The Children's Book Podcast

Andy Griffiths, author of You and Me and the Peanut Butter Beast (Feiwel & Friends), joins Matthew to talk about puncturing the vanity and making us believe.

Visit Andy Griffiths online at andygriffiths.com.au 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

You can support the show and buy me a co...

Israel Moya, author of Monarchs in the Wild (Tu Books), shares what is giving him hope today:  young, creative, hopeful, courageous people.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Israel Moya online at israelmoya.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Learn more about Lee & Low Books and their upcoming releases by visiting www.leeandlow.com. 

Katherine Applegate, author of Wombat Waiting (Storytide), joins Matthew to talk about books providing the opportunity to practice being a better human.

Visit Katherine Applegate online at katherineapplegate.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwin...

Olivia Abtahi, author of Twin Flames (Tu Books), shares what is giving her hope today: seeing the bulbs start to bloom.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Olivia Abtahi online at www.oliviaabtahi.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Learn more about Lee & Low Books and their upcoming releases by visiting www.leeandlow.com. 

 ...

Dan Santat, author of A Fishboy Named . . . Sashimi (Roaring Brook Press), joins Matthew to talk about creating worlds that readers will want to believe.

Visit Dan Santat online at www.instagram.com/dsantat 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

You can support the show and buy me a coffee...

Katherine Applegate, author of Wombat Waiting (Storytide), shares what is giving her hope today: librarians.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Mandy Settembre online at www.mandywarhol.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Learn more about Lee & Low Books and their upcoming releases by visiting www.leeandlow.com. 

Our podcast logo was...

Collecting Voices with Ernesto Cisneros

Episode Description (limit 4,000 characters): Ernesto Cisneros, author of Queso, Just in Time (Quill Tree Books),  joins Matthew to talk about valuing our own stories and meeting our parents as who they were.

Visit Ernesto Cisneros online at www.ernestocisneros.com 

Other helpful links:

Ernesto Cisneros at Boyds Mills

Community Retreat with Meg Medina: Celebrating Latinx Stories in Kidlit - Join Meg Medina and guests for a retreat celebrating the rich tapestry of Latina, Latino, Latine, and Latinx voices in ch...

Dan Santat, author of A Fishboy Named... Sashimi (Roaring Brook Press), shares what is giving him hope today: shimmers of light and unconditional love.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Dan Santat online at www.instagram.com/dsantat 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

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Carole Lindstrom, author of Red River Rose (Bloomsbury Children's Books) and The Gift of the Great Buffalo (Bloomsbury Children's Books), illustrated by Aly McKnight,  joins Matthew to talk about the truth that all things don't end the way we wish.

Visit Carole Lindstrom online at carolelindstrom.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by...

Mandy Settembre, author of Ours: A Story of Loss and Healing (Lee & Low Books), illustrated by Fran Matsumoto, shares what is giving her hope today: having a list.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Mandy Settembre online at www.mandywarhol.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Learn more about Lee & Low Books and their upcomin...

Matthew Cordell, author and illustrator of 102 (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), joins Matthew to talk about the power of curiosity and always wanting to see new things.

Visit Matthew Cordell online at www.matthewcordell.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

You can support the show and bu...

Dr. Haleh Massey, author of My Name Is Harriet Mansoor (Not Hairy Man Suit!) (Tu Books), illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh, shares what is giving her hope today:  the ever increasing diversity in books.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Dr. Haleh Massey online at drhalehmassey.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Learn more about Lee & Low...

Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr, author and illustrator of Life on the Moon (Knopf Books for Young Readers), join Matthew to talk about things so awful they can only be encountered through humor.

Visit Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr online at robbiandmatthew.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

Angela Quezada Padron, author of Lucía's Goals / Los Goles de Lucía (Children's Book Press), illustrated by Christina Barragan Forshay, shares what is giving her hope today: looking for hope in the little things in life, the things that make her smile.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Angela Quezada Padron online at angelapadron.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visitin...

