Dream Gardens: Talking Up the Children's Books We Love

An Interview with Priya Chhaya For my sixth Dream Gardens podcast, I interviewed historian and author Priya Chhaya about Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. It is a historical children’s novel about a young girl living in German occupied Denmark in 1943. She finds herself unexpectedly thrown into the dangerous world of the underground resistance when her … Continue reading Podcast #6: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry →

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Podcast #084

For my eighty-fourth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author and motivational speaker Michael Arterberry about the classic children’s picture book Curious George. This was the first of a many picture books featuring George, a very curious monkey, whose curiosity sometimes gets him into a bit of trouble, though not too much.

I have to add one correction to the podcast. I stated the author was H.A. Rey, but it was actually co-written by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey, who were married. Margret Rey’s name was left off the first few Curious George Books because the publisher at the time (1941) felt there were already too many woman writing children’s books (!). Her name was included in later books, as it should have always been. It was neglectful on my part not to have included it as well.

Michael Arterberry is a motivational speaker and author of the memoir God was Holding my Hand and the motivational book Be Encouraged!!! 250 Days of Motivation and Encouragement. He is also founder and executive director of Youth Voices Center, Inc. You can find his website at www.michaelarterberry.com and the website for Youth Voices Center at www.youthvoicescenter.org.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Tricia Elam Walker about the picture book Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe. It will be published on Monday, September 21st, 2020.

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Podcast #083

For my eighty-third Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author and storyteller Antonio Sacre about the classic fantasy novel The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien. Bilbo Baggins is a Hobbit like any other, wanting nothing more than to sit in his comfortable home with his pipe. But when adventure coming knocking on his door, literally, Bilbo sets off to meet trolls and dragons and elves and more adventure than he ever knew was possible.

Antonio Sacre is author of such books A Mango in the Hand and My Name is Cool. He is also story teller who story telling recordings include Looking for Papito and High Five Dad. His latest story album is “World’s Second-Best Dad” which just won a 2020 Family Choice Award and a 2020 National Parenting Product Award. You can find his website at antoniosacre.com

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author and motivational speaker Michael Arterberry about the classic children’s picture book Curious George by H. R. Rey. It will be published on Monday, September 7th, 2020.

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Podcast #082

For my eighty-second Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Natalie Rompella about the middle grade graphic novel Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier. When Catrina’s little sister gets sick, her family moves to Northern California, just in time for the yearly gathering of ghosts. But Catrina is too afraid, both of the ghosts and what might happen to her sister. She has a lot to learn before she can set those fears aside.

Natalie Rompella is author of numerous educational guides for young readers as well as the middle grade book Cookie Cutter and Sled Runners and the non-fiction picture book The World Never Sleeps. You can find her website at natalierompella.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author and storyteller Antonia Sacre about the classic chldren’s novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. It will be published on Monday, August 17th, 2020.

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Podcast #114

For my one hundred fourteenth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Jessica Vitalis about the young reader’s novel Kit’s Wilderness by David Almond. When Kit moves the coal mining village Stoneygate to take care of his grandfather, Kit is introduced to a few unusual friends, an unexpected enemy, a strange game of death, and more that a few ghosts.

Jessica Vitalis’s debut middle grade, THE WOLF’S CURSE, came out September, 2021. You can find more information about Jessica and THE WOLF’S CURSE at jessicavitalis.com.

I also spoke to Dwaine Millard, Senior Vice President of Family & Community Engagement at Scholastic, about the 13th annual World Read Aloud Day, taking place in 2022 on Wednesday, February. You can find more information about World Read Aloud Day at scholastic.com/worldreadaloudday .

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! If you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Nicole Magistro about the YA historical novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. It will be published Monday, February 7, 2022.

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