Podcast appearances and mentions of Linda Sue Park

Writing Tips! In honor of author Jane Yolen who has recently passed away, Grace and Alvina share writing tips on how to get unstuck. The advice comes from many different authors, including Jane's daughter Heidi Stemple, as well as Shannon Hale, Renee Watson, Linda Sue Park, Lisa Yee, Jonathan Auxier, and more. Who suggested lying on the floor staring at the ceiling? And who suggested walking for 6 miles? And they share Jane Yolen's famous advice, BIC: Butt In Chair. Just sit down and write. For the Fortune Cookie segment, in honor of the 250-year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Grace and Alvina share their thoughts on what being Americans mean to them, and their thoughts on the U.S.A. in general. And they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode we are reading within the genre of Young Adult.  And guess what?  Leslie loves it and Laura does not...tune in to find out how Laura solves this dilemma!  Plus we have a Book in Hand that is right on track...wink, wink!Featured Books:The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg (LH)House Saphir by Marisa Meyers (LH)Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All by M. T. Anderson, Jennifer Donnelly, Candace Fleming, Stephanie Hemphill, Lisa Ann Sandell, Linda Sue Park, and Deborah Hopkinson (LP)The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz (LP)Book in Hand:100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Rides by Everett PotterBooks Mentioned in This Episode:The Paper Magician by Charles N. HolmbergSpellbreaker by Charles N. HolmbergCinder by Marisa MeyersThe Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. HolmbergHeartless by Marisa MeyersThe Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy SchlitzBoleyn Traitor by Philippa GregoryAdditional Books That Go Along with Our Stack:The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsA Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly JacksonTwilight by Stephanie MeyerFirekeeper's Daughter by Angeline BoulleySix of Crows by Leigh BardugoThe Hate U Give by Angie ThomasWays to contact us:Join us on Patreon for extra content: https://www.patreon.com/c/BookBumblePodcastFollow us on Instagram - @thebookbumbleFacebook:  Book BumbleOur website:  https://thebookbumble.buzzsprout.comEmail:  bookbumblepodcast@gmail.comSupport the showPlease rate and review us, subscribe, follow us on Insta, and join our Team Patreon!  It won't be the same without you!

