Episodes

  • 🏆📙 Shannon Hale's Origin Story: Crafting Stories from Childhood Dreams
    Aug 23 2025

    🛒 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: (Use code PODCAST for 10% off art commissions.)

    💬 Submit questions here!

    📕 Buy Shannon's books!


    Join us as we delve into the captivating journey of Shannon Hale, a celebrated author known for her imaginative storytelling and impactful children's books. In this episode, Shannon shares her childhood experiences, the challenges of writing memoirs, and her passion for creating stories that resonate with young readers.Shannon's early life in Salt Lake City, Utah, and her love for storytelling. The influence of her family and environment on her creative journey. Insights into writing memoirs and the balance between truth and storytelling. Shannon's transition from novels to graphic novels and her advocacy for children's literature.


    #ShannonHale #ChildrensBooks #Storytelling #MemoirWriting


    👨🏻‍💻Learn more about JJK and his books!


    🗯Request information on JJK's keynotes and assemblies for schools, libraries, and institutions!


    🍎Download free resources for your classroom!


    ✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️​​​​​​​​​​​​Jarrett J. Krosoczka, known since boyhood as "JJK," is the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star Wars™: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist. Krosoczka creates books with humor, heart, and deep respect for his young readers—qualities that have made his titles perennial favorites on the bookshelves of homes, libraries, and bookstores over the past twenty years. In addition to his work in print, Krosoczka produced, directed, and performed in the full-cast audiobook adaptations of his graphic novels. The Hey, Kidoo audiobook garnered both Audie and Odyssey Awards for excellence in audiobook production. The Lunch Lady audiobook cast is led by Kate Flannery (The Office) and is rounded out by famed audiobook narrators and real kid actors! Krosoczka has been a guest on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, has been profiled in The New York Times, was featured on Good Morning America, and has delivered three TED Talks, which have accrued millions of views online. Krosoczka has garnered millions of more views online via the tutorials he has produced for YouTube and TikTok. As well as working on his books' film and television adaptions, Krosoczka has also written for The Snoopy Show (Apple TV+) and served as a consultant for Creative Galaxy (Prime Video), and appeared in live segments for the show.Realizing that his books can inspire young readers beyond the page, Krosoczka founded School Lunch Hero Day, a national campaign celebrating school lunch staff. A consummate advocate for arts education, Krosoczka also established the Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarships, which fund art classes for underprivileged children in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.Krosoczka lives in western Massachusetts with his spouse, their three children, pug Frank and French bulldog Bella Carmella.



    #graphicnovel #booktube #artist #writer #illustration #artistadvice #creativeprofessional #comics #graphicnovels #graphicnovel #publishing #teacherresources #learning #howtomakecomics #drawingtutorial #vlog #artistlife #booktube #memoir

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    50 mins
  • ☎️ The ONE Piece of Advice I'd Give Art School Kids
    Aug 16 2025

    💬 Submit questions here.🛒 Support the show here.Follow along this journey to get insight into my career as an author and illustrator of books for young readers. I am the creator of the LUNCH LADY graphic novels and won a few awards for my graphic memoir HEY, KIDDO.

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    5 mins
  • 💬🏆 NEW KID Broke Barriers, but for Years Nobody Wanted His Work: Jerry Craft’s ORIGIN STORY
    Aug 9 2025

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    📕 Support Jerry Craft

    In this episode, graphic novelist Jerry Craft shares his journey from a young artist with dreams of creating comics to becoming a multi-award-winning author known for his groundbreaking work in children's literature. He discusses his early influences, the struggles he faced in the comic industry, and the eventual success of his graphic novel 'New Kid,' which won prestigious awards and changed the landscape for representation in literature. Craft emphasizes the importance of creating stories that reflect the joy and experiences of young Black protagonists, and he reflects on the impact of his work on readers and the literary community.

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • 💬💔 Her Dream Job Imploded, which Led to Her Biggest Success: Maria Scrivan's ORIGIN STORY
    Aug 2 2025

    💬 Submit questions: https://StudioJJK.com/podcasts

    🛒 Support the show: https://StudioJJK.com/shop

    📕 Support Maria Scrivan: https://bookshop.org/lists/maria-scrivan-studiojjk

    In this conversation, Maria Scrivan shares her journey from a childhood filled with drawing and storytelling to becoming a successful cartoonist and author of the Nat series. She discusses the challenges of navigating the fine art world, the impact of rejection, and the importance of self-care and exercise in her creative process. Maria reflects on her experiences during the pandemic and how they shaped her work, emphasizing the role of humor in coping with life's challenges. She also hints at future projects and the ongoing inspiration she draws from her life.

