The Reader’s Heart Podcast Jennifer LaGarde

In this conversation, Jennifer chats with Ann Braden, an author who writes books that empower kids to find their voice and make a difference in the world. Ann shares her journey as a reader and writer, highlighting the books that had a profound impact on her life. She discusses the importance of recognizing our own voice and the power it holds. Ann also explores the themes in her books, such as facing tough topics and finding hope in difficult times. The conversation emphasizes the need for connection and belief in oneself and others.
For more information about this episode, including detailed show notes and a discount code from Bookelicious, visit: librarygirl.net 
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction 00:54 Anne's Reader's Heart03:07 Discovering a Love for History04:32 Finding the Confidence to Write05:30 Using Voice to Change the World07:19 Writing Books for Kids to Find Their Voice10:26 Facing Bullying and Overcoming Challenges13:06 Book Talk: Opinions and Opossums 14:46 The Impact of Anne's Books on Readers16:47 The Importance of Art in Understanding Our Times19:35 The Need for Connection and Belief25:01 Finding Joy in the Darkness28:28 The Darkness Turned Inside Out29:27 Conclusion and Gratitude

Jennifer chats with author Erin Bow who shares a bit about her journey as a reader and writer, from her childhood love of books to her success as an author. She emphasizes the importance of reading widely and falling in love with reading as a child. Erin also shares her passion for trashy page-turning storytelling and the influence it has on her writing. But most of their conversation focuses on the role of children's literature in helping us to understand and navigate trauma. Erin discusses the inspiration behind Simon Sort of Says and why it was important to her that Simon's story be funny. 
Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicious) can be found here.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Reader's Heart
04:21 Childhood Reading and Influences
06:06 Trashy Page-Turning Storytelling
10:05 Expanding Genre and Writing Goals
11:57 Pseudonyms and Success
13:54 The Journey to Success
20:55 The Variety of Erin Bow's Books
26:09 Discussion of Simon Sort of Says
36:00 Upcoming Work and the Importance of Stories

In this episode, Jasmine Warga chats with Jennifer about the power of read alouds, using stories as conversation starters, and the importance of representation in literature. Jasmine shares her personal journey as a reader and writer, and how books helped her feel less alone. They also talk about Jasmine's latest book, A Rover's Story and her upcoming mystery novel set in an art museum: A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall. The conversation highlights the impact of books on readers' hearts and the need for diverse and engaging stories for middle grade readers.
Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicious) can be found here.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Reader's Heart
03:30 The Power of Read Alouds
06:36 Books as Conversation Starters
08:30 Using Stories to Bridge Chasms
09:23 Writing for Middle Grade Readers
14:34 Book Talk: Rover, A Rover Story
25:34 Writing Mysteries for Middle Grade Readers
29:51 Upcoming Projects
33:08 Conclusion

In this episode, Torrey Maldonado chats with Jennifer about children's literature, his work and the magic of teaching middle school! They discuss the power of children's literature and how it can shape readers' hearts and help them navigate the world. Torrey shares his own experience as a reader and how he found storytelling through cinema and comics. He also talks about his teaching background and how he writes books for the students he teaches. Torrey's books are known for being short yet rich and robust, challenging the myth that shorter books lack depth. They discuss the impact of Torrey's books on students and how they inspire and engage reluctant readers. The conversation also touches on the importance of representation in books and the need for young readers to see themselves as both characters and creators in the stories they read. In this conversation, Torrey shares the impact his mother had on his love for reading and writing, and how she continues to inspire him. He reflects on his first reading and the emotional moment when his mother realized he was living her dream. Torrey shares his upcoming projects and the themes of his future books. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the power of empathy and the importance of connecting and understanding one another through literature.
 
Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicious) can be found here.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:01 The Power of Children's Literature
07:31 Middle School Students at a Crossroads
09:51 The Impact of Torrey's Books on Students
13:07 The Attainable Richness of Torrey's Books
16:06 Recognition and Validation
21:42 Representation and Seeing Yourself in Books
22:39 Representation in Books
27:29 Torrey's First Reading
30:17 The Legacy of Torrey's Mother
32:53 What's Next for Torrey Maldonado
34:17 Review of 'Relit'
45:00 The Power of Empathy

Mike Curato joins Jennifer to discuss the power of children's literature to shape our hearts and navigate the world with compassion. They explore their own experiences as readers and artists, emphasizing the importance of personal storytelling and self-expression. They also discuss the impact of social media on creativity and self-perception. Mike shares his approach to school visits, focusing on his personal journey and the challenges he faced. Mike discusses his book Flamer'and the importance of creating stories that address issues faced by marginalized communities. He also shares his upcoming projects, including an adult graphic novel and a middle-grade graphic novel.
Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicious) can be found here.
Chapters
00:00 The Power of Children's Literature10:58 The Impact of Social Media36:57 Upcoming Projects

In this episode, Ami Polonsky joins Jennifer to discuss the power of storytelling and the importance of accessible reading. They explore how being a teacher influences Ami's storytelling and how her books empower young readers to make a difference. They also discuss the relevance of stories like World Made of Glass in today's world and the need for diverse voices in literature. Ami shares her upcoming project, a companion book to World Made of Glass, and reflects on the challenges and importance of writing hopeful stories in difficult times. 
 
Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicious) can be found here.
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Reader Identity
03:00 The Importance of Accessible Reading
08:00 The Influence of Teaching on Storytelling
13:00 World Made of Glass and the Power of Stories
19:00 Writing for Change and Empowering Kids
25:00 The Need for Stories in Challenging Times
29:00 Upcoming Projects and the Importance of Hope
35:44 The Journey of Writing a Book
36:14 The Power of Books
36:38 Upcoming Book Release
37:05 Enjoyable Conversation