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Who illustrated her first book? What does her new puppy look like? What's she working on now?And how will she spend her MacArthur grant money? (Spoiler Alert: It's an incredible answer) I talk to Jacqueline Woodson about all manner of things.

The post In Which the Blogger Conducts an Interview with a MacArthur Fellow (Hint: It’s Jackie Woodson!) appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

Two yuksters yuk it up. If you're a fan of hijinks, the Marx Brothers, and general silliness, you're probably not going to want to miss this illustrated interview between the creators of Shark & Hippo.

The post Andreao and Elliotto Present Sharko and Hippo: A Comic Interview appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

Two yuksters yuk it up. If you're a fan of hijinks, the Marx Brothers, and general silliness, you're probably not going to want to miss this illustrated interview between the creators of Shark & Hippo.

The post Andreao and Elliotto Presento Sharko and Hippo: A Comic Interview appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

"I never remember him sitting around in his pajamas with no plans for the day." I interview Barbara Bemelmans, daughter of Ludwig Bemelmans (creator of Madeline), about the republication of a near forgotten classic.

The post Spread a Little Sunshine: A Classic Returns and an Interview with Barbara Bemelmans appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

My greatest hope is that kids who read my book develop empathy for people who may not look, sound, or worship the way they do. I hope it causes kids to question the world around them, to research issues they may not understand, and to grow into informed citizens, the kind our country desperately needs.

The Simon & Schuster editor, who passed away October 9, was a passionate ally for emerging voices, particularly in the LGBTQ community.

"Grownups are delicate and easily upset." Annie Barrows comes to the blog and her words are like a breath of fresh air. We talk about her Iggy books and why kids that would lick a goldfish on a dare if you ask them to, are a delight. Funniest interview you'll read all day.

The post Writing for the Least Boring People She Knows: Annie Barrows Talks Iggy appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

"I want my children and their friends to be able to read stories set in a big city like Lagos, Nigeria, a small-town high school in Norton, Zimbabwe, a suburban playground in Cairo, Egypt, a beach town or even a rural town anywhere." A talk with Christine Mapondera-Talley, founder of the publisher Global Kidz House.

The post Meeting a Need: An Interview with Christine Mapondera-Talley, Founder of Global Kidz House appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

I know I can't go back and tell my 17-year-old self to be nicer to us. I can’t tell him to only try to change the way he looks if it comes from a place of love. I can't change the way I treated myself for years. But I've written a little story that has helped me forgive myself. And, hopefully, it will help other young readers as well.

At a time when athletes take a stand by sitting or kneeling down, this biography of Elgin Baylor, the first NBA to boycott games, has rarely been so timely. I talk with its creators about the quiet man that effectively changed the sport of basketball.

The post Above the Rim: An Interview with Jen Bryant and Frank Morrison appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

The Saucy author spoke with SLJ about perfect pets, seeking magical moments, and the capacity for growth at any age.

She writes for children. She writes for adults. She writes and she writes and she writes. Now she has a new book out and a new trailer. I talk to Sy Montgomery about what it really takes to be a "good creature" in 2020.

The post Trailer Premiere & Interview: Becoming a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

In a publishing market where I can count all the Latinx comic creators for kids on one hand, artists like Yehudi Mercado are more needed than ever. Now he has two books out in 2020 with more on the way, and I just gotta ask the guy one thing: Star Wars or Star Trek?

The post Space Operas and Feline Martial Arts: An Interview with Yehudi Mercado appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

A frank Q&A with First Second publisher Mark Siegel on the desire to look beneath the surface and ask difficult questions, as well as his quest to build a better world through comics.

When the school year began I was often the only Black child in my classes and that's where I began to hear the other kind of stories. Sad, bad stories about people who looked like me. I was struck by how feverishly my new teachers and classmates believed in these narratives. It was then that I understood how words and stories could be used to wound.

Submissions for School Librarian of the Year are now being accepted. Let us know what you, or an outstanding colleague, are doing.

I hope this story will expose Betita’s humanity, because her yearnings for happiness and love are universal, but further still, I hope it teaches children how one child was able to use her voice, her art and poetry, to not only endure but to rise above and change a horrific and harmful circumstance.

“They’re not arguing. They’re writing.” Two classics by Don and Audrey Woods are out this year, remastered entirely. An unflinchingly honest look at publishing in the past, republishing today, and the logistics of remastering a beloved classic or two.

The post Return of the Classics: An Interview with Don and Audrey Wood appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

Early Renaissance feminism? Evan Turk delves deep in a talk about that precise topic, as well as informational fiction, Venice, glassblowing, and the art of using oil pastels and colored pencils on top of vivid watercolors.

The post A Thousand Glass Flowers Is Never Enough: An Interview with Evan Turk appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

The middle grade author reflects on loneliness and survival in her latest novel, My Life in the Fish Tank, and its unintentional ties to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He's been blogging about LGBTQIA+ kid and teen books for 13 years. His latest middle grade work of nonfiction reexamines the history so many kids haven't been taught, shining a light on some of the amazing stuff he's discovered.

The post Dual Cover Reveal & Interview: NO WAY, THEY WERE GAY? Hidden Lives and Secret Loves by Lee Wind appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

Think pink. Peter Brown premieres his latest picture book's cover and talks at length with me about his process.

The post Peter Brown Cover Reveal & Interview: Fred Gets Dressed appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

Black kids deserve to see themselves as the stars of the story, and it’s just as important for other readers to see Black kids as the stars of the story as well.

