Sara Pennypacker on The Lions' Run: Empathy, the French Resistance, and Unlikely Heroes

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 (coming soon)⁠.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 Schulze

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

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes award-winning science author Melissa Stewart to discuss her latest picture book, From BAM to BURP: A Carbon Atom's Never-Ending Journey Through Space and Time and YOU. With over 200 science books for children under her belt, Melissa takes listeners on an extraordinary journey that begins with the Big Bang and ends with a third grader's breakfast burp—all while following a single carbon atom across billions of years.What started as a curious question from a third grader during a school visit became a cosmic adventure that connects kids to the larger natural processes of our universe. Melissa shares how she uses her background in biology and science journalism to spark wonder and curiosity in young readers, why she believes getting kids invested in nature is more important than ever, and how seeing ourselves as "just a speck in this gigantic universe" can actually inspire humility, gratitude, and environmental responsibility.Read the transcript on The Children's Book Review.Highlights:From Shower to Page: How Melissa uses her morning routine and shower time as a creative problem-solving techniqueThe Question That Started It All: The third grader's persistent curiosity that inspired a billion-year carbon journeyCarbon Beyond Climate: Why this essential element deserves celebration, not just concernFinding Wonder Everywhere: Melissa's approach to staying curious, from tree holes to rail trailsConnecting Cosmic to Personal: Why it's important for children to see themselves as part of larger natural processesThe Publishing Timeline: How Melissa juggles writing new books while promoting ones that won't release for yearsNotable Quotes:"I always say that sort of the mission of my writing is to just make kids curious. And if one of my books can inspire a child to chase after a butterfly, to see where it's going, or look under a rock, then my job is done." —Melissa Stewart"We are just sort of like a speck in this gigantic universe... the more that they can kind of feel the sense of awe that we even exist. Like it's a coincidence... and to just really be humble and grateful about our existence." —Melissa Stewart"Carbon is sometimes a little bit maligned because of its role in climate change and global warming, but the carbon cycle is so critical to life on Earth. Life could not exist without it." —Melissa StewartBooks Mentioned:From BAM to BURP: A Carbon Atom's Never-Ending Journey Through Space and Time and YOU by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns: Amazon or Bookshop.orgWhale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey: Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠Meet the Mini Mammals: A Night at the Natural History Museum by Melissa Stewart: Amazon or Bookshop.orgMonarch and Morning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Melissa Stewart:Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than two hundred science books for children. She holds degrees in biology and science journalism. Recent books include Summertime Sleepers: Animals That Estivate, Seashells: More Than a Home, Feathers: Not Just for Flying, and Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem.For more: melissa-stewart.comCredits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Melissa StewartProducer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes back author-illustrator Nyasha Williams, alongside her co-author Sidney Rose McCall, to discuss their collaborative picture book, Once Upon a Kwanzaa. Though the two have never met in person, they describe themselves as "deeply ancestral soul sisters" who connected through the adult adoption community online. Together, they explore how the seven principles of Kwanzaa—from Umoja (unity) to Imani (faith)—offer a pathway back to communal ways of being that our world desperately needs.Read the transcript on The Children's Book Review.Highlights:The Seven Principles Explained: Sidney walks through each Kwanzaa principle and how they apply to everyday life, not just one week a yearTen Families, One Vision: How Nyasha and Sidney intentionally represented diverse Black families, including adoptive families, queer families, and multigenerational householdsEveryday Kwanzaa: Why these principles of community, creativity, and collective responsibility are needed now more than everCollaboration as Dance: The process of two writers creating magic through voice memos, memes, and ancestral downloadsVisibility vs. True Representation: Nyasha's powerful distinction between simply being seen and being truly represented in literatureNotable Quotes:"Literature and media has such an immense power in shaping our future, in shaping what can be, in imagining what's even possible." —Nyasha Williams"Community is not just about finding your safe people, but also finding people who you might not have initially considered your safe people." —Sidney Rose McCall"Empathy isn't a passive word. It requires active participation. It is a relationship that you are building." —Sidney Rose McCallBooks Mentioned:Once Upon a Kwanzaa by Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCall, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Nyasha Williams:Nyasha Williams grew up living between the United States and South Africa. As a kindergarten teacher, she was inspired to become an author and activist after a Black student told her mermaids could not be Black. She is the author of four picture books with Running Press Kids, including the bestselling I Affirm Me, and is the author of RP Studio's Black Tarot.For more: nyashawilliams.onlineAbout Sidney Rose McCall:Sidney Rose McCall is a historian and community intellectual who combines academic work with activism. She serves on the Academic Committee for the ZORA! Festival of the Arts and Humanities and shares decolonized history lessons through her Patreon platform.For more: linktr.ee/Rosecolored_ScholarCredits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuests: Nyasha Williams and Sidney Rose McCallProducer: Bianca SchulzeEpisode Sponsor:Mimi and Ary by Rashad Mirzayev: Amazon or Bookshop.org

