The KidLit Pod

Shara Curlett
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  • Stories for Kids

Author Shara Curlett hosts a collective, industry-wide discussion around the importance of books for kids, sharing opinions, thoughts, ideas, research, and the science around the importance of stories and why we need to persist in encouraging our children to turn to a book, rather than a device.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    KLP Chat 2: Helen Farch @fhclibrary on Hustling for School Libraries, Going Viral, and the Importance of School Librarians

    Host Shara Curlett interviews Helen Farch, a Melbourne secondary school librarian and advocate for school libraries, reading for pleasure, and Australian authors.  Helen explains how she started the @fhclibrary Instagram account to make her library visible, and how the platform led to global librarian connections, publisher relationships, donated review books, and speaking opportunities, as well as building a thriving school library community. She discusses removing barriers to borrowing, successful engagement ideas like loyalty cards and weekly “Would You Rather” votes, and the need for dedicated library staff amid underfunding and space pressures. Helen describes revamping and genrefying nonfiction to boost borrowing and support research, notes popularity trends like manga, fantasy, romantasy, and horror, and highlights grants and community networks to support library programs and author visits. LINKS: Instagram: @fhclibrary Forest Hill College Library 123Read2Me - empowering disadvantaged kids to succeed with free books. Article in The Sapling - The Reckoning: Every Student Deserves a School Librarian in their Lives Kirsty Everett on Instagram: @kirstyeverettauthor Kirsty Everett on Mamamia Kirsty Everett - Channel Nine Interview Students Need School Libraries Follow The KidLit Pod  on Instagram (@thekidlitpod) Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here: Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett) Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)

    59 min

  2. Jun 1

    KLP Chat 1: H P Fryer on OGG, Illustration, and Feeding Kids' Imaginations

    Host Shara Curlett introduces episode one of The KidLit Pod and interviews New Zealand author-illustrator H.P. Fryer (Hannah Powell Fryer), whose debut picture book OGG was published by Scholastic Australia in 2025. Hannah explains entering the publishing scene via an illustrator portfolio call, developing OGG from a university character exercise, and describes how she created the book’s detailed gouache-and-pencil illustrations. The conversation covers her history and illustration studies, artistic influences, how parenting increases exposure to children’s books, and shared views on limiting devices, valuing boredom, and “feeding” children’s minds with stories. Hannah's illustration Influences, mentioned throughout the podcast: Quentin BlakeSarah OgilvieJúlia SardàAlex SchefflerBeatrice AlemagnaLynley DoddBob GrahamAlison LesterBriony StewartBriony May SmithAlex T. SmithYou can find out more about our guest, H.P. Fryer (Hannah Powell Fryer), here: HP Fryer on Instagram (@hpfryer) HP Fryer Website (www.hpfryer.com) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOOK SHOUTOUT LINK: Josie Mack and the MEGA Division Follow The KidLit Pod  on Instagram (@thekidlitpod) Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here: Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett) Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)

    41 min

  3. May 29

    Introducing The KidLit Pod

    Introducing The KidLit Pod: A New Industry-Wide Conversation on Children’s Books The Kid Lit Pod is a new podcast launching in June 2026, hosted by Shara Curlett, author of the middle grade fantasy novel Welcome to Miracle (Scholastic Australia, 2025) and the upcoming series Protector of Beyond (Penguin Australia, releasing September 2026). The KidLit Pod will be focused on inspiring creativity in kids and exploring connection, play, children’s neurological development, and the impact of devices. KLP will facilitate collective, industry-wide discussions about the importance of children’s books. Featuring Australian and New Zealand creators and industry professionals, the show will share opinions, ideas, research, and science through conversations with marketing teams, booksellers, librarians, teachers, specialists, publishers, as well as authors and illustrators, to uncover the stories behind the stories. We'll also be having a monthly hang with some kidlit friends (KLP Hang).  The KidLit Pod will premiere on 2 June, with an episode featuring H.P. Fryer. Follow The KidLit Pod  on Instagram (@thekidlitpod) Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here: Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett) Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)

    2 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

Author Shara Curlett hosts a collective, industry-wide discussion around the importance of books for kids, sharing opinions, thoughts, ideas, research, and the science around the importance of stories and why we need to persist in encouraging our children to turn to a book, rather than a device.

Information

  • Creator
    Shara Curlett
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The KidLit Pod
  • Show Website
    The KidLit Pod

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