Tag Archives: Judy Blume

Just As Long As We’re Together: An interview with Holly Hatam

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Podcast #089

For my eighty-ninth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed illustrator Holly Hatam about the middle grade novel Just As Long As We’re Together by Judy Blume. Thirteen year old Stephanie has been with friends with Rachel for as long as she can remember. But when a new girl, Alison, enters her life, Stephanie must figure how to gain a friend without losing her old one.

Holly Hatam is illustrator of such books as Dear Girl, Dear Boy, Dragons are Real,  and Happy Right Now. Her latest book  is Dear Baby, with text by Paris Rosenthal. You can find her website at www.hollyhatam.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 Amy Hest about the middle grade novel Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary. It will be published on Monday, December 7, 2020.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume: an interview with author Michele McAvoy

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Podcast #050

For my fiftieth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Michele McAvoy about her favorite children’s book, the classic novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, written by Judy Blume.

Originally published in 1970, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret tells the story of eleven year old Margaret Simon, whose family has just moved from New York City to the suburbs of New Jersey. Margret must now navigate through the treacherous waters of finding new friends and dealing with puberty, all the while trying to figure out whether she should join the JCC or the YMCA. It’s all very confusing, and not even God seems to have all the answers. An honest, heart-warming, and very funny book, Margaret’s endearing story continues to find readers even after nearly fifty years who find her dreams and missteps and triumphs as relatable as ever.

Michele McAvoy is author of the picture books The Gorilla Picked Me and My Superhero Grandpa as well as Cookie and Milk, which will be coming out this fall. You can find Michelle’s website at www.michelemcavoy.com

All podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and 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.

My next podcast will be with author and illustrator C. L. Fails, talking about the classic children’s novel A Wrinkle in Time, written by Madeleine L’Engle. It will be published on April 16th.