For the final episode of Season 2, I’m so excited because my sister, Laurel Harduar Morano, is interviewing me about my latest picture book, Ripening Time! We are having a fun conversation about identity, family stories, and food, of course!

Today’s Picture Book: Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo and illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera

Dr. Laurel Harduar Morano is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She holds a PhD in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master's of Public Health in biostatistics from Boston University. She has nearly two decades of experience in applied public health, predominantly working within state and federal governments. She is currently an associate professor at Michigan State University where she tracts work-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities with the goal of prevention. 

In her spare time, Dr. Harduar Morano enjoys dancing and movement, exploring culinary delights, implementing her brilliant ideas, and infusing her world with her creative projects. She lives with her family in Okemos, Michigan. 

Book Description: Mama steers the cart toward the produce section of the grocery store and picks up a bunch of green plantains. Thus begins a week of anxious anticipation as a young girl waits for mustard yellows to seep onto the unripe green peels. Creep. Creep. Seep. Green begins to turn to yellow. Creep. Creep. Seep. Black streaks appear. And finally, on Sunday, the frying pan sizzles and hisses, as Mama serves up the warm, sugary slices the young girl has waited for so long. Much like there is sweet treasure hidden beneath the skin of a plantain, this beautifully written and evocative story reaches far beyond the act of preparing a favorite food. Ripening Time celebrates the way food and family entwine to connect us across generations—and serves as a touching reminder that some of the sweetest rewards in life are worth the wait.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Ripening Tme. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other Mentions:
Your Gift: Season 2 Activities and Questions
‘Plucked and Planted’ in All the Colors We Will See by Patrice Gopo

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1.     What are things you have waited for in life? Big things and little things? What were some of the emotions you felt during that waiting time? What do you make of that situation now when you look back?
2.     Share with others what were those special foods that were part of someone’s history? Have a gathering where people bring their special foods. 

Find Patrice:
Website: www.patricegopo.com
See Patrice’s website for upcoming Ripening Time events!

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Unfortunately, the show notes character limit will not allow me to link directly to all their websites, books, and season 1 episodes. Instead, you can find all that information here.

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

“The book honors those ancestors who struggled and sacrificed and stood up to make this family’s joy possible.” –Gabriele Davis

Today we’re talking about sound and song and celebration of the joyful noises that fill our family’s lives. 

Today’s Picture Book: Our Joyful Noise written by Gabriele Davis and illustrated by Craig Stanley

Gabriele Davis welcomes the sounds, songs and rhythms that flow through her days in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut, where she writes, bikes and reflects on the childhood memories that fire her imagination. The memory of her dad singing spirituals to Gabriele and her brothers at bedtime gave rise to OUR JOYFUL NOISE (Atheneum). Gabriele enjoys creating works that delight, inspire, empower and reflect all children. Visit her at www.gabrieledavis.com.

Book Description: A joyful, jazzy picture book following a Black family through a week of shared moments and simple pleasures, woven through with hidden musical jewels from spirituals and songs.

We move to the sounds
that FLOW through our days.
Soft sounds, low sounds, LOUD sounds,
slow sounds.
Joyful, NOISEFUL, soulful sounds.
OUR sounds.

For this loving family, each moment of the day is filled with music, from the moment they wake to the sound of Mama humming them into a happy day as she plop plop plops berries into oatmeal, to bedtime when Daddy soothes them to sleep, strong hands smoothing brows, warm and slow, sweet chariots swinging low.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Our Joyful Noise. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:
Whale Fall by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Rob Dunlavey
Onomatopoeia
Our Joyful Noise playlist on Spotify
Rendition of His Eye is On the Sparrow that Gabriele just loves!

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     What is the playlist of my life? What are the songs and sounds that inspire me or comfort me or bring me joy? What are the songs that inspire me? Or help me when I’m sad?

