Category Archives: Podcast

Saturday – an interview with Christine L. Villa

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Podcast #101

For my one hundred first Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Christine L. Villa  about the picture book Saturday by Oge Mora. A mother and her daughter have a very special Saturday planned, when all their plans go topsy-turvy. But it may turn out to be a special and wonderful day after all.

In addition, at the top of the podcast I spoke to Lizette Serrano, Vice President of Educational Marketing at Scholastic about Scholastic’s Summer Reading Program. For more information about the Summer program you can visit www.scholastic.com/summer

Christine L. Villa is author of  such children’s books as ZooBooLoo, The Magic Paintbrush, and Will you Still Love Me? A Puppy Haiku Story. She is also the founder of the publishing company Purple Cotton Candy Arts. You can find her website at christinevilla.com and you can find information about Purple Cotton Candy Arts publishing at www.purplecottoncandyarts.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, then send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Tricia Springstubb about the middle grade novel Half Magic by Edward Eager. It will be published on Monday, June 21, 2021.

Corduroy – an interview with Crystal Maldonado

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Podcast #100

For my one hundredth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast (100!), I interviewed author Crystal Maldonado  about the classic picture book Corduroy by Don Freeman. It is a story about a young girl, a stuffed bear, a department store escalator ride, and a missing button, but it is also a story about friendship, adventure, and imagination.

Crystal Maldonado’s debut YA novel Fat Chance, Charlie Vega  was released in February. You can find her website at www.crystalwrote.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, then send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Christine L. Villa about the picture book Saturday by Oge Mora. It will be published on Monday, June 7, 2021.

Before the Ever After – an interview with Ray Anthony Shepherd

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Podcast #099

For my ninety-ninth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Ray Anthony Shepherd about the middle grade verse novel Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson. ZJ’s dad is a football star and local hero. But when his dad’s behavior changes because of injuries sustained on the field, ZJ must look for a new way forward with the help of his family and friends.

Ray Anthony Shepherd is author of Now or Never: 54th Massachusetts Infantry’s War to End Slavery. His most recent book is the picture book biography Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge.  You can find his website at www.rayanthonyshepard.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, then send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast (my 100th podcast!) will be with author Crystal Maldonado about the classic picture book Corduroy by Don Freeman. It will be published on Monday, May 17, 2021.

Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z – an interview with Michelle Schaub

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Podcast #098

For my ninety-eighth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Michelle Schaub about the middle grade book Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini. Dictionary for a Better World is a dictionary of words to help children build empathy and community using poetry, anecdotes, quotes and suggestion for actions to try.

Michelle Schaub is the author of such books for kids as Dream Big, Little Scientists: A Bedtime Book,   Finding Treasure: A Collection of Collections, and Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmer’s Market. Her latest picture book is called Kindness is a Kite String: The Uplifting Power of Empathy. You can find her website at www.michelleschaub.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.

My next podcast will be with author Ray Anthony Shepherd about the middle grade verse novel Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson. It will be published on Monday, May 3, 2021.

Flora &Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures – an interview with Judith L. Roth

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Podcast #097

For my ninety-seventh Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Judith L. Roth about the middle grade illustrated novel Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo. When a squirrel name Ulysses gets sucked up into a vacuum cleaner and transforms into a flying, poetry-typing super-squirrel, Flora is there to protect him from the evil forces that set out to destroy him–like her mom!

Judith L. Roth is the author of such books as  Goodnight Dragons, Serendipity and Me, and the recently released picture book Venetian Lullaby. Her latest book is another picture book called Hiding Baby Moses. You can find her website at judithlroth.wordpress.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.

My next podcast will be with author Michelle Schaub about the middle grade book Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini . It will be published on Monday, April 19, 2021.