The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

In this episode, Bianca talks with multi-award-winning illustrator and author David Litchfield about his artwork in Cress Watercress, a novel written by Gregory Maguire, the author of the incredibly popular books in the Wicked Years series, including Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which inspired the musical. David Litchfield started to draw when he was very young, creating comics for his older brother and sister. Since then his work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, and books and on T-shirts. His first picture book, The Bear and the Piano won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. He is also the illustrator of Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and War Is Over by David Almond. David lives with his family in Bedford, England. Order a copy of Cress Watercress on Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Audible. Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Resources: https://www.davidlitchfieldillustration.com/ https://gregorymaguire.com/ When the Sky Glows Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder Cosgrove Hall The Bright Agency Camberwell College of Art Easy Riders, Raging Bull by Peter Biskind Discussion Topics: About David Litchfield About Cress Watercress The influence of classic books, such as Wind in the WIllows The significance of using both dark and light artwork David Litchfield's creative process and character development The characters of Cress Watercress Staying motivated creating books for children Advice on becoming a children's book illustrator The art teacher and life moments that have inspired David Litchfield Writing for the middle middle-grade audience Identifying as a reader David Litchfield's hopes for Cress Watercress

In this episode, Bianca talks with the one and only John Schu about his debut picture book, This Is a School—a moving celebration of school and all it may signify: work and play,  creativity and trust, and a supportive community that extends beyond  walls John Schu is the creator of the popular blog Mr. Schu  Reads, was the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs, a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University,  and a former classroom teacher and school librarian. He has visited schools worldwide and has met with over 130,000 students,  teachers, and administrators as he advocates for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, schools, and the libraries — and librarians — that connect them. This Is a School is his picture book debut. John Schu lives in Naperville, Illinois. Order a copy of This Is a School on Bookshop.org or Amazon. Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Resources: https://www.johnschu.com/ http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/ The Gift of Story Scholastic Book Fairs Discussion Topics: About John Schu About This Is a School How school visits inspire John Schu Writing This Is a School The artwork of Veronica Miller Jamison The focus on community in This Is a School John Schu discusses his upcoming books and The Gift of Story The art of joy walking Does John Schu prefer being a teacher, librarian, or author? The books that John Schu read as a kid

In this episode, Bianca talks with Diana Farid about her glorious coming-of-age novel written in verse, Wave, set in 1980s Southern California, about a Persian American girl who rides the waves, falls, and finds her way back to the shore. Diana Farid is also the author of When You Breathe, published by Cameron Kids. She is a poet and a physician at Stanford  University. She lives in the Bay Area. Order a copy of Wave on Bookshop.org or Amazon. Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Resources: Visit Diana Farid at https://dianafarid.com/. When You Breathe, by Diana Farid The Essential Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks Surfer Magazine: https://www.surfer.com/ Discussion Topics: About Diana Farid About Wave Diana Farid discusses the characters and writing Wave Diana Farid talks about writing poetry A brief chat about The Essential Rumi and Coleman Barks Diana Farid talks about surfing as a child Diana Farid talks about how writing and being a physician go hand-in-hand for her Diana Farid's hopes for Wave

In this episode, Bianca talks with Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth about her debut picture book What Will I Do with My Love Today? A wonderful addition to children's books by celebrities and picture books about love and friendship, Kristin Chenoweth's whimsical adventure about adopting a dog reminds young readers they have an abundance of love and kindness to share with all. Kristin's career spans film, television, voiceover, and stage. She received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Pushing Daisies, won a Tony Award for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and received a Tony Award nomination for her original role of Glinda the Good Witch in the Broadway smash-hit Wicked. Kristin stars in the Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon! She also starred in the Netflix comedy feature Holidate, voiced the character Daisy in the HBO MAX film The Witches, and hosted the Food Network series Candy Land. Kristin remains a passionate supporter of charities, including the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center Foundation in her home state of Oklahoma, where she launched an annual Broadway Bootcamp providing young Broadway hopefuls with the opportunity to learn from mentors in the field. Order a copy of What Will I Do with My Love Today? on Bookshop.org or Amazon. Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Resources: Visit Kristin Chenoweth at https://officialkristinchenoweth.com Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center Foundation Kirstin Chenoweth's Broadway Bootcamp My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves Discussion Topics: About Kristin Chenoweth About What Will I Do with My Love Today? Get to know Kristin Chenoweth Kristin Chenoweth talks about writing the book What Will I Do with My Love Today? The illustrations of Maine Diaz Things we have for which to be grateful Thoughts on creating books for kids Kristin talks about upcoming books, including My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves Kristin Chenoweth's hopes for What Will I Do with My Love Today?

