Kidlit Happy Hour

Latest Episodes:

Ep 7: Writing Truth: Liz Kleinrock on Representation as Low-Hanging Fruit and Finding Our North Star Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Highlights from this episode with acclaimed educator, consultant, author, and antibias antiracist facilitator Liz Kleinrock include:

Distinguishing truth and fact, holding multiple truths, intersectionality, and nuance
Representation is the low-hanging fruit; moving toward affirmation
The consequences of speaking truth and holding on to our North Stars

Liz Kleinrock is an author, educator, consultant and antibias antiracist facilitator. She received the Learning for Justice’s Award for Excellence in 2018, delivered a TED Talk called “Education Everywhere” that’s been watched by millions, and released her bestselling Start Here Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work In Your School Community that informs practice in schools all across the country. Liz is a force for good and has her fingerprints absolutely everywhere, from her platform @teachandtransform, to working with companies and organizations like North Face, the Smithsonian Museum of African America History and Culture and Central Synagogue in NYC.

IG: @teachandtransform

Website: https://www.teachandtransform.org/

Come and Join Us!: Liz's debut picture book!

Eyes that Weave the Worlds Wonders: Liz and Joanna's book (out 1/23/24)

What Jewish Looks Like: Liz and Caroline's book (out in 2024, stay tuned for link!)

Ep 6: Writing Truth: Maggie Tokuda-Hall on Trashing Drafts and Caping for the Giving Tree Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

Highlights from this episode with acclaimed author Maggie Tokuda-Hall include:

Writing protagonists that are not role models
The magic of the 25k word count and refusing to string along dead writing and trashing drafts
Her thoughts on determining what are *her* stories to tell
Why telling truth to kids matters and untangling what "age appropriate" means
Mermaids, serial killers, and another perspective on The Giving Tree
An overshare that should empower us all to say NOPE!

Maggie Tokuda-Hall is the author of many books, including Love in the Library, and her debut young adult novel The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, which was named a Best Book of 2020 by NPR, Kirkus, School Library Journal and Book Page. Maggie is relentlessly bold in her writing and her truth-telling, and is an absolute force in the world of kid lit and beyond.

IG and TikTok: @maggietokudahall

Website: https://www.prettyokmaggie.com/

Discussion around the Scholastic censorship controversy

Ep. 5: What is Story? Reflections with Joanna and Caroline Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

It’s just the two us of us on today’s new episode!!! We are reflecting on the question that guided the first three interviews of the season: What is Story? Here are some highlights:

🎙️A few beloved, and perhaps distinguishing, qualities of kidlit creators

🎙️Wondering as a precursor to liberation

🎙️Showing (vs. telling) a story’s relevance

🎙️The beauty and challenges of podcasting so far

🎙️More overshares…!

🎙️Introducing our NEXT guiding question, which kicks off next Tuesday, October 3rd

Anddddd.... Joanna’s latest book SAY MY NAME, illustrated by Kha Le, is out in the world TODAY! We hope you’ll snag your own copy at your local indie or library, leave a review and share online.

Order your copy of SAY MY NAME!

Ep 4: What is Story? Michelle Li Says You Learn Something, You Feel Something, You Do Something Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

Highlights from this episode with award-winning news anchor and founder of The Very Asian Foundation include:

Going viral for being "very Asian"
Relevance making a story AND stories making things relevant
Navigating the tension of truth-telling in the news

Michelle is a news anchor and reporter at KSDK, the NBC affiliate. Michelle’s reporting has been honored with a national Peabody Award, four national Murrows, and multiple regional Emmys– often for covering topics related to race or gender inequities. Her work has been on CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and The Washington Post. Michelle's went viral in her response to a racist voicemail, which became a global movement that became The Very Asian Foundation, which focuses on shining a light on all walks of Asian life through advocacy and celebration.

IG: @michellelitv

Website: https://www.michellelitv.com/

The Very Asian Foundation

That viral video

Ep. 3: What is Story? Donna Barba Higuera and Drinking Every Time You Hear the Word ”Wonder” Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

A few (of the many!) highlights from this episode with New York Times bestselling, Newbery Medal and Pura Belpré Award-winner Donna Barba Higuera include:

🎙️ The value of wondering, and whether being a "wonderer" is inherent or learned

🎙️ Writing for ourselves and other members of the “nerd herd” (not critics)

🎙️ Integrating emotional facets of oral storytelling into the written form

Donna Barba Higuera has created some of the most beloved characters and stories across age groups in recent years, including her Newbery Award winning THE LAST CUENTISTA, LUPE WONG WON'T DANCE, EL CUCUY IS SCARED, TOO and THE YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF. Her highly anticipated ALEBRIJES releases on October 3rd.

IG: @donnabarbahiguera

Website: www.dbhiguera.com

Ep 2: What is Story? Dan Santat on Holding Multiple Complexities and Harry Winkler Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Highlights from this episode with Caldecott medalist, Dan Santat include:

Name dropping gone wrong
Creating emotional resonance
The reality behind shiny medals

Dan Santat has published some of the most celebrated and influential and bestselling children's books including DRAWN TOGETHER, AFTER THE FALL, THE AQUANAUTS, and FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING, and Caldecott medal winner, THE ADVENTURES OF BEEKLE. He created the show, The Replacements for Disney Channel, has illustrated for clients like The Wall Street Journal.

IG: @dsantat

Website: https://sites.google.com/g.risd.org/dansantat/home

Ep 1: Introducing Kidlit Happy Hour Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to the very first episode of Kidlit Happy Hour. HUZZAH!!! In this episode, you'll learn more about our big, juicy vision for this podcast. Some highlights include…

How we became friends (Hint: donuts and sprinklers)
Our path to podcasting and where we hope it leads
The first overshares of the season (no happy hour is complete without one!)

We are so thrilled you are here and hope you will stay to build this space with us.

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