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Tonight on APEX Express, join the Powerleegirls Host Miko Lee speaks with children's book authors Lorraine Nam, Uma Krishnaswami and Maggie Tokuda-Hall about Library Joy in honor of National School Library Month! To Learn More Lorrraine Nam, illustrator and  author Michael Threet's book: I'm So Happy You're Here: A Celebration of Library Joy    Uma Krishnaswami Her books: Book Uncle Triology   Maggie Tokuda-Hall Her book: Love in the Library  Every Library Authors Against Book Bans   Show Transcript [00:00:00] Opening: Apex Express Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the Apex Express.   [00:00:35] Ayame Keane-Lee: Welcome to tonight's episode of Apex Express Celebrating Library Joy. I'm Ayame Keane-Lee the editor of tonight's show, and part of the PowerLeeGirls bringing you the introduction to tonight's show. Did you know that April is National School Library Month and in just 10 days from April 19th to 25th is National Library Week? The theme for this year's National Library Week is Find Your Joy with Honorary Chair Mychal Threets. The first of three interviews you'll hear my mom, Miko Lee have tonight is with Lorraine Nam the illustrator for the newly released children's book written by that very Mychal Threets called, “I'm So Happy You're Here”. You will then hear Miko speak with Uma Krishnaswami about her children's book “Book Uncle and Me,” and lastly with Maggie Tokuda-Hall about her children's book, “Love in the Library,” and the important work of Authors Against Book Bans. As a library kid and current library worker, I have experienced firsthand the transformative power of library access and the importance of inclusive and diverse storytelling. In and out of schools, libraries are vital to nurturing and uplifting the autonomy and sovereignty of children, which always has and continues to be a liberatory practice. We hope tonight's show will inspire you right into your local library to check out some of the great books mentioned here or to put them on hold. Let's listen in.    [00:02:06] Miko Lee: Welcome, Lorraine Nam, illustrator of amazing  children's books. Welcome to Apex Express.    [00:02:13] Lorraine Nam: I'm excited to be here.    [00:02:16] Miko Lee: I wanna start with a question I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?    [00:02:24] Lorraine Nam: Who are my people? I would say creative people. People who are interested in having an open mind, and looking at the bright side of things, the beautiful things, people who are curious. The type of legacy that I bring I think is just my parents who are creative and then bringing that, to this new generation.    [00:02:57] Miko Lee: Thank you for sharing. I am, I'm looking at your beautiful face, and behind you is this, find your joy and, and it's in lots of colors on this pink banner and in at the top we see opening up of a library door with Mychal Threets, who's the author of this book, “I'm So Happy You're Here: A Celebration of Library Joy.” I'm wondering if you can talk about your collaborative process with Mychal Threets.    [00:03:25] Lorraine Nam: The first impression that you have of writer and illustrator for a picture book is that they work really closely together, and that's actually not the case. We work pretty separately, but I was very excited. Mychal wrote the words to this book and they were looking for an illustrator and my agent called me and she asked me if I was interested. I was very excited about the project. I signed up for it and we worked pretty separately. We connected on Instagram, but he pretty much had no art notes, everything was pretty much whatever I was open to. Then we met for the first time and we got our very first copy of the book and we met in New York.    [00:04:10] Miko Lee: And what was that like?    [00:04:12] Lorraine Nam: Um, amazing. He is exactly who he is in his videos.    [00:04:18] Miko Lee: Can you share for our audience who he is and a little bit more about him, just in case folks don't know.   [00:04:24] Lorraine Nam: The book calls him a librarian ambassador. He describes himself as a reader, a lover of librarians or the number one fan of libraries. This is his first book and he's also the host of Reading Rainbow on PBS. We met at the New York Library, public Library for the first time, and he's just so nice, very kind. Honestly, it felt like we already knew each other just because we had been talking through the publisher about the book.   [00:05:02] Miko Lee: Thank you for sharing. It's so beautifully illustrated and you have a incredibly diverse,, amount of people in the book, both racially but also physically, and I really appreciate how you encapsulated that. I'm just wondering what inspired you to develop this specific imagery for this book?    [00:05:22] Lorraine Nam: Yeah, so one of the only stipulations in the art notes was that he wanted to have a diverse group of people attending the library. People of all ages of all color, all sizes, all disabilities. That seemed like a no brainer to me because I just know the message that he puts into the world. The only difficult part was narrowing down the cast. There's all these different types of people and just trying to figure out who to focus on. I wanted to make sure that you still see the same group of kids over and over. So it felt like you were following the along throughout the day, while still having lots of diversity and lots of different types of people.    [00:06:11] Miko Lee: Had you set what the cover was gonna be at the beginning or did that come after you had already finished the whole book?   [00:06:19] Lorraine Nam: Oh, that came much later. We pretty much had the art for the interior nailed down, and then we were working on concepts for the cover. I knew from Mychal's social media presence that maybe he didn't want to be the poster cover of the book. He wanted to be about the library goers and the people rather than himself. And so I was kind of towing that line of like obviously people wanna see him, it's his first book. They're such huge fans, and so like how much to put Mychal in and how much to showcase him, as well as showcase like all the other people who go to the library.   [00:07:02] Miko Lee: He definitely does have a joyous kind of ebullient vibe to him. I recommend for audience to check out his socials because he has this, you wanna listen to him. He's so inviting and I love the poster behind you because he is saying, like, “welcome, come into the library. This is my world.” And you also made him look so cute. Really looks like a cartoon version of him. So sweet. In your artistic process, I'm wondering what helps you define the style of art you utilize? I'm thinking about the paper cutouts that you did for a tale of two princes. What is it about the work that inspires you to select that type of style?   [00:07:43] Lorraine Nam: I actually had a very winding path to the style that I have today. So the style that I have today is very much layered. It's painted, a lot of it is painted. And then I cut it out and then I glue and collage different elements, and then I scan everything in and enhance certain aspects through Photoshop. But a lot of it started actually in wanting to make a physical book. So it was with book binding and then with book binding, because that's just a technique to produce a product, it was what goes in those pages and that's when I started doing cut paper. So just silhouetted, cut paper. And I was doing that for a long time, just cutting out rice paper to make silhouettes. I wanted to tell more of the story and depict people. So then I started making paper cut [laughs] sets. So I would build —almost like Legos— a whole set of paper buildings and paper people and paper objects that are three dimensional. And then I would photograph them. And then from there, I landed in this more 2D, but playing with still technique and texture and layers.    [00:09:10] Miko Lee: Wow, that's so interesting. Can you share a little bit more about your artistic process? Do you start at a certain time of day? Do you only work at night? Do you have a whole studio set up?   [00:09:20] Lorraine Nam: well, For the book projects because there's such a timeline to 'em and they're very specific. I'll do very loose sketches on Post-it notes. They're readily available and then you can stick two of them next to each other to make a full spread. I use these post-its, and then I would just fold them in half and use that as like very quick pencil drawings. And then if I had something that I liked, I would just go in and pen. But they were still very small. So it was more about looking at silhouettes and composition. And then I would print, it's a very old school technique, but I would print out all the text for the book and cut 'em out. And double sided tape and just stick them on to see where the text should be on the page and where it could fit. I would just do that manually until I had something that I liked a little bit more. Then I would start creating digital, like line drawings.    [00:10:21] Miko Lee: And are you lining this all up on a wall or putting it on the desk?   [00:10:26] Lorraine Nam: Um, so they're in like a notebook.    [00:10:29] Miko Lee: Oh, you put 'em in book format?    [00:10:31] Lorraine Nam: It's all the spread. So it should take about two pages basically. You should be able to look at it and look at it from like an eagle eye perspective of what the entire book will look like and what the flow will be like, and if there's closeups or this is like a far away saying, you get more of the like, setting of the library.   [00:10:52] Miko Lee: And with the font printed out really small so that it's on the bottom of that Post-it note.    [00:10:56] Lorraine Nam: Mm-hmm.    [00:10:57] Miko Lee: Wow, that is so fascinating. And what is it when you're eagle eye-ing, what are you looking for?    [00:11:04] Lorraine Nam: I'm pretending that I'm a kid looking at a book for the first time, with zero context and maybe zero reading level skill and just looking at the pictures and seeing if I can spot the same character and if there is a story that follows along, because this is a library book where it doesn't talk about specific people. I wanted to be able to follow each character in the book and see what their day was like in the library. So when they first came into the library, what they were doing during the day, what friends they made, and then maybe them leaving or, you know, a resolution of some kind, like their parents are checking out symbols at the library.    [00:11:52] Miko Lee: the concept of having the character go throughout the book. Was that in the instruction or was something that you created.   [00:11:59] Lorraine Nam: That was something that I wanted. Because I know looking at picture books, the pictures can also tell a story where, the words, it might not be in the words. So I wanted there to be more of a layered storytelling through image.    [00:12:18] Miko Lee: I appreciate that as a mom. I remember when my girls were little, they would always say, where is that rabbit on the page? Or where is that thing? And so being able to track a character all the way through, is quite delightful. It adds another dimension for the multiple readings. You mentioned before about how you didn't really meet Mychal, the author of the book until the very end, and I guess that's common as an illustrator and you've worked with so many different experts in their fields from, physicist Neil Degrasse Tyson to Skater Nathan Chen. How is their very different fields, how does that impact your art making?    [00:12:57] Lorraine Nam: It's actually the most fun. It's what drew me to illustration in the first place. I love being able to do like a deep dive and a specific subject that I wouldn't necessarily have gravitated towards and do that research. I actually do go to the library. I start the process at the library and I look at all the books about that particular topic, and then see what other people have done. And so working on the book for Neil deGrasse Tyson, it was so much fun looking at different how space is depicted the idea of galaxies and making that tangible and real for kids. And then for Nathan Chen, I was already a fan before I got the project, so it was very easy. But watching the videos, seeing all the different techniques and for his book it was more looking at sports books. Because he's such a unique person in his specific field in figure skating that there weren't very many books on figure skating and most are of a female portrayal. I was looking more at sports and how people show different types of movement, , and show like form. And the more technical aspects that are very, very, very specific and very critical to those things.    [00:14:32] Miko Lee: And how did that manifest into your book?    [00:14:35] Lorraine Nam: Um, a lot of drawings of like, the breakdown of his jumps and trying to figure out can a child do this jump [laughs]? And also doing a lot of research 'cause he's a very private person. His book is not about him, it's not a biography, but it's also loosely based off of him. You know, I have two other siblings. If I had a book based off of me, I want my siblings to be involved and represented in that as well. So I included his family, even though they're not a huge part of the book, his siblings are not like big characters. But they're still represented in there. So he can still be like, oh that's my family. This is based off of my story.   [00:15:32] Miko Lee: So when you're doing these approaches, like including Nathan's family or in the library book, making sure characters go all the way through, is that something you have to check in with the writer about, to see if they're okay? Or is that something that you just do and then you submit and you see if they like it?   [00:15:50] Lorraine Nam: That's something that I do, that I find joy in and see. Usually the first eyes on my sketches are the publisher and the art director. And I actually have no idea what, at what stage they really share the sketches, if it's like at a more finalized stage or if it's an early on one, but I usually just go with my own ideas and see what they think about it.    [00:16:20] Miko Lee: Wow. I didn't know that you could have that much say into it. That's lovely. You talked a little bit about using the library for research. Gosh, I imagine that Neil deGrasse Tyson, there's so much research on it, that must have been a deep dive. I'm wondering what the library meant to you as a child.    [00:16:38] Lorraine Nam: Yeah. I grew up as a big reader. The library for me it was a magical space that I wasn't really sure what it was. My parents, because they grew up in Korea and moved here to the States, there was a big language barrier between us and they're also very not talkative people. They just took us to this place one day and it was our local public library and it was right before closing and we were able to check out as many books as we wanted in whatever type of book that we wanted. I felt like that was magical, that there was no limit to it.    [00:17:19] Miko Lee: My last question is, what are you working on now?    [00:17:22] Lorraine Nam: I'm working on a few books, actually. I'm juggling a few, but they're all very fun and different. I'm doing a book about a boy dreaming of flying, being a pilot. So I think that will be a really fun imaginative book.    [00:17:43] Miko Lee: What is one of your books that you would've liked to read to your younger self?    [00:17:50] Lorraine Nam: Mm, I probably Wei Skates On, the book with Nathan Chen. ‘Cause his story is about overcoming obstacles and being disappointed. And just feeling frustrated and upset. And I feel like that's an important lesson even in adulthood. It's not really resolved through words. It's more of like the, everyone is there for him, his family is there for him, and they all just want him to enjoy what he's doing and to not care about winning or losing.    [00:18:33] Miko Lee: Lorraine Nam, thank you so much for chatting with us about your work and about the library as a magical place, appreciate talking with you.    [00:18:42] Lorraine Nam: Thank you so much. I had so much fun talking with you.   [00:18:45] Miko Lee: Welcome, amazing award-winning children's book author Uma Krishnaswami, I'm so happy to have you here on Apex Express.   [00:18:54] Uma Krishnaswami: Miko, it's my pleasure to be here.    [00:18:57] Miko Lee: I wanted to start with a question I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?    [00:19:05] Uma Krishnaswami: What a wonderful question. Who are my people? My people are children who are, my ideal readership is the eight to 12-year-old group. I write for children. I'm not particularly thinking about audience when I begin writing. But at some point I want my readership to feel validated, whether they recognize themselves as being in my stories or my stories are offering them a window into a world that they are not immediately familiar with. So I would say those are my people.    [00:19:45] Miko Lee: And what is the legacy that you carry with you?    [00:19:48] Uma Krishnaswami: I grew up in India. The year that I was born India had been independent for all of nine years. So I carry very much that colonial legacy. I also am an immigrant to two countries, early in my adulthood to the United States and about 12 years ago to Canada. So my legacy is one of moving and finding new roots, finding community. Those are the things that I try to carry forward in my stories. When I began writing, I lived in the US and I started writing when my son was born. So there I was with a little brown baby and I went looking for books that would represent him and I didn't find them. And I think that is what made me think in my early thirties that, real life people could write children's books because of course the books I had read as a child were all written by people from England and many of them were dead. I kind of thought you had to be dead and British to be a writer. So yeah, it's complicated, isn't it? All of that works into, what you think of as, as your legacy. Having done this for 30 plus years now.    [00:21:03] Miko Lee: And you've written so many beautiful books. Tell us about a little bit more about that first book.   [00:21:09] Uma Krishnaswami: So the very first book, it was called Stories of the Flood. I realized very quickly that I didn't really know what I was doing. I looked to folk tales and traditional tales as a way to teach me about story. My second book called The Broken Tusk Stories of the Hindu God Ganesha. That is the one that I consider as the book that taught me how to write. I had a wonderful editor [unintelligble] Thorpe at a small press in Connecticut, Linnet Books. She told me to lean into story and to see myself as a storyteller. In a way, every book I've written has taught me how to write.   [00:21:47] Miko Lee: Can you tell us about your favorite book as a kid?    [00:21:52] Uma Krishnaswami: My favorite book as a kid, it would have to be Winnie The Pooh.    [00:21:58] Miko Lee: And what was it about Winnie the Pooh that enamored you?    [00:22:01] Uma Krishnaswami: I came to it very early and aunt had traveled to England and she brought me my copy of winnie the Pooh in the House of Poo Corner. And I read them, sitting in very Indian gardens, sometimes up in trees. I spent lots of time up in trees and I took my own geography and placed it over the geography of the book. , So that for me, the a hundred acre wood had lime trees and banyan trees and possibly mango trees. It didn't occur to me, until much later when I read an Enid Blyton reader. I had my moment of disillusionment with Enid Blyton and that's when it really occurred to me that there was an us and a them in, in some of the storytelling I was consuming.   [00:22:49] Miko Lee: What age was that where you recognized that?    [00:22:51] Uma Krishnaswami: My post-colonial moment?    [00:22:53] Miko Lee: Yes.    [00:22:54] Uma Krishnaswami: I might have been a 11.    [00:22:56] Miko Lee: Oh, wow. And were you still living in India at that time?    [00:22:59] Uma Krishnaswami: Yeah, yeah. 11 was a very formative year for me. My grandfather passed away, so it sort of brought mortality , into the framework for me. Also that was my year of disillusionment with Blyton. 'cause I read The , river of Adventure. And the villain in it had my name. He was called. Uma, Raya or Raya Uma or something like that. And yeah, I was just shocked. Just totally shocked. It was pure coincidence, I'm sure. She probably just, pulled the name out of the air and plunked it in. But. I began to notice that he was described as dark skinned and he was described as cunning. All this language that had slid right past me before began to be apparent. So, yeah,    [00:23:47] Miko Lee: I love that. That is so amazing. This name, like what? That's my name as the villain.    [00:23:53] Uma Krishnaswami: I'm the Bad Guy. No, I'm not.    [00:23:56] Miko Lee: And all of your books are such a wonderful clap back to that because you have a multitude of characters and so many different worlds. Initially reached out to you because I started reading book Uncle this trilogy of books that are so lovely. Can you first share a little bit about what the Book Uncle's Trilogy is about.    [00:24:16] Uma Krishnaswami: Okay, so it didn't start out as a trilogy. It didn't even start out as a book. It started out as a short story and then it didn't quite fit. It wasn't a picture book. It seemed to have more layers than that, so it kind of grew. But what started Book Uncle and Me was I was visiting my parents in India. At the time, and I was on this very busy urban street and there was this kid sitting on this on the, on the sidewalk. Um, it was kind of a broken brick sidewalk, and she was sitting cross-legged right in the middle and she was reading book and she was just oblivious to the crowd going around her and the. Buses on the road and there were, you know, random goats and dogs running around and she just was ignoring everything and she was absorbed in her book. And I remembered that I had been that kind of reader as a child. There was an election going on at the time as well, and I thought, I wonder what would happen if I put those two things together. And that is how Book Uncle came to be.    [00:25:14] Miko Lee: And then there was just, you wanted to live in those characters more, so you ended up writing additional books?    [00:25:20] Uma Krishnaswami: Hmm and that's a very good question. And actually no, I didn't, I thought I was done. I wrote Book Uncle and Me back in, I'm say 2009, 2010, something like that. I probably started it in 2010. Um, it got published originally in India in 2012, I believe. And then it was picked up by Ground Wood in Canada and published in Canada and the US so North American edition in 2016. And I thought, you know, I'm done. I'm writing other things. And then come the pandemic and we're all in lockdown. And like a lot of writers, I was doing, um, many, many, virtual. Presentations and programs. Um, and I did something through the North Vancouver Public Library and, there were kids zooming in from, you know, some from home, some from their bubbles, some from classrooms, whatever. And we were talking about book uncle and one of the kids, I think in third grade maybe, she said, Are you gonna write a sequel? And I am just joshing, right? I am. I said, yeah, should I? And they're all going, yeah, you should. And you should write three because you've got three characters you should give them each a [story]. And I'm like, all right guys i'll think about it. I absolutely will but not really taking it seriously. And then as often happens. the session ended and, you know, there we were all in lockdown going nowhere. And I thought maybe, maybe there's something there. Maybe I could return to that. And in a way I was kind of intrigued because I hadn't, had never thought about a trilogy and I was interested in how that would play out. Um, and it was kind of a writing challenge to myself, but honestly, once I started writing Birds on the Brain, which was book two it just kind of, I hesitate to say wrote itself 'cause I, that just seems, you know, so kind of woo woo. But, um, it did, it did. Uh, the, the kid came in and she took over and then a bird flew onto the rooftop and there I was on my way. So that's the story of, of how that that happened. In retrospect, I'm really sorry I didn't ask that child's name because I would've absolutely loved to have acknowledged her in the book. But thank you child from North Vancouver, whoever you are.    [00:27:40] Miko Lee: That is so amazing. That's by request, by audience request. You fulfilled this goal of a trilogy and and I I love that they even said, not just a sequel, but a trilogy.    [00:27:52] Uma Krishnaswami: Oh, they were. Yeah. They had it. I mean, they had, then they, they figured it out, which was really lovely.    [00:27:58] Miko Lee: And those, that trilogy is really geared, as you were saying to the second and third grade audience and I So many of your books are written around kids that can make a difference. What is it about that age that appeals to you and that motivation to show them how they can change the world?    [00:28:16] Uma Krishnaswami: I think they have this really, strong sense of what's fair. It's the age at which, you know, you start pushing back against what you see as small unfairnesses in your life. Parental restrictions quite often, or older siblings. You're pushing back. You're doing a little bit of finding who you are. And I think that uh, you begin to get a sense of awareness of the big world outside your small circle. And I think also one of the things that drives me, with writing to this age is that, I feel that it is so unfair that grownups, the adult world, has created so much injustice. And we just kind of expect the next generation to step up and step into it and, and do the best they can. and it just, it doesn't seem right not to at least give them the wherewithal to think about that. And they do, they have children have voices and their voices matter. As we found out with, the climate strikes. I mean it really was young people who brought those messages out into the world and forced us to think about them and talk about them. So, I think that we owe children that.    [00:29:34] Miko Lee: So which of your books would you want to read to the second or third grade Uma?   [00:29:43] Uma Krishnaswami: [Laughs] Maybe Book Uncle and Me. Because I think there's a lot of second and third grade Uma in that book. I was a compulsive reader like Yasmin. I would've absolutely read a book every day for the rest of my life if I'd had that many books available to me. I didn't. So I read the ones I had over and over again. I lived in an imaginary world, quite a bit of the time.   [00:30:06] Miko Lee: Speaking of having access to lots of books, I'm wondering what your relationship was like to libraries, both as a child and then now.    [00:30:15] Uma Krishnaswami: I'm a proud and inveterate library goer. I put holds on things. I go browse on shelves. I download eBooks and audio books. I always have a pending list. I'm very, very grateful for libraries and also for librarians whom many of whom I have come to know over my life and am immensely grateful for. I did not have access to libraries much as a child. We didn't have a public library system that was free and available and open to everybody. There were the kind of unofficial lending library types that I feature in Book Uncle and Me. There are sadly fewer of them now, but you still find them on street corners in India. I remember taking a book and giving one and then getting one back in return. That was, that was part of my life in some of the places we lived.   [00:31:07] Miko Lee: Did you know an actual book uncle?   [00:31:10] Uma Krishnaswami: I didn't actually pay much attention, to the people who handed those books out. I was much more, focused on the books I was getting. There are characters who I've seen who have run these things. I once had somebody email me and say, I'm a book uncle. This is what I do. So that was really nice.    [00:31:31] Miko Lee: That's sweet. I wanna roll back and talk a little bit more about your artistic process. I'm wondering if you, as a writer, as illustrator, you can sometimes be in your own world, and I'm wondering what your process is.   [00:31:43] Uma Krishnaswami: My place is right here. This is my office room, and I'm standing at a treadmill desk, and usually what I will do, is when I'm writing, I will turn that on very, very slowly. I usually start out at the idea stage with a notebook and a pen. I have fountain pens with very varied colors of ink, and I use those always to write my initial notes and questions about a new story idea. I don't go to the computer and the keyboard until the idea has started showing up quite a few times. In, perhaps in a few iterations, almost as if I'm actually pushing it away at first, you know, saying, don't scratch up my window until you are developed a little bit more. I'm not going to, indulge, the initial shallowness that usually the first idea is often not what it's gonna end up being. I question that, and sometimes this is gonna sound really crazy, but, if I write those questions many times over in different colored inks, the answers begin to break out in clumps. Once I've begun to think, okay, well maybe I, I know what I could do with this. That's when I open up a file.    [00:32:56] Miko Lee: Ooh share a little bit more about the different colored inks. How does that work?    [00:33:00] Uma Krishnaswami: Um, right over there, there's a whole row of inks, and right over here is a fountain pen, and I have several of them. I change the ink colors, and when I get stuck with something, it really does help to write those questions to myself, in a journal notebook. I have a terrible handwriting, so I used to really worry about when people gave me nice notebooks. Little empty notebooks with beautiful glossy pages. I used to think, God, my writing is so awful. I feel like I'm desecrating this beautiful book. I've gotten over that and it's actually really helpful to physically write that thought for me is very, very useful.   [00:33:39] Miko Lee: And when you see the different colors, is it like words that stand out to you, that you piece together? Yeah.    [00:33:44] Uma Krishnaswami: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or sometimes I'll write something, in a paragraph, and then I'll break it up and write it in a lineated way, maybe in a different color. You just start seeing things differently when you try different ways of thinking about the same thing. It's all a trick to get the kind of managerial editorial mind out of the way. You need her later, but I don't need her when I'm trying to shape something.    [00:34:13] Miko Lee: The, for the creative process. Mm-hmm. The multiple colors just helps    [00:34:16] Uma Krishnaswami: Right.    [00:34:16] Miko Lee: Pull you into that.    [00:34:17] Uma Krishnaswami: Yeah. It just loosens, it loosens my mind up so I don't feel so focused on the objective. I often tell myself, I think Linda Sue Park used to say this. You don't have to write a whole novel. You just write a scene. And so that's what I tell myself, I'm a sceneist. I'm not a novelist. I'm just a sceneist. I write one scene. And that's all I need to write. Then I will write another one and so forth.    [00:34:38] Miko Lee: And do you use sticky notes or something to keep those scenes separately or    [00:34:42] Uma Krishnaswami: just all kinds of things? I use sticky notes. I use little boards on which I draw plot lines, and then I write, notes to myself. I use the journal notebooks. I've started using Scrivener and I actually have found that helpful but not until I've got something, in enough shape to plug things in.   [00:35:01] Miko Lee: Oh, I love hearing about artistic process. That's so fascinating. I appreciate you and you're showing your beautiful pen and everything. It's so great.    [00:35:08] Uma Krishnaswami: It's messy, right? One of the things I've learned is to lean into the messiness and not try to organize things too fast, too early.    [00:35:16] Miko Lee: Mm-hmm. Giving yourself the time for the creative juices to flow.    [00:35:20] Uma Krishnaswami: Yeah. Yeah.    [00:35:21] Miko Lee: So my last question is, what are you working on now?    [00:35:25] Uma Krishnaswami: I've actually just got done with edits on a picture book, which is going to be called Mango Sun. And then I'm working on another picture book. That's just gone to my agent. It's got to do with wildlife rescue and conservation in the Himalayas. It's an Indian setting, but a very different setting from Mango Sun.   [00:35:44] Miko Lee: And most of the ideas from your books are just coming from your imagination or something you read or where are you pulling from to get your inspiration?    [00:35:52] Uma Krishnaswami: Everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. I have a picture book that came out of a trip that we took to Galapagos and will it ever take form? I don't know, it's about the rewilding of an island , and how when you bring one species back, the other one follows. Some of it's from my childhood. I have two picture books that came out of a memory of planting a mango seed and watching it grow.   [00:36:21] Miko Lee: Sounds lovely. Two of my favorite things, mango and Sun [laughs], appreciate you joining us and sharing about your artistic process and your amazing book. And I'll put a link to your website in our show notes. And thank you so much for joining us and talking to us about Book Uncle and your work.    [00:36:37] Uma Krishnaswami: Miko, thank you so much. It's really a delight.    [00:36:41] Miko Lee: Welcome, Maggie Tokuda Hall to Apex Express.   [00:36:45] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Thank you so much for having me.   [00:36:47] Miko Lee: I'm so happy to have you talking about, your wonderful book, love in the Library. But first I wanna, ask you a question I ask my guest, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?   [00:37:01] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Oh man. I feel like I have so many tribes that I identify with in different ways. , Gosh, who are my people? I mean, generally speaking, angry queer teenage girls very much my people. Tired Jewish aunties also my people. Exhausted Asian mothers also my people, [laughs] librarians and book people are my people. I, I, I don't know. I feel like I have so many people that I feel an affinity toward and an affection for, and kinship with.    [00:37:38] Miko Lee: I like you naming all of those because we're multifaceted people and there's many different things that make up who we are. Yeah. And what is the legacy that you carry with you from all these tribes you're a part of?   [00:37:50] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: From my mother, I carry a legacy of honoring the truth, like really believing that children are owed the truth and that part of being an adult is being courageous enough to tell it. but I also come from like a vibrant family of Jewish storytellers and I feel like I have that, that I carry with me as well.   [00:38:17] Miko Lee: Thank you. So you've written the book Love in the Library about Tamma, a woman who works at a library in the Minidoka concentration camp during World War ii.    [00:38:28] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Mm-hmm.    [00:38:28] Miko Lee: And she meets George and falls in love. Can you tell me about how you very first heard this true love story of your grandparents?   [00:38:40] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I can't actually, I don't remember the first time I heard this story. It is a story that I've just always known. like for me it's very much a fabric of how I came to understand the world and my place in it. Like sky is blue, grandma and grandpa met in a prison camp, you know, normal stuff. And so, um,    [00:39:00] Miko Lee: so it's just part of the family lore?   [00:39:03] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah. Like, it's not something my mother was ever shy about telling us. And I truly do not remember the first time she talked to me about it because I remember being very small and already feeling like I knew that story.    [00:39:15] Miko Lee: Okay. Then how did you decide to turn it into a children's book?    [00:39:19] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah, so, in 2017 when President Trump took office for the first time, in his very first executive order was to sign the travel or Muslim ban where he was banning people from Muslim majority countries from coming to the United States. It was clear immediately that he was gonna be using his time and power to enact a white supremacist agenda. I knew I needed to do all the things that we're supposed to do. Like I called my representatives and I wrote my postcards and I marched and I did all those things. But I really did try to audit what I had to offer, particularly children in that moment. That was unique to me. And I realized I had this beautiful story in my own family, not just about the cruelty of those sorts of policies, but also the resilience and power of the people who they target.    [00:40:05] Miko Lee: Ooh. Fired up the, that truth teller part of you just became ready to go.    [00:40:11] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah.    [00:40:11] Miko Lee: Um, speaking of the impact of politics and what's going on and how that relates to books, I know that in April, 2023, Scholastic wanted to include love in the library in a collection around AANHPI folks, but they wanted to edit your amazingly fierce author's note. Can you share with our audience what happened?   [00:40:34] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I mean, first of all, thank you for calling it amazingly fierce. In my author's note, I talk about how what happened to my grandparents wasn't an isolated moment in American history and that it was racist, which I think is a, a reflection of a very basic understanding of that history. It, it's not, a creative extrapolation and. Scholastic offered to license the book, but my licensing offer came with a caveat, which was that I had to remove that entire paragraph. Um, and I had to remove the word racism from the text altogether. And so I decided to say no and say no publicly. And for about three months, my full-time job was talking about Scholastic, but also about our obligation to tell children, American history, honestly.   [00:41:19] Miko Lee: And they wanted you to get word of the word racist. Did they say why?    [00:41:24] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yes, they basically said, the language is too strong and we fear that some teachers won't bring it in for fear of this political climate, which is the nice way of saying like, we have to sell into places where book bans are happening and we think that this language is too incendiary for people who would ban books, which to me was always really, Unsatisfactory logic, because books about Japanese American incarceration are banned all the time and they don't use as strident of language as I use in that author's note. baseball saved us, gets banned. They called us, the enemy gets banned. This story is already considered dangerous by the people who would ban books, so they were trying to hold a center that just doesn't exist.   [00:42:04] Miko Lee: And so what did you end up doing?    [00:42:07] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I said no and said no publicly, just with like, sort of the hope of, sparking some intra community conversation among kid lit creators about what sort of edits are appropriate to offer people. I would, I still posit, that that's a completely inappropriate edit and that's about sanding down people of color's, history and perspective to cater to a white audience. And I was unwilling to do it. and Scholastic initially released like a very, incomplete apology. And then when they received a lot of pushback about that, they offered a much more full apology. They offered to meet with me and my publisher, the CEO of Scholastic and the head of their education divisions, which is the division that made me this offer. And then they also had me work with a restorative justice consultant, for like a year to try to figure out what they could do better. But what I said to them at the end of that time that I told them, I was extremely transparent that I would be talking about this publicly. So I don't feel bad saying exactly what I said to them here is, I think the exact same thing would've happened. It just would've happened more politely.    [00:43:17] Miko Lee: Wow.    [00:43:18] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I don't think that they actually reexamined what their role is as a publisher of Books for Children under Unconsolidated authoritarianism. They just figured out how to ask people to make racist edits more, more, uh, gently.    [00:43:33] Miko Lee: And you worked with them for one year with an RJ consultant.   [00:43:36] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I mean, like, not every day, but we had, you know, meetings over the months. And she was a smart lady. Like I don't think that she, you know, did nothing. I think she was trying her best, but I think that, you know, big institutions are very slow to institute cultural change and that that on the one hand has to happen from the top down, but also can't happen from the top down.   [00:43:56] Miko Lee: Mm-hmm.    [00:43:56] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: And so I genuinely believe that there CEO was trying his hardest to, to make a meaningful change, but without them really stopping and examining and questioning what their own role in this moment is in a critical way. I don't think that they are going to be able to have answered what I would've required for them to, for me to then accept their licensing offer. ‘Cause they made it again.    [00:44:25] Miko Lee: So at the end of the one year long, they made the licensing offer to you again?    [00:44:29] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah. I think just to be kind, just as like a gesture of like, listen, we know we messed up. We'd love to license your book and I still said no because I don't think that they made meaningful enough change.   [00:44:40] Miko Lee: Hmm. Wow. I love this. What did you learn from this experience?    [00:44:47] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: That it is very unusual for people to blow the whistle within publishing, even when the examples are egregious.    [00:44:54] Miko Lee: Tell me about your connection with Authors Against Book Bans. Did that come out of this experience with Scholastic, or were you involved actively involved in this prior to that?    [00:45:05] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: No, it absolutely came as a result of my experience with Scholastic. Authors against Book Bans is an organization that I'm currently the president of. We're over 5,000 book creators across the country who are united under a single point of view, which is that the government shouldn't be allowed to tell us what to read. That's what we believe and that's what we fight for. And I got involved in founding the group along with specifically David Levithan, who's a really wonderful young adult and middle grade author, who had put together most of this group before I even came on board. Cause we realized that authors needed a central place to fight. There was no one organizing specifically us. And so Authors Against Book Bans was born out of necessity and, the dearth of a place that existed for us. Everyone would call on us to come speak, but it was extremely ad hoc. We weren't making any kind of unified movement, even though we all so passionately agree that, you know, book bans are anti-American and in violation of our First Amendment rights. And, you know, the freedom to read is a necessary freedom for a free and democratic society. and the reason I'd reached out to David initially was because I was hoping to put together something like Authors Against Book Bans, but just by myself, which is, maybe a testament more to my own personality [laughs] problems than anything else, but I was like, I'll just figure it out. And he was like, you know, I'm actually assembling a group that's trying to do this. Would you like to be a part of it? And that's how I came aboard. But I had gotten interested in it because as a result of the Scholastic fiasco, I was invited to give the keynote speech at the Idaho Library Association in 2023. I gave my little speech that I'd been giving a lot then, um, about how we have an obligation to tell American history honestly. And, people were like, the reaction was so emotional to it and so profound and like, I thought it was a good speech. I'm proud of the speech, but like it, something else was going on and I could feel it. And I started talking to the people who were there and when these librarians started telling me what they had gone through, just for making books like mine available to children, stalking, harassment, death threats. One of them had been followed home, like really frightening, scary things happening to them on like, in some cases a daily basis. I realized like I was gonna be a part of this fight. That was that. I wasn't gonna let them fight alone. And so, you know, in, in my advocacy work now, Idaho still holds like a very precious place in my heart because I think that it's a very forgotten state. When we think about places that need help, when we think about places that have been gerrymandered, when we think about places where there are so many good people who are disenfranchised and unable to affect meaningful change in their state level, governments. That have just been absolutely run roughshod over by Christian nationalists. We should be thinking about Idaho. They have, I think, like the highest neo-Nazi population in the United States. so it's a very direct line between my grandparents being incarcerated to the activism that I do now. And it wouldn't have happened without Scholastic's offensive offer.   [00:48:22] Miko Lee: I did not realize that librarians were personally being assaulted or attacked or followed. For books.    [00:48:29] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: You should watch, the librarian's documentary that's now streaming on PBS. Okay. Um, it's common across the country. Amanda Jones, who's an Authors Against Book Bans member no big deal, is a librarian in Louisiana that can't go grocery shopping in her own hometown anymore for fear for her own safety because she has taken a stand to like refuse to remove lgbtq plus books from her school library shelves. It's really dire. And I think people understand objectively that book bans are a problem in our country. I do not think that they understand how violent that this fight is. It's a really dark and hard time to be a librarian. So if you're a person who supports libraries, you should be thanking your librarians and letting them know one-on-one and in person face-to-face that you appreciate the work that they do, because there are people who are making their lives really difficult.    [00:49:25] Miko Lee: Can you talk about what the library meant to you as a child?   [00:49:30] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I mean, honestly it was like a part-time babysitter. You're a kid, there's a library. Entertain yourself, you figure it out. I think the first time I really felt like a sense of belonging in the library was in middle school. We moved from LA to Northern California and I had to start a new school in seventh grade. I didn't really know anyone and it was embarrassing to not have people to eat lunch with and things like that. So I would eat lunch in the library. And the librarian was really kind about it. Like she never called attention to it. She never embarrassed me about it. She would let me sneakily eat in there, even though there was a very specific rule that you weren't allowed to eat in the library. she put, the Enchanted Forest Chronicles on an end cap once, and that's how I found them and ended up reading the entire series and that was really when I became a fantasy reader and you know, my debut novel was a fantasy novel. I still feel very much like a fantasy reader kind of at heart, and that started there. I mean, we never know when libraries are going to save a kid's life.    [00:50:39] Miko Lee: Can we go back to how you ended up writing this book about your grandparents' experience? Sure. And what was the first spark for you to say, I wanna turn this into something. It's a family lore, but I want more people to know about it.   [00:50:54] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I mean, the Trump administration thing,    [00:50:56] Miko Lee: it was truly that. You said it was    [00:50:57] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah. Trump was it    [00:50:58] Miko Lee: Trump got elected. People should know this happened.    [00:51:00] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yes. What do you have to tell children in this moment If they're Muslim, they're scared, and if they're not, they need a way to understand what it means to feel afraid. Both of those things need to happen at the same time of like, you have to offer comfort to the children of the marginalized. You have to offer perspective to the children who have the privilege not to feel that fear. And so I have this story and what I love about this story is. I know that children are capable of holding the complexity of this story is both very romantic and very sweet, and also the circumstances it happened under were completely unfair. That's the kind of logic children are able to hold, and they should be given the opportunity to hold that kind of complexity because it'll serve them for the rest of their life because most of most situations we confront are complex.   [00:51:57] Miko Lee: And how were you able to eke out more details of that story? Did you do family interviews or was it more from your imagination?    [00:52:05] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: My mother is a journalist and she kept my grandmother's journals from the time she was in Minidoka. So some of it comes from my grandmother's journals. Some of it comes from working with my mother to make sure that it felt accurate, tonally and factually. ‘Cause she was not gonna let me publish a book that was nonsense. I always say it's Truman Capote true. ‘Cause the situation, the sensory details, all that stuff real, but the dialogue is made up. The dialogue is art. The dialogue is a way for children to understand how they might've been feeling. They never had succinct, quick conversations like this about their humanity and how they felt about each other. It was a long courting process, and so, you know. That part is made up for children,    [00:52:49] Miko Lee: but you, but you did include actual quotes from her journal too, right?    [00:52:53] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yes. The book closes with her words, not mine.    [00:52:57] Miko Lee: Can you give us those final words?    [00:53:00] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: The miracle is in us as long as we believe in beauty, in change, in hope. Which are words she wrote while she was imprisoned in Minidoka.    [00:53:11] Miko Lee: And how does that resonate with you in the time of now?    [00:53:15] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: They are words that I desperately cling to in the hope that I can see them become manifest.    [00:53:23] Miko Lee: And what are you working on now?   [00:53:26] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Making Authors Against Book Bans as operational as possible.    [00:53:31] Miko Lee: And what does that look like?    [00:53:32] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: In late 2025, we became a nonprofit corporation. We have fiscal sponsorship under EveryLibrary, which is a really wonderful advocacy group that's a combination [501](c)3-(c)4, which means you can make tax deductible donations to them, but also they do overtly political work. And so now we can receive tax deductible, donations and continue to do the overtly political work that we do. We are an unapologetically political organization. We are more than happy to help get people elected who fight for the freedom to read, and we are delighted to show the door to people who would stand in our way of that freedom.   [00:54:09] Miko Lee: And how can people get more involved in your work?    [00:54:13] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: They could absolutely go to authorsagainstbookbans.com and make a donation. We need it [laughs]. We are one of the only organizations that receives donations that exists for the sole purpose of fighting book bans. Most every other group in our space have an angle that book bans affect them, and so they fight against them, but that's not their only purview. It is our only purview. So if it is something that you were interested in fighting, then you could make a donation to us. I would suggest signing up to be on the email list from EveryLibrary because they mobilize everybody, not just authors and book creators. And if you are a book creator, self-published, traditionally published, we don't care. Then you should sign up to be a member of Authors Against Book Bans and you'll get calls to action every Friday.   [00:55:07] Miko Lee: Thank you so much for sharing with us about your book and educating us about the work you're doing and appreciate hearing from you. Thank you for joining us.    [00:55:16] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Thank you for having me.   [00:55:28] Miko Lee: Please check out our website, kpfa.org/program/apexexpress to find out more about our show and our guests tonight. We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating, and sharing your visions with the world because your voices are important. Apex Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preti Mangala-Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by me Miko Lee, and edited by Ayame Keane-Lee. Have a great night..    The post APEX Express – 4.9.26 – Library Joy appeared first on KPFA.

