Bianca with Katherine Applegate on Odder

In this episode, I talk with an all-time favorite author, Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate. She talks about her latest stunning novel, Odder, the story of an intrepid sea otter.

#1 New  York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate has written many books for young readers, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal. Katherine's novels have been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades, including the Christopher  Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the  California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green  Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B.  White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, as well as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists, and Best of the Year lists from School Library  Journal, Kirkus, Amazon, the New York Public Library, and the Chicago  Public Library.

Katherine has two adult children and lives in  Los Angeles with her husband and assorted pets.

Order copies:

Odder on Bookshop.org and Amazon

Transcription:

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

Resources:

Learn more about her work at https://katherineapplegate.com/

Go Green with Willodeen kit: https://read.macmillan.com/mcpg/willodeen-landing-page/

Sehldrick Wildlife Trust: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Cam: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams/sea-otter-cam

Elkhorn Slough Otter Cam: https://www.elkhornslough.org/ottercam/

Discussion Topics:

• Learn about Odder
• A brief moment on The One and Only Ruby
• Channeling anger into stories for kids and finding hope
• The book cover and interior artwork of Charles Santoso
• Monterey Bay Aquarium and the role it plays in Odder
• Environmental and conservation efforts around sea otters
• Writing in free verse
• Katherine Applegate reads an excerpt of Odder
• Being a slow reader, reluctant reader, and thoughts on dyslexia
• The book that made Katherine Applegate a reader

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This episode is sponsored by

· Jennifer Swanson: Footprints Across the Planet.  https://jenniferswansonbooks.com/footprints-across-the-planet/