Best Tina Shepardson Podcasts (2024)

1
It Matters To Me: Harriet's Heart For Giving & Inclusion 12:32

8d ago12:32

12:32

Welcome to today’s episode! Today on the Lil' Leaders Podcast, meet Harriet! She’s a young girl with a huge heart, on a mission to make sure everyone feels included and loved. Through her charity work, Harriet proves that even small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of positivity and make the world a better place. Be inspired by her under…

1
Sarah Aronson, "Abzuglutely!:Battling, Bellowing Bella Abzug" (Calkins Creek Books, 2024) 52:03

11d ago52:03

52:03

In this lively interview with author Sarah Aronson, we celebrate her brand new picture book, Abzuglutely!: Battling, Bellowing Bella Abzug, illustrated by Andrea D'Aquino ‎ (Calkins Creek, October 15, 2024), which focuses on Bella's determination to fight for what is right, as part of her belief in Tikun Olam (repairing the world). We talk about Sa…

1
Childrens' Books in Public Libraries: A Discussion with Pat (Patrick) Gracey 1:07:07

18d ago1:07:07

1:07:07

Pat (Patrick) Gracey is a senior librarian at the Toronto Public Library where he is a children's services specialist, leading the team that selects new picture books for 17 downtown locations (!). In our interview, Pat talks about the magic inherent in picture books, and focuses on some of his favorite Canadian (and semi-Canadian) picture books, i…

1
Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple, "We Celebrate the Light" (Penguin, 2024) 57:40

29d ago57:40

57:40

In our three-way interview, I celebrate with world-renowned children's authors Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple (who is also Jane's daughter), their brand new picture book, We Celebrate the Light, published last week (October 8, 2024) by Rise x Penguin Workshop with the 'luminous' illustrations of Jieting Chen (Illustrator). We talk about the process b…

1
Unlocking Reading Success: The Power of Eyewords 21:49

29d ago21:49

21:49

Welcome to today’s episode! I’m excited to introduce our guest, Jen Orr, the creator of Eyewords Learning. Jen developed a unique way to help kids learn to read by using the science of how our brains work best. Her program, Eyewords, combines seeing, hearing, and touching all at once to make learning easier. It connects the sounds, letters, and mea…

1
Tina Shepardson, "The Sorry Seeds" (Gnome Road, 2024) 45:31

1M ago45:31

45:31

Tina Shepardson and I celebrate her wonderful new picture book The Sorry Seeds, just published (two days ago!!) by Gnome Road with gorgeous illustrations by Bong Hyun Shin. In our candid conversation, Tina reveals the true childhood story that led her to write the manuscript, and discusses her own journey from child to teacher to author, the critic…

1
Kimberly Wilson, "A Credit Card Takes Charge" (Page Street Kids, 2024) 48:12

1M ago48:12

48:12

Are you ready for the story of a credit card that takes cash on a spending spree? In my interview with picture book author Kimberly Wilson, we celebrate brand new book, A Credit Card Takes Charge, published just last week by Page Street Kids (Oct. 1st, 2024). It's third in her series of hilarious, punniful picture books dealing with all things mone…

1
Lifting Each Other Up: With Smiles and Teamwork 13:23

2M ago13:23

13:23

Lifting Each Other Up : With Smiles And Teamwork What does it take to be a true leader in the face of challenges? Meet Sahasra, today's Lil' Leader! This incredible 7th grader has a heart full of empathy, always finding ways to help those in need. Even when faced with unexpected situations and comments, Sahasra stays optimistic and encourages her c…

1
A Traveling Teacher: Helping Kids Learn Everywhere 19:55

2M ago19:55

19:55

A Traveling Teacher: Helping Kids Learn Everywhere Meet Peter Panopolous, this week's Big Leader feature! After 12 years of classroom teaching, Peter pursued his next dream—teaching online to support kids who needed alternative learning options. In this episode, we explore his strategies and compassionate approach as he created ATravelingTeacher.co…

1
Cathey Stefanec Ogren, "The Little Red Chair" (Sleeping Bear Press, 2024) 44:51

2M ago44:51

44:51

In this, our second interview, Cathy Stefanec Ogren talks about her brand new, wonderfully written and illustrated (by Alexandra Thompson) picture book, The Little Red Chair, just published by Sleeping Bear Press (August 1, 2024). We discuss Cathy's journey to success, the challenge of writing a picture book manuscript that 'begs' to be illustrated…