In this episode of The Book Faire Podcast, host Anthony provides an essential roundup of new children's book releases and educational publishing initiatives shaping the current literary landscape. We explore the latest diverse stories for young readers and offer a sneak peek into upcoming contemporary author interviews that dive deep into the creative process. This episode provides valuable insights for educators, librarians, and parents looking to integrate literary history and social-emotional learning into the elementary school classroom. From analyzing modern publishing trends to discussing the ongoing freedom to read, we highlight the books and curriculum-aligned resources that help children navigate a changing world. Join us for a comprehensive look at the newest titles on the shelf and the library news you need to stay informed.New Releases:Baba Palooza by A.D. Ghani, illus. by Nadia Alam (Ages 4-8)Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp By Minoru Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez, illus. by Chris Sasaki (Ages 4-8)Feo the Chupacabra by Sequoia Blankenship, illus. by Rob Thompson (Ages 8-12)Just One Gift by Linda Sue Park, illus. by Robert Sae-Heng (Ages 8-12)Mixed Feelings by Sara Amini, illus. by Shadia Amin (Ages 8-12)Fruitcake by Rex Ogle, illus. by Dave Valeza (Ages 10-12)When You're Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim (Ages 10-14)How to Be Normal by Ange Crawford (Ages 13+)Girl Reflected in Knife by Anica Mrose Rissi (Ages 14+)

In this episode of The Book Faire Podcast, host Anthony provides an essential roundup of new children's book releases and educational publishing initiatives shaping the current literary landscape. We explore the latest diverse stories for young readers and offer a sneak peek into upcoming contemporary author interviews that dive deep into the creative process. This episode provides valuable insights for educators, librarians, and parents looking to integrate literary history and social-emotional learning into the elementary school classroom. From analyzing modern publishing trends to discussing the ongoing freedom to read, we highlight the books and curriculum-aligned resources that help children navigate a changing world. Join us for a comprehensive look at the newest titles on the shelf and the library news you need to stay informed.New Releases:Baba Palooza by A.D. Ghani, illus. by Nadia Alam (Ages 4-8)Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp By Minoru Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez, illus. by Chris Sasaki (Ages 4-8)Feo the Chupacabra by Sequoia Blankenship, illus. by Rob Thompson (Ages 8-12)Just One Gift by Linda Sue Park, illus. by Robert Sae-Heng (Ages 8-12)Mixed Feelings by Sara Amini, illus. by Shadia Amin (Ages 8-12)Fruitcake by Rex Ogle, illus. by Dave Valeza (Ages 10-12)When You're Brave Enough by Rebecca Bendheim (Ages 10-14)How to Be Normal by Ange Crawford (Ages 13+)Girl Reflected in Knife by Anica Mrose Rissi (Ages 14+)

Fairy tale retelling are having a moment, a moment that has extended for, like, millennia, but now the trend feels particularly hot. Host Susan Maguire sat down with librarian and Booklist reviewer Lucy Lockley about what's behind the fanfare and some titles and authors you should know. Then Audio Editor Heather Booth spoke to an art educator Heather Kostal about how she uses audiobooks in the classroom. Finally, Books for Youth's Ronny Khuri and I chatted about picture books about poop and other topics. We cover everything! Here's what we talked about: Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine The Kingdom of Sweets, by Erika Johansen The Swallowed Man, by Edward Carey A Sorceress Comes to Call, by T. Kingfisher Alice, by Christina Henry Horseman, by Christina Henry Gods of Jade and Shadow, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Wicked, by Gregory Maguire Mary McMyne After the Forest, by Kel Woods Sistersong, by Lucy Holland Song of the Huntress, by Lucy Holland Uprooted, by Naomi Novik The Summer War, by Naomi Novik The Witch's Heart, by Genevieve Gornichec A Spindle Splintered, by Alix E. Harrow Thief Liar Lady, by D. L. Soria Hemlock & Silver, by T. Kingfisher After Happily Ever: An Epic Novel of Midlife Rebellion, by Jennifer Safrey Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, by Heather Fawcett Crocodile on the Sandbank, by Elizabeth Peters (Ameila Peabody series) The Maiden and Her Monster, by Maddie Martinez Cinder House, by Freya Marske Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance: The Forgotten Founding Mothers of the Fairy Tale and the Stories That They Spun, by Jane Harrington, illustrated by Khoa Le F*cked Up Fairy Tales: Sinful Cinderellas, Prince Alarmings, and Other Timeless Classics, by Liz Gotauco The Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park, read by David Baker The Boxcar Children series The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick, read by Jeff Woodman From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E. L. Konigsburg The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, read by Tatiana Maslany Murder of a Movie Star, by L. B. Hathaway Henry Is an Artist, written and illustrated by Justin Worsley Little Moments in a Big Universe, written and illustrated by Todd Stewart Max in the Land of Lies, by Adam Gidwitz Max in the House of Spies, by Adam Gidwitz

This week Trisha recommends a few picture books that will give your brain a spring break. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and never miss a book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations! The professional book nerds (aka bibliologists) at TBR have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Simply fill out a quick survey about what you want more of in your reading life, and your bibliologist will scour their bookish knowledge to find three reads they think you'll love. Choose from receiving just the recommendations via email, or opt to have paperbacks or hardcovers delivered right to your door. Get started for only $18 at mytbr.co! This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed Big by Vashti Harrison The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We highlight two powerful voices shaping the climate conversation—Elise Silvestri, a college student and musician passionate about climate justice, and Linda Sue Park, an award-winning author using storytelling to inspire young activists. Elise, who has worked on the Citizens Climate Radio team for six months, shares her journey through eco-anxiety, activism, and music production. She believes that addressing the climate crisis requires radical imagination—envisioning the world we want to create rather than just reacting to the crises around us. Elise also introduces us to Linda Sue Park, whose latest book, Gracie Under the Waves, follows a young snorkeling enthusiast as she discovers the urgent need for ocean conservation. Facing Eco Anxiety with Imagination and Action Elise Silvestri knows firsthand the overwhelming anxiety that can come from thinking about climate change. Like many young activists, she has struggled with fears about the future, moments of paralysis, and the emotional weight of the crisis. In this episode, Elise shares how she transformed her eco-anxiety into action—first through climate organizing with the Sunrise Movement and later through audio engineering and music production. "I consider the climate crisis a crisis of imagination. We are stuck in a status quo that hangs us high and dry. We must be bold and imagine a world that we are excited to wake up in." —Elise Silvestri By blending her passion for music with climate activism, Elise has found ways to build resilience for herself and the communities she works with. From powering live sound stages with solar energy to using podcasting as a medium for climate storytelling, Elise exemplifies the power of creativity in climate advocacy. Linda Sue Park on Finding Your Climate Passion Newbery Medal-winning author Linda Sue Park joins the conversation to discuss Gracie Under the Waves, her latest book for young readers. Inspired by her love for snorkeling, the book follows Gracie's growing awareness of coral reef degradation and its broader implications for the health of our oceans. "Gracie's journey parallels my own. At first, I just wanted to snorkel. Then I realized that the coral reefs were imperiled, and I had to do something." —Linda Sue Park. Linda encourages young readers to find their own path into climate activism by connecting their passions to climate justice. Whether through art, science, writing, or community work, she believes that the most effective advocacy comes from personal investment. "There are many ways to help our planet. The most effective way is to connect it to something you already love—because then your enthusiasm is genuine, and you won't get tired of talking about it." —Linda Sue Park. Learn more: https://lindasuepark.com/ The Power of Community and Collaboration In their conversation, Elise and Linda emphasize the importance of community in climate activism. Linda notes that for too long, Western culture has celebrated rugged individualism—but collaboration is essential when it comes to the climate crisis. "For a very long time, children's books emphasized the idea of solving problems alone. But that time has passed. We are stronger when we work together." —Linda Sue Park. Elise echoes this sentiment, recalling how her work with Sunrise Movement helped her feel less alone in her climate anxiety. By finding a community, she could channel her fear into tangible action. Join the Conversation What motivates you to take climate action? How have you navigated eco-anxiety in your own life? We'd love to hear your story!

For episode 101 of Citizens Climate Radio, we highlight two powerful voices shaping the climate conversation—Elise Silvestri, a college student and musician passionate about climate justice, and Linda Sue Park, an award-winning author using storytelling to inspire young activists. Elise, who has worked on the Citizens Climate Radio team for six months, shares her journey through eco-anxiety, activism, and music production. She believes that addressing the climate crisis requires radical imagination—envisioning the world we want to create rather than just reacting to the crises around us. Elise also introduces us to Linda Sue Park, whose latest book, Gracie Under the Waves, follows a young snorkeling enthusiast as she discovers the urgent need for ocean conservation. Facing Eco Anxiety with Imagination and Action Elise Silvestri knows firsthand the overwhelming anxiety that can come from thinking about climate change. Like many young activists, she has struggled with fears about the future, moments of paralysis, and the emotional weight of the crisis. In this episode, Elise shares how she transformed her eco-anxiety into action—first through climate organizing with the Sunrise Movement and later through audio engineering and music production. By blending her passion for music with climate activism, Elise has found ways to build resilience for herself and the communities she works with. From powering live sound stages with solar energy to using podcasting as a medium for climate storytelling, Elise exemplifies the power of creativity in climate advocacy. Linda Sue Park on Finding Your Climate Passion Newbery Medal-winning author Linda Sue Park joins the conversation to discuss Gracie Under the Waves, her latest book for young readers. Inspired by her love for snorkeling, the book follows Gracie's growing awareness of coral reef degradation and its broader implications for the health of our oceans. "Gracie's journey parallels my own. At first, I just wanted to snorkel. Then I realized that the coral reefs were imperiled, and I had to do something." —Linda Sue Park. Linda encourages young readers to find their own path into climate activism by connecting their passions to climate justice. Whether through art, science, writing, or community work, she believes that the most effective advocacy comes from personal investment. "There are many ways to help our planet. The most effective way is to connect it to something you already love—because then your enthusiasm is genuine, and you won't get tired of talking about it." —Linda Sue Park. Learn more: https://lindasuepark.com/ The Power of Community and Collaboration In their conversation, Elise and Linda emphasize the importance of community in climate activism. Linda notes that for too long, Western culture has celebrated rugged individualism—but collaboration is essential when it comes to the climate crisis. "For a very long time, children's books emphasized the idea of solving problems alone. But that time has passed. We are stronger when we work together." —Linda Sue Park. Elise echoes this sentiment, recalling how her work with Sunrise Movement helped her feel less alone in her climate anxiety. By finding a community, she could channel her fear into tangible action. Join the Conversation What motivates you to take climate action? How have you navigated eco-anxiety in your own life? We'd love to hear your story!

An empowering story from #1 New York Times bestseller and Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park about a young snorkeling enthusiast who draws inspiration for fighting climate change from interacting with her pesty little brother. Inspired by her own experience, beloved author Linda Sue Park tells the story of a girl learning how to impact a cause she cares about while navigating the ups and downs of a sibling relationship and turning disappointment into opportunity.  Gracie loves snorkeling! She loves it so much, she convinces her parents to let her plan a family vacation to Roatán, Honduras, where they can all snorkel together. She even makes a new friend there. Now, if only her irritating little brother would leave her alone, everything would be perfect. Then Gracie hurts her leg, and all her carefully made plans start to come apart. Worse still, she learns the reef itself is in serious danger. Gracie wants to help the reef . . . but she's just a kid. What can she do to make a difference? Fortunately, her new friend has a few ideas!  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Mentioned in this episode:Linda Sue Park's WebsiteGracie Under the WavesA Long Walk to WaterWe Need Diverse Books Our Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly's short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottNo Going Back by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comContact us: hello@booksmitten.usX/Twitter: @booksmittenpod Produced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken

Essential Question:Why is personal connection important when learning about global issues?Key Takeaways:Establishing community partnerships outside of our local communityThe power of collaborationConnecting with global issues that don't present in our local community (in this case water scarcity)If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. For more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click hereYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkConnect with Finley and his work as a changemaker hereLearn more about what is happening with the Frankfurt International School Changemakers #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary On this episode I meet Finley, a young changemaker from Frankfurt International School. Despite living in a place that has easy access to safe, clean water, Finley became connected with this important global issue through reading an amazing book by Linda Sue Park and listening to Nantume and Nkoba share their work on the Empathy to Impact podcast. Through the support of his family and a school program that nurtures young changemakers, Finley has been able to turn his passion for safe, clean water into a global collaboration that is impacting the lives of entire villages and the families living there.A big shout out to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode. Use promo code IMPACTLT20 to get 48% off your first subscription or 20% off a one time purchase.https://magicmind.com/impactlt

Linda Sue Park discusses her latest children's book "Gracie under the Waves."

