Renowned author Kate DiCamillo explores the intertwining themes of joy and sorrow in life, highlighting empathy and understanding. She discusses the art of interviewing fiction writers, childhood reflections, honoring children's resilience, and the power of storytelling for the young. Delve into her works and the importance of shared reading experiences.

In her writing, it is Kate DiCamillo's gift to make bearable the fact that joy and sorrow live so close, side by side, in life as it is (if not as we wish it to be). In this conversation, along with good measures of raucous laughter and a few tears, Kate summons us to hearts "capacious enough to contain the complexities and mysteries of ourselves and each other" — qualities these years in the life of the world call forth from all of us, young and old, with ever greater poignancy and vigor.Kate DiCamillo has written many bestselling books, beloved by children and adults in touch with their inner eight-year-old, for two decades, including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, The Magician’s Elephant, Flora & Ulysses, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Some of these have been turned into operas and movies. Her new books in 2024 include the middle grade novel Ferris and Orris and Timble: The Beginning. She is a rare two-time winner of the Newbery Medal.This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode "Kate DiCamillo — On Nurturing Capacious Hearts." Find the transcript for that show at onbeing.org.

In this enlightening conversation, celebrated authors Sue Monk Kidd, James McBride, Kate DiCamillo, and Ann Patchett explore the transformative power of storytelling. Kidd reflects on reclaiming voice amidst societal constraints, while McBride connects music and writing as paths to self-discovery. DiCamillo shares insights on the delicate balance of joy and sorrow in children's literature, and Patchett discusses the fulfillment of storytelling within community engagement. Together, they inspire listeners to embrace authenticity and the empathy woven through their narratives.