1
On Haya Shenhav's "100 Rooms" 49:56

2M ago49:56

49:56

Professor Yirmi Pinkus celebrates with us the rerelease of the classic Hebrew children's book, 100 Rooms by Haya Shenhav, in a new American edition (Kalaniot Books, 2024), published (May 1st, 2024) by Kalaniot Books, with his stunning new illustrations. We also discuss his career as an illustrator alongside being an academic teaching the subject, a…

1
Ruth Spiro, "One Small Spark: A Tikkun Olam Story" (Dial Books, 2024) 47:23

2M ago47:23

47:23

In this, our second interview with prolific author Ruth Spiro, we celebrate the publication of her brand new book, One Small Spark: A Tikkun Olam Story (Dial Books, 2024), with the stunning illustrations of Victoria Tentler-Krylov. Ruth talks about her remarkable career, writing scientific board books for toddlers (25 and counting!), as well as sto…

1
Big Heart, Brave Choices: Being a Friend and a Leader 9:57

2M ago9:57

9:57

Show Notes Big Heart, Brave Choices: Being a Friend and a Leader Meet Veera, our first Lil' Leader of the season! She's an elementary school student who loves helping others, even during her lessons. Supporting her peers and family is incredibly important to her! Her episode, 'Big Heart, Brave Choices: Being a Friend and a Leader,' is also her firs…

1
The Lolly Shop: Building Dreams With Resilience and Unity 16:41

3M ago16:41

16:41

In this week's REPOST episode, Baxter and Ethan stopped by to share a special family story. Currently in Austrailia, these young brothers share their story about the difficult times their family experienced during the pandemic and the project they created together to get them through with joy. Their story is one filled with family, love, determinat…

1
Dan Gutman, "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" (Holiday House, 2024) 49:34

3M ago49:34

49:34

Dan Gutman is the renowned, prolific author of some 190 books for kids from kindergarten up to middle school. His books include Rappy the Raptor (picture book) and the "My Weird School" series (early readers) about kids who go to a school in which all the grownups are crazy. Over thirty five million books have been sold . He has also written “Wait!…

1
Muslimness in Books for Young Readers: A Chat with A. M. Dassu 1:00:16

4M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

Persevering with our literary theme this season, in this episode Claudia Radiven and Chella Ward chat to A. M. Dassu about her books for young readers. Az is a children’s author of fiction and non-fiction, whose books include Fight Back (Tu Books, 2022) and Boy, Everywhere (Tu Books, 2021). Her books engage young readers with themes of migration, a…

1
The Art of Voicing Children's Book Stories 14:23

4M ago14:23

14:23

We are revisiting with the amazing Jill Cofsky, a voice actor and primary grade reading intervention specialist. Discover the fascinating world of voice acting and how Jill's voice, paired with engaging sound effects, brings stories to life, taking listeners on a magical literary adventure. Listen in as she shares her journey and the meaningful exp…

1
Charly Palmer and Karida Brown, "The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families" (Chronicle Books, 2023) 50:19

4M ago50:19

50:19

In 1920, W. E. B. Du Bois and the NAACP founders published The Brownies’ Book: A Monthly Magazine for Children of the Sun. A century later, The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families (Chronicle Books, 2023) recreates the very first publication created for Black youth in 1920 into a sensational anthology. Expanding on the mission of the…

1
Don Tate, Children's Book Illustrator and Author 49:23

4M ago49:23

49:23

Don Tate is the award-winning author and/or illustrator of numerous picture book biographies, including Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes (Abrams) and William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad (Peachtree) and more recently, Jerry Changed the Game!: How Engineer Jerry Laws…

1
Bonni Goldberg, "Doña Gracia Saved Worlds" (Kar-Ben Publishing, 2023) 56:58

4M ago56:58

56:58

Bonni Goldberg, award-winning poet, writer, and educator, writes non-fiction for children and adults. In our animated discussion, we talk about how her recent picture book, Doña Gracia Saved Worlds (published December, 2023, by Kar-Ben and illustrated by Alida Massari) which came about, her life and writing career, Judaism, and advice for aspiring …

