BookHuddle with Readgab
Welcome to Book Huddle with Readgab where you get to hear from authors of children's books and others having to do with children's literacy. We chat not only about what inspired these amazing authors, but also time relevant themes in their books and how kids can benefit from these themes. Each guest also recommends one of their favorite children's books at the end of the episode so you will constantly be building a wonderful list of books for the kids in your life.
Episodes
91 episodes
91: The Importance of Failure - Interview with Kate Lumsden and Nate Pieplow
No one likes to fail. It isn’t fun. But it is how we grow. The way authors Kate and Nate illustrated this powerful theme while providing an entertaining story fascinated me and I am so thrilled that they joined me in this podcast episode to dis...
90: Stories of Resistance and Resilience with Maria Dolores Aguila - Middle Grade Author Interview
Maria Dolores Aguila is both a picture book and middle grade author of historical fiction. Her novel in verse, A Sea of Lemon Trees won both a Newberry Honor and Pura Belpre Honor. Find out how this book has changed her and more in today's epis...
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89: The Importance of Disability Representation in Books For Kids - Author Interview Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka
When Diane Debrovner decided to write a middle grade book about a character with blind parents she decided that she would like a coauthor and so she approached her friend Stacy Cervenka. Stacy adds her unique perspective with her blindness and ...
88: The Power of Curiosity - Picture Book Author and Illustrator Interview Matthew Cordell
Caldecott Award Winning author and illustrator Matthew Cordell talks about the importance of curiosity and how this trait features in his newest picture book, 102. I was so surprised to discover that the brilliantly illustrated picture book was...
87: All the Worst and All the Best of Writing for Kids - PJ Gardner Middle Grade Author Interview
Have you ever wondered about the greatest aspects about being an author? Or about the lowest moments? While discussing PJ Gardner's newest book I thought it was the perfect time to delve into some of these questions since the title of this book...
86: Accidentally Becoming an Illustrator with Carmen Mok
Chapters00:00 Meet illustrator Carmen Mok02:48 How did Carmen Mok get into illustrating books05:15 What made Carmen want to stay in illustration?08:39 Carmen’s process from start to finish for when her illustrations are in a pub...
85: Teens Crave Mysteries and Thrillers - Interview with YA Author April Henry
Bring on the high stakes tension! April Henry is a New York Times bestelling author of young adult and adult fiction books. In this episode we discuss her 32nd book, In the Blood. What is it like to go all in researching for these thrillers and...
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84: Hawaiian Legend Turned Into a Middle Grade Fantastical Adventure - Malia Maunakea Author Interview
Do your readers love fantastical shapeshifter books? Werewolves? Vampires? Sharks? Malia Maunakea joins us to talk about her newest middle grade fantasy based on Hawaiian legends. The Shark Prince is about a boy cursed to transform into a shark...
83: A Story Out of Order with Caldecott Medal Winning Philip Stead Middle Grade Author Interview
Philip Stead is best known for his writing and illustrating of picture books, but after a little convincing from others and a lot of creativity on his part he recently published his first middle grade novel. "A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of...
82: Poetry Is For Everyone! John Schu Children's Book Author Interview
Poetry is not something that should be dreaded by students or adults. John shares how poetry can be found in multiple forms and can be a benefit to children and teens in many ways. Not only has John written a number of beautiful picture books, ...
81: Everything Animal Stories Can Do For Us - Interview with Jasmine Warga
Kids love animal stories because kids love animals, but these stories can also teach us so much about ourselves and the world.
80: Unsolved Mysteries and Spooky Stories Mixed With Some Very Real Historical Fiction About Enslaved Individuals - Interview with Shakirah Bourne
Join Shakirah and I discussing one of my favorite books of the year, Here Lies a Ghost. The mystery of the moving coffins of the Chase Vault is one of the top 100 greatest unsolved mysteries in the world. Middle grade author Shakirah Bourne sha...
79: Discussion on Body Image with author Rebecca Morrison
There is so much going on in this discussion because there is so much going on in the incredible book, The Blue Dress, by Rebecca Morrison. We talk about body image, being your authentic self, being an immigrant, complicated mother/daughter rel...
78: What Kids Want In a Book According to Middle Grade Author Michael Buckley - Author Interview
Weird books are some of the best books! Michael Buckley shares his experience writing The Weirdies series in this author interview on BookHuddle where we learn to embrace and love the weird!Find middle grade author Michael Buckley ...
77: Behind the Scenes with Jen Calonita in Writing The Isle of Ever Series - Middle Grade Author Interview
Jen takes us behind the scenes in her writing the Isle of Ever and book 2, The Curse Breaker. We get to hear all about how it came together and maybe you'll have some questions at the end so maybe you should follow Jen Calonita on her socials a...
76: We Are Never Just One Thing - Confront Heavy Convserations With Middle Author Lisa Graff
In our lives we are always growing, always changing, and yet some aspects of us stay the same. We are never defined by just one thing; there is never just one thing going on in our lives. It is hard to explain A Scar Like a River with just one ...
75: Can I Be Brave? Author Interview Saadia Faruqi
Middle grade author and winner of the Schneider Family Book Award Honor for her book The Strongest Heart talks to us about her newest book Some of Us Are Brave, how we can be brave and also how to make it a conversation with our kids.Fi...
74: Reading and Writing Help Process Our Own Thoughts and Emotions - Interview with author N. West Moss
I had such a fantastic time reading Birdy and then talking to the author N. West Moss about how she crafted this beautiful story! We talk about the benefits of journaling, how reading and writing help us process our thoughts and emotions and so...
73: Art Heals, Art Inspires, Art Brings Comfort During Times of Turmoil and Always - Claire Swinarski author interview
Claire Swinarski created a beauitiful historical fiction/contemporary middle grade book called Each and Every Spark. I had a wonderful time talking to her about this story, how important it is to have good art during hard times and researching/...
72: Children's Books Create Conversations with Kids - Shifa Saltagi Safadi author interview
Children's stories can be fun, silly, entertaining, important, and thought-provoking all within one book. In this episode Shifa and I discuss both her chapter book series and her middle grade novel in verse. She talks about how both can be used...
71: Newberry Honor Author Daniel Nayeri on his Award Winning Books and Graphic Novels
How do you pass the 'interview' to win the Newberry? How to keep a story short? And a whole lot of fun are in store for this middle grade author interview with Newberry Honor winner Daniel Nayeri.Find Daniel Nayerihttps://www.daniel...
70: Connecting with Animals - Lynne Kelly Author Interview
What can you learn about yourself as you develop a relationship with another person? Or as you develop a relationship with an animal? How will you grow as an individual? Lynne Kelly's beautiful new book, Three Blue Hearts, is about a boy on a s...
69: The Importance of Relationships in the Children's Book Industry LeUyen Pham Illustrator Interview
LeUyen is the illustrator of The Princess in Black series written by Shannon and Dean Hale as well as other books with Shannon. She has been an illustrator for 30 years now with over 140 books published and has also written/illustrated her own ...
68: Most Anticipated Middle Grade Books of 2026 with Annisha Jeffries from Reading in the Middle Podcast
The last week of December Annisha from Reading in the Middle and I got together to talk about our most anticipated books of 2026. These are just some of the middle grade books that we are super excited to read this year. Keep listening to futur...
67: Our Favorite Middle Grade Books of 2025 with Melissa Taylor and Karen Reeder
There were so many wonderful middle grade books released in 2025, and in this episode Melissa Taylor and I discuss just some of the best books of 2025 from our lists. Want to hear more of my favorite books from 2025 then check out this episode ...