Linda Sue Park, author of A Long Walk to Water with her newest book Gracie Under the Waves. Linda Sue is the founder of KiBooka, which highlights children's books by Korean-American authors, and a member of the advisory board for We Need Diverse Books. New Releases: The Hill: Inside the Secret World of the U.S. Capitol by Kate Andersen Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos (Evil Villains International League #1) by Alex Evanovich Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood by Robert Beatty Links and resources available at patreon.com/thebookfaire --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebookfaire/support

Linda Sue Park, author of A Long Walk to Water with her newest book Gracie Under the Waves. Linda Sue is the founder of KiBooka, which highlights children's books by Korean-American authors, and a member of the advisory board for We Need Diverse Books. New Releases: The Hill: Inside the Secret World of the U.S. Capitol by Kate Andersen Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos (Evil Villains International League #1) by Alex Evanovich Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood by Robert Beatty Links and resources available at patreon.com/thebookfaire --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebookfaire/support

Send us a textLinda Sue Park visits the show to discuss her book Gracie Under the Waves.Linda Sue Park is the author of many books for young readers, including the 2002 Newbery Medal winner A Single Shard and the New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water. Her most recent title for middle grade readers is The One Thing You'd Save, a collection of linked poems. Linda Sue is the founder and curator of Allida Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. She serves on the advisory boards of We Need Diverse Books and the Rabbit Hole museum project, and created the kiBooka website, www.kibooka.com, to highlight children's books created by the Korean diaspora. In her travels to promote reading and writing, she has visited more than 30 countries and 49 states. Linda Sue knows very well that she will never be able to read every great book ever written, but she keeps trying anyway. Visit her website at www.lindasuepark.com; follow her on Twitter @LindaSuePark.

An empowering story from #1 New York Times bestseller and Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park about a young snorkeling enthusiast who draws inspiration for fighting climate change from interacting with her pesty little brother. Inspired by her own experience, beloved author Linda Sue Park tells the story of a girl learning how to impact a cause she cares about while navigating the ups and downs of a sibling relationship and turning disappointment into opportunity.  Gracie loves snorkeling! She loves it so much, she convinces her parents to let her plan a family vacation to Roatán, Honduras, where they can all snorkel together. She even makes a new friend there. Now, if only her irritating little brother would leave her alone, everything would be perfect. Then Gracie hurts her leg, and all her carefully made plans start to come apart. Worse still, she learns the reef itself is in serious danger. Gracie wants to help the reef . . . but she's just a kid. What can she do to make a difference? Fortunately, her new friend has a few ideas! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. For more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click hereYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkConnect with Finley and his work as a changemaker hereLearn more about what is happening with the Frankfurt International School Changemakers #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary On this episode I meet Finley, a young changemaker from Frankfurt International School. Despite living in a place that has easy access to safe, clean water, Finley became connected with this important global issue through reading an amazing book by Linda Sue Park and listening to Nantume and Nkoba share their work on the Empathy to Impact podcast. Through the support of his family and a school program that nurtures young changemakers, Finley has been able to turn his passion for safe, clean water into a global collaboration that is impacting the lives of entire villages and the families living there.

In this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by F.T. Lukens!Debbie Ridpath Ohi is a children's book author and illustrator who has helped create over 20 books for young people. She loves her job. She is the author and illustrator of I WANT TO READ ALL THE BOOKS, WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?, and SAM & EVA (Simon & Schuster). Her illustrations have appeared in books by Judy Blume, Michael Ian Black, Linda Sue Park, and others. You can find Debbie on Bluesky, SubStack, Instagram, her Bookstagram, Facebook, YouTube, X,https://debbieohi.com/PreOrder Debbie's Book Here:https://bookshop.org/p/books/i-want-to-read-all-the-books-debbie-ridpath-ohi/21108507?ean=9781481416306and check out the rest of Debbie's books here:https://bookshop.org/contributors/debbie-ridpath-ohi-f05414b5-6e3d-4c1b-b0e0-74bae07489b5Support the Show.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support. Considering professional development? Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate courses launch March 9! Click to learn more and register for these impactful programsYou can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this linkJoin our challenge! Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and send a screenshot to scott@inspirecitizens.org for a chance to win a 50% PD Discount or Virtual Classroom VisitShare using #EmpathytoImpactEpisode Summary Harry, David, Ngoc Tu & Ido are fifth grade students at Hanoi International School. Listen how the book A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park and a virtual visit from one of our podcast changemakers, Nkoba, inspired them to become community leaders and take action to work towards achieving SDG target 6.1 ensuring universal and equitable access to safe water.Thanks to Magic Mind for sponsoring this podcast episode. Click the link to get up to 56% off when subscribing and use the discount code E2I for additional 20% off both one-time purchases and subscriptions.

Hope Ryan from Morning Light shares her favorite children's book for the season: Marian Picture Books (Immaculate Conception 12/8, Our Lady of Guadalupe 12/12) Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Graphic Novel by Natalie Muglia & Sam Estrada. TAN Books Mary, The Mother of Jesus by Tomie De Paola, Magnificat/Ignatius.  Our Lady's Wardrobe and Our Lady's Picture Book by Anthony DeStefano, Illustrated by Juliana Kolesova. Sophia Institute Press. Religious Christmas Books with amazing illustrations Saint Francis and the Nativity by Myrna Strasser, Illustrated by Fausto Bianchi The Real Santa Claus by Marianna Mayer (Non-fiction) Peace on Earth by Mary Engelbreit The Third Gift by Linda Sue Park, Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline Christmas and Winter stories and tales. Merry Christmas Strega Nona, Old Befana, Las Posadas, Legend of the Poinsettia, and many more by Tomie DePaola The Spider Who Saved Christmas by Raymond Arroyo, Illustrated by Randy Gallegos. Sophia Institute Press The Mitten by Jan Brett Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojiechowski, illustrated by PJ Lynch  

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support.  For more information or to register for the Inspire Citizens Global Citizenship Certificate click here You can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this link Connect with Finley and his work as a changemaker here Learn more about what is happening with the Frankfurt International School Changemakers  #EmpathytoImpact Episode Summary On this episode I meet Finley, a young changemaker from Frankfurt International School. Despite living in a place that has easy access to safe, clean water, Finley became connected with this important global issue through reading an amazing book by Linda Sue Park and listening to Nantume and Nkoba share their work on the Empathy to Impact podcast. Through the support of his family and a school program that nurtures young changemakers, Finley has been able to turn his passion for safe, clean water into a global collaboration that is impacting the lives of entire villages and the families living there.

Today's poem is Nowhere Else to Go by Linda Sue Park. This week's episodes are for, and feature, young poets. Climate change is an urgent issue for everyone — and our best reminder of this is the young people who are pushing for action. Today's co-host, Durete, is one of those young people who has marched on the front lines. Her story, and today's poem, point out a critical factor of this fight: that it is one we must take up hand in hand with our best friends. We would love to hear your thoughts on these special episodes for young people. Please go to slowdownshow.org/survey to tell us what you think!

Our guest host Jordan Sahley welcomes Ellen Oh and Linda Sue Park to the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate You Are Here, Connecting Flights. Ellen and Linda Sue are two of twelve Asian American authors who collaborating on creating this powerful and engaging exploration of contemporary Asian American identity through interwoven stories set in a teeming Chicago airport, An incident at a TSA security check point sows chaos and rumors, creating a chain of events that impacts twelve young Asian Americans in a crowded and restless airport. As their disrupted journeys crisscross and collide, they encounter fellow travelers—some helpful, some hostile—as they discover the challenges of friendship, the power of courage, the importance of the right word at the right time, and the unexpected significance of a blue Stratocaster electric guitar. Click here to visit Ellen's website - https://www.ellenoh.com/  Click here to visit Linda Sue's website - https://lindasuepark.com/  Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

In this episode of Reading the Newberys, we discuss the winner of the 2002 Newbery Medal A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. Check out our website for the full show notes including picture books and links to extend your reading experience!

Twelve award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American authors explore themes of identity and belonging in You Are Here: Connecting Flights, edited by Ellen Oh. With interwoven stories all taking place in a teeming Chicago airport, the book details the entwined experiences of young people whose family roots may extend to East and Southeast Asia, but who are themselves distinctly American. An incident at a TSA security check point sows chaos and rumors, creating a chain of events that impacts twelve young Asian Americans in a crowded and restless airport. As their disrupted journeys crisscross and collide, they encounter fellow travelers—some helpful, some hostile—as they discover the challenges of friendship, the power of courage, the importance of the right word at the right time, and the unexpected significance of a blue Stratocaster electric guitar. With stories from Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Randy Ribay, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Le, Ellen Oh, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan, YOU ARE HERE: CONNECTING FLIGHTS is the premier release from HarperCollins Children's Books' new imprint, Allida. Created to publish books for children and teens, the imprint's mission is to encourage marginalized writers and artists to explore the stories they are most passionate about and to craft narratives that defy expectations.

Twelve award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American authors explore themes of identity and belonging in You Are Here: Connecting Flights, edited by Ellen Oh. With interwoven stories all taking place in a teeming Chicago airport, the book details the entwined experiences of young people whose family roots may extend to East and Southeast Asia, but who are themselves distinctly American. An incident at a TSA security check point sows chaos and rumors, creating a chain of events that impacts twelve young Asian Americans in a crowded and restless airport. As their disrupted journeys crisscross and collide, they encounter fellow travelers—some helpful, some hostile—as they discover the challenges of friendship, the power of courage, the importance of the right word at the right time, and the unexpected significance of a blue Stratocaster electric guitar. With stories from Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Randy Ribay, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Le, Ellen Oh, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan, YOU ARE HERE: CONNECTING FLIGHTS is the premier release from HarperCollins Children's Books' new imprint, Allida. Created to publish books for children and teens, the imprint's mission is to encourage marginalized writers and artists to explore the stories they are most passionate about and to craft narratives that defy expectations.

Well, it was bound to happen sometime, we're postponing our monthly Asian American entertainment news roundup to next week due to some scheduling conflicts, but in it's place, we're dropping in an episode from Marvin's other podcast on the Potluck Podcast Collective, Books & Boba. This episode from a few weeks ago is also a news episode where Marvin and his co-host Reera go over the latest Asian American publishing and book new. We hope you enjoy and come back next week where the full Good Pop crew will be back together again for the July 2022 edition of  "Do We Want This?"---On this episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our July 2022 mid-month check-in, and Marvin learns a little about Book-tok.New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news:You Are Here: Connecting Flights by Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Erin Entrada Kelly, Minh Lê, Grace Lin, Ellen Oh, Linda Sue Park, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan TanI Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann LiangDown, Through, Up by Shirley Ng-BenitezSecrets by Cindy ChangHow This Book Got Red by Margaret Chiu GreaniasTiger Daughter by Rebecca LimFrizzy-Haired Zuzu by Medeia SharifHedgehog and the Log by Pam FongThe Sound of Magic by Rajani LaRoccaNothing but the Truth by Rajani LaRoccaMystery Party by Rajani LaRoccaChemistry Lessons by Rajani LaRocca*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads Group

On this episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our July 2022 mid-month check-in, and Marvin learns a little about Book-tok.New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news:You Are Here: Connecting Flights by Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Erin Entrada Kelly, Minh Lê, Grace Lin, Ellen Oh, Linda Sue Park, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan TanI Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann LiangDown, Through, Up by Shirley Ng-BenitezSecrets by Cindy ChangHow This Book Got Red by Margaret Chiu GreaniasTiger Daughter by Rebecca LimFrizzy-Haired Zuzu by Medeia SharifHedgehog and the Log by Pam FongThe Sound of Magic by Rajani LaRoccaNothing but the Truth by Rajani LaRoccaMystery Party by Rajani LaRoccaChemistry Lessons by Rajani LaRocca*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba July 2022 pick is Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu KawaguchiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

The booksellers tackle a question about great books for younger readers when the instagram handle courtpilling asked for "Middle Grade historical fiction set in 1700s-1800s".  Kari started us off with The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich, Allie wants everyone to read Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Lisa remembered two classics by Robert Lawson - Mr. Revere and I and Ben and Me. Emma brought us to Philadelphia with Fever 1793 by Laurie Anderson and Sam finished the list with Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park.Welcome to Shelf Help a podcast where booksellers help you answer one of life's trickier  - and we'd argue extremely important - questions: what should you read next?  If you've got a reading dilemma, you can email us a question or voice memo at shelfhelpuv@gmail.com. We're here to help your shelves. Shelf Help is a collaboration between the Book Jam, a nonprofit designed to inspire readers; CATV Upper Valley media community; three Upper Valley bookstores: Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, VT; the Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, VT; and Still North Books & Bar in Hanover, NH.  

Gurple and Preen: A Broken Crayon Cosmic Adventure by Linda Sue Park

When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in search of safe haven. Based on the life of Salva Dut, who, after emigrating to America in 1996, began a project to dig water wells in Sudan. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library's catalog.

