Podcast: Sweet Dreams Are Made of This
We are curious about the dreams that children have both in their sleep and in wakeful dreaminess (and determination). What role do children’s books play in these dreams? How do books and dreams create changemakers? (Oh, and what dreamers those children’s literature creators are…) This podcast conversation was recorded with the Olga Peters at WKVT Green Mountain Mornings. Dreaming of You by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater Illustrated by Aaron DeWitt Published by Highlights ISBN-13: 9781629792125 Age Range: 3...
read moreEducator Engagement & Author Barb Rosenstock on a “Book’s Job”
Award-winning author Barb Rosenstock brought Curious City a pre-release copy of her picture book The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art illustrated by Claire A. Nivola (Candlewick Press). Rosenstock profiles Nek Chand, a refugee from the partition of India, who recreated the village he left behind in a massive outdoor art installation known today as the Rock Garden of Chandigarh. Publishers Weekly said, “Rosenstock’s gratifying story conveys how art has the capacity to revitalize and restore.” We...
read morePodcast: One Time of Year, More Exciting Than Any Other: Youth Media Awards
The picture book Trombone Shorty calls Mardi Gras the “one time of year more exciting than any other.” This year the Youth Media Awards and Mardi Gras are just 24 hours apart making it “more exciting than any other.” You KNOW what Mardi Gras is, but the Youth Media Awards may have been missed on your celebratory calendar. It is a day when 10’s of 1000’s of librarians, booksellers, kidlit readers, children’s book creators, and other book nerds gather in person and online to discover what books are the prize winners in the 2017 parade of...
read moreBunk Reads Draws Winners
Curious City honored the Bunk Reads campers of 2017 with three prize-winning book boxes today! BUNK READS is a book discovery program created and managed by Curious City and sponsored by the Erin Murphy Literary Agency. The program supports campers’ year-round independent reading by introducing them to new children’s books and authors in a literacy-rich camp environment. A collection of acclaimed picture books, novels and non-fiction children’s books are sent to select Maine camps each summer. Campers are invited to score and review...
read moreVideo Interview with Bethany Hegedus: Growing Up with To Kill a Mockingbird
For the release of the picture book biography Alabama Spitfire: The Story of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird (Balzer + Bray), Curious City wanted to capture how author Bethany Hedegus’ lifelong relationship with To Kill a Mockingbird (HarperCollins) inspired what Kirkus Review called, “a labor of love.” Curious City traveled to Austin, Texas to interview Bethany under the iconic live oaks at The Writing Barn, Bethany’s campus dedicated to the creation of children’s literature. We found the focus for...
read morePodcast: Fiercely: KidLit, Power and Feminism
As we approach the anniversary of the Women’s March, what do we want to tell our kids about gender and power? What do we want to say about how the powerful can make us feel powerless? What do we want to tell them about the difference between power and empowerment? Do we want to have this conversation fiercely or quietly? Kids are born wise. Kidlit makes them wiser. Let’s share children’s books that speak of empowerment. Our thanks to Olga Peters from WKVT’s Green Mountain Morning for inviting us to podcast this conversation. ...
read morePodcast: One-Girl Sensaciónes: Caribbean KidLit
In honor of the resilient women and girls of the Caribbean that were knocked off their feet by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and are still fighting to take care of families, friends, and their studies, we feature “One-Girl Sensaciónes,” bold characters and brilliant children’s books authors of Caribbean heritage. “Love is like the rain. It comes in a drizzle sometimes. Then it starts pouring and if you’re not careful it will drown you.”― Edwidge Danticat, Breath, Eyes, Memory We have borrowed the honorary title of...
read morePodcast: Inquire Within: Kidlit That Values Questioning
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” —Albert Einstein Einstein said, “curiosity has its own reason for existing.” I believe that the reason children’s books exist is to evoke that curiosity. While many books evoke, some books are quite eager to inspire a generation to ask the big questions. Whether scientific, philosophical, political or personal, these kidlit titles tell you that TO ASK is crucial. What is Ada Twist’s very first word? “WHY?” No...
read morePodcast: A Fighting Chance: KidLit and Conflict
Having one of these days? Or maybe 2017 just looks to you and your kids like one big shouting match. At whatever level (or age) you are processing the nationwide anger, come back to kidlit to see anger and conflict produced with open mouths and steaming ears. There is something deeply satisfying (and urgently relevant) about reading conflict and experiencing a character’s path to resolution. From origami folding to racial discrimination these four books will teach you something about your neighbors and yourselves. This was a...
read morePodcast: Monstrously Good Summer Reads
Summer is stomping into our cities and towns leaving kids with the sweet calamity of more reading time. No assignments, no age restrictions, no genre restrictions – just the total chaos of pulling anything one wants to read off the bookstore and library shelves. Here are the monstrously good reads we have just devoured at Curious City… These books are part of a kidlit podcast conversation with Chris Lenois of WKVT’s Green Mountain Morning. Rodzilla By Rob Sanders Illustrated by Dan Santat Published by...
read more