Penn Holderness on ADHD, Creativity, and Why Your 'Weird' Brain is Actually Awesome

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 (coming soon).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.orgAbout 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/

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze interviews Peter Brown about his latest picture book adaptation, The Wild Robot on the Island. They explore his journey adapting the bestselling novel into a visual format for younger readers, his approach to creating meaningful stories without being "on the nose," and how becoming a new father has influenced his perspective on storytelling and character relationships.Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book ReviewHighlights:Adaptation Strategy: How Peter condensed three-quarters of the novel into picture book format while preserving essential emotional beats and removing violence for younger audiencesOrganic Storytelling: Peter's philosophy of focusing on craft first and letting themes emerge naturally rather than forcing predetermined messagesVisual Storytelling: The creative process of bringing Roz's world to full color, emphasizing golden hour lighting and seasonal color palettes to enhance the narrativeCollaborative Publishing: The team effort behind book creation, from custom typeface design to fifth-color printing decisionsNew Parenthood Impact: How having an 18-month-old son deepened Peter's understanding of the parent-child dynamics in his workBridge Book Success: Creating entry points for reluctant readers through the picture book format while maintaining appeal for novel fansIllustration Technique: Working with ink on paper and digital finishing, plus hand-lettering custom speech bubble fontsNotable Quotes:"I think you're more likely to express a message, a meaningful message to readers, if you focus on what the story needs to work, kind of the craft of writing first and foremost." —Peter Brown"I wonder if he ever thinks about me. I don't know what it is, but to me that is so human and so sweet and emotional. I get choked up just thinking about it." —Peter Brown on Roz's winter thoughts about BrightbillBooks Mentioned:The Wild Robot on the Island by Peter Brown: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Wild Robot series by Peter Brown: Amazon or Bookshop.orgFlight of the Dodo by Peter Brown: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Peter Brown: Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter's love of both words and pictures led him to children's books. Since then he has written and illustrated many books for children and earned numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor, a Horn Book Award, two E.B. White Awards, and multiple New York Times bestsellers. Peter lives in Maine with his wife, Susan, and their dog, Pam.Connect and Follow: Learn more about Peter Brown: https://www.peterbrownstudio.comCredits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Peter BrownProducer: Kelly Rink and Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze interviews Stan Yan about his debut middle-grade graphic novel, The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang. They discuss his journey from stockbroker to children's book creator, the six major rewrites that shaped his story, the significance of Chinese superstitions in his work, and his powerful realization about representation in children's literature when he discovered he had never drawn characters that looked like himself.Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book ReviewHighlights:Representation Awakening: Stan's pivotal moment at age 50, when he realized he wasn't drawing characters that looked like him, despite being inspired by his own experiencesSix Major Rewrites: How the story evolved from "Olfactory Memory" featuring a male protagonist to Eugenia's supernatural journey through extensive revisionCultural Authenticity: The role of Chinese superstitions, particularly the unlucky number four, in shaping Eugenia's character and family dynamicsFrom Comics to Kids: Stan's transition from adult zombie apocalypse stories to children's literature and why he finds child protagonists more compellingThe Scary Kids Book Challenge: His bucket list goal to create a comic that would actually scare him, and how that led to middle-grade horrorJunior Library Guild Gold: The unexpected honor of being selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection for his debutCreative Process: Working digitally on iPad, the importance of silence while writing, and his post-lunch nap requirementNotable Quotes:"I don't want you to grow up thinking that you can't draw a main character that looks like yourself, like me." —Stan Yan"Your job is to torture your protagonist and what better time of your life to torture your protagonist than when they're probably at their most vulnerable." —Stan Yan on writing for 13-year-oldsBooks Mentioned:The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang by Stan Yan (Fall 2025): Amazon or Bookshop.orgThere's a Zombie in the Basement by Stan Yan: Amazon or Bookshop.orgGhost Book by Remy Lai: Amazon or Bookshop.orgCalvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Stan Yan: Stan Yan is an award-winning, first-generation American-born Chinese writer, illustrator, and educator based in Denver. He co-founded the Squid Works comic creator cooperative, serves as co-Regional Advisor for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI, and teaches illustration at Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design. His work spans comics, children's books, and educational materials, with his graphic novel debut earning Junior Library Guild Gold Standard recognition.Connect and Follow:Learn more about Stan Yan: https://www.stanyan.me/Credits:Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Stan YanProducer: Bianca Schulze

