The Children's Book Podcast

Latest Episodes:

What Gives Claire A. B. Freeland Hope Aug 23, 2025

Show notes

Claire A. B. Freeland, co-author of Making Sense of Your Senses: How Your Brain Perceives the World (Magination Press), with Jacqueline B. Toner and illustrated by Katarina Gasko, shares what is giving her hope today: communities working together to make a difference.

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Learn more about Magination Press and their upcoming releases by visiting www.apa.org/pubs/magination.

Visit Claire Freeland online at clairefreelandwrites.com

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

An Emotional Search with Cordelia Jensen Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Cordelia Jensen, author of Lilac and the Switchback (Holiday House), joins Matthew to talk about belonging, change, and always keeping in mind that you're writing a story.

Visit Cordelia Jensen online at www.cordeliajensen.com

Other helpful links:

Cordelia Jensen at the Highlights Foundation
Revising Your Novel in Verse: An Online Course - Ready to refine your verse novel? Join award-winning verse novelist Cordelia Jensen for an in-depth exploration of revision techniques—focusing on emotional arc, pacing, structure, and line edits—culminating in small-group poem workshops.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

What Gives Kara M. Mitchell Hope Aug 16, 2025

Show notes

Kara Mitchell, author illustrator of Catching Kindness (Magination Press), shares what is giving her hope today: so many things. A new week with a new sketchbook. Libraries and new friends. Community and singing. Hugs that get us through the week.

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Learn more about Magination Press and their upcoming releases by visiting www.apa.org/pubs/magination.

Visit Kara Mitchell online at karammitchell.com

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.

Close to the Anger with Daria Peoples Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Daria Peoples, author illustrator of Be the Light: How She Became Angela Davis (Greenwillow Books), joins Matthew to talk about the hurt and pain of not being accepted.

Visit Daria Peoples online at www.dariapeoples.com

Other helpful links:

Daria Peoples at the Highlights Foundation
Just Do It!: Your Collaborative Support Group for Finishing Your Draft (Fall) - This supportive program takes all creatives (nonfiction or fiction, picture books, novels, essays, and more) from goal-stating to finished drafts. Together, we'll move through live sessions, writing prompts, mindfulness guidance, studio dates, daily inspirations, check-ins, and feedback with Sarah Aronson, Chris Tebbetts, and Daria Peoples, and their special guests!

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

What Gives Merriam Sarcia Saunders Hope Aug 09, 2025

Show notes

Merriam Sarcia Saunders, author of You Can Say Hi with Only a Smile (Magination Press), illustrated by Tracy Nishimura Bishop, shares what is giving her hope today: children are paying attention to each other. Not to the noise or the division, but each other.

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Learn more about Magination Press and their upcoming releases by visiting www.apa.org/pubs/magination.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.

Observant of Your Surroundings with Tiffany D. Jackson Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

Tiffany D. Jackson, author of Blood in the Water (Scholastic Press), joins Matthew to talk about maturing a little faster when the environment calls for it.

Visit Tiffany D. Jackson online at www.writeinbk.com

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

What Gives Shana Keller Hope Aug 02, 2025

Show notes

Shana Keller, author of CeeCee: Underground Railroad Cinderella (Charlesbridge), illustrated by Laura Freeman, shares what is giving her hope today: dreaming. When our dreams speak to us in our darkest hour, they are louder than our fears.

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Learn more about Charlesbridge Publishing and their upcoming releases by visiting www.charlesbridge.com.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.

It's Personal with Jas Hammonds Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Jas Hammonds, author of Thirsty (Roaring Brook Press), joins Matthew to talk about coming to terms with dependence and their experience of everything being fine until it wasn't.

Visit Jas Hammonds online at jashammonds.com

Other helpful links:

Jas Hammonds at the Highlights Foundation
Black Voices: An In-Community Retreat for Storytellers - In-Person | Essential Conversations, In-Community Retreats - Join Valerie Bolling, Jas Hammonds, and fellow storytellers for this in-community retreat for Black writers and illustrators.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

What Gives Michael Genhart Hope Jul 26, 2025

Show notes

Michael Genhart, author of Edie for Equality: Edie Windsor Stands Up for Love (Lee & Low Books), illustrated by Cheryl Thuesday, shares what is giving him hope today: curious kids. They want to know more. They want to understand. And they want to help correct what feels so wrong.

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Learn more about Lee & Low Books and their upcoming releases by visiting www.leeandlow.com.

Visit Michael online at michaelgenhart.com

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.

Growing Ideas with Grace Lin Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Grace Lin, author and illustrator of The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), joins Matthew to talk about a storyteller's responsibility to use whatever the story asks for.

Visit Grace Lin online at gracelin.com

Other helpful links:

For a full transcript, episode takeaways, quotes, and more, visit DeepCast.fm and search "The Children's Book Podcast" or click on the link in the show notes.

Learn more about the Highlights Foundation and their upcoming programs by visiting www.highlightsfoundation.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.