Alicia D. Williams, author of Nani and the Lion (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books), illustrated by Anna Cunha, joins Matthew to talk about protecting our joy through what we cultivate and what we believe.

Visit Alicia D. Williams online at www.aliciadwilliams.com 

Other helpful links:

Alicia D. Williams at Boyds Mills

Alicia D. Williams Scholarship - The Alicia D. Williams Scholarship provides funds to support a Boyds Mills scholarship for a single parent. As a single parent, Alicia knows how hard it can be to find the tim...

Matthew Cordell, author illustrator of 102 (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), shares what is giving him hope today: being around a younger generation.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Matthew Cordell online at www.matthewcordell.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Ou...

Debbi Michiko Florence, author of The Mastermind's Trap (Aladdin), joins Matthew to talk about finding a way to get back home.

Visit Debbi Michiko Florence online at debbimichikoflorence.com 

Other helpful links:

Debbi Michiko Florence at Boyds Mills

Community Retreat with Grace Lin and Debbi Michiko Florence: Celebrating Asian and Asian American Stories (May) - Work alongside community members and spend time creating, dreaming, and discovering the many beautiful contributions made by Asian and Asian American voices in the children's book field.

Learn more...

Cátia Chien, illustrator of Fireworks (Clarion Books), written by Matthew Burgess, shares what is giving her hope today: the small acts of kindness and love that we give to the world. 

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Cátia Chien online at catiachien.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by...

Steph Littlebird, author illustrator of You Are The Land (Nancy Paulsen Books), joins Matthew to talk about overcoming doubt and remaining hopeful.

Visit Steph Littlebird online at www.stephlittlebird.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewc...

Debbi Michiko Florence, author of The Mastermind's Trap (Aladdin), shares what is giving her hope today: young people and the connectors of readers to books. 

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Debbi Michiko Florence online at debbimichikoflorence.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

 <...

Steve Light, author illustrator of Gus & Sully All Week Long (Candlewick), joins Matthew to talk about distilling ideas to their most accessible and truest forms for our youngest readers.

Visit Steve Light online at stevelightart.com 

Other helpful links:

Steve Light at Boyds Mills

Summer Camp for Writers and Illustrators: Session Two! - Get away for five days at our Summer Camp for fiction and nonfiction storytellers who are looking for inspiration, guidance, mentorship, community, fun, creativity, and…a place to dream!

Steve Light Scholarship - Ste...

*This episode is a rebroadcast. The original episode aired April 26, 2025 .

Lil Miss Hot Mess (Make Your Own Rainbow: A Drag Queen's Guide to Color) shares what is giving her hope today: drag. Drag is all about changing how we look and how we show up in the world as a way of making the world more fabulous and more just and joyful for everyone in it. 

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

L...

Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, author and illustrator of Fireworks (Clarion Books), join Matthew to talk about becoming a mirror for feelings and experiences in their ode to a summer day.

Visit Matthew Burgess online at matthewjohnburgess.com 

Visit Cátia Chien online at catiachien.com 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

...

Jordyn Taylor, author of The Rebel Girls of Rome (HarperCollins), shares what is giving her hope today:   remembering that even small acts of bravery can make a big difference. 

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Jordyn Taylor online at jordynhtaylor.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://ste...

Chris Tebbetts, co-author of Dr. Zeus (Jimmy Patterson), with James Patterson, joins Matthew to talk about free-form school visits and moving stuff off the desk.

Visit Chris Tebbetts online at christebbetts.com 

Other helpful links:

Chris Tebbetts at Boyds Mills

Just Do It! Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft (Spring) - Reach your writing goals! This workshop provides the structure, support, and accountability you need to get to a finished draft.

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visi...

Selina Alko, illustrator of The Keeper of Stories (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), written by Caroline Kusin Pritchard, shares what is giving her hope today:   the power of communities to come together..

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Visit Selina Alko online at www.selinaalko.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was create...

Kaz Windness, author illustrator of Worm and Butterfly are Friends Always (Simon Spotlight), joins Matthew to talk about constantly dealing with loss and change.