2.     Can you make a playlist on Spotify and then share it?

3.     Discuss with others: What would happen if we made a real effort to great each morning with an attitude of joyful expectation? How might that effect the course of our day? How do we cultivate that mindset?

Find Gabriele:
Website: www.gabrieledavis.com
Facebook: @GabrieleDavisAuthor
Instagram: @IamGabrieleD 

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we’re talking about community stories of loss, how music can connect us, immigration experiences, and understanding stories from the past. 

Today’s Picture Book: The One & Only Googoosh written and illustrated by Azadeh Westergaard

Azadeh Westergaard is a NYC based Iranian-American picture book collector and book maker. She is the author and illustrator of The One & Only Googoosh: Iran’s Beloved Superstar and the author of A Life Electric: The Story of Nikola Tesla (illustrated by Júlia Sardà). Book honors include the 2025 Flora Stieglitz Straus Award by Bank Street College of Education, winner of the 2025 SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration and finalist for the Golden Kite Awards for Picture Book Text, and an ALSC 2025 Notable Children’s Book citation.

Book Description: A celebration of one of Iran’s most iconic musical artists. The legendary Iranian singer and actress Googoosh (born Faegheh Atashin) made her stage debut at age two while performing alongside her acrobat father. By the time she reached adulthood, she was widely considered to be Iran's first superstar. Googoosh was in the prime of her career and on the brink of international stardom, but after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she was silenced and disappeared from public life for over twenty years. However, her fans did not forget her. And as they sought refuge around the globe, they found ways to keep her music alive.
 
Azadeh Westergaard has crafted an unforgettable love letter to the home she once knew in Iran and to the woman who was and still is a cultural icon—a dazzling performer known as the one and only Googoosh.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing The One & Only Googoosh. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:
Googoosh singing a duet with artist Martik
Googoosh, Iran's Daughter (Documentary)
What It Is by Lynda Berry

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     Think of a song from your childhood that is really your family’s soundtrack. Play the song, set a timer, and either make art or write with the Lynda Berry questions in mind: Where are you? What are you wearing? What’s on the wall? Etc.

2.     Have a Musical Cookie Exchange! Friends from different cultures bring your favorite song and favorite cookie to represent your culture and share in that way.

Find Azadeh:
Website: www.ahwestergaard.com
Social Media: @ahwestergaard 

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we’re talking about friendship conflict, setting the table for repairing harm, courageous communication, shame, making apologies, and restorative justice.

Today’s Picture Book: The Time Machine illustrated by Melquea Smith and written Pauline David-Sax

Throughout her illustrations, Melquea Smith encourages children to embrace the magic around them. While doing so, to unleash the long dormant childlike wonder in adults, and above all else, to not let the cynicism of the world keep them down.

Book Description: Bailey's building a time machine . . .  not to visit ancient Egypt or King Arthur's court, but to take her to last Thursday. That's the day she said the Thing that made her best friend so mad. But when it's complete, Bailey discovers the only thing harder than building a time machine is having the courage to revisit a moment you regret.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing The Time Machine. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other Mentions:

• What is an Authentic Apology Exercise- Equal Justice USA Restorative Justice Model
• 5 Ways to Suck Less at Communication - Multi-Amory podcast
• Language for Table-Setting: “The reason why we’re having this conversation is because I care about our relationship. I don’t want us to end this conversation feeling x, y, and z. I want us to come to a mutual understanding, and I want us to grow from the experience.”
• Patrice’s forthcoming anthology

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
Imagine a moment where harm was caused onto you (not something huge or a big trauma; just something small). What did you need at that moment? How did it make you feel? Now imagine a moment where you have caused harm to someone else (again not something huge). What did you need at that moment? How did you feel? What allowed you to come to a conclusion if there was one? In those two scenarios, what is something similar? What was the bridge? For example, “I needed to feel heard” when harm was caused to me and when I caused harm.

Find Melquea:
Website: www.prettykittypaintings.com
Get on Melquea's email list and get a free color page!
Melquea's illustration portfolio

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we’re talking the power of stories to help us feel seen, how the place where we are can return us to places in our memory, and how we might claim our own ancestors.

