beth as "a little saint" and "the angel of the house?" What message is she sending? Is it anything like the messages little girls hear in high-control evangelical Christianity?  D.L. Mayfield is an author and journalist who writes about neurodivergence and healing from high-control religion. They've written three books, including Unruly Saint: Dorothy Day's Radical Vision and its Challenge for our Times. They also write a newsletter called Healing is my Special Interest and they co-host This is the Bad Place, a re-cap podcast on The Good Place, with their partner, Krispin Mayfield. Right now, they're working on a book about evangelical parenting methods. Memorial Fund for Ryan Carson, partner of friend and former guest Claudia Morales: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ryan-carson  Peyton's Speech at Celebrating Louisa May Alcott 2023, Sunday, November 26 at 3:00 PM EST: https://tinyurl.com/LouAlcott23  Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

Good night, sweet Beth, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. Here to mourn the most meek and mild of the March sisters is disability scholar Saul Leslie, a PhD candidate at the University of Liverpool who studies portrayals of disability in 20th century literature. Is there anything to admire about Alcott's depiction of this poor #invalid? Does she tick every box of hurtful disability tropes? Is she nonetheless an icon? We mention it all. Saul has worked in higher education as a disability supervisor and a disability rights campaigner. He also works with Penguin Random House to assist disabled novelists with their writing. And his fiction has been published by Bloomsbury and Liverpool University Press, and his remarks on disability and literature have appeared in publications such as the Times Literary Supplement. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

As things heat up between Amy and Laurie, we're joined by Alena Smith, creator and showrunner of Dickinson, a television show for the exact demographic of this podcast. Like, have you ever wept openly at a Mitski concert? Can you not shut up about how every 19th century literary figure was part of the #RainbowCommunity? Do you have feelings for Chloe Fineman despite her associations with Scientology? Dickinson is for you, and this episode is for you. Enjoy listening to Peyton and Alena pass the same brain cell back and forth for an hour. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith. Follow us on Instagram at @josboyspod.

Who better to chat with us about this Meg-centric chapter than Meg herself? On June 28, 2023, before the SAG-AFTRA strike, actor Willa Fitzgerald chatted with us about Meg's marital woes and her own time playing Meg in the 2017 Masterpiece adaptation of Little Women. You can see Willa this fall in Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher, the thrillers Desperation Road and Strange Darling, and Ethan Hawke's Wildcat. She's also starred in MTV's Scream, USA's Dare Me, and Amazon's Reacher. True heads will also remember her turn as Kitsey Barbour in The Goldfinch. In 2012, Willa graduated from Yale, where she studied psychology for three years before—luckily for all of us—changing her major to theatre studies. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

Bestie of the pod James Frankie Thomas is BACK this week, on the heels of the release of his critically acclaimed debut novel Idlewild, to discuss Laurie and Amy's newfound romance, in which Amy wields the reins and the whip and Laurie delights in submission. We also offer our official statement on Kylimothée's public début at the Renaissance World Tour. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith. Follow us on Instagram at @josboyspod!

Beth's Secret: Strong contender for gloomiest lingerie brand of all time. As Beth and Jo head to the seaside to convalesce, science and health journalist Hannah Seo joins us to break down the history and utility of the beach as medicine. Hannah was recently a fellow for the Well Desk at the New York Times, reporting on science, health, and the environment. Their work can be found in Wired, Scientific American, and the Walrus, among other publications. They're a graduate of New York University's science, health and environmental reporting program. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

An Alcott protagonist even more trans than Jo March? It's more likely than you think. Lou's 1876 sensation story "Enigmas" features a young man who's hired to spy on another young man - a man who is short and delicate and rather young-looking, all things considered. (See where this is going?) Our spy is swiftly overtaken by sexual attraction to the man he's been hired to report on. Before the story's over and the spy is unmasked, Alcott will take the gender binary and fold it into a Mobius strip. Here to dive deep into this delightful bit of Alcottiana is Alice Rutkowski, chair and associate professor of English at SUNY Geneseo. She often teaches the courses Literature and the Civil War, the Queer Nineteenth Century, Safe Zone Train-the-Trainer, Feminism and Pornography, and Major Authors: Melville, among others. Her research centers on the Civil War and Reconstruction as well as queer theory and trans politics. In 2013, she founded the LGBTQ Issues Working Group at SUNY Geneseo, and she's the coordinator of the college's Safe Zone Network. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

