BookHuddle with Readgab

Karen Reeder
  • 0.0 (0)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    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 summer vacation where he rescues a hurt octopus and discovers a summer of love and growth that he didn't see coming. Find middle grade author Lynne Kelly  https://lynnekellybooks.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lynnekkelly/ https://www.facebook.com/authorLynneKelly/ Three Blue Hearts by Lynn Kelly https://www.amazon.com/Three-Blue-Hearts-Lynne-Kelly/dp/0593898397/ The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate https://www.amazon.com/One-Only-Ivan-Katherine-Applegate/dp/0061992259/ Chapters 00:00 Meet Lynne Kelly 03:39 What is Three Blue Hearts by Lynne Kelly about? 07:10 What came first the setting or the character? The animal or kid main character? 10:16 What did Lynne learn about Octopi when writing Three Blue Hearts? Interesting facts about Octopuses. 12:10 Why does it work for Lynne to take a fascinating animal and then build a connection with a child main character? 13:16 Max - the main character in Three Blue Hearts - reconciling your name to be your own, separate from anyone else’s identity 17:50 How friendship helps strengthen individuals through the storms of life 21:37 What is next for author Lynne Kelly? 23:50 What species of animal does Lynne Kelly feel a special connection to? 25:30 Do Octopuses have any similarities to humans? What we can learn from octopi? 28:57 Lynne Kelly’s book recommendation

    34 min

  2. 20 JAN

    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 books. She was awarded the Caldecott Honor for the book Bear Came Along (written by Richard T. Morris). In this episode we chat about what it is like to be an illustrator and her relationships with other authors, editors, and readers.  Find LeUyen Pham  https://www.instagram.com/uyenloseordraw/ The Princess in Black written by Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrated by LeUyen Pham https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Black-Triple-Smash-Three/dp/1536232890/ Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina https://www.amazon.com/Caps-Sale-Peddler-Monkeys-Business/dp/020109147X/ Chapters  00:00 Meet author/illustrator LeUyen Pham 08:38 How did you get into a career as an artist? 12:13 Using Princess in Black what is it like from start to finish as an illustrator working on a project? 15:10 Adding illustrations that aren’t specified in the text, but enhance the book experience 18:51 The joy of illustrating a series with 13 Princess in Black Books 19:49 Does the publisher ever send back change requests for your drawings?  24:21 What medium do you like to illustrate with? 28:06 Does the age you are drawing for effect the colors that you use? 30:25 Author and illustrator and editor relationships  36:51 LeUyen Pham shares feedback received from kids  42:08 What is next for LeUyen Pham?  49:54 LeUyen’s book recommendation

    53 min
  3. 68: Most Anticipated Middle Grade Books of 2026 with Annisha Jeffries from Reading in the Middle Podcast

    8 JAN

    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 future episodes as we continue to read and discover more amazing children's books. And share with us which ones we missed and what you look forward to reading. Find Annisha Jeffries https://readinginthemiddle.blog/ https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@readinginthemiddle⁩   https://www.instagram.com/reading_in_the_middle/ Chapters  00:00 Most anticipated books of 2026 - The Whisperwicks book 3 by Jordan Lees 03:53 The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller 06:11 Guardians - The Forbidden Mountain by Brandon Mull 09:19 The Star of Moon Village by Jennifer Ann Richter 12:20 A Scar Like a River by Lisa Graff 14:00 The Secret Winners Club by Donna Galanti 16:00 Dragonborn book 2 The Twilight Child by Struan Murray 18:00 Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake 21:30 Breakout by Christina Wyman 23:41 The After School Kindness Crew by Goldie Hawn and Lin Oliver 26:19 Some of Us Are Brave by Saadia Faruqi 28:11 Ghost in the Night by Tiffany D. Jackson (Blood in the Water) 30:43 Alice With a Why Return to Wonderland by Anna James 33:10 The Claiming The Last Resort 2 by Jasmine Warga sequel to The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly 34:48 Hypergifted by Gordon Korman book 3 of Ungifted series 38:10 Tech Week by Lindsay Champion sequel to Cast vs Crew 40:25 Phoenix by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 43:05 The Bizarre Bazaar graphic novels by Daniel Nayeri book 1 Mirror Town and book 2 Down a Dark Path

    48 min

  4. 1 JAN

    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 next https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/42-the-best-books-of-2025-so-far-shannon-balloon/id1752315662?i=1000715323257 Find children's book author and content creator Melissa Taylor https://imaginationsoup.net/ https://www.instagram.com/imaginationsoup/ https://www.facebook.com/ImaginationSoup Chapters  00:00 Meet children’s book blogger Melissa Taylor from Imagination Soup 03:30 The Free State of Jax by Jennifer A. Nielson 06:32 Blood in the Water by Tiffany D Jackson 08:39 The Beat I Drum / Holding on For Dear Life by Dusti Bowling 13:18 The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser 15:24 Silverborn The Mystery of Morrigan Crow of the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend 19:14 The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner 21:41 Neshama by Marcella Pixley 24:11 Afia in the Land of Wonders by Mia Araujo 26:05 Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate 29:17 Deepwater Creek graphic novel by Michael Regina 31:18 The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham by Ryan James Black 33:39 The Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than 36:00 Tuck Everlasting the graphic novel adapted by K. Woodman-Maynard 37:13 Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes 38:55 The Sherlock Society Hurricane Heist by James Ponti 41:28 Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner 46:09 The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose 49:35 Old School by Gordon Korman

    52 min

  5. 27/12/2025

    66: The Importance of Community in Life and Death, on Land and Sea - Meg Medina Author Interview

