A Social Justice Picture Book: Jolene Gutiérrez on Writing Unbreakable with the Late Min Tonai (Special Guest John Tonai)

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes back New York Times bestselling author Andy Griffiths and, for the very first time on the podcast, illustrator Bill Hope, to talk about their wildly fun, reader-inside-the-story series, You and Me.Andy shares how fan mail from kids asking to be put inside the Treehouse books planted the seed for an entirely new kind of adventure—one where the reader is always the co-star. Bill reveals what it felt like to get the secretive call from the publisher, how he solved the puzzle of illustrating characters with no visible identity, and why he still considers his work a long, joyful attempt to scratch the same itch sparked by a Quentin Blake how-to-draw book at age ten. Together, they pull back the curtain on a creative partnership built on high-pressure play, a very low boredom threshold, and Bill's ongoing mission to sneak a human being into at least one illustration.Whether you're a parent looking for books that work at bedtime for every age in the room, a teacher wanting highly illustrated adventures that do the heavy lifting so young readers can focus on the fun, or a kid who has ever wondered what it would be like to jump into a story yourself — this episode is a joyful celebration of two books that prove the silliest ideas are worth working very, very hard on.Read the transcript on The Children's Book Review (coming soon).Highlights:The Fan Mail That Started It All: How letters from kids asking to be put inside the Treehouse books gave Andy the idea for an entirely new seriesHigh-Pressure Play: What it felt like for Bill to audition for the biggest job of his career — and why Andy and Jill's secret weapon is a very low boredom thresholdThe Cardboard Box Solution: How Bill solved the puzzle of illustrating two characters with no visible identity—and why first-person perspective alone was never going to workJohnny Knucklehead Was Supposed to Be a Side Character: How a fifth sketch became the series' most beloved agent of chaos—and why he keeps getting bigger with every bookThemes That Emerge from the Fun: Why the quiet life lessons in both books weren't planted there, they grewPity the Reader: Andy on Kurt Vonnegut's guiding principle and why every creative decision comes back to making reading as pleasurable as possibleNotable Quote:"There's no wrong answers, no jokes that are too silly. You sort of put a lot of stuff out there — it's a long period of me just pitching dumb stuff at Andy and seeing what sticks." — Bill HopeBooks Mentioned:You and Me and the Land of Lost Things by Andy Griffiths and Bill Hope: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠You and Me and the Peanut Butter Beast by Andy Griffiths and Bill Hope: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up (Revised Edition) by Bianca Schulze: Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠About Andy Griffiths: New York Times bestselling author of The Day My Butt Went Psycho!, the Treehouse series, and many more. Named the Australian Children's Book Laureate. Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Project. Visit: andygriffiths.com.auAbout Bill Hope: Artist and illustrator living in the Blue Mountains, Sydney. His graphic novel An Interior Life won the Golden Ledger award for Australian Comics. Visit: billhope.com.auCredits: Host: Bianca Schulze | Guests: Andy Griffiths and Bill Hope | Audio Editor: Kelly Rink | Producer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes author and teacher librarian Jolene Gutiérrez and John Tonai, son of Minoru "Min" Tonai, to discuss the powerful picture book Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp.Jolene shares how a childhood lesson from her grandparents about Amache — a Japanese American incarceration camp in southeastern Colorado — planted a seed that grew into a decades-long mission to bring Min's story to young readers. From their first phone call in 2017 to a signed contract in 2023, Jolene and Min built a collaboration rooted in trust and a shared belief that this history must never be forgotten. John reflects on his father's quiet, behind-the-scenes advocacy, the emotional weight of signing books in his absence, and what it meant to finally stand at the door of his father's barrack at Amache and realize that every repeated story had been living inside him all along.Whether you're a teacher looking for a picture book that opens honest conversations about civil rights and injustice, a parent wanting to share difficult history with care, or a reader who believes the best books are both feeling books and discussion books, this episode is a moving celebration of one unbreakable family — and the storytellers who made sure their truth reached the children who need it most.Read the transcript on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠.Highlights:A Seed Planted at Twelve: How Jolene first learned about Amache from her grandparents — not her history class — and why that gap became the driving force behind this bookSix Years in the Making: Why Jolene shifted from a broad nonfiction project to one person's intimate story — and what that journey to publication looked likeWalking Through His Front Door: John's experience photographing Amache and realizing his father's endlessly repeated stories had been living inside him all alongThe Fire in Min: What Jolene saw in Min that told her this wasn't just a story about the past — it was a warning and a promise about the futureThe Words Are Fixed, the Interpretations Are Infinite: On what