Podcasts about picture books

A conversation that reminds us how curiosity, art, and iteration can reshape are necessary and may even be assets for our school leadership and the ways we nurture creative courage in young learners.... In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with author-illustrator Christy Mandin to explore what school leaders can learn from the creative process behind children's literature. Together they unpack how curiosity fuels empathy, how messy iteration sparks innovation, and how embracing the dark and uncertain moments of creativity can make us more compassionate educators. What You'll Learn Why boredom and unstructured time are essential ingredients for student creativity. How to help students (and ourselves) become friends with the dark—embracing uncertainty as a path to growth. Why modeling curiosity, reflection, and open-mindedness is one of the most powerful leadership moves. Christy Mandin is the author and illustrator of multiple picture books. She's grown many interesting plants in her garden over the years but, so far, none with teeth or tentacles. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and four children. Visit Christy online at christymandin.com or Instagram @christymandin Learn more about our amazing show sponsor: Poll Everywhere Keep learning with Shifting Schools.

Our best portfolio tips, all in one place! Tune in to hear Jake Parker, Lee White, and multiple guests share how to build a portfolio that stands out and lands the jobs you want. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

What did you think of this episode?Writing picture books? During this episode, a professional illustrator gives us the inside scoop on how the illustration process works.Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mts of NC. I'm your host Linda Goldfarb, each week I bring you tips and strategies from experts in the writing and publishing industry to help you excel in your craft, I'm so glad you're listening in, during this encore episode, you'll learn the ins and outs of Illustrating a Picture Book.My industry expert is Jack Foster. Jack is a follower of Jesus, the father of five, and the grandfather of fourteen. He has illustrated over 125 published picture books. He grew up in Chicago but now resides in Tennessee near the Smoky Mountains with his wife, lovely Aleithia, and their two cats, Jasper and Stormy.Do you work traditionally or digitally, and what is the norm?What is the process of illustrating on full-page illustration?What is a Spot illustration?How long does it take to illustrate a picture book?Explain how you choose the colors for your illustrations and what inspires you.Is the text added by illustrators or by a designer?LINKSJack Foster Mr. Bobblehead BlogJack Foster FacebookJack Foster TwitterJack Foster InstagramJack Foster - FreeBibleImagesVisit Your Best Writing Life website.Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing LifeAbout your host - Linda GoldfarbVisit Your Best Writing Life website.Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing LifeYour host - Linda Goldfarb#1 Podcast in the "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers in 2024". Awarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy PodcastAwarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo Podcast

Dive into the Magical World of Children's Books: Snoodles, Imagination, and Creative Storytelling Get ready for an exciting journey through the vibrant world of children's literature! In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty takes listeners on a delightful adventure with two incredible author-illustrator teams who are redefining storytelling for young readers. First up, Steven Joseph and Andy Case join the show to talk about their latest book, "Snoodles in Space: Escape from Zoodletraz." This wild and imaginative series follows the hilarious adventures of noodle-powered characters in a universe that's bursting with creativity. What makes their collaboration special is the incredible synergy between Joseph's witty writing and Case's detailed, playful illustrations. They've created a world where everyday objects become extraordinary, and each book adds new layers of excitement and humor. But the fun doesn't stop there! Bex Tobin Fine brings her own magical perspective with "Floor It," a charming picture book that explores a baby's incredible imagination. Through her eyes, a living room transforms into a vast landscape of adventure, with chair legs becoming forests and spilled water turning into lakes. Tobin Fine's approach reminds us how children see the world - with wonder, excitement, and endless possibility. Both creative teams showcase the power of collaboration in children's publishing. They break down traditional barriers between authors and illustrators, creating richer, more engaging stories that spark children's imaginations. Whether you're a parent, educator, or simply a lover of great storytelling, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how incredible children's books come to life. You'll laugh, you'll be inspired, and you'll gain a new appreciation for the magic of children's literature. Don't miss this entertaining and insightful conversation that celebrates creativity, imagination, and the joy of reading! Click here to visit our website – www.ReadingWithYourKids.com Follow Us On Social Media Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/readingwithyourkids Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/readingwithyourkids/ X - https://x.com/jedliemagic LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-with-your-kids-podcast/ Please consider leaving a review of this episode and the podcast on whatever app you are listening on, it really helps!  

Welcome to Season 5, Episode 42! Our guest today is Brenda Do. She's a copywriter who has spent nearly two decades helping businesses communicate in a more humanistic way which helps them connect more meaningfully with the people they serve. She's also the author of a fun and meaningful picture book called It's Okay Not To Know.  It's Okay Not To Know is a picture book that helps readers understand how to overcome self-doubt and stress that they sometimes feel when they are faced with challenges. Through curiosity and compassion, kids are able to flip these challenges and obstacles into opportunities for growth. Illustrations by C.S. Fritz, the book is a great reminder that empathy starts with yourself and then you can help others.  In our conversation, Brenda shares why she was inspired to write It's Okay Not To Know, what it was like working with C.S. Fritz, some of the design choices she made, what the response to her story has been, and so much more. You can learn more about Brenda through her site, Instagram account @officialbrendado, and linktr.ee.  If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

#JoshFunk, #Whodonut, #LadyPancakeAndSirFrenchToast, #ChildrensMystery, #HolidayBooks, #PictureBooks, #KidLit, #StorycomicPresents, #InclusiveHolidays, #BookLaunch2025 In this episode of Storycomic Presents, Josh Funk is back with a sweet mystery twist in his brand‑new picture book Whodonut? A Holiday Mystery (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast #7), illustrated by Brendan Kearney and coming from Union Square Kids on September 9, 2025. It's a festive whodunit where pancakes, toast, and even a donut play detective when a beloved “Miss Maple” book disappears during a Holiday Eve party. Josh shares how he crafts rhyme and clues for young readers, how holiday inclusivity shaped the visuals, and what it means to bring this book out on the 10‑year anniversary of Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast. Whether you're into humorous wordplay, mystery, or picture books that feel like festive puzzles, this episode has something for everyone. Don't miss the laughter, the clues, and the donut puns. The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid. See more of Morgan's Work at: https://morganquaid.com/   Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano See more of Greg's work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/   Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started: https://www.podbean.com/storycomic   Follow us: Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com www.patreon.com/storycomic www.facebook.com/storycomic1 https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/ https://twitter.com/storycomic1 For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com   Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at: https://marekbennett.com/ https://www.hexapus-ink.com/ https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/ https://www.vonallan.com/ https://higgins802.com/ https://shewstone.com/ https://www.simkikuznick.com/ Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!  

