Scholastic Reads

Scholastic Inc.

Scholastic's podcast about the joy and power of reading, the books we publish for children and young adults, and the authors, editors, and stories behind them. We’ll explore topics important to parents, educators, and the reader in all of us.

  1. JUL 21

    The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: From the classroom to Carnegie Hall

    About This Episode For over 100 years, teens from throughout the country have participated in a storied American tradition – the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Originally conceived in 1923 as a way to celebrate student artists at a time when most awards focused on athletic achievements, the Awards have gone on to become the nation’s longest-running scholarship and recognition program for creative teens and have served as the launching pad for some of the most well-known and respected artists and writers of the last century, including the likes of Robert Redford, Sylvia Plath, Richard Avedon, Andy Warhol, Joyce Carol Oates, John Updike, Zac Posen and Amanda Gorman. In today’s episode, host Billy DiMichele is joined by Chris Wisniewski, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, Karlotta Frier and Anyango Mpinga, two professional artists and national jurors for the 2025 Scholastic Awards, and Nia Cao, a teen writer and recipient of the 2025 New York Life Award, a sponsored Scholastic Award that recognizes outstanding works dealing with grief. Each of these interviews will explore a particular component of the Scholastic Art & Writing Award—from a work first being submitted through to a national winner taking a bow on the incomparable stage of Carnegie Hall. Listen to hear more about what makes a program like the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards so special, so enduring, and so necessary. Resources About the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: https://www.artandwriting.org/ About the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers: https://www.artandwriting.org/the-alliance/ About the New York Life Award: https://www.artandwriting.org/scholarships/new-york-life-award Gallery of teen work recognized in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: https://www.artandwriting.org/gallery/ More listening: Scholastic Reads! Celebrating 100 Years of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Highlights Chris Wisniewski, Executive Director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers “More than anything else, when we talk to teenagers and ask why did you enter the program? It was really about the opportunity to share their work, to have their work celebrated, particularly in their home communities, or even on the stage of Carnegie Hall. That’s a really extraordinary thing for a young person who’s at a crucial moment in their creative development and really thinking about what’s next for them. So that recognition is really important.” “We also see the Scholastic Awards as being almost like a big national tailgate party for art and culture. What we’re doing is bringing communities together all around the country to celebrate these young people who are doing extraordinary things in their art and writing.” “When you think about the fact that one out of every four high schools in the country has a young person who enters this program, we can rightfully say that we are conducting a celebration of creative teens on a truly national scale. And when we award 2-3,000 national medals, that really is a recognition of some of the very finest creative work that has happened anywhere in this country over the past year by teenagers.” “With 103 years of Scholastic Awards under our belt, that makes us a unique repository of teen creativity. We can tell a story about what young people were thinking about, and what was on their minds when they were making art and writing over the course of these past 100 years, and that’s something that’s unique to this program.” “The work that I find tends to resonate most powerfully with our jurors is the work that expresses a unique point of view. So young people who have the courage to really put themselves out there and to go beyond a classroom assignment or a sense of the expected, that’s always the best path, not just to winning a Scholastic Award, but to really developing as a creative. To remember to always be true to yourself first.” Karlotta Frier, professional artist and 2025 national juror [On what intrigued her about participating as a juror] “I got invited and didn’t know it was going to be so much fun and feel so important to me…Winning an award was really important to my path…and that experience of being seen by someone else other than my mom who always believed in me this whole time, but somebody else, in New York [meant] maybe I can do this.” Anyango Mpinga, professional artist and 2025 national juror [On the message she would want Scholastic Awards participants to hear] “I just want them to know that their voice is valid and to not change for anyone…If you’re really connected to who you are, and this is your creativity, the best thing you can do for yourself is cultivate that creativity and become even better than you were yesterday, and stick to it, and make that your voice…you have to stick to your guns, and you have to fight for yourself.” _Nia Cao, teen poet and recipient of the 2025 New York Life Award _ “[My poem] was a really important work to me, and it was the first time that I processed [my uncle’s] death. Applying for the New York Life Award, it wasn’t something that I hesitated about. This is something that really resonates with my poem and with my work, and I think it was something that really tied into his legacy.” “It’s validating to be acknowledged and know that my poem resonated with someone, and it feels as if the judges are saying to me, ‘I see you, I hear you.’” Special Thanks Producers: Allyson Barkan and Anne Sparkman Sound engineer: S. Shin Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl

    34 min
  2. JUN 3

    Branches and the magic of early chapter books

    ABOUT THIS EPISODE Learning and loving to read is a journey for every child. Today, we’re focusing on that particular moment when a child is building their reading confidence to make a leap from picture books to chapter books. It’s an exciting time, but it’s also high stakes: it presents a small window that can either launch a child into a love of reading on their own or intimidate them if they find it overwhelming. That’s where Scholastic comes in. In today’s episode, former elementary school teacher and current Editorial Director of Scholastic’s Acorn early readers and Branches early chapter books lines, Katie Carella, is back in the studio with guest-host Billy DiMichele to talk about this magical moment in a child’s literacy journey. And joining the podcast for the first time is Bernard Mensah, author of beloved Branches series Kwame’s Magic Quest. Over the years, Branches has helped grow so many readers through highly illustrated, early chapter books that kids devour. Currently with 58 million books in print and 34 published series, the line has experienced a “meteoric” rise since we last spoke about this important line in 2019 when it had about 17 million books and about 25 series in print. Listen on to find out what’s behind this meteoric rise, to get a glimpse of Kwame’s magical world, and to learn about Bernard’s passion for writing for the Branches age group and representing Ghanaian culture in children’s books. And stay to the end for a read aloud sneak peek! →Resources About Branches: https://www.scholastic.com/site/branches.html About Kwame’s Magic Quest: https://www.scholastic.com/site/branches/kwame-s-magic-quest.html Fuse #8 Blog Review from Betsy Bird: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2025/02/04/the-fast-paced-page-turning-adventure-series-thats-a-celebration-of-african-cultures-bernard-mensah-discusses-kwames-magic-quest/ More listening: Scholastic Reads! EVA-DORABLE: Rebecca Elliott Talks a Decade of the Owl Diaries, Eva the Owlet, and more! More listening: Scholastic Reads! Growing Readers with Branches and Acorn from 2019! →Highlights _Katie Carella: Editorial Director, Acorn & Branches, Scholastic _ “Having been a 1st-3rd grade teachers myself, I’m always excited to talk about that very exciting point in a child’s reading journey where they begin to read books independently. You get to see that light go off and it’s just the best feeling ever.” “All of the Branches books have a second grade reading level. But the books all feature really rich, layered plots so they do appeal to children across many grade levels. From Kindergarten, I’d say up through fourth and even fifth grade, especially now with reading levels behind where they should be. So it’s more important than ever to have these “high-low” books. These books are high-interest, layered plots and yet written at a lower reading level.” “If a child chooses a book that’s too easy for them the child can speed through it and they gain fluency and stamina. If they choose a book that’s slightly too hard for them, the child might struggle, but if they want to read they will do the work. And they’ll learn decoding skills along the way. So both experiences ultimately grow a child’s vocabulary and their reading skill set.” “The accolades [for Kwame’s Magic Quest] keep coming in…it was highlighted on Betsy Bird’s Fuse #8 blog…I just wanted to say a quote she had in her blog, ‘it’s amazing how much story Mensah and Nayo [the illustrator] are able to pack into this thing.’ You are getting this really rich and magical world that Bernard has created but in this really digestible format.” _Bernard Mensah, Author, Kwame’s Magic Quest _ “[Kwame’s Magic Quest] has got that mix of authenticity, friendship, lots and lots of magic, some peril and danger, there’s evil magicians and spells. I think it brings together a lot of things that you would typically find exciting if you wanted to read a book about magic or an epic adventure.” “[on working with the illustrator Natasha Nayo] Having an illustrator who came from the same background who understands the cultural context of some of things that I was trying to put across, I could rely on the art to do some of the talking for me. She brought her own unique flare.” “My son, when he was about five years old, I remember looking at his bookshelf and thinking to myself, well, I’ve managed to find stories for him or write something that speaks to his culture at every age. Where is the book that speaks to him from five to eight years old? And I couldn’t find it so foolishly I thought to myself, well, I’ll write it. And that’s where the idea for Kwame’s Magic Quest came from.” On what the characters would do over summer break, “By the end of the summer they would probably save the world again because that’s what they do in every book. They come close to not doing it but they find a way to rally together and make magic safe again for everybody.” →Special Thanks Producers: Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan, and Maxine Osa Sound engineer: S. Shin Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl →Coming Soon The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2025

    35 min
  3. APR 3

    Realize the Dream: A Conversation with Martin Luther King III, Arndrea King, and Andrea Davis Pinkney

    Realize the Dream is a visionary movement aimed at uniting communities to achieve an extraordinary goal: completing 100 million hours of service by January 15, 2029—the 100th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth. Inspired by Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and a compassionate society, Realize the Dream embodies his vision of a strong, unified foundation for all. The initiative seeks to empower hundreds of thousands of teachers and bring hope to over six million students in underfunded schools across the United States. As a company deeply committed to education and literacy for every child, Scholastic has partnered with this transformative mission. And as part of this commitment, Scholastic will be donating half a million dollars’ worth of books over the course of the initiative to help support Realize the Dream’s ongoing programming. Late last year, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King visited Scholastic Headquarters in New York City to discuss the initiative in a conversation moderated by award-winning author, and Scholastic Vice President and Editor, Andrea Davis Pinkney. In today’s episode, the Kings and Andrea are back, joining guest-host Billy DiMichele in the studio for another compelling conversation about Realize the Dream! → Resources About Realize the Dream: Learn more about the initiative. About Martin Luther King III: Learn more about the American human rights activist, philanthropist, advocate and the eldest son of Doctor Martin Luther King Junior and Coretta Scott King. About Andrea Waters King: Learn more about the social justice leader and President of the nonprofit Drum Major Institute. About Andrea Davis Pinkney: Learn more about award-winning author award-winning author, and Scholastic Vice President and Editor. About Yolanda Renee King and We Dream a World: Learn more about the author, activist and sole grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Corette Scott King, and her book. Realizing the Dream with Scholastic: Kid Reporter Leyla Saldanha’s coverage of Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and Yolanda Renee King’s October 2024 visit to Scholastic Headquarters to talk about the Realize the Dream initiative. We Dream a World: Celebrating Black History Month With Yolanda Renee King: Suzanne McCabe speaks with Yolanda Renee King and Andrea Davis Pinkney in this 2024 episode about the picture book We Dream a World: Carrying the Light from My Grandparents Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. → Highlights *Martin Luther King III, American human rights activist, philanthropist, and advocate * “We wanted to create something that causes people to turn to each other. As we’re working together, we’re doing something that’s bigger than ourselves, in a climate, which is divided, this will hopefully begin to create the beginning elements of some level of community.” “What we really want is not to share what someone should do. What we want is people to decide for themselves what they want to do…What we know is when one is passionate about something, they’re going to do a better job.” “Civility is kindness. Civility is how we say, what we say. Because we can say it in a constructive way, or we can say it in a destructive way. And we need to be creating the climate for constructiveness.” “My greatest hope is that our nation becomes closer and not to just Realize the Dream, but people will realize their own dreams in a way that compliments everyone.” Arndrea Waters King, social justice leader and President of the nonprofit Drum Major Institute “One person can make a difference. All together we can change the world.” “It is important, again, for all of us to find ourselves within the King legacy, but also for everyone to understand that if you’re doing something for someone else, if you’re serving your community, you are doing something to realize the dream of Martin Luther King Jr.” “Acknowledging the shared humanity of us all, at its core, is the foundational principle of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King’s work…As a humanity, we are all brothers and sisters. And that to me is what the cornerstone of what this movement is.” *Andrea Davis Pinkney, award-winning author and Vice President and Executive Editor, Scholastic Trade Publishing * “[Kids] want to take action. They’re big-hearted. And they know what it means to work together.” “As well all know, books change lives. Books spark conversations. And that’s what We Dream a World does. It’s changed lives. It has sparked conversations.” “Stories connect us. They unify us. They bring us together. In the case of the book, We Dream a World, it’s a jewel and a tool. It’s a jewel because it glistens, because its beautifully illustrated, because young people will engage with it and its beautifully written. It’s a tool, because it’s a way that young people can have the roadmap to say, “how do I make a change?” → Special Thanks Producers: Maxine Osa, Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan Sound Engineer: S. Shin Music Composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl → Coming Soon Art & Writing 2025

