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About Norris:Norris “The Fashionfly Hiker” Atkins is an encourager, educator, and nature enthusiast. As the founder and CEO of Norris Explores Outdoors (NEO), an Austin-based company, he provides a safe platform for Black individuals to reclaim their ancestral connection with nature. This connection not only enhances their physical health and mental health well-being but also fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment. His passion for the outdoors was nurtured during his time as a member of the Boy Scouts. Since 2015, he has dedicated himself to increasing outdoor visibility within Black communities. In 2024, he launched #Norris Explores Outdoors, a digital movement that collaborates with influencers to create a diverse and inclusive outdoors for Black individuals. He is actively involved in Outdoor Afro Austin, a nonprofit organization that reconnects Black communities with nature. Norris has been featured in the IG Live Chat Black in National Parks Project and mentioned in the Texas Highways magazine. He has been recognized through the Outdoor Afro Joyful Photo Award. Additionally, he has received The SCBWI Austin Annual Carmen Oliver On-the-Verge Conference Scholarship for his pre-published picture book, “My Hike With Daddy: A Story Of Black Joy In Nature.” He is a Tour Guide Volunteer and advocate of the We Need Diverse Books movement through storytime at Austin Central Library. He leads guided interpretive hikes at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, visits Texas state and national parks, embarks on road trips to visit civil rights sites, and engages in bat watching, and he believes that nature is an integral part of his ancestral identity. Norris lives in the Pease Park area deep in the heart of downtown Austin. Catch up with Norris on Instagram and Threads at: @norrisexploresoutdoors Key Takeaways:Mindfulness and compassion are essential for living better.Norris Atkins promotes outdoor visibility for Black communities.Boy Scouts played a pivotal role in Norris's love for nature.Fishing is both a recreational activity and a life skill.Nature provides a safe space for mental health management.Building community through outdoor activities is vital.Embracing discomfort leads to personal growth.Nature teaches patience and curiosity.Outdoor activities can foster a sense of belonging.We are all interconnected in our experiences. Being outdoors is part of our DNA.We must reclaim our right to outdoor spaces.Nature provides a healing experience.Forest bathing helps wash away negativity.Creating safe spaces allows for emotional release.Journaling can memorialize transformative experiences.Empowerment comes from connecting with nature.Experiencing the night sky can be humbling.It's important to encourage each other in our journeys.Real men cry and it's okay to express emotions.Creating a culture of belongingness is essential for mental health.Silence can be a powerful tool for healing and reflection.Mindfulness practices can help build resilience in challenging times.Nature provides a unique space for connection and community.Introverts can find strength in their desire for solitude.Building a resilient brain is crucial for overall well-being.Engaging in outdoor activities can enhance personal growth.Practicing silence can be started in small increments.Community support is vital for survival and wellness.Norris offers outdoor adventures and collaborations for those interested. Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Mindfulness and Nature02:48 Norris Atkins: A Journey into the Outdoors06:03 The Impact of Boy Scouts on Personal Growth08:59 Fishing: A Family Tradition and Life Skill11:59 Mental Health and Nature Connection15:05 Building Community Through Outdoor Activities17:58 Embracing Discomfort for Personal Growth20:53 Nature as a Teacher of Life Skills25:12 Reclaiming Our Outdoor Heritage29:21 The Connection to Ancestry and Nature31:42 Experiencing the Night Sky34:50 The Healing Power of Forest Bathing39:51 Creating Safe Spaces for Emotional Release42:12 Empowerment Through Nature and WritingExtended Conversation:Creating a Culture of BelongingnessThe Power of Silence and StillnessBuilding Resilience Through MindfulnessCommunity and Connection in NatureFinding Norris: Outdoor Adventures and Collaborations Connect with me:Join over 5,000 happier people on my mailing list! https://www.healthyhousecallswithangel.comWhat area of your life needs the most care and attention right now? Work with me 1:1! Get the support you need and the science you've been searching for in my private community! https://www.thesevacircle.comCheck out my practice Seva Health: https://sevahealthgroup.com/Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelvshannon/Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelvshannon
“Their white classmates can read Harry Potter and relate to going to Hogwarts and flying on brooms. But a Black kid can't aspire to go to Paris, which can actually happen.” – Jerry CraftGrowing up, Jerry Craft did not enjoy reading. He says he simply never encountered a children's book that intrigued him enough or felt right. But Jerry loves defying expectations, and so naturally, the boy who rarely set foot in a library grew up to become a celebrated children's book author and illustrator. He has made defying expectations—and breaking stereotypes—a guiding principle in his storytelling. Jerry Craft is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, best known for “New Kid,” the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal. “New Kid,” along with the subsequent books in the three-part series—“Class Act” and “School Trip”—were groundbreaking for middle-grade literature, especially the power of graphic novels. While many of us may know and love Jerry's more recent graphic novels, his road to those books was winding and unexpected. In this episode, Jerry tells us about the one teacher who finally found the secret to inspiring him, explains how being a Black comic strip creator was a lot like the movie Highlander, and ponders whether his dad's night shifts might be the reason he still works best at 3 AM.Settle in for an episode filled with wry humor and the colorful stories of Jerry Craft's journey to becoming a beloved author for students and teachers alike!***Jerry curated a group of graphic novels for his reading challenge, How It Started, How It's Going. These graphic novels chronicle his own journey as a creator—from the books that inspired him to those that helped forge his path and finally to those for which he laid the groundwork. Learn more and download Jerry's reading challenge at thereadingculturepod.com/jerry-craft***This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Laurie Schalliol, media specialist at Heritage Intermediate School in Middlebury, Indiana. Laurie dishes about a spicy incentive that pushed her students' reading to the next level.***Show ChaptersChapter 1 - Oh SnapChapter 2 - Stay HumbleChapter 3 - Xylem StripsChapter 4 - To One PersonChapter 5 - The HighlanderChapter 6 - That's Not For YouChapter 7 - Reading Challenge Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupJerry CraftMomma's BoyzTo the World… (Jerry's Quote)Follow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey
“I think it caused me to get over some of the sort of narcissistic impulses in my writing and not make it about me and impressing, but instead about having the best reading experience I could imagine.” - Eliot SchreferAt a young age, Eliot Schrefer acknowledged that he was hiding himself. Growing up queer when he did meant concealing a key part of his identity for the sake of self-preservation. It was through books that he first learned to accept his queerness. That thread leads to one of his most well-known books, “Queer Ducks (and Other Animals).” We unravel that and so much more about Eliot's journey in this episode.While his coming of age taught Eliot Schrefer to stop living his life exclusively as an observer, as an author, found himself once more removing himself from his work. This time, though, it's intentional and for vastly different purposes. To Eliot, writing is about asking questions that the author is not supposed to answer. That's for the reader to do.Eliot is a bestselling author celebrated for his young adult and middle-grade novels, including “Endangered,” and the rest of his Ape Quartet series, “Queer Ducks” (that even landed him on The Daily Show!), as well as “The Darkness Outside Us” and its newly released sequel, “The Brightness Between Us.” Eliot is also a Printz Honoree and a two-time National Book Award finalist. In this episode, Eliot shares how he has practiced self-concealment in both his life and stories, and why he believes this has helped him better connect with his teen audience. He also reveals why his current influences include Carl Sagan, Jane Goodall, and Eeyore. For his reading challenge, Beyond the Human Experience, Eliot wants us too to practice seeing the world outside of the human perspective. He says it "reminds us that we're not the only creatures worth caring about." Learn more and download Eliot's recommended reading list at thereadingculturepod.com/eliot-schrefer***This episode's Featured Librarian is Tammy McIntyre, a library media specialist in Gwinnett County Georgia for many years and now works with us at Beanstack. Today she offers a guiding principle she follows as a librarian and especially as a parent.Show ChaptersChapter 1 - Carl Sagan and M.T. Anderson Walk Into a Bar…Chapter 2 - Science, Fantasy, and the Matrix (Printer) Chapter 3 - What I BelieveChapter 4 - The View From the ClosetChapter 5 - Duck HuntChapter 6 - I Ask the Questions Around HereChapter 7 - Beyond the Human ExperienceChapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian LinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupEliot SchreferEliot Schrefer (@schrefer) • Instagram photos and videosPale Blue DotM.T. Anderson on The Reading CultureGregory Maguire on The Reading CultureEM Forster - WHAT I BELIEVEHowards End by E.M. Forster | GoodreadsFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Grace and Alvina discuss longevity in the publishing industry, both as an author and illustrator and as an editor, using a recent podcast episode and a Publishers Weekly article as a jumping-off point. They discuss the two main qualities authors (and editors!) need to survive in in the industry, and they also discuss how publishing jobs have diminished in the last 30 years, and how to increase your chances of survival. They introduce a new segment called "Tell Me About..." and Alvina talks about ALL THE BOOKS by Hayley and John Rocco. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they talk about the National Book Award finalists and the new MacArthur Foundation Fellows. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com. Follow us in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Linda Sue Park, author of A Long Walk to Water with her newest book Gracie Under the Waves. Linda Sue is the founder of KiBooka, which highlights children's books by Korean-American authors, and a member of the advisory board for We Need Diverse Books. New Releases: The Hill: Inside the Secret World of the U.S. Capitol by Kate Andersen Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos (Evil Villains International League #1) by Alex Evanovich Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood by Robert Beatty Links and resources available at patreon.com/thebookfaire --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebookfaire/support
Linda Sue Park, author of A Long Walk to Water with her newest book Gracie Under the Waves. Linda Sue is the founder of KiBooka, which highlights children's books by Korean-American authors, and a member of the advisory board for We Need Diverse Books. New Releases: The Hill: Inside the Secret World of the U.S. Capitol by Kate Andersen Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos (Evil Villains International League #1) by Alex Evanovich Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood by Robert Beatty Links and resources available at patreon.com/thebookfaire --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thebookfaire/support
Send us a textLinda Sue Park visits the show to discuss her book Gracie Under the Waves.Linda Sue Park is the author of many books for young readers, including the 2002 Newbery Medal winner A Single Shard and the New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water. Her most recent title for middle grade readers is The One Thing You'd Save, a collection of linked poems. Linda Sue is the founder and curator of Allida Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. She serves on the advisory boards of We Need Diverse Books and the Rabbit Hole museum project, and created the kiBooka website, www.kibooka.com, to highlight children's books created by the Korean diaspora. In her travels to promote reading and writing, she has visited more than 30 countries and 49 states. Linda Sue knows very well that she will never be able to read every great book ever written, but she keeps trying anyway. Visit her website at www.lindasuepark.com; follow her on Twitter @LindaSuePark.
Grace and Alvina are recording together in Brooklyn! They discuss the difference between cynicism and skepticism, and which one is "a poison pill" and why it's important to stat hopeful. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they discuss a recent article in Publisher Weekly related to Banned Book Week, about the impact of book bans on authors. And, of course, they end with what they're grateful for. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com. Follow us in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Highlights from this episode include: Starting with a story and discovering theme along the way Propping up a story with telephone poles and burying the wires in between Leaving space for readers to lean in and discover things for themselves Minh Lê is the award-winning author of household favorites Drawn Together (winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature), Real to Me, The Blur, Lift (an Eisner Award nominee). He also writes popular middle grade graphic novels, including Green Lantern books and Enlighten Me. He is also a has been a contributor to a number of national publications including the New York Times, The Horn Book, HuffPost, NPR, Book Riot, and Reading Rainbow, and was until very recently, on the Board of We Need Diverse Books. He's also on the faculty of the Hamline MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. IG: @bottomshelfbks
Today's guest is Joanna Ho, the best-selling author whose children's books cover topics such as familial roots, oppression and justice, and the importance of representation—especially for fellow Asian Americans. After years of rejection, her first book, Eyes That Kiss In The Corners, became an instant New York Times Best-Seller in 2021. She's gone on to publish 9 other books for children and young adults, including her most recent release, We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem For Asian America.Written in her signature lyrical style, the book covers the rich, nuanced, and incredibly diverse history of Asians in America and includes a very detailed section in the back that urges children and adults to go deeper with guiding questions and additional research. In today's conversation, we talk to Joanna about finding strength in becoming a single mom, embracing the beauty in her Asian American identity, the power of representation in kid-lit, the devastation of book bans sweeping across the country, and her ultimate goal of sparking revolutions—both big and small. Follow Joanna at @joannahowritesPlease follow, rate, and leave us a review!For more stories about motherhood and so much more, visit mothermag.com and follow @mothermag on Instagram.For more on Joanna's inspiring career + life story, check out these great interviews:Kidlit Happy Hour (podcast)KQED (YouTube)Scholastic (YouTube)Publisher's Weekly (website)MOTHER (website)The Horn Book Inc. (website)We Need Diverse Books (website)The MOTHER Podcast is produced by Em Roberts and Ali Alquiza.
Inspired by recent book bans and challenges, Anna shares what she's learned about diversity in library collections from her classes. The SibNerds are revisiting their previous discussion around book bans and reevaluating the framing they put on that conversation. A large portion of this conversation talks about the importance of challenging the centering of whiteness and the default being white. We know that this can be an uncomfortable conversation, but we believe that it is critical in our own growth. We hope that this will help others process or begin their growth and understanding of folks who may be different. The Kirkus article “Unmaking the White Default:” https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/unmaking-white-default/ We Need Diverse Books: https://diversebooks.org/ Equal Opportunity Reader's review of Gender Queer: https://equalopportunityreader.com/2023/06/22/review-gender-queer-a-memoir-by-maia-kobabe/ The diversity graphic Anna references: https://socialjusticebooks.org/diversity-graphic/ Don't forget to join us for our Read Along! We're reading The Stone Sky by: N.K. Jemisin! Our Patrons can vote on our next Read Along! Here are the options: 1. The Star-Touched Queen by: Roshani Chokshi 2. The Winter King by: Bernard Cornwell 3. Tress of the Emerald Sea by: Brandon Sanderson Josef is watching: - Demon Slayer (Crunchyroll) - My Hero Academia (Crunchyroll) - Critical Roll, campaign 3 (YouTube) - Delicious Dungeon (Netflix) - Hunter x Hunter (Crunchyroll) - Bram Stoker's Dracula - Acolyte (Disney+) Josef is reading: - The Stone Sky by: N.K. Jemisin - Witch Hat Atelier by: Kamome Shirahama Josef is playing: - D&D - Elden Ring (PS5) - Magic the Gathering Anna is watching: - Rings of Power (Amazon Prime) - Futurama (Hulu) - The Mole (Netflix) - Despicable Me 4 - The Minions (Netflix) - Inside Out 2 - My Hero Academia (Crunchyroll) - Demon Slayer (Crunchyroll) - Acolyte (Disney+) Anna is reading: - Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by: Penelope Bagieu - She is a Haunting by: Trang Thanh Tran - The Stone Sky by: N.K. Jemisin Anna is playing: - Fallout 4 (PS5) - Baldur's Gate 3 (PS5) - Princess Peach: Showtime! (Nintendo Switch) - JackBox Games - Beat the Parents - Apples to Apples - Magic the Gathering Don't forget, you can get bonus content by joining our Patreon! Find us on Twitter: @litround Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LitRoundTable Find us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thelitroundtable Art: Kris Easler: https://www.kriseasler.com/
In this episode we discuss Trans Representation in Young Adult Fiction with Fin Leary (he/they) #lgbt #lgbtqia #trans #transgender #lgbtbooks #queerbooks #writing ✔ GUEST PROMOS ✔ ▶ Fin Leary is a program manager at We Need Diverse Books, where he's worked since 2015; an affiliated faculty at Emerson College; and a reviewer for Booklist. His work has been published in outlets including the New York Times, Good Housekeeping, Teen Vogue, and The Boston Globe Magazine. Fin lives with his wife and their literary cats and a rainbow bookshelf outside of Boston. www.finleary.com YOUTUBE VERSION More specific show notes in the Youtube description: https://youtu.be/LsBYt7FGVf8 LINKTREE https://linktr.ee/GenderMeowster --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/genderful/support
