Listen Now

Kidlit These Days is your kidlit connoisseurs pairing the best of children’s literature with what’s going on in the world today. Join hosts Matthew and Nicole as they dig into current events and recommend books for kids from birth to middle school!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew talk about the election, political leadership, and using your voice to bring about democratic change.  This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life, Julian at the Wedding by Jessica Love, and Emporia State University’s School of Library & Information Management. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: PebbleGo Vote Scholastic’s “Elections” resource bank Teaching Tolerance “Voting and Voices” Books Discussed on the Show: Picture Books: Future President by Lori Alexander; illustrated by Allison Black A Kids Book About Voting by Next Up We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders If You Go with Your Goat to Vote by Jan Zauzmer; illustrated by Andrew Roberts V Is for Voting by Kate Farrell; illustrated by Caitlin Kuhwald Vote for Our Future! by Margaret McNamara; illustrated by Micah Player Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America by Deborah Diesen; illustrated by Magdalena Mora When Penny Met POTUS by Rachel Ruiz; illustrated Melissa Manwill Lift as You Climb: the Story of Ella Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm by Katheryn Russell-Brown; illustrated by Eric Velasquez Shirley Chisholm Is a Verb by Veronica Chambers; illustrated by Rachelle Baker Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes; illustrated by Laura Freeman Middle Grade: We the People: The United States Constitution Explored and Explained by Evan Sargent; illustrated by Aura Lewis Lifting as We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box by Evette Dionne Twins by Varian Johnson; illustrated by Shannon Wright Closing note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew talk about the ancestral strength and the ability to look ahead knowing who and what has already come before you. Joining us is special guest Tami Charles, author of All Because You Matter, illustrated by Bryan Collier. This episode is sponsored by Book Riot’s mystery thriller podcast, Read or Dead, Frankie and the Creepy Cute Critters by Caitlin Rose Boyle from Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group, and Spark and the League of Ursus by Robert Repino from Quirk Books. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: Tami Charles (website) All Because You Matter book trailer Tami talks to her son about All Because You Matter Books Discussed on the Show: Picture Books: All Because You Matter by Tami Charles; illustrated by Bryan Collier The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander; illustrated by Kadir Nelson Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons; illustrated by Daniel Minter Middle Grade: Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega Green Lantern: Legacy by Minh Le; illustrated by Andie Tong Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes (releasing January 5, 2021) The Last Last-Day-Of-Summer by Lamar Giles; illustrated by Dapo Adeola The Last Mirror on the Left by Lamar Giles; illustrated by Dapo Adeola The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew talk about the opportunistic and demanding world of self-publishing and why some self-published authors say that traditional publishing was never an option. Joining is special guest Suhani Parikh, author of Shreya’s Very Own Style and the founder of Modern Marigold Books.  This episode is sponsored by Book Riot’s mystery thriller podcast, Read or Dead, Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Frankie Comics by Rachel Dukes from Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: “What’s LOVE got to do with it?” Self-publishing as a Black feminist act of radical self-care (Zeta Elliott, Huffpost) Becoming an Author (Bethany Stahls, YouTube) Centering Black Creators (The Authors Guild Foundation) Modern Marigold Books (Suhani Parikh) Shreya’s Very Own Style by Suhani Parkh BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: Suhani’s Book Recommendations Hair Like Mine (Kids Like Mine series #1) by Latashia M. Perry Skin Like Mine (Kids Like Mine series #2) by Latashia M. Perry Imagination Like Mine (Kids Like Mine series #3) by Latashia M. Perry Dreams Like Mine (Kids Like Mine series #4) by Latashia M. Perry Priya Dreams of Marigolds & Masala by Meenal Patel The Friend I Need: Being Kind & Caring to Myself by Gabi Garcia; illustrated by Miranda Rivadeneira Find Your Calm: A Mindful Approach To Relieve Anxiety And Grow Your Bravery by Gabi Garcia; illustrated by Marta Pineda Listening to My Body by Gabi Garcia; illustrated by Ying Hui Tan Picture Books Beads and Braids by Aryn Taylor Diggs and Marissa J Jacobs; illustrated by Justice Paige Witsell The Cats Who Live On Clarence Street by Ashleigh Lernout (available ebook only) Rhythm Rescue by Vicky Weber; illustrated by Geneviève Viel-Taschereau  Mighty May Won’t Cry Today by Kendra Ocampo and Claire-Voe Ocampo; illustrated by Erica De Chavez Don’t Touch My Hair! By Sharee Miller  Princess Hair By Sharee Miller  I Can Do Hard Things: Mindful Affirmations by Gabi Garcia; illustrated by Charity Russell Ezra’s BIG Shabbat Question by Aviva Brown; illustrated by Anastasia Kanavaliuk  Kutu the Tiny Inca Princess / La Ñusta Diminuta by Mariana Llanos illustrated by Uldarico Sarmiento Under Our Roof by Rebecca Stanton; illustrated by Kristy Gaunt  Petro and the Flea King by Kenneth Lamug A Kids Book About series by Jelani Memory and various authors Nonfiction Asian-Americans Who Inspire Us by Analiza Quiroz Wolf and Michael Franco; illustrated by Tire Siiroinen Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew talk about cloud-based schooling, self-organized learning environments, and school reimagined in fantasy fiction.  