Category Archives: Middle Grade

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.

When We Were Very Young: an interview with Laura Sassi

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Podcast #069

For my sixty-ninth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Laura Sassi about the children’s book of poems When We Were Very Young , written by A. A. Milne and illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. Told from the viewpoint of children, this assortment of poems about everything from boots to Buckingham Palace has been a favorite of kids and adults since it first came out in 1924. And if you look very closely, you might even catch an early appearance of Milne’s most famous creation, Winnie the Pooh.

Laura Sassi is author of the picture books Goodnight Manger and Goodnight Ark as well as Diva Delores and the Opera House Mouse and Love is Kind, both of which came out in 2018. You can find Laura’s website at laurasassitales.wordpress.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 Theresa Julian about the classic children’s book Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary. It will be published on Monday, February 3rd , 2020.

The Case of the Missing Message-a Brains Benton Mystery: an interview with Fred Rexroad

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Podcast #068

For my sixty-eighth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Fred Rexroad about the children’s mystery novel The Case of the Missing Message: A Brains Benton Mystery by Charles Spain Verral. Jimmy Carson knows that when his best friend and part-time super sleuth Brains Benton gets his hands on mystery, he’s not going to let go no matter what kind of trouble they run into. And they run into plenty. Circus performers, secret messages, stampeding elephants, mouthy parrots, and a couple of real nasty guys all turn up in mystery tailor-made for Brain Benson.

Fred Rexroad is author of the Tanner-Dent Mysteries, including Whiz Tanner and the Phony Masterpiece, Whiz Tanner and the Mysterious Countdown, and Whiz Tanner and the Olympic Snow Caper. You can find  Fred’s website at www.fredrexroad.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 Laura Sassi about the children’s book of poems When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne. It will be published on Monday, January 20th , 2020.

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.

Anne of Green Gables – an interview with Pam Allyn

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Podcast #066

For my sixty-sixth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed literacy educator and author Pam Allyn about the classic children’s novel Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. First published in 1908, this is first of several novels about the irrepressible red haired orphan Anne Shirley, who despite all the trouble that follows in her rambunctious wake, still finds a tender place in the hearts of the people of Green Gables.

Pam Allyn is a literacy expert, author, motivational speaker, and  Senior Vice President of Innovation and Development  at Scholastic. She is also Executive Director and founder of LitWorld, an advocacy group for children’s rights as readers, writers, and learners, and creator of World Read Aloud Day. You can find more information about Pam and World Read Aloud Day at pamallyn.com, litworld.org and teacher.scholastic.com/worldreadaloudday.

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 Kate DiCamillo about the classic children’s novel The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. It will be published on Monday, December 16th.