Jake Parker, Anthony Wheeler, and Lee White update us on their latest projects, wins and losses, and the lessons they're learning. Tune in for some illustrator's insider baseball.  3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, artist, and author, Emma Carlisle, about how an illustration practice can be a bit of a whirlwind; why some illustration advice is infantilzing; why finding joy in your art is more important than it sounds; and more.To learn more about Emma, visit emmacarlisle.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: London Ladd, Helen Stephens, Beth Spencer If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Discover how Violeta Encarnación balances freelancing, illustration, and creative evolution. She reflects on her journey from growing up in Cuba to becoming a book illustrator, her experience at SVA, and her shift into tattooing. Violeta opens up about the realities of freelancing, managing carpal tunnel syndrome, and honing her distinctive color palette. She also shares how nature inspires her work, the significance of personal connections in art, and her upcoming projects.  We talk with Violeta Encarnación, a freelance illustrator, about her creative journey and experiences in book illustration. She shares memories of growing up in Cuba, the impact of her artistic family, and her transition to life in the U.S. Violeta reflects on her time at SVA, her path into tattooing, and the lessons she has learned as a freelancer. She opens up about managing an unpredictable schedule, coping with carpal tunnel syndrome, and staying authentic in her work. Violeta also discusses her distinctive color palette, nature's influence on her art, and the role of personal connections in creative careers. Episode Highlights   Childhood experiences and cultural background. Learning a new language and adapting to a new culture. Book illustration involves collaboration, patience, and the ability to convey complex emotions through images. Developing a unique color palette takes time and experimentation, and it can be influenced by nature and personal experiences. Finding one's voice in art and maintaining personal connections are essential for success.   Chapters 00:00 - Introduction: A Collage of Moments Frozen in Time  02:45 - A Journey of Belonging: From Cuba to the U.S.  06:30 - The Language of Emotion: Finding Your Voice in a New Tongue  10:15 - Reclaiming Art as a Safe Space  13:05 - The Unexpected Path to Tattooing  17:01 - Illustrating a New Chapter: Breaking into Picture Books  22:30 - The Resilience of a First "No": Redrawing Her Way to a "Yes"  28:15 - Juggling the Freelance Life: Cash Flow and Creative Burnout  36:00 - A Journey with Color: From Fear to Harmony  42:50 - What's Next: Ceramics and Storytelling   Connect with Violeta: Follow Violeta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_violeta.encarnacion_ Violeta's Website: https://www.violetaencarnacion.com/   Support the Show Website: http://www.martineseverin.comFollow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: http://www.martineseverin.substack.com This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.   Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives  

This week on Raising Confident Girls, your host, Melissa Jones, is joined by Elizabeth Mundt, The Kid Lit Mama—a lifelong book lover, former teacher, and passionate advocate for emotional development through storytelling. Together, they dive into the powerful role that books play in shaping girls' confidence, empathy, and self-understanding.Elizabeth shares her personal journey from the classroom to coaching, and how her love for literature became a guiding force in helping girls navigate the ups and downs of growing up. With warmth and wisdom, she and Melissa explore how stories can become a mirror, a map, and a conversation starter for young readers learning to process big emotions and tricky social dynamics.In this episode, we cover:How books can support emotional growth and self-awarenessElizabeth's NEAT lens for choosing empowering, age-appropriate storiesWhy storytelling fosters empathy, connection, and authenticityPractical tips for parents on building a book-friendly environment at homeHow to use literature as a tool for discussing difficult emotionsCreating safe, judgment-free spaces for meaningful conversationsThe lasting impact of sharing stories that reflect and empower young girlsWhether you're a parent, caregiver, or simply someone who believes in the transformative power of words, this episode is full of actionable insights and heartfelt encouragement. You'll walk away with new tools—and maybe a few new book titles—to help your daughter grow into her most confident, emotionally aware self.Download the Quick Tips PDF of today's episode for future reference.If you know a parent who could benefit from this conversation, share this episode with them! Let's work together to raise the next generation of confident girls.Featured Titles from the Episode• Messy Monkeys — Sabrina Andonegui; illustrated by Lea Marie Ravotti• I'm Happy-Sad Today: Making Sense of Mixed-Together Feelings — Lory Britain; illustrated by Matthew Rivera• Stay Angry, Little Girl — Madeleine L'Engle; illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan• Ready to Soar — Cori Doerrfeld (author-illustrator)• Way Past Jealous — Hallee Adelman; illustrated by Karen Wall• Way Past Mean — Hallee Adelman; illustrated by Karen Wall• Way Past Sorry — Hallee Adelman; illustrated by Josep Maria Juli• Arya & Everyone Else's Feelings — Kelsey Fox Bennett Boyd; illustrated by Louie Chin• The Grand Hotel of Feelings — Lidia Branković (author-illustrator)• Smile, Sophia — Skylaar Amann (author-illustrator)You can also find more of her amazing resources at: thekidlitmama.comConnect with Elizabeth:InstagramWebsiteMelissa's Links:• Website • Instagram • Facebook• TikTok• LinkedIn

Julie Hedlund and Angela Dalton are both authors of picture book biographies about well-known celebrities. Julie wrote SONG AFTER SONG: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews and Angela authored TO BOLDY GO: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights. Before their books were acquired, they did everything wrong. In this snippet from a past Picture Book Summit workshop, Julie and Angela reveal a couple of mistakes they made so you don't have to.

#GrokOfTheRock, #GeneRoberts, #ChildrenBooks, #PictureBooks, #KidsAdventure, #UnderdogStory, #RhymingStory, #StorycomicPresents, #ReadAloud, #SmallHero In this episode of Storycomic Presents, I sit down with Gene Roberts (aka one of the creators behind Zander Van Duff) to talk about The Grok of the Rock, a charming rhyming adventure for little readers. We'll explore what inspired the Groks Sidney and Harry, the power of “underdog” stories, and why being small has its own kind of strength. Plus: how Gene and his collaborators crafted rhymes, illustrations, and action that young kids can feel while reading again and again. If you're into children's books, poetry, or helping kids grow confidence through story, this episode is for you. The Title sequence was designed and created by Morgan Quaid. See more of Morgan's Work at: https://morganquaid.com/   Storycomic Logo designed by Gregory Giordano See more of Greg's work at: https://www.instagram.com/gregory_c_giordano_art/   Want to start your own podcast?  Click on the link to get started: https://www.podbean.com/storycomic   Follow us: Are you curious to see the video version of this interview?  It's on our website too! www.storycomic.com www.patreon.com/storycomic www.facebook.com/storycomic1 https://www.instagram.com/storycomic/ https://twitter.com/storycomic1 For information on being a guest or curious to learn more about Storycomic? Contact us at info@storycomic.com   Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at: https://marekbennett.com/ https://www.hexapus-ink.com/ https://www.stephanieninapitsirilos.com/ https://www.vonallan.com/ https://higgins802.com/ https://shewstone.com/ https://www.simkikuznick.com/ Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!