1
Exploring Pages With Sister Bookstagrammers 13:02

5M ago13:02

13:02

Episode 12 Repost: Welcome to this week's repost of an unforgettable literary journey with Paige and Laly, the dynamic duo behind @paigesandlalypops! With summer break underway, these girls know all the best books for kids aged 5 and up! Get ready to laugh, learn, and leap into the pages of amazing tales as Paige and Laly bring their infectious ene…

1
The Business of Publishing Children's Books: A Discussion with Elizabeth Law 53:35

5M ago53:35

53:35

Elizabeth Law has worked in the publishing field her whole life, first as an Editor at Viking Children’s Books and Puffin Books, as Associate Publisher at Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, then later as Publisher at Egmont USA, and most recently as the backlist and special projects editor at Holiday House Books for Young Readers. Elizabet…

1
Season 1 Finale With A Podcast Scavenger Hunt 4:33

5M ago4:33

4:33

A special thank you to everyone who made Season 1 a success and so much fun! To celebrate Season 1, we're hosting a special podcast scavenger hunt. Here's the scoop: we've hidden 10 questions across our episodes. In the podcast directory, guest names are shared in the description, so you know which episodes to listen to. Using the Google Form in th…

1
Lesléa Newman, "Like Father, Like Son" (Abrams, 2024) 43:13

5M ago43:13

43:13

In our animated interview with prolific, award-winning children's author and poet Lesléa Newman, we celebrate two of her picture books which have just launched, Like Father, Like Son: A Picture Book, published in April, 2024 by Abrams, and Joyful Song: A Naming Story, published in May, 2024 by Levine-Querido. We talk about Lesléa's journey on her w…

1
Through Every Child's Eyes: Celebrating Diversity 18:46

5M ago18:46

18:46

Life often seems like it's painted in black and white, but if we look closer, it's truly filled with vibrant colors—colors that come from our unique perceptions. Today, we're thrilled to introduce Celia Botto, the debut author of When Ayden Paints The Sky. Inspired by her young niece Ayden, Celia has woven a beautiful story where the canvas of the …

1
Robin Newman, "Who's Writing This Story?" (Creston Books, 2024) 49:45

6M ago49:45

49:45

Robin Newman was a practicing attorney and legal editor but has more fun writing children's books about witches, mice, pigs, and peacocks. In our interview, we celebrate the launch of her new picture book, Who's Writing This Story?, illustrated by Deborah Zemke and published by Creston Books (2024), and talk about Robin's journey to literary succes…

1
Jennifer Berne, "A Tour of the Human Body: Amazing Numbers--Fantastic Facts" (Astra Publishing House, 2024) 45:50

6M ago45:50

45:50

In this wonderful second interview with Jennifer Berne we celebrate the launch of her newest picture book, and the first in a series: A Tour of the Human Body: Amazing Numbers--Fantastic Facts (Number Tours for Curious Kids) published by Astra and just launched on May 7, 2024, illustrated by Dawn DeVries Sokol. Jennifer has written many award-winni…

1
Tiny Trailblazers: Spreading Sunshine with Good Behavior 8:49

6M ago8:49

8:49

In this week's REPOST episode, Abby shares her experiences of modeling good behavior when a substitute teacher is in class for the day. Why? So her peers can make good choices and experience a good situation. This time of year the season is changing, kids see the end in sight, and they are easily distracted. Abby's has a strong moral compass filled…

1
Marie-Louise Gay, "Walking Trees" (Groundwood Books, 2024) 57:02

6M ago57:02

57:02

Marie-Louise Gay is an internationally-acclaimed, multi-award winning Canadian author and illustrator of over 60 books. In our interview, we celebrate the recent launch of her newest book, Walking Trees (Groundwood Books, 2024), and discuss her youth, her studies and professional career, and several of her leading books, including the series featur…

1
Julie Carpenter, "Harry and the Highwire: Houdini's First Amazing Act" (Green Bean Books, 2024) 50:45

7M ago50:45

50:45

In this interview, we celebrate Julie Carpenter's first picture book, Harry and the Highwire: Houdini's First Amazing Act (Laura Catalán, illustrator), published by Green Been Books, May, 2024). Before deciding to write for children, Julie was a journalist, writer and editor for over 20 years.In our conversation we talk about the magic of writing, …

