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This week, the Three Stooges are at the helm as Bob, Joey, and Steve discuss the real-world implications of One World Under Doom, the lasting appeal of Rainbow Rowell's Runaways, Shakespeare, and the majesty of early 2000s disaster movies!Books: Lost Fantasy #2, New Avengers #1, Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman #1, Giant-Size Dark Phoenix Saga #1, Phoenix #12, One World Under Doom #5, The New Girl OGN, Runaways #1, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn #1-4Other Stuff: It's pretty much a guaranteeThe Comic Book Podcast is brought to you by Talking Comics (www.talkingcomicbooks.com). The podcast is hosted by Steve Seigh, Bob Reyer, Joey Braccino, Aaron Amos, Chris Ceary, and John Burkle, who weekly dissect everything comics-related, from breaking news to new releases. Our Instagram handle is @TalkingComicsPodcas, and you can email us at podcast@talkingcomicbooks.com.
Wherein boundaries are crossed. Bark into our inbox: gwritersanon@gmail.com Watch our Facebook page (Ghost Writers, Anonymous).
Seton Catholic has claimed its third WIAA Scholastic Cup in four years, finishing the 2024–25 school year with dominant scores across athletics, academics, and student activities. Athletic director Phil Kent says the honor reflects the school's mission to grow well-rounded students. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/sports/seton-catholic-celebrates-another-wiaa-scholastic-cup/ #SetonCatholic #WIAA #ScholasticCup #AcademicExcellence #StudentAthletes #HighSchoolSports #VancouverWA #PhilKent #GirlsSoccer #BoysGolf
Wherein we delve into the Animorphs' den. Spray a foul odor into our inbox: gwritersanon@gmail.com Wander the woods to our Facebook page (Ghost Writers, Anonymous).
June 8th was World Oceans Day, and if you listen to this podcast, you know this is a day I am very much here for - because I am obsessed with the ocean… for good reason.But rather than going on about it myself, for this episode I thought we could celebrate World Oceans Day with the help of another ocean obsessive: Melissa Cristina Márquez.Melissa is a marine science education expert based in Australia, and is known as "the most enthusiastic shark scientist" people ever meet. Her work has been featured in Science, NPR, Vogue, Allure, InStyle, GQ, Seeker, Popular Science, and showcased on Disney+, BBC, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Acciona, and Good Morning America.As well as being a scientist and educator, Melissa is also an author of children's books including the Wild Survival series (Scholastic) and Mother of Sharks (Madre de los Tiburones), with her latest, Sea of Constellations (Océano de Constelaciones).In this episode, she shares:Her background and how she got to be on the Discovery ChannelWhy we need diversity in scienceThe integration of Indigenous science into Western science - and how it worksHow to tackle constant misinformationHer favourite thing about sharksHow to stay hopeful during a bleak time in the ocean worldThe importance of ocean education and being a steward of natureThe importance of interacting with nature from a young ageKey Quotes“If we're going to coexist with nature again - how we used to - we need to be a part of nature again, instead of apart from it.”“Science, in order to be effective and actually benefit people, needs to serve the people it's trying to benefit.”Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
This week, Sarah unpacks all kinds of content to help you and your clients survive Summer 2025! Field Notes: Malik, Aisha. “Adobe Launches Beta Version of Its Photoshop App on Android.” Techcrunch.Com, TechCrunch, 3 June 2025, techcrunch.com/2025/06/03/adobe-launches-beta-version-of-its-photoshop-app-on-android/. “AHIP Medicare + Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Online Course.” Ahipmedicaretraining.Com, AHIP, www.ahipmedicaretraining.com/page/login. Accessed 3 June 2025. “NABIP Medicare Advantage Certification.” NABIP.Org, NABIP, www.nabiptraining.org/nabip/medicare. Accessed 3 June 2025. Register for Ritter Insurance Marketing Summits: https://summits.ritterim.com/ Summer Podcast Listening for Kids: Kids Summer Podcast Sampler Playlist: https://www.podchaser.com/lists/summer-kids-podcast-sampler-11SKLQjpO2 Shippen, Lauren. “Maxine Miles and the Loose Ends - An Interactive Mystery!” Atypicalartists.Co, ATYPICAL ARTISTS, www.atypicalartists.co/loose-ends. Accessed 4 June 2025. Shippen, Lauren. “Maxine Miles - A YA Mystery Fiction Podcast.” Atypicalartists.Co, Atypical Artists, www.atypicalartists.co/maxine. Accessed 4 June 2025. “Summer Listening Challenge: Listen to a Summer of Stories!” Jonincharacter.Com, Jonathan Cormur, 20 May 2025, jonincharacter.com/summer-listening/. Summer Reading Challenges & Recommendations: “Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program.” Barnesandnobleinc.Com, Barnes & Noble Inc, www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our-stores-communities/summer-reading-program/. Accessed 4 June 2025. “Beanstack Mobile App.” Landing.Beanstack.Com, Beanstack, landing.beanstack.com/mobile-app. Accessed 4 June 2025. “Fun Summer Reading Challenges for Kids.” Scholastic.Com, Scholastic, 29 May 2025, www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/reading-challenges-kids.html. “Hot Ones: Readers' 80 Most Anticipated New Summer Books.” Goodreads.Com, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2922. Accessed 4 June 2025. “Pizza Hut Book It!® Program.” Bookitprogram.Com, Pizza Hut, www.bookitprogram.com/. Accessed 4 June 2025. Maxine Miles: https://lnk.to/maxinemilespod “Pizza Hut Debuts First-Ever BOOK IT!® App.” Blog.Pizzahut.Com, Pizza Hut, 27 May 2025, blog.pizzahut.com/pizza-hut-debuts-first-ever-book-it-app/. “Scholastic Summer Reading.” Scholastic.Com, Scholastic, www.scholastic.com/site/summer-reading.html. Accessed 4 June 2025. Vance, Usha. “Summer Reading Challenge.” Whitehouse.Gov, The White House, 2 June 2025, www.whitehouse.gov/read/. Diamond, Anna. “Summer Reading Challenges Aren't Just for Kids.” Nytimes.Com, New York Times, 30 May 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/books/summer-reading-adults.html. NYT Staff. “The New York Times's Summer Reading Bucket List.” Nytimes.Com, New York Times, 30 May 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/books/summer-reading-bucket-list.html. “The Ultimate Middle School Summer Reading List.” Scholastic.Com, Scholastic, www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/book-lists-and-recommendations/summer-reading-list-for-middle-school.html. Accessed 4 June 2025. Staying Hydrated During Summer: “6 Refreshing Summer Drinks You Can Make at Home.” Economictimes.Indiatimes.Com, The Economic Times, economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/6-refreshing-summer-drinks-you-can-make-at-home/classic-lemonade/slideshow/121248292.cms. Accessed 4 June 2025. DeAngelis, Danielle. “9 Drinks to Keep You Healthy & Hydrated This Summer.” Eatingwell.Com, EatingWell, 11 June 2024, www.eatingwell.com/drinks-to-keep-healthy-hydrated-this-summer-8661651. Walsh, Karla. “10 Ways Your Body Changes When You're Drinking Enough Water.” Allrecipes.Com, Allrecipes, www.allrecipes.com/article/drinking-enough-water/. Accessed 4 June 2025. Joshi, Priyankaa. “13 Best Electrolyte Drinks to Keep You Hydrated This Summer, Approved by Nutritionists.” Goodhousekeeping.Com, Good Housekeeping. www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/product-reviews/health-leisure/g60319999/best-electrolyte-powders-drinks/. Accessed 4 June 2025. Wimberly, Camryn Alexa. “23 Drinks to Keep You Healthy & Hydrated This Summer.” Eatingwell.Com, EatingWell, 1 June 2025, www.eatingwell.com/drink-recipes-to-keep-you-hydrated-this-summer-2025-11745692. Biggs, Suzanne. “How to Make Electrolyte Water (Plus Easy Recipes to Try at Home).” Lifemd.Com, LifeMD, 19 Nov. 2024, lifemd.com/learn/how-to-make-electrolyte-water. Killeen, Breana Lai. “Spinach-Apple Juice Recipe.” Eatingwell.Com, Eating Well, 18 Apr. 2024, www.eatingwell.com/recipe/250846/spinach-apple-juice/. Capritto, Amanda, and Nasha Addarich Martinez. “Summer Hydration: Your Daily Water Requirements Guide.” Cnet.Com, CNET, 31 May 2025, www.cnet.com/health/medical/summer-hydration-daily-water-requirements/. Kumer, Emma B. “The Best and Worst Drinks to Keep You Hydrated.” Tasteofhome.Com, Taste of Home, 11 Jan. 2025, www.tasteofhome.com/article/best-and-worst-hydrating-drinks-ranked/. “There's More To Staying Hydrated Than Just Drinking Water.” Delish.Com, Delish, www.delish.com/food-news/a61624242/how-to-stay-hydrated-in-heat/. Accessed 4 June 2025. Schneider, Jamie. “This Green Smoothie Recipe Is As Hydrating As 3 Cups Of Water, Says An MD.” Mindbodygreen.Com, mindbodygreen, 10 Apr. 2025, www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/functional-mds-green-smoothie-recipe-for-max-hydration. Kanya, Laura. “Watermelon-Basil Agua Fresca.” Eatingwell.Com, EatingWell, www.eatingwell.com/recipe/7967577/watermelon-basil-agua-fresca/. Accessed 4 June 2025. On-The-Go Summer Eating: Bjarnadottir, Adda. “9 Fast-Food Restaurants That Serve Healthy Foods.” Edited by Alissa Palladino, Healthline.Com, Healthline Media, 14 May 2025, www.healthline.com/nutrition/healthy-fast-food-restaurants. Rajput, Priyanka. “10 Items You Can Eat at Fast-Food Chains If You're on the Mediterranean Diet.” Businessinsider.Com, Business Insider, 4 Feb. 2025, www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-chain-items-mediterranean-diet-2025-2#little-hamburger-at-five-guys-10. Madormo, Carrie. “25 Healthy Fast-Food Orders That You Can Grab and Go.” Tasteofhome.Com, Taste of Home, 2 Jan. 2025, www.tasteofhome.com/collection/healthy-fast-food/. Jung, Alyssa. “45 Healthiest Fast-Food Orders, According to Experts.” Edited by Valerie Agyeman, Goodhousekeeping.Com, Good Housekeeping, 6 Jan. 2025, www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/g4622/healthiest-fast-food/. Groth, Leah. “Dunkin' Just Introduced Wild New Summer Menu.” Eatthis.Com, Eat This, Not That!, 3 June 2025, www.eatthis.com/dunkin-summer-menu-2025-new-items/. Boesch, Samantha. “I Tried the 7 Healthiest Fast-Food Meals—Here's What I'll Actually Order Again.” Eatthis.Com, Eat This, Not That! , 10 Aug. 2024, www.eatthis.com/healthy-fast-food-taste-test/. Losciale, Marisa. “McDonald's Snack Wrap Officially Gets Release Date.” Parade.Com, Parade, 3 June 2025, parade.com/food/mcdonalds-snack-wrap-release-date-confirmed-returning-july-2025. Resources: Adding Spokes to Your Wheel ft. Robert Rothschild: https://lnk.to/rothschild2025 How to Avoid Elderspeak: https://lnk.to/asgf20250530 Location Sharing Apps: https://lnk.to/ASGA84 Making Your Own Luck ft. Michael Krantz: https://lnk.to/krantz2025 Takeaways on Social Media Marketing in 2025: https://lnk.to/asgf20250523 Follow Us on Social! Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/ Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency. Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
Are you ready for the next YA book series to completely obsess over!? That's what's in store for you when you pick up Lauren Magaziner's latest book, The Incorruptibles! Lauren stopped by the show this week to share her background as an author, working on this (among many other) projects, and some of her favorite memories writing this book. Check it out! About Lauren Magaziner Lauren is the internationally bestselling author of the Case Closed series, The Mythics series, the upcoming series The Incorruptibles (June 10, 2025), and three other stand-alone books for middle grade readers. Her books are available in 12 languages, have been Junior Library Guild selections, have been on the Indie Next List, been an Amazon bestseller, earned starred reviews, been on state lists, and have been optioned for a TV movie with Nickelodeon. She has also contributed short stories to Storyworks magazine and a middle grade mystery anthology called Super Puzzletastic Mysteries. Lauren grew up in New Hope, Pennsylvania. After receiving a B.A. in Creative Writing and Philosophy at Hamilton College, Lauren Magaziner worked on two delightful Scholastic magazines, where many of her coworkers didn't believe her last name was real. She currently lives in Philadelphia, where she writes full time. About 'The Incorruptibles' Fiora Barrowling lives in a world where sorcerers rule over humans. After surviving an encounter with The Radiance—the very worst of the sorcerers—she's whisked away to the incredible Incorruptibles (“Inc”) Academy, a school for resistance fighters in training. But most of the other students think Fiora hasn't earned her place there, and when things start to go wrong and it seems the sorcerers have a spy in the academy, all eyes are on Fiora. With all odds stacked against her, can Fiora prove that she belongs? Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload. With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale) Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life! At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care. Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com
ABOUT THIS EPISODE Learning and loving to read is a journey for every child. Today, we're focusing on that particular moment when a child is building their reading confidence to make a leap from picture books to chapter books. It's an exciting time, but it's also high stakes: it presents a small window that can either launch a child into a love of reading on their own or intimidate them if they find it overwhelming. That's where Scholastic comes in. In today's episode, former elementary school teacher and current Editorial Director of Scholastic's Acorn early readers and Branches early chapter books lines, Katie Carella, is back in the studio with guest-host Billy DiMichele to talk about this magical moment in a child's literacy journey. And joining the podcast for the first time is Bernard Mensah, author of beloved Branches series Kwame's Magic Quest. Over the years, Branches has helped grow so many readers through highly illustrated, early chapter books that kids devour. Currently with 58 million books in print and 34 published series, the line has experienced a “meteoric” rise since we last spoke about this important line in 2019 when it had about 17 million books and about 25 series in print. Listen on to find out what's behind this meteoric rise, to get a glimpse of Kwame's magical world, and to learn about Bernard's passion for writing for the Branches age group and representing Ghanaian culture in children's books. And stay to the end for a read aloud sneak peek! →Resources About Branches: https://www.scholastic.com/site/branches.html About Kwame's Magic Quest: https://www.scholastic.com/site/branches/kwame-s-magic-quest.html Fuse #8 Blog Review from Betsy Bird: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2025/02/04/the-fast-paced-page-turning-adventure-series-thats-a-celebration-of-african-cultures-bernard-mensah-discusses-kwames-magic-quest/ More listening: Scholastic Reads! EVA-DORABLE: Rebecca Elliott Talks a Decade of the Owl Diaries, Eva the Owlet, and more! More listening: Scholastic Reads! Growing Readers with Branches and Acorn from 2019! →Highlights _Katie Carella: Editorial Director, Acorn & Branches, Scholastic _ “Having been a 1st-3rd grade teachers myself, I'm always excited to talk about that very exciting point in a child's reading journey where they begin to read books independently. You get to see that light go off and it's just the best feeling ever.” “All of the Branches books have a second grade reading level. But the books all feature really rich, layered plots so they do appeal to children across many grade levels. From Kindergarten, I'd say up through fourth and even fifth grade, especially now with reading levels behind where they should be. So it's more important than ever to have these “high-low” books. These books are high-interest, layered plots and yet written at a lower reading level.” “If a child chooses a book that's too easy for them the child can speed through it and they gain fluency and stamina. If they choose a book that's slightly too hard for them, the child might struggle, but if they want to read they will do the work. And they'll learn decoding skills along the way. So both experiences ultimately grow a child's vocabulary and their reading skill set.” “The accolades [for Kwame's Magic Quest] keep coming in…it was highlighted on Betsy Bird's Fuse #8 blog…I just wanted to say a quote she had in her blog, ‘it's amazing how much story Mensah and Nayo [the illustrator] are able to pack into this thing.' You are getting this really rich and magical world that Bernard has created but in this really digestible format.” _Bernard Mensah, Author, Kwame's Magic Quest _ “[Kwame's Magic Quest] has got that mix of authenticity, friendship, lots and lots of magic, some peril and danger, there's evil magicians and spells. I think it brings together a lot of things that you would typically find exciting if you wanted to read a book about magic or an epic adventure.” “[on working with the illustrator Natasha Nayo] Having an illustrator who came from the same background who understands the cultural context of some of things that I was trying to put across, I could rely on the art to do some of the talking for me. She brought her own unique flare.” “My son, when he was about five years old, I remember looking at his bookshelf and thinking to myself, well, I've managed to find stories for him or write something that speaks to his culture at every age. Where is the book that speaks to him from five to eight years old? And I couldn't find it so foolishly I thought to myself, well, I'll write it. And that's where the idea for Kwame's Magic Quest came from.” On what the characters would do over summer break, “By the end of the summer they would probably save the world again because that's what they do in every book. They come close to not doing it but they find a way to rally together and make magic safe again for everybody.” →Special Thanks Producers: Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan, and Maxine Osa Sound engineer: S. Shin Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl →Coming Soon The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2025
