Understanding Home in a Changing World: A Conversation with Matt de la Peña and Loren Long

In this heartwarming episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, Bianca Schulze welcomes Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long to discuss their new collaboration, Home.

Building on the success of their #1 New York Times bestseller Love, the creators share intimate memories of their own childhoods and explore what home truly means beyond physical structures. Through thoughtful conversation, they reveal the creative process behind their lyrical text and evocative illustrations that celebrate the many forms of home—from family relationships to the natural world. The discussion highlights their commitment to inclusivity in storytelling, the emotional power of illustration, and how reading together creates its own sense of home and security for children. Perfect for parents, educators, and anyone interested in how picture books can help children process their place in our changing world.

Discussion Topics:

• What defines "home" beyond physical structures
• How the pandemic influenced the creation of 'Home'
• The art of exploring feelings versus delivering messages in children's books
• The collaborative process between award-winning author and illustrator
• How diverse settings in the book reflect varied experiences of home
• The power of sensory details in creating emotional connections
• The journey from concept to finished book as a companion to 'Love'
• The role of nature in understanding our sense of belonging
• How illustrations enhance the emotional impact of storytelling
• Why reading together creates a lasting sense of security for children
• The importance of celebrating everyday wisdom in children's literature
• How books can help children process change in their world

Transcription: You can read the transcription on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Children's Book Review⁠⁠⁠

Order Copies of Home on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

For more information about Matt de la Peña, visit https://mattdelapena.com/

For more information about Loren Long, visit https://lorenlong.com/

Keywords: home, children's books, Matt De La Peña, Loren Long, memories, emotional connections, illustrations, storytelling, family, illustration, empathy, children's literature, collaboration, emotional connection, nature, security