MATTHEWCWINNER

Sophy Henn, author illustrator of Pom Pom Panda Gets the Grumps, and Where Bear?, stops by the podcast to talk about instinctive writing, letting the characters tell you the story, and those days you get up and it's just wrong.

Loren Long, author illustrator most recently of Little Tree, published by Philomel Books, stops by to talk about a simple story about a simple tree, finding a safe harbor in picture books, and letting go.

Elizabeth Lilly shares GERALDINE, a picture book about a giraffe whose family moves to a new town where they are the only giraffe family. Geraldine tries to fit in as much as she can, but an encounter with a schoolmate and a conversation centered on labels gives new light to what it looks like to see and make space for another.

Today’s episode features the 2020 Sydney Taylor Book Award Chair along with a handful of the award winners named by the Association of Jewish Libraries, an affiliate of the ALA. I’ve linked to the full list of winners and honors in the show notes and I encourage you to check out this exceptional list of books recognized by the committee.

Ed Vere, author illustrator most recently of Max the Brave, which is published by Sourcebooks, stops by to talk about storytelling with a jazz trio, a stubborn and tenacious cat, and how it's all in the eyes.

Nikki Grimes shares ORDINARY HAZARDS, a memoir in verse that has not only garnered six starred reviews on top of being named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, and a Robert F. Sibert Informational Honor Book, but it is also without question one of the most beautiful, heart-breaking and heart-mending audiobooks I have ever heard. For those familiar with Grimes’ body of work, you will find through lines throughout pointing back to childhood trauma, family separation, and yearning

Lizi Boyd, author illustrator of Big Bear, Little Chair, which is published by Chronicle Books, returns to the podcast to talk about unexpected opposites, the way a good editor knows how to mine the good stuff out of you and your work, and the value of acknowledging you just need to "go and draw sheep."

Jyoti Rajan Gopal, author of Over in the Mangroves (Orchard Books), illustrated by Dikshaa Pawaskar, joins Matthew to talk about a place so magical and so important.

Mike Curato, author illustrator of Little Elliot, Big Family, which is published by Henry Holt and Company, returns to the podcast to talk about setting a story in a time predating modern technology, seeing your character come to life with the help of Merrymakers, and celebrating the family that you have and the families that you make.

Dashka Slater and The Fan Brothers author and illustrators respectively of The Antlered Ship, stop by the podcast to talk about the spirit of asking questions, a thread of melancholy, and how sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.

Susan Hood, author of Shaking Thing Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World, stops by the podcast to talk about standing up, speaking out, and opening up the conversation to other women by commemorating in poetry the lives and accomplishments of a selection of historically impactful girls and young women.

Rebecca Lee Kunz, illustrator of Chooch Helped (Levine Querido), written by Andrea L. Rogers, joins Matthew to talk about the importance of taking time to learn, to explore, and to discover.

Rob Sanders, author of Book Comes Home: A Banned Book’s Journey (Random House Books for Young Readers), illustrated by Micah Player, joins Matthew to talk about the final stage of publication: readers.

Matt de la Peña and Loren Long, author and illustrator of Home (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers), join Matthew to talk about encountering diversity and exploring alongside the reader.

Weshoyot Alvitre, author and illustrator of Brave (Kokila), joins Matthew to talk about a space to play and the cyclical nature of life.

Sara Andrea Fajardo, author of Crack Goes the Cascarón and Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa joins Matthew.

Shawn Harris, author of Let’s Be Bees, joins Matthew to talk about making books with everything you need to put on a good show.

Veera Hiranandani joins Matthew to talk about feeling complex things and learning how not to get stuck in those feelings.

Katrina Moore (@kmoorebooks) shares ONE HUG and GRANDPA GRUMPS

Deborah Marcero (@deborahmarcero) shares IN A JAR, a picture book about storing memories, shared or gathered on your own.