📚 A library is an oasis. ✨ In this episode of The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast, we sit down with Michael Hardrick, Executive Director of Forest Hill Library, ⁨@foresthilllibrarydistrict107⁩ , explore how libraries shape children’s lives, and how authors, illustrators, and educators can collaborate.

Michael, who was recently honored as the Small Community Libraries Round Table’s 2025 Librarian of the Year, explains the nitty-gritty detail to our Storytellers.

So grab your pencils and let’s learn how small libraries actually work and…

✅ How librarians decide which books make the shelves

✅ What book bans & Senate bills mean for teachers, parents, and librarians

✅ Why and how parents still guide children’s reading journeys

✅ Planning author visits, storytimes, and school outreach for self-published & indie authors JOIN THE FAMILY:

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Authors, and Publishers have a great title that needs to be seen and heard? Check out our BB Notable and submit before October 5!

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“When children see themselves in books, it validates them…and they want to explore.” – Farida Ladipo-Ajayi

🇳🇬 Imagine being a child who seldom has a book at home, never steps inside a library, and rarely finds a story that reflects your life, culture, or dreams.

➡️ Without these opportunities, entire generations risk losing not only literacy skills, but also the self-belief to imagine a bigger future.

📚 In Nigeria, countless children in underserved areas grow up surrounded by barriers to literacy.

Without stories that reflect them, many never discover the joy, curiosity, and confidence that books can spark.

💡 But change is possible — and it’s happening NOW.

Meet Farida Ladipo-Ajayi, founder of The Bookworm Café in Lagos, a grassroots literacy movement transforming reading culture for Nigerian children.

From running book clubs that make reading irresistibly fun 🎲📖 to championing African authors so kids see themselves in the stories they read ✍🏾🌍, Farida is proving that today’s readers are tomorrow’s leaders.

🎧 Listen to this inspiring episode of The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast and discover how one woman’s mission is changing lives, one book at a time @thebookwormcafe8428

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Selling SEL: Tying Social Emotional Learning into Writing & Marketing | with author, speaker, and book reviewer, Meredith Davis

📚 POV: You're a kidlit author struggling with ZERO 0️⃣ SALES. 🥹 Figuring out why your book isn’t moving can feel like climbing Mount Everest. But here’s one shortcut that can boost you: tapping into Social Emotional Learning (SEL).

💥When done right, SEL takes your story from just another book on the shelf to a powerful teaching tool for kids of all ages. And no, we’re not talking about outdated, didactic storytelling or heavy-handed moral lessons. That’s old-school. 📖 We’re talking a gentle weave of pillars like self-awareness and self-management.

💪 According to @CASEL and other experts, SEL is IN and it’s here to stay. Librarians, teachers, and parents are looking for it…so scoop up this opportunity to serve!

LEARN HOW WITH US:✅ Meet Meredith Davis, award-winning author of THE MINOR MIRACLE and HER OWN TWO FEET, and founder and president of SCBWI Austin.

Meredith reveals how she weaves SEL into her middle-grade fiction without being preachy, showing that empathy is the real superpower in children's literature.

Come to class and take notes on:

• How to pitch SEL-infused stories to publishers

• Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever in today’s market

• How diversity and connection are reshaping the children’s book landscape

🎥 Watch now:

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“I would take persistence over talent any day,” says Sherri Winston, award-winning author of SHARK TEETH and PRESIDENT OF THE WHOLE SIXTH GRADE

In an era of burnout, book bans 🚫📖, and pressure to chase market trends or awards 🏆, many writers feel overwhelmed by the publishing world. When the noise gets loud, it’s easy to forget why you started writing in the first place.

But here’s the truth: you don’t have to be the most talented writer to succeed: you need persistence. Resilience and the determination to show up every day, even when it’s hard, is what builds a writing career. 💪✨

Looking for author inspiration? Tune into this episode of Middle Grade Marvels with Sherri Winston, where we explore everything from her superhero alter ego and her approach to using poetry in novels, to the challenges writers face and what she hopes kids take away from her books.