1
From Woofs to Wows: Exploring the Benefits of Therapy Dogs in Schools 28:07

7M ago28:07

28:07

We're super excited to introduce you to someone really special in today's big leader feature. Say hello to Dr. Barbara Vokatis, who's not only an amazing literacy professor but also a dog-loving therapist! She and her furry friend Carmel love visiting schools to lend a paw in helping kids with their feelings, friendships, and learning. They're on a…

1
The Puppeteer's Toolbox: Enhancing Education Through Theatre 20:06

7M ago20:06

20:06

Today we are thrilled to bring you another big leader feature. Meet Danny Gibbins, an incredibly talented teacher and puppeteer, renowned for her professional workshops that entertain and educate kids and teachers through her business, @dramazing_kids. Danny joins us to share how blending education and entertainment using puppets opens the doors fo…

1
On Monsters, Goddesses and Myths: A Discussion with Author Katherine Marsh 44:54

7M ago44:54

44:54

“We’re not monsters, Mom. We’re goddesses—smart, fearless, and beautiful.” That’s the voice of Ava, the superpowered protagonist of Katherine Marsh’s captivating novel for children, Medusa (Clarion Books, 2024). Our discussion focuses on Marsh’s feminist retelling of the Medusa myth—and on the wider topic of the direction of children’s literature a…

1
The Magic of Mistakes and More with Shanda McCloskey 16:59

8M ago16:59

16:59

Today we are thrilled to bring you another big leader feature. Meet Shanda McCloskey, an incredibly talented author/illustrator, renowned for her captivating children's books such as Doll-E 1.0, Nubby, and Little Red and the Big Bad Editor. Shanda joins us to share how embracing mistakes can pave the way for unexpected growth and creativity. Pictur…

1
Laura Bower, "The Imposter" (Gnome Road Publishing, 2024) 43:23

8M ago43:23

43:23

In this heartwarming interview with Laura Bower, we celebrate the launch of her brand new, debut picture book, The Imposter, illustrated by Kerisa Greene, and published by Sandra Sutter, Gnome Road Publishing (2024). Laura talks about her life and writing career, the story behind The Imposter, and her advice for aspiring authors. Learn more about y…

1
Michelle Knudsen, "Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten" (Candlewick Press, 2024) 43:05

8M ago43:05

43:05

Michelle Knudsen is the New York Times best-selling author of fifty books for young readers of all ages, including the award-winning picture books (and personal favorites) Library Lion and Marilyn's Monster. In this, our second interview we celebrate the launch of her new picture book, Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten (Candlewick, 2024),…

1
Shoshanna Lockshin and Efrayim Unterman, "The Devash Megillat Esther" (Hadar Press, 2024) 38:06

8M ago38:06

38:06

The Devash Megillat Esther (Hadar Press, 2024) includes the full Hebrew Megillah text, an original kid-friendly English translation, and carefully selected commentaries from 2,000 years of Jewish tradition brought to life in newly accessible ways. Devash unlocks sophisticated texts for learners of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging deep question…

1
Balancing Screentime: Expert Tips for Tech-Intentional Families 28:42

8M ago28:42

28:42

Today we are thrilled to bring you another big leader feature. Meet Emily Cherkin, also known as the ScreenTime Consultant and author of the acclaimed book, ScreenTime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a tech-Intentional Family. Emily is on a mission to help families find balance in their digital lives by promoting a mindful approach to t…

1
Sue Fliess, "Octopus Acrobatics" (Albert Whitman & Company, 2024) 55:45

8M ago55:45

55:45

Sue Fliess ("fleece") is the award-winning, bestselling author of over 50 children's books including Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket, How to Trap a Leprechaun, Mary Had a Little Lab, Rumble and Roar, the Beatrice Bly's Rules for Spies series, the Kid Scientist series, the Magical Creatures and Crafts series, and many Little Golden Books. Her books h…