    35 min
  4. MAR 7

    We Spy, You Spy, I Spy Love: A Conversation with Walter Wick and Dave & Dan Marzollo on the Latest I Spy Installment

    In 1992, Scholastic published I Spy, a groundbreaking series of photography-based seek-and-find books created by illustrator Walter Wick and author Jean Marzollo. For over three decades, I Spy has captivated and entertained readers and families across the nation. With 100-plus books in the collection and over 75 million copies in print, the series continues to be a beloved classic. Last November saw the latest installment in the series, I Spy Love, which brims with whimsical and heartwarming scenes accompanied by delightful riddles, all centered on the theme of love. The title also marks a significant milestone for the series as it’s the first time Dan and Dave Marzollo, sons of original co-creator Jean, have written an I Spy book entirely on their own, alongside Walter Wick! In today’s episode, guest-host Billy DiMichele is joined by Walter, Dan, and Dave about the newest installment, what goes into creating an I SPY book, and so much more! → Resources About I Spy Love: Check out the latest installment in the I Spy Series. About I Spy Series: Learn more about the widely popular seek-and-find book series, published by Scholastic Press. Walter Wick: Learn more about the illustrator. Let’s Find Out!: Check out the nonfiction magazine designed for kindergarteners, featuring fun, seasonal content on science and social studies themes. → Highlights Walter Wick, Illustrator, I Spy “As soon as the first I Spy book came out Jean started to realize how to articulate what those educational values were all about. And that really came to fruition in I Spy School Days…she really set the curriculum on that book.” “You can almost think of each of my scenes as a window display, but without the window.” “A child who struggled with reading was actually better at finding the objects from the riddles than the advanced readers. We called [these books] a 'great equalizer' because they brought people together and got them on the same page.” Dan and Dave Marzollo, Authors, I Spy “My favorite book of the series is I Spy Mystery, where Walter built these mysteries within the pictures. That to me is really great—to find those hidden things within the bigger picture.” – Dan “We were the first ones that got to see the very first fold and gathered copy of I Spy and test it.” – Dave “My mom always said that the moment she realized how big of a success the series was going to be, was when all the high school kids were pushing each other out of the way to try to find the blue thumbtack first. In the beginning, she thought this was going to be just something for kids but saw that high school kids were just as fully riveted by the books.” - Dave → Special Thanks Producers: Maxine Osa, Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan Sound Engineer: S. Shin Music Composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl

    30 min
  5. JAN 16

    New Year, New Scares: Goosebumps Kicks Off 2025 with Thrills, Chills and a Vanishing Act

