Time Travel, Magical Libraries, and Why Children's Literature Matters with Emma Otheguy

What if a children’s book could travel through time and connect generations of storytellers? Join Dr. Diane as she welcomes back acclaimed author Emma Otheguy to discuss her enchanting new book, Adventure in the City of Stories, the enduring power of school librarians, and why stories are the ultimate secret weapon for building human connection.

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Diane sits down with historian and children's book author Emma Otheguy. Together, they explore the critical role school librarians play as frontline champions for literacy and open access to books. Emma gives us an exclusive first look at her upcoming middle-grade historical fantasy Adventure in the City of Stories, a companion novel to Cousins in the Time of Magic.

Set against the backdrop of 1930s New York City, the book weaves historical reality with time-traveling magic. Emma shares the real-life intellectual lineages that connected historical giants like public library pioneer Pura Belpré, Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral, archivist Arturo Schomburg, and legendary children's librarian Anne Carol Moore. Plus, don't miss a delightful live reading from Chapter 5 that features a quirky, real-life historical artifact, a talking 8-inch wooden doll named Nicholas!

Chapters

• [00:00] Welcome back Emma Otheguy! 
• [00:51] From Social Media to Substack: Writing Digital Love Letters to Readers 
• [03:09] Frontline Champions: The Crucial Fight of School Librarians Today 
• [07:10] Purposeful Play: Symbiosis Between Librarians and STEM Educators 
• [09:00] Introducing Adventure in the City of Stories: 1930s NYC & Latinx Lineages 
• [18:49] Intentionality in Publishing: Books vs. Visual Media 
• [20:55] What it Takes to Make a Reader (and the Heavy Lifting of Families) 
• [22:12] Exclusive Live Reading: Chapter 5 – "42nd Street" and the Nicholas Doll 
• [34:38] Balancing Fact vs. Fiction: A Historian's Approach to Fantasy 
• [39:02] Finding Hope: The Gift of Urban Public Schools

Key Takeaways

• Librarians are Essential Warriors: School librarians actively curate structural spaces that allow children independent time for pleasure reading, read-alouds, and critical engagement with literature.
• History is Interconnected: Historical figures shouldn't be taught in isolated vacuums; pioneers like Pura Belpré, Arturo Schomburg, and Gabriela Mistral actively collaborated, forming a rich lineage of Latinx intellectual history in New York City.
• Intentionality Builds Empathy: Unlike mass media designed for clicks and revenue, children’s books undergo a rigorous process involving authors, editors, and authenticity readers to safely guide children through complex real-world issues.
• Literacy Requires a Village: Raising a reader isn’t an accidental milestone—it requires a coordinated network of beautifully illustrated books, robust library funding, enthusiastic teachers, and dedicated parents managing the logistics.

Join Emma's Pub Club

To celebrate the release of Adventure in the City of Stories, Emma is inviting educators and librarians to join the Pub Club, where they will receive a handwritten letter from the author, an invitation to a fun webinar, and writing prompts connected to the book. In exchange, Emma asks that participants make the book available in their school or classroom library, read the first chapter aloud, and help her promote the book, whether by writing a review or sharing online.

Links & Resources

• Subscribe to Emma’s Substack
• Pre-order: Adventure in the City of Stories
• Sign up for Emma's Pub Club
• Listen to Emma on Episode 122 of the Adventures in Learning Podcast