In this episode, Bianca talks with Grammy-winning singer, designer, entrepreneur, and the first-born daughter of reggae singers Bob and Rita Marley, Cedella Marley. They chat about her newest picture book Marley and the Family Band, which was inspired by a childhood growing up with music in her life. Cedella is the CEO of Bob Marley's recording label, Tuff Gong International, and the author of multiple children's books including One Love. A life-long advocate of philanthropy, Cedella is the director of the Bob Marley Foundation and is a Global Ambassador to the Jamaica Women's Football Program. Cedella Marley is a living embodiment of the way the ethics and values instilled during her upbringing carry forward the belief that, with passion and purpose, we can all make a difference in our communities, our country, and ultimately the world. She lives in Miami with her husband and three children. Order a copy of Marley and the Family Band on Bookshop.org or Amazon. Visit Cedella Marley at https://www.cedellamarley.com. Resources: Marley One Drops: https://marleyone.com. Picture book versions of One Love and Three Little Birds and Get Up, Stand Up. Lion Forge Animation: https://www.lionforgeanimation.com/. Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Discussion Topics: About Cedella Marley About Marley and the Family Band Get to know Cedella Marley A discussion on Marley and the Family Band How Cedella's childhood inspired Marley and the Family Band Marley and the Family Band coming to the screen Taking care of the physical body to help keep the mind healthy Learning and celebrating music in the home Cedella Marley's favorite childhood books

In this episode, Bianca talks with Jeanne Walker Harvey, the author of Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas. Jeanne has been a longtime docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Just like Alma Thomas, she believes that art brings us joy. Her other picture books include Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines and My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden’s Childhood Journey. Jeanne studied literature and psychology at Stanford University. She lives in Northern California. Order a copy of Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas on Bookshop.org or Amazon. Visit Jeanne Walker Harvey at https://www.jeanneharvey.com/. Resources: Educators Guide and Art Activity Projects: https://www.jeanneharvey.com/projects. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: https://www.sfmoma.org/. Loveis Wise: https://loveiswise.com/. See some interior artwork from Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas here: https://www.jeanneharvey.com/ablaze-with-color. East West Literary Agency: https://eastwestliteraryagency.com/ Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Discussion Topics: About Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas Get to know Jeanne Walker Harvey Working as a docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art A discussion on painter Alma Thomas Researching for picture book biographies Jeanne Walker Harvey reads an excerpt from Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas The modern art of children's book illustrator Loveis Wise Jeanne Walker Harvey's creative life Using Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas in the classroom

In this episode, Bianca talks with Marc Brown, the creator of the bestselling Arthur Adventure book series which has over 160 million Arthur books in print. He also is the executive producer of the longest-running children's television series, Arthur, on PBS. We talk about the conception of Arthur, how the Arthur Adventures became a book and TV series, and, most importantly, we discuss Believe in Yourself: What We Learned from Arthur. He lives in New York City and Martha's Vineyard. Order a copy of Believe in Yourself: What We Learned from Arthur on Bookshop.org or Amazon. Visit Marc Brown at http://marcbrownstudios.com/. Resources: https://pbskids.org/arthur https://www.fredrogers.org/ When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death Project Zero: http://www.pz.harvard.edu/ Music:  Special thanks to wgbh.org for permission to use the Arthur Theme Song. Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Discussion Topics: About Believe in Yourself: What We Learned from Arthur The conception of Arthur: Arthur's Nose How the Arthur Adventures became a book series and TV series Meeting Mr. Fred Rogers Behind the scenes of creating Believe in Yourself: What We Learned from Arthur Marc Brown on becoming a reader