"I'm not a person that's like, let's throw out the classics. It's, let's move forward. Let's disrupt the canon. Some of these universal themes, some of these ingredients that we love, how do I remix them into a new stew?” - Dhonielle ClaytonWhat is life without a little magic? Fantasy gives us the space to break free from the confines that reality often brings and the freedom to dream the typically unimaginable. But with all its magic and wonder, the fantasy genre doesn't always reflect the diversity of its real-life readers' stories. Dhonielle Clayton, a literary mover and shaker, is dedicated to changing that narrative, filling in the gaps to ensure that all kids see a reflection of themselves in these wondrous worlds.Dhonielle is an acclaimed author known for her works, including "The Belles" series, "The Conjurverse" series, and "Shattered Midnight." She is also the co-author of several novels, such as "Blackout" and "Tiny Pretty Things." Equal parts creative and determined, Dhonielle is the co-founder and incoming CEO of the influential organization We Need Diverse Books. She is a one-woman powerhouse!In this episode, Dhonielle traces the magic in her books back to its roots in African folklore, details the challenge of stepping out from the long shadow of Harry Potter, and outlines her mission to hire her own collective of diverse writers. ***Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. ***Dhonielle expands on her stories about magic and fantasy on the podcast with her reading challenge, Retelling Heroes and Magic. Dhonielle takes inspiration from her goal to disrupt the world of fantasy storytelling with a wonderful suggested reading list. Download the list at thereadingculturepod.com/dhonielle-clayton***This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Erin Baker, media specialist at Durham Middle School in Georgia. She tells us her secret sauce for getting the whole school on board with reading initiatives and why it involves some unlikely allies.ContentsChapter 1 - Hot Summers in the Deep SouthChapter 2 - The People Could FlyChapter 3 - Let's Talk About Harry PotterChapter 4 - Reality in FantasyChapter 5 - Let Them Eat Cake! (Creative)Chapter 6 - PurposeChapter 7 - Reading ChallengeChapter 8 - Beanstack Featured LibrarianLinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupDhonielle Clayton Website Follow Dhonielle on Instagram The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales by Virginia HamiltonDurham Middle SchoolFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Jackie Lamport, Sydni Michelle Perry, and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey
You guys know I'm a huge fan of the Dakota Universe. But Lamar Giles and Paris Alleyne's Static: Up All Night nearly slipped out of my radar entirely. When I noticed my mistake, I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting, and it leapfrogged into my Top Books of 2023 list. Somehow, my video review landed on the screen of the man himself, so we set up this fun conversation.Listen as we talk about Lamar's lifelong love of reading, Middle Grades authors that inspired him, his exploration of genre fiction, and why diverse storytelling matters. Lamar's next book, Ruin Road, hits the book market in September. After this talk, you'll probably want to run to the nearest store and pre-order it.About Lamar GilesLamar Giles is a well-published author and a founding member of We Need Diverse Books. His most recent novels include NOT SO PURE AND SIMPLE his first Contemporary Coming-of-Age Story (HarperTeen/HarperCollins) and Middle-Grade Fantasy THE LAST MIRROR ON THE LEFT (Versify/HMH), the sequel to his 2019 hit THE LAST LAST-DAY-OF-SUMMER.Lamar is a three-time Edgar Award finalist in the YA category, for his debut YA thriller FAKE ID (HarperCollins, 2014), his second YA thriller, ENDANGERED (HarperCollins, 2015), and his MG fantasy, EPIC ELLISONS: COSMOS CAMP (Versify/HarperCollins, 2023). His third and fourth YA thrillers, OVERTURNED (Scholastic, 2017) and SPIN (Scholastic, 2019), as well as his middle-grade debut THE LAST LAST-DAY-OF-SUMMER received glowing New York Times reviews, and were named to multiple Best Of lists, including Time Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, and Amazon.Lamar is the editor of the We Need Diverse Books YA short story anthology FRESH INK (Random House, 2018), and a contributor to many YA and middle-grade anthologies including THREE SIDES OF A HEART (HarperCollins, 2017), BLACK ENOUGH: STORIES OF BEING YOUNG & BLACK IN AMERICA (HarperCollins / Balzer & Bray, 2019), THE HERO NEXT DOOR (Random House, 2019), HIS HIDEOUS HEART (Flatiron Books, 2019) and SUPER PUZZLETASTIC MYSTERIES (HarperCollins, 2020). He has published several short stories for adults. To learn more or find current offerings, visit http://lamargiles.com For More from Comics Are Dope:Get This Week in Comics, our weekly e-mail newsletter: http://thisweekincomics.comSubscribe on YouTube: http://youtube.com/@comicsaredopeJoin our online Discussion Communities:Facebook - http://bjkicks.link/communityDiscord - http://bjkicks.link/discord
"That barrier between what is “real” and what is not, when that's more fluid, I think it's that's where the fun of fiction comes in. Especially when you're writing for kids.” - Minh LêLife is full of barriers. Barriers between reality and the imagination, the spiritual and physical world, and perhaps most crucially, the ones we create for ourselves. When a barrier is a boundary, it can be a good thing. But in many cases, the barriers we create are holding us back. Minh Lê's life was defined by many of these self-imposed barriers until well into his adult life. But slowly, through nudges from friends and family and a lot of self-reflection, Minh began to learn that the only thing in between him and his dream of being a picture book author, was himself.Minh is a children's book author best known for "Drawn Together," winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, as well as the Eisner-nominated "Lift" and "The Blur." He also authored the Green Lantern graphic novel series and contributed to numerous short story anthologies. Minh has a full-time day job and is also very active in the kidlit community, especially his work with We Need Diverse Books. He is intentional with his time and dedication and has made a deep impact on children's literature. In this episode, Minh discusses how he overcame his insecurities to achieve his dream of becoming a picture book author. He also recounts the transformative experience of writing the biography of the beloved Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, and shares an absolutely breathtaking story about their encounter. Minh shares his philosophy on why we should all blur the lines between the real and the imaginary.***Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. ***Minh expands on his stories about meditation on the podcast with his reading challenge, "Meditative Picture Books." With this curated list, Minh invites young readers and their grown-ups to embrace the present moment fully. Download the list at thereadingculturepod.com/minh-le***This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Erin Baker, media specialist at Durham Middle School in Georgia. She tells us her secret sauce for getting the whole school on board with reading initiatives and why it involves some unlikely allies.ContentsChapter 1 - The Vietnamese Mini Van (2:17)Chapter 2 - As Few Words as Possible (6:38)Chapter 3 - You Haven't Even Tried (10:44)Chapter 4 - Dreamtigers (12:19)Chapter 5 - Lucid Dreaming (19:34)Chapter 6 - Even Fewer Words (a silent retreat) (22:28)Chapter 7 - Meditative Picture Books (35:19)Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (37:15)Chapter 9 (Bonus) - Baby Minh and Baby Dan (39:17)LinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupMinh LeMinh Lê (@bottomshelfbks) • Instagram photos and videosDreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges | GoodreadsThich Nhat Hanh | Plum VillageDurham Middle SchoolThe Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey
In this week's extra-inspiring show, guest Dhonielle Clayton treats us to a generous conversation about effecting change in the industry and how that inevitable comes with backlash. We talk about representation in publishing, Penguin Random House's recent firing of two high-profile publishers, and book bans—among other important topics, like packaging and IP and how kids seeing characters that look like them in fiction opens up unimagined possibilities for their futures. We also encourage you to check out the work being done at We Need Diverse Books as supplemental to this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
FOR THE SAKE OF THE WRITTEN WORD. Vera Michalski-Hoffmann spent her childhood in the Camargue, France, then studied at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland. Together with her husband Jan Michalski, a Polish native, she founded the publishing company Éditions Noir sur Blanc. Together they developed the Libella group, which now comprises a dozen publishing houses in Switzerland, France and Poland. Jan passed away in 2002, and Vera created the Jan Michalski Foundation for Writing and Literature to perpetuate their shared commitment to the written word, to support literary creation and encourage reading. Vera Michalski-Hoffmann has received Polish and French prizes and distinctions, an honorary doctorate from the University of Lausanne, and is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. “We try to host as many events as possible that bring people back to the written word.” “Unless properly controlled, the use of AI in the creative process could mean a great impoverishment of the world.” “For the Gulag evening most of the people in attendance were older, and I would bet that more than half of young people simply don't know what Gulag is.”
Grace and Alvina continue their "publishing curriculum" series and welcome special guest Saho Fujii, Executive Art Director, to talk about the picture book editing and revision process. They talk about how picture book illustrators are chosen, Saho shares what she looks for when she reviews sketches, and also shares about her special connection to the late Jerry Pinkney. For the Fortune Cookies segment, they talk about whether they're heavy or light sleepers, and talk about dreams! See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com. Follow us in Instagram: www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ Find Saho Fujii at sahofujii.squarespace.com/
Grace and Alvina continue their "publishing curriculum" series and talk about the writing, editing, and revision process, with a focus on writing, editing, and revising novels. Find out how Grace feels the first time she receives an editorial letter from Alvina! They also finally share their ideas for patreon perks in the Fortune Cookies segment! See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com. Follow us in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina both take two different personality tests (the Myers Briggs and Big Five Tests) and talk about their results and the science behind personality tests in general. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com. Follow us in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Marissa chats with Adib Khorram about his new YA romantic comedy, THE BREAKUP LISTS. Also discussed in the episode: the challenges of pandemic books and virtual launches, the positive influence of We Need Diverse Books, having fun mining your own experiences for fiction, showcasing the people who work behind-the-scenes in theater, identifying and consciously including themes in a book, discovering a character's voice, making yourself laugh during the writing, researching and including disability and intersectionality representation, winning awards, and so much more!Show notes: Pretty Gritty Tours: https://www.prettygrittytours.com/index.html We Need Diverse Books: https://diversebooks.org/ Agent Janet Reid's blog: https://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/ The Folgers Ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMwFWDIFVCUThe Happy Writer at Bookshop.org Purchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores. Writing Mastery Academy Use the code HAPPYWRITER at WritingMastery.com for $20 off your first year of unlimited access.Red Herrings Society Use the code HappyWriter at RedHerringWriters.com to try the first month for free.Amplify Marketers Our mission is to help your message rise above the noise so it can be heard loud & clear.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/
Hey there, educator friends! I have a question for you. How many of you love doing read alouds with your students? I'm going to guess and say almost all of you. And how about your students – do they love it as much as you do? If your answers are an astounding YES and YES, then you're going to love Dr. Molly Ness, our guest on this episode of Leading Literacy. Molly is a former teacher, college educator, reading clinician, and researcher and describes herself as “a fierce advocate for literacy equity, access, and research-based instruction.” You'll hear how her experiences helped shape her belief in the transformative power of literacy. We talk about Molly's newest book out titled, “Read Alouds for All Learners: A Comprehensive Plan for Every Subject, Every Day” and SO. MUCH. MORE. Check out the following links mentioned in this episode: We Need Diverse Books, Laundromat Library League, Barbershop Books, and End Book Deserts Podcast.
When Ellen Oh became a mother, she struggled to find books featuring Asian-American children for her daughter. To fill this gap, she co-founded We Need Diverse Books and began writing children's literature herself. Meet the lawyer turned author champion diversity in storytelling. Producer | Camera | Editor: June Soh
Originally released in 2003, Skippyjon Jones is a fascinating study of a picture book that was controversial prior to the rise of We Need Diverse Books. When first it came out, the book received loads of praise and awards ... and then loads of controversy. While still in print today, we identify the probable reasons why this book doesn't have a Netflix show, a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a live-action film, etc. Let's just say there may be a reason why the last book in this series came out in 2014. We discuss what may be one of the oddest Kirkus Reviews ever written, the name "Siamese cats", and why the book is trying to keep the hero "out of the closet". You can find the full Show Notes for the episode here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/02/26/fuse-8-n-kate-skippyjon-jones-by-judy-schachner/
Grace and Alvina welcome special guest, author Jane Kuo and they discuss the Pareto Principle and how it might relate to publishing and productivity. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com. Buy Girl Scout Cookies from Grace's daughter Hazel here: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/hazel476196. Follow us in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ Find Jane Kuo: https://janekuo.com/
Jennifer Baker is a publishing professional of 20 years, the creator/host of the Minorities in Publishing podcast, a faculty member of the MFA program in Creative Nonfiction at Bay Path University, and a writing consultant at Baruch College. Formerly a contributing editor to Electric Literature, she received a 2017 NYSCA/NYFA Fellowship and a Queens Council on the Arts New Work Grant for Nonfiction Literature. Her essay "What We Aren't (or the Ongoing Divide)" was listed as a Notable Essay in The Best American Essays 2018. In 2019, she was named Publishers Weekly Superstar for her contributions to inclusion and representation in publishing. Jennifer is also the editor of the all PoC-short story anthology Everyday People: The Color of Life (Atria Books, 2018) and the author of the YA novel Forgive Me Not (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023). She has volunteered with organizations such as We Need Diverse Books and I, Too Arts Collective, and spoken widely on topics of inclusion, the craft of writing/editing, podcasting, and the inner-workings of the publishing industry. Her fiction, nonfiction, and criticism has appeared in various print and online publications.Lauren Donovan is a teacher in Kansas City, Missouri, and has taught secondary English in both the middle and high school settings for nine years. She is also a student at the University of Kansas in an educational leadership doctorate program. She loves sharing her passion for reading and writing with her students. She enjoys to read and talk about realistic fiction as well as education reform nonfiction.
