Children's Literature

Children's Literature

episodes

Interviews with authors of children's literature about their new books

Sue Fliess, "Octopus Acrobatics" (Albert Whitman & Company, 2024)

March 18, 2024

Octopus Acrobatics

Sue Fliess
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Sue Fliess ("fleece") is the award-winning, bestselling author of over 50 children's books including Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket, How to Trap a Lep…

Emily Barth Isler, "The Color of Sound" (Carolrhoda Books, 2024)

March 17, 2024

The Color of Sound

Emily Barth Isler
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Emily Barth Isler is the author of AfterMath, an award-winning middle grade novel, and of the forthcoming picture book Always Enough Love. In our inte…

A Chat with a Children's Book Illustrator: Erin Kraan

March 10, 2024

A Chat with a Children's Book Illustrator: Erin Kraan

Erin Kraan
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Erin Kraan has illustrated over half a dozen children's books, with more on the way. In our interview we celebrate her latest illustrated picture book…

Suzanne Slade, "The Music in George's Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue" (Astra, 2021)

March 9, 2024

The Music in George's Head

Suzanne Slade
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Suzanne Slade is the Sibert Honor author of more than 170 books for children. A mechanical engineer by degree, Suzanne writes about STEM topics, fasci…

Heather L. Montgomery, "Sick!: The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs" (Bloomsbury, 2024)

March 2, 2024

Sick!

Heather L. Montgomery
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Heather L. Montgomery writes for kids who are wild about animals, masterfully employing yuck appeal to engage young minds. Her 17 nonfiction books inc…

Get Signed: A Chat with Literary Agent Lucinda Halperin

February 25, 2024

Get Signed

Lucinda Halpern
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent with over 15 years’ experience in both the publicity and agency sides of publishing. Before founding Lucinda Liter…

Laurie Wallmark and Raakhee Mirchandani, "Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut" (Beaming Books, 2024)

February 18, 2024

Journey to the Stars

Laurie Wallmark and Raakhee Mirchandani
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Laurie Wallmark is the award-winning author of picture book biographies of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as ficti…

My Friends Maurice Sendak and Leonard Bernstein: A Discussion with Christopher Swann

February 13, 2024

My Friends Maurice Sendak and Leonard Bernstein

Christopher Swann
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Christopher Swann is an award-winning producer and director of documentaries, a playwright, author and editor. In our lively interview we discuss his …

Rebecca Gardyn Levington, "Afikoman, Where'd You Go?: A Passover Hide-and-Seek Adventure" (Rocky Pond Books, 2024)

February 9, 2024

Afikoman, Where'd You Go?

Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

In this wonderfully candid conversation with children's book author Rebecca Gardyn Levington, we celebrate her new book Afikoman, Where'd You Go?: A P…

Talk to the Literary Agent: A Discussion with Victoria Selvaggio

January 31, 2024

Talk to the Literary Agent

Victoria Selvaggio
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

For Victoria Selvaggio, books have always played an important role in her life. From an early age, she could easily be found reading in a corner with …

What Makes A Great Picture Book? A Conversation with Betsy Bird

January 26, 2024

What Makes A Great Picture Book?

Betsy Bird
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Betsy Bird is the Collection Development Manager of Evanston Public Library and the former Youth Materials Specialist of New York Public Library. She …

Miriam Halahmy, "A Boy from Baghdad" (Green Bean Books, 2024)

January 16, 2024

A Boy from Baghdad

Miriam Halahmy
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Miriam Halahmy has published 9 novels for children and teens. Her new book A Boy from Baghdad (Green Bean Books, 2024), tells the story for children t…

Meet the Librarian: A Discussion with Louise Lareau, Managing Librarian, Children's Center, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library

January 15, 2024

Meet the Librarian

Louise Lareau
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Louise Lareau is the award-winning Managing Librarian at The New York Public Library and currently leads the Children’s Center team at the Stavros Nia…

Renée LaTulippe, "The Crab Ballet" (Abrams, 2022)

January 13, 2024

The Crab Ballet

Renée LaTulippe
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

In this fun interview, we celebrate Renée M. LaTulippe's wonderful poem picture book The Crab Ballet (Cameron Kids/Abrams, 2022) and talk about her ca…

Isabel Estrada, "La Mariachi" (Sleeping Bear Press, 2023)

December 22, 2023

La Mariachi

Isabel Estrada
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Isabel Estrada, Ph.D., is an author and speaker with an extensive background in music and education. Today we celebrate her recently-published picture…

Charlotte Offsay, "Challah Day!" (Holiday House, 2023)

December 18, 2023

Challah Day!

Charlotte Offsay
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Charlotte Offsay was born in England, grew up in Boston, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. In our conversation, we…

Lita Judge, "Don't Worry, Wuddles" (Atheneum, 2023)

December 9, 2023

Don't Worry, Wuddles

Lita Judge
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Lita Judge is the award-winning author and illustrator of three dozen children’s books (!) including Flight School, Penguin Flies Home, Red Sled, Red …

Tara Lazar, "Flat Cat" (Flamingo Books, 2023)

November 29, 2023

Flat Cat

Tara Lazar
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

In this, our second interview, I talk with award-winning children's author Tara Lazar about her new picture book, Flat Cat (Flamingo Books, 2023), ill…

Donating Books to Children: A Chat with Alex Zablotsky of PJ Library

November 25, 2023

Donating Books to Children

Alex Zablotsky
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Alex Zablotsky is the Managing Director of PJ Library, a philanthropy that donates millions of books on Jewish themes to children around the world eve…

Talk to the Agent: A Discussion with Jennifer Unter

November 19, 2023

Talk to the Agent: A Discussion with Jennifer Unter

Jennifer Unter
Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Jennifer Unter has worked in many aspects of the publishing industry for over three decades. After graduating from the University of Michigan, she beg…