Marissa Valdez is a #1 New York Times best-selling children’s book author and illustrator. Her clients include Penguin Random House, Candlewick, Hachette, Macmillan, and Highlights Magazine for Children. In our interview we celebrate her new picture book Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear (Roaring Brook Press, 2025), which she both authored and illustrated.Â
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46:09
Michael Parkin, "Wrong Time Rooster" (Flying Eye Books, 2025)
Michael Parkin is an international illustrator, working with the New York Times, the New Yorke, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and others. Several years ago he decided to follow his passion for picture books, and is now celebrating publication of his endearing, kid-centric debut picture book,
Wrong Time Rooster (which he both wrote and illustrated), which was just published by Flying Eye Books (Feb., 2025) in the UK. Michael talks about his career in art and illustration, his collaboration with Flying Eye Books (Michael has two more books in the works) and shares advice with aspiring creatives ("Keep a notebook for nighttime ideas near your bed, you will forget your grand idea by the morning").
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39:19
My First Tanakh Stories Set (4vs.): Avraham, Miriam, Eliyahu, Ruth
The Koren My First Tanakh Stories brings the characters and wisdom of Torah to to life for the whole family. Engaging with Tanakh stories from a young age with a trusted grown-up sets a child's foundation for future learning, helps develop core values, and sets a foundation for Torah learning in the home and with the family. With a story loyal to the Tanakh text alongside beautiful illustrations, every page is designed to be appealing and engaging to adults and children alike while sparking an intergenerational discussion of Torah values. Each book includes a "Guide for Grown-ups", with a child-friendly glossary (including an explanation of Hebrew terms used in the story) and a series of reflective questions to launch intergenerational conversations about the story and its message.
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42:32
Joyce Uglow, "Stuck! the Story of the La Brea Tar Pits" (Bushel & Peck Books, 2025)
In this interview with children's author Joyce Uglow, we celebrate her brand new debut picture book Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits (Bushel & Peck Books, 2025), illustrated by Valerya Milovanova. Her beautiful book was published only two weeks ago and has already gone into its second printing! We talk about Joyce's life and career in teaching and education, and how her love of writing eventually developed into a career in writing for children, as well as poetry. Joyce's advice to aspiring authors is to read both in your genre, as well as outside.
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38:20
Audrey Perrott, "A Hat for House: One Storm, Many Helpers" (G. P. Putnam, 2024)
In our lovely interview, Audrey Perrott talks about her new book, A Hate for a House: One Storm, Many Helpers, illustrated by Druscilla Santiago and published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (November 12, 2024).We also talk about Audrey's writing career, starting when she was six years old, stapling papers together and scribbling stories in her bedroom until all hours of the night. Audrey studied English and Children’s Literature at the University of Florida and has published nine nonfiction books for kids published by Tangerine Press, as well as the poignant MOO HOO with Scholastic Press, and its upcoming sequel, BAA HAA.
We discuss her own journey, dealing with and overcoming personal challenges, and her advice for aspiring authors.
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New Zealand