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes award-winning author-illustrator Grace Lin and her childhood friend turned editor, Alvina Ling, VP and Editor-in-Chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. The duo discusses Grace's return to middle grade fiction after nine years with The Gate, The Girl, and The Dragon, a stunning fantasy based on Chinese folklore. They explore the collaborative magic of their decades-long partnership, the balance between artistic vision and commercial publishing, the importance of creating diverse literature, and how patience and trust allow books to become exactly what they're meant to be.Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book ReviewHighlights:The Nine-Year Wait: Why Grace stepped away from middle grade to focus on picture books and how The Gate, The Girl, and The Dragon came together piece by piece since 2016The Shanghai Dragon Pillar: The urban legend that became a crucial puzzle piece—how construction workers appeased an angry dragon sleeping beneath a highwayThe Messy Middle: Why every book is a slog, even after 26 years of publishing, and how Grace and Alvina work through it togetherPublishing Beautiful Books: Behind the scenes of creating sprayed edges, gold foil, and full-color illustrations—and how the sales team championed the special treatmentFrom Childhood Friends to Creative Partners: How Alvina and Grace's friendship since age 10 (captured in The Year of the Dog) shapes their editorial relationshipTrying Your Best Makes You the Hero: Grace's philosophy of creating relatable characters who aren't "chosen ones" but ordinary kids earnestly doing the right thingNotable Quotes:"I wanted to make books that showed people how human Asians were...that Asians are just as human, just as part of the population as everyone else." —Grace Lin"I feel like the audience is just excited with whatever you want to do next." —Alvina Ling on Grace's ability to move between genresBooks Mentioned:The Gate, The Girl, and The Dragon by Grace Lin: Amazon or Bookshop.orgWhere the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin: Amazon or Bookshop.orgA Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin: Amazon or Bookshop.orgChinese Menu by Grace Lin: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Year of the Dog by Grace Lin: Amazon or Bookshop.orgStarry River of the Sky by Grace Lin: Amazon or Bookshop.orgWhen the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Grace Lin:Grace Lin is the award-winning and bestselling author and illustrator of Chinese Menu, When the Sea Turned to Silver, Starry River of the Sky, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (a Newbery Honor book), The Year of the Dog, The Year of the Rat, Dumpling Days, and Ling & Ting, as well as picture books such as The Ugly Vegetables, A Big Bed for Little Snow, and A Big Mooncake for Little Star. Grace is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and lives in Massachusetts.About Alvina Ling:Alvina Ling is VP and Editor-in-Chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (a division of Hachette Book Group) where she has worked since 1999. She edits children's books for all ages, from picture books to young adult. She has edited such books as A Big Mooncake For Little Star by Grace Lin; Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown; Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier; Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin; The Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer; The Candymakers by Wendy Mass; Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor; and The Cruel Prince by Holly Black.Connect and Follow:Learn more about Grace Lin: https://www.gracelin.comFollow Alvina Ling on Twitter: @planetalvinaFollow Alvina Ling on Instagram: @alvinalingListen to Grace and Alvina's podcast: Book Friends ForeverCredits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuests: Grace Lin and Alvina LingProducer: Bianca SchulzeEpisode Sponsor: https://www.claudiamillsauthor.com/books/66

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze brings together two luminaries of children's literature: Kate DiCamillo and Sophie Blackall. The duo discusses their collaboration on Lost Evangeline, the third tale set in the magical world of Norendy. They explore the 15-year journey of bringing Evangeline's story to life, the intimate connection between words and illustrations, the therapeutic power of storytelling, and how creating children's books allows them to access their best selves while healing complicated relationships with their own parents.Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.Highlights:The Long Creative Journey: How Kate carried the idea for Lost Evangeline for 15 years before finding the key—a shoemaker father and a boot—that unlocked the storyThe Pull vs. Push Philosophy: Kate's approach to coaxing stories out rather than forcing them, and the importance of not giving up on ideas that won't let you goPerfect Partnership: Why Sophie's secret love of seafaring made her the ideal illustrator for this story, even though Kate didn't know it when writingFrom Wheat to Bread: Sophie's powerful metaphor for the writing process as growing, threshing, and grinding wheat into flour before finally baking breadWhittling Down to Truth: How writing involves removing ingredients to create "clear soup" where the essence remains but readers can insert themselves into the spaceBlack and White Magic: Sophie's meditative drawing process using hatching and line workHealing Through Story: Kate's revelation about how creating healthy father-daughter relationships in her work completes and heals parts of herself affected by complicated parental relationshipsNotable Quotes:"Don't ever let somebody tell you who you are and what you can do and who you can become in this world." —Kate DiCamillo on Evangeline's refusal to accept fate"With each story, I make myself more complete to the point where I can put a healthy father-daughter relationship in there that satisfies me." —Kate DiCamillo"It really feels like I'm living in the story when I'm spending time...and I do go into a little bit of a dreamy trance and then I look up several hours later and there's Evangeline on the page." —Sophie BlackallBooks Mentioned:Lost Evangeline by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Julie Morstad: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Sophie Blackall: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Borrowers by Mary Norton: Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen: ⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.orgAbout Kate DiCamillo:Kate DiCamillo is one of America's most beloved storytellers. She is a former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and a two-time Newbery Medalist. Born in Philadelphia, she grew up in Florida and now lives in Minneapolis.About Sophie Blackall: Sophie Blackall is the acclaimed illustrator of more than forty-five books for young readers and a two-time Caldecott Medalist. Born and raised in Australia, she now lives in Brooklyn.Connect and Follow: Learn more about Kate DiCamillo: https://www.katedicamillo.comLearn more about Sophie Blackall: https://www.sophieblackall.comCredits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuests: Kate DiCamillo and Sophie BlackallProducer: Bianca SchulzeEpisode Sponsor: https://bellabirdbooks.com/