Tag Archives: middle grade

The Girl with the Silver Eyes: an interview with Alexandra Diaz

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Podcast #081

For my eighty-first Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Alexandra Diaz about the middle grade novel The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts. In this book, Katie, who is trying to start a new life with her mother in a new town, is a bit different from other girls. It isn’t just her silver eyes; Katie has the power to move things with her thoughts. And she may not be the only one.

Alexandra Diaz is the award winning author of Good Girls Don’t Lie, The Only Road Home, and The Crossroads. Her latest book, Santiago’s Road Home, came out May, 2020. You can find her website at alexandra-diaz.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 Natalie Rompella about the graphic novel Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier . It will be published on Monday, August 3rd, 2020.

The Book of Three- The Chronicles of Prydain, Book #1: an interview with John David Anderson

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Podcast #078

For my seventy-eighth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author John David Anderson about the middle grade fantasy novel The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, which is the first book of his Chronicles of Prydain series. Taran, tired of being just the assistant pig-keeper, wants a life of adventure. So when he meets the Horned King one day in the woods, adventure is exactly what he finds, and much more than he bargained for. Full of Lloyd Alexander’s trademark humor, fast pacing, and an array of quirky and interesting characters, the first book is a great introduction to the classic fantasy series.

John David Anderson is author of the novels Granted, Ms. Bixby’s Last Day which was the subject of another Dream Gardens podcast, Posted, and Finding Orion. His most recent middle grade novel is One Last Shot. You can find John David Anderson’s website at www.johndavidanderson.org.

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 Karen Blumenthal about the YA non-fiction book The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slaternder. It will be published on Monday, June 15th, 2020.

Listen, Slowly: an interview with Mijha Godfrey

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Podcast #077

For my seventy-seventh Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed Jambo Book co-founder Mijha Godfrey about the middle grade novel Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai. Mai resents leaving her beloved California Beaches to travel to her family’s home in Vietnam, a place she’s never been to and never wanted to visit, to find out what happened to her grandmother’s husband during the Vietnam War. What she finds out about the country, her grandmother, and herself, will make it a special summer to remember.

Mijha Godfrey is co-founder of Jambo Books, a muliticultural book club service. You can find Mijha’s website at www.jambobooks.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 John David Anderson about the middle grade novel The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain #1)by Lloyd Alexander. It will be published on Monday, June 1st, 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.