Caldecott medalist Jason Chin joins Jake Parker and Lee White to discuss life as an award-winning illustrator, the mentorship that shaped his journey, and his dedication to making art that matters to kids and himself. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, artist, and educator, London Ladd, about why he thinks “style” is a four-letter word; what and who helped him stay on his feet; how to keep going in life and art; and more.To learn more about London, visit londonladd.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Mark English, Kazuhiko Sano, James Ransome, Romare Bearden, Ezra Jack Keats, Jerry Pinkney, Keith Henry Brown, G. Gregory Christie, Ashley Bryan, Ekua Holmes, Jackie Ormes, Tom Feelings, Ernie Barnes, Charles Henry Alston, John ParraPhotograph of London by Malcolm Taylor. If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stories aren't just how we pass time—they're how we pass on what it means to be human. We sit down with librarian and children's literature expert Betsy Bird to unpack why reading aloud is more than a bedtime ritual. It's brain food during the fastest phase of neural growth; a daily practice that builds language, attention, and the social skill that holds every relationship together: empathy.We dive into research showing how literary fiction boosts theory of mind, helping kids understand that other people think and feel differently than they do. That skill matters in a polarized world where algorithms reward outrage and flatten nuance. Books slow us down long enough to inhabit another mind—what author John Green calls “shrinking the empathy gap.” We also confront the rise of organized book bans: why diverse stories and queer themes draw fire, how librarians already vet collections for age and quality, and what censorship really fears—children learning to perspective-take beyond the boundaries someone else drew for them.Betsy shares three unforgettable picture books parents can use tonight. The Rabbit Listened models presence over fixing;  Sorry You Got Mad turns a bad apology into a real one; Touch the Sky reframes perseverance as a long, honest process. Along the way, we honor Banned Books Week as a reminder to protect access to complex stories. If this conversation sparked an idea or gave you something to try with your kids, subscribe, leave a quick review, and share this episode with one parent who'd love it. Your recommendation helps other families find the show—and keeps the circle of stories alive.Send us a textSupport the show

Sharon Skinner interviews prolific children's author and indie publisher Darcy Pattison, who shares insights and actionable advice on indie publishing, from book production to marketing, drawing on her experience publishing over 70 award-winning kidlit titles. Visit and/or Follow Darcy Online: Facebook.com/DarcyPattisonAuthor darcypattison.bsky.social MimsHouseBooks.com DarcyPattison.com substack.com/@darcypattison indiekidsbooks.com TOPICS COVERED Darcy Pattison's Journey to Indie Publishing (00:03:10)  Choosing and Researching Nonfiction KidLit  (00:04:56)  Managing the Business and Profitability of Indie Publishing (00:08:41)  Offset Printing vs. Print-on-Demand for Picture Books (00:16:04)  The Importance of Setting Clear Publishing Goals (00:22:00)  Outsourcing Tasks and Wearing Multiple Hats as an Indie Publisher (00:29:01)  Encouragement and Advice for Writers Considering Self-Publishing (00:31:48) 

Are your amateur habits blocking your progress? Jake Parker, Sam Cotterill, and Lee White divulge the secrets professional illustrators know that will advance your career to the next level. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to illustrator, author, and son of Patricia and Richard Scarry, Huck Scarry, about his father's life and artistic process; how he approached Busytown—from color palettes to car accidents; what his advice would be for illustrators today; and more.To learn more about Richard Scarry, visit richardscarry.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Stan Berenstain, Dr. Seuss, Will Eisner, Ashley Bryan, Van Kaufman, John Parr Miller, Alice and Martin Provensen, Aurelius Battaglia, and P.D. Eastman If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Charming and accessible, "Outside In and the Inside Out" by Emmy Kastner is the biographical picture book about Arnold Lobel, a Schenectady native, the Newberry and Caldecott award-winning author-illustrator behind the beloved Frog and Toad series. Arnold Lobel was many things: a quiet observer, an avid reader, and the kind of man who kept a gorilla suit in his closet, just in case. Above all else, Arnold was an artist and a storyteller. And he infused pieces of himself in the characters he created.Emmy Kastner is an author and illustrator of several books for children, including While You're Asleep and the Nerdy Babies board book series. She will be at the Main Schenectady County Public Library at 6PM tonight.

How early is too early for literacy? It is never too early! This article and podcast episode explore the significance of early literacy from the prenatal period onwards. Drawing on brain development research and practical strategies, it highlights the power of narration, modelling, and bonding through books—laying strong foundations for language and a lifelong love of reading.   Read the article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/extremely-early-literacy/   This episode is in partnership with Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs.   Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs advocate for greater male participation in education and caregiving roles, offering support and guidance to enhance gender inclusion in nurseries and schools.   To find out more visit: https://malechildcareandteachingjobs.co.uk/   Listen to more: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like to hear more at https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/articles/men-in-early-childhood/   Our 2026 conference info & tickets: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2026/   Get in touch and share your voice: Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/   Episode break down: 00:00 – Welcome! 01:30 – New host introduction 04:00 – United for Literacy Initiative 05:00 – Dolly Parton's Imagination Library 08:45 – Prenatal early literacy 13:15 – The 30 million word gap 14:20 – Language immersion through narration 16:00 – You can never spoil a baby 17:10 – Book prescriptions by physicians 18:40 – Instilling a love for books early 20:00 – Books for babies 23:00 – Creating dedicated reading spaces 26:00 – Diversity & representation in books 30:00 – Screens vs physical books 35:45 – Presence & teachable moments 39:45 – Reading doesn't start at age 3+ 41:00 – PreemieWorld Foundation – supporting premature babies 43:00 – Future episodes For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

In this episode, Zeke Peña takes us behind the scenes of his author/illustrator debut picture book, SUNDUST.This episode is sponsored by NOSY CROW, and their innovative STORIES ALOUD program, which gives readers instant access to professionally produced and narrated versions of their books. Look for the STORIES ALOUD QR code on the back of Nosy Crow books to give it a try.Click here for an audio sample, from the book WHO ATE STEVE?

Are your business chops lacking? Jake Parker, Anthony Wheeler, and Lee White teach how to market your work, communicate with clients, unravel contracts, and more to create a sustainable career. Tune in to take your business from good to great. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Illustrator and author, Henry Cole, about the early years of his long career; what he experienced with the banning of And Tango Makes Three; how (and how not) to learn from artistic influences; and more.To learn more about Henry, visit henrycole.net.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Steven Kellogg, John James Audubon, Norman Rockwell, N.C. Wyeth, John Singer Sargent If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze interviews Peter Brown about his latest picture book adaptation, The Wild Robot on the Island. They explore his journey adapting the bestselling novel into a visual format for younger readers, his approach to creating meaningful stories without being "on the nose," and how becoming a new father has influenced his perspective on storytelling and character relationships.Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book ReviewHighlights:Adaptation Strategy: How Peter condensed three-quarters of the novel into picture book format while preserving essential emotional beats and removing violence for younger audiencesOrganic Storytelling: Peter's philosophy of focusing on craft first and letting themes emerge naturally rather than forcing predetermined messagesVisual Storytelling: The creative process of bringing Roz's world to full color, emphasizing golden hour lighting and seasonal color palettes to enhance the narrativeCollaborative Publishing: The team effort behind book creation, from custom typeface design to fifth-color printing decisionsNew Parenthood Impact: How having an 18-month-old son deepened Peter's understanding of the parent-child dynamics in his workBridge Book Success: Creating entry points for reluctant readers through the picture book format while maintaining appeal for novel fansIllustration Technique: Working with ink on paper and digital finishing, plus hand-lettering custom speech bubble fontsNotable Quotes:"I think you're more likely to express a message, a meaningful message to readers, if you focus on what the story needs to work, kind of the craft of writing first and foremost." —Peter Brown"I wonder if he ever thinks about me. I don't know what it is, but to me that is so human and so sweet and emotional. I get choked up just thinking about it." —Peter Brown on Roz's winter thoughts about BrightbillBooks Mentioned:The Wild Robot on the Island by Peter Brown: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Wild Robot series by Peter Brown: Amazon or Bookshop.orgFlight of the Dodo by Peter Brown: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Peter Brown: Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter's love of both words and pictures led him to children's books. Since then he has written and illustrated many books for children and earned numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor, a Horn Book Award, two E.B. White Awards, and multiple New York Times bestsellers. Peter lives in Maine with his wife, Susan, and their dog, Pam.Connect and Follow: Learn more about Peter Brown: https://www.peterbrownstudio.comCredits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Peter BrownProducer: Kelly Rink and Bianca Schulze