it means for a story to leave its author's hands and become the reader's ownNotable Quote:"He was telling this story so that it never happens again." —Jolene GutiérrezBooks Mentioned:Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp by Minoru Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez, illustrated by Chris Sasaki: ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠About Jolene Gutiérrez:Jolene Gutiérrez is an author and teacher librarian whose work is rooted in bringing underrepresented histories to young readers. Unbreakable is her debut picture book. Visit: ⁠https://www.jolenegutierrez.com/⁠About John Tonai:John Tonai is the son of Minoru "Min" Tonai, whose lived experience as a Japanese American child incarcerated at Amache is the heart of Unbreakable. Following his father's passing in 2023, John and his sisters have carried the book forward with care. Visit: ⁠https://www.unbreakablemintonai.com/⁠Densho — Min Tonai's oral history interviewsInterview I: ⁠https://ddr.densho.org/interviews/ddr-densho-1000-354-1/⁠ Interview II: ⁠https://ddr.densho.org/interviews/ddr-densho-1000-302-1/⁠ Densho main oral history collection: ⁠https://densho.org/collections/oral-history/⁠Amache National Historic SiteNPS official page: ⁠https://www.nps.gov/amch⁠ Chris SasakiPersonal website: ⁠http://www.csasaki.com⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/christopher_sasaki/⁠Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuests: Jolene Gutiérrez and John TonaiAudio Editor: Kelly RinkProducer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes author and audiobook narrator Sandra Nickel to discuss her luminous, lyrical picture book biography, The True Ugly Duckling: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan.Sandra shares how a lifetime of loving fairy tales collided with a deep personal connection to neurodivergence—and how a strange, tender, relentlessly creative boy from Denmark became the perfect vessel for a story about what happens when your differentness is exactly what makes you extraordinary.From writing in complete silence to choosing a fairy tale structure over a traditional biography, Sandra reveals why emotional distance is one of fairy tales' greatest gifts, how she crafted a book for every child who has ever felt like they were too much for the world around them, and why Hans Christian Andersen might be the most quietly radical figure a child reader could encounter today. Whether you're a parent of a kid who masks, an educator looking for a biography that reads like a bedtime story, or a reader who has ever had a door shut in your face and wondered if you should stop knocking, this conversation is a warm and tender celebration of the children the world almost missed.Read the transcript on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠.Highlights:Strange Child, Extraordinary Legacy: How the very qualities that made Hans Christian Andersen an outsider became the source of his enduring genius—and why Sandra wanted children to see themselves in thatThe Fairy Tale Structure Decision: Why Sandra chose to write a biography that feels like a fairy tale—and what emotional distance a fairy tale can offer that a straight narrative cannotWriting Toward the Child Who Needs It Most: How Sandra thinks about the child reader she can't quite define—the one who may never have a label but is walking around feeling like they're too much for everybodyIt Was Always the Children Who Loved Him: The remarkable fact that it was adults who kept shutting doors on Andersen—and children who kept his heart goingHe Just Kept Reinterpreting the Direction: On perseverance, inner voice, and what it looks like to keep following your true self even when the path keeps shiftingSeven, A Remarkable Pigeon: Sandra's picture book, written at the same time, and why these two stories about using your differentness as your superpower will always be linkedA Love Letter to Seekers: What Sandra most wants the child reading this book to feel—and why she hopes they'll go straight to Andersen's own stories nextNotable Quote:"What made him strange is exactly what made him extraordinary." —Sandra NickelBooks Mentioned:The True Ugly Duckling: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan by Sandra Nickel: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon by Sandra Nickel: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠About Sandra Nickel:Sandra Nickel is the author of several picture books for young readers, including The True Ugly Duckling: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan and Seven: A Remarkable Pigeon. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults and brings both a writer's craft and a deeply personal lens to stories about children who feel different. Her work champions neurodivergent kids, outsiders, and anyone who has ever had to find their own way to the door. Visit ⁠https://sandranickel.com/Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Sandra NickelAudio Editor: Kelly RinkProducer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes acclaimed children's book author and retired philosophy professor Claudia Mills to discuss her hilarious, heartfelt new middle grade novel, Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom.Claudia shares how her decades of teaching philosophy finally collided with her lifelong passion for children's literature—and how a girl with a very big name, a very big personality, and a very beloved dog became the perfect vessel for bringing Socrates, Plato, and Epictetus to young readers.From writing one hour a day with an hourglass to championing the humanities at a time