Visit Kaz Windness online at www.windnessbooks.com/ 

Other helpful links:

Kaz Windness at Boyds Mills

Early Readers and Chapter Books: A Creative Retreat - Kids who are starting to read on their own need to find the books that meet them creatively, inspirationally, and more! This engaging retreat will help you understand the needs of this market and how to create with the...

Laurel Snyder, author of The Book of Candles: Eight Poems for Hanukkah (Clarion Books), illustrated by Leanne Hatch, shares what is giving her hope today:  watching neighbors come together and support each other in the city of Minneapolis.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design...

Introducing the winners and honors of the Sydney Taylor Book Award (2026), presented annually by the Association of Jewish Libraries to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience.

Links:

Sydney Taylor Book Award Website - https://jewishlibraries.org/sydney_taylor_book_award/ 

2025 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour - https://jewishlibraries.org/2026-blog-tour-sydney-taylor-book-awards/ 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

You can pick up your own copy of any of the titles featur...

I have a favor to ask you. Could you please write us a review wherever you listen to the show?

Tell us what you like about the podcast and who you'd love to hear next!

Maybe you love when we feature young adult authors. Maybe your favorite episodes are when we dig deep on craft. Maybe you find yourself looking forward to the Hope mini-episodes each week.

Whatever it is, we want to know! Are you going to recommend we interview your favorite author? Or will you sug...

Abby White, author of D.J. Rosenblum becomes the G.O.A.T. (Levine Querido), shares what is giving her hope today: pockets of people are taking wonderful care of each other, despite the world being bad in a thousand ways right now.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Du...

Sara Andrea Fajardo, author of Crack Goes the Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration! (Knopf Books for Young Readers) and Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa: Join the Quest with Peru's Famed Scientist and Potato Expert (Roaring Brook Press), joins Matthew to talk about bringing out a little bit of mischief.

*This is a rebroadcast of an episode that originally aired on April 8, 2025.

Visit Sara Andrea Fajardo online at https://sarafajardowrites.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

...

George Brown, executive director of the Boyds Mills, shares what is giving him hope today: the storytellers, and the stories they are dreaming of and creating to bring a little optimism and joy to children.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

...

Aron Nels Steinke, cartoonist of Speechless (Graphix) and the Mr. Wolf's Class series (Graphix), joins Matthew to talk about verbal expression, anxiety, and wanting to communicate

Visit Aron Nels Steinke online at www.mrwolfsclass.com.

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

You can support the show and buy me...

Kaz Windness (Bitsy Bat, Team Star) shares what is giving her hope today: a commitment to being joyful and doing things that bring happiness as an act of rebellion.

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundat...

Torrey Maldonado, author of Just Right (Nancy Paulsen Books), illustrated by Teresa Martínez, joins Matthew to talk about finding and sticking to your places.

Visit Torrey Maldonado online at torreymaldonado.com 

Other helpful links:

Torrey Maldonado at Boyds Mills

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. ...

Aron Nels Steinke, cartoonist of Speechless (Graphix) and the Mr. Wolf's Class series (Graphix), shares what is giving him hope today: every morning is a chance for something new.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org. 

Visit Nikki Grimes online at nikkigrimes.com 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke St...

George Brown, executive director of the Highlights Foundation, joins Matthew to talk about the rebranding of the Highlights Foundation as Boyds Mills.

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

 <...

Nikki Grimes, author of A Cup of Quiet (Bloomsbury Children's Books), shares what is giving her hope today: the bravery, resilience, and determination of young people.

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org. 

Visit Nikki Grimes online at nikkigrimes.com 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.d...

Alexandra Villasante, author of Fireblooms (Nancy Paulsen Books), joins Matthew to talk about paying for our words.

Visit Alexandra Villasante online at alexandravillasante.com 

Other helpful links:

Alexandra Villasante at the Highlights Foundation

LGBTQIA2S+ Voices at the Highlights Foundation - Craft and education, community-building, and resources and support for LGBTQIA2S+ creatives and professionals in and around the children's book industry.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org. 

Our podcast logo w...