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, publicist Mel Schuit takes over hosting duties to interview Bianca Schulze about her revised edition of 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up. They discuss the evolution of children's literature over the past nine years, why Bianca switched out 30% of the original titles, her journey from non-reader to reading advocate, and how she curates books that prioritize joy and representation for young readers.Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review Highlights:The 30% Switch: How the children's book landscape evolved between 2016 and 2025, leading to more diverse voices, illustrated chapter books, and graphic novels in the revised editionFrom 101 to 500+: Each featured book includes four additional "what to read next" recommendations, creating a comprehensive reading roadmapReading Revolution: The push for diverse books starting around 2015-2016 and how publishers have responded to the call for representationNon-Reader Origins: Bianca's surprising admission that she wasn't a childhood reader, finding her love of books only in her twenties through trusted recommendationsJoy as a Guiding Principle: How the focus has shifted from just telling important stories to celebrating joy across different backgrounds and experiencesBridging the Gap: The rise of illustrated chapter books that help kids transition from picture books to novels without losing reluctant readersCreative Beginnings: From making Barbie houses out of Golden Books to a third-grade tooth-shaped writing assignment that sparked her love of storytellingNotable Quotes:"Reading for joy and reading for pleasure—when you do that, you become a wiser person. You are more empathetic." —Bianca Schulze"We can't ever change what's happened to us. We can't alter the past or control what's coming around the next corner, but we can choose how we live now." —Dr. Edith Eva Eger, from The Ballerina of Auschwitz"Be kind, be brave, and make good choices. Remember the struggles of those who came before you. Always dream of the fantastical future ahead of you... Live your life like an epic adventure." —From Bianca's author's noteBooks Mentioned:101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up (Revised Edition) by Bianca Schulze: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Ballerina of Auschwitz by Dr. Edith Eva Eger: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Choice by Dr. Edith Eva Eger: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAnimalia by Graeme Base: Amazon or Bookshop.orgWhere's Waldo? series: Amazon or Bookshop.orgThe Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: Amazon or Bookshop.orgA Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Bianca Schulze: Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children's Book Review and host of The Growing Readers Podcast. A former bookseller turned author, she has published eight books and has been championing children's literature for over 16 years. As a mother of three and passionate literacy advocate, she believes in the transformative power of reading for joy.Connect and Follow: Learn more about Bianca Schulze: https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/Follow on Instagram: @thechildrensbookreviewCredits: Guest Host: Mel SchuitGuest: Bianca SchulzeProducer: Bianca SchulzeEpisode Sponsor: Cody's Whisper by Mailia Grace. For more information, visit https://www.the-whisper-way.com/

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze interviews award-winning author Meg Medina about her latest fantasy novel, Graciela in the Abyss. They discuss Medina's fifteen-year journey developing this underwater adventure, her transition from contemporary fiction to fantasy, her experience as the eighth National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and how she transformed personal grief and world events into a story about friendship, bioluminescence, and making your own light in the darkest places.Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book ReviewHighlights:Creative Persistence: How Medina kept "Graciela in the Abyss" in her "graveyard file" for 15 years, returning to it annually with new versions until the world tilted and she found her wayFantasy World-Building: Her extensive research into oceanography, deep-sea caves, and bioluminescence to create a believable underwater realm of sea spirits with jobs like being glaciers who turn trash into sea glassThe Graveyard Philosophy: Medina's approach to unfinished projects - honoring failed attempts while remaining open to returning when you have what you need emotionally and creativelyAmbassador Insights: Her two-year role as National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and how office hours at the Library of Congress showed her reading as a family activity that knits people togetherFrom Grief to Light: How personal losses (her mother in 2013, aunt in 2020) and the pandemic helped her understand the story's central metaphor of bioluminescence as making your own light to surviveUnlikely Friendship: Creating the bond between Graciela (a dead sea spirit) and Jorge (a mortal boy who fears water) as allies who help each other find their way back to kindnessVisual Storytelling: Working with the Balbusso twins on stunning artwork that captures the eeriness and beauty of the abyssNotable Quotes:"It was a surprise to me... I didn't have to be some sort of super exceptional person leading this incredible life to have something to say." —Meg Medina on finding her voice as a writer"Suffering was strange that way. It didn't have to be your own for it to hurt." —Quote from Graciela in the Abyss"Sometimes you can't finish it. You don't have what you need yet. Sometimes that's maturity. Sometimes it's world events." —Meg Medina on the writing processBooks Mentioned:Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina: Amazon or Bookshop.orgBurn Baby Burn by Meg Medina: Amazon or Bookshop.orgYaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina: Amazon or Bookshop.orgEvelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina: Amazon or Bookshop.orgTia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina: Amazon or Bookshop.orgNo More Señora Mimí by Meg Medina: Amazon or Bookshop.orgMilagros: Girl From Away by Meg Medina: AmazonCharlotte's Web by E.B. White: Amazon or Bookshop.orgInto the Planet by Jill Heinerth: Amazon or Bookshop.orgAbout Meg Medina: Meg Medina is the 2024 Newbery Medal winner for Merci Suárez Changes Gears and author of many acclaimed novels and picture books, including Burn Baby Burn, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, and the Merci Suárez series. She served as the eighth National Ambassador for Young People's Literature (2022-2024) with the platform "CuÉntame: Let's Talk Books." As a first-generation Cuban American, she draws on her heritage and experiences to create authentic stories that celebrate the strength and resilience of Latino families and communities.Connect and Follow: Learn more about Meg Medina: https://www.megmedina.com/Meg Medina's Bookshop shelf with books she book talks and kids recommended: https://bookshop.org/shop/MegMedinaVisit The Children's Book Review at https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/Credits: Host: Bianca SchulzeGuest: Meg MedinaProducer: Bianca SchulzeSponsor: Bajette's Balloon: The Magic of Smiles™: https://www.bajette.com/