"Dead's dead. But I'm alive. And I could use some boots." This book is... different, let's say, and we are HERE for it! If you haven't encountered it before, prepare yourself for a heckuva thing.

When one of the most engaging novels for kids of the year involves severed pinky toes, ominous packs of wild dogs, and rusty, unsettling metal buckets, then it's time to ask its author some questions.

A discussion of balikbayan boxes, "the slowest, most meaningful love letters." Author and journalist Carren Jao delves deep into not simply her book, but the state of Filipino stories in the larger cu...

If Maurice Sendak, Nora Ephron, Patty, and Bob Odenkirk were all fans of a bizarre cult-classic picture book from the 1970s, wouldn't you want to learn more? We host the charming and loquacious Mark A...

Into the Blabeyverse we go, my children. Let's deep dive into some tried and true science fiction and environmental stewardship from the man who brought us the Bad Guys and so much more.

"Ew but aww is a pretty good encapsulation of this book." But mostly aww.

"We were hoping to help readers, writers, teachers, librarians and students all connect around the humanizing powers of reading and writing together." A talk with two powerhouse authors/podcasters.

"Cons! Frauds! Good old-fashioned hornswoggling! It’s a rich vein." Join a discussion of writing about that all-American shyster, Charles Ponzi.

"I think I just find it difficult to leave these newly discovered universes behind when they still seem to have so much unexplored potential." We learn all there is to know about this much anticipated...

Like autumn leaves, Betsy Bird's fall Caldecott predictions are exciting to see!

Short, sweet, and to the point. Here are a couple 2026 titles that I suspect you may have missed this year...

Today we consider a tale of tricking the trickster with a good old-fashioned existential crisis. A title I could have sworn we already did on our podcast, but, until now, has left a great gaping hole.

Today is International Day of Peace. With that in mind, we focus on a picture book that considers war, but with the focus squarely on the animals. A discussion with a Ukrainian artist.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Fight or Flight is out October 20th and in celebration I decided to hit the man with 21 distinctly silly questions.

Maybe you saw the Netflix documentary. Maybe you owned one yourself. Or maybe this is a all new to you. We talk with the creators of an upcoming picture book bio about their truly cool title.

It's that time again! Time for the penultimate prediction post for the upcoming award season. We've all notched a few more reads at this point, and things are starting to solidify in our brains. So! W...

Constipated and enraged. Today we feel that it is time to smack people awake with the cover reveal of the century.

Migration, whether it's by humans or insects, is the subject of today's book. We dive, and dive deeply, into its origins and the choices its creators made along the way.

Clowns! Misspellings! And guns guns guns. That's what we're getting with this legitimate 1984 charmer today.

Not only is Mexikid Dreams good, it may even be better than its predecessor. But how? I talk with its creator today to try to figure out how this could have happened.

I know I'm not supposed to have favorites, but some of the books in this preview are titles that I am PARTICULARLY excited about. Read on to see why.

"The story of the brave, clever and loving, common man - the longshoreman shrew, the builder mole. Indeed, I felt as if Brian wanted to celebrate common folk, from the largest to the smallest." Today ...

I, for one, stand behind this book's message, which I interpret as "Trains shouldn't go off their rails because they could freakin' kill someone!"

Anxious children, kids that feel deeply for animals, and young people who are worried about some big change in their lives will all be able to particularly relate to what Goodbye, Koi is telling them:...

Piratical process is the name of the game today. Two creators discuss everything from Edward Gorey to Muppet Treasure Island.

A gorgeous array of books from all kinds of different voices. We're pulling out all the stops today for a list you are not going to want to miss this fall.

Man, I love my job. Today I get to combine my childhood love of over-muscled action figures with my childhood AND adulthood love of newspaper comic artist. I have the power, baby.

A rather magnificent book and a rarity besides. Defies expectations. How does it do it? Dunno. Come for the writing. Stay for the opossum funeral.

Tasmanian tigers, funcles, neurodiversity, and soccer soccer soccer. There's a little something for everyone in today's publisher preview round-up.

If creepy vibes are what your kid readers are hankering for, then let me introduce to you the star of the fall season.

"Why do you keep giving me books with such delectable behinds?" Oh yes. We're clearly having a very serious conversation on the podcast today about the nuclear arms race. You have been warned.

Extraordinarily beautiful and more than a little wise, now you can convert your verse loving science haters and convert your science hating poetry-lovers, all in one fell swoop.

It has a mid-century aesthetic and a hero with a body like a visual design tool. Today we're talking with the incredible Brian Won about his latest picture book and why it's a standout in the field.

"Does this book date itself with its first three words?" Those words? "Henry the paperboy..." Yet surely, if kids can read about steam trains they can read about paperboys, right? We debate any and al...