Today’s Picture Book: Memory Garden written by Zohreh Ghahremani and illustrated by Susie Ghahremani

Roohi Choudhry is a writer, teaching artist, and researcher who lives in Brooklyn, New York. Born in Pakistan and raised in southern Africa, she holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Michigan and is the recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship and residencies at Hedgebrook and Djerassi. She worked as a researcher in criminal justice reform and public health, wrote for the United Nations, and facilitates creative writing workshops for interfaith groups, schools, libraries, and community organizations. Her stories and essays have appeared in Ploughshares, Callaloo, Longreads, and the Kenyon Review.  Her debut novel, Outside Women (University Press of Kentucky, March 2025), was named one of the "most anticipated feminist books of 2025" by Ms. Magazine and described as “riveting… an incisive story of how change happens” by Publishers’ Weekly.

Book Description: A lively afternoon together in Nana’s garden is full of laughter, discovery, and connection. In lyrical text that blends past and present, Memory Garden takes us to the places we leave behind but never forget. 
 
Written and illustrated by a loving mother daughter duo, the nostalgic text and vibrant illustrations invite us to enjoy the beauty of Iranian gardens – and culture - in an adventure that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Memory Garden. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other Mentions:

Outside Women by Roohi Choudhry, her debut novel! Get your copy today :).

Making Picture Book Magic with Susanna Leonard Hill 

University Press of Kentucky

32 Sounds (documentary)

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1)    Go on a walk and be present to the sensory details and all the things we are absorbing of a place as we are moving through it. Make a list of what you notice or an artistic map. Then this will take us to our memories of other places.

2)    When you are thinking about the place you are in right now, ask yourself, “What does this remind you of?” What places in memory are existing alongside the present moment. Talk with others about this.

Find Roohi:

Website: roohichoudhry.com

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

As we approach five years since the murder of George Floyd, we are talking today about trauma and processing trauma, creating space for people to feel, and everyone having a child within them.

Today’s Picture Book: We Miss You, George Floyd  by Shannon Gibney and illustrated by Leeya Rose Jackson

Shannon Gibney is a writer, educator, and activist. She is author of several books, including The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption, which received a Michael L. Printz Honor and a Minnesota Book Award; See No Color and Dream Country, both winners of Minnesota Book Awards; and Sam and the Incredible African and American Food Fight, a children’s picture book about a cross-cultural family also published by the University of Minnesota Press. A Bush Artist and McKnight Writing Fellow, Gibney teaches at Minneapolis College, where she was named Educator of the Year in 2023. She lives with her two children in Minneapolis.

Book Description: In this candid and powerful book, a young girl hears about an unfolding tragedy in her neighborhood. It's on the news, on the radio, and talked about in her community, and she learns of the murder of George Floyd--and about who he was. As she tries to reckon with the senseless violence of his killing, she finds solace at George Floyd Square. The space is filled with the art of protest and resistance, and she is moved to create her own signs and drawings, lifting her voice to harmonize with the outpouring: "We miss you, George Floyd."

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing We Miss You, George Floyd. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     What was your experience during the time of George Floyd’s murder and the uprisings? Tell a story or share a memory.

2.     Give people artistic tools and materials and ask them to create something about how they felt during the time of George Floyd’s murder and the uprisings.

Find Shannon:

Website: www.shannongibney.com 
Bluesky: @shannongibney

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we’re talking about gratitude and appreciation for what was and expressing gratitude to previous generations for sacrifices they made.

Today’s Picture Book: Baba’s Peach Tree by Marie Tang and illustrated by Seo Kim

Marie Tang was born in Hong Kong, raised in New York City, and was a resident of Shanghai for over a decade. The unique characters and neon lights of the “Big City” have been an ever-present source of inspiration for her. She proudly tells tales of the grit, tenacity, and compassion of the Asian people.

