Category Archives: Interview

The Diary of Anne Frank: an interview with Lesa Cline-Ransome

Children's Book, Interview, Podcast, YA, Young Adult, ,

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Podcast #075

For my seventy-fifth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Lesa Cline-Ransome about the The Diary of Anne Frank. Since it was first published in 1947 by Anne’s father, Otto Frank, Anne’s diary of her life in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands has been read by several generations of readers who have been won over by her exuberant spirit and insight, and saddened that such a singular voice was not allowed to reach its full potential.

Lesa Cline-Ransome is the award winning author of such picture books as Before She Was Harriet, Game Changers, and Counting the Stars, as well as the middle grade novel Finding Langston.  Her latest picture books are Overground Railroad  and The Power Of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne, and her latest middle grade novel is Leaving Lymon. You can find Lesa’s website at lesaclineransome.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 Matt Harry about The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. It will be published on Monday, May 4th, 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 Little Prince: an interview with L. A. Kefalos

Children's Book, Interview, Middle Grade, Podcast, , , ,

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Podcast #072

For my seventy-second Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author L. A. Kefalos about the classic young reader’s novel The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry . A stranded pilot encounters a Little Prince visiting the earth from his very small planet far, far away and the two of them had an adventure that is part fantasy, part fairy tale, and part allegory. All together it tells a timeless story of big questions and uncertain answers that still captivates readers all over the world.

L.A. Kefalos is author of the picture books This is A. Blob and A. Blob on a Bus. You can find her website at ThisIsABlob.com and additional information about the books at www.laughingleopardpress.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 Aditi Wardhan Singh about the children’s graphic comic Karna by Kamala Chandrakant. It will be published on Monday, March 16th, 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

Children's Book, Interview, Middle Grade, Podcast, , , ,

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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.