This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life, The Wizerd And the Potion of Dreams! from Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group, and Croaked! from Yellow Jacket, an imprint of Little Bee Books. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: Survivor Tree by Marcie Colleen; illustrated by Aaron Becker (PW announcement) Build a school in the Cloud (2013 TED talk by Sugata Mitra, educational researcher) Feature documentary about Sugata Mitra’s ‘School In The Cloud’ (trailer) The School in the Cloud: The Emerging Future of Learning by Sugata Mitra (book) A School in the Cloud and the Future of Learning (WIRED, 2013) BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: Picture Books Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood; illustrated by Meg Hunt Reading Beauty by Deborah Underwood; illustrated by Meg Hunt Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare Middle Grade Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series by Sayantani Dasgupta Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity by Dave Roman Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor The Time Museum by Matthew Loux Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew talk about #ownvoices representation in comics, pocket culture, and we reflect on Black Panther and the late Chadwick Boseman. Joining is special guest Paul Meyer, co-author of Under the Cottonwood Tree: El Susto de la Curandera, a graphic novel with Carlos Meyer and illustrated by Margaret Hardy. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life, The Tea Dragon Tapestry by Katie O’Neill and Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group, and This is a Flying Rat by Andrew Cangelose and Josh Shipley and Oni Lion Forge Publishing Group. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: Under the Cottonwood Tree (website) Under the Cottonwood Tree (book trailer) BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: Listener Recommendations New Kid by Jerry Craft (recommended by Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle, Urania Smith, and Angie Moore) Class Act by Jerry Craft (recommended by Eric Carpenter) El Deafo by Cece Bell (recommended by Angie Moore) Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi (recommended by Lisa Stringfellow) Lumberjanes Vol. 1: Beware The Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Shannon Watters, Brooke A. Allen, and Grace Ellis (recommended by Laura Jimènez, PhD) When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (recommended by Kim Bongiorno) Twins by Varian Johnson; illustrated by Shannon Wright (recommended by Paula Willey) Guts by Raina Telgemeier (recommended by Kellee Moye) Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka (recommended by Kellee Moye) (*Young Adult) March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (recommended by Nancy Castaldo) (*Young Adult) More Graphic Novels Stargazing by Jen Wang Snapdragon by Kat Leyh Flamer by Mike Curato (*Young Adult) This Place: 150 Years Retold from Highwater Press (*Young Adult) Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew celebrate the 30th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Joining is special guest Keah Brown, a disability rights activist and journalist, creator of the hashtag #DisabledAndCute, and author of the upcoming Sam’s Super Seats. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life, War Stories by Gordon Korman from Scholastic, and Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links ADA 30 Years – Americans with Disabilities Act #ADA30 AAPD celebrates ADA30 – The American Association of People with Disabilities “A.D.A. Now!” Throughline podcast episode Keah Brown (special guest) Books Discussed on the Show: Picture Books Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon; illustrated by Kaylani Juanita My Three Best Friends and Me, Zulay by Cari Best; illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton Middle Grade A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd  Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly El Deafo by Cece Bell Nonfiction I Am Not a Label: 34 disabled artists, thinkers, athletes and activists from past and present by Cerrie Burnell; illustrated by Lauren Mark Baldo Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability by Shane Burcaw; illustrated by Matt Carr All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Nabi Ali Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss how the coronavirus is affecting decisions to reopen schools and what school will look like in the fall. This