Tag Archives: picture book

The Butter Battle Book: An interview with Mathew Klickstein

Children's Book, Interview, Picture Book, Podcast, , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

Podcast #091

For my ninety-first Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Mathew Klickstein about the classic picture book The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss. The Yooks eat bread with the butter-side up, and the Zooks eat bread with the butter-side down, which can only mean one thing-War! A both very silly and very serious look at Cold War politics which is still, unfortunately, just as relevant as ever.

Mathew Klickstein  a writer who has developed projects across multiple platforms including non-fiction, filmmaking, theater and comic books. His latest project is the middle grade book The Kids of Widney Junior High Take Over the World. You can find his website at www.mathewklickstein.com. Part of the proceeds from Mathew’s book will go to support L.A. Goal. You can find more information about L.A. Goal at lagoal.org.

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 Anita Nahta Amin about the novel Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martin . It will be published on Monday, January 18, 2021.

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale- an interview with Tricia Elam Walker

Children's Book, Interview, Picture Book, Podcast, , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

Podcast #085

For my eighty-fifth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Tricia Elam Walker about the children’s picture book Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale, written and illustrated by John Steptoe. Inspired by an Zimbabwe folktale, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is a Cinderella-like story about two sisters search for a mysterious king. Their search leads to strange encounters and a discovery that it’s what’s in your heart that matters most. 

Tricia Elam Walker in an assistant professor of Creative Writing at Howard University and author of the novel Breathing Room. Her picture book, Nana Akua Goes to School was just published this year. You can find her website at triciaelamwalker.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 Paula Chase Hyman about the novel Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee. It will be published on Monday, October 5, 2020.

Curious George: an interview with Michael Arterberry

Children's Book, Interview, Picture Book, Podcast, , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

Podcast #084

For my eighty-fourth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author and motivational speaker Michael Arterberry about the classic children’s picture book Curious George. This was the first of a many picture books featuring George, a very curious monkey, whose curiosity sometimes gets him into a bit of trouble, though not too much.

I have to add one correction to the podcast. I stated the author was H.A. Rey, but it was actually co-written by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey, who were married. Margret Rey’s name was left off the first few Curious George Books because the publisher at the time (1941) felt there were already too many woman writing children’s books (!). Her name was included in later books, as it should have always been. It was neglectful on my part not to have included it as well.

Michael Arterberry is a motivational speaker and author of the memoir God was Holding my Hand  and the motivational book Be Encouraged!!! 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement. He is also founder and executive director of  Youth Voices Center, Inc. You can find his website at www.michaelarterberry.com and the website for Youth Voices Center at www.youthvoicescenter.org.

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 Tricia Elam Walker about the picture book Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe. It will be published on Monday, September 21st, 2020.

The Missing Piece: an interview with Camryn Wells

Children's Book, Picture Book, Podcast, , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

Podcast #074

For my seventy-fourth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Camryn Wells about the picture book The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein. A deceptively simple story about the eternal search for the one thing that will make us complete–or will it? With Shel Silverstein’s trademark humor, style, and humanity, this story, as well as it companion book The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, is for both kids and adults, or really anyone who still is pondering what’s it all about.

Camryn Wells is author of the Color, Feel, Play series of picture books, which includes What Color is Your Day? and the recently released, The Memory of Play. You can find her website at camrynwells.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 Lesa Cline-Ransome about The Diary of Anne Frank. It will be published on Monday, April 20th, 2020.

Giraffes Can’t Dance – an interview with Lori Orlinsky

Children's Book, Interview, Picture Book, Podcast, , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

Podcast #060

For my sixtieth Dream Gardens kid lit podcast, I interviewed author Lori Orlinsky about the picture book Giraffes Can’t Dance, written by Giles Andreae and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. With his long neck and skinny legs, Gerald the Giraffe just wasn’t made for dancing. Or so he thinks, until a friendly cricket tells him that he’s just got to find the right music to figure how to dance in his own special way.

Lori Orlinsky is author of the picture book Being Small (isn’t so bad after all) published by Mascot Books. You can find the Mascot Books website at mascotbooks.com

All 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 Dania Ramos talking about Call Me Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer . It will be published on September 16th.