Category Archives: Graphic Novel

Small Spaces- an interview with Rosena Fung

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Podcast #113

For my one hundred thirteenth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author and illustrator Rosena Fung about the middle grade horror novel Small Spaces by Katherine Arden. Eleven year old Ollie is already dealing with a heavy burden. However, things are about to get heavier and a whole lot creepier when her school bus break downs in front of field of very strange scarecrows.

Rosena  Fung is author and illustrator. Her debut book is a graphic novel for kids called Living with Viola. You can find more information about Rosena and Living with Viola at www.rosenafung.com.  

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

I also want to put a call out to librarians who specialize in kids books. I wanted to try a new segment sometime this year in which I would have a librarian come on with a book recommendation for a kids book. The book could be a picture book, a chapter book, a middle grade novel or a YA novel, or even a nonfiction book. You could have several recommendations, so one recording sessions could actually cover several podcasts. All the interviews are done over Zoom, so it doesn’t really matter where you are. Also, it shouldn’t take up too much of your time. It is a way of letting others know what great books are out there for kids and adults alike. If you are interested, go to the contact page on this website and leave me a note.

My next podcast will be with author Jessica Vitalis about the middle grade novel Kit’s Wilderness by David Almond. It will be published Monday, January 17, 2022.

Pie in the Sky: An interview with Angela Dominguez

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Podcast #087

For my eighty-seventh Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Angela Dominguez about the middle grade novel Pie in the Sky , written and illustrated by Remy Lai. Eleven year old Jingwen has to deal with moving to a new country, his annoying little brother, as well as the grief of losing his father. It’s all too much, so Jingwen decides to secretly bake all of the cakes from his fathers Pie in the Sky bakery in the hopes that somehow life will turn out a little bit better once he’s finished.

Angela Dominguez is an award winning illustrator and author of  such books as Marie Had a Little Llama, and I Love you Baby Burrito, as well as the Stella Diaz books Stella Diaz Has Something to Say and Stella Diaz Never Gives Up. In addition, Angela also teaches at the Academy of Art University. You can find her website at www.angeladominguezbooks.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Janae Marks about the middle grade novel The Babysitter’s Club: Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin. It will be published on Monday, November 2, 2020.

Ghosts: an interview with Natalie Rompella

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Podcast #082

For my eighty-second Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Natalie Rompella about the middle grade graphic novel Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier. When Catrina’s little sister gets sick, her family moves to Northern California, just in time for the yearly gathering of ghosts. But Catrina is too afraid, both of the ghosts and what might happen to her sister. She has a lot to learn before she can set those fears aside.

Natalie Rompella is author of numerous educational guides for young readers as well as the middle grade book Cookie Cutter and Sled Runners and the non-fiction picture book The World Never Sleeps. You can find her website at natalierompella.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author and storyteller Antonia Sacre about the classic chldren’s novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. It will be published on Monday, August 17th, 2020.

Karna: an interview with Aditi Wardhan Singh

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Podcast #073

For my seventy-third Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author and advocate Aditi Wardhan Singh about the comic book novel Karna by Amar Chitra Katha. Adapted from part of the classic Indian epic the Mahabharata, Karna tells the story in comic book format of a tragic hero who must fulfill his destiny even at the cost of his own life. It is one of hundreds of comics in a series that has entertained and instructed children throughout India for many years.

Aditi Wardhan Singh is Founder & Chief Editor  of Raising World Children, a platform for resources about raising children of diverse families. In addition she is author of the parenting guide Strong Roots Have No Fear. You can find her website at raisingworldchildren.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Camryn Wells about the picture book The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein. It will be published on Monday, April 6th, 2020.

Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell: an interview with author Alison Gardiner

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Podcast #053

For my fifty-third Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Alison Gardiner about the  illustrated children’s novel Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell

Published in  2013, Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse tells the story of Ada Goth, who’s feeling a bit lonely clumping around in big boots at Ghastly-Gorm Hall, especially since her grieving widower father insists that children should be heard and not seen. But Ada soon befriends a ghostly mouse named Ishmael, and together, with the help of part chameleon boy named William Cabbage and his sister Emily, as well as a governess who might possibly be a vampire, they try to uncover a sinister plot in the works at the annual Ghastly-Gorm indoor hunt. Full of sly literary references, gorgeous Victorian illustrations by the author, and a whole lot of silly, over-the-top humor, Goth Girl is a comic gothic mystery that is just as much fun to look at as read.

Alison Gardiner is author of the fantasy novels Alchemy, The Serpent of Eridor, and coming soon The Goblin’s Curse. You can find Alison’s website at alisongardinerauthor.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, or subscribe. And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Roshani Chokshi, talking about the middle grade novel  The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander and the YA novel Tithe by Holly Black . It will be published on June 1st.