episode is sponsored by: Read or Dead, Book Riot’s mystery/thriller podcast Act by Kayla Miller, HMH Books for Young Readers Peng!: Action Sports Adventures from Oni Press To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! Relevant Links: A School Reopens, and the Coronavirus Creeps In (NYT) Ways School Librarians Can Serve Students in Fall 2020 Books Discussed on the Show: Picture Books: The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India by Meera Sriram; illustrated by Mariona Cabassa The Thing about Bees: A Love Letter by Shabazz Larkin Just Like a Mama by Alice Faye Duncan; illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow Chapter Books: 13th Street #1: Battle of the Bad-Breath Bats by David Bowles; illustrated by Shane Clester #2: The Fire-Breathing Ferret Fiasco (13th Street series) #3: Clash of the Cackling Cougars (13th Street series) Middle Grade: Under the Cottonwood Tree by Paul Meyer and Carlos Meyer; Illustrated by Margaret Hardy Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan Three Keys by Kelly Yang The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss the creation and use of the #OwnVoices hashtag, representation of diversity in kidlit, and the value of storytelling through lived experience. This episode is sponsored by: TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life Libro.fm Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: #ownvoices (blog post by #ownvoices hashtag creator Corrine Duyvis) Picture This: Diversity in Children’s Books 2018 Infographic The Diversity Gap in Children’s Publishing, 2018 BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: Picture Books: Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina; illustrated by Sonia Sanchez Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal Dreamers by Yuyi Morales When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson; illustrated by Julie Flett The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol by Arthur A. Levine; illustrated by Kevin Hawkes The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham; illustrated by Yuko Shimizu Middle Grade: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh El Deafo by Cece Bell Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte Rick by Alex Gino Closing Note: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss historically problematic statues, how legal does not always mean moral, and we reflect on the kidlit authors whose works have helped to secure space for underrepresented voices. This episode is sponsored by: TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering reading recommendations personalized to your reading life Nevertell by Katharine Orton from Candlewick Press Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Executive Order on Building and Rebuilding Monuments to American Heroes The Statues Were Toppled. What Happens to Them Now? (New York Times) Return of Oñate’s Foot (99% Invisible) Always Read the Plaque: Mapping Over 10,000 Global Markers & Memorials BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: PICTURE BOOKS: Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz; illustrated by AG Ford Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Jamey Christoph Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee! by Andrea J. Loney; illustrated by Keith Mallett M is for Movement by Innosanto Nagara  Heather Has Two Mommies by Lesléa Newman Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow; illustrated by Luisa Uribe I am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes; illustrated by Gordon C. James MIDDLE GRADE: Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz  and Renée Watson  Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai   Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong by PhD Dawn B. Mabalon and Gayle Romasanta  WHERE TO FIND CHILDREN’S BOOKS DURING QUARANTINE Your local library – Even as libraries are closing for the quarantine, they have a ton of e-books, resources, and movies for kids. Epic! – Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under Susan Tan’s Authors Everywhere YouTube channel How Kids’ Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus Read, Wonder, and Learn – Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere COVID-19 Resources compiled by We Need Diverse Books Resources for Online PreK-12 Teaching During COVID and Beyond Little free libraries – There may be free books in a free library just around the corner from you. Give a book, get a book, and remember to wash those hands! CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss racial literacy and implementing an anti-biased/anti-racist framework in schools, with help from a bookshelf playlist of stories to keep folks talking. Joining is special guest Tiffany Jewell, a Black biracial writer, twin, first generation American, cisgender woman, an antiracist educator and consultant, mama, and author of This Book is Anti-Racist. This episode is sponsored by: Hey YA, Book Riot’s own podcast about all things young adult lit ImtheStory Nevertell by Katharine Orton To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Tiffany Jewell (website) #antiracistbookclub (Instagram) Some Things Are Just For Us (article from Medium) Racism Is Terrible. Blackness