In this episode Debbi Michiko Florence chats with Jennifer about her love for children's literature and the power of books to shape our hearts. She shares her own experiences as a reader, from her childhood memories of her parents reading to her and weekly trips to the library, to her rediscovery of reading for pleasure after college. Debbi emphasizes the importance of authentic representation in children's literature and the impact her books have on young readers, particularly those who see themselves reflected in her characters. She also discusses her upcoming middle grade series, Last Chance Academy, and the joy of writing sweet romances for tween and early teen readers.

Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing the books mentioned in this episode from Bookelicious, can be found here.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Fan Appreciation

01:08 Debbi's Reader's Heart

07:06 Common themes in The Reader's Heart

10:01 Books as safe spaces

12:21 Creating authentic characters

16:31 Debbi's journey as a writer

20:15 The powerful first crush

22: 12 Aliza Werner shout out

28:35 Introducing Last Chance Academy

34:14 Importance of stories that explore layered identities

36:01 Wrap up and conclusions

In this conversation, Jennifer LaGarde and Katherine Marsh discuss the power of children's literature and the influence it has on shaping readers' hearts. They explore Katherine's own reader's heart and how it informs her writing. They also delve into the themes and characters of Katherine's book, Medusa, and the importance of representation and empathy in literature. They discuss the challenges of getting kids to read and the need for books that cater to different reading levels and interests. Finally, they touch on Katherine's upcoming projects and the role of books in mother-daughter relationships.

Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing the books mentioned in this episode from Bookelicious, can be found here.

Chapters:

In this conversation, Jennifer chats with Elly Swartz discuss the power of children's literature to shape hearts and minds. They explore the importance of books in helping readers navigate life's emotions and connect with themselves and others. They also discuss the influence of social media on storytelling and the inclusion of themes like forgiveness in Swartz's books. Swartz shares her love for writing middle-grade books and the joy of connecting with young readers. They also touch on Swartz's upcoming book, Same Page, which tackles the themes of book banning, friendship, and finding common ground.

Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing the books mentioned in this episode from Bookelicious, can be found here.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Shared Love for Children's Literature 09:00 The Influence of Social Media on Storytelling 13:13 The Power of Forgiveness in Swartz's Books 25:00 Exploring Book Banning and Friendship in 'Same Page'

In this conversation, Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey chat with Jennifer about story as an engine for empathy and ceativity. They discuss their reader's hearts and how childhood reading experiences shaped their love for storytelling. They also talk about their book, The Last Stand, with Antwan Eady and the process of illustrating it. The conversation concludes with a discussion of their upcoming projects and congratulations on their recent accolades.

Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing the books mentioned in this episode from Bookelicious, can be found here.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Reader's Heart 09:07 Childhood Reading Experiences 12:08 The Last Stand and Charlotte's Web 26:09 Upcoming Projects 29:16 Congratulations and Closing

In this conversation, Jennifer chats with Ann Braden, an author who writes books that empower kids to find their voice and make a difference in the world. Ann shares her journey as a reader and writer, highlighting the books that had a profound impact on her life. She discusses the importance of recognizing our own voice and the power it holds. Ann also explores the themes in her books, such as facing tough topics and finding hope in difficult times. The conversation emphasizes the need for connection and belief in oneself and others.

For more information about this episode, including detailed show notes and a discount code from Bookelicious, visit: librarygirl.net

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction 00:54 Anne's Reader's Heart 03:07 Discovering a Love for History 04:32 Finding the Confidence to Write 05:30 Using Voice to Change the World 07:19 Writing Books for Kids to Find Their Voice 10:26 Facing Bullying and Overcoming Challenges 13:06 Book Talk: Opinions and Opossums 14:46 The Impact of Anne's Books on Readers 16:47 The Importance of Art in Understanding Our Times 19:35 The Need for Connection and Belief 25:01 Finding Joy in the Darkness 28:28 The Darkness Turned Inside Out 29:27 Conclusion and Gratitude

Jennifer chats with author Erin Bow who shares a bit about her journey as a reader and writer, from her childhood love of books to her success as an author. She emphasizes the importance of reading widely and falling in love with reading as a child. Erin also shares her passion for trashy page-turning storytelling and the influence it has on her writing. But most of their conversation focuses on the role of children's literature in helping us to understand and navigate trauma. Erin discusses the inspiration behind Simon Sort of Says and why it was important to her that Simon's story be funny.

Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicious) can be found here.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Reader's Heart

04:21 Childhood Reading and Influences

06:06 Trashy Page-Turning Storytelling

10:05 Expanding Genre and Writing Goals

11:57 Pseudonyms and Success

13:54 The Journey to Success

20:55 The Variety of Erin Bow's Books

26:09 Discussion of Simon Sort of Says

36:00 Upcoming Work and the Importance of Stories

In this episode, Jasmine Warga chats with Jennifer about the power of read alouds, using stories as conversation starters, and the importance of representation in literature. Jasmine shares her personal journey as a reader and writer, and how books helped her feel less alone. They also talk about Jasmine's latest book, A Rover's Story and her upcoming mystery novel set in an art museum: A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall. The conversation highlights the impact of books on readers' hearts and the need for diverse and engaging stories for middle grade readers.

Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicious) can be found here.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Reader's Heart

03:30 The Power of Read Alouds

06:36 Books as Conversation Starters

08:30 Using Stories to Bridge Chasms

09:23 Writing for Middle Grade Readers

14:34 Book Talk: Rover, A Rover Story

25:34 Writing Mysteries for Middle Grade Readers

29:51 Upcoming Projects

33:08 Conclusion

In this episode, Torrey Maldonado chats with Jennifer about children's literature, his work and the magic of teaching middle school! They discuss the power of children's literature and how it can shape readers' hearts and help them navigate the world. Torrey shares his own experience as a reader and how he found storytelling through cinema and comics. He also talks about his teaching background and how he writes books for the students he teaches. Torrey's books are known for being short yet rich and robust, challenging the myth that shorter books lack depth. They discuss the impact of Torrey's books on students and how they inspire and engage reluctant readers. The conversation also touches on the importance of representation in books and the need for young readers to see themselves as both characters and creators in the stories they read. In this conversation, Torrey shares the impact his mother had on his love for reading and writing, and how she continues to inspire him. He reflects on his first reading and the emotional moment when his mother realized he was living her dream. Torrey shares his upcoming projects and the themes of his future books. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the power of empathy and the importance of connecting and understanding one another through literature.

Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicious) can be found here.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:01 The Power of Children's Literature

07:31 Middle School Students at a Crossroads

09:51 The Impact of Torrey's Books on Students

13:07 The Attainable Richness of Torrey's Books

16:06 Recognition and Validation

21:42 Representation and Seeing Yourself in Books

22:39 Representation in Books

27:29 Torrey's First Reading

30:17 The Legacy of Torrey's Mother

32:53 What's Next for Torrey Maldonado

34:17 Review of 'Relit'

45:00 The Power of Empathy