New Books Network Podcast

Children's Literature September 20, 2023

A Discussion with Jannie Ho, Illustrator and Author

Jannie Ho

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Philadelphia, Jannie Ho is the illustrator of the early reader graphic novel Fry Guys (Andrews McMeel Publishing, launching September 26, 2023) written by Eric …

Children's Literature September 18, 2023

The Chocolate King

Michael Leventhal

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

Michael Leventhal is the publisher of Green Bean Books, which focuses on Jewish children’s books. He is author of The Chocolate King and co-author of Jews in Britain, After twenty …

Almost Good Catholics September 14, 2023

Brides of Christ

Contemplative Life among the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

Sister Mary Josefa

Hosted by Krzysztof Odyniec

Sister Mary Josefa of the Eucharist is a Benedictine nun in Missouri; she and the sisters of her community recently wrote a charming children’s book, Brides of Christ (Sophia Institute …

Children's Literature August 29, 2023

A Chat with a Literary Agent

Savannah Brooks

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Savannah Brooks started her agenting career as an intern with the Jennifer De Chiara team in 2017, moving to associate agent in 2018. In 2022, she joined the KT Literary …

Children's Literature August 26, 2023

Rivka's Presents

Laurie Wallmark

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Award-winning author Laurie Wallmark writes mostly picture book biographies of women in STEM. Her titles include Code Breaker, Spy Hunter: How Elizebeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars …

Children's Literature August 17, 2023

The Vanished Northwest Passage Arctic Expedition

Lisa M. Bolt Simons

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

Lisa M. Bolt Simons has published over 60 children's nonfiction books, with many more in preparation. In our conversation we talk about two of her recent "Curious About" books, but …

Children's Literature August 13, 2023

Ready, Set, Run!

The Amazing New York City Marathon

Leslie Kimmelman

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Today I speak to the wonderful Leslie Kimmelman, as we celebrate her brand new picture book, Ready, Set, Run!: The Amazing New York City Marathon, published by Random House Studio …

Children's Literature July 22, 2023

Greenhorn

Anna Olswanger

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Anna Olswanger is an award-winning children's author and highly regarded literary agent, with clients include the New York Times best-selling author Michael Hall and the Newbery Honor Book winner Vince …

Children's Literature July 16, 2023

The Children's Books Business

A Discussion with Editor and Publisher Elizabeth Law

Elizabeth Law

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Elizabeth Law has worked in the publishing field her whole life, first as an Editor at Viking Children’s Books and Puffin Books, as Associate Publisher at Simon and Schuster Books …

Children's Literature July 9, 2023

Shoham's Bangle

Sarah Sassoon

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

In our interview, Sarah Sassoon celebrates the success of her award-winning children's book, Shoham's Bangle, published by Kar-Ben (2022), and discusses her life journey and career from Australia to South Africa …

Children's Literature June 28, 2023

She Persisted: Florence Nightingale

Shelli R. Johannes and Chelsea Clinton

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

This is my second interview with the wonderful Shelli R. Johannes, who is the author of 18 books with more due out in 2024. She is the co-author (with Kimberly …

Children's Literature June 25, 2023

You Go First

Ariel Bernstein

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

Today I get to interview one of my favorite children's book authors, Ariel Bernstein, and celebrate her new book, You Go First, which was published only two weeks ago by …

Children's Literature June 17, 2023

Jewish Children's Books

A Chat with Lili Rosenstreich of Kalaniot

Lili Rosenstreich

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

In this funny, engaging and candid interview Lili Rosenstreich talks about her career leading up to her current role as founder, publisher, and creative director at Kalaniot Books, an up-and-coming …

Children's Literature June 11, 2023

Illustrating Children's Books

A Discussion with Holly Hatam

Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

Holly Hatam is illustrator of several dozen children's books, published by Random House, Harper Collins and others. She is also author-illustrator of Unicorns are Real and several other board books …

Children's Literature June 9, 2023

When a Friend Needs a Friend

Anne Roos Kleiss

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

In our wonderful conversation, Anne Roos Kleiss, a Dutch author-illustrator based in Rotterdam, and I talk about her new book, When a Friend Needs a Friend (which just launched in …

Children's Literature June 5, 2023

Dark Cloud

Anna Lazowski

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

This is my second interview with the wonderful children's author Anna Lazowski, this time celebrating the launch of her new picture book Dark Cloud, published last month by Kids Can …

Children's Literature May 31, 2023

The Miracle Seed

Martin Lemelman

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Listen:

In our animated discussion, Martin Lemelman and I discuss his latest graphic novel, The Miracle Seed (Eerdmans Young Readers, 2023), which was published only two months ago. It is the …

Children's Literature May 30, 2023

Dream Big, Laugh Often

And More Great Advice from the Bible

Hanoch Piven and Shira Hecht-Koller

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Hanoch Piven is an Israeli collage artist whose colorful and witty portraits have appeared over the last 30 years on both sides of the Atlantic: in most major American magazines …

Children's Literature May 27, 2023

A History of Toilet Paper (and Other Potty Tools)

Sophia Gholz

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

Since Sophia Gholz’s highly successful debut book, The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng, appeared four years ago, she has published with several exceptional picture …

Children's Literature May 21, 2023

Won Ton and Chopstick

A Cat and Dog Tale Told in Haiku

Lee Wardlaw

Hosted by Mel Rosenberg

In this interview we celebrate Lee Wardlaw's writing career, over thirty books ranging from board books to YA, with over a million copies sold! We focus on two of her …