Animorphs was a young adult phenomenon in the late 90s, so naturally Scholastic was ready to cash in with heaps of merchandise. In addition to the board games and video games we already discussed, they produced t-shirts, action figures, calendars, and more! We discuss virtually every Animorphs item ever sold or included with a fast food kids meal.Check out all the merch on Seerowpedia: https://animorphs.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Animorphs_MerchandiseSupport our Patreon to receive "The Yeerky Boys Chronicles" weekly bonus episodes: http://patreon.com/theyeerkyboysE-mail us: TheYeerkyBoys@gmail.comFollow us: @Dogtimes on Bluesky, @Quence on Bluesky, www.JonathanEstis.com
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. Happy Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Even though the Trump Administration has eliminated recognizing cultural heritage months, we are still celebrating diversity and inclusion here at APEX Express and KPFA. We believe in lifting up people's voices and tonight on APEX Express the Powerleegirls are focusing on “Asian American Children's book authors”. Powerleegirl hosts Miko Lee and daughter Jalena Keane-Lee speak with: Michele Wong McSween, Gloria Huang, and Andrea Wang AAPINH Month Children's Books part 1 transcript Opening: [00:00:00] 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. Ayame Keane-Lee: [00:00:49] Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Even though the Trump administration has eliminated recognizing cultural heritage months, we are still celebrating diversity and inclusion. Here at Apex Express and KPFA, we believe in lifting up people's voices. And tonight on Apex Express, the PowerLeeGirls are focusing on Asian American Children's book authors. PowerLeeGirl hosts Miko Lee and daughter Jalena Keane-Lee. Speak with Michele Wong McSween, Gloria Huang and Andrea Wang. Thanks for joining us tonight on Apex Express. Enjoy the show. Miko Lee: [00:01:21] Welcome, Michele Wong McSween to Apex Express. Michele Wong McSween: [00:01:26] Thank you, Miko. It's nice to be here. Miko Lee: [00:01:28] I'm really happy to talk with you about your whole children's series, Gordon & Li Li, which is absolutely adorable. I wanna start very first with a personal question that I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you? Michele Wong McSween: [00:01:45] I would say my people are really my family starting with, my great, great grandparents who came here down to my grandparents, my parents, and onto my children because, to me family is. The reason why I created Gordon & Li Li in the first place, it was really to bridge that connection for my children. I didn't grow up feeling that connected with my culture because as a fourth generation Chinese American, I was really in the belief that I'm American. Why do I need to know anything about my culture? Why do I need to speak Chinese? I never learned. As a sidebar to that, I never learned to speak Chinese and it didn't really hit me until I had my own kids that I was really doing a disservice to not only my kids, but to myself. my people are my family. I do this for my kids. I do this to almost apologize to my parents for being so, Disrespectful to my amazing culture and I do it for the families who really want to connect and bridge that gap for their own children and for themselves. Miko Lee: [00:02:53] And what legacy do you carry with you? Michele Wong McSween: [00:02:55] Again, my family. My, great grandparents. Really. Started our family's legacy with the hard work and the prejudices and all the things that they endured so that we could have a better life. And I've always felt that it is my responsibility to teach my own kids about the sacrifices that were made and not to make them feel guilty, but to just make them appreciate that we are here. Because of the the blood, sweat, and tears that their ancestors did for them. And so we are, eternally grateful for that. I think it's important for us to continue that legacy of always doing our best, being kind and doing what we can do to further the experience of not just our family, but the people in our community that we connect with and to the greater world. Miko Lee: [00:03:43] when you were growing up, were your parents speaking with you in Chinese and did you hear about your great grandparents and their legacy? Was that part of your upbringing? Michele Wong McSween: [00:03:52] I heard about my great grandparents in the stories that my mom told us, but to be quite honest, I wasn't receptive to really digging deep in my cultural understanding of. my great-grandfather and what he went through. I know mom, I know he came over in 19 whatever. I know he brought over all these young sons from his village, but I really didn't fully take it in and. No, I didn't hear Chinese spoken in the house much. The only time my parents spoke it was to each other so that we didn't know what they were talking about. They had like this secret code, language. My experience with my language was not, That positive. we did attempt to go to Chinese school only to be teased by all the other kids because we didn't speak it. It didn't end up well. my mom ended up pulling us out and so no, we were really not connected all that much to the language. Miko Lee: [00:04:48] I can really relate to what you're saying. As a fifth generation Chinese American, and my parents their ancestors came from different provinces, so their dialects were so different that they even spoke to each other in English. 'cause they couldn't understand each other in Chinese. So it happens so often. Yeah. Yeah. And so I really relate to that. I'm wondering if there was an epiphany in your life or a time where you thought, oh, I. I wish I knew more of those stories about my ancestors or was there some catalyst for you that changed? Michele Wong McSween: [00:05:17] All of this really kind of happened when I moved to New York. I, you know, raised in Sacramento, went to college in the Bay Area, lived in San Francisco for a while with a job, and then I eventually moved to New York. And it wasn't until I came to New York and I met Asians or Chinese Americans like me that actually spoke Chinese and they knew about cool stuff to do in Chinatown. It really opened my eyes to this new cool world of the Chinese culture because I really experienced Chinatown for the first time when I moved to New York. And it was just so incredible to see all these people, living together in this community. And they all looked the same. But here's the thing, they all spoke Chinese, or the majority of them spoke Chinese. So when I went to Chinatown and they would look at me and speak to me in Chinese and I would give them this blank stare. They would just look at me like, oh my gosh, she doesn't even speak her own language. And it kind of made me feel bad. And this was really the first time that it dawned on me that, oh wow, I, I kind of feel like something's missing. And then it really hit me when I had my kids, because they're half Chinese and I thought, oh my gosh, wait a minute, if I'm their last connection to the Chinese culture and I don't speak the language. They have no chance of learning anything about their language they couldn't go that deep into their culture if I didn't learn about it. So that really sparked this whole, Gordon & Li Li journey of learning and discovering language and culture for my kids. Miko Lee: [00:06:51] Share more about that. How, what happened actually, what was the inspiration for creating the Children's book series? Michele Wong McSween: [00:06:58] It was really my children, I really felt that it was my responsibility to teach them about their culture and language and, if I didn't know the language, then I better learn it. So I enrolled all of us in different Mandarin courses. They had this, I found this really cute kids' Mandarin class. I went to adult Mandarin classes and I chose Mandarin because that was the approved official language in China. I am from Taishan, My parents spoke Taishanese, but I thought, well, if Mandarin's the official language, I should choose that one probably so that my kids will have at least a better chance at maybe some better jobs in the future or connecting with, the billion people that speak it. I thought Mandarin would be the way to go. When I started going to these classes and I just realized, wow, this is really hard, not just to learn the language, but to learn Mandarin Chinese, because we're not just talking about learning how to say the four different tones. We're talking about reading these characters that if you look at a Chinese character, you have absolutely no idea what it sounds like if you're, if you're learning Spanish or French or German, you can see the letters and kind of sound it out a little bit. But with Chinese characters. No chance. So I found it extremely difficult and I realized, wow, I really need to support my kids more because if I am going to be the one that's going to be bridging this connection for them, I need to learn more and I need to find some more resources to help us. when we would have bedtime story time, that whole routine. That was always the favorite time of my kids to be really, quiet and they would really absorb what I was saying, or we would talk about our days or just talk about funny things and I realized, wow, these books that they love and we have to read over and over and over again. this is the way that they're going to get the information. And I started searching high and low for these books. back in 2006, they didn't exist. and so I realized if they didn't exist and I really wanted them for my kids, then I needed to create them. That's the impetus, is there was nothing out there and I really wanted it so badly that I had to create it myself. Miko Lee: [00:09:09] Oh, I love that. And I understand you started out self-publishing. Can you talk a little bit about that journey? Michele Wong McSween: [00:09:15] I'm glad I didn't know what I know today because it was really hard. luckily I had, A friend who used to work for a toy company, it was all through connections. there was nothing really on Google about it. there was no Amazon print on demand. There were none of these companies that provide these services like today. So I just kept asking questions. Hey, do you know a toy manufacturer in China that maybe prints books? Do you know a company that could help me? get my books to the states. Do you know an illustrator that can help me illustrate my books? Because I had gone to fashion design school, but I had not learned to illustrate characters or things in a book. So asking questions and not being afraid to ask the questions was really how I was able to do it because, Without the help of friends and family, I wouldn't have been able to do this. I had all my friends look at my books, show them to their kids. I had my kids look at them, and I kind of just figured it out as I went along. Ultimately when I did publish my first book, I had so much support from my kids' schools. To read the books there, I had support from a local play space for kids that we would go to. I really leaned on my community to help me, get the books out there, or actually it was just one at the time. Two years later I self-published two more books. So I had three in total. no one tells you that when you self-publish a book, the easy part is actually creating it. The hard part is what comes after that, which is the pr, the marketing, the pounding, the pavement, knocking on the doors to ask people to buy your books, and that was really hard for me. I would just take my books in a bag and I would explain my story to people and I would show them my books. sometimes they would say, okay, I'll take one of each, or Okay, we'll try it out. and slowly but surely they would reorder from me. I just slowly, slowly built up, a whole Roster of bookstores and I kept doing events in New York. I started doing events in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and through that I gained some following, some fans and people would tell their friends about me. they would give them to their nieces they would give them to their cousin's kids, or, things like that. I knew that I had to do it because my ultimate goal was to have Scholastic be my publisher. That was my ultimate goal. Because they are the publisher that I grew up with, that I love that I connected with, that I was so excited to get their book club, little flyer. I would check off every book that I wanted. And my mom never said no. She always let me get every single book I wanted. I realize now that that's what really Created the love of books for me is just having access to them and, going to the libraries and seeing all these books on the bookshelves and being able to take them out and read them on the spot. And then if I loved them enough, I would check them out and take them home and read them over and over. So it was really, my experience, having that love for books that I thought, oh gosh, it would be a dream. To have Scholastic become my publisher. So after 10 long years of events and community outreach and selling to these bookstores, I finally thought, okay, I've sold, about 17,000, 18,000 books. Maybe, maybe now I can take my series to them. I also had created an app. Maybe I can take this to them and show them what I've done. Maybe they'll be interested in acquiring me. And I got an appointment with the editor and I pitched my books on my app and within a couple of days they offered to acquire my books, which was my dream come true. So anyway, that was a very long story for how self-publishing really is and how ultimately it really helped my dream come true. Miko Lee: [00:13:08] Now your books are on this Scholastic book, fair Circuit, right? Michele Wong McSween: [00:13:13] Yes, they are. Well, it's actually just one book. They took the three books, which were everyday Words. Count in Mandarin and learn animals in Mandarin. They took all three books and they put them in one big compilation book, which is called My First Mandarin Words with Gordon & Li Li. So it's a bigger book. It's a bigger board book. Still very, very sturdy and it's a great, starter book for any family because it has those three first themes that were the first themes that I taught my own boys, and I think. It just, it's very natural for kids to want to learn how to count. animals were, and my kids were animal lovers, so I knew that that's what would keep them interested in learning Mandarin because they actually loved the topic. So, yes, my first mandarin words with Gordon & Li Li does live on Scholastics big roster. Miko Lee: [00:14:01] Fun. Your dream come true. I love it. Yeah. Thanks. And you were speaking earlier about your background in fashion design. Has there been any impact of your fashion design background on your voice as a children's book author? Michele Wong McSween: [00:14:14] I don't know if my background as a fashion designer has had any impact on my voice. I think it's had an impact on how I imagined my books and how I color my books and how I designed them because of working with, you know, color palettes and, and putting together collections I can visually see and, can anticipate. Because I have that background, I can kind of anticipate what a customer might want. And also, you know, speaking with people at my events and seeing what kids gravitate to, that also helps. But I think there's so much more to being an author than just writing the books. You know, when I go to my events, I have a table display, I have setups, I have props, I have, I actually now have a, a small. Capsule of merchandise because I missed designing clothes. So I have a teeny collection of, you know, sweaters, hoodies, onesies, a tote bag, and plushies Miko Lee: [00:15:04] they're super cute by the way. Michele Wong McSween: [00:15:06] Oh, thank you. So, you know, fashion has come in in different ways and I think having that background has really helped. kind of become who they are Miko Lee: [00:15:17] Can you tell us about the latest book in the series, which is Gordon and Li Li All About Me. Can you tell a little bit about your latest? Michele Wong McSween: [00:15:25] Gordon & Li Li All About Me is really, it's, to me, it's. I think my most fun interactive book because it really gets kids and parents up and out of their chairs, out of their seats and moving around. And you know, as a parent, I always would think about the kind of books that my kids would gravitate towards. What would they want to read and what as a parent would I want to read with my kids? Because really reading is all about connection with your kids. That's what I loved about books is it gave me a way to connect with my kids. And so a book about body parts to me is just a really fun way to be animated and get up and move around and you can tickle and, and squeeze and shake it around and dance around. And, you know, having three boys, my house was just like a big energy ball. So I knew that this book would be a really fun one for families and I have two nieces and a nephew, and I now, they're my new target market testers, and they just loved it. They had so much fun pointing to their body parts and the book ends with head, shoulders, knees, and toes in English and in Mandarin. And so of course. Every kid knows head, shoulders, knees, and toes in English. So we sing that. We get up, we point to our pottered parts, we shake it around, we dance around. And then the fun part is teaching them head, shoulders, knees, and toes in Mandarin because they're already familiar with the song. It's not scary to learn something in Mandarin. It just kind of naturally happens. And so I think the All About Me book is just a really fun way to connect with kids. I've actually launched it at a couple of events already and the response to the book has been overwhelming. I was at the Brooklyn Children's Museum and even the president of the museum came and did the head shoulders. Knees and toes, songs with us. It was so much fun. Everybody was dancing around and having a great time. So I'm just really, really excited for people to pick up this book and really learn about the body. It's, you know, body positivity, it's body awareness, and it's just a great way to connect with your kids. Miko Lee: [00:17:31] So fun. I, I saw that you're recently at the Asian American Book Con. Can you talk a little bit about that experience? Michele Wong McSween: [00:17:38] Oh, that was great. That was the first of its kind and. I led the entire author segment of it. I would say individual authors. There were, there were, publishing companies that brought in their own authors, but I was responsible for bringing in the independent authors. And so I think we had about eight of us. There were Indian, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, and we all came together for this one really special day of celebrating our voices and lifting each other up. And there was so much energy and so much positivity in that event, and I. Actually was just thinking about reaching out to the organizers last year and seeing if we could maybe do, part two? So, I'm glad you brought that up. It was a really positive experience. Miko Lee: [00:18:27] So we're celebrating the end of Asian American Pacific Islander Native Hawaiian month. Can you tell us why this month is important to you? Michele Wong McSween: [00:18:36] When you have something designated and set aside as, this is the month that we're going to be celebrating Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander heritage all month long, I think it kind of perks up. People's ears and they think, oh wow, this is a great opportunity for me to see what's happening in my community. I think it just brings the awareness to. The broader community and ultimately the world. And I think when we learn about each other and each other's cultures, it brings us closer together and makes us realize that we're really not that different from each other. And I think when there are so many events happening now it peaks the interest of people in the neighborhood that might otherwise not know about it and it can, really bring us closer together as a community. Miko Lee: [00:19:27] Michelle Wong McSween, thank you so much for joining me on Apex Express. It's great to hear more about you and about your latest book Gordon & Li Li and the entire series. Thank you so much. Michele Wong McSween: [00:19:39] Thank you, Miko Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:19:40] Thank you all so much for joining us. I'm here with Gloria l Huang, author of Kaya of the Ocean. Thank you so much for joining us, Gloria. Gloria Huang: [00:19:48] Oh, thanks so much for having me here. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:19:50] So first off, one question that we're asking all of our guests on our show tonight is, who are your people? However you identify, you know, your community, your ancestors, and what legacy do you carry with you? Gloria Huang: [00:20:01] Oh, that's such a good question. So I am my heritage is Chinese. My parents were born in China and then grew up in Taiwan. And I myself was actually born in Canada. But then moved the states pretty young and and American Canadian dual citizen and now, but I, my heritage plays a lot into my. Kind of my worldview. It really shaped, how I grew up and how I saw things. And so it features very prominently in my writing and in my stories as you could probably tell from Kaya the ocean. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:20:34] Yes. And I love the book so much. It was such a Gloria Huang: [00:20:37] thank you, Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:20:38] amazing read. And I'm also half Chinese and love the ocean. Just love the beach so much and have always felt such a connection with the water. I don't wanna give away too much things about the book, but I was wondering if you could talk about your inspiration for writing it and a little bit about, setting and everything. Gloria Huang: [00:20:56] Of course. So the inspiration for the book actually started I came up with the idea when the world was first emerging from the pandemic and I was seeing a lot of people obviously experiencing a lot of anxiety, but a lot of children very close to me in my life. And they were experiencing it for the first time, which was can be so difficult. I remember when it happened to me and there's just this tendency to. Worry that there's something wrong with you or that you've done something and you feel so alone. And so I remember standing by the ocean one night actually and thinking that I'd really love to write a book about a girl who is struggling with. The anxiety just to be able to send a message to all these kids that there's nothing wrong with them. They're not alone and really all parts of who they are. Even the parts they might not love so much are important parts of these amazing, beautiful, complicated people. They are. So that was the inspiration for that part of the story, the setting. I was very inspired. As you mentioned, the ocean is a huge inspiration to me. It actually comes into my mind, a lot of my stories and someone pointed that out once and I was like, you're right, it does. And I think part of it is that I love the ocean. I love the beach. I love being there, but I'm also so in awe of this powerful thing that, you know, where we know so little about it. It is. There's so much mystery to it. It can look so beautiful on the surface and be so dangerous underneath. I love it as a metaphor. I love it as a part of nature. So I think that was a huge part of why I wanted to incorporate that, especially because I think it also plays well into the metaphor for how some people experience anxiety and you can be calm on the surface, but so much is happening underneath. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:22:29] Absolutely. Yeah. Those interplay with each other and are metaphors for each other in such a beautiful way, mirror the experience. Yeah. I wanted to talk a little bit more about anxiety and particular, as a young Asian American girl the cultural specificity of having anxiety as a young Asian American woman. Gloria Huang: [00:22:46] Yes I definitely think it's no coincidence. I think that anxiety often goes hand in hand with perfectionism and pressure and I, many people feel that kind of pressure, but certainly a young Asian girl especially with immigrant parents, will feel specific kind of pressure. And so I was really trying to portray that, Somebody once said to me, they were like, oh, I really like how Kaya on the surface seems so put together. She's, got really good grades. She works really hard at school. She's close to her parents, but there's all this going on underneath. And I actually think that's not unusual in terms of that experience for Asian American children of immigrants, and especially if you're female I was really trying to. Tease that out. And then in addition I think there's a tendency, and this might exist in other cultures as well, but in Asian culture, at least in my family history there's a tendency not to really want to talk about mental health. There was a, there's a joke in my family that my parents thought anything could be solved with good sleep and good nutrition, like anytime you had any problem. And I think that there is a, there's a. resistance to feeling like your child can be struggling in a way you can't help them. So I, really wanted to touch on that, part of the cultural pressures at play in kaya's life. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:23:59] And you did so beautifully and it was very relatable, as a anxious Asian girly. And also just, the discussion of big feelings and somehow, having inklings that you may be more powerful than you even realize, but the kind of like emotions that come with that too. Gloria Huang: [00:24:15] Yes. I think that's a huge part of it is that like when you experience these huge feelings they feel powerful, know, in a negative way. But what I was really trying to get at was, there is also power in accepting these parts of yourself and realizing that They can make up this powerful being that you are, even if you might not love them in that moment. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:24:34] Yeah. I felt very seen by the book and I, couldn't help but wonder wow, what would it have been like if I had read this when I was, 13 or 12 or kind of Closer to the age of the characters in the book. Gloria Huang: [00:24:45] Thank you so much for saying that it actually means a lot because a lot of my motivation when I do write these books is to write for people who are either of that age or, wish they had a book like that at that age, which is also how I feel a lot about books nowadays and oh, I, I'm so glad that exists. I wish that had been around when I was that age. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:25:03] Yes. Were there any books that really set an example for you that either you read, maybe when you were, in the young adult. Age range or that you've read now as an adult where you're like, okay, this is definitely the audience that I wanna be writing for. Gloria Huang: [00:25:17] Definitely. I actually love this question 'cause I'm a big reader and so I love talking about books . When I was a kid, middle grade books were my gateway into my love of reading. So I still remember a lot of my favorite books, but I would say a recent book, it's actually maybe not that recent now, it's maybe a couple years old, but a book that really. Had an effect on the middle grade book was when you trap a tiger by Tae Keller and it explores. The kind of Korean experience, but also through the prism of kind of understanding generational grief. And it was just so beautifully done and really made an impact on me. So that was one recently that I thought was really powerful. And, I was like, this is an important book. This is definitely a book I would've loved as a child. When I was younger and I was reading books, there were three books that meant a lot to me. One was called the true confessions of Charlotte Doyle, and it was like a swashbuckling adventure story starring a girl, which was, at that time not very common. And it was, it meant, it was so earth shattering to me to be able to see a female character in that role. So that was great. There's a book called. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt. And it's an adventure story and it also stars. The main character is a very strong female character and Tuck everlasting, which I just think is a beautiful book. It's also female characters. Now I'm saying it out loud. They are all female main characters. And all about, existentialism and adventure and things that, it was important for me to see. Female characters exploring. But I did also wanna say that when I was reading middle grade books, some of my favorite books included a series called, babysitters Club, which I think that they've redone now as a graphic novel. And that was actually really important, not necessarily for the stories, but because there's a character named Claudia Kishi who. Was a Japanese American character and she absolutely shattered the minds of, I think all kids that age were Asian descent and female in reading these books because there just wasn't a character like her before that, she was so cool and artistic but she had immigrant parents and she had a sister who was very good at math and they didn't get along and she loved junk food and she was. So incredibly nuanced and it was just not something that we saw back then. So that really inspired me, I think, to want to add to the diversity of voices. And thankfully there are many more diverse voices now than when I was reading. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:27:30] I love that. And I also feel like books that you read at that age, they stay with you forever. Gloria Huang: [00:27:35] They really do. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:27:35] And they shape so much of like your worldview and your friendships. And I'm curious, 'cause I know the book was released this year in January. Mm-hmm. So what has it been like for you on your book tour and what's been some other responses that you've heard? I. Gloria Huang: [00:27:48] It's been really great. It was so exciting to do the book launch and then just the amount of support from the writing community from, my, my kind of network, my agents and my publisher and editor. And also just readers. It's been really great. But one thing I think I wasn't expecting to love quite so much, not because I was expecting to not love it. I just said, it occurred to me that I would feel this way is getting feedback from, child readers is amazing because, I think as writers we love feedback no matter what. And if it's positive feedback, that's even better. But having a child reach out and as some of my friends will send a video of their. Children reacting to the book or they'll, their, let their child type out a text messages and just to hear how the book hits with them and to hear their excitement or to hear that they were moved or to have them want to know what happens next. It meant so much to me because it was, they're the target audience and to have them feel seen in that way was just, it's just the ultimate kind of powerful feeling. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:28:51] That is so sweet. Oh my gosh. I can only imagine. And so you're talking about the young readers. Yes. But I'm also curious if you have any advice or thoughts for young writers who might be wanting to share and get similar stories out to the world? Gloria Huang: [00:29:05] Yeah I definitely do. And one of the. Experiences I've had that's been great is I've been doing, some school visits and I go and I talk about the book, but I actually talk about the writing process. And when I do that, I really talk to the kids. As if they're writers. The one of the first questions I ask is, hold up your hand. If you love writing or you think you want me, you might wanna be a writer someday. And a lot of hands go up and I tell them like, what the publishing process is, what are, the different genre options, what you might wanna consider, how you come up with an idea, how you sit down and write it, how you reach out to an agent. And I am surprised at how. Intensely, they're hanging onto every word and they're insightful questions after it. It shows me that a lot of them are really thinking about this. I think for one of the school visits, I remember someone held up her hand and she said what is the youngest age I. Someone has been able to be published. And I thought that was great. Because they're so inspired and you can tell that, that they're thinking for the first time this is a possibility. I have all kinds of advice during the school visits, the main piece of advice is really. Just that it can be a tough industry. writing is a very isolated process usually. There's a lot of kind of obstacles and there's a lot of gatekeeping. And so I tell 'em that the most important thing they can do is just keep pushing through and not to let any, setbacks stop them, because the ultimate goal is to reach even just one person. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:30:24] Absolutely. And what kind of advice do you give around learning how to hone your own voice and also having discipline when it comes to an artistic practice? Gloria Huang: [00:30:33] Yeah, I think that's such a great question. And I was gonna say this piece of advice is probably more for I. Older writers, but adult writers, I guess I should say. The one thing that I've really been thinking about having published a middle grade book is the very specific and unique experience of writing for middle grade audiences. I think a lot of my friends who write for older audience groups, young adults, adults, They have their own challenges, but one of the things that is different is when they're writing, they are writing for the same target audience. That's also the decision makers. So generally, adults and young adults are picking their own books, and they're speaking to someone who will. Ultimately be the ones to pick up the books where when you're writing for middle grade audiences they're not usually the decision makers. at bookstores, they may or may not be in charge of which book they buy, in. Schools, usually it's a librarian or a teacher. So in some ways you're writing for one audience, but you're also writing a subject matter that you're hoping the decision makers will decide is worthy to put in front of your ultimate readers. So that's one challenge. And then the other challenge is I think middle grade audiences are so. fascinating because they're going through this amazingly unusual time in their lives, whether it's eventful and there's new experiences and that can be exciting, but also scary. So there's a lot to mind in terms of topics, but they are also a mixture of being very sophisticated readers who are on the cusp of being teens. And so there's a healthy dose of, skepticism, but they're still young enough that they. Believe in magic, at least in the literary world. So you, there's a lot of room to play with that. But they also. They sound different. They speak differently than adults. So it's important to get the dialogue, for me I, turn to children in my life, including my own, just to do a check to make sure that the dialogue sounds authentic and something that, people, that kids would say. So a lot of thoughts there, but I think, I've been thinking a lot about middle grade and writing for middle grade, and what a unique experience it is. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:32:26] Yeah, that's such a good point about the decision maker and having the multiple audiences, and I'm sure sometimes the decision makers are reading the books too, right? Or reading it with their kids or what have you. For your personal writing practice, are there any upcoming projects that you can share with us? And how do you stay inspired for what I imagine is like the long haul of writing something. Gloria Huang: [00:32:45] I'm happiest when I have like several projects in the pipeline. So as soon as I am done a book or it's, outta my hands, it's with my agents or my editors. I'm looking to write another book. And I think sometimes I probably overwhelm my amazing book before agents. 'cause I'm like, I'm ready to start another story. And they're like, we're still looking at the book you just sent us. But I, that's very much how. I am happiest. I would definitely say that everybody finds their own rhythm. I'm in some writers groups and some people are incredibly fast drafters and just need multiple projects at a time. And some people are like, no, I need to work on one project and I need to have it to perfection and I'm gonna work on it for a year or two. And I think whatever works for the individual artist, I think is the best kind of process for them. But yes, for me it's very much about having multiple projects. I think I'm most inspired when I have different projects going at the same time. finding your own rhythm, I think is my advice. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:33:40] kaya of the ocean has, strong themes and storylines about, myths, mythology, Chinese mythology, and goddesses. I'm curious if you wanna talk any more about that and then also if that shows up in any of the other projects you're working on Gloria Huang: [00:33:54] Yes, the Chinese mythological water goddess that features. Pretty prominently in Kaya of the Ocean is Matsu. And I find her to be such a fascinating character. She is a real goddess who's worshiped still in Asia. I think. Fishermen often will, pray to her for safe passage when they go out on the water. And my father told me about her when I was younger he told me like the side stories and I thought that was really interesting. But it was only when I started thinking about this book that I thought, I'd love to, I'd love to incorporate her. I hadn't heard about her too much in, in the fictional world, even though I knew she was still like a revered goddess. But I thought it was so cool that she was this strong. I. Strong female figure in a space that didn't always have that, hundreds of years ago. And so I dove into her story a little bit and found out, the story is that she was once a human child who loved to read and then she was afraid of swimming in water until she was older and then she drowned, saving, trying to save some relatives and it was interesting 'cause I'd already started plotting out Kaya and writing Kaya. And so much of her story wove easily into what I had already come up with. Like there, I think she has two sidekicks that were one time enemies that she, made into her friends and I'd already had Kaya written with two friends, Naomi and Ana. So I, there was just so much that I felt was kismet. And it was really fun to be able to weave that story together and fictionalize it. But I think it was also meaningful for me to be able to do that because. When I was younger, I loved reading Greek mythology. the stories are beautiful and they've been redone in beautiful ways, but it definitely was an area where I didn't necessarily see myself reflected. As part of my goal to add to the diversity of voices, I really wanted to feature Chinese mythology and bring those stories in so that. Kids can either see themselves reflected in those stories and or understand a new kind of set of mythology and learn about a new culture. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:35:46] Yes. I'm so glad you put it that way because it is, it's such a privilege to have access to, our own I. Cultural stories and knowledge through these, like fun and modern interpretations. Definitely. So I'm so glad that this can provide that. Gloria Huang: [00:36:00] Oh, thank you. I did realize I didn't answer your other question, which is does it feature my other works? Which so I have sold another middle grade novel and I'm, it's not announced yet. I'm hoping to announce it soon. And I have some other. Books. I'm working on a young adult novel so far. They have not featured Chinese mythology, but I do definitely have a type that my most of my books tend to be contemporary settings, but with elements of speculative. Fantasy, just like the light touch of that and sometimes a little bit of historical elements as well. So they, they definitely all have that similar motif, but so far chi of the ocean is the only one to feature a Chinese mythological goddess. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:36:43] Thank you so much for sharing that. I love that. And I really love the relationship that Kaya had with her two friends and just and then also like the cousin that comes and just capturing like the banter amongst, amongst the girls. Gloria Huang: [00:36:56] Thank you so much. that was really important to me, I think because at the stage that Kaia is in her life the loves of her life really are her two friends, Naomi and Ana, and they feature very prominently in how she learns to cope with her anxiety and her symptoms of anxiety. And so I really, I think that I really wanted to center her their friendship as much as possible. So I'm I'm glad that you saw it that way too. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:37:19] Yeah. And I feel like, I mean, it truly is the most important relationship. And so it's nice when works of fiction and yeah, works of fiction, can reflect that in such a beautiful way. I know you mentioned that you have daughters or have children? Gloria Huang: [00:37:32] I do, yes. I have a son and a daughter. And my daughter actually was quite involved because when I first started writing Kaya, I think she was exactly of the age that she would be the target reader group. And so she actually helped Beta read it. She provided a lot of feedback. She became like a cheerleader. She was definitely involved in the process and I think that was really exciting for her. my son became of the reading age once it came out, so he reads it and he's a big fan too, Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:38:00] that's so sweet. I love that your daughter was part of the editing process too. That's amazing. Gloria Huang: [00:38:04] Yeah. Yeah. She loves writing and always says she wants to be a writer herself, so it was really special that she got to be part of this and see it up close. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:38:13] Oh wow. Do you think you would do any collaborative projects with her in the future? Gloria Huang: [00:38:16] It's so funny that you say that. She always suggests that. And then sometimes they'll actually start a Google doc and they'll say, let's write a story together. And we all have, of course, very different writing styles. And then at some point they both actually usually just start reading what I'm writing. And at that point I'm like, this is not collaborative. You have to write as well. So we've had a couple of false starts, but that's always a joke that we're gonna do that together. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:38:39] that's so sweet. What else is upcoming for you? I know this is, Asian American and native Hawaiian Pacific Islander month right now, and the episode will come out towards the end of May. So if there's anything else coming up from you for this month or for June or the summer. Yeah. We'd love to hear what you have going on. Gloria Huang: [00:38:57] Oh, yeah. Today actually Kaya's audio book was released people can listen to it. It was narrated by this amazing, narrator, Cindy K. And so anywhere you find audio books is available. And that was really cool. I've listened to a little bit of it and you, when you write, you hear the words in your head one way, and then it's amazing to hear like another artist do their take on it. So that's really cool. I will be at the Bay Area book Festival at the end of the month of May. There. Doing like different panels and I'll be on a panel. it's about Fantastical Worlds. I'm really excited about that. hopefully we'll be able to announce this other book soon. As you, you may know publishing is a very long lead time it will be a while before it's released, but I think the hope is to release it during, a API month as well just not this year. And working on a young adult novel that hopefully we can go on submission with at some point. But it's an exciting time for sure. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:39:51] Wow, that does sound so exciting. I can't wait to hear about your new projects and to continue to read the work that you put out into the world. Is there anything else that you'd like to discuss or talk about? Gloria Huang: [00:40:01] I think just to say a thank you to you for, having me on here and reading Kaya of the Ocean and really anyone who's been interested in joining Kaya and her friends on their journey. It's just, it's so amazing, I think, to create these characters that become real to you, and then have them become real to other people. I don't have the words to describe how meaningful it is to me, but thank you. Jalena Keane-Lee: [00:40:24] Thank you for letting us join into the world of Kaya for a little bit 'cause it was very fun and healing and all of the amazing things. And thanks so much for joining us today on Apex Express. Gloria Huang: [00:40:36] For sure. Thanks so much. Miko Lee: [00:40:38] Welcome, Andrea Wang, award-winning children's book author to Apex Express. Andrea Wang: [00:40:43] Thank you, Miko. I'm so happy to be here. Miko Lee: [00:40:46] Happy to have you. I'd love to start first with a personal question, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you? Andrea Wang: [00:40:57] My people are from China. My mother's family belonged to an ethnic minority, called the Haka or the Kaja people, and she and her siblings were. A military family, and we're each born in a different province. And when the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, they went to Taiwan where she grew up and immigrated to the United States in 1965 or 1966. My father's family are from Guangdong Province, and so I'm Cantonese on that side, although I don't speak any Cantonese. And he went to Hong Kong after the Chinese Civil War. So I am the daughter of Chinese immigrants, second generation Chinese American. Miko Lee: [00:42:01] And what legacy do you carry with you? Andrea Wang:[00:42:03] I carry the legacy of their stories, both the ones that I know and the ones that I don't know yet. Miko Lee: [00:42:12] Ooh. It sounds like there's lots of juicy things for you still to discover. That is fun. Andrea Wang: [00:42:16] Yes. Miko Lee: [00:42:17] Today we're talking about your new book, watercress, can you share what the audience, what the book is about, and then what is your inspiration for this book? Andrea Wang: [00:42:25] So the book is about a Chinese American girl who is growing up in rural Ohio and her parents spot watercress growing in a ditch by the side of the road, and they immediately pull over and make her enter older brother, get out of the car and get down into the ditch with them and collect this. Vegetable, but to her it's a weed. And so when they serve it to her and her family at dinner, she really is unhappy about this and. For her, picking food out of a ditch has a really different meaning than it does to her parents who survived a lot of hardship in China. And it's not until her mom tells her a story about her childhood growing up in China and spoiler alert, loses a sibling to the famine that the girl begins to understand and better appreciate her parents, her culture, and her heritage. Miko Lee: [00:43:29] And the inspiration for this book. Andrea Wang: [00:43:32] So the inspiration is largely my own life. this is a semi autobiographical story. The memory of picking watercress by the side of the road was just something that I couldn't forget, I don't know why this memory continued to haunt me into adulthood. And then after my mom passed away, I started writing down, memories and stories of being with my family in order to maintain a connection to her. When I wrote this, at first it was a personal essay and it just wasn't working. I would put it away and I would occasionally take it out and I would put it away and take it out and work on it again. And it wasn't until I decided to pursue writing for young people that I completely changed the manuscript from a personal essay into a picture book. But at that point it still wasn't working. It was in third person and it wasn't very personal It took me several more years to figure out the heart of the story for me. So it was largely based on my own memories and my mother's childhood stories that she shared with me. Miko Lee: [00:44:39] Can you share more about the power of memory and the artistic process? 