    In July 1992, Scholastic published the first Goosebumps book by R.L. Stine for young readers nationwide. Never before had a book series attempted to be just scary enough for children and very quickly one thing became clear, kids loved it. In the three decades since its debut, Goosebumps has become one of the best-selling children's book series of all time. With over 400 million books in print, two feature films, video games, consumer products, multiple television adaptations, and more in store for 2025, Goosebumps continues to be one of the most notable cultural phenomena of the past century. This January 10th, 2025 marked the release of the second season of the thrilling live-action Disney+ anthology series Goosebumps: The Vanishing, and this coming March will see the release of R.L. Stine’s newest book in his House of Shivers series, Say My Name, Say My Name. In today’s episode, guest-host Billy DiMichele is joined by the master of horror himself, R.L. Stine, to talk all things funny and scary, while later in the program, we get to hear from Jayden Bartels, one of the stars of Disney+’s newly released Goosebumps: The Vanishing. → Resources About R.L. Stine: Learn more about the author and his many books. About Goosebumps: Learn more about the thrilling Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. About Goosebumps: The Vanishing: Learn more about the newest installment of the live-action Goosebumps television series, executive produced by Scholastic Entertainment, and now available to stream in full on Disney+ and Hulu. Spooky stories for Halloween: Suzanne McCabe interviews R.L. Stine about what it is about spine-chilling books that’s so compelling for young readers, in this spooky-season-themed 2019 Scholastic Reads episode. 25 Years of Goosebumps: R.L. Stine visits Scholastic Reads to talk about the 25th anniversary of the Goosebumps series in this 2017 Scholastic Reads episode. → Highlights R.L. Stine, author, Goosebumps “No one expects this kind of thing. To get so lucky, to have a big bestselling series that lasts. No one plans on it. We had no idea. It all happens, Harry Potter or Hunger Games, Twilight, etc. because of kids. Kids telling kids.” “I LOVE the middle-grade audience.” “I think horror is funny. [It] makes me laugh.” “I’m a huge believer that television shows really encourage reading. Back in the 90s, when the original Goosebumps series went on FOX kids, we gained a million readers a month. So, I’ve always been a big believer that television can encourage reading.” Jayden Bartels, actor, Goosebumps: The Vanishing “I think it’s so interesting how [R.L. Stine] found a way to scare children without giving them nightmares.” “I think it was a big thing for this show, taking the monsters, we all know and love and grew up on, and bringing in new characters and new stories to life.” “We can bring in a new perspective that the younger generation can relate to. And I think that the characters in the show are so multifaceted and so deep and layered.” → Special Thanks Producers: Maxine Osa, Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan Sound Engineer: S. Shin Music Composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl → Coming Soon I SPY LOVE

    27 min
  6. 12/20/2024

    EVA-DORABLE: Rebecca Elliott Talks a Decade of the Owl Diaries, Eva the Owlet, and more!

    At six years old, Rebecca Elliott knew she wanted to write and illustrate books for kids. Today, she is doing exactly that with her hugely popular book series, Owl Diaries and Unicorn Diaries. This coming January marks the 10th anniversary of the Owl Diaries’ debut, and in today’s episode Rebecca joins guest-host Billy DiMichele to talk about the milestone, the success of her hugely popular books, and the animated Apple TV+ series Eva the Owlet, which recently announced its return for a second season and the release of a very special holiday episode. → Resources About Rebecca Elliot: Learn more about the author and her many books. About The Owl Diaries: In Rebecca’s widely popular book series, Owl Diaries, readers follow the adventures of Eva Wingdale, a young owl who navigates school life, friendships, and various challenges in her town of Treetopolis. About Eva the Owlet: The Apple TV+ animated series based on the bestselling Owl Diaries book series, produced by Scholastic Entertainment. About the Unicorn Diaries: Rebecca’s other entertaining book series follows the adventures of Bo Tinseltail, a young unicorn with the power to grant wishes, as he navigates life in Sparklegrove Forest. Owl Diaries: Rebecca Elliott on Reading Aloud and Eva the Owlet: Suzanne McCabe speaks with Rebecca Elliott in this 2023 Scholastic Reads episode about the runaway success of Owl Diaries, its Eva the Owlet adaptation, and her participation in World Read Aloud Day 2023. Growing Readers with Branches and Acorns: In this 2019 episode, Suzanne McCabe interviews Katie Carella, Executive Editor at Scholastic, about the Branches and Acorn books and their impact. She also speaks with authors Troy Cummings (The Notebook of Doom), Rebecca Elliott (Owl Diaries), and Jonathan Fenske (Crabby) about creating these engaging books for kids. → Highlights Rebecca Elliott, author, illustrator Owl Diaries “[It’s] mind-blowing that [my books] could play the smallest role in a child’s journey into books, which to me is one of the most important of journeys, as it’s not only for entertainment, but it builds your worldview. It shapes your curiosity and knowledge.” “There’s something about [owls] that’s so elusive and imaginary even though they’re clearly not. We can almost imagine that they have a secret world where they do wear berets and go to owl elementary school. And the fact that they are such great fodder to write about for children. They have big eyes, they can fly, they have super hearing, and super sight. They are incredible creatures and just so wonderful to wrap this story around.” “I was always drawing. Always, always, from as far back as I can remember. That’s what I did with most of my time. And then I would make up stories about the drawings I [created].” “I think kids are just as interested in stories now, as they ever were. And that’s never going away. It’s a human need to want stories.” → Special Thanks Producers: Maxine Osa, Anne Sparkman, Allyson Barkan Sound Engineer: S. Shin Music Composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl → Coming Soon R.L. Stine and actor Jayden Bartels talk all things Goosebumps with Billy DiMichele