    Meg Medina's newest middle grade book is a beautiful fantasy adventure about the relationship between a sea spirit and a unique living boy with a common goal. They may be from different worlds with completely different views, but this book has a treasure trove of themes, like the importance of community.  Find Meg Medina https://megmedina.com/ https://www.facebook.com/meg.medina.10/ https://www.instagram.com/megmedinabooks/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@megmedinabooks Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina https://www.amazon.com/Graciela-Abyss-Meg-Medina/dp/B0DJCT4BGY/ The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez by Jasminne Paulino https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-Orbit-Alex-Ramirez/dp/0593859316/ Scattergood by H. M. Bouwman https://www.amazon.com/Scattergood-H-M-Bouwman/dp/0823457753/ Chapters  00:00 Meet middle grade author Meg Medina 03:31 What is Graciela in the Abyss about? 07:47 A 15 year journey in writing Graciela in the Abyss 18:06 The art by the Balbusso twins 21:02 The importance of community 32:18 What’s next for Meg Medina? 35:10 Meg’s book recommendation

    40 min

  6. 19/12/2025

    65: Christmas Reindeer Bring Hope, Magic and Joy - Matt Tavares Dasher Picture Book Author Interview

    Have you ever wondered why reindeer pull Santa's sleigh? The picture book Dasher provides a beautiful origin story families and schools will love to add to the seasonal readings. Matt Tavares has added a new Dasher book this year with Dasher and the Polar Bear and it is my favorite one of the series! In this episode we talk about his creation of the story and art as well as beautiful themes within these picture books.  Find author and illustrator Matt Tavares https://matttavares.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tavaresbooks/ https://bsky.app/profile/tavaresbooks.bsky.social https://www.facebook.com/tavaresbooks Dasher by Matt Tavares https://www.amazon.com/Dasher-Little-Changed-Christmas-Forever/dp/1536201375/ Dasher and the Polar Bear by Matt Tavares https://www.amazon.com/Dasher-Polar-Bear-Matt-Tavares/dp/1536236314/ Chapters  00:00 Meet Picture Book Author and illustrator Matt Tavares 02:48 What is the Dasher origin story? How did Matt come up with the idea? 05:22 What comes first the story or the art? And what art mediums are used to create the pictures in the book? 09:59 Themes in Dasher - Hope 12:17 What is home? Christmas Magic - book themes 17:09 What is Matt’s hope that Dasher will do for families? 18:57 What has Dasher done for the author and illustrator, Matt Tavares? 21:23 What is next for Matt Tavares? 22:27 Matt’s book recommendations

    25 min

  7. 13/12/2025

    64: The Beauty of Novels in Verse Enhance the Way We Connect to Stories - Interview with Marcella Pixley

    A captivating ghost story evolves into an intense family drama with strong themes of forgiveness, self-identity, and family. Neshama, this powerful novel in verse, brings all the feels of a middle grade adventure amid beautiful verses of poetry. In this episode Marcella Pixley and I discuss not only the beauty of this novel in verse but also questions of compassion, relationships, religion, and self-growth.  Find middle grade author Marcella Pixley https://marcellapixley.com/ https://www.instagram.com/marcellapixleybooks/?hl=en https://www.threads.com/@marcellapixleybooks?xmt=AQF01WcgnxB9ZD_yF35Vil2eQf9Z68K_unXTESSSULz2huc Neshama by Marcella Pixley https://www.amazon.com/Neshama-Marcella-Pixley/dp/1536236616/ The Girl in the Walls by Meg Eden Kuyatt https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Walls-Meg-Eden-Kuyatt/dp/1546110534/ The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse: Inspiring Conversations on Hope, Love and Personal Growth by Charlie Mackesy https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Mole-Fox-Horse/dp/0062976583/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Chapters  00:00 Meet Marcella Pixley 05:40 What is Neshama about? 07:52 Why is it important to connect with and know our ancestors? 13:10 Creating Neshama 16:11 Was Neshama Marcella’s first novel in verse? Stopping to appreciate the poetry within the story. 21:39 Themes of forgiveness in Neshama 26:25 What has Shabbat done for you and your faith? 33:40 What is next for middle grade author Marcella Pixley? 35:26 Marcella’s book recommendations

    39 min

  8. 30/11/2025

    63: Graphic Novels Make the Best Gifts - Tom Angleberger Author Interview BookHuddle

    Don't take life too seriously, have some fun too! If you could spend all day doing what you loved most, what would it be? Would you write silly stories that get published into graphic novels? Middle grade author Tom Angleberger shares with us about the creation of his graphic novel series, The Two-Headed Chicken, and why graphic novels make such great gifts for kids.  Find author Tom Angleberger  https://origamiyoda.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tomangleberger/?hl=en The Two-Headed Chicken https://www.amazon.com/Two-Headed-Chicken-Tom-Angleberger/dp/1536223212/ Chapters  00:00 Meet Tom Angleberger 07:16 Is writing a job for you? Or is it just fun? 11:15 How did Tom Angleberger come up with the idea for the Two Headed Chicken series? 15:44 Why do graphic novels make great gifts? Why are graphic novels important? 21:02 Lessons in graphic novels? 22:12 The publishers response to Two-Headed Chicken 26:22 Where does Tom Angleberger get his book ideas? 29:52 Tom’s question for me, what book would I have the two-headed chicken jump into? 34:07 What is next for author Tom Angleberger? 34:57 Tom’s book recommendation.

    38 min
See All (70)

About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Reeder
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 BookHuddle with Readgab
  • Show Website
    BookHuddle with Readgab

You Might Also Like