'cause you've written many books and in different genres as well, but can you talk a little bit more about memory and its impact on your work? Andrea Wang: [00:44:52] Yeah, that's a great question. I tend to write primarily for myself. And to figure out how I felt about certain experiences, how they've changed me, to try and process things I feel like I remember a lot about my childhood. parts of it are very vivid and I like to go back to those. Moments that have stuck with me all these years and explore what it means to me. Like I'm just very curious about why I remember certain things watercress was largely my way of processing my childhood feelings of shame about my family and my culture. I have leaned into that and am still writing stories about identity and the struggle to find our identity. Memory has a lot to do with it. I put myself in every single book. Miko Lee: [00:45:45] Ooh, that's so interesting. And you're talking a little bit about shame and overcoming that. I'm wondering if you could speak more on, if you feel like memories hold the power to heal. Andrea Wang: [00:45:56] I firmly believe that memories hold the power to heal. I think that writing watercress and talking about these feelings has really helped me, , heal from, that sort of trauma of not feeling like I belonged as a kid and also that I may have been. Not the nicest kid to my parents, not the most filial, right? And so writing this story was, as I say in the author's note, sort of an apology and a love letter to my parents. So it's been very healing and healing to hear about from all the. People who have read the book and had it resonate with them, the things that they regretted in their lives and hoped to, heal as well. Miko Lee: [00:46:42] Oh, have you heard that story a lot from adult readers? Andrea Wang: [00:46:46] I have. They will often tell me about the things that their parents did that embarrassed them. A lot of foraging stories, but also stories about, relatives and ancestors who were sharecroppers or indigenous peoples. And it's just been fascinating how many people connect to the story on different levels. There is that theme of poverty. I think recognizing. That's not often talked about in children's books, I think makes people feel very seen. Miko Lee: [00:47:14] Yeah. That feeling of shame is really showcased by the illustrator Jason Chin. I mean your young you character kind of has a grumpy look on their face. And it was just so fun. Even in the book notes, Jason Chin, the illustrator, writes about how he combined both the western and eastern style of art, but also his similar cross-cultural background. I'm wondering when you very first saw the artwork and this was kind of young you did anything surprise you by it? Andrea Wang: [00:47:42] I mean, it's amazing, gorgeous artwork and I was really struck by how he dealt with the flashbacks because when I sold this manuscript, I. Had no idea how an illustrator would deal with how interior it is and, , and how they would tackle those flashbacks. And there's one spread where on the left hand side of the page, it shows the main character's current time and then it morphs across the gutter of the book into. The moms past and her childhood memories in China, and it was just exquisite is really the only way to describe it. It was, it's just brilliant, and amazing. We don't, as picture book authors typically get to work with our illustrators. We often do not have contact with them through the making of a picture book. But in this case. Our editors said since it was such a personal story for me, that he, , felt that Jason and I should collaborate. And so I provided photos, family photos, photos of Ohio, lots of different, , source materials to Jason and would talk to him about the feelings that young me in the book went through. And so the fact that, he was able to take all of that and put it on the page, it was just. Spectacular. Miko Lee: [00:49:01] Oh, that's so fun. I also understand that you love mythical creatures as you I, and one of your children's books is the Nian Monster, which I love. I'm wondering what is your favorite mythical creature and why? Andrea Wang: [00:49:15] I. Have been sort of fascinated with the qilin, the, or they call it the Chinese unicorn. Right. Although it looks very different from what we think of a, a European unicorn looks like. Yes. And I think it's because they're supposed to be this really benevolent, creature and Have all sorts of powers and I would love to do more research about the qilin and, you know, incorporate that into a book someday. Miko Lee: [00:49:42] Ooh, fun. Next book. I love it. you have so many books and I'm really curious about your upcoming book Worthy about Joseph Pierce. I love these as Helen Zia talks about these. MIH moments that are missing in history. And Joseph Pierce was the highest ranking Chinese American man who fought in the Civil War. Some people might recognize this picture of this Chinese American guy in a kind of civil war, uniform. Can you tell us one, when is the book being released and a little bit more about it? Andrea Wang: [00:50:11] Sure. The book is being released on September 9th, 2025, and it is. A picture book, which we typically think of as for younger readers, but it is 64 pages. So you know, it's an all ages picture book. I think my editor and I would like to say, and it is the story of a Chinese boy born in the, First half of the 18 hundreds in China in Guangdong province, and was sold by his father to an American ship captain named Amos Peck. the reasons for that are, lost to time, right? He left no primary sources behind, there was so much going on in China at the time. Famine war, you know, all of these, Difficult things that his father probably sold him in order to keep the rest of the family alive and as well as give him the opportunity to have a better life. And he did end up in Connecticut. He was raised with the captain's, siblings and sent to school and treated almost like a member of the family except for the fact that he was. Clearly Chinese and there were very few Chinese people in, Connecticut at that time. he joined the Union Army when he came of age and was able to leverage his service into gaining citizenship, which really people of color, weren't really able to do successfully back then. And so. He gained a citizenship. He married, he had a family. He was able to own property and accomplish all these amazing things. Sort of right before the Chinese exclusion Act was, enacted. So he was a very brave guy. Miko Lee: [00:51:45] It's a wild story and you sent me on a little bit of a rabbit hole, which is fun. Just, looking at Ruth Ann, McCune's. historical piece that there were 10 different Chinese American men in the Civil War, but he was exceptional because he rose to such high ranks. And I just think it's so interesting that, in the 1880 census, he registered as Chinese. But then after the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, he listed his race as Japanese in the 1890 census. but he was racialized as white so that he could buy property and everything. Yeah. Can you just talk a little bit about that, like talk about code switching? He like literally changed his race, Andrea Wang: [00:52:26] right. And people at that time could not tell the difference. Similar to now, people often can't tell different Asian, ethnicities apart. Right. I found actual newspaper articles where Joseph Pierce was interviewed about the battles, that the United States was having with Japan or the battles that Japan was having. He was asked his opinion on what the Japanese government was doing because he told these reporters he was Japanese and that was really the only clue that I had that he, Was code switching that after the Chinese exclusion Act was passed, he felt like he needed to protect himself and his family and he must have cut off his cue because otherwise, you know, that would've identified him immediately as Chinese. So that went into the book. I think it's a powerful moment, right, where he's doing what he has to do to survive and ensure his protection and his family's safety, Miko Lee: [00:53:25] You have a, a really interesting background. Just having No really, I mean, having done all these different things and I, you know, I think you have a science background too, right? Can you talk about the times that we're living in right now, the political times that we're living in, where our government is banning books that don't align with certain conservative ideologies, where right now certain words are forbodden suddenly. And can you talk a little bit about how that impacts you as a children's book author? Andrea Wang: [00:53:59] it is very disheartening and discouraging that the current climate is against, people who look like me or other people of color. And as a children's book author, we are experiencing a huge decrease in the number of teachers and librarians who are asking us to come and visit schools, to talk to students, which is horrible because. These young people are the ones who need to learn from books, right? Knowledge is power. And if we are not keeping them informed, then we are doing them a disservice. I think the attacks on our freedom to read are really unjust. and. personally as an author of color, I understand that books like Worthy may end up on some of these banned book lists because it does talk about racism. but these are the stories that we need now, and I'm going to continue writing these stories about the Hidden History, And to talk about these difficult subjects that I think kids understand on some level. but if they're not reading about it in books, then it's hard to spark a conversation with, educators or adults about it. So I think these books that I'm writing, that many of my friends and other children's book authors are writing are providing that. Sort of gateway to talk about, the topics that are so important right now. Miko Lee: [00:55:29] Thank you so much for sharing, and thank you so much for being on Apex Express today. We appreciate your voice and the work that you're putting out there in the world. Is there anything else you'd like to say? Andrea Wang: [00:55:39] you know, there's so much to say, I think just to. Stand up for what we all believe in and to, I encourage people to stand up for their intellectual freedom and that of their children. Miko Lee: [00:55:56] Thank you, Andrea Wang. I appreciate hearing from you and hearing your voice and seeing your work out there in the world. Andrea Wang: [00:56:03] Thank you so much, Miko. It was a pleasure. Miko Lee: [00:56:05] Please check out our website, kpfa.org. To find out more about our show 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 created by Miko Lee, Jalena Keane-Lee, Preti Mangala-Shekar, Swati Rayasam, Aisa Villarosa, Estella Owoimaha-Church, Gabriel Tanglao, Cheryl Truong and Ayame Keane-Lee. The post APEX Express – 5.29.25 AAPI Children's Books appeared first on KPFA.
In this episode, we dive deep into the creative mind of Eisner Award-winning artist Gideon Kendall, whose diverse career has spanned books, illustrations, comics, and animation for a few outfits you might have heard of: MAD Magazine, Penguin/Putnam, Disney, Comixology/Kitchen Sink, IDW, Dark Horse, Cartoon Network, Scholastic, and The New York Times. Gideon has made significant contributions to both children's and adult comics, earning critical acclaim as the artist of Harvey Kurtzman's Marley's Ghost (which won the 2018 Eisner Award for Best Digital Comic), and as the writer and artist of the sci-fi series WHATZIT published by Heavy Metal. His more recent projects include Eric Powell's Lester of the Lesser Gods, Megaghost with Gabe Soria, the autobiographical anthology series WAIT...It Gets Worse, and his recently released music memoir I Am The Audience. You can follow Gideon (and order his stuff) on gideonkendall.com, or check him out on Instagram @gidonkendall. Support the show
ORIGINALLY AIRED 1/20/2022The Sixth Sense- famously a hit with children. Thank god Scholastic book fairs peddled a (junior?) novelization of this very chill and normal movie. This week we're joined by Annie Kelly, the UK correspondent for QAnon Anonymous, to discuss Peter Lerangis' PG take on a classic. Surprisingly? It really works.Check out Annie's podcast Vaccine: The Human Story- https://open.spotify.com/show/3FDLQroUXZJ2F79r6T7oOH Annie's podcast QAnon Anonymous: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qAmVJsQW0k51ZJ9bDZyZdCheck out John Goodman's podcast Exit Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exit-interview/id1534899949Follow Authorized on Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorizedpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorizedpod/Next Week: Secrets from Beyond
ORIGINALLY AIRED 1/20/2022The Sixth Sense- famously a hit with children. Thank god Scholastic book fairs peddled a (junior?) novelization of this very chill and normal movie. This week we're joined by Annie Kelly, the UK correspondent for QAnon Anonymous, to discuss Peter Lerangis' PG take on a classic. Surprisingly? It really works.Check out Annie's podcast Vaccine: The Human Story- https://open.spotify.com/show/3FDLQroUXZJ2F79r6T7oOH Annie's podcast QAnon Anonymous: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qAmVJsQW0k51ZJ9bDZyZdCheck out John Goodman's podcast Exit Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/exit-interview/id1534899949Follow Authorized on Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorizedpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorizedpod/Next Week: Secrets from Beyond
A CODEFIED STRUCTURE•Paper vs PDF •Using physical catalogs when ordering. •Receiving stock from Scholastic. •Comics talked about in this episode: GHOST PEPPER #1 SIXTH GUN ROAD TO THE SIXTH #0 OUT OF ALCATRAZ #3 ROBIN & BATMAN JASON TODD #1 JL VS GODZILLA VS KONG II #1 GODDAMN TRAGEDY #1 MOMMY BLOG This episode is dedicated to Dal's mom's 80th birthday!---------- This episode was digitally edited by Cleanvoice. How'd it sound? Contest of Challengers #737 Theme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro/Outro: James VanOsdol “Patrick” Voices: Richie Kotzen, Christopher Daniels, James Acaster, Sue (Trent's Mom), RJ City, Sebastian Bach, Arune Singh, James VanOsdol “Dal” Voices: James VanOsdol, RJ City, Dalton Castle, Sue (Trent's Mom), Kevin Conroy, Kris Statlander, Skye Blue, Arune Singh Dal and Patrick Artwork: Daimon Hampton ----------Challengers Comics + Conversation 1845 N Western Ave • Chicago, IL 60647 773.278.0155 • ChallengersComics.com
Sneakers, Scholastic Aid, and Santa: Supporting Lancaster's Kids Host: Dale Johnson Guest: Cori Steiner Description: The focus of the podcast is the Willow Valley Community Outreach Program, which was established in 1998 to assist children in need in the greater Lancaster community. They discuss three main annual initiatives: a cornhole tournament supporting high school seniors' post-graduation plans, a "Sneakers for School" project providing new shoes, and a holiday gift-giving program, including an annual event at Dutch Wonderland. The podcast highlights the impact of resident and team member involvement in these programs through volunteering, donations, and providing support, with a strong emphasis on the intergenerational connections fostered and the significant accomplishments over the years.
THIS IS DUMB, JUST, PERIOD.•Free Comic Book Day week prep. •Upcoming events! •Now that BOOM! Is distributed by Penguin Random House… •New Comic Book Day constant shipping woes. •Every month keeps getting bigger for Godzilla! •Scholastic, one more publisher Diamond has just stopped supplying. •Comics talked about in this episode: SUPERGIRL #1 ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN INCURSION #1 This episode is dedicated to both Michael B. Jordans. ---------- This episode was digitally edited by Cleanvoice. How'd it sound? Contest of Challengers #734 Theme: Adam WarRock (with Mikal kHill) Intro/Outro: James VanOsdol “Patrick” Voices: Richie Kotzen, Christopher Daniels, James Acaster, Sue (Trent's Mom), RJ City, Arune Singh, James VanOsdol “Dal” Voices: James VanOsdol, RJ City, Dalton Castle, Sue (Trent's Mom), Kevin Conroy, Kris Statlander, Skye Blue, Arune Singh Dal and Patrick Artwork: Daimon Hampton ----------Challengers Comics + Conversation 1845 N Western Ave • Chicago, IL 60647 773.278.0155 • ChallengersComics.com
Send us a textCan you feel it? Well, if you don't live in New Orleans right now, maybe not but LIVE IT vicariously through me and my family! Douglas and my oldest daughter LOVE Jazz Fest. Me, you may ask? Nope. I went back 13 years ago to surprise my sweet mama! We took her to see Al Green and it was epic. It was hot. It was super bright and my skin turned 7 shades of red. I'm good on that, but I LOVE to see the happiness flow through my family and the rest of partakers. This year, I thought it would be super cool to welcome the King of Food Reviews and All things NOLA! Who none other than NOLA.COM's inspirational food and culture writer, Ian McNulty! And y'all... he is the REAL DEAL.Foodies are intimidating, usually. Remember that guy that would come to review the food in the Disney movie Ratatouille? Ok- well that is NOT Ian. I was able to sit down and really hear the passion in his voice and the love in his heart for New Orleans. Ian McNulty has been writing about the life and culture of New Orleans since 1999 as a reporter, columnist, and author. He is a staff writer for the New Orleans Advocate, where he focuses on the food culture of one of the world's great food cities, and his radio commentaries air weekly on the New Orleans NPR affiliate. He is author of A Season of Night: New Orleans Life after Katrina and Louisiana Rambles: Exploring America's Cajun and Creole Heartland, both published by University Press of Mississippi. The latter was named one of the top travel books by the Society of American Travel Writers. (courtesy google.com) Sit down, grab some Iced Tea and get inspired by Mr. McNulty's journey from North to South and all in between. Find his book all over and here! https://www.amazon.com/Season-Night-Orleans-after-Katrina/dp/1934110914______________________________________________________________________________________________Then later, we welcome New York Times Best Selling Duo from the Illustrated Baby Sitter's Club series and the Superman Adventures Comics, Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud!The two teamed up with Scholastic to create a children's novel that allow kids' own wheels to turn while submerging them into a world that explores their own understanding of topics like death. My oldest daughter loved it. It was so cute to see her curled up on the couch or her bed reading this book with such pride. She was so excited to review it for me. "Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!"Find this BRAND NEW and NEWLY RELEASED BOOK EVERYWHERE! Like... Literally!And here...https://a.co/d/6KvHVa6Thank you to our family of amazing sponsors! Ochsner Hospital for ChildrenWww.ochsner.orgRouses MarkersWww.rousesmarkets.comSandpiper VacationsWww..sandpipervacations.comCafe Du Monde www.shop.cafedumonde.com The Law Firm of Forrest Cressy & James Www.forrestcressyjames.comComfort Cases Www.comfortcases.orgNew Orleans Ice Cream CompanyWww.neworleansicecream.comERA TOP REALTY: Pamela BreauxAudubon Institute www.auduboninstitute.orgUrban South Brewery www.urbansouthbrewery.com
La queja de la semana exclusivamente en Patreon: patreon.com/abrazogrupalEn este episodio hacemos una lista de las películas, series, libros y artistas que nos marcaron para siempre. Desde Zac Efron y Lady Gaga, hasta la Feria del Libro de Scholastic, Drag Race y Harry Potter. Un recorrido por la cultura pop que nos construyó... y a veces, nos rompió un poquito también.