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    48 mins
  • ☎️ Vetting Your New Ideas - Answering Listener Questions
    Jul 26 2025

    💬 Submit questions: https://StudioJJK.com/podcasts🛒 Support the show: https://StudioJJK.com/shop

    In this episode, I delve into the world of creative coincidences. From the unexpected overlap of themes in children's books to my own tough luck with releasing works with similar themes to competing projects. I share personal anecdotes that highlight the serendipitous nature of creativity.

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    7 mins
  • 📘🐉 Grace Lin's Origin Story
    Jul 19 2025

    💬 Submit questions: https://StudioJJK.com/podcasts🛒 Support the show: https://StudioJJK.com/shop 📕 Support Grace: https://bookshop.org/lists/grace-linCelebrated, multi-award winning author/illustrator Grace Lin shares her journey from childhood to becoming an icon of children's literature! Grace discusses the impact of her upbringing, the challenges of navigating cultural identity, and the importance of representation in literature. Grace reflects on her art school experience at Rhode Island School of Design, the significance of awards, and the courage to embrace her creative voice after personal loss. Throughout the discussion, she emphasizes the value of community and hard work in achieving success in the creative field.Follow along this journey to get insight into my career as an author and illustrator of books for young readers. I am the creator of the LUNCH LADY graphic novels and won a few awards for my graphic memoir HEY, KIDDO.▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬02:52 The Role of Art and Storytelling in Coping05:47 Early Writing Experiences and Influences08:44 Navigating Parental Expectations and Cultural Identity11:59 Art School Journey and Challenges14:46 The Breakthrough with 'The Ugly Vegetables'17:36 Transitioning to Longer Works and Recognition24:24 Navigating Cultural Representation27:26 Embracing Personal Narratives30:25 The Impact of Awards and Recognition35:11 The Pressure of Expectations40:14 The Importance of Promotion and Community👨🏻‍💻Learn more about JJK and his books:https://studiojjk.com🗯Request information on JJK's keynotes and assemblies for schools, libraries, and institutions:https://studiojjk.com/keynotes🍎Download free resources for your classroom:https://studiojjk.com/freeresources✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️​​​​​​​​​​​​Jarrett J. Krosoczka, known since boyhood as "JJK," is the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star Wars™: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist. Krosoczka creates books with humor, heart, and deep respect for his young readers—qualities that have made his titles perennial favorites on the bookshelves of homes, libraries, and bookstores over the past twenty years. In addition to his work in print, Krosoczka produced, directed, and performed in the full-cast audiobook adaptations of his graphic novels. The Hey, Kidoo audiobook garnered both Audie and Odyssey Awards for excellence in audiobook production. The Lunch Lady audiobook cast is led by Kate Flannery (The Office) and is rounded out by famed audiobook narrators and real kid actors! Krosoczka has been a guest on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, has been profiled in The New York Times, was featured on Good Morning America, and has delivered three TED Talks, which have accrued millions of views online. Krosoczka has garnered millions of more views online via the tutorials he has produced for YouTube and TikTok. As well as working on his books' film and television adaptions, Krosoczka has also written for The Snoopy Show (Apple TV+) and served as a consultant for Creative Galaxy (Prime Video), and appeared in live segments for the show.Realizing that his books can inspire young readers beyond the page, Krosoczka founded School Lunch Hero Day, a national campaign celebrating school lunch staff. A consummate advocate for arts education, Krosoczka also established the Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarships, which fund art classes for underprivileged children in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts.Krosoczka lives in western Massachusetts with his spouse, their three children, pugs Ralph and Frank, and a French bulldog named Bella Carmella.

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    47 mins
  • ☎️ Will I be able to move beyond family disfunction?
    Jul 12 2025

    How do you move beyond a difficult childhood?💬 Submit questions: https://StudioJJK.com/podcasts🛒 Support the show: https://StudioJJK.com/shopFollow along this journey to get insight into my career as an author and illustrator of books for young readers. I am the creator of the LUNCH LADY graphic novels and won a few awards for my graphic memoir HEY, KIDDO.

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    6 mins
  • 🚂 🔔 Chris van Allsburg's Origin Story
    Jul 5 2025

    💬 Submit questions: StudioJJK.com/podcasts

    🛒 Support the show: StudioJJK.com/shop

    Chris Van Allsburg is an award-winning picture book author and illustrator best known for beloved classics like The Polar Express, Jumanji, and The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. His imaginative storytelling and distinctive illustrations have earned him two Caldecott Medals and status of icon in children's literature. This interview is from 2013.

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    9 mins