On this episode: Lucy and Elizabeth are joined by guest host Rebecca Onion to dive into her and Dan Kois' definitive list of the 25 best picture books of the last quarter century. Which modern stories have staying power? Which books belong beside the classics on your child's shelf? The hosts debate and delight in the choices. But first, they share their latest triumphs and fails: hiding snacks, an urgent care scare, and a  deeply irrational fears.  If you're not part of the Slate Plus community, we hope you'll consider joining! Keep reading to learn how. Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to hang out with us on the Plus Playground every week for a whole additional grab-bag of content — and you'll get an ad-free experience across the network. And you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus – or try it out on Apple Podcasts. Listen to Opportunity Gap wherever you get your podcasts: ⁠⁠https://lnk.to/opportunitygapPS!careandfeeding⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Lucy and Elizabeth are joined by guest host Rebecca Onion to dive into her and Dan Kois' definitive list of the 25 best picture books of the last quarter century. Which modern stories have staying power? Which books belong beside the classics on your child's shelf? The hosts debate and delight in the choices. But first, they share their latest triumphs and fails: hiding snacks, an urgent care scare, and a  deeply irrational fears.  If you're not part of the Slate Plus community, we hope you'll consider joining! Keep reading to learn how. Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to hang out with us on the Plus Playground every week for a whole additional grab-bag of content — and you'll get an ad-free experience across the network. And you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus – or try it out on Apple Podcasts. Listen to Opportunity Gap wherever you get your podcasts: ⁠⁠https://lnk.to/opportunitygapPS!careandfeeding⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Lucy and Elizabeth are joined by guest host Rebecca Onion to dive into her and Dan Kois' definitive list of the 25 best picture books of the last quarter century. Which modern stories have staying power? Which books belong beside the classics on your child's shelf? The hosts debate and delight in the choices. But first, they share their latest triumphs and fails: hiding snacks, an urgent care scare, and a  deeply irrational fears.  If you're not part of the Slate Plus community, we hope you'll consider joining! Keep reading to learn how. Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to hang out with us on the Plus Playground every week for a whole additional grab-bag of content — and you'll get an ad-free experience across the network. And you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus – or try it out on Apple Podcasts. Listen to Opportunity Gap wherever you get your podcasts: ⁠⁠https://lnk.to/opportunitygapPS!careandfeeding⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode: Lucy and Elizabeth are joined by guest host Rebecca Onion to dive into her and Dan Kois' definitive list of the 25 best picture books of the last quarter century. Which modern stories have staying power? Which books belong beside the classics on your child's shelf? The hosts debate and delight in the choices. But first, they share their latest triumphs and fails: hiding snacks, an urgent care scare, and a  deeply irrational fears.  If you're not part of the Slate Plus community, we hope you'll consider joining! Keep reading to learn how. Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to hang out with us on the Plus Playground every week for a whole additional grab-bag of content — and you'll get an ad-free experience across the network. And you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus – or try it out on Apple Podcasts. Listen to Opportunity Gap wherever you get your podcasts: ⁠⁠https://lnk.to/opportunitygapPS!careandfeeding⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's show, Steve and Dana are joined by guest host Dan Kois to turn the volume up to… well, how hard Spinal Tap II: The End Continues rocks is the question of the day. They debate the mockumentary sequel which reunites the original Tap gang for a surprisingly tender portrait of aged rock stars. Next, they turn their icy gaze at the POV-shifting, soapy series The Girlfriend, starring Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke as the warring mother and girlfriend of a wealthy young man. Finally, they appreciate the life and work of Hollywood's foremost golden boy/rebel outsider Robert Redford. In an exclusive Slate Plus bonus episode, they savor the recipes of chef Samin Nosrat, who Dan profiled in the New Yorker on the launch of her new cookbook Good Things. Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Endorsements: Dana: The Louis Malle classic two-hander featuring Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn, My Dinner with Andre. Dan: The newsletter Looking at Picture Books by author Mac Barnett and author/illustrator Jon Klassen. Steve: Donna Leon's Guido Brunetti mystery novels. (And while we're talking about Italian detectives, the Inspector Montalbano mysteries by Andrea Camilleri.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's show, Steve and Dana are joined by guest host Dan Kois to turn the volume up to… well, how hard Spinal Tap II: The End Continues rocks is the question of the day. They debate the mockumentary sequel which reunites the original Tap gang for a surprisingly tender portrait of aged rock stars. Next, they turn their icy gaze at the POV-shifting, soapy series The Girlfriend, starring Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke as the warring mother and girlfriend of a wealthy young man. Finally, they appreciate the life and work of Hollywood's foremost golden boy/rebel outsider Robert Redford. In an exclusive Slate Plus bonus episode, they savor the recipes of chef Samin Nosrat, who Dan profiled in the New Yorker on the launch of her new cookbook Good Things. Email us your thoughts at culturefest@slate.com.  Podcast production by Benjamin Frisch. Production assistance by Daniel Hirsch. Endorsements: Dana: The Louis Malle classic two-hander featuring Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn, My Dinner with Andre. Dan: The newsletter Looking at Picture Books by author Mac Barnett and author/illustrator Jon Klassen. Steve: Donna Leon's Guido Brunetti mystery novels. (And while we're talking about Italian detectives, the Inspector Montalbano mysteries by Andrea Camilleri.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“When you're a kid, you have so little control over things. To be the big entity controlling the smaller entity, whether it's dolls or [toy] soldiers or whatever it is, they do what you tell them to do. They become the story you are making.” — Brian SelznickWe all want to feel in control, mold our lives and experiences, and shape the world into something we can hold. But control is slippery; one moment, it can steady us, the next, it slips away. Brian Selznick—#1 New York Times bestselling author, illustrator, and Caldecott Medal winner—has spent his career playing with this tension. From "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" to "Wonderstruck" and, most recently, "Run Away With Me," Brian believes that it's his job as the author to control the reader's experience, forcing page turns and placing illustrations in a particular order, all while acknowledging that control is ceded to the reader once a book is in their hands.In this episode, Under My Thumb: Brian Selznick on Control, Brian reflects on his lifelong pull toward control in life and art—what drives it, how it shapes his work, and when the need to let go becomes inevitable. He shares his fascination with all things miniature and opens up with unflinching honesty about his complicated relationship with his father, spanning life and loss. He also reveals a formative influence you might not expect, and a most extraordinary afternoon with Ray Bradbury.Settle in for a fascinating, moving episode with one of the great creators of our time.***For his reading challenge, Brian has curated two lists: one exploring queerness in literature over time and the other celebrating the power of the page turn. The latter is about his commitment to books, experimenting with form, and the balance of control between writer and reader.Peruse selected titles and Brian's complete reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/brian-selznickThis week's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Chelsea Pisani, a rockstar children's librarian at Maple Valley Branch Library in Akron, Ohio. She shares the story of how one student, also with a keen ability to take control, is spreading his passion for reading among his peers by setting up his own book club. Show ChaptersChapter 1: Who Holds the Reins?Chapter 2: Size MattersChapter 3: It's All Under ControlChapter 4: Merwin and LouiseChapter 5: The Martian ChroniclesChapter 6: A Most Extraordinary AfternoonChapter 7: Reading ChallengeChapter 8: Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (check here for a video that will show off Brian's incredible miniature collection)Brian SelznickBrian Selznick InstagramWhere the Wild Things AreGuernicaThe BorrowersRay BradburyThe Martian ChroniclesDandelion Wine The Houdini Box (read aloud - check out the page turns)Beanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyAkron Summit Public LibraryCase Study about Akron Summit Public Library and featured librarian Chelsea PisaniHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Ryan Sutton, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Ryan Sutton, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