Jennifer Baker is a publishing professional of 20 years, the creator/host of the Minorities in Publishing podcast, a faculty member of the MFA program in Creative Nonfiction at Bay Path University, and a writing consultant at Baruch College. Formerly a contributing editor to Electric Literature, she received a 2017 NYSCA/NYFA Fellowship and a Queens Council on the Arts New Work Grant for Nonfiction Literature. Her essay "What We Aren't (or the Ongoing Divide)" was listed as a Notable Essay in The Best American Essays 2018. In 2019, she was named Publishers Weekly Superstar for her contributions to inclusion and representation in publishing. Jennifer is also the editor of the all PoC-short story anthology Everyday People: The Color of Life (Atria Books, 2018) and the author of the YA novel Forgive Me Not (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023). She has volunteered with organizations such as We Need Diverse Books and I, Too Arts Collective, and spoken widely on topics of inclusion, the craft of writing/editing, podcasting, and the inner-workings of the publishing industry. Her fiction, nonfiction, and criticism has appeared in various print and online publications. Lauren Donovan is a teacher in Kansas City, Missouri, and has taught secondary English in both the middle and high school settings for nine years. She is also a student at the University of Kansas in an educational leadership doctorate program. She loves sharing her passion for reading and writing with her students. She enjoys to read and talk about realistic fiction as well as education reform nonfiction. --- About The Write Time NWP Radio, in partnership with the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield and Penguin Random House Books, launched a special series in 2020 called “The Write Time” where writing teachers from across the NWP Network interview young-adult and children's authors about their books, their composing processes, and writers' craft. View the full archive at https://teach.nwp.org/series/the-write-time/
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where the discuss the ALA Youth Media Awards, the special effect called sprayed edges, and various news surrounded banned books. And Alison Morris of First Books joins to offer some book recommendations! See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com. Buy Girl Scout Cookies from Grace's daughter Hazel here: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/hazel476196. Follow us in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where the discuss the ALA Youth Media Awards, the special effect called sprayed edges, and various news surrounded banned books. And Alison Morris of First Books joins to offer some book recommendations! See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com. Buy Girl Scout Cookies from Grace's daughter Hazel here: https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/hazel476196. Follow us in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
On Today's Show "It's not like I haven't experienced pain or tragedy or grief in my life, and it's not like I want to deny that. I don't think that that's the entirety of my song. When I want to look back on my life, I want to look at all the amazing things and experiences I had because that's what makes the time we have in this world so incredibly special, is that we have these connections, we have these experiences with people.” - Oge Mora Life is full of small pleasures, bits of magic in ordinary moments that so often go underappreciated. Oge Mora wants to draw attention to those small things and show us the true depth and meaning those moments have in our lives.In her work as a collage artist, she takes bits and pieces of scrap material and shows us their beauty when all put together. Much like her stories, we are shown that small things are what make the big things, like a Saturday spent with a loved one, or the enticing aroma of an old family recipe. Oge Mora burst onto the kid lit scene with her picture book “Thank You, Omu!”, a book that earned her a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award, and a host of other accolades. She was also a 2021 Forbes 303 Under 30 lister. In this episode, Oge tells us about the community support that built the foundation for her career, the art school epiphany that shifted her perspective from shame to pride, and why she wants her books to feel like a cup of hot cocoa. If you're looking for a moment of joy, you have found it here. ***Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. ***In Oge's reading challenge, "Story Collage" she shares some of her favorite picture books with collage illustrations.You can find her list and all past reading challenges at thereadingculturepod.com.Today's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Alli Buffington, Library Media Specialist at Holley Navarre Intermediate School in Santa Rosa County, Florida. She'll tell us about the most successful reading challenge she's run at her school.ContentsChapter 1 - Repeat Renewals (2:31)Chapter 2 - Sister Catherine and The Doodler (7:13)Chapter 3 - A Street Called Home (14:27)Chapter 4 - That Little Bit of Shift (18:40)Chapter 5 - An Homage to Connection With Others (25:28)Chapter 6 - More of Less, and More (32:12)Chapter 7 - Collage of Stories (32:57)Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (34:15)Links The Reading Culture The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup Oge Mora Forbes 30 Under 30 - Oge Mora Oge Mora (@oge_mora) • Instagram photos and videos Columbus Public Library King Arts Complex “A Street Called Home” Mural – 2005 – Kristine Schramer Aminah Robinson Romare Bearden Alli Buffington's Library (this week's featured librarian) The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content) Beanstack resources to build your community's reading culture Host: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Jami Nakamura Lin is the author of the memoir The Night Parade, available from Mariner Books. It is the official November pick of the Otherppl Book Club. Lin is a Japanese Taiwanese Okinawan American writer, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Catapult, and Electric Literature, among other publications. She has received fellowships and support from the National Endowment for the Arts/Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, Yaddo, Sustainable Arts Foundation, Sewanee Writers' Conference, We Need Diverse Books, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. She received her MFA in nonfiction from Pennsylvania State University and lives in the Chicago area. *** Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Subscribe to Brad Listi's email newsletter. Support the show on Patreon Merch Twitter Instagram TikTok Bluesky Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Grace and Alvina welcome special guest, author Debbi Michiko Florence and they discuss their experiences working in children's book publishing as Asian American women. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's events for CHINESE MENU here: https://gracelin.com/news-events/
This week, we spoke with Lamar Giles, the Edgar Award-nominated author of the YA thriller novels Fake ID, Endangered, Spin, and Overturned; the YA contemporary novel Not So Pure and Simple; and the YA horror novel The Getaway. Lamar Giles is also a founding member of the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books and the author of the A Legendary Alston Boys Adventure middle grade series. Tune in to hear him talk about pacing the plots of his novels in a way that makes them compelling without feeling rushed, how he raises the stakes in both his contemporary and horror/thriller novels, and how he creates characters with unique perspectives on the world and maintains their voices throughout his stories. Follow Lamar Giles on social media: Website: https://www.lamargiles.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamargiles/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6571558.Lamar_Giles Pre-order Static: Up All Night: https://bookshop.org/p/books/static-up-all-night/18906834?ean=9781779510518 Purchase Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp: https://bookshop.org/p/books/epic-ellisons-cosmos-camp-lamar-giles/19218090?ean=9780358423379 Purchase House Party: https://bookshop.org/p/books/house-party/18850108?ean=9780593488157 Purchase Fake ID: https://bookshop.org/p/books/fake-id-lamar-giles/6430749?ean=9780062121851 Purchase Endangered: https://bookshop.org/p/books/endangered-lamar-giles/6433415?ean=9780062297570 Purchase Spin: https://bookshop.org/p/books/spin-lamar-giles/6942064?ean=9781338582185 Purchase Overturned: https://bookshop.org/p/books/overturned-lamar-giles/6942762?ean=9781338312843 Purchase Not So Pure and Simple: https://bookshop.org/p/books/not-so-pure-and-simple-lamar-giles/6434773?ean=9780062349200 Purchase The Getaway: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-getaway-lamar-giles/18073727?ean=9781338752014 Purchase The Last Last-Day-of-Summer: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-last-last-day-of-summer-lamar-giles/6960671?ean=9780358244417 Check out Lamar Giles' books at the library: https://princetonlibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?query=lamar%20giles&searchType=bl&page=1 Lamar Giles' book recommendations: The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-library-of-broken-worlds/18383203?ean=9781338290622 Superman Lost: https://www.amazon.com/Superman-Lost-2023-1-Priest-ebook/dp/B0BVGS885X How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix: Purchase: https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-to-sell-a-haunted-house-grady-hendrix/18965143?ean=9780593201268 Check it out at the library: https://princetonlibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S57C1458124 Follow us on social media: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingtabspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keeping.tabs.podcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@keepingtabspodcast Write a review of us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keeping-tabs/id1535177567 The music featured in today's episode is "Silver Flicker" by Colors of Illusion.
Grace and Alvina discuss the process of making of the book CHINESE MENU: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace Lin's events for CHINESE MENU here: https://gracelin.com/news-events/
In this week's episode, Marissa chats with Aisha Saeed about her latest YA magical realism (with a bit of fantasy and romance), FORTY WORDS FOR LOVE. Also discussed: the origins and impact of the We Need Diverse Books organization, how there's been much progress in creating more representation and diverse books but there's always more work to be done, what it means to write the book of your heart, using fantasy to give distance and perspective on real world issues, how things can happen that you have no control over, but that you do have control over the books you write, and so much more!We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) https://diversebooks.org/ Beth Pickens MAKE YOUR ART, NO MATTER WHAT https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781452182957 The Happy Writer at Bookshop.org Purchasing your books through our webstore at Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/
On Today's Show "For me, in the fiction, it is so much about keeping that continuum going, that someone's going to come along after me and tell a story that's connected to the story that I've told. I'm telling the story that's connected to the writers and the relatives who came before me.” - Jacqueline Woodson Jacqueline Woodson was born a watcher. An observer. Even as a young girl, she recognized that our stories are part of an enduring legacy that stretches far before and beyond our own lifetimes. Woodson is an icon in American literature, and author of works like “Brown Girl Dreaming,” “Red at the Bone,” and “Each Kindness.” Her voice has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape.In this episode, she shares about her relationship with her siblings growing up, her sense of melancholy as a child, and how some of the earliest books she read gave her a deep sense of fairness and social justice. She reveals the book that most impacted her own writing and the one thing that gives her hope, even in dark times. Jacqueline has witnessed the evolution of literary spaces over decades, along the way establishing herself as a legendary voice in the industry. She has become a guiding force, pushing publishers, readers, and writers toward a more inclusive future, a future that features creators of the global majority. She reflects on the industry's evolution throughout her career through the lens of a Black queer writer, and she talks about setting the next generation up to carry on our stories and the stories that came before us. Now, in addition to her own work, Woodson dedicates her time to providing resources and support to the next generation of voices through the Baldwin For the Arts. ***Connect with Jordan and The Reading Culture @thereadingculturepod and subscribe to our newsletter at thereadingculturepod.com/newsletter. Connect with Jacqueline on social @jacqueline_woodson.***For her reading challenge, Reading Black, Jacqueline challenges us to use her reading list as a way to look forward and back. The books she has chosen are all by black authors, telling their brilliant and varied stories of the American diaspora - stories this country is attempting to erase through book bans and challenges. She asks us to read these books and consider what other books they remind us of? For those we reread, what is new in the re-reading? What was it we missed the first time around? What thoughts and ideas have changed for us in the re-reading? You can find her list, designed for high school to adult readers, and all of our author challenges at thereadingculturepod.com.Returning as this episode's Beanstack featured librarian is Cicely Lewis, School Library Journal's 2020 school librarian of the year, from Gwinnett County Public Schools. Cicely, aka the Read Woke librarian, talks about why read-alouds are so important even for high school students, and why she refuses to stop using the word “woke” to inspire young people to read important narratives.ContentsChapter 1 - Starting in the Middle (2:30)Chapter 2 - The Continuum (5:44)Chapter 3 - Ballad of the Sad Café (10:44)Chapter 4 - Jacqueline's Beginning (15:44)Chapter 5 - Empowering the Future (20:31)Chapter 6 - A Different Story (28:00)Chapter 7 - 500 Questions (35:37)Chapter 8 - Reading Black (36:33)Chapter 9 - Beanstack Featured Librarian (37:41)Links The Reading Culture Jacqueline Woodson Carson McCullers reads from The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1958) Baldwin for the Arts The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and extra content) Beanstack resources to build your community's reading culture The Children's Book Podcast Cicely Lewis (Read Woke Librarian) Brown Girl Dreaming Red at the Bone Ballad of the Sad Café Greenville, SC Juno Diaz Jamaica Kincaid MacDowell Bastard Out of Carolina Toshi Reagon Host: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducer: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey
In this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Dhonielle Clayton!Dhonielle Clayton is a New York Times Bestselling author of The Belles series, Shattered Midnight, co-author of Blackout, and the co-author of the Tiny Pretty Things duology, a Netflix original series. She hails from the Washington, D.C. suburbs on the Maryland side. She taught secondary school for several years, and is a former elementary and middle school librarian. She is COO of the non-profit We Need Diverse Books, and President of Cake Creative, an IP story kitchen dedicated to diverse books for all ages. She's an avid traveler, and always on the hunt for magic and mischief. Up next: The Marvellers, her middle grade fantasy debut. You can find her on social media @brownbookworm. https://www.dhonielleclayton.com/https://www.instagram.com/brownbookworm/Buy The Marvellers here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-marvellers-dhonielle-clayton/16191610and check out the rest of her books here:https://bookshop.org/contributors/dhonielle-claytonSCBWI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/SCBWI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scbwiBecome an SCBWI member today: https://www.scbwi.org/join-scbwi/Shop the SCBWI Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/SCBWISupport the show
In this episode, I chat with Jennifer De Leon about teaching, learning, her writing, and how reading fiction helps develop empathy.Jennifer De Leon graduated from Connecticut College with a double-major in International Relations and French, and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of San Francisco's Center for Teaching Excellence and Social Justice while in the Teach For America program. She went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from UMASS-Boston. She has received several awards and residencies from organizations across the country, including the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, Hedgebrook, Macondo, VONA, Associates of the Boston Public Library's Writer-in-Residence Program, and the City of Boston's Artist-in-Residence Program. De Leon is a winner of the 2016 Walter Dean Myers Grant, awarded by We Need Diverse Books, and named a 2020 Latinx Trailblazer by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. After a decade teaching in Boston Public Schools, Jenn is now Associate Professor of English at Framingham State University, and instructor in the Creative Writing and Literature Graduate Program at Harvard University.Her stories and essays have appeared in Ploughshares, The Briar Cliff Reviews, Iowa Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Guernica, and Best Women's Travel Writing to name a few. Jennifer is the author of Don't Ask Me Where I'm From and the essay collection White Space: Essays on Culture, Race, and Writing, and editor of the anthology, Wise Latinas: Writers on Higher Education. Her latest YA novel is Borderless. In 2022 Jennifer founded Story Bridge LLC. Story Bridge programs bring people together from all walks of life to shape, share, and hear each other's unique stories. By the end of the program, every participant walks away with new, unforgettable connections. Jennifer De Leon Borderless, Jennifer De Leon Don't Ask Me Where I'm From, Jennifer De Leon White Space: Essays on Culture, Race, & Writing, Jennifer De Leon All You Have To Do, Autumn Allen Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim, Patricia Park The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros Support the showThe Bookshop PodcastMandy Jackson-BeverlySocial Media Links
Join Rev. Emily E. Ewing (they) and Rev. Kay Rohloff (she) to explore new and nerdy connections to the scripture for Pentecost, which falls on May 28th this year, including our deep dive into fire! The scripture we refer to for this episode can be found here. Learn more about types of fires and fire extinguishers here. For more on the ecological benefits of wildfires, check out this National Geographic article. Check out this picture of fire in space! It's always important to heed Smokey the Bear's campfire safety rules. Check out more on how fire color changes based on temperature and based on chemicals used. This Old House has some good tips for leaves and fire safety. For the top 10 firefighting-related movies, check out this article. Check out We Need Diverse Books for some awesome new reads! For more about the New Fire and Easter Vigils, check out last year's Easter episode. To dive more into the readings for the Easter Vigil, check out this year's Easter Vigil episode. CN: we mention people killed by asphyxiation when discussing the John 20 reading. To support Nerds At Church, you can become a Patreon Supporter at any tier for extra perks and bonus content including uncut guest episodes, Live Q&As, merch, and more. If becoming a paying supporter isn't possible right now, please leave us a review instead — it helps sustain the show and spread the word! Check us out on Facebook & Twitter at @NerdsAtChurch to connect! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nerdsatchurch/message
Book Besties Season 4, Episode 17: Annapolis Book Festival at The Key SchoolDo you really want to know where the Besties were on April 29th? This Tuesday join the Besties as they chat with the authors from the Annapolis Book Festival. Join them as they take a moment to shift in their seats with Nikki Payne for Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice. Editor Thom gets pulled in as they talk about Moth Man with Susan Coll, and discuss Jurassic Park with Anthony Marra. Things talked about in this episode:The Key School History: https://www.keyschool.org/about/head-of-school-welcomeNikki Payne: https://www.nikkipaynebooks.com/We Need Diverse Books: https://diversebooks.org/Susan Coll: https://susancoll.com/Acceptance IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1359551/Politics and Prose: https://www.politics-prose.com/Addison Armstrong: https://addisonarmstrong.com/National Library Week: https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweekC.C. Harrington: https://www.christinaharrington.com/Christian the Lion: https://youtu.be/EZ-da0AZcRUAdopt a snow leopard: https://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Snow-LeopardAnthony Marra: https://sites.prh.com/anthonymarraJurassic Park BB Episode: https://rss.com/podcasts/bookbesties/458470/ Meet Molly and April, they bonded over books and became Book Besties. So, what do you do when you find your book bestie? Start a podcast of course. Hang out with April and Molly as they talk about everything they love and hate about books.