Jo narrowly skirts a marriage proposal by jetting - or carriage-ing - off to the Big Apple! There, she settles into boarding house life and gets to know her roommates: a couple of jerks who trash her fashion sense, a cultivated old spinster who takes her out to shows, and (sighs, groans, wailing and gnashing of teeth) Professor Bhaer. Here to walk us through it all is JP Brammer, a.k.a. Hola Papi! JP is a writer and artist from Oklahoma, now based in Brooklyn. Since he started his advice column Hola Papi! in 2017, he's answered thousands of letters and written a memoir-slash-guide-to-life called “Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Wal-Mart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons.” Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

This week on As the March Sisters Turn: Laurie's ready to pop the question. Jo would really rather he didn't--not least of all because she's sure Beth is in love with him. Why else would she gaze at him through the window all the time, sighing longingly? What a tangled web! Here to help us with detangling are acclaimed author Katie Heaney and journalist Lindsey Weber, co-host of Who? Weekly. They both hail from a long-running Little Women groupchat, in which Lindsey is Jo and Katie, somewhat reluctantly, is Beth. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith. Follow us on Instagram at @josboyspod!

Amy March's Hot Girl Summer is in full effect! This week, for Amy's whirlwind tour through Europe and flirtatious encounters with the dashing Fred Vaughan, we're joined by legendary trans scholar Susan Stryker. Dr. Stryker is professor emerita of gender and women's studies at the University of Arizona. She is a founding editor-in-chief of Transgender Studies Quarterly and the author of numerous books, including Transgender History. You can also see her onscreen in Netflix's Disclosure and FX's Pride. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

Hey, hey, let's go, Wakakusa monogatari! In this episode, we explore the ways Little Women and Louisa May Alcott have been represented in anime, from the long-running children's TV serials of the 80s and 90s to Louisa May Alcott's more recent turn as an anime heroine. Our guest and guide for this episode is Lio Min, author of the novel Beating Heart Baby. It was named one of the best books of 2022 by BuzzFeed, Publishers Weekly, BookPage, Kirkus Reviews, and the Chicago Public Library. Lio's writing has appeared in Nylon, Fader, Catapult, and many more. They've interviewed all of your faves: Mitski, Japanese Breakfast, Rina Sawayama, Caroline Polachek, and Soccer Mommy, to name just a few. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

This week, Amy makes an anti-slavery fair all about her, and wins a trip to Europe for it. Jo, meanwhile, wins bupkis. Joining us to break down these hijinks is Jason Lipshutz, the senior director of music at Billboard. He's written cover stories on Taylor Swift, Lorde, and U2, to name just a few, and he's appeared on Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, and the Today Show, among numerous other broadcast programs. He's also handled red carpet coverage at the Grammys, but he says he's more excited about coming on Jo's Boys than any of those things. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith. Follow Jo's Boys on Instagram at @josboyspod.

This week, Jo sticks her foot in her mouth and fumbles a trip to Europe, but at least she sticks it to the patriarchy while doing so. With us to dissect each and every one of Jo's social faux pas (which, I just learned, is in fact the plural form of "faux pas") is scholar and author Anne Boyd Rioux. Anne has written several books, most notably Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy, her acclaimed 2019 history of Little Women. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith. Follow Jo's Boys on Instagram @josboyspod.

Meg is shifting into baby mode - and here to help us pinpoint the exact moment of the twins' conception (yes, there is a sneaky, fade-to-black sex scene in this chapter!) is the poet and filmmaker Stephen Ira. Stephen is the author of the chapbook Chasers, and his poetry has appeared in the Paris Review, among other publications. He graduated from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 2019 and he was a 2014 Lambda Literary Fellow. His film "I have to think of us as separate people" screened at OutFest, NewFest, and the New Orleans Film Festival, and he starred in the 2022 film Framing Agnes, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won both an Audience Award and an Innovator Prize. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

This week, Jo publishes her first novel... and it flops. Who better to guide Jo - and us - through this trial than renowned literary agent Bonnie Nadell? Bonnie is the president of the Hill Nadell Literary Agency, which represents a host of award-winning and best-selling books. Over the course of Bonnie's nearly 40-year career, her clients have been winners of or finalists for the Pulitzer Prize, Carnegie Medal, National Book Critics Circle Award, Kirkus Prize, and numerous PEN Awards, among others. You can visit Hill Nadell online and learn more at hillnadell.com. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

This week, we're joined by Hal Schrieve. Hal is the author of Out of Salem, which was longlisted for the National Book Award, and the forthcoming How to Get Over the End of the World. Ze is also a children's librarian at the New York Public Library. Together, we discuss Chapter 26: Artistic Attempts, in which Amy is bad at everything she tries, from charcoal sketches to lobster preparation. We spend a lot of time on the lobster. Both Consider the Lobster and Consider the Oyster are discussed. What do M.F.K., D.F.W., and L.M.A. have in common? Tune in to find out! Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith.

