Tag Archives: childrens books

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.

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale- an interview with Tricia Elam Walker

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Podcast #085

For my eighty-fifth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Tricia Elam Walker about the children’s picture book Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale, written and illustrated by John Steptoe. Inspired by an Zimbabwe folktale, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is a Cinderella-like story about two sisters search for a mysterious king. Their search leads to strange encounters and a discovery that it’s what’s in your heart that matters most. 

Tricia Elam Walker in an assistant professor of Creative Writing at Howard University and author of the novel Breathing Room. Her picture book, Nana Akua Goes to School was just published this year. You can find her website at triciaelamwalker.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 Paula Chase Hyman about the novel Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee. It will be published on Monday, October 5, 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.

The Only Road: an interview with Melissa Hart

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Podcast #071

For my seventy-first Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Melissa Hart about the young reader’s novel The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz. When Jaime’s cousin is murdered by the local Guatemalan gang, Jaime must flee to the United States with his other cousin Angela before he suffers the same fate. The Only Road tells a wrenching, heart-breaking story that puts a human face on an difficult journey still faced by so many who have no other choice but to try and find refuge from horrendous situations most of us cannot even imagine.

Melissa Hart is author of the book guide Better with Books: 500 Diverse Books to Ignite Empathy in Tweens and Teens as well as the novels Avenging the Owls and Gringa: a Contradictory Childhood.  Melissa also teaches for the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Southern New Hampshire University. You can find Melissa’s website at www.melissahart.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 L. A. Kefalos about the children’s classic The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry It will be published on Monday, March 9th, 2020.

Ramona the Pest: an interview with Theresa Julian

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Podcast #070

For my seventieth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Theresa Julian about the children’s novel Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary. Ramona Quimby is thrilled to be starting Kindergarten, and she love her new teacher Miss Binney. But no matter how hard she tries to be her best ( at least in Ramona’s mind) trouble always seems to follow.

Theresa Julian is author of the recently released non-fiction book for kids, The Joke Machine. You can find Theresa’s website at www.theresajulian.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 Melissa Hart about the children’s book The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz. It will be published on Monday, February 17th , 2020.