Thinking You Are Right, But Wrong  Scriptures: Proverbs 16:2; Proverbs 10:22; Jeremiah 17:9; I John 4:1-3;  2 Corinthians 11:14  Check out more from Alex Young at www.dralexyoung.com Also, you can books that encourage, exhort, and inspire by Dr. Alex Young on Amazon/Barnes and Nobles -  Healing to Prosperity  Love Revealed  Faith Walk  Makeba's Faith: Seeds of Faith (Children's Picture Book for ages 0- 12) , a story  teaches children about faith  

Are you unknowingly exposing yourself as an amateur? Learn the most common mistakes new illustrators make and how to create more professional results with Lee White, Sam Cotterill, and Jake Parker! 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

What in the world is going on in picture book publishing? Is it slow for everyone or is it just you? Are global events affecting the industry? Surely, COVID-19 isn't still impacting our market. In this episode, Emma, Julie, and Kelli explore what publishing looks like currently for picture book creators, what we hope it looks like in the future, and what we can do about it right now. With the current state of picture book publishing, every submission opportunity counts. Lucky for you, there's still time to get a Summit + Submissions Ticket to Picture Book Summit 2025 and take advantage of our SEVEN manuscript submission opportunities. Go to www.picturebooksummit.com.

Daniel interviews local author Sarah Jane Crespo about her new children's picture book The Sloth Moth.Episode Transcript and Show Notes: http://wichitalibrary.org/BooksMore/Podcast/Pages/rrr_s5e4.aspx

ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple talks with editor Gale Winskill about the craft of editing children's books and picture books. Winskill discusses age-appropriate language and content, the author–illustrator collaboration, structural and developmental editing, marketing considerations, and the role of beta readers, while emphasizing the importance of challenging young readers and creating stories that appeal to both children and adults. bout the Host Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, speaks, and consults on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She has written books on the business of short fiction and podcasting for authors, and her articles have appeared in Writer's Digest magazine. She serves as the campaigns manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers, beginning with Rock Paper Scissors; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels, beginning with The Sense of Death; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including Close These Eyes. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Sisters in Crime. About the Guest Gale Winskill is an editor at Winskill Editorial with more than thirty years of in-house and freelance experience in the UK and abroad, working across both adult and children's fiction and nonfiction. She provides a full range of editing services, book coaching, and some ghostwriting, and she works with both traditionally published and self-published authors. Her writers have won or been shortlisted for a variety of prizes. Winskill also creates and delivers training for several publishing bodies and teaches the fiction stream of the HarperCollins Author Academy. She believes the editor's role is to empower authors through constructive advice, collaboration, and a good sense of humor. She can be found on her website and on LinkedIn.

Join Jake Parker, Lee White, and Anthony Wheeler for a discussion about Google's AI storybook app, a recently rediscovered N.C. Wyeth mural, and a children's book that can detect color blindness.  3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, hosted by Monica Healer and brought to you by Early Childhood Christian Network, children's author Valerie Ellis joins the conversation to discuss the impactful role of stories and story time in early childhood education. With extensive experience in teaching and children's ministry, Valerie explains how stories uniquely connect with children and help in teaching both academic and non-academic skills such as emotional literacy and social behavior. She provides practical strategies for making story time effective in classrooms and at home, including her point, pause, and ponder method. Valerie also shares book recommendations and introduces her new book, 'Let's Go Bible Adventures,' which uses transport themes to make Bible stories engaging for young children. This episode is filled with insights for educators and parents on leveraging the power of stories for childhood development. Additional resources and book links are available in the show notes.   00:00 Introduction to Reimagine Childhood 00:42 Meet Valerie Ellis: Author and Educator 01:13 The Power of Stories in Early Childhood Education 03:13 Engaging Children with Stories: Techniques and Tips 09:59 Book Recommendations for Various Learning Domains 16:41 PrimeTime 2025 17:29 Let's Go Bible Adventures: A Unique Bible Storybook 32:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts https://oureverydayparables.com/books/ - 75+ book recommendations for kids ages 0 to 12 in five categories, perfect for families and classrooms pursuing faith, compassion, and fun. We talked about an activity pack for The Mixed-Up Chameleon. Here is the link to that free download: https://oureverydayparables.com/teach-kids-about-god-with-popular-picture-books/ Valerie's books can be found at  https://valerieellis.com/books/ Valerie also does in-person and virtual classroom visits! You can connect with her on Instagram @iamvelerieellis https://instagram.com/iamvalerieellis 