Book Description: Behind their old stone house, Tao Hua and her father, Baba, discover good fortune: a peach tree. Baba prunes and tends to the tree. He calls it a blessing, like good shoes, hot rice, and books. And for a long time, the peach tree offers them fruit and hope for a better life. But time passes, and so do the seasons, and, one day, the tree does not blossom. But life blossoms in a different way when Baba comes home and announces that he got a job in the Big City, where there are good schools and opportunities. And so the seasons pass, and, one day, when Baba is very old, he and his daughter return to their old home and to new peach trees–to old memories and new beginnings.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Baba’s Peach Tree. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:
Yuna's Cardboard Castles by Marie Tang and illustrated by Jieting Chen
The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1. How can I express a note of gratitude to those who came before me?
2. Write down a note of appreciation
3. Consider learning the language of previous generations if you don’t know it
4. Consider giving Baba’s Peach Tree a book to someone and sharing that you recognize what that person has done for you.
5. Ask someone about their experiences, what did they felt when they were living somewhere else, was it difficult moving, etc.?

Find Marie:
Website: www.marie-tang.com
Instagram: @marietangauthor

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we’re talking with picture book enthusiast Nadia Alexis about finding our way back to old memories, connecting with our stories, and feeling seen.

Today’s Picture Book: Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings written by Francie LaTour and illustrated by Ken Daley 

Nadia Alexis, a poet, writer, and photographer from Harlem, is the author of Beyond the Watershed (CavanKerry Press, March 2025), a poetry and photography collection that was also a finalist for the 2022 Ghost Peach Press Prize. Born to Haitian immigrants, Nadia’s work has been widely published and exhibited. She has earned numerous honors, including a Literary Arts Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a Mississippi STAR Teacher Award, and recognition as the Poet of the Year Honoree of the Haitian Creatives Digital Awards. A fellow of the Callaloo Creative Writing Workshop and The Watering Hole, she holds a PhD and MFA from the University of Mississippi. She lives in Mississippi.

Book Description: Every winter, a young girl flies to Haiti to visit her Auntie Luce, a painter. The moment she steps off the plane, she feels a wall of heat, and familiar sights soon follow -- the boys selling water ice by the pink cathedral, the tap tap buses in the busy streets, the fog and steep winding road to her aunt's home in the mountains. The girl has always loved Auntie Luce's paintings -- the houses tucked into the hillside, colorful fishing boats by the water, heroes who fought for and won the country's independence. Through Haiti's colors, the girl comes to understand this place her family calls home. And when the moment finally comes to have her own portrait painted for the first time, she begins to see herself in a new way, tracing her own history and identity through her aunt's brush.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other Mentions:
Beyond the Watershed, Nadia’s debut poetry and photography collection!!! Purchase through your local indie bookseller. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1.     What are the sights, sounds, smells, tastes of where I am from? And how does that make me who I am?
2.     When did you first feel seen? 

Find Nadia:
Website: www.NadiaAlexis.com

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we’re talking about seeing color, pursuing change, connecting with others, developing empathy, and seeing people completely.

Today’s Picture Book: I See Color by Valerie Bolling and Kailei Pew and illustrated by Laylie Frazier
Valerie Bolling is passionate about creating stories in which all children can see themselves and feel seen and heard, valued and validated. She’s the author of six picture books -- LET’S DANCE! (SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner); TOGETHER WE RIDE; TOGETHER WE SWIM (2023 Kirkus Prize Finalist); RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN!; BING, BOP, BAM: TIME TO JAM!; and I SEE COLOR (Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) -- as well as a Scholastic Acorn early reader series, RAINBOW DAYS. Sharing her books with children and inspiring them to write their own stories brings Valerie immense joy!
Book Description: I See Color is a powerful and direct response to those who use the phrase "I don't see color" to dismiss race and racism. This book celebrates revolutionaries from various backgrounds who have lived fearlessly, faced oppression, and fought for change. I See Color is a picture book that affirms people of color—of all shades—by celebrating their achievements and contributions to society.  Part ode to an array of beautiful skin tones and part introduction to change-makers in history, this book is a perfect conversation starter for readers everywhere.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing I See Color. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other Mentions:
Kamalani Hurley on Season 1 Episode 16
Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom by Valerie Bolling (releases July 14, 2025)
A Plea for Justice and The March for Hope (forthcoming; visit Valerie’s website for updates)

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1. Who Am I? How do I identify? How do I honor these parts of myself? How do I share them with others? (consider creating art or a collage that has these different parts of yourself)
2. How does the other person identify? What can I learn from them? How does this knowledge make me learn even more about myself?
3. When’s a time you’ve felt unseen or that you were seen or judged only for your color?

Find Valerie:
Website: www.valeriebolling.com | Instagram: @ValerieBollingAuthor | Bluesky: @ValerieBolling

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

“Your neighborhood has its own soundtrack.” –Janelle Harper

Today we’re talking about feeling seen, connecting across generations, recalling what was important to you as a child, and celebrating the place where you grew up.

Today’s Picture Book: My Block Looks Like by Janelle Harper and illustrated by Frank Morrison

Janelle Harper is a Bronx native who proudly carries her New York accent anywhere she goes. As a children’s book author, Janelle is passionate about representation. She hopes to create stories that make children fall more in love with themselves. She’s drawn to stories that are lyrical, multi-generational or showcase non-traditional storytelling structures. 

Since she was a child, Janelle possessed a deep love for reading and writing. Her head was often buried in a book. On holidays, she would show off her writing skills by creating personalized greeting cards for family members using construction paper and lots of glitter!  

Janelle comes from a long line of educators. She is a veteran New York City public school teacher who is dedicated to providing equitable education and opportunities for Black and brown children. Janelle can often be found blasting music in dance rehearsal, yelling 5-6-7-8, preparing for elaborate productions.

Book Description: A love letter to the hustle, the bustle, the joy, and the grit of city life. 

“My block looks like
 a collision of cultures
 a melting pot of cool
 a burst of life
 my favorite groove”

A lyrical and proud picture book that recognizes the beauty of the bodegas, subways, and playgrounds that characterize everyday life in the Bronx and pays homage to the ways that its residents have shaped pop culture through music, visual art, and dance. My Block Looks Like offers kids a reaffirming message to celebrate and uplift their communities in an energetic text that begs to be read aloud.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing My Block Looks Like. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     Can you think about your community or neighborhood through the lens of the five senses? (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch)

2.     Draw or write a poem about your own block or your experience growing up. Maybe start with the prompt, “My block looks like . . .”

Find Janelle:

Website: www.janelleharperauthor.com 
Instagram, Bluesky, Threads: @BXStoryteller

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

“Love is showing up for each other in these times of pain.” –Fabienne Doucet

Today we’re talking about love triumphing over distressing situations, re-parenting ourselves, and amplifying the hope that things can be better. 

Today’s Picture Book: Love is Still Winning/El Amor Siempre Triunfa by Fabienne Doucet and illustrated by J de laVega

Born in Spain, raised in Haiti, and migrating to the U.S. at the age of ten, Fabienne Doucet (she/her) is the author of the bilingual picture book Love is Still Winning/El Amor Siempre Triunfa (Lil’ Libros). An avid reader, writer, karaoke queen, and lifelong dancer, Fabienne writes stories that celebrate the lives and experiences of racially, linguistically, and culturally diverse children and families. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. When not writing stories for young children or practicing her salsa moves, Fabienne is Executive Director of the NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools and Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She lives in New York city with her husband and their two amazing teenagers who are growing up way too fast.

