As a new educator, I met Matthew Winner at the Maryland Association of School Librarians annual conference where I attended one of his workshop sessions.  I have been one of his biggest fans ever since.   I have found his children’s literature podcast to be one of my favorite forms of professional learning and one of the best resource tools for library collection development.  But they are wonderful resources for anyone who loves children’s literature from librarians, to teachers, to parents – and to the children who love to read. Matthew’s interviews encourage the listener to look at each book with eyes that see the wonder in its words and illustrations.  Every time I listen to his podcast, I am filled with joy.

Matthew is a “Rock Star” school librarian in Howard County Public Schools. In 2013 he was named Mover and Shaker by School Library Journal for his work incorporating technology into his classes.  That same year, he was invited to the White House as part of the Champions of Change program.  Matthew is the co-founder of All the Wonders children’s literature website, and the founder of The Children’s Book Podcast.

On Saturday, May 19, Matthew will be in conversation with Gayle Forman, prolific author of young adult fiction titles including Just One, Leave Me, I was Here, If I Stay, and Sisters in Sanity about her newest release, I have Lost my Way – a powerful story of empathy and friendship.  In live recording for The Children’s Book Podcast, Matthew will explore Gayle’s craft as a writer, asking questions with a sense of curiosity and wonder for her artistry.

What do you appreciate the most about interviewing authors and illustrators?

“I have always loved having a venue to speak openly, honestly, and sincerely about the books I love with the people who made them. More often than not I have seen something beautiful or challenging or new important (or all of the above) in these books. That opportunity to get to know the storyteller as well as the origins of the stories themselves is something I’ve always valued.”

What have you learned about yourself and about the KidLit industry as your podcast has evolved?

“I think the biggest things I’ve learned are that modeling diversity and representation through your art or platform take concentrated intention, and with said platform comes responsibility.  I strive to champion as often as possible authors and illustrators of color, LBGTQ authors and allies, and historically marginalized voices. But in doing so I find I spend a lot of time looking at my recording schedule and being as deliberate as possible as I consider what my guest list says about my values and goals on the podcast. It’s important I stay cognizant of my own biases and gaps in knowledge as I approach each interview. It’s something I strive to improve with each and every episode. I think that everyone in children’s publishing, from authors to illustrators, editors to publishers, bloggers to teachers, we’re all still trying to find our way, to navigate these uncertain waters with care and respect. It’s nice to know that all of us are learning together.”

What keeps you coming back year after year to the Gaithersburg Book Festival?

“I live in Ellicott City, just a short hop down the road to the GBF, and I am continually impressed with the list of authors hosted each year. The setting of downtown Gaithersburg feels intimate and even quaint, but the authors, illustrators, and cartoonists that come to speak rival that of The National Book Festival some years. It’s really a great way to hear a world class author on a close-seat stage.”

Since you are a KidLit expert, how do you feel about interviewing young adult author, Gayle Forman? Do you think you’ll continue to expand your podcast and interview more young adult authors in the future?

“The books that are most often on my radar as an elementary school librarian tend to be books that would appeal to that age range, but I definitely try to “read up” as often as time allows (and usually through audiobooks). I don’t feature YA as often as I’d like, but I’m blessed to have a great group of friends who work in middle and high school libraries and are always willing to share what books are on their radar or won’t ever stay on the shelves. But in terms of the interview, I’ll approach my interview with Gayle with the same sense of curiosity and exploration as I do with any other guest. I look forward to speaking with Gayle Forman at GBF and all that we’ll all learn together about her craft and her new book!”

Gayle Forman will be in conversation with Matthew Winner in the Ogden Nash Pavilion   1:15p-2:05pm – I hope you’ll join in on the conversation! 

For more information about Gayle Forman and her books, visit http://gayleforman.com

Award-winning author and journalist Gayle Forman has written several bestselling novels for young adults, including the Just One Series, I Was Here, Where She Went and the #1 New York Times bestseller If I Stay, which has been translated into more than 40 languages and in 2014 was adapted into a major motion picture.