Christopher Danielson, Which One Doesn't Belong? Routine: Fostering Flexible Reasoning ROUNDING UP: SEASON 4 | EPISODE 1 The idea of comparing items and looking for similarities and differences has been explored by many math educators. Christopher Danielson has taken this idea to new heights. Inspired by the Sesame Street song “One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others),” Christopher wrote the book Which One Doesn't Belong? In this episode, we'll ask Christopher about the routine of the same name and the features that make it such a powerful learning experience for students.  BIOGRAPHY Christopher Danielson started teaching in 1994 in the Saint Paul (MN) Public Schools. He earned his PhD in mathematics education from Michigan State University in 2005 and taught at the college level for 10 years after that. Christopher is the author of Which One Doesn't Belong?, How Many?, and How Did You Count? Christopher also founded Math On-A-Stick, a large-scale family math playspace at the Minnesota State Fair. RESOURCES What Is “Which One Doesn't Belong?” Talking Math With Your Kids by Christopher Danielson Math On-A-Stick 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussion by Margaret (Peg) Smith & Mary Kay Stein How Many?: A Counting Book by Christopher Danielson How Did You Count? A Picture Book by Christopher Danielson TRANSCRIPT Mike Wallus: The idea of comparing items and looking for similarities and differences has been explored by many math educators. That said, Christopher Danielson has taken this idea to new heights. Inspired by Sesame Street's [song] “One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others),” Christopher wrote the book Which One Doesn't Belong? In this episode, we'll ask Christopher about the Which one doesn't belong? routine and the features that make it such a powerful learning experience for students.  Well, welcome to the podcast, Christopher. I'm excited to be talking with you today.  Christopher Danielson: Thank you for the invitation. Delightful to be invited.  Mike: I would love to chat a little bit about the routine Which one doesn't belong? So, I'll ask a question that I often will ask folks, which is: If I'm a listener, and I don't have prior knowledge of that routine, how would you describe it for someone? Christopher: Yeah. Sesame Street, back in the day, had a routine called Which one doesn't belong? There was a little song that went along with it. And for me, the iconic Sesame Street image is [this:] Grover is on the stairs up to the brownstone on the Sesame Street set, and there are four circles drawn in a 2-by-2 grid in chalk on the wall. And there are a few of the adults and a couple of the puppets sitting around, and they're asking Grover and singing the song, “Which One of Them Doesn't Belong?” There are four circles. Three of them are large and one is small—or maybe it's the other way around, I don't remember. So, there's one right answer, and Grover is thinking really hard—"think real hard” is part of the song. They're singing to him. He's under kind of a lot of pressure to come up with which one doesn't belong and fortunately, Grover succeeds. Grover's a hero.  But what we're wanting kids to attend to there is size. There are three things that are the same size. All of them are the same shape, three that are the same size, one that has a different size. They're wanting to attend to size. Lovely. This one doesn't belong because it is a different size, just like my underwear doesn't belong in my socks drawer because it has a different function. I mean, it's not—for me there is, we could talk a little bit about this in a moment. The belonging is in that mathematical and everyday sense of objects and whether they belong.  So, that's the Sesame Street version. Through a long chain of math educators, I came across a sort of tradition that had been flying along under the radar of rethinking that, with the idea being that instead of there being one property to attend to, we're going to have a rich set of shapes that have rich and interesting relationships with each other. And so Which one doesn't belong? depends on which property you're attending to.  So, the first page of the book that I published, called Which One Doesn't Belong?, has four shapes on it. One is an equilateral triangle standing on a vertex. One is a square standing on a vertex. One is a rhombus, a nonsquare rhombus standing on its vertex, and it's not colored in. All the other shapes are colored in. And then there is the same nonsquare thrombus colored in, resting on a side. So, all sort of simple shapes that offer simple introductory properties, but different people are going to notice different things. Some kids will hone in on that. The one in the lower left doesn't belong because it's not colored in. Other kids will say, “Well, I'm counting the number of sides or the number of corners. And so, the triangle doesn't belong because all the others have four and it has three.” Others will think about angle measure, they'll choose a square. Others will think about orientation. I've been taken to task by a couple of people about this. Kindergartners are still thinking about orientation as one of the properties. So, the shape that is in the lower right on that first page is a rhombus resting on a side instead of on a vertex. And kids will describe it as “the one that feels like it's leaning over” or that “has a flat bottom” or “it's pointing up and to the right” and all the others are pointing straight up and down. So that's the routine. And then things, as with “How Did You Count?” as with “How Many?” As you page your way through the book, things get more sophisticated. And for me, the entry was a geometry book because when my kids were small, we had sort of these simplistic shapes books, but really rich narrative stories in picture books that we could read. And it was always a bummer to me that we'd read these rich stories about characters interacting. We'd see how their interactions, their conflicts relate to our own lives, and then we'd get to the math books, and it would be like, “triangle: always equilateral, always on a side.” “Square: never a square on the rectangle page.” Rectangle gets a different page from square. And so, we understand culturally that children can deal with and are interested in and find fascinating and imaginative rich narratives, but we don't understand as a culture that children also have rich math minds.  So, for a long time I wanted there to be a better shapes book, and there are some better shapes books. They're not all like that, but they're almost all like that. And so, I had this idea after watching one of my colleagues here in Minnesota, Terry Wyberg. This routine, he was doing it with fractions, but about a week later I thought to myself, “Hey, wait a minute, what if I took Terry's idea about there not being one right answer, but any of the four could be, and combine that with my wish for a better shapes book?” And along came Which One Doesn't Belong? as a shapes book. So, there's a square and a rectangle on the same page. There are shapes with curvy sides and shapes with straight sides on the same page, and kids have to wrestle with or often do wrestle with: What does it mean to be a vertex or a corner? A lot of really rich ideas can come out of some well-chosen, simple examples. I chose to do it in the field of geometry, but there are lots of other mathematical objects as well as nonmathematical objects you could apply the same mathematical thinking to.  Mike: So, I think you have implicitly answered the question that I'm going to ask. If you were to say at the broadest level, regardless of whether you're using shapes, numbers, images—whatever the content is that an educator selects to put into the 2-by-2, that is structurally the way that Which one doesn't belong? is set up—what's it good for? What should a teacher think about in terms of “This will help me or will help my students…,” fill in the blank. How do you think about the value that comes out of this Which one doesn't belong? structure and experience?  Christopher: Multidimensional for me. I don't know if I'll remember to say all of the dimensions, so I'll just try to mention a couple that I think are important.  One is that I'm going to make you a promise that whatever mathematical ideas you bring to this classroom during this routine are going to be valued. The measure of what's right, what counts as a right answer here, is going to be what's true—not what I thought of when I was setting up this set. I think there is a lot of power in making that promise and then in holding that promise. It is really, really easy—all of us have been there as teachers—[to] make an instructional promise to kids, [but] then there comes a time where it either inadvertently or we make a decision to break that promise. I think there's a lot of costs to that. I know from my own experience as a learner, from my own experiences as a teacher, that there can be a high cost to that. So valuing ideas, I think this is a space. I love having Which one doesn't belong? as a time that we can set aside for the measure of “what's right is what's true.” So, when children are making claims about this one in the upper right doesn't belong, I want you to for a moment try to think like that person, even if you disagree that that's important. And so, teachers have to play that role also.  Where that comes up a lot is in, especially when I'm talking with adults, if I'm talking to parents about Which one doesn't belong?, often parents who don't identify as math people or who explicitly identify as nonmath people, will say, “That one in the lower left, it's not colored in. But I don't think that really counts.” In that moment, kids are less likely to make that apology, but adults will make that apology all the time. And in that moment, I have to both bring the adult in as a mathematical thinker but also model for them: What does it look like when their kid chooses something that the parent doesn't think counts? So, for me, the real thing that Which one doesn't belong? is doing is teaching children, giving children practice and expertise—therefore learning—about a particular mathematical practice, which is abstraction. That when we look at these sets of shapes, there are lots of properties. And so, we have to for a moment, just think about number of sides. And if we do that, then the triangle doesn't belong because of the other four. But as soon as we shift the property and say, “Well, let's think about angle measures,” then the ways that we're going to sort those shapes, the relationships that they have with each other, changes. And that's true with all mathematical objects.  And you can do that kind of mathematical thinking with non-mathematical objects. One of my favorite Which one doesn't belong? sets is: There's a doughnut, a chocolate doughnut; there's a coffee cup, one of those speckled blue camping metal coffee cups; there's half a hamburger bun with a bunch of seeds on top; and then there is a square everything bagel. And so, as kids start thinking about that, they're like, “Well, if we're thinking about holes, the hamburger bun doesn't have a hole. If we're thinking about speckling, the chocolate doughnut isn't speckled. If we're thinking about whether it's an edible substance, the coffee cup is not edible.” And so that's that same abstraction. If we pay attention to just this one property, that forces a sort. If we pay attention to a different property, we're going to get a different sort. And that's one of the practices of mathematicians on a regular basis. So regular that often when we're doing mathematics, we don't even notice that we're doing it. We don't notice that we're asking kids to ignore all the other properties of the number 2 except for its evenness right now. If you do that, then 2 and 4 are like each other. But if we're supposed to be paying attention to primality as to a prime number, then 2 and 4 are not like each other. All mathematical objects, all mathematicians have to do that kind of sort on the objects that they're working with.  