    27 min
  7. 12/06/2024

    When We Flew Away: A Conversation with Alice Hoffman

    For decades Anne Frank’s Diary of a Young Girl has inspired and challenged readers to look for the good in an often-brutal world. In today’s episode, critically acclaimed author, Alice Hoffman, joins host Suzanne McCabe to talk about her newest young adult novel When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary, which reimagines the life of Anne Frank before she wrote her famous diary. This gripping and lyrical novel, informed by extensive research and extraordinary support from the Anne Frank Center, captures the highs, lows, and unyielding hope of Anne and her family during the harrowing Nazi occupation in the Netherlands. Amid danger, deprivation, and countless indignities, a young Anne Frank discovers who she is and cultivates the writer within her. In addition to When We Flew Away, Alice Hoffman has written over thirty works of fiction, including The Dovekeepers, The World That We Knew, and Practical Magic to name a few. → Resources About Alice Hoffman: Learn more about the author and her many novels. When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary: Check out Alice Hoffman’s latest novel about Anne Frank before her writing her famous diary. Hope From the Holocaust: Suzanne McCabe speaks with authors Neal Shusterman and Sharon Cameron about their latest novels Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust, and Artifice. The Tower of Life: Suzanne McCabe talks with author Chana Stiefel about The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs. → Highlights Alice Hoffman, author, When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary “A lot of other people and teenagers wrote diaries, but [Anne Frank’s], I think, kind of transcends just being her personal story. It feels much more universal. And I think also that she was a fantastic writer. So she was a great writer. And so I think her voice reminds us, because it's so innocent and so helpful that, I think it has to come in many ways for us, the Holocaust, because it's a story that she will not let us forget.” “For one, I would hope that [readers of When We Flew Away] they would want to go read the diary. And for the other part, I hope that they would want to read about somebody who really had hope in the world, despite the cruelty, despite the war, who really felt that people were good at heart and that it was still possible to change the world.” “I thought there might be lots of young readers who wouldn't know anything about [Anne Frank], wouldn't even know who she was. So, I think as you're reading [When We Flew Away], you're seeing that the world is closing in and you're having a sense that, there's not going to be a positive ending for the Jews in the Netherlands, but you really kind of want to find out what happens to [Anne]. How does she get through it? How does somebody manage to stumble, live that life is worth living.” → Special Thanks Producer: Maxine Osa Sound Engineer: S. Shin Music Composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl → Coming Soon Rebecca Elliot with guest host Billy DiMichele

    15 min
4.6
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

Scholastic's podcast about the joy and power of reading, the books we publish for children and young adults, and the authors, editors, and stories behind them. We’ll explore topics important to parents, educators, and the reader in all of us.