Here Wee Read

Latest Episodes:

13 - My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World: Up Close and Personal with Superbowl Champion Malcolm Mitchell Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

Malcolm Mitchell is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of his non-profit organization Share the Magic Foundation. As the Chief Executive Officer, he focuses on the foundation’s overall growth, development, and impact. Malcolm grew up in Valdosta, Georgia, and attended the University of Georgia (UGA) where he obtained a Communications degree.

Malcolm was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2016 and became a Super Bowl Champion in February 2017. Among Malcolm’s numerous awards and accomplishments both on and off the field, he considers discovering a love of reading his greatest achievement. Initially, reading was a challenge; however, through perseverance, books became an avenue for expanding his curiosity, creativity, and learning. Through literacy Malcolm is now an author of two children’s books.
To learn more about Malcolm please visit him at http://readwithmalcolm.com.
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Magician’s Hat
My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World

Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:

Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com

Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username @hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word to others.
Thanks for listening!

12 - I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything! Interview with Alissa Holder & Zulekha Holder-Young Dec 22, 2020

Show notes

Alissa Holder is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She has always had a passion for working with children and works as a teacher at a childcare center in New York City. She is the mother of two children, Ayaan Diop and Alaia.
Zulekha Holder-Young is a graduate of Spelman College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in economics. She has passed on her love of reading to her three children, Amari, Amir, and Aria. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, children, and their dog, Mochi.
Alissa and Zulekha are sisters. I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything is their debut picture book.
To learn more about Don please visit her at http://dontate.com.

Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:

Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com

Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username @hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word to others. Thanks for listening!

11 - William Still and His Freedom Stories: Interview with Don Tate Dec 08, 2020

Show notes

Don Tate is an award-winning author, and the illustrator of numerous critically acclaimed books for children. He is also one of the founding hosts of the blog The Brown Bookshelf – a blog designed to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young readers, with book reviews, author and illustrator interviews. Don frequently speaks at schools, public libraries and writing conferences, and participates in book festivals.
Some of the books Don has either written or illustrated include: Ron’s Big Mission, She Loved Baseball, Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton, Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions and more!
To learn more about Don please visit her at http://dontate.com.

Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:

Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com

Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username @hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest

Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word to others. Thanks for listening!

10 - Celebrating 10 Years of Chocolate Me!: Interview with Shane W. Evans Nov 24, 2020

Show notes

Shane W. Evans is a multi-talented artist and visionary who combines his world travels
with his art to influence creative expression in others. Evans studied at Syracuse
University School of Visual and Performing Arts and graduated in 1993 and began
traveling the world. In addition to contract work in illustration, graphic design and web
design for major companies, Evans has conceptualized and illustrated numerous
children’s books.
Many of Shane’s books have been featured in the media such as The Oprah Winfrey
Show, The Today Show, NBA Inside Stuff, Reading Rainbow and Late Night with David
Letterman. Shane has received much acclaim within the children’s literary field for his
work on children’s books such as "Osceola," "The Way The Door Closes," "Shaq and
the Beanstalk," and "Take It To The Hoop Magic Johnson" His accolades range from
being honored by First Lady Laura Bush at the 2002 National Book Festival, The Boston
Globe-Horn Book Award and The Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction for
Children. He is also the illustrator of the popular books Chocolate Me!, Mixed Me!
written by actor Taye Diggs. Look for their forthcoming picture book, My Friend! to
publish in 2021.
Shane Evans’s talent does not stop at illustration and children’s books. His design work
includes unique, one-of-a-kind hand-crafted furniture pieces, clothing, CD cover art,
photography and a number of other custom-made items. To learn more about Shane
and his work please visit her at http://shaneevans.com.
Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:
Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com
Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username
@hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word
to others. Thanks for listening!

9 - Thank You, Omu!: Interview with Oge Mora Nov 10, 2020

Show notes

Oge Mora is a storyteller residing in Providence, RI. Her picture book, Thank You,
Omu!, was a Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award
winner, Ezra Jack Keats Book Award recipient, and a New York Times Notable Book
and Editors' Choice. Her second book, Saturday was a Parent’s Magazine, Publishers’
Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book, and School & Library Journal Best Book of 2019.
Oge’s artwork has been applauded by The Washington Post, The New York Times, The
Wall Street Journal, and The Boston Globe. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio and
graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a degree in Illustration.
Oge is a fan of all things colorful, patterned, or collaged, and enjoys creating warm
stories that celebrate people coming together. To learn more about Oge please visit her
at http://ogemora.com.
Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:
Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com
Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username
@hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word
to others. Thanks for listening!

8 - The Magnificent Makers: Interview with Dr. Theanne Griffith Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

Meet Dr. Theanne Griffith, a neuroscientist and the author of the STEM-themed chapter
book series, The Magnificent Makers. Since she was a little girl, she has loved both
storytelling and science. Her books blend these two passions, taking young readers on
out of this world adventures they will never forget. The first two books in her series, How
to Test a Friendship and Brain Trouble are currently available where books are sold.
The third book in The Magnificent Makers series, Riding Sound Waves, is slated for
release on September 8th, 2020. Theanne is currently represented by Chelsea Eberly
of The Greenhouse Literary Agency.
Theanne received her BA in neuroscience and Spanish from Smith College and earned
her doctorate in neuroscience from Northwestern University. She is currently as
Assistant Professor at the University of California Davis. To learn more about Theanne
please visit her at http://www.theannegriffith.com/.
Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:
Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com
Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username
@hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word
to others. Thanks for listening!

7 - We All Have a Voice: Interview with Cozbi A. Cabrera Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Charnaie gets up close and personal with author-illustrator Cozbi A.
Cabrera. In addition to being a wife and mom, Cozbi is also an author, illustrator and
doll maker of the most beautiful handmade dolls.
Cozbi A. Cabrera received a BFA from Parsons School of Design. Her cloth dolls (Muñecas)
have garnered the attention of collectors around the world and have been featured
on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She is the illustrator of several books, including Me & Mama, Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks, My Hair is a Garden and more. To learn more about Cozbi, please visit her at Cozbi.com.
Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:
Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com
Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username
@hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word
to others. Thanks for listening!

6 - Ty’s Travels: Interview with Kelly Starling Lyons and Nina Mata Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Charnaie chats books with author Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrator
Nina Mata. Listen to find out what the inspiration behind the Ty’s Travels series was
and learn the upcoming projects both Kelly and Nina are working on.
Kelly Starling Lyons is a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf
(http://thebrownbookshelf.com). Her acclaimed picture books include Ellen’s Broom,
Going Down Home with Daddy, and Sing a Song: How "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
Inspired Generations. Kelly attended Syracuse University, where she earned a B.A. in
African-American Studies, as well as her M.S. in Magazine Journalism.
Nina Mata is a New York Times bestselling illustrator and received her degree from the
Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She has illustrated many books,
including American gymnast Laurie Hernandez’s She’s Got This, NBA superstar LeBron
James's I Promise, and the Ty’s Travels I Can Read series. Nina currently lives in New
Jersey with her husband, their daughter, and Tabitha, their cat. Visit her online at
www.beautifique.org.
Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:
Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com
Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username
@hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word
to others. Thanks for listening!

5 - Roxy The Last Unisaurus Rex: Interview with Eva Chen Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Charnaie chats with Eva Chen.
Eva Chen went from being a former pre-med student to the director of fashion partnerships at Instagram. She’s also a wife, mom and children's book author. Previously she was editor-in-chief of Lucky and beauty and health director at Teen Vogue.
Eva’s books include: Roxy the Last Unisaurus Rex, A is for Awesome! 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World, Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes, 321 Awesome! 20 Fearless Women Who Dared to be Different and Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure.
Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:
Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com
Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username
@hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word
to others. Thanks for listening!

4 - Meeting Michelle Obama: Interview with Parker Curry and Jessica Curry Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Charnaie chats with five-year old Parker Curry and her mother Jessica
Curry.
Parker is a precocious, charismatic, and talkative five year old, who loves ballet, books and learning Mandarin Chinese. She is the New York Times Bestselling author of the picture book Parker Looks Up which received an NAACP Image Award nomination. Her favorite colors are pink and purple and she lives with her mother, father, younger sister and baby brother in Washington, DC.
This is a lively and adorable episode that has a fun. Listen as Charnaie’s children Madison and Barrington interview Parker and Charnaie interviews Parker’s mom Jessica.
Connect with Charnaie online in the following places:
Blog: http://hereweeread.com
Personal Website: charnaiegordon.com
Podcast Email Address: hereweereadpodcast@gmail.com
Find Charnaie on the following social media platforms under the username
@hereweeread: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest
Feel free to share this podcast on your social media platforms to help spread the word
to others. Thanks for listening!

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