I had a college algebra class at the community college while I was working on Which One Doesn't Belong?, and so, I was test-driving this with graphs and my students. I can still see Rosalie in the middle of the room—a room full of 45 adults ranging from 17 to 52, and I'm this 45-year-old college instructor—and we have three parabolas and one absolute value function. So, a parabola is “y equals x squared.” It's that nice curving swooping thing that goes up at one end down to a nice bowl and then up again. There was one that's upside down. I think there was one pointing sideways. And then an absolute value function is the same idea, except it's two lines coming together to make a bowl, sort of a very sharp bowl, instead of being curved. And we got this lovely Which one doesn't belong?, right? So, we've got this lovely collection of them. And Rosalie, her eyebrows are getting more and more knitted as this conversation goes on. So finally, she raises her hand. I call on her, and she says, “Mr. Danielson, I get that all of these things are true about these, but which ones matter?” Which is a fabulous question that within itself holds a lot of tensions that Rosalie is used to being in math class and being told what things she's supposed to pay attention to.  And so, in some ways it's sort of disturbing to have me up there, and I get that, up there in front of the classroom valuing all these different ways of viewing these graphs because she's like, “Which one is going to matter when you ask me this question about something on an exam? Which ones matter?”  But truly, the only intellectually honest answer to her question is, “Well, it depends. Are we paying attention to direction of concavity? Then the one that's pointing sideways doesn't count.” Any one of these is, it depends on whether you're studying algebra or whether you're studying geometry or topology. And I did give her, I think—I hope—what was a satisfying answer after giving her the true but not very satisfying answer of “It depends,” which is something like, “Well, in the work we're about to do with absolute value functions, the direction that they open up and how steeply they open up are going to be the things that we're really attending to, and we're not going to be attending as much to how they are or are not like parabolas. But seeing how they have some properties in common with these parabolas is probably going to be really useful for us.  Mike: That actually makes me think of, one, a statement of what I think is really powerful about this. And then, two, a pair of questions that I think are related.  It really struck me—Rosalie's question—how different the experience of engaging with a Which one doesn't belong? is from what people have traditionally considered math tasks where there is in fact an answer, right? There's something that the teacher's like, “Yep, that's the thing.” Even if it's perhaps obscured by the task at first, ultimately, oftentimes there is a thing and a Which one doesn't belong? is a very, very different type of experience. So that really does lead me to two questions. One is: What is important to think about when you're facilitating a Which one doesn't belong? experience? And then, maybe even the better question to start with is: What's important to think about when you're planning for that experience?  Christopher: Facilitating is going to be about making a promise to kids. That measure of “what's right is what's true.” I'm interested in the various ways that you're thinking and doing all the kind of work that we discussed but now in this context of geometry, or in my case in the college algebra classroom, in the context of algebraic representations.  Planning. I have been so deeply influenced by the work of Peg Smith and her colleagues and the five practices for facilitating mathematical conversations. And in particular, I think in planning for these conversations, planning a set—when I'm deciding what shapes are going to go in the set, or how I'm going to arrange the eggs in the egg carton, or how many half avocados am I going to put on the cutting board—I'm anticipating one of those practices: What is it that kids are likely to do with this? And if I can't anticipate anything interesting that they're going to do with it, then either my imagination isn't good enough, and I better go try it out with kids or my imagination is absolutely good enough and it's just kind of a junky thing that's not going to take me anywhere, and I should abandon it. So over time, I've gotten so much better at that anticipating work because I have learned, I've become much more expert at what kids are likely to see. But I also always get surprised. In a sufficiently large group of kids, somebody will notice something or have some way of articulating differences among the shapes, even these simple shapes on the first page, that I haven't encountered before. And I get to file that away again for next time. That's learning that gets fed back into the machine, both for the next time I'm going to work with a group of kids, but also for the next time I'm sitting down to design an experience.  Mike: You have me thinking about something else, which is what closure might look like in an experience like this. Because I'm struck by the fact that there might be some really intentional choices of the items in the Which one doesn't belong? So, the four items that end up being there, [they] may be designed to drive a conversation around a set of properties or a set of relationships—and yet at the same time be open enough to allow lots of kids to be right in the things that they're noticing.  And so, if I've got a Which one doesn't belong? that kind of is intended to draw out some ideas or have kids notice some of those ideas and articulate them, what does closure look like? Because I could imagine you don't know what you're going to get necessarily from kids when you put a Which one doesn't belong? in front of them. So, how do you think about different ways that a routine or experience like this might close for a teacher and for students?  Christopher: Yeah, I think one of the best roles that a teacher can play at the end of a Which one doesn't belong? conversation is going back and summarizing the various properties that kids attended to. Because as they're being presented and maybe annotated, we're noticing them sort of one by one. And we might not have a moment to set them aside. It might take a minute for a kid to draw out their ideas about the orientation of this shape. And it might take a little bit and some clarification with another kid about how they were counting sides. They might not have great words for “sides” or “corners,” and [instead they use] gestures, and we're all trying to figure things out. And so, by the time we figured that out, we've forgotten about the orientation answer that we had before.  So I think a really powerful move, one of many that are in teachers' toolkits, is to come back and say, “All right, so we looked at these four shapes, and what we noticed is that if you're paying attention to how this thing is sitting on the page, to its orientation, which direction it's pointing, then this one didn't belong, and Susie gave us that answer. And then another thing you might pay attention to, another property could be the number of sides. If you're paying attention to the number of sides the triangle doesn't belong, and we got that one from Brent, right?” And so run through some of the various properties.  Also, noticing along the way that there were two reasons to pick the triangle as the one that doesn't belong. It might be the sides, and it might be, you might have some other reason for picking it that isn't the number of sides. For kindergartners, the number of corners, or vertices, and the number of sides are not yet obviously the same as each other. So, for a lot of kindergartners that feels like two answers rather than one. Older audiences are more likely to know that that's going to be the same.  So yeah, I think that being able to come back and state succinctly after we've had this conversation—valuing each of the contributions that came along, but also being able to compare them, maybe we're writing them down as part of our annotation. There might be other ways that we do that. But I think summarizing so that we can look at this set of ideas that's been brought out altogether, I think is a really powerful way.  One other quick thing about designing, which is—I hear this a lot from teachers, they're saying, “OK, so we're studying quadrilaterals. So, I made a Which one doesn't belong? with four quadrilaterals. And nobody noticed that they were all quadrilaterals.” To which I say, “They didn't notice because you didn't contrast that property.” So, if there's a property you want to bring out, you better make sure, I think, that you have three things that have it and one that doesn't. Or vice versa—three that don't, and one that does—because then that's a thing for kids to notice. They're not going to notice what they all have in common because that's not the task we're asking them. So, if you want to make one about quadrilaterals, throw a pentagon in there.  Mike: Love it.  So, the question that I typically will ask any guest before the close of the interview is, what are some resources that educators might grab onto, be they yours or other work in the field that you think is really powerful, that supports the kind of work that we've been talking about? What would you offer to someone who's interested in continuing to learn and maybe to try this out?  Christopher: So, we've referred to number talks. “Dot talks” and “number talks,” those are both phrases that can be googled. There are three books, Which One Doesn't Belong?, How Many?, How Did You Count?—all published by Stenhouse, all available as a hardcover book, hardcover student book, or home picture book.  Mike: So, for listeners, just so you know, we're going to add links to the resources that Christopher referred to in all of our show notes for folks' convenience.  Christopher, I think this is probably a good place to stop. Thank you so much for joining us. It's absolutely been a pleasure chatting with you.  Christopher: Yeah, thank you for the invitation, for your thoughtful prep work, and support of both the small and the larger projects along the way. I appreciate that. I appreciate all of you at Bridges and The Math Learning Center. You do fabulous work.  Mike: This concludes part one of our discussion with Christopher Danielson. Christopher is going to join us again later this season, where we'll have a conversation about the nature of counting and how an expanded definition of counting might help support students later in their mathematical journey. I hope that you'll join us for this conversation.    This podcast is brought to you by The Math Learning Center and the Maier Math Foundation, dedicated to inspiring and enabling all individuals to discover and develop their mathematical confidence and ability. © 2025 The Math Learning Center | www.mathlearningcenter.org  

