https://maggiemadethis.com/

In this episode, we connect with bestselling kidlit author-illustrator Maggie Edkins Willis to explore the creative heart behind her beloved Little Ghost children's book series. Maggie shares how she crafts stories that engage young readers, the power of community in the illustration world, and how she navigates important, serious themes in children's literature without losing a sense of wonder. For educators and librarians looking to add meaningful picture books and middle-grade graphic novels to their shelves, Maggie offers a fascinating look at her journey from publishing book designer to creator. Tune in to hear her heartwarming reflection on why she hopes her books serve as true friends to children everywhere.

Takeaways

• Social media as a platform for networking and discovering new opportunities
• Creating relatable characters for young readers

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Little Ghost Series
• 06:14 Developing Little Ghost as a Character
• 13:39 Challenges of Writing Picture Books
• 20:17 Final Words from Maggie Edkins Willis

Stay informed on the critical issues affecting children's books, school districts, and public libraries. In this episode, we spotlight the newest kidlit releases alongside pressing global news, including PEN America's urgent report on jailed and detained writers. We break down the tangible effects of book bans and upcoming anti-censorship legislation on the future of children's literature. To wrap up, we share an uplifting story of a community librarian whose dedication provides a beautiful spark of inspiration for classroom educators and young readers navigating today's educational landscape.

New Releases:

We Are Joy by Chrystal D. Giles, illustrated by Kitt Thomas (Ages 4-8)

• The Island at the Edge of Night by Lucy Strange (Ages 8-12)
• Midsummer Sisters by Niki Smith (Ages 9-12)
• * The League of Dangerous Young Ladies by J.A. Morgenstein (Ages 12+)
• Where You’ll Find Us by Jen St. Jude (Ages 14+)
• * Bad Queer by Gayathiri Kamalakanthan illustrated by Chi Nwosu (Ages 14+)

* Debut author

Takeaways

• Increase in writers being detained and imprisoned
• Impact of book bans and censorship on the publishing industry

Chapters

• 00:00 New Book Releases
• 12:44 Pan America's Report on Writers Being Detained
• 20:48 Legislation and Good News

https://www.matthewkmanning.com/

https://www.mattloux.com/

The conversation covers the introduction to The Spark Experiment, the science experiments, the story, character design and development, designing the microverse, grounding science fiction in reality, collaboration and storytelling, and insights from the authors. The authors discuss their collaborative approach to storytelling, the blending of science and fiction, and the visual storytelling process.

Takeaways

• Collaborative storytelling
• Blending science and fiction
• Visual storytelling

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to The Spark Experiment
• 06:15 Character Design and Development
• 12:40 Grounding Science Fiction in Reality
• 19:20 Insights from the Authors