No Wasted Sunshine: Sophie Blackall on the Meaning of Home

“When we are making books, we are making little homes for our readers that they can return to hopefully again and again and again, just as we return to books and find a sense of home, we return to the person we once were, when we were reading that book.” — Sophie Blackall

Home. It’s something we spend our whole lives building and rebuilding. Sometimes it’s made of walls and windows. Others, it’s made of words.

Sophie Blackall builds hers through imagination and community. The two-time Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator, known for works such as Hello Lighthouse, If You Come to Earth, and Finding Winnie, has spent her life transforming that search into stories. 

In this episode, No Wasted Sunshine: Sophie Blackall on the Meaning of Home, Sophie shares her nomadic childhood, her fixation on the idea of home, and why she never feels settled. She also discusses the books she reaches for to feel safe. We also talk about Milkwood—the magical farm retreat she created for the children’s book community to cook, commune, and collaborate.

Settle in for a wide-ranging conversation that explores the meaning we construct within and around our lives.

***

For her reading challenge, Home, Sophie has curated a collection of books that explore how we build and replace the places that hold us. 

Peruse selected titles and Sophie’s complete reading challenge for free at thereadingculturepod.com/sophie-blackall

This week's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Kimberly Thompson, the library media specialist at East Side Middle School in Bullock County, Kentucky. She tells us all about the Kentucky Bluegrass Awards and how they’re getting everyone in her school reading, including the adults! 

Show Chapters

Chapter 1: Where Is Home?

Chapter 2: Wasted Sunshine 

Chapter 3: A Perfect Picture Book 

Chapter 4: Not Just a Farmhouse

Chapter 5: Under Milk Wood 

Chapter 6: Paper Houses

Chapter 7: So Now What?

Chapter 8: Reading Challenge

Chapter 9: Beanstack Featured Librarian

Links

• The Reading Culture
• The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup
• Follow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)
• Sophie Blackall
• Sophie Blackall website
• Milkwood Farm 
• How to Not Waste Your Live (The Marginalian)
• Roxaboxen
• Under Milk Wood
• A creative retreat for the children’s book community
• Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture
• Jordan Lloyd Bookey

Host and Production Credits

Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey
Producers: Mel Webb and Lower Street Media
Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey