BookHuddle with Readgab

Karen Reeder
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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. 20 HR AGO

    79: Discussion on Body Image with author Rebecca Morrison

    There is so much going on in this discussion because there is so much going on in the incredible book, The Blue Dress, by Rebecca Morrison. We talk about body image, being your authentic self, being an immigrant, complicated mother/daughter relationships. Find author Rebecca Morrison https://www.rebeccakmorrison.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccamorrisonwriter/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rkmorrison TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@contactrebecca?lang=en  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rebeccamorrisonwriter/ Twitter (X): https://x.com/contactrebecca  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-morrison-12bbb99/ Website: https://www.rebeccakmorrison.com/  Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rebeccamorrison.bsky.social YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rebeccamorrisonwriter Substack: https://rebeccamorrison.substack.com/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rebeccamorrisonwriter The Blue Dress by Rebecca Morrison https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Dress-Rebecca-Morrison/dp/0374393605/ Jawbreaker by Christina Wyman https://www.amazon.com/Jawbreaker-Christina-Wyman/dp/0374389691/ Chapters 00:00 Meet Middle Grade Author Rebecca Morrison 03:39 What is The Blue Dress by Rebecca Morrison about? 05:32 Complicated mother/daughter relationships and why Rebecca choose to write it for a middle grade book 08:38 Had writing a book about her own experiences affected Rebecca’s relationship with her mother? 12:41 Body image - how to feel happy and secure about our bodies 16:47 Be an authentic self about being an immigrant 20:37 How the author Rebecca would go about recommending a tween or teen read The Blue Dress 25:50 What is next for author Rebecca Morrison? 26:47 Rebecca’s book recommendation

    30 min

  2. 3 DAYS AGO

    78: What Kids Want In a Book According to Middle Grade Author Michael Buckley - Author Interview

    Weird books are some of the best books! Michael Buckley shares his experience writing The Weirdies series in this author interview on BookHuddle where we learn to embrace and love the weird! Find middle grade author Michael Buckley  https://www.michaelbuckleywrites.com/ https://www.instagram.com/whatsupbuckley/ Chapters 00:00 Meet author Michael Buckley 02:50 What is The Weirdies by Michael Buckley about? 08:10 What is it like writing a weird book for Michael Buckley? 10:36 What was it like creating an Audible original story? 13:36 As you wrote did you try to consider how it would sound narrated 16:35 Words that people use to describe The Weirdies that resonate with Michael 22:37 The benefits of writing a weird book for children 27:00 Embrace the weird. Help kids see that being different is ok 30:00 What would The Weirdies give for advice 37:46 What is next for author Michael Buckley? 41:13 Michael’s book recommendations

    46 min

  3. 15 MAR

    77: Behind the Scenes with Jen Calonita in Writing The Isle of Ever Series - Middle Grade Author Interview

    Jen takes us behind the scenes in her writing the Isle of Ever and book 2, The Curse Breaker. We get to hear all about how it came together and maybe you'll have some questions at the end so maybe you should follow Jen Calonita on her socials and read all of the books in the Isle of Ever series.  Find author Jen Calonita  https://www.jencalonitaonline.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jencalonita/ https://www.tiktok.com/@jencalonitaofficial https://www.facebook.com/jencalonitabooks https://www.threads.com/@jencalonita Isle of Ever by Jen Calonita https://www.amazon.com/Isle-Ever-Jen-Calonita/dp/1464234426/ The Curse Breaker by Jen Calonita https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Breaker-Isle-Ever/dp/172827706X/ Chapters 00:00 Meet author Jen Calonita - Also Cliffhangers 07:40 What is the book Isle of Ever and the sequel The Curse Breaker about? 10:04 What motivates author Jen Calonita in life? 11:37 What personal family life inspired Jen Calonita to write Isle of Ever? 14:09 How did Jen pace her writing for the Isle of Ever series? 16:37 Adding new points of view to the sequel 21:00 What are Jen’s hopes for readers when they read The Curse Breaker? 24:42 Creating the main character, Benny 29:35 Learning to be a kid and have fun 31:50 What is next for author Jen Calonita? 35:47 Jen’s book recommendations

    39 min

  4. 13 MAR

    76: We Are Never Just One Thing - Confront Heavy Convserations With Middle Author Lisa Graff

    In our lives we are always growing, always changing, and yet some aspects of us stay the same. We are never defined by just one thing; there is never just one thing going on in our lives. It is hard to explain A Scar Like a River with just one word. If I had to, I would say it is heavy or emotional, but I would hope that the hearer would remember that either of those words can mean so many things. A Scar Like a River is about a girl who was sexually abused as a child, and it is also about so many other things. It is fun and entertaining with Fallon dealing with family and friends and the school play and, yes, with the heavy effects of child abuse. This book flows like a beautiful river with intense parts, fun parts, and stunning parts. I enjoyed reading it, and I enjoyed chatting with Lisa Graff about A Scar Like a River. I hope that you will as well.  Find author Lisa Graff  https://www.lisagraff.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lisagrafflovesbooks/ https://www.facebook.com/lisagraffauthor https://www.pinterest.com/lisagrafflovesbooks/ A Scar Like a River by Lisa Graff https://www.amazon.com/Scar-like-River-Lisa-Graff/dp/031657080X/ The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman https://www.amazon.com/Undead-Deadwood-Forest-Newbery-Winner/dp/0316575739/ Chapters 00:00 Meet author Lisa Graff 02:40 What is A Scar Like a River About? 03:49 What inspired Lisa Graff to write A Scar Like a River? 05:44 Was it intense to write a book about abuse? 07:49 Was there anything that Lisa felt trepidation about in writing A Scar Like a River? 08:35 What makes Lisa excited about A Scar Like a River? 09:45 How adults can go about recommending A Scar Like a River to children? 17:00 The River themes 18:00 What it was like for Lisa to write A Scar Like a River? 21:03 How did Lisa come up with the title for her middle grade book? 24:27 Explaining is not Exculpating. Even though characters choices were not justified, why explain their choices? 26:14 What helps Lisa process her thoughts and emotions 28:47 What is next for author Lisa Graff? 29:50 Lisa’s book recommendation

    36 min

  5. 8 MAR

    75: Can I Be Brave? Author Interview Saadia Faruqi

    Middle grade author and winner of the Schneider Family Book Award Honor for her book The Strongest Heart talks to us about her newest book Some of Us Are Brave, how we can be brave and also how to make it a conversation with our kids. Find author Saadia Faruqi https://saadiafaruqi.com/ https://www.instagram.com/saadiafaruqi/ The Strongest Heart by Saadia Faruqi https://www.amazon.com/Strongest-Heart-Saadia-Faruqi/dp/0063115859/ Some of Us Are Brave by Saadia Faruqi https://www.amazon.com/Some-Are-Brave-Saadia-Faruqi/dp/0063389533/ Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson https://www.amazon.com/Piecing-Me-Together-Ren%C3%A9e-Watson/dp/1681191059/ Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author Saadia Faruqi Winner of the Schieder Family Book Honor 06:20 What is Some of Us Are Brave by Saadia Faruqi about? 09:20 What do you do when you’re forced into a situation in which you must be brave? 11:30 Why would someome choose to be brave if it wasn’t forced on them? What is the benefit of choosing to be brave? 16:35 An example in Saadia’s life where she has taken baby steps in approaching her fears 19:26 Why did Saadia include flood myths in her story? 21:07 Researching the flood myths and how Saadia choose what to include? 23:50 What do you hope readers will take away from your story? 27:55 What is next for writer Saadia Faruqi? 29:03 Saadia’s book recommendation

    31 min

  6. 26 FEB

    74: Reading and Writing Help Process Our Own Thoughts and Emotions - Interview with author N. West Moss