Is Not. (article from The Atlantic) Lifting as We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box by Evette Dionne BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: MIDDLE GRADE: This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell; illustrated by Aurelia Durand Recommended podcasts and Podcasts Episodes: Hope and Hard Pills  Code Switch Race Traitor Revisionist History (Epsiode – Miss Buchanan’s Period Of Adjustment) Sporkful (Episode – When White People Say Plantation) Teaching While White Two Dope Teachers and a Mic Unlocking Us (Episode – Brené with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist) Unprisoned 1619 Podcast WHERE TO FIND CHILDREN’S BOOKS DURING QUARANTINE Your local library – Even as libraries are closing for the quarantine, they have a ton of e-books, resources, and movies for kids. Epic! – Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under Susan Tan’s Authors Everywhere YouTube channel How Kids’ Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus Read, Wonder, and Learn – Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere COVID-19 Resources compiled by We Need Diverse Books Resources for Online PreK-12 Teaching During COVID and Beyond Little free libraries – There may be free books in a free library just around the corner from you. Give a book, get a book, and remember to wash those hands! CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss doing the work of anti-racism, sitting with discomfort, and building children’s aptitude toward empathy and social justice with help from a bookshelf playlist of stories to keep folks talking. This episode is sponsored by: TBR: Book Riot’s service for Tailored Book Recommendations, now available as a gift! Lost Beast, Found Friend from Oni Press Bella’s Story by W. Bruce Cameron, from Starscape To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: 47 Black-Owned Bookstores Across the Country That You Can Support (EW article) KidLit Rally 4 Black Lives: Anti-Racist Resources for Children, Families, and Educators (website and video stream) Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream by Blair Imani; illustrated by Rachelle Baker Modern Herstory : Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History written by Blair Imani; illustrated by Monique Le BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: PICTURE BOOKS: Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford Illustrated by Ekua Holmes  Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey with Gwen Strauss and illustrated by Floyd Cooper Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Olivia Gatwood; illustrated by Theodore Taylor, III Not My Idea: A Book about Whiteness by Anastasia Higginbotham Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel; illustrated by Shane W. Evans AntiRacist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi; illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy by Tony Medina, Javaka Steptoe, and R. Gregory Christie MIDDLE GRADE: This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell; illustrated by Aurelia Durand  What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson WHERE TO FIND CHILDREN’S BOOKS DURING QUARANTINE Your local library – Even as libraries are closing for the quarantine, they have a ton of e-books, resources, and movies for kids. Epic! – Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under Susan Tan’s Authors Everywhere YouTube channel How Kids’ Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus Read, Wonder, and Learn – Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere COVID-19 Resources compiled by We Need Diverse Books Resources for Online PreK-12 Teaching During COVID and Beyond Little free libraries – There may be free books in a free library just around the corner from you. Give a book, get a book, and remember to wash those hands! CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss representation of transgender voices of color, bravery in the face of survival choices, and the strength we already possess. Joining is special guest Kai Cheng Thom, performer, cultural worker, speaker, and author of From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea. This episode is sponsored by: TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering Tailored Book Recommendations for readers of all stripes Libro FM Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Interview with Kacen Callendar on Kidlit These Days (episode) Kids Meet a Transgender Soldier (Kids Meet Youtube series) Kai Cheng Thom (homepage) BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: PICTURE BOOKS: The Boy & the Bindi by Vivek Shraya; illustrated by Rajni Perera Be Amazing: A History of Pride by Desmond is Amazing; illustrated by Dylan Glynn They She He Me: Free to Be! by Maya Gonzalez; illustrated by Matthew SG  Neither by Airlie Anderson  Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima Bunnybear by Andrea J. Loney; illustrated by Carmen Saldaña My Maddy by Gayle E. Pitman; illustrated by Violet Tobacco When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff; illustrated by Kaylani Juanita It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn, illustrated by Noah Grigni MIDDLE GRADE: Rainbow Revolutions: Power, Pride, and