To listen to The Children’s Book Podcast, visit  http://lgbpodcast.libsyn.com/

Hosted by Matthew Winner, co-founder of All The Wonders. The Children’s Book Podcast features insightful and sincere interviews with authors, illustrators, and everyone involved in taking a book from inspiration to bookshelf.

Dave Roman is one of our most popular children’s book presenters we’ve had crash land at Gaithersburg Book Festival.  His graphic novels are exciting to read, and he has a great way with kids – he “draws” them out (pun intended) and helps them get their creative juices flowing with his interactive presentations and workshops.

Dave’s books – especially the Astronaut Academy series – are very popular at my elementary school library and copies are rarely on the bookshelf in my ever growing graphic novel section — they are out in the hands of my students!

On Saturday, May 21st, you will find Dave leading the Comics Character Team Up (with Special Guest) a workshop for middle school-aged kids 11:00-11:45 am in the Children’s Workshop Tent and moderating the Science Comics Series discussion 12:15-1:05 pm in the Willa Cather Pavilion.

Dave stopped by to chat with me about the upcoming Gaithersburg Book Festival…

Have you been attending GBF since the beginning in 2010?  

I’ve attended all but the first Gaithersburg Book Festival. I was trapped on another planet that year, but was eventually saved by the intergalactic hero, Jud Ashman and his team of literacy robots!  

What keeps bringing you back to crash land in Gaithersburg each May?

Gaithersburg puts on one of the best book festivals I’ve ever been to. The attendees are such an enthusiastic community of people who care deeply about literacy and supporting the arts. The kids who come out to the comics-making workshop are like mad scientists with their boundless creativity. So kids have come back year after year and just keep getting more creative. I look forward to seeing their own books featured at the festival in the near future!  

Which book(s) will you be talking about at your featured presentation?

I’ll be moderating a presentation with Joe Flood and Falynn Koch, talking about the amazing Science Comics series from First Second. Joe is the brave author responsible for tackling Sharks: Nature’s Perfect Hunter and Falynn is the mad scientist who is spreading knowledge with Plagues: The Microscopic Battlefield. I was lucky to work with them as an editor, which means I got to read these books long before anyone else. Woo! I think the three of us are going to have a lot of fun drawing on stage and maybe I can convince them to draw a Plagues vs. Sharks crossover comic!

Do you have any book projects in the works that you can tell us about?  

I illustrated a book called Pluto is Peeved: An Ex-Planet Searches for Answers that was written by Jacqueline Jules and will be crashing to earth next month.

Are you still creating the StarBunny webcomic? Anything you can tell me about it? 

It’s been a few months since I wrapped up the original Starbunny, Inc. story. But I have ideas for a follow up that I hope I can get to soon! Starbunny is probably my most personal work and it’s been super rad to hear from kids who really get into the idea of a lactose intolerant bunny hitchhiking across the galaxy on a shooting star caught with a butterfly net!

Hope you will come out to meet the amazingly talented Dave Roman (and our other authors and illustrators as well) at the 2018 Gaithersburg Book Festival!

Melissa McDonald

GBF Children’s and Teen’s Workshops Coordinator

Attention sports fans – have you read books by sports author Fred Bowen? If you haven’t, you should!   He is the author of 22 sports books for kids AND he writes the sports opinion column for KidsPost.   In his fiction titles, he takes a true story in sports history, and creates a story for kids to help them understand it. “Most of my books are sports fiction that loop in real sports history and include a sports history chapter in the back.”    His books and columns are action packed – and after you read his work, I think you will agree!  Fred will be a featured presenter at Gaithersburg Book Festival 2018 (Jim Henson Pavilion, 1:15-2:05pm), as well as lead a writer’s workshop for kids (Journal Writing for Young Sports Fans, 3:30-4:15pm).  For the full schedule, click here!

I recently caught up with Fred and asked him a few questions:

How did you first hear about the GBF?

I heard about the GBF because I was invited to speak at the first one.  I accepted because I like to support local events.  Since then, I have been a presenter every GBF except one (the second one).  The event gets better and better with every year.  It really is one of my favorite book festivals.

What do you like most about the event?

I always say that being at the GBF is like going to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  I better explain. 