Teachers are constantly on the look out for new books to use in their classrooms. We need great books to engage kids in lessons, Read Alouds, shared reading and as part of other strategies and tools.To achieve this, we need a constantly supply of top books for young readers so we've brought back Teachers Toolkit regular Rebecca Bird, literature consultant at Pegi Williams Books, to help us.Rebecca shares her latest list of recommended books for teachers to engage students in literacy learning.Enjoy, and let us know thoughts and feedback in our Facebook Group. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. JOIN CUE LEARNING'S NEXT LIVE WEBINAR!Find upcoming events here and previous webinars (online video courses) here.Other matching PDF resources can be found at Teachific. FEATURED RESOURCESThe One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park (verse novel, Sijo poetry)Market Day by Carrie Gallasch (Picture book, Adelaide market)Grandma's Story by Moira Butterfield and Salvatore Rubbino (picture book, family story, cultures)We Are Australians by Duncan Smith, Nicole Godwin and Jandamarra Cadd (simple, massive impact, beautiful illustrations)Tracks of the Missing by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler (for secondary students, set in Western Australia, about an indigenous boy)Seven Days by Fleur Ferris (about a boy called Ben, family troubles)Cop and Robber by Tristan BancksCHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDSChildren's Book Council of AustraliaCBCA - Shortlist 2022CBCA - Notables 2022CBCA - Bookweek 2022 - August 20-26Caldecott Medal - USACarnegie and Greenaway Awards - UKTEACHIFICPoems, rhymes, stories etc Got any questions? Feedback? Thoughts? Email the Cue office at: admin@cuelearning.com.auThe Teacher's Tool Kit For Literacy is the free podcast for motivated teachers and school leaders who want the latest tips, tricks and tools to inspire their students and school community in literacy learning. Hear from literacy expert and founder of Cue Learning, Sharon Callen, and special guests.At Cue Learning, our literacy specialists draw on over 30 years of teaching and international consulting experience to deliver world-class learning solutions. We equip, empower and support teachers to become their authentic selves. To find out about upcoming events, and about how Cue can help you and your school, visit the Cue Learning website http://www.cuelearning.com.au/ and sign up to our newsletter https://cuelearning.com.au/contact/And you can get even more amazing teaching resources, right now, at Teachific https://www.teachific.com.au/.To make sure you don't miss any literacy learning tips and insights, please subscribe to our show on your favourite podcast player. MORE INFORMATION AT A GLANCE:Visit cuelearning.com.auSubscribe to the Teacher's Tool Kit For Literacy podcasts  or join on Apple  Podcasts hereContact the Cue office:  admin@cuelearning.com.auJoin our Teacher's Toolkit facebook groupFind connected resources on TeachificSee upcoming online eventsSee our online video courses hereAnd finally, read our insightful blogs hereProduced by Apiro Media https://apiropodcasts.com

At long last, Alli is reading and discussing the book that has been most frequently recommended to her by guests and listeners in 2020 and 2021: Linda Sue Park's Prairie Lotus. This book presents a long overdue perspective about the same (highly complicated) era romanticized by Laura Ingalls Wilder and explores matters of race, xenophobia, loss, Otherness, and assault. On Episode 170, Alli and her guest discuss the importance of embracing one's full identity, the depiction of Native American culture in Prairie Lotus, the pressures placed on children and women of color, and so much more. Enjoy this third week of New Reads November 2021! Veera Hiranandani is the author of several highly-acclaimed, award-winning books, including The Night Diary and The Whole Story of Half a Girl. Her new book — How to Find What You're Not Looking For — is now available. Follow Veera on Instagram (@veerawrites) and Twitter (@VeeraHira).

Today I will be analyzing symbolism in the book, A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park.

6 Authors ask 6 Kids a variety of questions about reading and books. kid book review club member Elise reviews The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park.

The books we chose to read to students and have in our classroom hold power. In this episode, 3Ps in a Pod hosts Mary and Marlys continue their focus on literacy from last week's episode to this conversation with JoEllen McCarthy. McCarthy is an educator whose work centers on the power of books and how to use books as co-teachers. In this episode, she shares the importance of books that represent and tell the stories of people from a variety of identities, cultures, and lived experiences. Mary, Marlys, and McCarthy share several strategies for staying alert to these books, including: Cooperative Children's Book Center from the University of Wisconsin-Madison  Kirkus Reviews A Default in Our Stars, an article by Linda Sue Park in School Library Journal Reading for Social Justice from Learning for Justice (previously Teaching for Tolerance) The Strong Classroom Assessment from The Educator Collaborative JoEllen McCarthy on Twitter and Instagram HeartprintBooks on Instagram Layers of Learning by JoEllen McCarthy Along with how to find and reflect on heartprint books, McCarthy talks about how to use these books to invite conversation that will nurture community, agency, respect, and empowerment. Conversely, she also shares how to address books that may do harm. McCarthy also unveils the books she is currently excited for others to read. Be sure to check out the Arizona K12 Center's group 3Ps in a Pod: An Education Podcast Community to talk about what recently published children's books you love to share with students in your classroom! Learn more about the Arizona K12 Center at azk12.org.

Shirley introduces listeners to Linda Sue Park's compelling read, Prairie Lotus. In Dakota Territory in the 1880s, half-Chinese Hanna and her white father face racism and resistance to change as they try to make a home for themselves.

Monday, June 14, 2021 - Ladyboss Midwest is devoted to empowering and connecting women by facilitating an active online community and holding professional development events. The organization seeks to address issues affecting women that are often overlooked in professional settings. Joining us is Laura Caroon, Ladyboss Midwest president. ~~~ Award winning writer Linda Sue Park joins us to discuss her latest book, “The One Thing You'd Save,” a story told through linked poems in which a classroom full of students debate the question of what they'd save in the event of a fire.

Today is all about books! Anna's Book Recommendations Page Anna's Goodreads Profile and Alex's Goodreads Profile Our Favorite Books: Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken, 4:49 Tales of a New World by P.C. Cast, 8:51 Caraval by Stephanie Garber, 10:35 Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig, 13:58 The Bone Witch Series by Rin Chupeco, 15:52 Mirage by Somaiya Daud, 17:32 Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, 20:23 Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson, 22:24 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, 24:11 Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, 26:11 Foxheart by Claire Legrand, 28:15 Our Favorite Authors: Stuart Gibbs, 31:20 Grace Lin, 32:53 Caleb Roehrig, 36:26 Rin Chupeco, 38:01 Veronica Roth, 39:06 Rick Riordan, 43:30 Other Stuff: The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe, 46:39 When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park, 48:50 My Family For the War by Anne C. Voorhoeve, 51:10 Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, 51:27 Arc of a Scythe Series by Neal Shusterman, 52:16

 We got to interview rural innovator Michael Lamond from Salida Middle School about the three-part project he did with his students inspired by the book “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park. Lamond had his students read the book, do a “Water Walk” carrying 5 gallons of water up Tenderfoot Mountain, and raise money for wells in Sudan, to which they raised over $7 thousand! Lamond did this project in order to give his students the perspective of those who don't have accessible water nearby in their country. To learn more, listen to the entire episode here: https://linktr.ee/redefiningrural #salidamiddleschool #salida #salidacolorado #ruralcolorado #ruralinnovators #innovators #ruraleducation #educationprojects #coloradoeducation #redefiningrural

Linda Sue Park's 2002 historical fiction novel, "When My Name Was Keoko," is set in Japanese-occupied Korea during World War II and follows a Korean family as they cope with wartime oppression. It's a beautiful novel that is full of rich language and thoughtful character development. Our episode discusses parallels between US imperial history and Japanese imperial history, the importance of reading historical books that are not eurocentric, and why Terri is a Linda Sue Park stan.  Content Warning: This episode discusses sexual assault.  If you enjoy the show, please rate, review, and subscribe! We're a new show, so every rating, review, and subscription helps other readers find our podcast. Find our show on Twitter and Instagram @reading_recess Find Sarah on Twitter @sarahebba25 and on Instagram @sarahebba Find Terri on Twitter @TerriCLaRue and on Instagram @tc_larue Email us at readingduringrecesspod@gmail.com

I'm back with an episode on A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park! I'm also joined by my brother Jozef and my friend Ella for a discussion about their thoughts on the book.

Grace and Alvina are joined by special guest, author Linda Sue Park. The three of them talk about cultural appropriation and the scarcity myth--the myth that opportunity to be published is now scarce for white authors. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1

Annabelle Gurwitch discusses her latest memoir ‘You’re Leaving When? Adventures in Downward Mobility’ (Counterpoint, March 2). Kirkus: “Erma Bombeck meets Dorothy Parker in this topical and often laugh-out-loud funny take on our modern malaise.” Then our editors offer reading recommendations for the week, with books by Linda Sue Park and Robert Sae-Heng, Kate Alice Marshall, Bill Gates, and Talia Hibbert.

Tori and Nicole dive into some new and favorite reads for the new year in episode 9 and talk about their intentions for the year ahead. Below are the books and resources Tori and Nicole cover in this episode: Libraryland: It's All About the Story edited by Ben Bizzle and Sue Considine; Librarian Tales: Dispatches from the Stacks by William Ottens; Take Care of Your Type: An Enneagram Guide to Self-Care by Christina S. Wilcox; Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson; Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park; Among Us game; The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow; Charmed TV series; Sabrina the Teenage Witch Netflix series; Practical Magic movie; Florence Nightingale: The Courageous Life of the Legendary Nurse by Catherine Reef; Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes by Wab Kinew, illustrations by Joe Morse; Killing Crazy Horse: The Merciless Indian Wars in America by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard; The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey and with Michaela Angela Davis; The Prince of Egypt movie; Humans by Brandon Stanton; Humans of New York; The Business Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained edited by Sam Atkinson; Friends and Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey; NexGuard Bandage Tape; Avachara: Avatar Character Maker

If you had to choose one "word of the year," what would it be? In 2018, Oxford Languages chose "toxic." In 2019, it chose "climate emergency." This year, lexicographers couldn't select just one. As NPR reports, Oxford decided to highlight dozens of terms that have defined our lexicon this year: "Black Lives Matter," "coronavirus," "social distancing," "systemic racism," and many more. This hour, our guests discuss how societal events can change and shape language. They talk about which words and phrases will have staying power and why, and which might just fade away. Our guests: Linda Sue Park , author Amanda Chestnut , artist and educator Mark Brummitt , professor of Hebrew bible interpretation at the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School Chris Fanning , director of communications at Writers & Books

Today I will share with you a news article I wrote based on the book, The Kite Fighters, by Linda Sue Park. I hope you enjoy it!

Linda Sue Park (@LindaSuePark) shares PRAIRIE LOTUS and GURPLE AND PREEN. Linda Sue’s newest middle grade novel, PRAIRIE LOTUS, takes place in Dakota Territory in the 1880s. Fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder will note that this is the same time and location of LITTLE TOWN ON THE PRAIRIE. That isn’t by coincidence. Linda Sue was also an emphatic fan of Wilder’s LITTLE HOUSE books and would often imagine herself in the world of those stories. This was a world, though, that would have harshly rejected Linda Sue and her family. In a novel nearly a lifetime in the making, Linda Sue shares how she reconciled her childhood love of an iconic book series with a need to hear the voices who were silenced throughout Wilder’s writings. In Park’s words, “All kids need books about all kids.”  You can access even more information about this book and its author by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/blog. Get a copy of this book and support independent bookstores (and this podcast) by visiting our BookShop Store.   Thank you to this week's sponsor: Picture Book Summit Bookclub (Patreon) Libro.fm And to the generous support from our Patrons.

Book Talk @ 14:40   Join the Zoom Chats: Tuesday is 5am Eastern (for New Zealand and Australia & the UK) Register in advance for this meeting:   After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Thursday is 7pm Eastern: Register in advance for this meeting:  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Brush H2O petit by Kuretake (at Joanns! ) in general - how to fill the water brush pens with a black gasket: How to fill/use the water pens withOUT a black gasket: NEW MASK fabric research:  and thus, NEW mask version using Olsen Mask pattern:  and a video to the Convertible Mask pattern: And the convertible mask  (under it you'll find links to her site) Aimee's yarn store: DyeHouse Yarns. Aimee's LYS yarn line. (Brick & mortar going out of biz).  Kathi's podcast: Bonnets at Dawn - scale of 0 to Thornton:     Tuesday Book Chat Naada - just fun! Thursday Book Chat Kathi - Scaramouch on Classic Tales Podcast....(surprisingly relatable to current world) -  Kathi: Classic Tales start page for Sacramouche  Kathi: Bonnets at Dawn Podcast   Jennifer - Frank Lloyd Wright socks:  Murder Must Advertise - Dorothy Sayers (YAY!!!!) -  Peter Wimsey (Edward Petherbridge):  Edyta - reading Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer -   Heather: Outsider in Amsterdam (Grijpstra & de Gier Mystery #1)  Mary: The Happiness Project - by Gretchen Rubin (audiobook read by her) -  Dianne - Bellweather - by Susanna Kiersley -  - (historical novel with bits of spookiness) Dianne--1955  - Stillmeadow Daybook - Gladys Taber -  - Month by Month (kind of like Elizabeth Zimmerman) but for her the big thing is The Bomb Dianne - listened to Jane Austen Society narrated by Richard Armitage The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - Stuart Turton "Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day"  Mary: July 15-19 Vogue Knitting Live 2020 - now online! Regina's perfect lipstick color: Cherries in the Snow, Revlon -  -- Folk shawls - making shawl with pockets20:51:04   Okay Fine Whatever:  Candace: Okay Fine Whatever - The Year I Went from Being Afraid of Everything to Only Being Afraid of Most Things - by Courtenay Hameister -  --They did bad things by lauren a. forry -  one of the NoWhere BookShop books! Jennie Lawson - the Bloggess (in San Antonio TX)  Dianne: Acorn TV - Victorian House of Arts & Crafts -  Sarah (scarahliz) :  - @QueerRoulette Sarah -  yarn - botany color way with Shrug To live & defy in LA - how gangsta rap changed america felicia angeja viator -  Heather: Gary Larson's back!!!!   Edyta: Mycophelia - weird world of mushrooms - - Eugenia Bone Jessica - Handspun shawl - pebble and beach shawl - simple crescent with simple lattice -  Jessica: Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park -  (not for under  Kelly - Ulysses by James Joyce  -   Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage - by Kurt Vonnegut - NY Times Crossword subscription:  -  Deathnote Anime - good (don't watch live action) Heather: really goofy Kung Fu Fighting video - from Mr Manos  Aimee: Fastest musicals - ‘Hamilton’%20Is%20The%20Very%20Model%20Of%20A%20Modern,%20%205.0%20%201%20more%20rows%20 (Not) getting married today (Madeline Kahn) -  Aimee: DyeHouse Yarns. Aimee's LYS yarn line. (Brick & mortar going out of biz).   Ways of seeing by John Berger - 01-  02 -   - 03 -  Connections -  Contrapoints on cancel culture - 