Warning: you might end up chasing your muse with a pen after this one! 🖊️⚡

🎧 Listen now:

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Confused by legal jargon in publishing? Not sure what rights you're signing away or how to protect your work?

One misunderstood clause can cost you ownership of your work, future royalties, or your creative freedom. And if you’re unclear on the difference between copyright, trademark, or publicity rights, you could accidentally infringe OR be taken advantage of.

In this episode, attorneys Erin Rodgers and Tiffany Obeng break it all down. Learn the parts of a contract, how to confidently negotiate, and what you must know about copyright, trademarks, and legal protection—whether you're self-publishing ,hybrid published, or traditionally published as an author or illustrator. Real talk, real scenarios, real steps to protect yourself.

Listen in and empower your creative career with the legal tools you should have been taught.

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😑 Middle school isn’t easy. You’re figuring out who you are, dealing with braces, bad haircuts, embarrassing moments, and a growing sense that the world’s a lot bigger than you thought. It’s awkward, confusing…and kind of magical.

🚨But most books for kids skip over that messy middle, real stuff. They go straight to fantasy or fast-forward to big life lessons, leaving behind the silly, cringey, totally relatable moments that shape who we are.

👦 Not this book. In this laugh-out-loud and tender episode, we talk with Gene J. Miller, retired principal, educator, and author of WARNING: Short Stories for Middle School Boys Only, Because Girls Have Cooties!

His memoir-style short story anthology isn’t just funny, it’s filled with authentic reflections of a young boy navigating the bumps that come with growing up. Set in South Jersey in the 1960s, the title explores everyday moments of imagination, mistakes, and middle-grade mayhem. Using his childhood as a framework, Gene invites kids to embrace the awkward, learn from the silly, and find connection in the chaos. With built-in vocabulary and reflection questions, his book is perfect for summer reading for anyone who remembers what it’s like to live life in the moment.

🎧 Tune in for a nostalgic ride through the middle school years with plenty of laughs along the way!

📍Freebies & More Info: 👉

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📚 Feeling stuck as a creative? Wondering if it’s too late to follow your dream?If you’re an illustrator, author, or educator burned out by trends and algorithms, this episode is for you.💥 In today’s fast-paced publishing world, many creatives feel like they’ve missed their chance or that their ideas must go viral to matter. But what if your best work is still ahead—rooted in purpose, not popularity?🎨 Meet David Hillman, a New York City-based illustrator, author, and publisher. From his early career in comics and licensing to fulfilling a heartfelt dream of creating timeless children’s books, David’s story is one of resilience, humility, and legacy.Whether you're an author, illustrator, librarian, teacher, nonprofit leader, or parent, you'll walk away inspired to believe in the long game—and in yourself.🎥 Watch now to reconnect with the dream that brought you to storytelling.📌 Subscribe for interviews, book reviews, and behind-the-scenes publishing insights!👇 Helpful Links🎁 Free Publishing Resources & Downloads:David Hillman's Episodic Calendar Page📸 Join us on Instagram:Our IG🛍️ Discounts & More Goodies:The Storyteller's Shelf Podcast Linktree

Join us for an exclusive interview with Laila Rifaat, an Egypt-based middle grade author best known for her fantasy adventure series, Aliya, and for being shortlisted for the 2021 Times/Chicken House Award.

In this episode:Discover how Laila brings Egyptian myths and magical worlds to life for young readers.

Hear her practical advice for aspiring middle grade authors.

Get inspired by her journey from idea to award shortlist!

🎙️ About The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast:We explore the world of children’s literature, from board books to young adult novels. Hosted by Jackie Garcia-Morales and Theresa Maria Villarreal, our show features:

✅ Honest book reviews

✅ Expert interviews with authors, illustrators, and publishers

✅ Actionable writing and publishing tips for new storytellers

📚 Are You an Indie Picture Book Author or Illustrator?

Don’t miss our Picture Book Award (for self-published authors) and Illustrator Award (for new illustrators).

Stay until the end of the episode for all the details — or submit your work today at:

Award Submission

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