Welcome back to another episode of School Counseling Simplified. Throughout April, we're featuring guest sessions with experts in the field, and today's episode is especially exciting. I'm joined by Laura Filtness, M.Ed., a seasoned school counselor with over 15 years of experience and a passion for using picture books to support young minds in elementary settings. Laura's belief in the power of storytelling shines through her work, and she's also the author of the upcoming book My Brain Is Like a Puppy, inspired by her beloved therapy dog, Boss. In addition to counseling, Laura teaches yoga and Pilates, assists clients in home organization through Help You Dwell, and enjoys tackling renovation projects at home. She currently lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her two dogs, Brooklyn and Bindu. In this episode, Laura shares why picture books are such an effective tool in school counseling, both for proactive lesson planning and reactive student support. She talks about how a sticky note with a book title and a few theme ideas often serves as her simple yet flexible lesson plan. Having two or three potential discussion directions in mind allows her to pivot based on how students respond. This approach gives students space to take ownership of the conversation while making lessons feel natural and engaging. Laura also opens up about the organization system in her counseling office. For years, she used topic-based book bins and included printed companion resources stored in large Ziploc bags. After relocating to a smaller portable office, she adapted by placing hardcover books on a bookshelf and keeping thinner paperbacks in bins. Her adaptable system ensures that everything is accessible and categorized by topic for ease of use during lessons. We also dive into the logistics and philosophy behind running book clubs. While Laura prefers not to hold small groups during lunch, she makes exceptions depending on the group's purpose. For example, a community-building group might work well during a “lunch bunch,” but more skills-based work is best saved for a designated small group time. Laura uses both chapter books and picture books and recommends series like those by Jory John, Todd Parr, Brenda Miles, Michael Ian Black, and the Way Past series. She shares that Scholastic is a great source for ordering multiple copies of books and encourages creativity, like using different titles in a picture book series. Laura also supports teachers through book clubs at the grade level. She often gifts teachers with books, especially ones she finds at thrift stores, and partners with the school librarian to display themed books during staff meetings. Her collaborative approach promotes a school-wide culture of literacy and social-emotional learning. When it comes to building your book collection, Laura suggests tapping into your librarian's expertise by submitting a wishlist at the beginning of the year. She encourages the use of public libraries, which often allow you to request specific books. Other great sources include thrift stores, your counselor network, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which offers families one free book per month for a year. While YouTube read-alouds are a decent backup, she stresses that nothing beats reading a book aloud in person. To keep track of her extensive book collection, Laura uses a cataloging system in Airtable. Inspired by Laura Driscoll, she created a searchable database of over 700 books organized by grade, topic, and type. This makes lesson planning more efficient and ensures she's covering a wide range of student needs. You can find links to her Airtable in the show notes! For new counselors who are just beginning to integrate books into their lessons, Laura offers encouraging advice: don't overthink it—just bring a book into your lesson and start asking questions. Prompt students with things like, “Have you ever felt this way?” or “What do you think the character learned?” Let students guide the discussion and make personal connections. If you've inherited a library, take inventory so you can assess which topics are covered and where you may need to grow your collection. Toward the end of the episode, Laura shares her journey of becoming a published author. She discusses the publishing process and the inspiration behind her new book My Brain Is Like a Puppy, a heartfelt project born from her experiences with her late therapy dog. She offers insight into what it's like to submit to literary agencies and the steps it takes to bring a story to life. Picture books, she notes, are typically around 600 words and should be thoughtful, concise, and meaningful. This episode is full of practical takeaways and encouragement for counselors looking to bring more creativity and connection into their lessons through books. Laura's insights make it clear that picture books aren't just for young children—they're powerful tools for every age. Connect with Rachel: TpT Store Blog Instagram Facebook Page Facebook Group Pinterest Youtube Connect with Laura: pawsitiveschoolcounselor.com Big Book Database - Airtable Instagram More About School Counseling Simplified: School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica. You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!
This week, we begin our month long exploration of Animorphs video games. First up are two web games which were available for FREE on the official Scholastic web site back in the day, Hawk Rescue and The Yeerk Pool. We discuss the difficulty of getting outdated games to run on modern hardware, scrambled animal names, and the significance of the letters 'J-I-K-L'. PLUS, a bonus rant about r/Animorphs' recent ranking of the core 54 Animorphs books.Reddit's Final Rankings: https://www.reddit.com/r/Animorphs/comments/1k2ponb/full_results_of_the_reddit_vote/Support our Patreon to receive "The Yeerky Boys Chronicles" weekly bonus episodes: http://patreon.com/theyeerkyboysE-mail us: TheYeerkyBoys@gmail.comFollow us: @Dogtimes on Bluesky, @Quence on Bluesky, www.JonathanEstis.com
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the essential role of educators in sustaining our society and economy. As families navigated the challenges of work and caregiving, teachers emerged as critical support systems, ensuring students continued learning amid unprecedented disruptions. From maintaining safe classrooms to addressing academic and emotional needs, educators have been at the forefront of our collective recovery. Join us for an engaging panel discussion at Commonwealth Club World Affairs, featuring education and policy experts who will examine the urgent need for universal access to quality education and its broader economic and democratic implications. The conversation will explore key lessons from the pandemic and outline a path toward a more equitable and resilient education system. About the Panelists Jenny Lam: Former San Francisco Board of Education commissioner and director of policy, communications, and strategic partnerships at the San Francisco Department of Early Childhood. Lam has led citywide education initiatives, including expanding childcare, mental health services in schools, and Free City College, ensuring equitable access to education resources. Tracey Mitchell: Educator, author, and former executive director of education for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Mitchell has developed culturally relevant curricula and after-school programs, emphasizing student success and equity in education policy. Dr. Vanessa Marrero: Executive director of Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco and a leader in education equity and policy. Marrero has extensive experience in K–12 education, community engagement, and strategic enrollment, ensuring families have access to quality public schools. Christina Jenq, Ph.D.: Labor economist specializing in education's economic impact. Jenq's research focuses on gender inequality, political economy, and workforce development, offering critical insights into how education shapes economic mobility. The discussion will be moderated by Virginia Cheung, former school board candidate and former director at Wu Yee Children's Services, who brings deep expertise in early childhood education and policy. This thought-provoking session will provide valuable perspectives on transforming education to strengthen our economy and democracy. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from leading voices shaping the future of education policy. Organizer: Virginia Cheung A Social Impact Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to our deep-dive into the question: How do we know God exists?In this series, we return to the topic of God's existence, which we covered aaall the way back in Episode 2 (!!), and we break it open to explore it more deeply. In this episode, we look at St. Thomas Aquinas's first three 'ways', or arguments for God's existence. These are among the most famous arguments for the existence of God, and they have been hugely influential in the history of the Philosophy of Religion. They have also been at times misunderstood and misrepresented, so in this series we're taking the time to delve deep and understand what, exactly, Aquinas is arguing. Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/References and further reading/listening/viewing:Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae Part 1, Question 2Summa Contra GentilesEdward Feser:Aquinas: A Beginner's GuideFive Proofs of the Existence of God"Scholastic regress arguments"Catholic Answers, "What Caused God?"Peter Kreeft, "The First Cause Argument"Summa of the SummaThomas Joseph White: "The First Way""The Second Way""The Third Way (I, 2, 3)"The Thomistic Institute:"Five Ways to Prove God Exists (Aquinas 101)""St. Thomas Aquinas' Favorite Argument for the Existence of God (Aquinas 101)""What's Wrong With St. Thomas Aquinas' First Proof for the Existence of God? (Aquinas 101)""How St. Thomas Aquinas' Second Way for Proving the Existence of God Works (Aquinas 101)""How St. Thomas Proves God's Existence Through Efficient Causality (Aquinas 101)""What is Efficient Causality? (Aquinas 101)""St. Thomas' Third Way: You Didn't Have To Exist—But You Do! (Aquinas 101)""The Third Way: How St. Thomas Argues for God's Existence From Contingency (Aquinas 101)""The Third Way: Another Take On The Argument (Aquinas 101)"Bishop Barron on Thomas Aquinas and the Argument from Motion
“I was genuinely afraid…I might throw up from crying so hard.”It's the one you've all been waiting for…everything for the past three months has led to this. We're joined by very special guest Emma Skies to discuss the most anticipated release since we launched our podcast, Sunrise on the Reaping (2025!).We return to District 12 one more time to cover our initial thoughts and reactions, fan theories, Panem and America, Suzanne Collins and Lionsgate's balance between art and commerce, and what this book means to The Hunger Games series' legacy. We lose track of how many times we use the words "brutal" and "devastating." This is our longest episode yet and we easily could've talked about this book for another hour because there's so much to dig into!Correction: Francis Lawrence is coming back for the 5th time as director if you count the Mockingjays separately!Correction 2: I just learned that we've been pronouncing azure wrong. Oops. The USA Today article featuring us: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2025/03/19/hunger-games-cultural-impact/82518262007/The Hunger Games 10-year anniversary Scholastic interview: https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/hunger_games_10th_anniversary_scholastic_interview.htmThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Scholastic interview: https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/the_ballad_of_songbirds_and_snakes_scholastic_interview.htmSunrise on the Reaping Scholastic interview: https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/sunrise_on_the_reaping_scholastic_interview.htmFollow Emma @emmaskies across social media! https://linktr.ee/BiblioSkiesEmma's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@emmaskiesEmma's Bindery Imprint: https://skiesreads.binderybooks.com/Pre-order To Bargain With Mortals: https://www.rabasu.com/buytbwmFollow us on social media @rereadingtherevolution for updates and behind-the-scenes details! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Send us a textTara and EmKay are thrilled to be joined by Will Taylor, author of Scholastic's new children's paranormal fantasy series "The School for Wicked Witches"! Will shares his relationship to Oz, his process of creating Ava Heartstraw, Oz references to keep an eye out for, and more!Show notes:Will TaylorA 6-song study guide for watching ‘Wicked' with your kidsDrawn by Bryan InstagramDrawn by Bryan RedBubbleDrawn by Bryan TeePublicInstagram: @downtheyellowbrickpod#DownTheYBPTara: @taratagticklesEmKay: www.emilykayshrader.netPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/downtheyellowbrickpodEtsy: https://www.etsy.com/market/down_the_yellow_brick_podMusic by: Shane ChapmanEdited by: Emily Kay Shrader Down the Yellow Brick Pod: A Wizard of Oz Podcast preserving the history and legacy of Oz
Realize the Dream is a visionary movement aimed at uniting communities to achieve an extraordinary goal: completing 100 million hours of service by January 15, 2029—the 100th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth. Inspired by Dr. King's unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and a compassionate society, Realize the Dream embodies his vision of a strong, unified foundation for all. The initiative seeks to empower hundreds of thousands of teachers and bring hope to over six million students in underfunded schools across the United States. As a company deeply committed to education and literacy for every child, Scholastic has partnered with this transformative mission. And as part of this commitment, Scholastic will be donating half a million dollars' worth of books over the course of the initiative to help support Realize the Dream's ongoing programming. Late last year, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King visited Scholastic Headquarters in New York City to discuss the initiative in a conversation moderated by award-winning author, and Scholastic Vice President and Editor, Andrea Davis Pinkney. In today's episode, the Kings and Andrea are back, joining guest-host Billy DiMichele in the studio for another compelling conversation about Realize the Dream! → Resources About Realize the Dream: Learn more about the initiative. About Martin Luther King III: Learn more about the American human rights activist, philanthropist, advocate and the eldest son of Doctor Martin Luther King Junior and Coretta Scott King. About Andrea Waters King: Learn more about the social justice leader and President of the nonprofit Drum Major Institute. About Andrea Davis Pinkney: Learn more about award-winning author award-winning author, and Scholastic Vice President and Editor. About Yolanda Renee King and We Dream a World: Learn more about the author, activist and sole grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Corette Scott King, and her book. Realizing the Dream with Scholastic: Kid Reporter Leyla Saldanha's coverage of Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and Yolanda Renee King's October 2024 visit to Scholastic Headquarters to talk about the Realize the Dream initiative. We Dream a World: Celebrating Black History Month With Yolanda Renee King: Suzanne McCabe speaks with Yolanda Renee King and Andrea Davis Pinkney in this 2024 episode about the picture book We Dream a World: Carrying the Light from My Grandparents Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. → Highlights *Martin Luther King III, American human rights activist, philanthropist, and advocate * “We wanted to create something that causes people to turn to each other. As we're working together, we're doing something that's bigger than ourselves, in a climate, which is divided, this will hopefully begin to create the beginning elements of some level of community.” “What we really want is not to share what someone should do. What we want is people to decide for themselves what they want to do…What we know is when one is passionate about something, they're going to do a better job.” “Civility is kindness. Civility is how we say, what we say. Because we can say it in a constructive way, or we can say it in a destructive way. And we need to be creating the climate for constructiveness.” “My greatest hope is that our nation becomes closer and not to just Realize the Dream, but people will realize their own dreams in a way that compliments everyone.” Arndrea Waters King, social justice leader and President of the nonprofit Drum Major Institute “One person can make a difference. All together we can change the world.” “It is important, again, for all of us to find ourselves within the King legacy, but also for everyone to understand that if you're doing something for someone else, if you're serving your community, you are doing something to realize the dream of Martin Luther King Jr.” “Acknowledging the shared humanity of us all, at its core, is the foundational principle of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King's work…As a humanity, we are all brothers and sisters. And that to me is what the cornerstone of what this movement is.” *Andrea Davis Pinkney, award-winning author and Vice President and Executive Editor, Scholastic Trade Publishing * “[Kids] want to take action. They're big-hearted. And they know what it means to work together.” “As well all know, books change lives. Books spark conversations. And that's what We Dream a World does. It's changed lives. It has sparked conversations.” “Stories connect us. They unify us. They bring us together. In the case of the book, We Dream a World, it's a jewel and a tool. It's a jewel because it glistens, because its beautifully illustrated, because young people will engage with it and its beautifully written. It's a tool, because it's a way that young people can have the roadmap to say, “how do I make a change?” → Special Thanks Producers: Maxine Osa, Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan Sound Engineer: S. Shin Music Composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl → Coming Soon Art & Writing 2025
Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Join the Training Program - https://chessdojo.club Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop The ChessDojo sensei GM Jesse Kraai and IM David Pruess sit down with WFM Elizabeth Speigel and talk about the state of scholastic chess in today's episode of Dojo Talks, the ChessDojo podcast. Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/sUUh8HD Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips #chess #chessmaster CHAPTERS 0:00 Scholastic Chess with WFM Elizabeth Spiegel 15:33 Pedagogical Goals 22:20 Chess as School Subject 26:10 Brooklyn Castle and Bringing Chess Into Schools 32:00 Chess and Deep Thinking 39:13 The Impact of Chess on Children 44:16 Do More Girls Play Chess Than Before? 46:46 Strongest Players from WFM Spiegel's Program
This week the boys talk about the first book in the Animorphs series. They talk about it. Like a book club. They don't just read the book into the microphone. Anyone who listens to it for like 1 minute would get this. It's not actually that complicated or hard to comprehend or understand. If we were to read this book it would take longer than an hour. You would have to be some sort of souless algorithm or a total moron to not grasp that this is fair use and not copyright infringement. It's not. You want to come after me for the $0 I made off of this? After I paid you money to read your book and sing its praises? Eat me, Scholastic.Support the showBlue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.socialDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/
OMG, Kristy's running for eighth-grade president! Which sounds extremely low-stakes until you compare it to Mallory's unopposed run for seventh-grade secretary. Plus, a delightful glimpse of what might have been, if only Scholastic weren't COWARDS. On today's agenda: Alan Gray's writhing corpse; pizza legalities; Esther questions the nature of her reality; gritty, challenging middle-school theatre; a terrible shortage of visiting authors; delicious moles; pandering to the electorate for fun and profit; extensive bike-based misery; a Frookie Cookie deep dive. Our theme song is ‘The Incredible Shrinking Larry' by Matt Oakley and ‘Big Band Jingle A' is by Lobo Loco, both on the Free Music Archive. If you like our show, tell a friend, rate and review on your podcast app of choice, drop us an email, or come say hi on Instagram! We also have a ko-fi and we're real self-conscious about it!