Amanda and Jenn discuss series to get excited about, 8th grade read-alouds, Star Wars read-alikes, and more in this week’s episode of Get Booked. This episode is sponsored by Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community, Care/of, and The Patient by Jasper DeWitt. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. Feedback Anna K by Jenny Lee  (TW: underage substance abuse & alcohol) (rec’d by Nicole) The Need by Helen Phillips (rec’d by Courtney) Questions 1. Everything I was excited about doing this summer has been canceled, and I’m now suffering from a lack of things to look forward to. I was wondering if you could recommend a great series that has another book coming out a few/several months from now so I can read the book(s) that already exist and then eagerly anticipate the next installment! Some things I like include high fantasy, woman (or nonbinary) authors and characters, LGBTQness, and audiobooks. Thanks! –Emma 2. Hello!  My mom is an avid reader, definitely gravitating toward mystery/thrillers, historical fiction and most specifically anything by Eric Larson.  She has already devoured his newest book, The Splendid and the Vile, and has read nearly all of his backlist.  Do you have any author comps for Larson that I could pass on to her?   Thanks!! –Rachael 3. I’m looking for books that would make great read-alouds for my 8th grade English/Language Arts class.  I’ve been teaching for five years, and I’ve always done the same read-alouds each year: Love that Dog by Sharon Creech, Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes, A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park, and Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth.  I’d like to change it up with some newer books as the ones I mentioned above are aging out; as my students have pointed out: “None of these characters even have a cellphone!”  Some preferences I have for our read-alouds:   interesting characters that help my students experience lives that are different from their own (I teach in a small town in Minnesota) minimum cursing (see above about teaching in a small town in Minnesota) engaging storylines that get students excited to hear what happens next bonus points if the chapters are shorter so I have natural stopping points each day Thanks for your help! Love the show! –Grace 4. Hello! I love the podcast and I have gotten soooo many good recommendations (both from a couple of asks that I have made previously and just from listening every week). I recently lured my wife into being a bookworm (I even got her on Libby, the proudest moment of my life!). She has gone from maybe reading 1 book in a year to tearing through about 30 books and graphic novels (the gateway drug!) in about 3 months time. The problem: she’s starting to run out of material! She’s pretty set for the next few months, but might run out of books to read over the summer. Her birthday is August 2nd and so I’m hoping to pick up some new books for her by then. She LOVES Star Wars and that is what the vast majority of her reading so far has been. She is looking for ideas for books, especially if they are series, outside of Star Wars, but that give her some of the same things that she loves about Star Wars. Things she likes about Star Wars: all of the aliens and creatures, good vs. evil, and the world-building. Things that she didn’t specifically identify when I asked her what she liked, but are definitely elements that I know she likes: strong female leads and found family (but who doesn’t love those things?!). Bonus for good queer representation, which is very obviously lacking in Star Wars. She is a bit of a weeny and doesn’t like things that are scary (sometimes Doctor Who episodes scare her, so you be the judge…) or have a lot of gore. Some things that I have thought to recommend to her were the Becky Chambers books and Saga (if she ever thought that she could get past the violence and gore).  Thank you!!!!!!!! –Heidi 5. Hi! I am a new listener and am thoroughly enjoying listening to the show! I just got married in November and my husband and I will be honeymooning to Austria at the end of June. I LOVE travel books in general, but would really like to read some fiction/historical fiction about  Vienna and Salzburg. We are also going to try to do a day trip to Bratislava as well, so I would happily welcome a book set in Slovakia. Thank you! –Kira 6. I’m doing the 2020 Read Harder Challenge and I’m looking for a book for the disabled protagonist task, specifically a Native American protagonist. I’m Native and one of my New Year’s reading resolutions is to read more books by Native Americans, so I’m trying to choose books by/about Native Americans for as many of the challenge tasks as possible. I’ve read Absolute True Story of a Part-Time Indian, but I’m trying to avoid reading any more Sherman Alexie since the MeToo stories about him. Thanks in advance. –Cheryl 7. Hello! I was wondering if you have any recommendations for books where adoption is a main theme. Many of the books I’ve found are a bit outdated or cheesy and instructional. I recently pickup up Nichole Chung’s “All You Can Ever Know”. I also found “Motherhood So White” on book riot’s website. My husband and I are starting to look into adoption as a way to be parents and I’d love to find some insightful stories or memoirs (or even fiction), preferably that feature diversity of story, race, and background. Thanks in advance for the help!  –Lauren Books Discussed The Khorasan Archives by Ausma Zehanat Khan (tw slavery) The Poppy War series by RF Kuang (tw: war crimes incl. rape and genocide) SFF Yeah: Most Anticipated Series episode The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse by Piu Marie Eatwell TheRiver of Doubt by Candice Millard Escape from Aleppo by NH Senzai (tw war) Clean Getaway by Nic Stone Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie Murderbot by Martha Wells The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders The Tobacconist by Robert Seethaler, trans Charlotte Collins (tw Nazis) A Perfect Spy by John Le Carré Fool’s Crow by James Welch (rec’d by Jeff) (tw war crimes) There There by Tommy Orange (TW: gun violence and rape) Welcome Home, edited by Eric Smith Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson

In this summer bonus episode, we talked to Salva Dut, the founder of Water for South Sudan. Salva was one of the Sudanese “Lost Boys” and was the basis for the book A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. Salva traces his journey for us, talks about the effects of clean water on a community, and discusses his vision for the future of South Sudan and refugees around the globe. Water for South Sudan’s Website (the info for the Iron Giraffe Challenge can be found here): https://www.waterforsouthsudan.org/ Description and Guide of Where to Buy A Long Walk to Water: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780547251271/linda-sue-park/long-walk-water Here is a great TEDx Talk that Salva gave in 2016: https://youtu.be/mWlNdnFicLE Fun Fact: The day of this episode's release, July 9th, is South Sudan's Independence Day! Liked this episode? Let us know! Subscribe and leave us a review below! Connect With Us: If you or someone you know would like to share their personal refugee story, send us an email at seekingrefugepodcast@gmail.com or connect with us on any of these social media platforms: https://twitter.com/refugepodcast https://instagram.com/seekingrefugepodcast https://fb.me/seekingrefugepodcast Our Team: Patrick Anderson Jackie Burnett Esha Hegde Aidan Thomason Tyler Jackson Jack Gabel Kevin Gagnon Music Opening Track: Ketsa - Where We Are (http://bit.ly/2nKJWaW) Closing Track: Above and Below - Never Forget (http://bit.ly/2nNfw7Q) Sponsors: Special Thanks to Maxcy International House for all of their support. To find out more about what they do, go to https://maxcycollege.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/.

Betsy Kelly has wanted to become an educator since the first time she was asked the question at five years of age. In 2002, Mrs. Kelly was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Minnesota State University Moorhead. In 2010, Mrs. Kelly received her Master's in Reading Instruction from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. At this time she also earned her K-12 Reading Specialist Certificate through the state of Minnesota. Mrs. Kelly has worked for fifteen years in elementary education. Her experience ranges from private religious, private secular, and public schools in grades kindergarten, first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. In 2008, Mrs. Kelly started her private reading practice, providing service to students in elementary and high school. Most recently, Mrs. Kelly has worked as a K-5 Reading Specialist in a private school in St. Paul and an adjunct professor for the University of St. Thomas.Mrs. Kelly lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two children. Some of her favorite children's books are: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli, A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park, and The Help by Kathryn Stockett.You can contact Betsy https://betsykellyreadingspecialist.weebly.com/Or on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/betsykellyreading/Follow the Buffalo Community Podcast on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRL...Follow the Buffalo Community Podcast on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/buffalocommu...Go to our websitehttps://buffalocommunitypodcast.com/For any questions you can reach us atbuffalocommunitypodcast@gmail.comYou can follow the "Buffalo Community Podcast"Facebook: @buffalocommunitypodcastTwitter: @PodcastBuffaloInsta: @buffalocommunitypodcastThank you,Mark Benzer & Tyler ReissThe Buffalo Community Podcast guys#reading #MN #books #interview #BuffaloMN #RODE SHOW LESS

A review of the book Prairie Lotus

This week Seth, Rebecca, and Chrystal discuss their favorite books for talking to kids about illness. Show Notes: 1:01- Why Does Mommy Hurt, by Elizabeth M. Christy 10:04- How Many Marbles do YOU have? by Melina Malott 12:04-The Spoon Theory, Christine Miserandino 13:51- When A Kid Like Me Fights Cancer, by Catherine Stier 21:14- Kathy's Hats: A Story of Hope, by Trudy Krisher 33:10- The Babysitter's Club #3: The Truth About Stacy, by Ann M. Martin 34:46- Babysitter's Clubb #43: Stacy's Emergency, by Ann M. Martin 35:57- Healthline Article About Stacy 39:16-  40:58- 100 Humans, Netflix Show 46:39- #DisruptTexts 47:19- Prairie Lotus, by Linda Sue Park 52:52- When Someone You Love Has Cancer: A Guide to Help Kids Cope, Alaric Lewis O.S.B. 54:45- Dames & Dragons, Actual Play DnD Podcast   Find us on the web! Rad Child Podcast: www.radchildpodcast.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Contact us: radchildpodcast@gmail.com Be a guest Donate Buy Rad Merch Shift Book Box: https://www.shiftbookbox.com/ Facebook Instagram Twitter

Newbery award-winning author Linda Sue Park in conversation with Theo Baker. Part One: Park on poetry, revision, her process, and more…Part Two: Park on first versus third person, and the evolution of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement… Support the show (http://scbwi.org/join-scbwi/)

Join Newbery Award-winning Author Linda Sue Park in a one-on-one conversation with Theo Baker covering poetry, revision, her process, #WeNeedDiverseBooks, and more.Support the show (http://scbwi.org/join-scbwi/)

Today our podcast is about the book Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. We will be discussing questions about the book.

This week, Liberty and Rebecca discuss Butterfly Yellow, Revolution of the Soul, Cold Storage, and more great books. This episode was sponsored by Book Riot's Mystery/Thriller giveaway;  Sourcebooks, publishers of Pretty Guilty Women by Gina LaManna; and Small Silent Things by Robin Page. Pick up an All the Books! 200th episode commemorative item here. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, iTunes, or Spotify and never miss a beat book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. Books discussed on the show: Cold Storage: A Novel by David Koepp The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations by Toni Morrison The Grammarians: A Novel by Cathleen Schine How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together by Dan Kois  Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai Revolution of the Soul: Awaken to Love Through Raw Truth, Radical Healing, and Conscious Action by Seane Corn This Tender Land: A Novel by William Kent Krueger Modern Love, Revised and Updated: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Redemption by Daniel Jones, Andrew Rannells, et al. What we're reading: The Glass Woman: A Novel by Caroline Lea Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens More books out this week: My Jasper June by Laurel Snyder Laughing with Obama: A Photographic Look Back at the Enduring Wit and Spirit of President Barack Obama by M. Sweeney Scan Artist: How Evelyn Wood Convinced the World That Speed-Reading Worked by Marcia Biederman Kill Monster by Sean Doolittle Taboo by Kim Scott The Stylist Takes Manhattan by Rosie Nixon The Nature of Life and Death: Every Body Leaves a Trace by Patricia Wiltshire We Speak in Storms by Natalie Lund The Best Horror of the Year Volume Eleven by Ellen Datlow Taina by Ernesto Quiñonez Work for It: A Small Town MM Romance by Talia Hibbert The Mythic Dream by John Chu, Leah Cypess Hope Farm by Peggy Frew Whose Story Is This?: Old Conflicts, New Chapters by Rebecca Solnit Guest: A Changeling Tale by Mary Downing Hahn To the Lions: A Novel by Holly Watt Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber by Mike Isaac We Are Lost and Found by Helene Dunbar The First Stone by Carsten Jensen, Mark Mussari (translator) The Other's Gold: A Novel by Elizabeth Ames The Paper Lovers by Gerard Woodward The Words between Us by Erin Bartels This Tilting World by Colette Fellous Nya's Long Walk: A Step at a Time by Linda Sue Park and Brian Pinkney Some Places More Than Others by Renée Watson The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester Word to the Wise (A Library Lover's Mystery Book 10) by Jenn McKinlay Tunnel of Bones (City of Ghosts) by Victoria Schwab Unbreakable: The Woman Who Defied the Nazis in the World's Most Dangerous Horse Race by Richard Askwith Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore After the Flood: A Novel by Kassandra Montag Quichotte: A Novel by Salman Rushdie Sword and Pen (The Great Library) by Rachel Caine A Fortune for Your Disaster by Hanif Abdurraqib Fly Already: Stories by Etgar Keret Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee and Stephanie Hans Missing Person by Sarah Lotz My Time Among the Whites: Notes from an Unfinished Education by Jennine Capó Crucet The Sweetest Fruits: A Novel by Monique Truong The Chestnut Man: A Novel by Soren Sveistrup, Caroline Waight (translator) Just Ask: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor and Rafael Lopez How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You by Dina Nayeri Five Dark Fates (Three Dark Crowns) by Kendare Blake To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers Cantoras: A novel by Carolina De Robertis Caster by Elsie Chapman Small Silent Things: A Novel by Robin Page Three Flames: A Novel by Alan Lightman Dominicana: A Novel by Angie Cruz Little Libraries, Big Heroes by Miranda Paul and John Parra Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite The Unkindest Tide (October Daye Book 13) by Seanan McGuire When Death Takes Something from You Give It Back: Carl’s Book by Naja Marie Aidt, Denise Newman (translator) Here All Night by Jill McDonough Pretty Guilty Women by Gina LaManna We, the Survivors: A Novel by Tash Aw Rated by Melissa Grey Baking with Kim-Joy: Cute and Creative Bakes to Make You Smile by Kim-Joy Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young Child of the Dream (A Memoir of 1963) by Sharon Robinson The Harp of Kings (Warrior Bards) by Juliet Marillier I Will Destroy You: Poems by Nick Flynn Permanent Record by Mary H. K. Choi The Glass Woman: A Novel by Caroline Lea Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Pérez Rare Breed: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different by Sunny Bonnell and Ashleigh Hansberger There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool Rewind by Catherine Ryan Howard Well Met by Jen DeLuca The Secrets We Kept: A novel Lara Prescott More to the Story by Hena Khan Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner The Nobody People: A Novel by Bob Proehl Elements of Fiction by Walter Mosley American Royals by Katharine McGee The Nightjar by Deborah Hewitt All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey Axiomatic by Maria Tumarkin Today We Go Home: A Novel by Kelli Estes The Third Daughter: A Novel by Talia Carner Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron The Long Call (The Two Rivers Series) by Ann Cleeves Pretty Guilty Women: A Novel by Gina LaManna All the Better Part of Me by Molly Ringle A Girl Named Anna by Lizzy Barber As a River by Sion Dayson The Devil's Slave: A Novel (Frances Gorges Historical Trilogy) by Tracy Borman Hurricanes: A Memoir by Rick Ross, Neil Martinez-Belkin The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar , Alea Marley, et al.