Unlike most artists, Adam Rex alternates between writing & illustrating his own books and having others illustrate for him. After I saw two different 2020 titles, both equal in brilliance, I knew I had to ask the man a few questions.

The post Deadpan, Page Turns, Storytelling & Digestion: An Interview with Adam Rex appeared first on A Fuse #8 Production.

When I decided to write my newest novel The Bridge, I was opening a door that I hadn’t opened yet. Instead of coming out as gay, which I had done in my first young adult books, this time I was coming out about my mental health issues. In some ways, this was actually harder for me.

Shelley Diaz returns to SLJ to become reviews editor.

Seven months of learning loss. That’s the impact wrought by the pandemic, and low-income, Black, and Latinx children stand to suffer the most. Some cities are adapting the pod concept, working with community partners to serve at-risk students.

A PBS documentary, a picture book about his boyhood aspirations to become a preacher, and his own graphic memoir trilogy invite young readers into the life and battles of the late, beloved John Lewis.

Concerns about challenged summer reading during quarantine; Most Challenged Books & LGBTQIA+ topics; banned books that will engage students. 

With her new graphic novel series “The Weirn Books,” creator Svetlana Chmakova steps away from the sunny classrooms of Berrybrook Middle School to another school in a darker realm.

The bestselling author counters those accusing her of being transphobic, while actor Daniel Radcliffe urges "Harry Potter" lovers to hold on to their individual, "sacred" connections to the story.

Jason Reynolds and Ibram Kendi, co-authors of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, kicked off SLJ's Day of Dialog. Here is the entire keynote conversation.

Kwame Alexander, Jason Reynolds, and Jacqueline Woodson have organized a Kid Lit Rally for Black Lives on Facebook Live on Thursday. It will include other children and teen literature authors and a conversation for young people and as well as a second one for parents, librarians, and educators.

The multi-talented 2020 Edwards Award winner is interviewed by legendary comic artist Stan Mack. 

In a new series of articles and virtual sessions, the authors will guide a conversation about the future of public libraries, culminating in a practical plan to reenvision youth services.

Here are the most popular blog posts of the week.

The winners of the 2020 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards are Saturday by Oge Mora, King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender, and Infinite Hope: A Black Artist’s Journey from World War II to Peace by Ashley Bryan.

The Ickabog, a standalone title, will be released chapter by chapter into July and published traditionally in November. The bestselling author has created an international competition for children to illustrate it.

With news of Tom Low's death this week, people in the publishing world mourned the loss of the man who co-founded Lee & Low Books to combat the lack of diverse literature for children and opened a new world of possibilities for authors, educators, and readers.

The UK-based author/illustrator spoke with SLJ about the anticipated sequel to his delightfully eccentric fantasy Malamander. 

Book access inequities existed in our communities long before COVID-19. What can we learn now that will improve access for children and teens in the future?

In her newest middle grade offering, Erin Entrada Kelly explores the 1986 Challenger launch and subsequent tragedy through the eyes of three siblings navigating their own difficult journeys. SLJ spoke with the author about her research process and keeping history alive for future generations.

Taking pride in a job well done is a professional triumph—and when the hard work is honored with an award nominated by one’s esteemed peers, the gratification is that much sweeter. Here’s what three past winners have to say about the award and their dedication to their work.

Employees with disabilities and chronic illnesses have long fought for basic accommodations now granted to millions of workers from home. Here's what else is needed.

Authors, including Kelly Yang and Dhonielle Clayton, have become victims of racist comments on Zoom, Instagram, and other digital platforms used to connect educators, students, and creators during this unprecedented time.

Padma Venkatraman created #AuthorsTakeAction and middle grade and YA authors joined in the cause to impress upon their readers the importance of following social distancing guidelines.

The death of Tomie dePaola this week left fans and friends seeking solace in their memories and in the comfort and joy of his books.

The "Dog Man" and "Captain Underpants" author, country music icon, and Reading Rainbow legend start initiatives this week to help students, parents, and educators.

Lewis is the school librarian at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, GA, and creator of the Read Woke movement. 

Lewis's Read Woke challenge prompts young readers to embrace social consciousness. Her students say she changed their lives.

The at-home program offers downloadable superhero-themed activities, previews of graphic novels, and how-to videos from DC's roster of middle grade authors and illustrators, including Minh Lê, Gene Luen Yang, Shannon and Dean Hale, Meg Cabot, and Amanda Deibert.

The Everywhere Book Fest will be held May 1 and 2.

Children's authors and illustrators are creating resources and reaching out to educators to help during the coronavirus school closures.

The new DC title, which will be released on December 1, will profile female public figures including Michelle Obama, Malala Yousafzai, Serena Williams, and Greta Thunberg.

Legislators in Tennessee want to create a parental oversight board to decide what children can and cannot access at their local public library; Jeff Kinney to hit the road for Rowley; and grants and professional opportunities in this edition of News Bites.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, founder of the 1619 Project, spoke to Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi about their collaboration on Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You.

Spending summer days in libraries, Eileen Robinson fell in love with reading. Teenage Eileen soaked up Judy Blume, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Stephen King, and Charles Dickens. In college, she devoured Shakespeare, Joan Didion, Classical Greek drama, and the Harlem Renaissance masterworks.

SLJ Editor-in-Chief Kathy Ishizuka on libraries and literacy.