Protest in the Fight for Queer Rights by Jamie Lawson and Eve Lloyd Knight Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee Not Your Villain by C.B. Lee WHERE TO FIND CHILDREN’S BOOKS DURING QUARANTINE Your local library – Even as libraries are closing for the quarantine, they have a ton of e-books, resources, and movies for kids. Epic! – Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under Susan Tan’s Authors Everywhere YouTube channel How Kids’ Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus Read, Wonder, and Learn – Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere COVID-19 Resources compiled by We Need Diverse Books Resources for Online PreK-12 Teaching During COVID and Beyond Little free libraries – There may be free books in a free library just around the corner from you. Give a book, get a book, and remember to wash those hands! CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss how this time of safe-at-home is giving readers and bookmakers opportunity to reimagine our world through activism, design, kindness, and mindfulness. Joining is special guest Peter H. Reynolds, best-selling children’s book author, illustrator, bookshop owner, founder of FableVision, and an advocate for creativity and children of all ages. This episode is sponsored by: Lit Stitch: 25 Cross-Stitch Patterns for Book Lovers, made by Book Riot and Abrams Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley, from Random House Graphic The Messy Life of Blue by Shawna Railey, from Little Bee Books To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Peter H. Reynolds (homepage) BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: PICTURE BOOKS: What If… by Samantha Berger; illustrated by Mike Curato  The Breathing Book by Christopher Willard, PsyD and Olivia Weisser; illustrated by Alison Oliver Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo, Olivia Gatwood, and illustrated by Theodore Taylor, III  You Matter by Christian Robinson The Bear’s Garden by Marcie Colleen; illustrated by Alison Oliver Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera; illustrated by Lauren Castillo What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada; illustrated by Mae Besom MIDDLE GRADE: A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée Strange Birds by Celia C. Perez What Lane?!  by Torrey Maldonado WHERE TO FIND CHILDREN’S BOOKS DURING QUARANTINE Your local library – Even as libraries are closing for the quarantine, they have a ton of e-books, resources, and movies for kids. Epic! – Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under Susan Tan’s Authors Everywhere YouTube channel How Kids’ Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus Read, Wonder, and Learn – Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere COVID-19 Resources compiled by We Need Diverse Books Resources for Online PreK-12 Teaching During COVID and Beyond Little free libraries – There may be free books in a free library just around the corner from you. Give a book, get a book, and remember to wash those hands! CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss the creative ways books and bookmakers are connecting with readers during stay-at-home regulations. Joining is special guest Christina Soontornvat, author of A Wish in the Dark and co-founder of the Everywhere Book Fest. This episode is sponsored by: TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering Tailored Book Recommendations for readers of all stripes Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger from Scholastic Fun Fun Fun World by Yehudi Mercado from Oni Press and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Everywhere Book Fest Every Child a Reader's resources for Children's Book Week #OperationStorytime from Romper (on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using hashtag #operationstorytime) “Write. Right. Rite." Series with Jason Reynolds BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: PICTURE BOOKS: Woke: A Young Poet's Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood; illustrated by Theodore Taylor III Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison MIDDLE GRADE: Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega Twins (Twins #1) by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar The Dragon Egg Princess by Ellen Oh The Vanderbeekers Lost and Found by Karina Yan Glaser Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes WHERE TO FIND CHILDREN’S BOOKS DURING QUARANTINE Your local library – Even as libraries are closing for the quarantine, they have a ton of e-books, resources, and movies for kids. Epic! – Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under Susan Tan’s Authors Everywhere YouTube channel How Kids’ Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus Read, Wonder, and Learn – Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere COVID-19 Resources compiled by We Need Diverse Books Resources for Online PreK-12 Teaching During COVID and Beyond Little free libraries – There may be free books in a free library just around the corner from you. Give a book, get a book, and remember to wash those hands! CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss food insecurity, how interconnected we are, and the capacity in all of us to be