The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast Celebrating Judy Blume's Childhood: Selina Alko on Writing a Poetic Picture Book Biography
In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes award-winning author and illustrator Selina Alko to discuss her poetic picture book biography, Otherwise Known as Judy the Great: A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume. Selina shares how she transformed Judy Blume's childhood—shaped by fear, World War II, and the Jewish experience—into a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling.
From discovering Judy Blume's books as a young reader to crafting a narrative that honors both the light and shadow of her formative years, Selina reveals the deep research and artistic choices behind this lyrical tribute. With warmth and insight, she discusses why poetry was the perfect medium to capture Judy's voice, how historical context shaped the author's fearless approach to taboo topics, and what it means to introduce Judy Blume to a new generation of young readers. Whether you're an educator seeking meaningful biographies, a parent raising a creative child, or a Judy Blume fan curious about her origins, this conversation illuminates how childhood experiences become the stories that change the world.
Read the transcript on The Children's Book Review.
Highlights:
- Why Judy Blume: What drew Selina to create a picture book biography of this beloved author
- Poetry as Portrait: How verse became the perfect vehicle to capture Judy's childhood voice
- The Shadow of WWII: Understanding how fear and the Jewish experience shaped young Judy
- From Fear to Fearless: How storytelling became Judy's way of processing and controlling conflict
- Research and Reverence: Selina's process of honoring Judy's true story while making it accessible
- Art Meets History: The visual choices that bring 1940s-50s America to life
- Introducing Icons to New Readers: Why picture book biographies matter for young audiences
- The Legacy of Taboo-Breaking: How Judy's childhood fears became her greatest gift to readers
Notable Quotes:"Judy Blume really paved the way for so many authors to write books that kids could relate to about real life problems." —Selina Alko
"Growing up Jewish during and after WWII dramatically shaped Judy's childhood. Her younger years were full of fear, and she processed those conflicted emotions through storytelling." —Selina Alko
Books Mentioned:
- Otherwise Known as Judy the Great: A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume by Selina Alko: Amazon or Bookshop.org
- B Is for Brooklyn by Selina Alko: Amazon or Bookshop.org
- Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko and Sean Qualls: Amazon or Bookshop.org
- The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage by Selina Alko and Sean Qualls: Amazon or Bookshop.org
- Sharing Shalom by Danielle Sharkan and Selina Alko: Amazon or Bookshop.org
- I Is for Immigrants: Amazon or Bookshop.org
- The Remembering Candle by Alison Goldberg and Selina Alko: Amazon or Bookshop.org
About Selina Alko:Selina Alko is an award-winning author and illustrator whose picture books celebrate diversity, history, and the power of creativity. Her previous works include B Is for Brooklyn, Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama, and The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage (co-authored with Sean Qualls). Selina's vibrant, mixed-media illustrations and lyrical storytelling bring important stories to life for young readers. Otherwise Known as Judy the Great is her poetic tribute to one of America's most beloved authors.
Visit: https://www.selinaalko.com/
Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Selina AlkoProducer: Bianca Schulze