1
Emily Barth Isler, "The Color of Sound" (Carolrhoda Books, 2024) 1:03:30

8M ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Emily Barth Isler is the author of AfterMath, an award-winning middle grade novel, and of the forthcoming picture book Always Enough Love. In our interview, we celebrate the publication of her second middle grade novel, The Color of Sound (Carolrhoda Books, 2024), the story of Rosie, a musical prodigy with synesthesia. We talk about her transformat…

1
A Chat with a Children's Book Illustrator: Erin Kraan 51:11

8M ago51:11

51:11

Erin Kraan has illustrated over half a dozen children's books, with more on the way. In our interview we celebrate her latest illustrated picture book, Buffalo Fluffalo (Random House Studio, 2024) written by Bess Kalb. Erin talks about her life and career, and explains her unique process of carving her characters into wood and seeing how their quir…

1
Suzanne Slade, "The Music in George's Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue" (Astra, 2021) 58:03

8M ago58:03

58:03

Suzanne Slade is the Sibert Honor author of more than 170 books for children. A mechanical engineer by degree, Suzanne writes about STEM topics, fascinating figures in history, and occasionally lyrical fiction. Her newest books include Some Days are Yellow, Shining Star: Vera Rubin Discovers Dark Matter, Behold the Octopus!, and Dazzilin' Dolly: Th…

1
Sisters Guiding Good Decision-Making 12:12

9M ago12:12

12:12

Repost: In this week's episode, Kaya and Vivi share their experiences of modeling good behavior and decision-making when they are around their peers in and out of school. How? By showing them through actions and not telling them to be different. These sweet girls are funny, authentic, truthful, and hold strong values in compassion, empathy and frie…

1
Heather L. Montgomery, "Sick!: The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs" (Bloomsbury, 2024) 41:43

9M ago41:43

41:43

Heather L. Montgomery writes for kids who are wild about animals, masterfully employing yuck appeal to engage young minds. Her 17 nonfiction books include Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill, What's in your Pocket? Collecting Nature's Treasures, and Bugs Don't Hug: Six Legged Parents and their Kids. Here we celebrate Heather's brand new book…

1
Get Signed: A Chat with Literary Agent Lucinda Halperin 34:56

9M ago34:56

34:56

Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent with over 15 years’ experience in both the publicity and agency sides of publishing. Before founding Lucinda Literary, she worked in the Publicity division of HarperCollins, where she assisted on the media campaign for Freakonomics among other New York Times bestsellers. She currently represents authors writing i…

1
Beyond the Canvas: Inspiring Creativity with Sean E. Avery 24:03

9M ago24:03

24:03

Beyond the Canvas: Inspiring Creativity with Sean E. Avery Today, we're thrilled to introduce our first big feature leader! Welcome to author, illustrator, and art teacher, Sean E. Avery! If you've ever needed tips and tools to boost your creativity, explore unique ways of making things, manage multiple passions well, or ignite a love for art in ch…

1
Laurie Wallmark and Raakhee Mirchandani, "Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut" (Beaming Books, 2024) 47:56

9M ago47:56

47:56

Laurie Wallmark is the award-winning author of picture book biographies of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as fiction. In our second interview, we celebrate Laurie's new picture book, Journey to the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut, co-written with Raakhee Mirchandani, illustrated by Maitreyi Ghosh (Illustrator) ,…

1
My Friends Maurice Sendak and Leonard Bernstein 48:51

9M ago48:51

48:51

Christopher Swann is an award-winning producer and director of documentaries, a playwright, author and editor. In our lively interview we discuss his career, his thoughts on creativity, his friendship with two legendary geniuses: author-illustrator Maurice Sendak, and composer conductor Leonard Bernstein, and the monumental films which these friend…

1
Rebecca Gardyn Levington, "Afikoman, Where'd You Go?: A Passover Hide-and-Seek Adventure" (Rocky Pond Books, 2024) 58:02

9M ago58:02

58:02

In this wonderfully candid conversation with children's book author Rebecca Gardyn Levington, we celebrate her new book Afikoman, Where'd You Go?: A Passover Hide-and-Seek Adventure from Rocky Pond Books (2024) and illustrated by Noa Kelner. This is her third published picture book (her previous books are Brainstorm! and Whatever Comes Tomorrow), w…

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