    I had such a fantastic time reading Birdy and then talking to the author N. West Moss about how she crafted this beautiful story! We talk about the benefits of journaling, how reading and writing help us process our thoughts and emotions and so much more in this middle grade author interview! Find middle grade author N. West Moss https://www.nwestmoss.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nwestmoss/ https://www.facebook.com/west.moss/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11630982.N_West_Moss Birdy by N. West Moss https://www.amazon.com/Birdy-N-West-Moss/dp/0316446416/ Podcast about children's books Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author N. West Moss 02:49 What is the book Birdy by N. West Moss about? 04:06 What inspired West to write Birdy? 05:10 The importance of the setting to the author 06:47 Tell us about creating the naturalistic character 09:47 Is author N. West Moss more of a city girl or a country girl? 12:00 Character development - anything the author learned from the main character, what she loved about her 13:48 Journaling for Birdy 18:50 The benefits of journaling for kids 22:25 How reading books helps us process thoughts and emotions 27:17 Birdy’s younger brother mouse - writing a big age gap and creating their relationships 30:44 What is next for author N. West Moss 32:13 West’s book recommendation

    37 min

  7. 22 FEB

    73: Art Heals, Art Inspires, Art Brings Comfort During Times of Turmoil and Always - Claire Swinarski author interview

    Claire Swinarski created a beauitiful historical fiction/contemporary middle grade book called Each and Every Spark. I had a wonderful time talking to her about this story, how important it is to have good art during hard times and researching/creating a work of historical fiction. Also, we love good food! Find author Claire Swinarski https://www.claireswinarski.com/ https://www.instagram.com/claireswinarski/ Each and Every Spark by Claire Swinarski https://www.amazon.com/Each-Every-Spark-Claire-Swinarski/dp/0063321785/ The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman https://www.amazon.com/Blackbird-Girls-Anne-Blankman/dp/1984837354/ Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author Claire Swinarski 04:19 What is Each and Every Spark by Claire Swinarski about? 06:47 Why did Claire have art as a theme in this historical fiction book? ?How art is still important when the world is in turmoil ?Appreciating art and what it can inspire others to do 14:18 What led Claire to write historical fiction? 17:01 Claire’s research for writing Each and Every Spark And What impacted her writing as she was in Paris 19:23 Did anything surprise Claire in her research? 22:03 What is Claire’s favorite French pastry? 24:09 Character development with two very different people in two different time lines 29:10 What advice would Claire’s characters give to young readers? 31:16 what is best for the whole family unit 35:26 What is next for Claire Swinarski as an author? 37:28 Claire’s book recommendation

    39 min

  8. 16 FEB

    72: Children's Books Create Conversations with Kids - Shifa Saltagi Safadi author interview

    Children's stories can be fun, silly, entertaining, important, and thought-provoking all within one book. In this episode Shifa and I discuss both her chapter book series and her middle grade novel in verse. She talks about how both can be used to create meaningful conversations with kids and how some topics are best approached through the pages of a story.  Find author Shifa Saltagi Safadi https://shifasafadi.com/ https://www.instagram.com/shifasaltagisafadi/ Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship by Shifa Saltagi Safadi (Author), Aaliya Jaleel (Illustrator) https://www.amazon.com/Banana-Formula-Friendship-Saltagi-Safadi/dp/0593699149/ Amina Banana and the Formula for Making Money by Shifa Saltagi Safadi (Author), Aaliya Jaleel (Illustrator) https://www.amazon.com/Amina-Banana-Formula-Making-Money/dp/0593699181/ Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi https://www.amazon.com/Kareem-Between-Shifa-Saltagi-Safadi/dp/0593699289/ Chapters 00:00 Meet children’s book author Shifa Saltagi Safadi 04:51 What are the Amina Banana books about? And the Formula for Friendship. And the Formula for Winning. And the Formula for making Money. 10:41 Amina Banana is a story for all people 12:22 How did Shifa decide on the themes for the “formulas” in the Amina Banana books? 17:00 Using Amina books to have  conversations with our kids Normalize people’s lived experiences, like Amina with her hijab 19:59 Real experiences children have shared with Shifa about her books 22:18 How can adults use Amina Banana for their kids? 25:05 What is Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi about? The benefits of novels in verse 29:50 What is next for author Shifa Saltagi Safadi? 31:11 Shifa’s book recommendation

    36 min
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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
    79
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 BookHuddle with Readgab
  • Show Website
    BookHuddle with Readgab

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