Book Description: When a little one sees their parents overwhelmed with the aftermath of distressing news, they remind themselves of the love that still shines through, and all the ways love is showcased in the simplest of actions that we often overlook. Whether helping a neighbor or reminiscing the beauty of a sunset with a loved one, love triumphs all.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Love is Still Winning/El Amor Siempre Triunfa. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other Mentions:

Re-parenting yourself

“When You Believe” from the Prince of Egypt

Love is Still Winning/El Amor Siempre Triunfa playlist

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     Write a note of encouragement and kindness to yourself. Fill a jar with encouraging notes to yourself.

2.     Consider the ways that community can be there for us or others during difficult times. Ask someone: How are you doing? What do you need? How can we be community to each other right now? How can I remind you that you have love and support around you?

Find Fabienne:

Website: www.fabiennedoucet.com 
Social Media: @bailabomba

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Book Mentions in this episode:

Autumn Song: Essays on Absence by Patrice Gopo

Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo and illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera

Other mentions in this episode:

Inaugural Pattis Family Foundation Creative Arts Book Award

Author Janelle Harper

Illustrator Melquea Smith

Author Fabienne Doucet

Find Patrice:

Website: www.patricegopo.com

Instagram/Facebook: @patricegopo

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Thank you for listening!!

About Nyasha: 

Nyasha Gopo was born and raised in Zimbabwe before moving to South Africa where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Accounting and a Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting, both from the University of Cape Town. Nyasha then went on to become a Chartered Accountant. After a decade of living and working in South Africa, he subsequently moved to the United States—specifically Charlotte, North Carolina—where he makes his home with his family. Nyasha spent fifteen years working with accounting firms in Transaction Advisory Services before recently transitioning to his current role where he leads the finance team of a professional services company, focusing on mergers & acquisitions. 

Some of Nyasha’s favorite things include visiting the mountains with his family, drinking really good coffee, watching television series that keep you guessing, and experimenting with his new camera.

Other mentions in this episode:

The podcast’s bookshop.org

A Gift for You! Download the questions and activities from all the episodes (scroll to the blue button)

Buzzsprout’s Podcast about Starting a Podcast on Apple Podcasts (or read the same info)

Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County

ASC Cultural Vision Grant

My friend, Kate Motaung

Sustainable Arts Foundation

Adrea Theodore’s Picture Books Are for Grown-Ups Too! podcast S1|E4

Des Cooper’s Picture Books Are for Grown-Ups Too! podcast S1|E5

Find Patrice:

Website: www.patricegopo.com

Instagram/Facebook: @patricegopo

Please leave a rating or review of Picture Books Are for Grown-Ups Too! on Apple or Spotify! Thank you so much!

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we’re talking the beauty and importance of sports, sibling love, and the reality of using our gifts to have an impact on others and our communities.

Today’s Picture Book: The Ashe Brothers: How Arthur and Johnnie Changed Tennis Forever by Judy Allen Dodson and illustrated by David Wilkerson

Judy Allen Dodson is a librarian, archivist, and children's book author. Judy has a passion for writing captivating stories, celebrating diverse children's literature, and teaching young readers about history. She's the author of Escape From Hurricane Katrina and The Ashe Brothers: How Arthur and Johnnie Changed Tennis Forever. Visit her online at judyallendodson.com.

Book Description: In 1968, Arthur Ashe climbed his way to the top of the tennis world in a time filled with racial tension and segregation. But his success didn't happen without help. Arthur's close relationship with his younger brother, Johnnie, was key to Arthur becoming the first Black man to break the color barrier in men's tennis. A layered story full of love, sibling rivalry, and unconditional support, The Ashe Brothers tells the little-known story behind Arthur's Grand Slam win.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing The Ashe Brothers. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

Escape from . . . Hurricane Katrina by Judy Allen Dodson 

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” –Arthur Ashe

More info about Joseph Holt Jr.

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     What are your gifts?