when they're under siege, Claudia reveals why wisdom truly belongs to everybody, how she crafted a character who genuinely needs philosophy rather than just stumbling upon it, and why Epictetus—a formerly enslaved Stoic philosopher—might be the most relevant thinker for an eleven-year-old living today. Whether you're a parent of a kid who's been called "too much," an educator looking to bring critical thinking into the classroom through story, or a reader who has ever felt like they're living their own Greek tragedy, this conversation is a warm and wise celebration of seekers everywhere.Read the transcript on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠.Highlights:Dinner with a Philosopher: Why Claudia would invite Epictetus over Socrates or Plato—and what that reveals about the heart of the bookThe Hourglass Method: How writing exactly one hour a day—timed with an actual hourglass—has powered 60+ books over decades, and why stopping is just as important as startingA Character Who Really Needs the Wisdom: Why Callie's high emotional stakes—lose the philosophy, lose the dog—made her the ideal guide through big philosophical questionsAncient Ideas, Modern Kids: How the Ring of Gyges, Socratic ignorance, and Epictetus's two-bucket theory of control translate naturally into an eleven-year-old's very real problemsThe Philosophy Club: Why Claudia designed an adult mediator into the story—and how even the most reluctant seekers end up finding their way inSTEAMH, Not STEAM: Claudia's passionate case for putting the humanities back at the center of education—and why philosophy is the original critical thinking courseA Love Letter to Seekers: What a Kirkus review got exactly right, and why the community of people asking hard questions might be the most powerful community of allNotable Quotes:"True wisdom is learning how to live well." —Claudia Mills"Philosophers are the grownups who keep on asking the questions the other grownups have stopped asking." —Claudia MillsBooks Mentioned:Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom by Claudia Mills: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠The Lost Language by Claudia Mills: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠The Last Apple Tree by Claudia Mills: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠About Claudia Mills:Claudia Mills is the author of more than 60 books for young readers, including the After-School Superstars chapter book series and the middle grade novels The Lost Language and The Last Apple Tree. A professor emerita of philosophy at the University of Colorado Boulder, she brings a philosopher's love of big questions and a lifelong reader's ear for language to every book she writes. Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Visit https://www.claudiamillsauthor.com/Download the Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom Discussion Guide here.Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Claudia MillsAudio Editor: Kelly RinkProducer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes New York Times bestselling author Sara Pennypacker to discuss her powerful new historical novel, The Lions' Run. Sara shares how her father's experience as a teenage POW in a German prison camp during World War II influenced the story—and how a little-known Nazi program called the Lebensborn became the emotional trigger that set her empathetic orphan hero, Lucas, into action.From redefining what courage looks like for young readers to trusting kids with big, complicated questions about justice and resistance, Sara reveals why empathy is the true root of all bravery, how Joseph Campbell's storytelling wisdom shaped a pivotal cherry strudel scene, and why Jon Klassen's breathtaking cover art inspired her to go back and make the book even better.Whether you're a parent looking for meaningful middle grade historical fiction, an educator exploring WWII through a fresh lens, or a fan of Pax eager to see what Sara does next, this conversation is a moving celebration of quiet heroism and the enduring power of story.Read the transcript on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠.Highlights:The Epigraph That Says It All: Why an African proverb about elephants and grass perfectly captures the heart of the bookThe Lebensborn Program: The little-known Nazi eugenics program that inspired the story—and why Sara felt compelled to bring it to light for kidsEmpathy as Courage: Why Lucas was never really a coward, and why Sara believes true bravery always begins with caring about someone other than yourselfThe Termite Theory: How many small, quiet acts of resistance—not one loud heroic moment—can take down something enormousCherry Strudel and Joseph Campbell: How the antagonist's own power gets turned against her in one of the most satisfying scenes in the bookJon Klassen's Cover: How seeing the finished art sent Sara back to her manuscript for one final, vibe-elevating revisionBig Cheese Preview: A sneak peek at Sara's next book—and why she's finally giving a child character all the powerNotable Quotes:"The true root of all courage is empathy. You have to care enough about someone other than yourself to go into some kind of action." —Sara Pennypacker"No matter what you are resisting, you are not alone. There are people working behind the scenes." —Sara PennypackerBooks Mentioned:The Lions' Run by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠Pax by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠Pax, Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠The Borrowers by Mary Norton: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠About Sara Pennypacker:Sara Pennypacker is the New York Times bestselling author of the beloved Clementine series, the Pax duology, and her newest novel, The Lions' Run. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages and have earned numerous awards and honors. A former painter, Sara brings a visual artist's sense of structure and scene to every story she writes. She lives in Florida.Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Sara PennypackerProducer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes beloved author Megan McDonald to discuss two of her newest series: Bunny and Clyde On the Lam and Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Hobgoblins. Megan shares how growing up in a book-filled Pittsburgh home with four older sisters shaped her love of reading—and how those childhood adventures inspire the mischief and heart in everything she writes.From creating Judy Moody to finding fresh voices in animal outlaws and fairy folklore, Megan reveals why she trusts kids with big words, the real Bonnie and Clyde research behind an unforgettable amusement park scene, and how a tiny fairy door in Minneapolis sparked an entire series rooted in British Isles lore. Whether you're a parent seeking chapter books that hook young readers, an educator looking for stories full of humor and heart, or a Judy Moody fan curious about what's next, this conversation is a joyful celebration of imagination and the power of story.Read the transcript on ⁠The Children's Book Review ⁠.Highlights:From Bookmobile to Bestseller: How growing up in Pittsburgh shaped Megan's path to writingBreaking the Chapter Book Mold: Why Judy Moody changed the format—and why short novels are "real books"Bunny and Clyde's Origin: How the idea of "good kids trying to be bad" became a hilarious seriesThe Abandoned Amusement Park: Real outlaw research and Scott Nash's genius Hall of Mirrors illustrationThe Fairy Door That Started It All: How a tiny fairy door and a bookstore eavesdrop inspired the Fairy Door DiariesTrusting Young Readers: Why Megan never underestimates kids' ability with language and humor"Eliza, Is That a True Story?": The magic of believing that ends every Fairy Door Diaries bookNotable Quotes:"Children as readers come to books so eager and open-minded. And I think we tend to underestimate kids' ability a lot." —Megan McDonald"Going back to the page and going back to reading a book is my refuge and escape." —Megan McDonaldBooks Mentioned:Bunny and Clyde On the Lam by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Scott Nash: ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Hobgoblins by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Lenny Wen: ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies by Megan McDonald: ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠Bunny and Clyde by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Scott Nash: ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠Charlotte's Web by E.B. White: ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh: ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠Lone Wolf by Kiah Thomas: ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠About Megan McDonald:Megan McDonald is the author of the hugely popular Judy Moody and Stink series, the Judy Moody and Friends series, and the chapter book series Bunny and Clyde. Her newest series, the Fairy Door Diaries, explores fairy folklore for young readers. She earned a BA from Oberlin College and an MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, she now lives in Sebastopol, California.Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Megan McDonaldProducer: Bianca SchulzeEpisode Sponsor: Lionborn by Sharique Zea 

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes award-winning author and illustrator Selina Alko to discuss her poetic picture book biography, Otherwise Known as Judy the Great: A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume. Selina shares how she transformed Judy Blume's childhood—shaped by fear, World War II, and the Jewish experience—into a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling.From discovering Judy Blume's books as a young reader to crafting a narrative that honors both the light and shadow of her formative years, Selina reveals the deep research and artistic choices behind this lyrical tribute. With warmth and insight, she discusses why poetry was the perfect medium to capture Judy's voice, how historical context shaped the author's fearless approach to taboo topics, and what it means to introduce Judy Blume to a new generation of young readers. Whether you're an educator seeking meaningful biographies, a parent raising a creative child, or a Judy Blume fan curious about her origins, this conversation illuminates how childhood experiences become the stories that change the world.Read the transcript on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠.Highlights:Why Judy Blume: What drew Selina to create a picture book biography of this beloved authorPoetry as Portrait: How verse became the perfect vehicle to capture Judy's childhood voiceThe Shadow of WWII: Understanding how fear and the Jewish experience shaped young JudyFrom Fear to Fearless: How storytelling became Judy's way of processing and controlling conflictResearch and Reverence: Selina's process of honoring Judy's true story while making it accessibleArt Meets History: The visual choices that bring 1940s-50s America to lifeIntroducing Icons to New Readers: Why picture book biographies matter for young audiencesThe Legacy of Taboo-Breaking: How Judy's childhood fears became her greatest gift to readersNotable