For this week's Scrap Bag, we're going deep with Anna Todd on her 2018 Little Women adaptation, The Spring Girls. Anna is the New York Times best-selling author of several novels. Her After series has been adapted into a trilogy of feature films. (Total box office gross to date, by the way: $150 million.) Together, we get into everything from Meg's sexuality to the military-industrial complex to the many definitions of fanfiction. It's some of the most fun I've ever had making this show, and I can't wait for Anna to drop The Spring Women. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith and transcribed by Lou Balikos. A transcript of this episode is available here. Follow us on Instagram: @josboyspod.

If the Dovecote's a-rockin', don't come a-knockin'! This week, Meg and John Brooke tie the knot, and we bust out the Victorian floral analysis to tell you exactly what her bouquet really means. We also get into Laurie's longing, Jo's spinsterhood, and the presence of a ghost among the celebrants. Joining us for the festivities is Michael Leali, the author of The Civil War of Amos Abernathy. We open the episode by chatting about Amos, the tale of a twelve-year-old boy who's falling in love and learning queer history from his post as a Civil War re-enactor. Did we mention most of the book is narrated via letters to Albert Cashier? Tailor-made for the Jo's Boys crowd. Our cover art is by Mattie Lubchansky. It interpolates the cover art for Bethany C. Morrow's book "So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix," with permission from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. It also interpolates the cover art for Hena Khan's book “More to the Story,” with permission from Simon & Schuster. Our theme music is Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major. This episode was edited by Antoinette Smith and transcribed by Lou Balikos. A transcript of this episode is available here.

Zibby interviews award-winning children's author Hena Khan about Zara's Rules for Record-Breaking Fun, the first book in a humor-filled middle-grade series about neighborhood antics starring Zara, a young Muslim girl and the queen bee of it all! Hena talks about the childhood memories that inspired the story (it involves dreams of breaking a Guinness World Record and a tragic hula hoop incident) and her ultimate goal of adding diversity to children's literature (she is Pakistani American and Muslim, and never saw herself in books growing up!). She also discusses her writing, publishing, and touring experiences (and the impacts of the pandemic and imposter syndrome on it all). Purchase on Amazon or Bookshop.Amazon: bit.ly/3hpbVsWBookshop: bit.ly/3VXM36FSubscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hena Khan is an award-winning author of picture books and middle grade fiction. Her middle grade novel Amina's Voice launched Simon & Schuster's groundbreaking Salaam Reads imprint and was named a Best Book of 2017 by the Washington Post, NPR, Kirkus Reviews, and others. The sequel, Amina's Song, won the 2021 Asian/Pacific Award for Children's Literature. Hena wrote the popular Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream series, and More to the Story, a novel inspired by her all-time favorite book, Little Women. Hena's acclaimed picture books include Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets, Night of the Moon, and It's Ramadan, Curious George. Today, Hena writes full time, often highlighting aspects of her culture, faith, community, friendship and family, and she draws heavily from own experiences. She loves exploring different formats to excite different readers, including a forthcoming graphic novel and new pick-your-path series. Hena enjoys presenting to children, educators, community members and others, and being a mom to two now teenaged boys. Whenever she gets the chance, Hena travels with her family, bakes, and reads books written by her favorite children's authors.For more info on Henna, visit her website.This episode was recorded on June 25, 2021.Follow on Instagram - @fiveauthorquestions Follow on Twitter - @5AQpodEmail 5AQ - podcasts@kpl.gov 5AQ is produced by Jarrod Wilson. The technical producer is Brian Bankston. 5AQ is hosted by Sandra Farag and Kevin King

All hail Queen Judy Blume! Episode 192 is all about Judy's most autobiographical novel, Starring Sally J. Freedman As Herself. Published in 1977, Sally tells the story of a young Jewish girl navigating a move from New Jersey to Miami in the aftermath of World War II. The novel inspires conversations about Holocaust literature more broadly, how to best capture tragedy and humor simultaneously, old tech, teasing as flirting or flattery, writing about death for kids, our changing expectations for children, and the one language choice Alli struggled with in this book. Hena Khan is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Amina's Song, Amina's Voice, More to the Story, and most recently, Zara's Rules for Record-Breaking Fun. Follow her on Instagram (@henakhanbooks) and Twitter (@henakhanbooks).