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 – 6 Years Discover a Copy “It’s a lovely bedtime...
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 kidlit. This year, Curious City cannot help but...
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. Beyond the Fence By Maria Gulemetova Illustrated by...
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 “One-Girl Sensación” from Puerto Rican...
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 better word for a girl driven by discovery! ...
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 conversation with Chris Lenois of WKVT’s Green...
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