It is especially sweet to interview June Sobel, my dear friend and coauthor of APPLES, APPLES ALL YEAR ROUND (Apples & Honey Press, 2022) illustrated by Ruth Waters. June is an acclaimed author of numerous picture books, including the ever-popular GOODNIGHT TRAIN series. She…
I am so excited to interview my friend, author and poet Jacqueline Jules. I am a big fan of Jacqueline’s picture books and chapter books, and I was thrilled to hear about her newest book, a middle-grade verse novel titled…
I am pleased to welcome my friend and fellow dog-lover, Shanna Silva! In Shanna’s new picture book, A DOG’S GUIDE TO BEING HUMAN (Yeehoo Press, 2022) illustrated by Agnès Ernoult, a dog named Smudge takes on the role of teacher…
In Emi Watanabe Cohen’s debut fantasy middle grade novel THE LOST RYŪ (Levine Querido, 2022) set in 1965, Kohei Fujiwara embarks on a search for a big ryū, a type of dragon that disappeared after World War II. Although Kohei…
I am thrilled to welcome Pamela Ehrenberg and Tracy López to discuss their new middle-grade novel, DETOUR AHEAD (PJ Publishing, 2022). Pamela is a lovely, longtime friend. I have interviewed her about several of her wonderful books over the years.…
Sylvia Rouss’s beloved children’s series SAMMY THE SPIDER has introduced young readers to many Jewish holidays, customs, and celebrations for over two decades. In her newest book, SAMMY SPIDER’S FIRST ABC (Kar-Ben, 2022) illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn, Sammy learns…
Author/illustrator Amalia Hoffman’s new board book, MY HANDS MAKE THE WORLD (PJ Publishing, 2022), offers a delightful take on the story of creation. The illustrations include engaging, bright colors and fun painted illustrations featuring artistic elements and techniques like paint…
I’m excited to share my interview with Betsy R. Rosenthal about her middle-grade novel WHEN LIGHTNIN’ STRUCK (Kar-Ben, 2022). I have known Betsy for many years, and it’s always a special treat to celebrate a friend’s new book. WHEN LIGHTNIN’ STRUCK…
Kate Hannigan’s new picture book biography BLIPS ON A SCREEN: How Ralph Baer Invented TV Video Gaming and Launched a Worldwide Obsession (Knopf, 2022) illustrated by Zachariah OHora tells the interesting story of Ralph Baer, a Jewish refugee who invented…
Happy Earth Day! In Barbara Newman’s YA novel, THE DREAMCATCHER CODES (Green Writers Press, 2021), four teenage girls are entrusted with saving the planet from environmental destruction. Along the way, they share and learn about their diverse backgrounds, gleaning insights…