Jerry Spinelli on BookSmitten

Beloved author Jerry Spinelli is back with a new book FIFTH GRADE TOP DOGS! He's the author of memorable books like Maniac Magee, Stargirl and Crash. Hear how Jerry structured his 44-year writing career and how Kelly read FOURTH GRADE RATS back when she was in fourth grade. Our Books for Children and Young Adults:⁠Flying Lessons & Other Stories⁠ Edited by Ellen Oh⁠Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist⁠Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist⁠The Electric Slide and Kai⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson⁠The Swag is in the Socks⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist⁠Eb & Flow⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist⁠Ready, Set, Dough!⁠ by Kelly J. BaptistThe Band in Our Basement by Kelly J. Baptist; illustrated by Jenin Mohammed⁠See You in the Cosmos⁠ by Jack Cheng⁠The Many Masks of Andy Zhou⁠ by Jack Cheng⁠Jumped In⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott⁠American Road Trip⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott⁠No Going Back⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott⁠The Griffins of Castle Cary⁠ by Heather ShumakerKelly J. Baptist: ⁠kellyiswrite.com⁠Jack Cheng: ⁠jackcheng.com⁠Patrick Flores-Scott: ⁠patrickfloresscott.com⁠Heather Shumaker: ⁠heathershumaker.com⁠Find us online: Contact us: ⁠[email protected]⁠Bluesky: @booksmitten.bsky.socialProduced by Patrick Flores-Scott and Heather Shumaker

It’s 25 years since “Because of Winn Dixie” was published, which means 25 years of readers enjoying the heart and honesty of Kate DiCamillo. We’re delighted to share this conversation with one of kidlit’s most beloved authors, and chat with Kate about her unforgettable characters and craft. As Kate says, “Characters are people I’ve discovered, not made up.” Come discover Kate’s world with us!Our Books for Children and Young Adults:⁠Flying Lessons & Other Stories⁠ Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”⁠Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist⁠Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist⁠The Electric Slide and Kai⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson⁠The Swag is in the Socks⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist⁠Eb & Flow⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist⁠Ready, Set, Dough!⁠ by Kelly J. Baptist⁠See You in the Cosmos⁠ by Jack Cheng⁠The Many Masks of Andy Zhou⁠ by Jack Cheng⁠Jumped In⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott⁠American Road Trip⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott⁠No Going Back⁠ by Patrick Flores-Scott⁠The Griffins of Castle Cary⁠ by Heather ShumakerKelly J. Baptist: ⁠kellyiswrite.com⁠Jack Cheng: ⁠jackcheng.com⁠Patrick Flores-Scott: ⁠patrickfloresscott.com⁠Heather Shumaker: ⁠heathershumaker.com⁠Find us online: Contact us: ⁠[email protected]⁠X/Twitter: ⁠@booksmittenpod⁠  Bluesky: @booksmitten.bsky.socialProduced by Patrick Flores-Scott and Heather Shumaker

Robin's website Far from the Tree Our Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottNo Going Back by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comContact us: [email protected]/Twitter: @booksmittenpod Produced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:Linda Sue Park’s WebsiteGracie Under the WavesA Long Walk to WaterWe Need Diverse Books Our Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottNo Going Back by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comContact us: [email protected]/Twitter: @booksmittenpod Produced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken

We’re back with another of our Summer Breaks. In this episode our co-host Patrick gets the spotlight this time, as we talk about his new YA novel, No Going Back.Our Books for Children and Young Adults: - Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.” - Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist - Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist - The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson - The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist - Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist - Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist - See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng - The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng - Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott - American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott - No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott - The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker Find us online: - Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com - Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com - Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com - Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com Contact us: [email protected] X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod   Produced by Jack Cheng Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Introducing: Summer Breaks! We’ll be airing a couple of episodes this summer to tide you over as we regroup and plot out the next season. Here is our conversation with our very own Kelly J. Baptist about her new middle grade novel, Ready, Set, Dough!Our Books for Children and Young Adults: - Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.” - Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist - Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist - The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson - The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist - Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist - Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist - See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng - The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng - Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott - American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott - No Going Back by Patrick Flores-Scott - The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker Find us online: - Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com - Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com - Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com - Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com Contact us: [email protected] X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod   Produced by Jack Cheng Music by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford PaulLouder than Hunger by John SchuThe List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca SteadWriting with Pictures by Uri ShulevitzHow to Write Picture Books by Linda AshmanOur Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottNo Going Back by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comContact us: [email protected]@booksmittenpodFollow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallengeProduced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken Our Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottNo Going Back by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comContact us: [email protected]/Twitter: @booksmittenpod Produced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:SCBWI Marvelous Midwest 2024Gary D. SchmidtSherri L. SmithJames Solheim Interviewees:Aaron Fox (MO)Debbie Gonzales (MI)Kat Higgs-Coulthard (MI)Leslie Helakowski  (MI)Danielle Defoe (MI)Kathy Halsey (OH)Amy Flynn (OH)Sheila Willobee (MI)Kathy Groth (WI) -  Sunken Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, Ocean Party (Illustrated by Becca Hart)Joyce Uglow (WI) - Stuck: The Story of the La Brea Tar Pits (Illustrated by Valerya Milovanova )Our Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comEmail us: [email protected]@booksmittenpodFollow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallengeProduced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken Our Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottNo Going Back by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comContact us: [email protected]/Twitter: @booksmittenpod Produced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford PaulCreepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds; Illustrated by Peter BrownOur Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comEmail us: [email protected]@booksmittenpodFollow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallengeProduced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken Our Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottNo Going Back by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comContact us: [email protected]/Twitter: @booksmittenpod Produced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken

Mentioned in this episode:Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford PaulSheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw; Illustrated by Margot AppleOur Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comEmail us: [email protected]@booksmittenpodFollow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallengeProduced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken Our Books for Children and Young Adults:Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. BaptistThe Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell JohnsonThe Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. BaptistEb & Flow by Kelly J. BaptistReady, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. BaptistSee You in the Cosmos by Jack ChengThe Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack ChengJumped In by Patrick Flores-ScottAmerican Road Trip by Patrick Flores-ScottNo Going Back by Patrick Flores-ScottThe Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather ShumakerFind us online:Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.comJack Cheng: jackcheng.comPatrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.comHeather Shumaker: heathershumaker.comContact us: [email protected]/Twitter: @booksmittenpod Produced by Jack ChengMusic by Duck Duck Chicken