Listeners and nurses, prepare for… converses? This VERY SPECIAL 20th episode features Emma Maguire taking charge of the podcast and forcing Troy J Malcolm to make choices based on options given to them by the book THE SURGERY OF SIN by Emma Maguire… That's right! The author of this book is actually sitting down to play it right here on the podcast! Will they finish in a freaky way… or two? TRIGGER WARNINGS: horror, blood, tentacles and soft erotica. READ IT FOR YOURSELF: https://www.emma-maguire.com/s/goosebumps_fin.pdf Prepare for banter, medical smut, and silly voices as Emma Maguire and Troy J Malcolm play through this ORIGINAL interactive novel together, continuing this scary second season of the podcast! STARRING: ☆ Emma Maguire (Instagram/Website) ☆ Troy J Malcolm (Facebook/Instagram/YouTube) CREW: ☆ Emma Maguire (Equipment, Lead Sound Editor, Producer, Special Thanks) ☆ Logan Burrell (Equipment, Graphic Designer, Graphic Editor, Lead Video Editor, Producer, Special Thanks) ☆ Ryan Breakfast-Eggbert (Sound Editor, Special Thanks) ☆ Sofilly Letters (Logo Designer, Special Thanks) ☆ Troy J Malcolm (Creator, Director, Equipment, Executive Producer, Sound Editor, Sound Recordist) MORE CREDITS: ☆ Distant Tension Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This show was created for SPLITelevision Productions and can be found on most podcast platforms PLUS our YouTube channel! Spookily… We are in no way affiliated with R.L. Stine, Goosebumps, Scholastic, or associated companies. We are just extreme fans of the gamebook format and want to share our passion for them with others. If you enjoy this podcast, please support Emma Maguire through their official channels.
Episode #231 hosts Dave Bossert and Aljon Go are back and catching up from being on the road the past few weeks and sharing thoughts on the recent Animation Y'all Expo in Nashville. Aljon also shares a couple of interviews with illustrator, Andrew J. Hall (@andrewjhallart) • Instagram) and Peter Raymundo (@peter_raymundo_author) • Instagram). Andrew Hall is the author and illustrator of multiple children's books and the creator of the Bartholomew Babbitt book series and products. His love for animation is coupled with his desire to inspire imagination and adventure. He is working on multiple projects, including bringing his book series to animation.Peter Raymundo was a Character Animator on 9 films for Walt Disney Studios, including Mulan, Tarzan, The Emperor's New Groove, Lilo and Stitch, Brother Bear, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Pocahontas, and The Princess and the Frog. As an author and illustrator, Peter has books published around the world by Abrams, Scholastic, and Penguin Random House, as well as Marvel Publishing.We are now on Patreon! Click this link to support the show -Skull Rock Podcast | Join our crew! | Patreon. Skull Rock Podcast is powered by Riverside.fm. Click HERE and start making great podcasts today! Visit theoldmillpress.com! Faceboook |X/Twitter |Instagram |Youtube -Aljon Go (aljongo) - Instagram - Aljon's Dining at Disney Podcast - Sorcerer Radio - All Disney Music, All Day LongSRSounds.com - E-mail: aljon@skullrockpodcast.com ||Dave Bossert (@dave_bossert) • Instagram - Email dave@skullrockpodcast.com. For behind-the-scenes stories and articles visit davidbossert.com. Shop using our Amazon affiliate HERE. The Skull Rock Podcast is one of the best Disney podcasts you must follow (feedspot.com). LISTEN to Dave's "Tunes Behind the Toons" segment on Sirius/XM's Disney Hits channel 133.
In this episode of Investor Connect, Hall Martin engages in a conversation with Jason Kutasi, a prominent member of YPO, a global leadership community for young presidents. Jason discusses his journey from exiting a D2C children's book publisher to Scholastic, to establishing an ad agency post-exit. He shares his expertise in marketing, emphasizing the importance of testing products, brand names, and customer interests before fully investing in them. Jason provides vital insights on the common mistakes startups make, such as not understanding their target customers or the actual pain points their products solve, and the necessity of a deep understanding of marketing for startup success. Jason also illustrates various scenarios using his experience with scalable startups, highlighting how businesses can optimize their marketing strategies to be more efficient and effective. He stresses the importance of testing before building a product and understanding the specific needs of potential customers. For example, he talks about how A/B testing helped a client choose the better product name, leading to higher customer engagement. Jason also reflects on the evolution of marketing strategies and the increased emphasis on cost-effective, rapid market-testing methods in today's startup ecosystem. The conversation concludes with Jason's perspective on remote work, the impact of COVID-19 on startups, and the integration of AI in digital marketing. He emphasizes the significance of building human connections and understanding your investors' needs. Jason advises startup founders to fly out for face-to-face meetings to build stronger relationships and improve their chances of securing deals. Throughout the episode, Jason's insights provide valuable lessons for both budding entrepreneurs and seasoned investors looking to navigate the ever-changing landscape of scalable startups. Visit YPO at Reach out to at Thank you for joining us for the Startup Funding Espresso where we help startups and investors connect for funding. Let's go startup something today. _________________________________________________________ For more episodes from Investor Connect, please visit the site at: Check out our other podcasts here: For Investors check out: For Startups check out: For eGuides check out: For upcoming Events, check out For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Please , share, and leave a review. Music courtesy of .
Cassandra Nelson, author of "A Theology of Fiction," joins me to discuss the importance of pursuing Godly truths in a secular culture, as well as the need to provide wisdom through literature. - - - Today's Sponsor: ExpressVPN - Get 4 months FREE of ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/klavan
In 1992, Scholastic published I Spy, a groundbreaking series of photography-based seek-and-find books created by illustrator Walter Wick and author Jean Marzollo. For over three decades, I Spy has captivated and entertained readers and families across the nation. With 100-plus books in the collection and over 75 million copies in print, the series continues to be a beloved classic. Last November saw the latest installment in the series, I Spy Love, which brims with whimsical and heartwarming scenes accompanied by delightful riddles, all centered on the theme of love. The title also marks a significant milestone for the series as it's the first time Dan and Dave Marzollo, sons of original co-creator Jean, have written an I Spy book entirely on their own, alongside Walter Wick! In today's episode, guest-host Billy DiMichele is joined by Walter, Dan, and Dave about the newest installment, what goes into creating an I SPY book, and so much more! → Resources About I Spy Love: Check out the latest installment in the I Spy Series. About I Spy Series: Learn more about the widely popular seek-and-find book series, published by Scholastic Press. Walter Wick: Learn more about the illustrator. Let's Find Out!: Check out the nonfiction magazine designed for kindergarteners, featuring fun, seasonal content on science and social studies themes. → Highlights Walter Wick, Illustrator, I Spy “As soon as the first I Spy book came out Jean started to realize how to articulate what those educational values were all about. And that really came to fruition in I Spy School Days…she really set the curriculum on that book.” “You can almost think of each of my scenes as a window display, but without the window.” “A child who struggled with reading was actually better at finding the objects from the riddles than the advanced readers. We called [these books] a 'great equalizer' because they brought people together and got them on the same page.” Dan and Dave Marzollo, Authors, I Spy “My favorite book of the series is I Spy Mystery, where Walter built these mysteries within the pictures. That to me is really great—to find those hidden things within the bigger picture.” – Dan “We were the first ones that got to see the very first fold and gathered copy of I Spy and test it.” – Dave “My mom always said that the moment she realized how big of a success the series was going to be, was when all the high school kids were pushing each other out of the way to try to find the blue thumbtack first. In the beginning, she thought this was going to be just something for kids but saw that high school kids were just as fully riveted by the books.” - Dave → Special Thanks Producers: Maxine Osa, Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan Sound Engineer: S. Shin Music Composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl
Black and Brilliant Local Author As the sixteen-year-old President of the Jacksonville Youth Council NAACP, he was one of the leaders of the 1960 sit-in demonstrations that culminated in the infamous and violent Ax Handle Saturday. Hurst's first book, the award-winning It Was Never About a Hot Dog and a Coke®!, tells that story. Hurst's fourth book, Black and Brilliant (written for 12-18 year-olds), dives deeper into bigotry, segregation and racism he experienced as a pre-teen and a teenager in Jacksonville. The book also reflects on the legacy of Black America and the many influences on his life that made him proud of his Blackness and piqued his interest in Black History. About our Guest Speakers Rodney Lawrence Hurst Sr., is a civil rights activist, a Black historian, a veteran of the United States Air Force and the award-winning author of four books. Hurst is a native of Jacksonville, Florida, and a 1960 high school graduate of segregated Northwestern Junior-Senior High School in Jacksonville. He was the sixteen-year-old President of the Jacksonville Youth Council NAACP and was one of the leaders of the 1960 sit-in demonstrations. Rodney has won countless awards for his books and his civil rights work. In addition to his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, Hurst served two four-year terms on the Jacksonville City Council. He is responsible for numerous "firsts" in the Jacksonville Community. Some being Hurst was one of the thirteen original national recipients of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Television Fellowships and he co-hosted a television talk show as the first Black person in Jacksonville on PBS Channel WJCT. Read more on his website. Interviewer TiLena Robinson worked as a middle and high school social studies teacher with Duval County Public Schools for nine years. In her current role as grant specialist she focuses on improving school climate by supporting schools with the implementation of programs that focus on reducing bullying incidents in schools and help students build healthy relationships. She is a member of DCPS's African American History Task Force and works to bring equity, inclusion, and diversity to education. She believes that “You can't teach world history without talking about Africa and how African peoples have impacted society; And you can't teach U.S. history without talking about how African Americans have contributed to the history of the United States.” Featured Book: Black and Brilliant Rodney believes, "Black and Brilliant young people need to know their Black and Brilliant history and the Black and Brilliant stalwarts who engineered that history. It is never too early, nor are you too young, to understand the plight of those who look like you and what they achieved from the founding days of this country." This book, he says, "Is more than a historical account, it is a call to action..." He hopes that young people "learn from the courage and resilience of those who fought for civil rights, gaining a deeper appreciation for the remaining challenges." Hurst's leadership as a teenager during the Civil Rights Movement is also the subject of a chapter in the Scholastic book, Ten True Tales: Young Civil Rights Heroes, written for Third Graders to Seventh Graders and ages 8 to 12. Check out all of Rodney's work from the Library! https://jaxpl.na4.iiivega.com/search?query=Rodney%20Hurst&searchType=agent&pageSize=10 Rodney Recommends The JaxNext100 award-winning mini documentary, "Unless We Tell: Ax Handle Saturday" features Hurst describing the Jacksonville Youth Council NAACP 1960 sit-ins and Ax Handle Saturday. The title was inspired by Hurst's second book, Unless We Tell It... It Never Gets Told! The film took First Place at the Jacksonville LOL (Loving Our Locals) Film Festival in 2022. It was a collaboration between Hurst, his grandson-in-law, Kyle Dorrell, and his granddaughter Marquiette (Mark-Kita) D. Dorrell and their company, Weighted Sailor. Note: The 2028 documentary "Ax Handle Saturday: 50 Years Later" is also based on his book. --- Never miss an event! Sign up for email newsletters at https://bit.ly/JaxLibraryUpdates Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl Contact Us: jplpromotions@coj.net
Myron Jenkins and DeJuan Marrero host Dr. August Mendes, the assistant boys basketball coach at CIA Bella Vista (AZ). Dr. Mendes discusses what it means for Bella Vista to be the EYBL Scholastic League Regular Season Co-Champions after winning just one game in conference play last year. He also explains why the EYBL Scholastic League is considered the best high school conference in the world and shares the team's ambitions to contend in the Chipotle Nationals, and much more.