a helper. This episode is sponsored by: TBR, Book Riot's subscription service offering Tailored Book Recommendations for readers of all stripes Lila and Hadley by Kody Keplinger from Scholastic Dewdrop by Katie O'Neill from Oni Press and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Fred Rogers: Look for the Helpers (video interview) Hello, Neighbor!: The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers by Matthew Cordell BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW:PICTURE BOOKS: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña; illustrated by Christian Robinson  Love by Matt de la Peña; illustrated by Loren Long The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee; illustrated by Pascal Campion Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans by Phil Bildner; illustrated by John Parra Green Machine: The Slightly Gross Truth about Turning Your Food Scraps into Green Energy by Rebecca Donnelly; illustrated by Christophe Jacques The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome  (Author), John Parra (illustrator) I Can Write the World by Joshunda Sanders; illustrated by Charly Palmer Whose Hands Are These? by Miranda Paul; illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute: Lunch Lady #1 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero; illustrated by Zeke Peña Tinyville Town Gets to Work! by Brian Biggs All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing by Chris Barton; illustrated by Nicole Xu MIDDLE GRADE: Front Desk by Kelly Yang WHERE TO FIND CHILDREN’S BOOKS DURING QUARANTINE Your local library – Even as libraries are closing for the quarantine, they have a ton of e-books, resources, and movies for kids. Epic! – Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under Susan Tan’s Authors Everywhere YouTube channel How Kids’ Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus Read, Wonder, and Learn – Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere COVID-19 Resources compiled by We Need Diverse Books Resources for Online PreK-12 Teaching During COVID and Beyond Little free libraries – There may be free books in a free library just around the corner from you. Give a book, get a book, and remember to wash those hands! CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew look back on a year of the Kidlit These Days podcast and highlight some of their favorite episodes and interviews. This episode is sponsored by: Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit by Lilliam Rivera from Little, Brown Young Readers Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Kidlit These Days episode archive The Wall In The Middle of This Podcast (KTD ep. 1) An Indigenous Peoples' History (KTD ep. 13) Climate Change and Changemakers (KTD ep. 16) Dismantling White Privilege (KTD ep. 21) BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW:Picture Books: Birthday on Mars! by Sara Schonfeld; illustrated by Andrew J. Ross Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman; illustrated by Caroline Binch Cannonball by Sacha Cotter ; illustrated by Josh Morgan (publishing June 2, 2020) Chapter Books: The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane (Azaleah Lane series) by Nikki Shannon Smith; illustrated by Mari Lobo Sadiq and the Desert Star (Sadiq series) by Siman Nuurali; illustrated Anjan Sarkar Farah Rocks Fifth Grade (Farah Rocks series) by Susan Muaddi Darraj, Ruaida Mannaa Nina Soni, Sister Fixer (Nina Soni series) by Kashmira Sheth; illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky Betty the Bearded Dragon (My Furry Foster Family series) by Debbi Michiko Florence, Melanie Demmer Stella Díaz Never Gives Up (Stella Diaz series) by Angela Dominguez Middle Grade: Cilla Lee-Jenkins: The Epic Story by Susan Tan,; illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte Nonfiction: "The Story of" chapter book biography series from Lee & Low Books, including: The Story of Olympic Diver Sammy Lee by Paula Yoo; illustrated by Dom Lee The Story of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls by Janet Halfmann; illustrated by Duane Smith The Story of Environmentalist Wangari Maathai by Jen Johnson; illustrated by Sonia Sadler Asian-Americans Who Inspire Us by Analiza Quiroz Wolf Where to Find Children’s Books During Quarantine Your local library - Even as libraries are closing for the quarantine, they have a ton of e-books, resources, and movies for kids. Epic! - Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under Susan Tan’s Authors Everywhere YouTube channel How Kids' Lit Is Responding to the Coronavirus Read, Wonder, and Learn - Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere COVID-19 Resources compiled by We Need Diverse Books Resources for Online PreK-12 Teaching During COVID and Beyond Little free libraries - There may be free books in a free library just around the corner from you. Give a book, get a book, and remember to wash those hands! CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of racism and social media, how the virus is impacting school kids and families, and how the kidlit community is responding. This episode is sponsored by: TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations Don’t Check Out This Book! By Kate Klise & M. Sarah Klise new from Algonquin Young Readers The Sunken Tower by Tait Howard from Oni Press Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Resource for Teaching Online Due to School Closures Talking to Kids About Coronavirus Additional Resources Talking With Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks  Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hand Sanitizer Use at Home, at Play, and Out and About The Everywhere Book Fest Defaced Mulan movie poster “Corona Time” kids in costumes  BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: Books by Raina Telgemeier (Guts; Smile; Babysitters Club) Books by Marti Dumas (The Little Human; Jupiter Storm; Jaden Toussaint) Books by Nikki Grimes (Ordinary Hazards; Bedtime for Sweet Creatures; One Last Word) Books by Lori Alexander (Future Engineer; Future President; All in a Drop) Books by Jacqueline Woodson (The Day You Begin; Brown Girl Dreaming; Red at the Bone) Books by Saadia Faruqi (Meet Yasmin series; A Place at the Table) CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole and Matthew discuss the need for more inclusive representation of all kids of bodies in children’s literature, accepting how different does not equal wrong, and the idea of normalizing “normal”. Joining is special guest Jessica Sanders, author of Love Your Body. This episode is sponsored by: Book Riot Insiders, the digital hangout spot for the Book Riot community The Paper Bag Princess: 40th Anniversary Edition, published by Annick Press Winterborne Home by Ally Carter, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Interview with Angie Manfredi about The (Other) F Word: A Celebration of the Fat and Fierce (The Children’s Book Podcast) Fat Girl Reading (blog) Love Your Body Kickstarter (information and video) Love Your Body Student Workbook (free printable pdf) “Fat Positive Picture Books” Twitter Thread (from Angie Manfredi @misskubelik) Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: PICTURE BOOKS: Rock What Ya Got by Samantha Berger; illustrated by Kerascoet Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin; illustrated by Ebony Glenn Abigail the Whale by Davide Cali; illustrated by Sonja Bougaeva (Angie Manfredi’s review of Abigail the Whale) Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Ekua Holmes The Truth About Grandparents by Elina Ellis  MIDDLE GRADE: Go With the Flow by Karen Schneemann and Lily Williams Karma Khullar’s Mustache by Kristi Wientge  Halfway to Perfect: A Dyamonde Daniel Book by Nikki Grimes; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie 45 Pounds (More or Less) by Kelly Barson  Like Vanessa by Tami Charles Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel Jose Older The Laura Line by Crystal Allen Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson Some Places More Than Others by Renee Watson Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy Good Enough by Jen Petro Roy CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew and Nicole discuss combatting xenophobia by adopting a stance of cultural humility and helping shape children’s understanding of a broader world, rich with hundreds of cultures, languages, and people both very similar and very different from their own. This episode is sponsored by: Book Riot’s Read Harder 2020 Challenge Get Booked: The Handsell Libro FM Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. To get even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our The Kids Are All Right newsletter! RELEVANT LINKS: Countering Islamophobia Through Education Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus Books to Help Kids Understand What It’s Like to Be a Refugee In the Face of Xenophobia: Lessons to Address Bullying of South Asian American Youth How to Support Immigrant Students and Families: Strategies for Schools and Early Childhood Programs Asking For A Friend: Help! My Kids Only Have White Friends Antiracist Book Festival They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott; illustrated by Harmony Becker Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust by Loic Dauvillier, Marc Lizano, and Greg Salsedo BOOKS DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW: PICTURE BOOKS: Under My Hijab by Hena Khan; illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad with  S. K. Ali; illustrated by Hatem Aly Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow; illustrated by Ebony Glenn Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez,; illustrated by Jaime Kim Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale by Duncan Tonatiuh The Journey by Francesca Sanna I Am Not A Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer, illustrated by Gillian Newland MIDDLE GRADE: The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz The Chupacabras of the Rio Grande (The Unicorn Rescue Society #4) by Adam Gidwitz and David Bowles; illustrated by Hatem Aly Front Desk by Kelly Yang Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis with Traci Sorell CLOSING NOTE: Let us know what books or topics you’ve been sharing this week, or if you have a suggestion or book recommendation for an upcoming episode. Find us on email (kidlitthesedays@bookriot.com) or Twitter (@MatthewWinner and @ittybittyny).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.