What would your art (and your life) look like if you reinvented yourself by the New Year? Jake Parker, Sam Cotterill, and Lee White share habits to start today so you can hit the ground running in 2026. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Véronique Sweet, Art Director for Crown Picture Books and Little Golden Books at Penguin Random House, about what she looks for in an illustrator's portfolio; how Little Golden Books aren't just for little readers; what it means for illustrators to be storytellers; and more.Véronique's email address vsweet@penguinrandomhouse.com.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Irene Chan, Jill Howarth, Richard Scarry, and Gustaf Tenggren If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Matt de la Peña is the Newbery Medal-winning author of seven Young Adult novels and five picture books. We talked with him about writing small stories and what it means to write a book that is, as he calls it, “Diversity 2.0.”You can read a transcript of this episode on our website.Check out our booklist with books by Matt de la Peña and more!Learn more about de la Peña on his website, and see more illustrations by Christian Robinson.Protect the freedom to read by getting involved with Books Unbanned.

Have you lost the fun of making art? Lee White, Sam Cotterill, and Anthony Wheeler share how to rediscover the delight of creating through play. You'll learn how limitations give you freedom, how letting loose might be the antidote to your burnout, and much more. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

Giuseppe Castellano talks to Vanessa Robles, Director of Production for Penguin Young Readers, about a production team's role in bringing a book to life; why the number sixteen is important in book production; why we all need to put more respect on Production's name; and more.Vanessa can be found on LinkedIn.Artists mentioned in this episode include: Judy Schachner If you find value in this podcast, you can support it by subscribing to our best-selling publication, Notes On Illustration, on Substack. Among other benefits, you will gain access to bonus episodes we call “Extra Credit”. | Visit illustrationdept.com for offerings like mentorships and portfolio reviews, testimonials, our alumni showcase, and more. | Music for the podcast was created by Oatmello.

Meg Medina is an award-winning author of books for kids and young adults, and she was the 2023-2024 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. We talked to her about what it meant to be the first Latinx author in that role, about the need for more diverse kids books, and the importance of reading in families.You can read a transcript of this episode on our website.Check out our booklist with books by Meg Medina and more!Learn more about the We Need Diverse Books movement. Read about the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature at the Library of Congress.

Today, I have a very special treat for you! This spring, our publishing imprint here at RAR, Waxwing Books, celebrated the release of Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien at one of my favorite bookstores, Fabled Bookshop in Waco, Texas.I had so much fun talking to Painting Wonder's incredibly talented author and illustrator, Katie Wray Schon, about this picture book biography of the fascinating woman behind the iconic illustrations in the works of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. We knew this conversation would be too good to keep to ourselves, so we recorded it, and now we're sharing it with you!In this episode, you'll hear: Why Katie wanted to write and illustrate a picture book about Pauline Baynes Katie's process for writing, illustrating, and revising a page-turning book What Katie would go back and tell her younger self, plus her favorite resources for aspiring authors and illustratorsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/painting-wonder-launch

It's time for an update! Samantha Cotterill, Lee White, and Anthony Wheeler share what they're working on and the lessons they're learning in the process. Tune in to discover how to listen to your creative voice and maintain play in your illustration practice. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

The Snowy Day wasn't the first picture book to feature a Black child as its beloved protagonist, but it might be the most visible. When it came out in 1962, it challenged the publishing industry to champion books that depict kids of color. Today, we find ourselves in a moment not so different from the one Ezra Jack Keats was in when he sat down to create The Snowy Day. We are, once again, fighting for the right to let kids read the books they love, and we're still reminding each other that the characters kids see in those books really matters. Read a transcript of this episode on our website and check out these great links:Check out our booklist with titles related to The Snowy DayLearn more about the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, the EJK Award, and the yearly bookmaking competition for kids in NYC public schools.Check out these digitized copies of The Brownies' Book, books by Black creatorsRead about diversity in children's book publishing, from “The All-White World of Children's Books” (1965) to more recent history, like this 2018 graphic that compiles data from the Cooperative Children's Book Center.Learn more about the most frequently banned children's books in schools (PEN America) and, as always, check out our Books Unbanned initiative for ways you can help.Attend an in-person event with Art Spiegelman at BPL's Central Library on September 10th. 

Trying to impress the wrong crowd? Samantha Cotterill, Jake Parker, and Lee White discuss the temptation to create for your peers and how to return to your authentic expression. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

Is your website looking dusty? Jake Parker, Sam Cotterill, and Lee White discuss the proper care and feeding of your portfolio site. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.