2.     What can I do to support the areas I think are important to our community and humanity?

3.     How can you empower others to do for each other?

Find Judy:

Website: https://judyallendodson.com/

Twitter: @jadlibrarian

Instagram/Facebook: @JudyAllenDodson

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we have a lovely discussion with picture-book enthusiast and librarian Patty Lyons about thinking about who was there for us, recognizing the importance of photographs, writing down the good moments, and seeing windows, mirrors, & sliding glass doors.

Today’s Picture Book: Something about Grandma written and illustrated by Tania de Regil

Today’s Guest: Patty Lyons is currently the Children’s Librarian at the Mint Hill Public Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. A proud graduate of UNC Greensboro, she was inspired to pursue a career in librarianship after realizing that she is passionate about providing services and programs that are meaningful to our community. Prior to working at the Library, she was the lead teacher at La Escuelita Bilingue where she was responsible for teaching dual language learners English and American customs while celebrating their heritage. She volunteers at Diverse Book Finder where she is reading and coding children's books to the end of aiding in the discoverability of literature for children and youth featuring BIPOC characters. In her free time, she loves watching movies and spending time with her family.

Book Description: At Grandma's house, where Julia is staying without her parents for the first time, the breeze is sweet like jasmine. Mornings begin with sugared bread, and the most magnificent hot chocolate cures all homesickness. There's something about this place . . . and about Grandma. Like how she can tell when Julia has been quietly picking limes from the garden. Or that she can see the future--and knows when Julia is about to fall off her bike. Or how she can journey back in time through the stories she tells. In the room where Julia's mother grew up, her grandmother holds her in a warm embrace--an embrace that Julia will pass on to her family when her parents arrive with her new baby brother. With Tania de Regil's heartfelt illustrations, incorporating poems by her great-grandfather that were handwritten by her grandmother, Something About Grandma offers a tender and playful exploration of the magic of intergenerational love and wisdom.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Something About Grandma. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Diverse Book Finder

Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     How are you making sure your photos are there to tell your stories and hold your memories? How can we be intentional about sharing photographs?

2.     Consider writing down the good things that happened to you that day or week. Then go back and read this at the end of the year and see all the good things you have in your life.

3.     How can you find a way to learn and connect with your community? Can you be open in your mind and heart to learn about the stories of the people that are part of your community?

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today’s Picture Book: Moonlight Memories by Amanda Davis and illustrated by Michelle Jing Chan
Amanda Davis is a teacher, artist, writer, and innovator who uses her words and pictures to light up the world with kindness. After losing her father at a young age, Amanda turned to art and writing as an outlet. It became her voice. A way to cope. A way to escape. And a way to tell her story. She was thus inspired to teach art and pursue her passion for writing and illustrating children's books. In addition to Moonlight Memories, Amanda is the author of the award-winning picture book, 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag and a yet to be announced forthcoming title.
Book Description: Piper is feeling sad and empty after the loss of her mother. So when her father, who is struggling in his own way, gives her a telescope to console her, she's excited to explore the night sky. But she doesn't find stars or planets when she looks through her lens. Instead, she finds a constellation of memories, a treasured collection of big and small moments with her mother, which she hurries to draw before they fade from view. Night after night she sketches, until eventually, she finds herself in a room covered in memories, surrounded by reminders of her mother's love.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Moonlight Memories. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:
30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag written by Amanda Davis and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport
empowerHER: https://www.empoweringher.org/

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1.     Can you reflect on a difficulty or challenge in your life? Ask yourself, “How has this affected me then and now?” Can you draw or write about it?
2.     If someone in your life has passed away, consider writing a letter to them.
3.     A daily practice of gratitude; writing down the things you are grateful for. In addition, can you share a happy memory from the day and what you’re looking forward to tomorrow?
4.     Share your story and be curious and ask questions about other people’s stories.
5.     Find your community.
6.     Give back.

