BookHuddle with Readgab

Karen Reeder
  • 5.0 (17)
  • Books
  • 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. 2d ago

    105: Dragons & What They Teach Us About Anger - Struan Murray Middle Grade Author Interview

    New York Times bestselling author of Dragonborn is back with sequel, The Twilight Child. Struan Murray joins Karen Reeder to discuss his sixth book and how he developed his characters, keeping the importance of their growing anger in mind. It turns out children can learn so much about their own emotions from the way that dragons deal with their emotions.  Find middle grade author Struan Murray https://www.struanmurray.com/ https://www.instagram.com/struan_c_murray/ https://x.com/Struan_Murray Dragonborn The Twilight Child by Struan Murray https://www.amazon.com/Dragonborn-Twilight-Child-Struan-Murray/dp/B0GHX7YYBV/ Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade fantasy author Struan Murray 03:12 What is Dragonborn and The Twilight Child by Struan Murray about? 06:37 All the angry characters in Twilight Child and how Struan developed the characters with themes of anger 11:20 Dragons are supposed to get angry and fight - how to live peaceably with those you disagree with and live alongside 16:15 How does Struan talk to kids about how anger can be a good thing? Controlling our anger makes us brave and strong and gives us focus if we don’t let anger will eat us up and control us.  20:23 How the choice to become a children’s book author surprised Struan 21:34 More books by middle grade author Struan Murray 23:28 The power of names and identity with Dragons 29:39 What is next for author Struan Murray and the Dragonborn books? 31:36 Struan’s book recommendations 32:34 What to read next if you loved Dragonborn

    105: Dragons & What They Teach Us About Anger - Struan Murray Middle Grade Author Interview

  2. Oct 18

    104: RJ Palacio and Brett Helquist on Working Together to Create a Picture Book and Why it is Important for all Ages to Take Time to Have Fun

    RJ Palacio (the author of Wonder) and Brett Helquist (the illustrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events) come together as a powerhouse team to create a brilliant new Halloween picture book, THE HAUNTED PLAYGROUND. Hear all about how they created this story, what their reactions were to each other's words, scenes, images, and why it is important for people of all ages to take time to have fun. Find author RJ Palacio https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/128308/r-j-palacio/ Find illustrator Brett Helquist https://bretthelquistillustration.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bhelquist/ The Haunted Playground written by R.J. Palacio and illustrated by Brett Helquist https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Playground-R-J-Palacio/dp/B0FX7Z7F2N/ Chapters 00:00 Meet author RJ Palacio and illustrator Brett Helquist 04:09 What is the Haunted Playground about? 05:17 What inspired The Haunted Playground? 06:03 How did R J Palacio and Brett Helquist end up working on a picture book together? 07:05 What was the process of creating the illustrations for Brett for The Haunted Playground? 09:32 RJ Palacio’s reactions to the art in The Haunted Playground? 12:47 Brett’s response to RJ reacting to the art 15:37 A scene that jumped out to Brett for how he would create it 16:21 An image that RJ and Brett were happiest about? 18:29 Why is it important for adults to take time to have fun like they did as a kid? 20:02 Is it important for kids to see adults having fun? 25:04 Has a relationship ever surprised you? 31:37 What do you do when you need a break? 34:30 What do you hope kids take away from The Haunted Playground? 35:50 Brett and RJ’s book recommendations 37:55 What is next for RJ Palacio and Brett Helquist?

    104: RJ Palacio and Brett Helquist on Working Together to Create a Picture Book and Why it is Important for all Ages to Take Time to Have Fun

  3. Oct 15

    103: Middle School Monsters by Robin Easter on Friendship, Community and Being Yourself

    Robin Easter's own life experiences influenced the creation of their graphic novel about a new kid at a new middle school. In today's episode Robin and I discuss friendships, community and being true to yourself. Find author Robin Easter https://www.instagram.com/vellichorvictim/?hl=en Middle School Monsters by Robin Easter https://www.amazon.com/Middle-School-Monsters-Graphic-Novel/dp/0316580252/ Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade graphic novel author Robin Easter 03:16 What is Middle School Monsters by Robin Easter about 04:15 What inspired Middle School Monsters? 06:24 Why is it important to have graphic novels 07:10 Robin’s process for creating a graphic novel 09:29 Robin’s medium of choice to create the graphic novel art 10:10 Friendships in middle school 13:23 What has helped Robin be true to themself? 14:30 The theme of community in Middle Grade Monsters 16:28 Was Robin the new kid at school as a youth? 17:35 Upstaged by Robin Easter 19:40 Can we expect more middle grade graphic novels from Robin? 20:20 What led Robin to become an author? 22:30 Robin’s use of color in creating graphic novels 25:11 Robin’s book recommendations

    103: Middle School Monsters by Robin Easter on Friendship, Community and Being Yourself

  4. Oct 10

    102: Take Charge of Your Own Destiny - Jessie Latimer YA Author Interview

    Rigby is given a second chance when she is pulled into her favorite fantasy novel, but can she help the villian discover his second chance as well? Author Jessie Latimer and I discuss her debut novel, Again Behold the Stars, and all about second chances, redemption, taking charge of your own destiny, world building, what draws you into a story, and how you can affect others for good. Find author Jessie Latimer https://www.jessielatimerbooks.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jessielatimerbooks/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591213322414 https://www.tiktok.com/@jessielatimerbooks?_t=ZT-8zkpR5JuDaI&_r=1 Again Behold the Stars by Jessie Latimer https://www.amazon.com/Again-Behold-Stars-Jessie-Latimer/dp/1964726735/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Jessie Latimer spent her childhood searching for portals to magical worlds like Hogwarts, Narnia, and Camp Half Blood. She never found one, but writing fantasy worlds of her own turned out to be the next best thing. After earning her MFA, she settled down in the foothills of Georgia. When she’s not writing whimsical stories with unusual narrators, you can find her hanging out with her husband and son, murdering innocent house plants, and rereading her favorite books eighty-seven times instead of making progress on her TBR. She is the author of Again Behold the Stars (Quill and Flame, 2026). Chapters 00:00 Meet YA fantasy author Jessie Latimer 03:54 What is Again Behold the Stars About? 07:16 What is a book that pulled Jessie into the story? 08:29 Jessie on World Building 12:10 The toils of writing for Jessie 14:42 Being in charge of your own destiny 19:25 People can always change 20:44 How has Jessie seen the stories themes evolve and how have they affected her? 26:40 How do you affect someone else when going through your own intensities 29:48 A personal question for author Jessie Latimer and putting little parts of yourself into your books 33:08 Jessie’s book recommendation 34:40 What to read next if you loved Again Behold the Stars 36:40 What is next for author Jessie Latimer

    102: Take Charge of Your Own Destiny - Jessie Latimer YA Author Interview

  5. Oct 4

    101: Children and Their Aging Loved Ones - Sue Lloyd-Davies Middle Grade Author Interview

    This interview was very personal for me, so I, of course, got emotional. Sue Lloyd-Davies and I discuss her beautiful, heart-rending, fun, entertaining, and uplifting book Pinkie's Turnabout. This episode is for all of those kids whose lives are affected by the unique changing lifestyles with aging loved ones. If you have ever had a loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia, then you can relate. If you have not, this episode is still for you because you may not realize that you have a child in your life who does or will experience life with a loved one struggling with such a disease. Also, it's just such a fun book! I mean a talking cat and wise granny? Go read it! Find middle grade author Sue Lloyd-Davies  https://www.suelloyddavies.com/ https://www.instagram.com/suelloyddaviesauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/slloyddavies/ Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author Sue Lloyd Davies 05:14 What is Pinkie’s Turnabout about? 06:38 What inspired Sue to write Pinkie’s Turnabout? 11:00 Use the book for conversations 15:12 The snarky talking cat 17:02 The benefits of pets (and for aging individuals) 20:43 How to start conversations with kids about aging family members (with Alzheimer’s and dementia) 26:35 Empathy for all people 28:19 How to go forward when we made a mistake? The importance of the apology. 33:58 Acceptance when you can’t change someone’s life for them 36:34 The benefits of developing relationships with older family members 39:35 What’s next for author Sue Lloyd Davies 42:32 Sue’s book recommendations

    101: Children and Their Aging Loved Ones - Sue Lloyd-Davies Middle Grade Author Interview

