Tag Archives: kidlit

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.

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings; Soaring Earth – an interview with Padma Venkatraman

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Podcast #058

For my fifty-eighth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Padma Venkatraman about the verse memoirs Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings and Soaring Earth by Margarita Engle.

Enchanted Air was published in 2015, followed by Soaring Earth in 2019.  Each details  Margarita’s experience immigrating to the US after the Cuban revolution of the 1960’s. In the first book we meet Margarita as a child, torn between her love of the Cuba she longs to return to and her struggle to find her place in a country that doesn’t always welcome her with open arms. In the second book we meet up with Margarita again as a young adult as she travels from California to New York in a journey to figure out where she belongs and what she has to offer the world. Told entirely in free verse, Margarita’s story is lyrical and personal, a story that is both unique and universal in her quest to find a place to call home.

Padma Venkatraman is author of  the novels Climbing the Stairs, Island’s End, A Time to Dance, and the 2019 middle grade novel The Bridge Home. You can find Padma’s website at padmavenkatraman.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 Kathi Appelt, talking about The Grand Plan To Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami . It will be published on August 19th.

Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell: an interview with author Alison Gardiner

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Podcast #053

For my fifty-third Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Alison Gardiner about the  illustrated children’s novel Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell

Published in  2013, Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse tells the story of Ada Goth, who’s feeling a bit lonely clumping around in big boots at Ghastly-Gorm Hall, especially since her grieving widower father insists that children should be heard and not seen. But Ada soon befriends a ghostly mouse named Ishmael, and together, with the help of part chameleon boy named William Cabbage and his sister Emily, as well as a governess who might possibly be a vampire, they try to uncover a sinister plot in the works at the annual Ghastly-Gorm indoor hunt. Full of sly literary references, gorgeous Victorian illustrations by the author, and a whole lot of silly, over-the-top humor, Goth Girl is a comic gothic mystery that is just as much fun to look at as read.

Alison Gardiner is author of the fantasy novels Alchemy, The Serpent of Eridor, and coming soon The Goblin’s Curse. You can find Alison’s website at alisongardinerauthor.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 Roshani Chokshi, talking about the middle grade novel  The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander and the YA novel Tithe by Holly Black . It will be published on June 1st.

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.

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White: an interview with author Jill Weisfeld

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Podcast #047

For my forty-seventh Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Jill Weisfeld about her favorite children’s book, the classic middle grade novel Charlotte’s Web  by E. B. White.

Originally published in 1952, and still in print today, Charlotte’s Web tells the story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider names Charlotte. Wilbur loves life on the farm with all the other animals, all the good things to eat, and Fern, the young girl who raises him from a runt. But when Wilbur learns he’s going to be the main course for Christmas dinner at the farm, it’s up to Charlotte to come up with a plan to save his bacon, and what a plan she manages to spin up. Charlotte’s Web is a timeless story that is whimsical and funny, while at the same time offering up a touching picture of sacrifice, departures, and the unusual bond between a kind and gifted spider, and one terrific pig.

Jill Weisfeld is author of Take a Peek with Peek-a-Bear and her latest picture book Riley the Retriever Wants  a New Job.  In addition, Jill is CEO of her publishing company, Peek-A-Bear Press. You can find Jill’s website at peek-a-bear.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.

My next podcast will be with author Rebecca Behrens, talking about the middle grade novel Hatchet, written by Gary Paulsen. It will be published on February 4th.