Lists of "classic" picture books are often white white white, with the occasional racist inclusion. That's why I'm always on the lookout for picture books from the past that could be deemed "classic" and come from a variety of different perspectives and voices. When it occurred to Betsy the other day that she and Kate hadn't done Stevie yet on this show, she was a little mad at herself. It wasn't that the show hadn't done a Steptoe before (see: Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters) but this was the book that put the man on the map. And, as you will see, it became a huge deal. Show Notes Here is the editorial in Horn Book where Linda Sue Park points out that people have been doing the work to bring out children's books from a wide range of points of view for decades. https://www.hbook.com/?detailStory=editorial-try-to-remember-july-august-2019 Merriam-Webster defines "hobbledehoy" as "an awkward gawky youth." Nailed it, Betsy. What are mickies and marshmallows in the park? A little help, folks. You can read the kooky Kirkus review of the book here. What on EARTH is the only painting in the book doesn't work?!? https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/john-steptoe/stevie As Betsy mentions, here is Gordon (Gordon with hair) on the Sesame Street episode from 1969 where he reads the book. Actor Matt Robinson's reading is amazing. We could watch this over and over all day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpbnKOlkjyc Here is the blog post from Tales of an Elementary School Librarian called Waning Crescents and Wild Things that discusses the changes of the moon in Where the Wild Things Are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpbnKOlkjyc For the full Show Notes please visit: http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2019/07/15/fuse-8-n-kate-stevie-by-john-steptoe/

Karina and Matthew talk about the trailblazers in children's literature, including recognizing some of the first authors of color and indigenous authors to have their books traditionally published.  Joining is special guest Linda Sue Park, author of A Single Shard and A Long Walk to Water. This episode is sponsored by  The Children's Book Podcast hosted by Matthew C. Winner Cheshire Crossing, by #1 New York Times bestselling author Andy Weir and acclaimed illustrator Sarah Andersen.  Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter!   RELEVANT LINKS: Meg Medina’s Newbery Acceptance Speech (The Horn Book) Sophie Blackall’s Caldecott Acceptance Speech (The Horn Book) Children’s Legacy Literature Award Acceptance by Christopher Myers on behalf of Walter Dean Myers (The Horn Book) "Standing on Shoulders" (blog post by Linda Sue Park) Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present Season 2, Episode 12 of Book Riot’s Recommended podcast (Karina talks about Mildred D. Taylor’s Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry) Dr. Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children’s Literature American Indian Youth Literature Award Cynthia Leitich Smith, Cynsations website Asian/Pacific American Literature Award Winners Pura Belpré Award Winners BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: African-American Early Children’s Book Creators Langston Hughes:Popo and Fifina: Children of Haiti Lucille Clifton:Everett Anderson’s Goodbye Mildred D. Taylor:Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, new book coming on January 7, 2020: All the Days Past, All the Days to Come Eloise Greenfield:Honey I Love, Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me Virginia Hamilton: Wrote 41 books, includingM.C. Higgins, The Great Mildred Pitts Walter:Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World  Donald Crews: Freight Train, Truck Ashley Bryan: Freedom Over Me   Native-American Early Children’s Book Creators: Fred Kabotie Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve: The Cherokees, The Cheyennes, The Sioux, The Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood Michael Lacapa: The Flute Player and Less Than Half, More Than Whole   Asian-American Early Children’s Book Creators: Taro Yashima: Crow Boy  Yoshiko Uchida: Journey to Topaz, Picture Bride, The Bracelet, A Jar of Dreams Sook Nyul Choi: The Year of Impossible Goodbyes Marie G. Lee: If It Hadn’t Been For Yoon Jun Haemi Blagassi: Peacebound Trains, Tae’s Sonata   Latinx Early Children’s Book Creators: Alma Flor Ada: My Name is Maria Isabel. Picture books: The Gold Coin and Dear Peter Rabbit.   LGBTQ Early Children’s Book Creators: John Donovan,I’ll Get There. It Better Be Worth the Trip   Let us know what books or topics you've been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com), Twitter (@KarinaYanGlaser and @MatthewWinner), or Instagram (@KarinaIsReadingAndWriting and @MatthewCWinner).

Jessica Lawson and I chat about writing and the strange quirks of being a writer. We discuss each of her books, where she gets her ideas, and her best writing practices. She doesn't sing a song about lost socks, alas, but she does talk about her editorial process and her best tips for successful school visits. Jessica and I have been online friends for years and it was a pleasure to finally have a conversation in person. I learned a lot and you will as well. Jessica Lawson enjoys living in Pennsylvania, where she and her family spend weekend hours hanging at the local orchard, pretending to be on Top Chef Junior, building with magnet blocks, making up new holidays, and reading plenty of books. She likes pizza. A lot. She is the author of The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher, a book that Publishers Weekly called “a delightfully clever debut” in a starred review, and Nooks and Crannies, a Junior Library Guild Selection and recipient of three starred reviews. Her 3rd book, Waiting for Augusta, won the Colorado Book Award for Juvenile Fiction, and was also a Junior Library Guild Selection. Of her latest book, Under the Bottle Bridge, School Library Journal says: "Beautifully written, with vivid characters, this exploration of family and friendship shines from the first page." She fell in love with storytelling at an early age, and is a sucker for Roald Dahl, Maurice Sendak, Linda Sue Park, RL LaFevers, Charles Dickens, Karen Cushman, Barbara Park, Amy Tan, Maryrose Wood, Barbara Cooney, Anne Ursu, Christopher Paul Curtis, Gail Carson Levine, Rita Williams-Garcia, Arnold Lobel, Isabel Allende, Sharon Creech, Eva Ibbotson, Shannon Hale, Maeve Binchy and many, many, many other wonderful authors and illustrators. She writes middle grade fiction, lots of to-do lists, and songs about lost socks. MiddleGradeNinja.com JessicaLawsonBooks.com

Linda Sue Park (@LindaSuePark), Newbery Medal-winning author of A SINGLE SHARD shares her new picture book, GONDRA’S TREASURE. The story centers on a dragon whose mom’s family comes from the West and while dad’s family comes from the East. Gondra, like many children, is curious and open to her world and everything in it. She finds strength in all facets of her mixed race family and what I found reading the story was a strength in the definition of family, itself. Which is to say that this story has everything to do with belonging, ancestry, asking big questions, and discovering how you tell the story of your family. You can access even more information about this book and its author and illustrator by visiting www.matthewcwinner.com/podcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors: Artwalks Bharat Babies Highlights Foundation Storyteller Academy  And to the generous support from our Patrons.

Meredith and Kaytee are so excited to finally bring you this very special episode, which we, and our kiddos, have been looking forward to for a long time! You’ll hear a “bookish moment of the week” from each of the hosts: preparing with our sons for the special deep dive in this week’s episode (yep, that’s one bookish moment for the two of us!). Next, we discuss our current reads. Since we wanted to leave time for the kids, we give you only two (and a half) titles each this week, and they are all over the map. Our deep dive this week is a super special interview with Jackson Schwartz, 7, and Micah Cobb, 8. These two boys have big opinions about the books they have read and loved. And the way they relate to each other is downright adorable. Anyone else think this needs to be a regular feature? We are totally smitten. As always, we finish up with A Book (yep, capitalized) that we’d like to press into every reader’s hands. There are four (or more) titles in this week’s pressed books segment, so get those Amazon clickers ready! As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don’t scroll down!  .  .  .  .  .  3:41 - The Vanishing Stair by Maureen Johnson 3:52 - Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson 6:57 - Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Latidan 7:11 - The Honest Toddler 7:20 - Toddlers Are A**holes by Bunmi Latidan 10:36 - The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker 10:44 - The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker 11:49 - Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 13:03 - The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell 13:50 - The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray 14:10 - American Marriage by Tayari Jones 14:28 - A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park 17:52 - The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynn Reid Banks 19:46 - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate 21:02 - Inspector Flytrap: The Da Vinci Cold by Tom Angleberger 22:08 - The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey 22:34 - Dogman by Dav Pilkey 22:47 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 24:23 - Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl 24:36 - Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey 26:26 - Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 28:59 - Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney 30:44 - Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott 31:50 - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling 31:59 - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling 33:28 - The Course of Love by Alain de Botton 36:10 - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas 37:48 - The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 38:17 - On The Come Up by Angie Thomas *Please note that all book titles linked above are Amazon affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. Thanks for your support!*  

Linda Sue Park reads her essay about how heightened awareness of gender inequity without intersectionality is problematic. 

We've finally made it to 300 episodes, so are celebrating with Bibimbap and then maybe some brown diamonds. We sing about rice and the Facts of Life (again) while learning about hot stone bowls and experiments in patience. Matthew's Bibimbap From Hungry Monkey, Matthew Amster-Burton, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2009 Serves 4 Time: 90 minutes, plus at least 2 hours marinating time Other popular toppings include carrots, spinach, zucchini, mushrooms and daikon, but try the simple version below first. And by all means try a vegetarian version, with tofu or without. The beef will be easier to slice if you freeze it for 30 to 60 minutes first. If you have access to a Japanese or Korean grocery, you'll find good-quality pre-sliced beef labeled for sukiyaki or bulgogi---a real timesaver. My favorite bowls for serving bibimbap (and many other rice and noodle dishes) are Crate and Barrel's inexpensive Bistro Bowls.For the bulgogi marinade: 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons finely grated Asian pear or Granny Smith apple 1 scallion, thinly sliced 1 medium clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds 2 tablespoons sesame oil 1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper 1 pound beef flank steak, halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into very thin slices 8 ounces bean sprouts sesame oil 6 cups hot cooked medium-grain (Calrose) rice (from about 2 cups uncooked rice) 8 ounces napa cabbage kimchi (see note) 4 eggs peanut or vegetable oil gochujang (Korean hot sauce), thinned to pourable texture with rice wine vinegar or water (see note) Combine the soy sauce, sugar, pear, scallions, garlic, sesame seeds, oil and pepper in a bowl. Add the meat and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Put the meat and the marinade in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook just until no trace of pink remains in the meat. Set aside. Blanch the bean sprouts in boiling salted water for 2 minutes. Fry the eggs in a bit of peanut oil a large skillet. (A runny yolk is best here, because the heat of the rice will cook it.) Place 1-1/2 cups of rice in each bowl. Top each bowl with one quarter of the beef, bean sprouts and kimchi---arranging them reasonably artfully around the edge of the bowl---and place a fried egg in the middle. Serve immediately. Each diner should add gochujang to taste and stir everything together, including the egg. Eat with a spoon.Notes Gochujang is sold in Korean and other Asian groceries, and now often Western supermarkets as well, generally in a red plastic box. Kimchi is sold in jars in the refrigerated section of the supermarket, usually near the produce with the Asian noodles and tofu. The kind I call for is the most common variety and needs no prep before serving other than slicing it and putting it atop the bibimbap. Links: Cook Korean!: A Comic Book with Recipes Eating Korea: Reports on a Culinary Renaissance Bee-Bim Bop!: Linda Sue Park, Ho Baek Lee

Linda Sue Park is the author of more than 20 books- including Newbery Award winning A Single Shard (an astounding book and every bit deserving of the Newbery) and the world-changer, A Long Walk to Water. When we were drumming up ideas for who to have on the podcast this season, I knew one thing for sure: I wanted to talk to Linda Sue Park. I'm a mega-fan of Linda Sue Park, and in this episode, we take on whether children's books can change the world. Do you think they can? Listen and hear what Linda Sue Park thinks - you might be surprised! In this episode, you'll hear: diversity in children's literaturehow books give kids 'practice' for lifeadvice for young writers P.S. RAR Membership is open for new members November 1st-10th, 2016. Click here to learn more and to join!  Click the play button below: More free resources & booklists Get the best episodes and reources from the Read-Aloud Revival Keep an eye on your inbox! We'll keep you posted whenever we have a new podcast episode or a great free booklist or resource for you. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. Email Address I'd like to receive the free email course. Yes! Powered by ConvertKit /* Layout */ .ck_form.ck_minimal { /* divider image */ background: #f9f9f9; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; overflow: hidden; color: #666; font-size: 16px; border: solid 1px #d1d1d1; -webkit-box-shadow: none; -moz-box-shadow: none; box-shadow: none; clear: both; margin: 20px 0px; text-align: center; } .ck_form.ck_minimal h3.ck_form_title { text-align: center; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 28px; } .ck_form.ck_minimal h4 { text-align: center; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; padding-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; } .ck_form.ck_minimal p { padding: 0px; } .ck_form, .ck_form * { -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; box-sizing: border-box; } .ck_form.ck_minimal .ck_form_fields { width: 100%; float: left; padding: 5%; } /* Form fields */ .ck_errorArea { display: none; /* temporary */ } #ck_success_msg { padding: 10px 10px 0px; border: solid 1px #ddd; background: #eee; } .ck_form.ck_minimal input[type="text"], .ck_form.ck_minimal input[type="email"] { font-size: 18px; padding: 10px 8px; width: 68%; border: 1px solid #d6d6d6; /* stroke */ -moz-border-radius: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 3px; border-radius: 3px; /* border radius */ background-color: #fff; /* layer fill content */ margin-bottom: 5px; height: auto; float: left; margin: 0px; margin-right: 2%; height: 42px; } .ck_form input[type="text"]:focus, .ck_form input[type="email"]:focus { outline: none; border-color: #aaa; } .ck_form.ck_minimal .ck_subscribe_button { width: 100%; color: #fff; margin: 0px; padding: 11px 0px; font-size: 18px; background: #6fc171; -moz-border-radius: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 3px; border-radius: 3px; /* border radius */ cursor: pointer; border: none; text-shadow: none; width: 30%; float: left; height: 42px; } .ck_form.ck_minimal .ck_guarantee { color: #626262; font-size: 12px; text-align: center; padding: 15px 0px 0px; display: block; clear: both; } .ck_form .ck_powered_by { display: block; color: #aaa; font-size: 12px; } .ck_form .ck_powered_by:hover { display: block; color: #444; } .ck_converted_content { display: none; padding: 5%; background: #fff; } .ck_form.ck_minimal.width400 .ck_subscribe_button, .ck_form.ck_minimal.