  6. Sep 27

    100: Celesta Rimington Middle Grade Author Interview - Magic in Our World

    Sometimes you find magic in unexpected places. Celesta's books all have some light fantasy to them, but are all based on some things in our real world that just seem magical. In Celesta's newest release, Reach, a boy is struggling with blended family relationships when he meets a tree that can talk and a friend with synesthesia. Celesta Rimington's middle grade books are inspired by her childhood living in nearly every region of the United States, where she discovered that all places have whispers of magic, people to love, and weather worth describing. She holds a degree in social psychology and resides in Utah, where she can often be found in the boxing gym, singing show tunes around the house, or exploring mountain forests with her family and her Yorkie, Winston. Find author Celesta Rimington https://www.celestarimington.com/ https://www.instagram.com/celesta_rimington/?hl=en http://facebook.com/celestarimingtonofficial https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@celestarimingtonauthor⁩   Chapters 00:00 Meet author Celesta Rimington 05:32 What is Reach by Celesta Rimington about? 06:58 Why did Celesta write about a blended family? 11:59 How Celesta went about researching for writing Reach 14:00 Why Celesta wanted light magic in her books 18:44 Synesthesia in Celesta’s book and how Synesthesia works 23:40 Developing friendships in Reach 27:08 Celesta’s book recommendations 30:25 What to read next if you loved Reach by Celesta Rimington 32:07 What’s next for author Celesta Rimington

    100: Celesta Rimington Middle Grade Author Interview - Magic in Our World

  7. Sep 23

    99: What If Your Dog Became Human - Interview with A.J. Symon YA Author

    Do you have a pet that you love so much that you think they would make the best friend if only they were human? I mean, no one understands you the way your pet does, right? What if your dog became human? YA author AJ Symon explores this fantastic possibility in his book, Golden Boy.  Find author A.J. Symon  https://ajsymon.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ajsymonwriter Golden Boy by AJ Symon https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Boy-J-Symon/dp/1665985526/ Chapters 00:00 Meet YA author A.J. Symon 03:41 What is Golden Boy by AJ Symon about? 08:00 A golden retriever attitude in life. We should all live like a dog. 12:50 Hudson wasn’t normal and he inspired people - don’t worry about what people think of you 15:32 A book about transformation in more ways than one 17:30 Science that takes place in the book. Dog aging project 21:00 Communication skills we can learn from a dog 22:44 AJ’s strong characters 25:32 A screenwriter becomes a fiction novel writer 27:18 What is next for author A.J. Symon 27:47 AJ’s book recommendation and what to read next if you loved The Golden Boy

    99: What If Your Dog Became Human - Interview with A.J. Symon YA Author

  8. Sep 7

    98: The Secret to Belonging - New Young Adult Book - Megan E Freeman Author Interview

    Author Megan E. Freeman is widely known for her popular middle grade books Alone and Away. The Secret to Belonging is Megan's debut young adult novel in verse about a girl from a hard home life who finds an escape as a foreign exchange student in Norway. Listen in to hear Megan share how her own life experiences inspired this story and what you can do with many of the themes within the pages. Find author Megan E. Freeman https://www.meganefreeman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/megan_e_freeman_writer/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/meganefreemanwrites?ref=aymt_homepage_panel# The Secret to Belonging by Megan E. Freeman  https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Belonging-Megan-Freeman/dp/1665988401/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag= As an award-winning poet and educator, Megan E. Freeman brings her signature lyricism and deep empathy to a new and urgent YA story. The Secret to Belonging lays bare what it’s like to grow up in the shadow of a sibling’s addiction and in the cracks of a fractured family with unflinching candor and lyrical precision. Told in second person, the reader never learns the name of the narrator, instead seeing and feeling every moment as if they are in her shoes. The result is a deeply poetic reading experience, one that lingers long after the final page. Readers will also be swept off their feet by the romance between the protagonist and the Norwegian boy she falls head over heels for as she experiences the thrill of being truly noticed, possibly for the first time in her life. Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade and young adult author Megan E Freeman 04:56 What is The Secret to Belonging about? 06:56 Megan’s experience with poetry 07:56 How some of The Secret to Belonging is inspired by some of Megan’s own experience. 09:20 Telling a story in 2nd person without saying the main character’s name 10:53 Megan speaking on the ‘secret’ to feeling a part of group 14:05 How to help kids find joy when they are dealt a bad situation in life 16:46 The importance of making our own legacy and traditions 18:54 Food has a culture all its own 20:48 Weaving theme and analogy in The Secret to Belonging 23:40 How to help youth find the beauty in the world? The planet is more marvelous than you imagined. 26:22 Possessions - our relationship with stuff 29:18 What is next for author Megan E Freeman 31:19 Megan’s book recommendations 35:06 What to read next if you loved The Secret to Belonging by Megan E Freeman

    98: The Secret to Belonging - New Young Adult Book - Megan E Freeman Author Interview
See All (105)

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

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
    105
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 BookHuddle with Readgab
  • Show Website
    BookHuddle with Readgab

You Might Also Like