Quotes:"Judy Blume really paved the way for so many authors to write books that kids could relate to about real life problems." —Selina Alko"Growing up Jewish during and after WWII dramatically shaped Judy's childhood. Her younger years were full of fear, and she processed those conflicted emotions through storytelling." —Selina AlkoBooks Mentioned:Otherwise Known as Judy the Great: A Poetic Ode to Judy Blume by Selina Alko: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠B Is for Brooklyn by Selina Alko: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko and Sean Qualls: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage by Selina Alko and Sean Qualls: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠Sharing Shalom by Danielle Sharkan and Selina Alko: ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠I Is for Immigrants: Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠The Remembering Candle by Alison Goldberg and Selina Alko: Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠About Selina Alko:Selina Alko is an award-winning author and illustrator whose picture books celebrate diversity, history, and the power of creativity. Her previous works include B Is for Brooklyn, Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama, and The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage (co-authored with Sean Qualls). Selina's vibrant, mixed-media illustrations and lyrical storytelling bring important stories to life for young readers. Otherwise Known as Judy the Great is her poetic tribute to one of America's most beloved authors.Visit: https://www.selinaalko.com/Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Selina AlkoProducer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes Kenan Thompson—SNL's longest-tenured cast member, comedian, and actor—to discuss his picture book debut, The Unfunny Bunny (co-authored with Bryan Tucker and illustrated by Tony Neal). Kenan shares how a simple rhyming title sparked a story about a bunny whose jokes fall flat on the first day of school, and why that journey from "unfunny" to finding your funny mirrors his own experiences in comedy.From his favorite SNL sketches like "What's Up With That" to learning how to ice skate for a hockey role, Kenan opens up about the power of perseverance and why it's okay when things don't go according to plan. With humor and heart, he reveals what makes kids laugh and how the magic of friendship can help you find your voice. Whether you're a parent preparing a child for their first day of school or someone who's ever felt like their jokes didn't land, this conversation is a joyful reminder that trying, failing, and trying again is all part of the journey.Read the transcript on The Children's Book Review.Highlights:From SNL to Picture Books: Why Kenan wanted to jump into children's literatureThe Title Came First: How "Unfunny Bunny" sparked the entire story conceptComedy Lessons for Kids: What happens when your jokes don't land and how to keep goingDon't Be Afraid to Scrape Your Knee: Kenan's philosophy on resilience and recoveryWhat Makes Kids Laugh: The power of silliness, energy, and honest portrayalThe Magic of Two Friends: Why partnership helps you find your balanceBeing Yourself is Enough: Kenan's message about confidence, friendship, and perseveranceNotable Quotes:"Don't be afraid to scrape your knee. If you scrape your knee, put the bandaid on it and keep it moving. It'll heal and you'll be better off for it." —Kenan Thompson"You really can do anything you put your mind to and try hard at. The timing part, you know, is the key." —Kenan Thompson"Don't let anybody stop you. But also be willing to take on a passenger; there's nothing wrong with going down the road, not alone. We're supposed to be united in this world." —Kenan ThompsonBooks Mentioned:The Unfunny Bunny by Kenan Thompson, Bryan Tucker, and Tony Neal: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Kenan Thompson:Kenan Thompson's career spans decades, including being the longest-tenured Saturday Night Live cast member in history and starring in family-centric projects like Kenan and Kel, All That, The Grinch, the Trolls franchise (as Tiny Diamond—the cutest character ever), The Mighty Ducks 2 and 3, Smurfs 1 and 2, and both Good Burgers. The Emmy award-winning actor’s iconic work has made him a beloved household name. Unfunny Bunny is his debut picture book.Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Kenan ThompsonProducer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes Penn Holderness—content creator, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author—to discuss his picture book, All You Can Be With ADHD (co-authored with Kim Holderness). Penn shares his journey from being diagnosed with ADHD in college after chewing on a fly swatter at his grandmother's funeral to creating a joyful, empowering book that invites kids to join the ADHD Club rather than just cope with a diagnosis.What started as an adult book became a children's resource after parents at book signings asked for something their kids could understand. Penn opens up about why he felt like "no one in history was as weird as I was," how his deeply feeling nature and emotional regulation delays shaped his childhood, and why ADHD is a delay—not a deficit. With humor and honesty, he reveals how sharks, ninjas, and a fiddle-playing snake came to represent the creative, wild world of ADHD brains, and why understanding executive function development can change everything for kids and parents alike.Read the transcript on The Children's Book Review.Highlights:The Fly Swatter Moment: Penn's unexpected ADHD diagnosis storyFrom Academic Probation to Author: How college struggles led to understandingThe ADHD Club Concept: Why Penn chose a playful clubhouse over clinical terminologyExecutive Function is Delayed: Understanding brain development in ADHD kidsDeeply Feeling Kids: Penn's emotional regulation journey and what he wishes he'd knownFrom Social Media to Books: How kids at signings inspired the picture bookTeacher Resources: The curriculum Penn and Kim created for classroom discussionsIt's Not Just Medical: Why modern ADHD understanding focuses on brain differences, not just deficitsNotable Quotes:"It is a delay... our executive functioning part of our brain is underdeveloped. And that goes on through most of childhood and adolescence, and it will catch up in some ways during adulthood." —Penn Holderness"I always thought of ADHD as a club, as a group of people... people who weren't sure why they were drawn to each other, but were able to kind of live creatively." —Penn HoldernessBooks Mentioned:All You Can Be With ADHD by Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness: Amazon or Bookshop.orgADHD Is Awesome by Penn Holderness and Kim Holderness: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Educator Guide for this book can be found at the bottom of the publisher's book page: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/penn-holderness/all-you-can-be-with-adhd/9780316597678/About Penn Holderness:Penn Holderness is a content creator, podcaster, and New York Times bestselling author known for his viral videos with his wife Kim. Together they've built a community around honest conversations about parenting, marriage, and mental health. After being diagnosed with ADHD in college, Penn has become an advocate for understanding and celebrating neurodivergent brains. He and Kim are the authors of ADHD Is Awesome and All You Can Be With ADHD.Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Penn HoldernessAudio Editor: Kelly RinkProducer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes Academy Award-winning director, animator, and author Alan Barillaro to discuss his middle-grade novel, Bunns Rabbit. Best known for directing Pixar's beloved animated short Piper, Alan brings over 25 years of animation experience to the page with a deeply moving tale about a brave rabbit born with unusually short ears who must find her place in a world that fears her because she's different.What began as a vulnerable leap from the security of animation—where Alan could "hide behind a monster"—became an intimate exploration of belonging, courage, and following your heartsong. Alan shares how his childhood struggles with dyslexia and his habit of reading backwards shaped his creative journey, why Roald Dahl's The Witches became a pivotal moment in his development as a storyteller, and how his personal experiences became woven into Bunns's world. With honesty and warmth, he reveals why he never feels "up to the task" as a creator, how vulnerability is essential to authentic storytelling, and why treating young readers with the same respect as adults creates the most powerful connections.Read the transcript on The Children's Book Review.Highlights:From Animation to Prose: Why Alan's editor had to convince him to write a novel instead of a graphic novelThe Roald Dahl Awakening: How a fourth-grade book report on The Witches changed everythingLearning to Read Backwards: Alan's experience with dyslexia and finding his way to storytellingHide and Seek: Why animators feel like actors and how that prepared (and didn't prepare) Alan for writingPersonal Sketches to Story: How drawings from his son's baseball games and his daughter's monarch butterfly became part of Bunns's worldThe Garden Approach: Alan's method of throwing story "seeds" without knowing which ideas will growColor Scripts and Heartsongs: How film techniques like color scripting and specific music playlists shape his book writingBalancing Dark and Light: Creating illustrations that feel both shadowy and luminousEaster Eggs and Book Two: What's planted in Bunns Rabbit that will pay off in the sequelNotable Quotes:"I think Bunns would ask you to be true to yourself and that she would remind you that everyone feels that way... there isn't a single character in the story that doesn't feel a little different." —Alan Barillaro"I felt like Roald Dahl always spoke to me like you would speak to an adult... the honesty and there's like some truth to what he's saying or cruelty, like he has all these little sides of him that as a young reader I found just really attractive." —Alan BarillaroBooks Mentioned:Bunns Rabbit by Alan Barillaro: Amazon or Bookshop.orgWhere the Water Takes Us: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Witches by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake: Amazon or Bookshop.orgRevolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake: Amazon or Bookshop.orgMadame Badobedah series by Sophie Dahl: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Alan Barillaro:Alan Barillaro is an Academy Award-winning director, writer, and animator who has spent over 25 years at Pixar Animation Studios bringing beloved characters to life. His directorial debut, the animated short Piper, won the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 2017. Alan has contributed his animation talents to numerous Pixar classics and now brings his gift for visual storytelling to children's literature with his debut middle-grade novel, Bunns Rabbit.For more: alanbarillaro.comCredits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Alan BarillaroProducer: Bianca Schulze and Kelly Rink