Category Archives: Historical Fiction

The Book Thief – an interview with Nicole Magistro

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Podcast #115

For my one hundred fifteenth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Nicole Magistro about the YA novel THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak.

Nicole is the author of the recently released picture book READ ISLAND. You can find more information about Nicole at myreadisland.com. You can find out more about the Adopt a Reader program at bookwormofedwards.com/adopt-reader.

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 Kristen Balouch about the picture book DON’T CROSS THE LINE, written by Isabel Minhos Martins and illustrated by Bernardo P Carvalho. It will be published Monday, February 21, 2022.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: An interview with Victoria Bond

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Podcast #094

For my ninety-fourth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Victoria Bond about the historical novel The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation by M. T. Anderson – Vol. 1: The Pox Party; Vol. 2: The Kingdom on the Waves. It is a epic and wrenching story set during the Revolutionary War about how the rhetoric of freedom and liberty so often withers under the brutal shadow of slavery.

Victoria Bond is an educator and award winning author of Zora and Me. Her latest book, the third book in this series about the writer Zora Neale Hurston as a child, is  Zora & Me: The Summoner. You can find her website at victoriabondauthor.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 Robert Hoyman about the middle grade novel There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Louis Sachar. It will be published on Monday, March 1, 2021.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963: an interview with Kate DiCamillo

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Podcast #067

For my sixty-seventh Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Kate Dicamillo about the children’s historical novel The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. For ten year old Kenny, it isn’t always easy being a member of his family, “the weird Watsons”, especially with his older brother By getting into one mess after another. But when his father takes the whole family down to Birmingham, Alabama, what starts out as just another crazy misadventure takes a horrible turn, and Kenny finds himself in the middle of one the ugliest moments of American history. But even through the worst moments, Kenny finds he can always count on the indestructible love of his family. The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, winner of both the Newbert and Coretta Scott-King awards, is a big-hearted book that is in turn wildly hilarious and utterly heartbreaking.

Kate DiCamillo is the Newbery-award winning author of such books as Because of Winn Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Flora and Ulysses, among many others, including my personal favorite, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.  Her latest book is Beverly, Right Here, which is the third book in the Three Rancheros Series. You can find Kate’s website at katedicamillo.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 Fred Rexroad about the children’s mystery novel The Case of the Missing Message (A Brains Benton Mystery) by Charles Spain Verral. It will be published on Monday, January 6th, 2020.

The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle – an interview with Dan Richards

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Podcast #065

For my sixty-fifth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Dan Richards about the middle grade novel The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox. Part historical fiction, part supernatural fantasy, and part espionage thriller, the novel tells the story of twelve year old Kat Bateson and her siblings, who are sent to a boarding school at the mysterious Rookskill Castle, run by the equally mysterious Lady Eleanor. Sent there to escape the Blitz of London, they become entangled in a series of strange events that may prove to be just as dangerous. Dark magic, spies, hidden rooms and terrible secrets lurk in the shadowy halls of the castle, and Kat must discover what is really going on before Lady Eleanor, who is not what she seems, finds her out first.

Dan Richards is author  the middle grade novels Stu Truly and Stu Truly: First Kiss, the picture books The Problem With Not Being Scared of Monsters and The Problem With Not Being Scared of Kids,  and the recently released picture books Once Upon a Goat and Penny and Penelope. You can find Dan’s website at www.danrichardsbooks.com.

All 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 literacy expert, author, and creator of World Read Aloud Day Pam Allyn about the classic children’s novel Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. It will be published on Monday, December 2nd.

Podcast #40: The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

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An Interview with Matthew Winner

For my fortieth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed librarian and podcast host Matthew Winner about his favorite children’s book, the graphic novel  The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan.

Published in 2009, The Storm in the Barn is set in Kansas during the Dustbowl of the 1930’s, and focuses on eleven year old Jack who has more than his share of difficulties to deal with: the torment of town bullies, a disappointed father who he can’t please no matter what he does, and a sister who’s fallen ill.  But when a mysterious light in the family barn draws him out one night, he discovers a mysterious stranger hiding there who seems to have a connection with the lack of rain–a stranger who may not be human.  What can Jack do about this interloper, or is this only a case of “dust dementia’, and there’s no one there at all? Part historical fiction and part fantasy, this graphic novel  is a unique and captivating look at moment in American History as told through the eyes of a young boy trying to make sense of the world, natural and supernatural, in which he finds himself.

Matthew Winner is an elementary school librarian in Maryland, co-founder of the website All the Wonders and  host of the podcast The Children’s Book Podcast. You can find Matthew’s website at www.matthewcwinner.com.

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and now 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.

I will be taking a short break from podcasting until September 1st, 2018, when I will return with a new podcast with Michelle, a children’s librarian in Canada and host of the book review site Fab Books,  about Louise Fitzhugh’s classic children’s novel Harriet the Spy. During that time I will be making a few small changes to both the website and the podcast.  When I return on September 1st, please let me know what you think in the comments, or send me a note on the contact page.