Bianca with Dan Santat on A First Time for Everything

In this episode, bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat talks about his graphic novel memoir A First Time for Everything

This funny and moving memoir encourages readers not to be afraid to engage with the world and to try new things, and that when you do, maybe you'll be surprised to discover that the big wide world out there is friendlier than you might first assume.

Dan Santat is the Caldecott Medal–winning and New York Times–bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend and the road trip/time travel adventure Are We There Yet? His artwork is also featured in numerous picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade novels, including Dav Pilkey's Ricky Ricotta series. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and many, many pets.

Transcription:

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

Order copies:

A First Time for Everything on Bookshop.org and Amazon.

Resources:

Learn more about Dan Santat's work at https://dansantat.tumblr.com/.

Discussion Topics:

• Creating 120+ children's books and finding time to create more while also being Mr. Mom.
• The job Dan Santat would 'probably' have if he weren't a children's book author-illustrator.
• A love of reading, writing, and storytelling and becoming a children's book creator.
• The books that have made an impact on Dan.
• A discussion on becoming and sticking with creating books for kids.
• The seed of the idea for the graphic novel memoir A First Time for Everything.
• A.A. Milne and making memories.
• The mischievous and fantastic events from a European school trip.
• The impact Dan hopes that A First Time for Everything will have on readers.