Picture Books Are for Grown-Ups, Too!
Picture books aren’t just for children. Picture books are for grown-ups, too! Listen in as we speak with picture book authors, illustrators, and enthusiasts about how these stories contribute to human thriving. Discover how picture books can affirm our experiences, introduce us to new perspectives, serve as conversation starters, foster meaningful reflection, and give us words to make sense of the world! Ultimately, you’re never too old for a great picture book AND these tiny tales can lead to big connection! Join us for the journey, and discover something that might contribute to YOUR thriving.
Picture Books Are for Grown-Ups, Too!
S2E12 | Season 2 Finale | Laurel Harduar Morano Interviews Patrice Gopo about 'Ripening Time'
“It’s kind of like looking in a mirror and having it reflected back to you” –Laurel Harduar Morano
For the final episode of Season 2, I’m so excited because my sister, Laurel Harduar Morano, is interviewing me about my latest picture book, Ripening Time! We are having a fun conversation about identity, family stories, and food, of course!
Today’s Picture Book: Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo and illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Dr. Laurel Harduar Morano is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She holds a PhD in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master's of Public Health in biostatistics from Boston University. She has nearly two decades of experience in applied public health, predominantly working within state and federal governments. She is currently an associate professor at Michigan State University where she tracts work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities with the goal of prevention.
In her spare time, Dr. Harduar Morano enjoys dancing and movement, exploring culinary delights, implementing her brilliant ideas, and infusing her world with her creative projects. She lives with her family in Okemos, Michigan.
Book Description: Mama steers the cart toward the produce section of the grocery store and picks up a bunch of green plantains. Thus begins a week of anxious anticipation as a young girl waits for mustard yellows to seep onto the unripe green peels. Creep. Creep. Seep. Green begins to turn to yellow. Creep. Creep. Seep. Black streaks appear. And finally, on Sunday, the frying pan sizzles and hisses, as Mama serves up the warm, sugary slices the young girl has waited for so long. Much like there is sweet treasure hidden beneath the skin of a plantain, this beautifully written and evocative story reaches far beyond the act of preparing a favorite food. Ripening Time celebrates the way food and family entwine to connect us across generations—and serves as a touching reminder that some of the sweetest rewards in life are worth the wait.
Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Ripening Tme. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/
Other Mentions:
Your Gift: Season 2 Activities and Questions
‘Plucked and Planted’ in All the Colors We Will See by Patrice Gopo
Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1. What are things you have waited for in life? Big things and little things? What were some of the emotions you felt during that waiting time? What do you make of that situation now when you look back?
2. Share with others what were those special foods that were part of someone’s history? Have a gathering where people bring their special foods.
Find Patrice:
Website: www.patricegopo.com
See Patrice’s website for upcoming Ripening Time events!
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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!
Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!
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