In this episode, I talk with New York Times bestselling author Eva Chen and illustrator Sophie Diao about their picture book I Am Golden, a moving ode to the immigrant experience, as well as a manifesto of self-love for Chinese American children. Eva Chen is a first-generation Chinese-American who grew up in New York City. She blames her deviation from pre-med at Johns  Hopkins University on a love of fashion and beauty instilled in her by her mother, whose perfect bob and lipstick made a permanent imprint on her impressionable young mind. Previously the editor-in-chief of Lucky, Eva has also written for ELLE, Vogue, Teen Vogue, Vogue China, the New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.  She is currently the head of fashion partnerships at Instagram, where she is guilty of the occasional duck-face selfie. Eva lives in New York City with her husband and two children. She is the author of Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes, A Is for Awesome, and Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure. Sophie Diao is an artist in San Francisco. As research for the book Sarah and the Big Wave,  she surfed a wave that she's pretty sure was over one foot tall. She loves illustrating natural wonders and is the talent behind many a  Google Doodle. Order a copy of I Am Golden on Bookshop.org or Amazon. Visit Eva Chen at https://www.instagram.com/evachen212/. Visit Sophie Diao at https://www.sophiediao.com/. Resources: Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-fry: https://thewoksoflife.com/stir-fried-tomato-and-egg/. Scholastic Book Club: https://clubs.scholastic.com/. Books of Wonder: https://booksofwonder.com/. Book Con and Book Expo: https://www.bookexpoamerica.com/. Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Discussion Topics: A story summary of I Am Golden. Asian-American Identity Asian-American Hate Crimes All about I Am Golden Creating the book cover artwork The author and illustrator collaboration Becoming readers.

In this episode, I talk with noted anthropologist and educator Dr. Johnetta Betsch Cole and award-winning illustrator Nelda La Teef. We discuss their picture book, African Proverbs for All Ages, the first Oprah Book. It is a beautifully-illustrated, engaging picture book about the power of proverbs, how they evolve over time, and the wisdom of various cultures in Africa. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Cole grew up during the days of racial segregation. She holds a B.A. in sociology from Oberlin College, and masters and doctorate degrees from Northwestern University. Dr. Cole has conducted anthropological fieldwork in Liberia, West Africa, and traveled to 17 African countries. She is the only person to have served as president for both Spelman and Bennet Colleges; she was also the  Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art from 2009 to 2016. Dr. Cole serves as the Chair of the Board and the President of the  National Council of Negro Women, an organization with a membership of over two million women of African descent. Throughout her career, she has worked on issues of racial, gender, and other systems of inequality. Nelda LaTeef is the award-winning author and illustrator of The Hunter and The Ebony Tree, Animal Village, and The Talking Baobab Tree.  She grew up in a US Foreign Service family and spent her childhood attending schools in Europe, Africa, and Asia. She has traveled throughout West Africa conducting field research and has even been to the fabled city of Timbuktu. She holds a degree in social anthropology from Harvard University. Nelda lives in Virginia with her family where she enjoys traveling, tennis, and cycling. Order a copy of African Proverbs of All Ages here. Visit Nelda Lateef at https://www.neldalateef.com/. Resources: National Council of Negro Women: https://ncnw.org/ https://www.spelman.edu/about-us/office-of-the-president/past-presidents/johnnetta-cole Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Discussion Topics: A story summary of African Proverbs for All Ages. What is a proverb? Why are we drawn to proverbs? All about African Proverbs for All Ages. Favorite proverbs. Becoming readers.

In this episode, I talk with child-author Faith Abraham and her family about Faith's picture book, Superhero Faith. We talk about how when Mama (her grandmother) was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was inspired to create a story with the help of her mom. This book, Superhero Faith, is a demonstration of ways a young child can support a family member in need. Faith is creative, curious, adventurous, and loves life. She enjoys learning new languages (French and Spanish), reading, making music,  experimenting in Mad Science, studying jiu-jitsu (she is in ninja training), and being outside. Faith is loving, caring, and kind, and loves dreaming up her next adventure with her grandma and her dog,  Sparkle. Order a copy of Superhero Faith here. Visit Faith Abraham at https://www.faithandsparklesworld.com. Resources: The Terry Fox Foundation: https://terryfox.org/. Canadian Cancer Society: https://cancer.ca/en/. LeapFrog 2-in-1 LeapTop Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review. Discussion Topics: A story summary of Superhero Faith All about Faith Abraham The things Faith Abraham and her family do to raise awareness for breast cancer. How writing the story helped Faith and her family get through Mama's breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. How Faith's mom acted as a scribe to write the story. How the help of an editor and the illustrator helped the story become the best that it possibly could. Faith's favorite illustration and vegetable. The simple benefits of love are shown in the book. Is Faith's favorite book Superhero Faith?