Episodes

  • Sven Völker, "The Museum of Shapes" (Cicada Books, 2025)

    Sven Völker, "The Museum of Shapes" (Cicada Books, 2025)
    Oct 8 2025
    Welcome to the Museum of Shapes. Alma is the curator of the museum. She decides which shapes should go where. Triangles have three sides and three angles. Can you help Alma find all the triangles on the shelves? Almas favorite shape is a circle. All the points on the edge of a circle are the same distance from its center. Not all shapes are geometric. Some lines are wiggly and messy. Can you make a wiggly line with your body? The Museum of Shapes (Cicada Books, 2025) is an engaging and informative book about the shapes that make up our world. The narrative framework is complemented by interactive texts and gorgeous, minimalist illustration, shedding new light on the beauty of geometry. Sven Völker is Professor for Experiment and Strategy in Graphic Design at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. He studied at the University of Art in Bremen and received an master degree from Middlesex University in London. In 2004 he was appointed professor for graphic design at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Karlsruhe and since 2010 tought at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art in Halle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Suzy Levinson, "Dinos That Drive" (Tundra Books, 2025)

    Suzy Levinson, "Dinos That Drive" (Tundra Books, 2025)
    Oct 4 2025
    Suzy Levinson is a children’s author and poet whose work has been featured in numerous anthologies, including A World Full of Poems (DK Children), I Am a Jigsaw (Bloomsbury Education), and Shaping the World (Macmillan), and magazines, including Highlights and Cricket. Her critically acclaimed debut picture book–length poetry collection, Animals in Pants (Abrams), was published in 2023. In our wonderful interview we talk about her brand new book, Dinos That Drive (Tundra Books, 2025) illustrated by Dustin Harbin, which hits the shelves...tomorrow! And she’s got more books on the way! Originally from Massachusetts, Suzy now lives in New York with her sweet husband and spicy cat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • Friederike Ablang and Roseanne Baxter Frank, "O'Win and the Moon" (Wonder House Books, 2025)

    Friederike Ablang and Roseanne Baxter Frank, "O'Win and the Moon" (Wonder House Books, 2025)
    Oct 1 2025
    Friederike Ablang is an award-winning children's illustrator. She was born in East-Berlin and studied photography and design in the United Kingdom and Germany. She has illustrated dozens of picture books and school books. In our conversation we discuss the recent book which she illustrated, O'win and the Moon by Roseanne Baxter Frank, published in March, 2025 by Wonder House Books. We also talk about her process, her journey to success, and her advice for aspiring illustrators. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Danna Zeiger, "Rewriting the Rules" (Millbrook Press, 2025)

    Danna Zeiger, "Rewriting the Rules" (Millbrook Press, 2025)
    Sep 21 2025
    In our wonderful interview, Dr. Danna Trachtenberg Zeiger and I celebrate her debut picture book, Rewriting the Rules, a STEM nonfiction picture book which was just released from Millbrook Press (Carol Hinz, editor) on September 9, 2025". She is represented by Gaby Cabezut at The Seymour Agency. A published scientist, Danna's research has appeared in top scientific journals such as Science, Neuron, and PNAS. Formerly a biology professor and program director at Fisher College, she now focuses on writing for children. In our conversation Danna describes her transition from scientist to author, and the benefits that a career in science can bring to the writer's table. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Hannah Shafiroff, "My Little Book of Big Jewish Holidays" (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025)

    Hannah Shafiroff, "My Little Book of Big Jewish Holidays" (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025)
    Sep 19 2025
    Hannah Shafiroff is celebrating a book about celebrations! In our interview we talk about her brand new picture book which she both wrote and illustrated, My Little Book of Big Jewish Holidays (Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025). We talk about her own childhood and memories of Sabbath and holidays, and how her she was able to turn her childhood passion for art into a professional career as writer-illustrator. Hannah also shares some tips for aspiring authors, including a musical method for dealing with rejections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins
  • Mallory Loehr on a Life in Children's Books

    Mallory Loehr on a Life in Children's Books
    Sep 15 2025
    In her thirty plus years of enthusiastic dedication to Random House Children’s Books, Mallory Loehr has played a seminal role in the development of this business. She has led numerous editorial teams, working with them to develop strategies for growth, across trade and brand, for all ages and formats, including for Random House Books for Young Readers, Random House Studio, Crown, Doubleday, Labyrinth Road, Little Golden Books, Rodale Kids, Dr. Seuss publishing, and an extensive licensed and proprietary portfolio. Her teams and their books have received the highest accolades, from the Newbery to the Caldecott and more. Mallory is also author of a dozen children's books, ranging from unicorns and leprechauns to an early reading version of Alice in Wonderland. As an editor, Mallory shaped the careers of many authors, including global powerhouse Mary Pope Osborne, whom she began editing at the inception of the Magic Tree House series. She has an exceptional eye for quality children’s books and a keen ability to discover and nurture new voices and artists, including Emily Winfield Martin and her book The Wonderful Things You Will Be, which has become a new classic and remains on The New York Times bestsellers list today after more than four hundred weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • D.J. Corchin , "A Million Yes's" (Phazelfoz, 2025)

    D.J. Corchin , "A Million Yes's" (Phazelfoz, 2025)
    Sep 1 2025
    DJ Corchin is a celebrated author and illustrator from Oak Park, IL. In our spirited interview, we discuss his career as a polymath, his unconventional breakthrough from self publishing to traditional publishing and back.and celebrate his brand new picture book , A Million YES's (Phazelfoz Company, 2025), illustrated by Dan Dougherty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 mins
  • Ammi-Joan Paquette, "My Mouth Says" (Penguin, 2025)

    Ammi-Joan Paquette, "My Mouth Says" (Penguin, 2025)
    Aug 17 2025
    Ammi-Joan (A.J.) Paquette is author of twenty books for children as wel as a senior literary agent for Aevitas Creative Management. In our wonderful interview we celebrate her new boar book,My Mouth Says (Body Power), third in a series, illustrated by Sabrena Khadija and published just last month (July, 2025) by Rise x Penguin Workshop. We also talk about her childhood, her journey as an author, and how she balances her day between writing and promoting the creatives she represents. Visit her on the web here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 mins