New Books in Children's Literature

Isabel Estrada, Ph.D., is an author and speaker with an extensive background in music and education. Today we celebrate her recently-published picture own-voices book, La Mariachi (Sleeping Bear Press, 2023), and talk about rerouting her original hope of becoming an opera singer to her dream-come-true publishing journey.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 260,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlotte Offsay was born in England, grew up in Boston, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. In our conversation, we celebrate her new picture book Challah Day, illustrated by Jason Kirschner (Holiday House, 2023) and talk about her author journey and advice for aspiring picture book writers. Charlotte is also the author of Eight Sweet Nights, A Festival of Lights, illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2024), The Quiet Forest, illustrated by Abi Cushman (SSBFYR/Paula Wiseman Books, 2024), A Grandma’s Magic, illustrated by Asa Gilland (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2022), The Big Beach Cleanup, illustrated by Kate Rewse (Albert Whitman, 2021), and How to Return a Monster, illustrated by Rea Zhai (Beaming Books, 2021).Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 260,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lita Judge is the award-winning author and illustrator of three dozen children’s books (!) including Flight School, Penguin Flies Home, Red Sled, Red Hat, Good Morning to Me!, Born in the Wild, Even the Smallest Will Grow, When You Need Wings, as well as her much celebrated, illustrated young adult novel, Mary’s Monster. In our conversation, we celebrate her new picture book,Don't Worry, Wuddles (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2023) and also discuss another recent children's book from this year, Dogs: A History of Our Best Friends which launched on April 18, 2023 from Harry N. Abrams. Lita talks about her personal journey from a small island in Alaska to her highly successful career as an author and illustrator.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 260,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this, our second interview, I talk with award-winning children's author Tara Lazar about her new picture book, Flat Cat (Flamingo Books, 2023), illustrated by the also-illustrious Pete Oswald. We talk about where ideas come from, and the process by which the finished text leaves the author's hands and becomes an illustrated picture book. We also discuss her fabulous children's (everyone's, actually) dictionary of absurd words, published last year, and her Storystorm project in which thousands of writers come up with thirty ideas for new stories each January. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Zablotsky is the Managing Director of PJ Library, a philanthropy that donates millions of books on Jewish themes to children around the world every year. We talk about the confluence of Jewish and universal themes, the similarities and differences between PJ Library and its Israeli sister, Sifriat Pajama, which shares hundreds of thousands of picture books in Arabic, as well as in Hebrew, the process by which books are chosen, and the importance of sharing books on Jewish themes with non-Jewish families who wish to hear more about Jewish culture and values.PJ Library has its own publishing arm and welcomes submissions according to its guidelines.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 260,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jennifer Unter has worked in many aspects of the publishing industry for over three decades. After graduating from the University of Michigan, she began her career at Henry Holt & Co. in the editorial department before moving on to the Karpfinger Agency as a junior literary agent, while also attending law school at Fordham University School of Law. In 2008, she started The Unter Agency, LLC, a full-service boutique agency specializing in quality fiction, nonfiction and all types of children’s literature. In addition to placing projects at domestic and foreign publishers, she also sells to audio, film and television. We had a wonderful conversation talking about why she does what she does, the relationship between story and message, and her advice for aspiring authors. Jennifer is open to queries! Make sure to add that you heard our conversation in the subject line.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 260,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sandra Sutter is the owner/publisher at Gnome Road Publishing (aka "Top Gnome"). A former attorney, counselor and author, she has found her way to making great books with great people. The key concept at Gnome Road is "re-readability". Sandra is also a mom and chauffeur to two curious kids, a crazy cat lady, and a fan of kind people.We talked in detail about her publishing process, the books she loves, and her advice to authors as a publisher of picture books.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa A. Corvisiero is the founder and CEO of the Corvisiero Literary Agency, and its Senior Literary Agent. During the few years prior to starting her own agency, Marisa worked with another well known New York City Literary Agency, where she learned invaluable lessons and made a name for herself in the industry. She is also a Literary Consultant, Speaker, Author and continues to practice law in New York City She has attended over 100 conferences and workshops, and continues to present on webinars, tutorials, and bootcamps for Writer's Digest among other reputable sources, as well as hosting her own Author Preneur Workshops, where she teaches and coaches authors on writing, mindset, and publishing as a business. In our frank conversation, Marisa talks about her life and career and suggests that writing from the heart and perseverance are key factors to success. She is open to queries and is supportive of authors who wish to pursue non-traditional and hybrid publishing routes.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bea Birdsong is the internationally-celebrated author of I Will Be Fierce! (illustrated by Nidhi Chanani), Sam’s First Word (illustrated by Holly Hatam), and How to Spot a Best Friend (illustrated by Lucy Fleming), In this, our second conversation, we celebrate her new interactive picture book (illustrated by Linzie Hunter) Boop! (HarperCollins, 2023). We talk about the pros and cons of writing fiction for children, and Bea provides sage advice for aspiring authors.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An autistic mom of three autistic kids, Dr. Jen Malia is the author of the children’s chapter book series The Infinity Rainbow Club and the picture book Too Sticky! Sensory Issues with Autism. Jen is Professor of English and Creative Writing Coordinator at Norfolk State University. She has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Southern California. We talk about her books, and her advocacy to discuss neurodivergence in children's literature.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices