Category Archives: Middle Grade

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 Graveyard Book: an interview with Matt Harry

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Podcast #076

For my seventy-sixth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Matt Harry about The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.” So begins the unusual coming of age story of Nobody Owens and his strange and wonderful adventures in and out of the graveyard home he shares with the ghosts who live there and other creatures of the night.

Matt Harry is a filmmaker and author of the Codex Arcanum Series, which includes the books Sorcery for Beginners and the most recert novel, Crytozoology for Beginners. You can find Matt’s website at www.mattharrywork.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 co-founder of Jambo Books Mijha Godfrey about the middle grade novel Listen, Slowly by Thannha Lai. It will be published on Monday, May 18th, 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

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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.