Picture•book•ing - interviews with authors and illustrators

Welcome to the end of Picturebooking's fall episodes. We will be taking a break for a while, but before we go, we would like to leave you with some helpful creative advice and an excellent list of books to check out the next time you visit the library. Enjoy!

Author and educator NoNieqa Ramos talks about her picture book Best Believe: The Tres Hermanas, a Sisterhood for the Common Good, illustrated by Nicole Medina—a story written in rhythmic verse that portrays three inspiring changemakers, Evelina Antonetty, Lillian López, and Elba Cabrera. Your host for this episode is Nadia Salomon. https://picturebooking.com/nonieqa-ramos-best-believe https://bookshop.org/a/14436/9781728460444 https://www.nonieqaramos.com/ https://www.nadiasalomon.com/

Award-winning author-illustrator Lane Smith talks about his picture book Stickler Loves the World—a story that reminds us to appreciate the everyday wonders we often ignore. Your host for this episode is Nick Patton. https://picturebooking.com/lane-smith-stickler-loves-the-world https://bookshop.org/a/14436/9780593649831 https://www.lanesmithbooks.com/

Author-illustrator Vashti Harrison talks about her picture book Big—a story that traces a child's journey to self-love and shows the power of words to both hurt and heal. Your host for this episode is Shawna J. C. Tenney. https://picturebooking.com/vashti-harrison-big https://bookshop.org/a/14436/9780316353229 https://www.vashtiharrison.com/ https://www.shawnajctenney.com/

Author-illustrator Bob Shea talks about his picture book Chez Bob—a hilarious story about a restaurant for birds found on an alligator's NOSE! Your host for this episode is Shawna J. C. Tenney. https://picturebooking.com/bob-shea-chez-bob https://bookshop.org/a/14436/9780316483117 https://www.bobshea.com/https://www.shawnajctenney.com/  

Acclaimed author Minh Lê talks about his picture book Real to Me, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa—a story about two best friends (one of whom is imaginary) who are inseparable until the day when one of them unexpectedly disappears. Then Lê tells us about his graphic novel, Enlighten Me, illustrated by Chan Chau. Your host for this episode is Nadia Salomon. https://picturebooking.com/minh-le-real-to-me https://bookshop.org/a/14436/9780593377499 http://minhlebooks.com/https://www.nadiasalomon.com/

Author-illustrator Leah Hayes talks about her picture book I Touched the Sun—a wondrous story about a young boy's journey to meet the Sun. Your host for this episode is Nick Patton. https://bookshop.org/a/14436/9781592703906 http://www.leahhayes.com/

Author Kari Lavelle talks about her picture book Butt or Face?—a delightfully cheeky challenge: examine a close-up photo of an animal, and then guess whether you're looking at the top or the...um...bottom. Your host for this episode is Nadia Salomon. https://picturebooking.com/kari-lavelle-butt-or-face https://bookshop.org/a/14436/9781728271170 https://www.karilavelle.com/ https://www.nadiasalomon.com/

After a summer away from your feed, today is a new start to the picturebooking podcast. Here is a sneak peek at our fall season of episodes! Enjoy.

Features host Shawna J.C. Tenney, the award-winning author-illustrator Ed Vere, and his latest book, "The Artist." Podcast Website: https://picturebooking.com/ Feature Book Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/14436/9780525580874 Guest Website: http://www.edvere.com/ Host Website: https://www.shawnajctenney.com/

Host Nick Patton chats with author Elizabeth Partridge and illustrator Lauren Tamaki about their 2023 Sibert Medal-winning picture book, “Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adams’s Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration.”