When you go to the Baseball HOF you are surrounded by people who love baseball.  So you can talk to anyone there because you automatically have something in common … your love of the game. 

It’s the same with the GBF.  When you are walking around the grounds or going to the author talks you are surrounded by people who love books and ideas.  So you can talk to anyone about the books you have read or want to read.  It is a wonderful gathering of like-minded souls. 

One more thing … the folks at the GBF throw a wonderful party for the authors the night before the event.  That is always great fun.

What do you like most about working with kids in the workshops?

I do a workshop on keeping sports journals.  In other words, I encourage the kids to keep a writing journal about the teams they play on.  So they can be sportswriters too!

 Kids are always full of enthusiasm and surprises.  The talk is very interactive with me asking lots of questions.  Believe me, the kids always come up with answers I would never have thought of.

Anything we should look forward to in this year’s author presentation or workshop?

Well, I have a new baseball book called Lucky Enough.  My books are for kids ages 7-12.  They combine sports fiction, sports history and there is always a chapter of sports history in the back.  The sports history in Lucky Enough is about baseball superstitions.  So there should be lots of talk about baseball superstitions – there are some crazy ones!

For more information about Fred Bowen and his books, visit www.fredbowen.com or follow him on Twitter @FredBowenBooks.  See you at Gaithersburg Book Festival 2018!

As a lover of children’s books (which is a good thing because I am an elementary school librarian) I was delighted to be handed a copy of The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser to read.  This debut novel for grades 4-6 follows the adventures of the six Vanderbeeker children as they try to save their family home when their curmudgeonly landlord refuses to renew their lease just days before Christmas.

I had the opportunity to interview Karina about her book, and am excited to share with you my questions, and her answers.  After reading this blog post, I hope you will be as excited as me to hear her speak  on Saturday, May 19th in the Jim Henson Pavilion 2:15-3:05pm.

I’ve read several reviews by adults, and they’re all great, but what are the kids saying about the Vanderbeekers? What is your favorite comment by a young reader?

I love hearing from readers! I have met so many kids through school visits, Skype visits, and book festivals, as well as through social media, email, and snail mail. Most of the kids I speak to ask, “Is there going to be another Vanderbeekers book?” And I happily tell them that the second book is called The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden and that it will come out on September 25, 2018, plus a third Vanderbeekers book is planned for 2019. Getting questions about whether the book is going to be a series is such a compliment because they liked the first book enough to want to read more! I received a beautiful drawing of the brownstones on 141st Street from a reader in Florida a few weeks ago, with a note that said she had bought The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street with money she had received for her eleventh birthday. “It was an outstanding book,” she writes, “and will always be one of my FAVORITE books.” So sweet!

How and why did you decide that Isa (and Luciana) should play the violin  – is there personal significance for including a violin in your story?

The violin was incorporated into the story mostly because I love music and wanted to have a classical musician in the Vanderbeeker family. On a practical note, both of my daughters play the violin, and I have picked up some knowledge about the instrument over the years.

The book cover is wonderful — I love the colors and the details of each building.  What is your favorite part of the cover art?

I love the book cover as well! Karl James Mountford, the cover artist, is so gifted and I’m glad he picked up this project. I love everything about the cover; it’s so hard to pinpoint a favorite aspect. I do love the kids in the window, the colors of the brownstones, the skyline…

What has surprised you most about your book?

It still surprises me that people have heard about The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street. In February, I was part of middle grade book panel with authors I really admire, and Jacqueline Woodson (Jacqueline Woodson!) came up to me and congratulated me on my book and told me that she had a copy at home and it was her family’s next read aloud. I just about fainted right there.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

I am really looking forward to attending the other panels (so many amazing authors!), and I am super excited to do a session with Hena Khan, middle grade author of Amina’s Voice and Power Forward. I love book festivals because it connects me to readers in a very relaxed and authentic way. I cannot wait!

For more information about author Karina Yan Glaser, please visit her website here. For the complete Gaithersburg Book Festival author presentation schedule, please click here.

Melissa McDonald, MLS  (GBF Children’s and Teen’s Workshops Coordinator)