Thanks for listening to Season 5, Episode 9 of Dialogue Alley! In this episode, Melanie, and Carly talk about:News & Main Topic:Goblet of Fire Interactice Illustrated Edition was announced. It is not MinaLima. (Harry Potter and the Dumpster of Fire)Translation of the Show: Lithuanian Philosopher's Stone (original cover art)Dialogue Alley is the official podcast of The Potter CollectorCarly @alltheprettybooks on InstagramErik @knockturnerik on InstagramMelanie @theharrypottercollection on InstagramPeter @ThePotterCollector on InstagramThanks to our Editor: TommyImages of books that are discussed on this episode will be available on Instagram @dialogueallypodcast, as well as DialogueAlley.com and alltheprettybooks.net For more content from The Potter Collector, visit Peter's WebsiteDialogue Alley trusts The Harry Potter Specialist to authenticate signed Harry Potter books. JOIN US ON PATREON!! You can get access to our Discord, ad-free episodes, and our BONUS EPISODES! patreon.com/dialoguealleySend Questions and Listener Mail to: Dialoguealleypodcast@gmail.comWe would love to hear from you!Music:The Magic Shoes
The time has come...to become...Animorphs! We had a blast diving into this 90s sci-fi hit for Scholastic. The kids: they become animals. The stakes: they become apocalyptic!Complete our listener survey at gum.fm/overdue.Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis.Follow @overduepod on Instagram and BlueskyAdvertise on OverdueSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chris Colbert has a long and deep track record of using his understanding of technology, innovation, and humanity to build brands and high performing organizations. His career story includes founding several start-ups, leading to brand and direct marketing agencies, and overseeing a strategic revamp of Scholastic's core book club publishing business. In 2015 he joined the Harvard innovation Labs where he served as managing director supporting hundreds of student and alumni led start-ups. He is the author of the new book “Technology is Dead: The Path to a More Human Future.”
Welcome to the twenty-first episode of Best Issue Ever! Today's guest is Karen Charm, who will be well-known to many X-fans for their great X-Men fan art, prints, and zines. They also do a good amount of pro work for publishers like Scholastic, so follow them pretty much across social media @charmgardens. Okay, you love them and I love them so we're back to the X-Men, baby! We're talking about Generation Next #4, right near the end of the Age of Apocalypse crossover THIRTY YEARS AGO. Time, what even is it. This issue is written by *mumbles* Scott Lobdell, drawn by Chris Bachalo and Mark Buckingham, colored by Steve Buccellato and Electric Crayon, and lettered by good ole Richard Starkings and Comicraft. This podcast is recorded in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is edited by Sara Century. The theme music is provided by Earth Control Pill, whose work is on Bandcamp. I do not want to deal with ads AT ALL, so if you also don't want to deal with ads, please consider supporting the podcast by rating and reviewing and/or signing up at the Ko-fi or Patreon @ ko-fi.com/saracenturypodcasts. or patreon.com/saracenturypodcasts. There is now a Discord for this podcast, and here's the slightly cumbersome invite link if you are interested: https://discord.gg/ZwbvqJDAGS Finally, you could support my other ventures, including the pending narrative horror podcast Medusa Mask. Visit my website to sign up for my newsletter for updates. Oh, and I'm a horror writer, so pick up my short story anthology, A Small Light and Other Stories, through Weirdpunk Books, or pretty much wherever else you get books. I wrote a zine about the Scream franchise that you can pick up @ saracentury.gumroad.com
Waubonsie Valley principal Jason Stipp sits down with scholastic bowl's Vikram Narasimhan, Akshath Sivachidhambaram & Aveek Sarkar. Sponsored by PureBerry Naperville at https://www.pureberrybowls.com a WVTV production ©2025
In this episode, Xan dives into Hikaru in the Light by Mai Matsuda, an inspirational music manga now being released in full color by Scholastic. Does the colorization enhance the story, or does it change the tone of this limited series? Join him as he explores its origins on the Azuki Manga app, shares his thoughts on the adaptation, and breaks down why this series is worth your attention. Before we wrap up, a quick reminder: if you've been enjoying the podcast and want to help keep the lights on, please consider supporting our GoFundMe at tinyurl.com/spiraken. We've got some fantastic tier rewards to thank you for your generosity, and every bit of support goes a long way. A huge shoutout to our anonymous donors—you're the real MVPs! Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening. Follow us on social media @spiraken on Youtube, Instagram, and Bluesky, and join our Discord community at tinyurl.com/spiradiscord. If you're feeling extra generous, leave us a glowing review on Apple Podcasts at tinyurl.com/helpxan—it helps more than you know! Thanks for tuning in, and we hope you enjoyed this episode. Until next time, keep turning those pages! ----more---- #spiraken #mangareview #wheelofmanga #seinenmanga #dramamanga #musicmanga #newmangaexplained #bestmanga #mangarecommendation #hikaruinthelight #maimatsuda #azukimanga #scholastic #graphix #podcasthq #spirakenreviewpodcast Music Used in This Episode: Closing Theme: Trendsetter by Mood Maze (via Uppbeat) Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter License code: YEPNB5COHX56JVES WHERE TO FIND US: Bluesky: @spiraken.bsky.social Instagram: /spiraken Email: Spiraken@gmail.com | Xan's Email: xan@spiraken.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/spiraken Discord: https://tinyurl.com/spiradiscord X (Twitter): https://X.com/spiraken YouTube: /@spiraken Twitch: /spiraken Amazon Store: http://www.amazon.com/shops/spiraken Random Question of the Day: What's your favorite J-Idol group? Let us know in the comments or on social media!"
Hi this is Tif of the Stories to Love Podcast and this is episode 90. Today's guest is audiobook narrator Jennifer AquinoJennifer Aquino is an actor and award-winning narrator based in Los Angeles with 20+ years working in film, television, theatre, and voiceover. Fun Fact: she's one of the doctors who killed McDreamy on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. In the last three years, Jennifer has narrated for 16 publishers, including Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Podium, among others. She also directs audiobooks, and has directed with Penguin Random House, Hachette, Macmillan, Brilliance Publishing, and Scholastic. Jennifer recently appeared on the cover of Center Stage Magazine, as well as the CBS reboot of MATLOCK with Kathy Bates, in the role of Miss Tori Park, the Head of HR!In this episode, we talked about her varied background as an Econ major, how it merged with performing arts, and how that helps in her career today. We chatted about her path to becoming an audiobook narrator after starting off in film and TV. And finally we touched on how she auditions to narrate a book, how she evolved from mentee to mentor, and her love of reading. ***Preorder LETTERS FROM THE TRAIL, out on February 25, 2025Note: some links are affiliate linksContact Tif at tif@tifmarcelo.comPlease check out her website for podcast submissions
Nature is the HEART of the Story with Jodi SimpsonThis special episode features Jodi's Simpson's presentation that she shared with the CIRCLE Membership. This presentation is a captivating journey through her innovative story workshop for her kindergarteners, integrating nature as the heart of storytelling. Jodi's approach not only inspires creativity but also taps into the developmental growth of her young learners. Her session highlighted sensational photos of her classroom setup, illustrating the immersive environment she creates for her students. The highlight of the episode displays the 3D stories crafted by the children, showcasing their imaginative interpretations and connection with nature.Episode Highlights:Introduction to Jodi Simpson's Teaching Philosophy: Jodi emphasizes the importance of nature in fostering creativity in young learners. She shares her unique perspective on how nature can serve as the heart of storytelling, providing an authentic and engaging learning experience for children.Nature-Centric Story Workshop: Details about her story workshops, where she uses elements of nature to guide storytelling. The focus is on how these workshops encourage children to express themselves and learn organically.Visual Feast for CIRCLE Members of Classroom and Setup: Viewers are treated to stunning photos of Jodi's classroom environment, reflecting her commitment to integrating natural elements into her teaching space. This visual presentation complements her storytelling approach, making the learning space itself an inspirational story.Showcase of 3D Stories by Kindergartners: The episode concludes with a fascinating display of how to share the 3D stories created by her students, highlighting their creativity and the profound impact of Jodi's teaching methods.Call to Action: Curious viewers are invited to join the CIRCLE Membership to gain full access to Jodi's workshops and similar inspirational content. Already a CIRCLE Member? Go to the Outdoor Classrooms Tour and Talk section in your Membership platform and bring your reflections to our next Roundtable. MEET JODI: Joy has been the building block of Jodi Simpson's teaching career of 22 years. She currently teaches kindergarten and has taught preschool, first grade, and second grade. She is also the author of the Circle-Time Poetry series, published by Scholastic in 2005, as well as, Read Snack & Learn With Favorite Picture Books in 2004,. Sharing ideas and activities with other teachers helped her grow as a mentor teacher for many student teachers. She has also worked with a team of author-collaborators for our school district's curriculum. Jodi's learning and teaching journey includes being the recipient of the North Fork Teacher of the Year 2014 and Colorado Teacher of the Year Finalist 2017. Currently, she a part of a nature-based learning cohort of teachers that supports other educators in teaching students outdoors. Jodi Simpson's newest books would fall into Scholastic's “reproducible activity books” category for grades PreK - First Grade, similar to her earlier books. The new set of books are specifically created for the latest trends in these educational movements: nature and place-based learning, structured foundational literacy skills (rhyme, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension), STEAM investigations, and social-emotional learning. *Three new titles: 1. Circle Time Poetry: In the Woods, 2. Circle Time Poetry: Let's Take a Walk, and 3. Circle Time Poetry: Play & Wonder are resources for teachers to use to get outside and
Portal effecting grassroots travel basketball live period 5 sneaker powers running circuits to control the prospect landscape Nike taking it to a new level- EYBL, Tony Derado, Scholastic league, Jr Eybl Eurpoean invasion-- US copying model? Will capitalism allow it to evolve? Dr. Parker NJCAA 3 points of contention with NCAA ruling on Pavia
With a city in flames, four individuals come together to confront Hard Truths. Kirby Howell-Baptiste (“The Good Place”, “Killing Eve”) joins us from London to talk Mike Leigh's latest film “Hard Truths”. Wildfires have claimed historic Hollywood landmarks. And movies that capture the locations they're set in perfectly. What's GoodAlonso - Watch Duty appDrea - An “adult Scholastic book fair”Kirby Howell-Baptiste - Tina Lifford's book The Little Book of Big LiesKevin - KindnessITIDICHollywood landmarks destroyed by the firesAwards Shows Postponed due to the firesMovies That Capture Locations PerfectlyKirby - Uncut Gems & Shaun of the DeadAlonso - True Stories & Dr. T and the WomenDrea - Young Adult and NebraskaKevin - Beat Street Staff PicksAlonso - Career GirlsDrea - Sing Sing and Grand Theft HamletKevin - Spy GameKirby - We StrangersFollow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or InstagramWithDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeKevin AveryKirby Howell-BaptisteProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher Follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, or InstagramWithDrea ClarkAlonso DuraldeIfy NwadiweProduced by Marissa FlaxbartSr. Producer Laura Swisher
In July 1992, Scholastic published the first Goosebumps book by R.L. Stine for young readers nationwide. Never before had a book series attempted to be just scary enough for children and very quickly one thing became clear, kids loved it. In the three decades since its debut, Goosebumps has become one of the best-selling children's book series of all time. With over 400 million books in print, two feature films, video games, consumer products, multiple television adaptations, and more in store for 2025, Goosebumps continues to be one of the most notable cultural phenomena of the past century. This January 10th, 2025 marked the release of the second season of the thrilling live-action Disney+ anthology series Goosebumps: The Vanishing, and this coming March will see the release of R.L. Stine's newest book in his House of Shivers series, Say My Name, Say My Name. In today's episode, guest-host Billy DiMichele is joined by the master of horror himself, R.L. Stine, to talk all things funny and scary, while later in the program, we get to hear from Jayden Bartels, one of the stars of Disney+'s newly released Goosebumps: The Vanishing. → Resources About R.L. Stine: Learn more about the author and his many books. About Goosebumps: Learn more about the thrilling Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. About Goosebumps: The Vanishing: Learn more about the newest installment of the live-action Goosebumps television series, executive produced by Scholastic Entertainment, and now available to stream in full on Disney+ and Hulu. Spooky stories for Halloween: Suzanne McCabe interviews R.L. Stine about what it is about spine-chilling books that's so compelling for young readers, in this spooky-season-themed 2019 Scholastic Reads episode. 25 Years of Goosebumps: R.L. Stine visits Scholastic Reads to talk about the 25th anniversary of the Goosebumps series in this 2017 Scholastic Reads episode. → Highlights R.L. Stine, author, Goosebumps “No one expects this kind of thing. To get so lucky, to have a big bestselling series that lasts. No one plans on it. We had no idea. It all happens, Harry Potter or Hunger Games, Twilight, etc. because of kids. Kids telling kids.” “I LOVE the middle-grade audience.” “I think horror is funny. [It] makes me laugh.” “I'm a huge believer that television shows really encourage reading. Back in the 90s, when the original Goosebumps series went on FOX kids, we gained a million readers a month. So, I've always been a big believer that television can encourage reading.” Jayden Bartels, actor, Goosebumps: The Vanishing “I think it's so interesting how [R.L. Stine] found a way to scare children without giving them nightmares.” “I think it was a big thing for this show, taking the monsters, we all know and love and grew up on, and bringing in new characters and new stories to life.” “We can bring in a new perspective that the younger generation can relate to. And I think that the characters in the show are so multifaceted and so deep and layered.” → Special Thanks Producers: Maxine Osa, Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan Sound Engineer: S. Shin Music Composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl → Coming Soon I SPY LOVE
New episode on The DeJuan Marrero Podcast features 2026 4⭐️ recruit, DeZhon Hall. Hall shares current experience playing in the EYBL Scholastic League with Legacy Early College (SC), competing with Phenom United on the 3SSB circuit, what he enjoyed most about his visit to Wisconsin, and his upcoming visit to Louisville.
BookTok, the corner of TikTok that's all about books, has shaken up the publishing world. Over the last few years, the platform has pulled in new readers, especially in the romance and fantasy genres. And now some of the largest publishers in the U.S. are finding new talent and rethinking their strategies because of TikTok. We hear from an author, a bookstore owner and a publisher about how TikTok has transformed the book industry. Further Listening: -The Rise of the Tween Shopper -Inside One Publisher's Fight Against Book Bans -Scholastic's Succession Drama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's election season here in the US (please go vote if you're reading this on November 4th or 5th)! And to uh "celebrate" we have chosen to put together a one-hour-and-forty-five-minute episode on Dan Gutman's 1996 book The Kid Who Ran For President, a book that is pretty wild and only made wilder by Scholastic's characteristic late-00s-early-10s stealth updates that "modernize" the text while leaving everything about the story's context totally unchanged.Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis.Follow @overduepod on Instagram and BlueskyAdvertise on OverdueSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.