Host Nadia Salomon chats with author Becky Scharnhorst about her latest picture book, HOW TO GET YOUR OCTOPUS TO SCHOOL, a sweet, silly back-to-school story about an octopus who would rather play hide-and-seek than give school a chance. During their conversation, Becky talks about using the octopus's real-life characteristics to develop her character. Plus, they discuss pursuing dreams and goals while dealing with anxiety. And why you should open that drawer of old manuscripts every once in a while.  Podcast Website: https://picturebooking.com/ Feature Book Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/14436/9780593205228 Guest Website: https://beckyscharnhorst.com/

Host Shawna J.C. Tenney chats with #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald about his latest author-illustrator picture book, THE NOISE INSIDE BOYS, a personal story that explores the complex emotions experienced during a day at the beach. During their conversation, Pete explains how he found inspiration for this book from Mr. Rodgers and why watercolors were the perfect medium to tell a story about emotions.

Host Nadia Salomon chats with author Meera Sriram about her latest picture book, GARDEN IN MY HANDS, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, a story celebrating the custom of applying henna through a mother and daughter who share family memories. During their conversation, Meera explains why she prefers to write for a picture book audience and how she believes she is a better writer when she doesn't write every day. 

Host Nick Patton chats with Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Lauren Castillo about her latest picture book; THIS IS A STORY by John Schu, a love letter to libraries and librarians. They discuss how John's sparse text allowed Lauren to add her illustrated storyline about a family's trip to the library and a librarian's ability to connect readers with books they'll love.

Host Nick Patton chats with award-winning author Carole Boston Weatherford about the picture book YOU ARE MY PRIDE, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, a powerful story written in the voice of Mother Africa, reminding us of our timeless bond. They discuss how to approach writing from such a unique perspective, the stunning illustrations E.B. Lewis created, and how teaching has impacted Carole's writing.

Host Nick Patton chats with author Jan Lower about the picture book The Brilliant Calculator—the fascinating story of America’s first female electrical engineer and her groundbreaking invention helped electrify America. Plus, they discuss determination and the need to fulfill our ambitions. Astra Publishing House is today’s episode sponsor.

Host Nadia Salomon chats with illustrator Nadia Fisher about two picture books, DADDY DRESSED ME, by Michael Gardner & Ava Gardner, and DADDY & ME, SIDE BY SIDE, by Pierce Freelon.  They talk in-depth about the process of illustrating children’s books and Nadia’s journey as a self-taught illustrator.

In this episode, host Nadia Salomon has a fascinating conversation with author Norene Paulson about her latest book, “Nila’s Perfect Coat.” As a former teacher, Norene has a gift for crafting stories that tackle social and emotional topics in a relatable way for kids of all ages. In “Nila’s Perfect Coat,” Norene tells the story of a young girl who learns an important lesson about the difference between wanting and needing. The book aims to normalize thrift store shopping for children who might feel embarrassed about second-hand items while highlighting the importance of helping others in need. Through the episode, Norene shares her journey to becoming a published children’s book author, which took thirty years of persistence and patience. She also discusses the inspiration behind her latest project and her partnership with the non-profit organization One Warm Coat to provide coats for underprivileged children. Listeners will be inspired by Norene’s passion for creating meaningful stories that make a difference in the world. They’ll also gain valuable insights into the creative process behind “Nila’s Perfect Coat” and learn how the book can help children develop empathy and understanding for others. Overall, this episode of the Picturebooking Podcast is a must-listen for anyone who loves children’s books, storytelling, and making a positive impact in the world.

In this episode, host Nick Patton interviews author Baptiste Paul about his latest book “Climb On!”. Baptiste is a Caribbean-born author passionate about sharing stories that reflect the experiences of marginalized communities. His latest book, “Climb On!”, celebrates Black joy in nature and encourages readers to explore and appreciate the natural world around them. In this interview, Baptiste shares how he pursued his passion for writing despite challenges and offers advice to aspiring authors facing similar obstacles. He also discusses the inspiration behind “Climb On!” and the process of working with his publisher and illustrator to add multiple layers of storytelling to the book. Baptiste and Nick delve into the importance of representation in children’s literature and how “Climb On!” can serve as a tool for educators and parents to introduce children to diverse perspectives and experiences. Join us for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation about the power of picture books to shape our understanding of the world around us. Listen now to this latest episode of the Picturebooking Podcast.