Have you ever wondered about the journey to bring a book to the world, and who's involved in the process? Have you ever thought about self-publishing a book or writing a book some day? On today's episode, we get an insider's perspective from literary agent and native New Yorker & Boricua, Linda Camacho, as she shares her story of breaking into the book publishing industry and enjoying stints at big names like Penguin Gorup, Simon & Schuster, and Random House. Linda brings a fresh perspective as a Latina literary agent who's stuck around in the industry for 18 years. In this conversation we talk about: How and why she had to accept very low pay and unpaid internships during the Great Recession (and how privilege played a role) How "harassing people for things" (aggressive networking) is the only way to break into this industry that is very elitist and fraught with nepotism Who is actually making money in the book publishing world The author's journey to getting paid and publishing a book (and how the pandemic made things more challenging!) How the "We Need Diverse Books" initiative has progressed since 2014 Why Linda moved into literary agenting, how literary agents get paid, and what's kept her in the industry so long! -- Linda's 2022 Young Adult Fiction Book Recommendation: Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo FREE Personal Training Webinar Recording (1 hour) Interested in working with Priscilla 1:1? Sign up for a FREE 1-Hour Consult here. Follow Priscilla on IG at: priscillabulcha
In this episode, hosts Haley Moss and Dr. Lori Butts speak with autism self-advocate and journalist Alaina Lavoie. Alaina, who publishes journalism under the byline Alaina Leary, is a program manager at We Need Diverse Books and affiliated faculty at Emerson College. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Boston Globe Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Refinery29, Glamour, Teen Vogue, and more. She lives with her wife, three literary cats, and a rainbow bookshelf outside of Boston, MA. For more about Alaina: http://www.alainaleary.com/ A TRANSCRIPTION FOR THIS EPISODE CAN BE FOUND HERE: https://differentbrains.org/we-need-diverse-books-with-alaina-lavoie-spectrumly-speaking-ep-142/ ----------------- Spectrumly Speaking is the podcast dedicated to women on the autism spectrum, produced by Different Brains®. Every other week, join our hosts Haley Moss (an autism self-advocate, attorney, artist, and author) and Dr. Lori Butts (a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, and licensed attorney) as they discuss topics and news stories, share personal stories, and interview some of the most fascinating voices from the autism community. Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ http://differentbrains.org/category/spectrumlyspeaking/
Some of the most exciting adaptations of Anne of Green Gables are illustrated! In this episode, we discuss three gorgeously illustrated graphic novels which bring Anne's story to life, led by our graphic novel expert, Alice! Inspired by: Alice recommends hair chalk Kelly recommends Kindred Candle Company Ragon recommends donating to organizations that help kids read like Book Aid International and Reading Is Fundamental and We Need Diverse Books
If you're looking for a great read to share with your middle-grade grandchildren look no further! Our guest,Ellen Oh, is the author/editor of multiple books for middle graders and young adults and was named winner of the Asia/Pacific American Award for Literature for her book, Finding Junie Kim. She has also been honored with the ALAN Award, which is presented to those authors who've made outstanding contributions to the field of adolescent literature. And, in addition to writing these and editing other award-winning novels, Ellen is the president and founder of “We Need Diverse Books.” Ellen joins us to share all about a unique and fascinating new book entitled, You Are Here: Connecting Flights. This engaging read provides an especially rich look at the Asian American experience because eleven other highly regarded authors of Asian descent have joined Ellen to contribute to the book. The combination of experiences make for an eye-opening look at how twelve young Asian Americans encounter and deal with various challenges in a crowded Chicago airport on a single summer's day. So, if you want to share a book with plenty of twists and turns that will give you and your grandchildren food for thought and lots of points for discussion, be sure to tune in!
On Today's ShowThe author of the “Prophecy” trilogy and “Spirit Hunters” series and the founder of We Need Diverse Books, Ellen Oh is equal parts no-nonsense and hilarious truth-teller. "We all know the importance of representation in books and how life-affirming it can be for those who are historically underrepresented. Books are powerful. There's a reason for all this book banning. Books are more important than ever.” - Ellen Oh Ellen Oh learned early on that she would have to fight against the bullies at her school. Growing up as a Korean-American in New York City, she experienced discrimination often. Public libraries became her safe haven, a place to escape and let her imagination wander. Even as an adult, Ellen finds solace in them and wrote her first novel at the library. On this episode, Ellen joins us for a live conversation at the 2023 American Libraries Association LibLearnX conference in New Orleans to share more about how racism and social injustice inspired her writing and her activism. In this wide-ranging conversation, Ellen shares very personal stories, her work as founder of We Need Diverse Books, as well as her sentiments on, ‘soft censorship' and the recent spate of book bans disproportionately impacting the diverse books she has fought so hard to cultivate. Ellen is truly a one-of-a-kind author, mom, and activist. ContentsChapter 1 - The library a.k.a the babysitter (2:52)Chapter 2 - Spreading the horror (4:04)Chapter 3 - Don't Feed the Tiger (7:11)Chapter 4 - The Joy Luck Club (10:01)Chapter 5 - We Needed “We Need Diverse Books" (14:42)Chapter 6 - Soft censorship (24:36)Chapter 7 - What can you do? (25:55)Chapter 8 - The power of a librarian (28:49)Chapter 9 - You Are Here: Connecting Flights (31:38)Chapter 10 - Books Save Lives (33:26)Chapter 11 - Listener Questions (37:26)Links beanstack.com ellenoh.com thereadingculturepod.com/ellen_oh diversebooks.org
To say I'm obsessed with New York Times bestselling author Joanna Ho's novel “The Silence That Binds Us” is an understatement. Yes, it's a book technically written for young adults, but it's also one adults need to read — because not only is it a beautiful story of grief, but it is also an impactful story about anti-racism. I had the privilege of interviewing Joanna recently and talking to her about “The Silence That Binds Us” and specifically the lessons it teaches about Black and Asian solidarity. And just as much as “The Silence That Binds Us” is a book you don't want to miss, this interview is one you'll want to tune into as well! In this episode, Joanna and I discuss: Her process in writing “The Silence That Binds Us.” What Black and Asian solidarity looks like. The power of stories in anti-racism work. What we can do about book banning in our communities. Joanna Ho is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author “Eyes that Kiss in the Corners” and “Eyes that Speak to the Stars.” She has extensive experience as an educator (she's previously worked as an English teacher, a dean, the designer of an alternative-to-prison program, a creator of educator professional development, and a high school vice principal) and is passionate about anti-bias and anti-racism work. Joanna lives in the Bay Area where she enjoys chocolate chip cookies, being outside and having dance parties with her two kiddos. Join us for a Policy Party You know what anti-racism looks like in your home, now let's take it into our communities! Join us for a Policy Party on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. ET, where Lindsay Dusard will talk to us about refugee allyship! At each Policy Party, we hang out over Zoom with experts from community-based organizations who will help us understand the issues and policies relevant to their area of expertise. Each party focuses on a different subject — anything from immigration to environmental justice and more! You'll leave each party with specific actionable steps you can take to make your community more compassionate, inclusive and anti-racist. My friend Lindsay will join us to discuss how we can be better allies to members of the refugee community. She has worked in refugee resettlement for over eight years and is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, where her work focuses on understanding factors related to refugee and immigrant students' sense of belonging, wel-lbeing and success in the U.S. school system. First Name Basis Patreon members will receive free admission, or you can purchase a one-time Policy Party ticket at firstnamebasis.org/policyparty. If you can't attend the Policy Party, replays are also available with admission. Articles, Studies & Podcasts Referenced In The Episode Joanna Ho's website Joanna Ho's Instagram account @joannahowrites Learn more about “The Silence That Binds Us” Pre-order Joanna's upcoming children's book “One Day” Pen America, which has reports about book bans in America and ideas about what you can do to help stop the bans We Need Diverse Books, which advocates for diversity and representation in children's literature. Joanna Ho's books Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN
On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Mindy are discussing: Bookish Moments: fall reading to the max and spooky season satisfaction Current Reads: some wonderful picks for November and then a bunch of spooky witchy creepy stuff Deep Dive: we are chatting about our favorite books under 200 pages that really blow your mind The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down! We are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). The goal here is to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!* . . . . 1:37 - Bookish Moment of the Week 7:51 - The Vampiric Vacation by Kiersten White 8:06 - Current Reads 8:19 - This Is Not A Book About Benedict Cumberbatch by Tabitha Carvan (Kaytee) 8:44 - Garcia Street Books 8:59 - The Sorta Awesome Podcast 11:25 - The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery 15:05 - The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Meredith) 19:30 - Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh (Kaytee) 19:36 - Currently Reading Season 5: Episode 6 21:07 - The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud (Misspoke in the episode saying Jonathan Lockwood. The series name is Lockwood & Co.) 21:35 - We Need Diverse Books 22:41 - The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant (Meredith) 30:38 - Witch Please by Ann Aguirre (Kaytee) 34:45 - Bird Box by Josh Malerman 35:04 - Daphne by Josh Malerman (Meredith) 37:22 - An Unlikely Story 37:25 - @anunlikelystory on Instagram 41:39 - Deep Dive: Short Books that Pack a Punch 43:48 - Love and Saffron by Kim Fay 45:06 - The Grown Up by Gillian Flynn (Amazon link, cannot locate on Bookshop.org) 45:13 - Book of the Month 45:20 - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 46:17 - A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers 46:19 - A Prayer for the Crown Shy by Becky Chambers 46:34 - All Systems Red (Murderbot #1) by Martha Wells 47:01 - A Spindle Splintered by Alix Harrow 47:02 - A Mirror Mended by Alix Harrow 47:46 - Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire 48:22 - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery 48:31 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 48:42 - 84, Charring Cross Road by Helene Hanff 48:53 - 1984 by George Orwell 48:54 - Animal Farm by George Orwell 49:23 - Passing by Nella Larsen 49:57 - The Governesses by Anne Serre 50:32 - We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson 50:54 - Elevation by Stephen King 51:26 - The Stand by Stephen King 51:27 - Needful Things by Stephen King 51:41 - A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djeli Clark 52:28 - Meet Us At The Fountain I wish for a buddy reading app that allows for staggered reading. (Kaytee) 52:50 - The StoryGraph 53:14 - We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson 54:08 - Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente I wish that more caregivers could use books as physical objects and talking points with their littles. (Meredith) Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mindy is @gratefulforgrace on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannatheplanner on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast and www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading
Join the Black Women Stitch Patreon. Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichOlugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is a crafter, a blogger, a sewist, and the author of several children's books, including Operation Sisterhood, It Doesn't Take A Genius, 8th Grade Superzero, Two Naomis, Saving Earth: Climate Change and the Fight For Our Future, as well as the picture book Someday Is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins, and Mae Makes A Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat and History Maker. Her most recent release is The Sun Does Shine: An Innocent Man, A Wrongful Conviction, and the Long Path to Justice with Anthony Ray Hinton and Lara Love Hardin. She is the editor of the We Need Diverse Books anthology The Hero Next Door, and has contributed to several collections. Lisa WoolforkLisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English, specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory and American slavery. She is the convener and founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. #Charlottesville. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation. Insights from this episode:Olugbemisola's start of her sewing journeyOlugbemisola's childhood and growing up with black dollsHow Olugbemisola is bringing dignity to black folks through her books and amplifying their voicesInsights on affirming black women and how they can claim their space in the worldThe power of black creativityThe connection between writing and sewingThe process of narrating an audiobook Quotes from the show:“When you make something yourself and put that creative energy into something, it makes it even more special” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please”“Dignity is not something you give, dignity is something you affirm. Everybody is born with dignity, everybody has it, but not everybody gets to have it affirmed” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“I think a lot of times the focus is on the struggle and the striving and not enough on just the beauty, creativity and the art” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please”“You have a relationship with every book or every story that you read, and it's a very personal relationship” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please”“We are a people, and a people does not throw their geniuses away” -Lisa Woolfork in “Stitch Please”“Telling your own story and telling the story of your people and having those stories was just so important to me from a very young age” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please”“Be generous with yourself, be kind to yourself, do not feel that your process has to reflect anybody else's ” -Olugbemisola in “Stitch Please” Resources Mentioned:In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens Stay Connected:Lisa WoolforkInstagram: Lisa WoolforkTwitter: Lisa Woolfork Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichWebsite: Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Instagram: Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Twitter: Olugbemisola This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.
Born and raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., Dhonielle spent much of her childhood hiding beneath her grandmother's dining table with a stack of books. As an English teacher at a ballet academy, Clayton rediscovered her passion for children's and young adult literature. To ground herself in the canon, she pursued her Masters in Children's Literature from Hollins University before receiving her MFA in Writing for Children at the New School. She is a former middle school librarian, where she pestered children to read and curated a diverse collection. An avid traveler, Dhonielle's lived in several foreign countries, but she's now settled in Harlem, where you'll find her writing late into the night, lurking in libraries, and hunting for the best slice of New York pizza. She is the COO of We Need Diverse Books and the co-founder of Cake Literary. The co-author of the dance dramas Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces, as well as the upcoming Rumor Game, Dhonielle is the author of the New York Times bestselling YA fantasy series The Belles. In our next episode, we will review Dhonielle book Tiny Pretty Things
In this episode, Liz speaks with award-winning Young Adult novelist, Caroline Tung Richmond, and Executive Director of We Need Diverse Books, a nonprofit that advocates for changes in the publishing industry to promote literature that reflects the lives of all kids. In this conversation, Caroline talks about the importance of diverse representation in children's literature, why books are a communication tool to talk and learn about diversity and identity with our kids, and what it would have meant for her to see herself reflected in the literature she read as a child.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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