Find Amanda:

Website and subscribe to her newsletter: http://www.amandadavisart.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandadavisart
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amandadavis_art 

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today’s Picture Book: Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince by Alliah L. Agostini and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice
Alliah L. Agostini is the author of The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States, the upcoming Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography, and Junior Library Guild Selection BIG TUNE: Rise of the Dancehall Prince, which has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly. Alliah resides in New Jersey where she enjoys impromptu dance parties, fossil hunting, and making up corny jokes with her husband and two children. She has an A.B. and an M.B.A. from Harvard.
Book Description: An exuberant picture book about a Black boy with big dancing dreams who learns the meaning of courage and community.
It's the weekend, first in June; speaker's blasting out big tune!
Cousins, aunties, uncles, friends pack the house, and fun begins.
Shane is shy but loves to dance--and all year long, he's picked up cans
to earn some money toward his goal: high-tops with a pump-up sole.
But then the speaker blows--it's done! Will this stop his family's fun?
Can Shane come through to save the day and bring back Big Tune Saturday?
Set within a vibrant Caribbean American neighborhood and told to a rhythmic beat, Big Tune is a story of Black boy joy that touches on determination, confidence to express who you are, selflessness, and community gratitude.
Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Big Tune. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:
The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States by Alliah L. Agostini and illustrated by Sawyer Cloud AND Oprah Winfrey: A Little Golden Book Biography by Alliah L. Agostini and illustrated by Tara Nicole Whitaker

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1.     What is the one thing that you wish that you had the courage to do, the one thing that is the best reflection of you, but you don’t yet have the courage to do? Or that you wished you had the courage to do as a child?
2.     How do we create safe spaces so that the people that are around us feel like they have the courage to try these things. How do we create environments where people feel like they can be themselves?

Find Alliah: https://www.alliahagostini.com/

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Listen in as Kamalani advocates for the importance of speaking about hard topics, recognizing your identity and the identity of those around you, knowing your culture, and telling the stories that history wants to erase. A thoughtful conversation filled with powerful commentary and reflection.
Today’s Picture Book: Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
Kamalani Hurley is a Native Hawaiian writer from Honolulu. After many years of teaching college linguistics and writing, Kamalani writes stories for and about her indigenous community. She grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Pālama near Chinatown and is a proud graduate of the venerable Hawaiian institution, the Kamehameha Schools. An avid reader and gardener, Kamalani lives in Hawaiʻi with her husband, their daughters and grandkids, two beach-loving dogs and a very large extended family. Kahoʻolawe, The True Story of an Island and Its People, is Kamalaniʻs first children’s book due Fall 2024 from Lerner. Kamalani is represented by James McGowan of BookEnds Literary Agency.
Book Description: Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation's history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa's Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community. News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Unspeakable. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:
The saying Kamalani mentioned: I ka wā mamua, i ka wā mahope which is roughly translated to mean we use the past to guide our future.
Educator’s Guide for Unspeakable
Lerner Books
Kahoʻolawe, The True Story of an Island and Its People: Kamalani’s forthcoming debut picture book, illustrated by Harinani Orme
Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC)
Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1. Ask ourselves, “Why are we so afraid to talk about our past, to talk about our history?”

Find Kamalani:
Website: https://kamalanihurley.com/
Twitter: @Kamalani_Hurley

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we talk about the reality that life doesn’t allow everyone the time to face a “wall of text,” the process of bringing a book to illustrated life, what it means to discover something and try to share that with others, and the value of building connections through sharing a book.

Today’s Picture Book: Song in the City illustrated by Jenin Mohammed and written by Daniel Bernstrom

Today’s Guest: Jenin Mohammed 

Winner of the SCBWI 2020 Summer Showcase Award, Jenin moved into children's illustration after working to gain entry into storyboarding for television. Just as her dream studio job appeared on the horizon, Jenin realized that her true love for story lay in children's illustration. Her work uses dynamic shapes and perspective with a layering technique to create a tissue-paper-collage-meets-painterly look.

Jenin was born and raised in Miramar, Florida. She comes from African American and Caribbean ancestry. Thanks to her Christian/Muslim upbringing, she is on a never-ending quest to find halal versions of her favorite southern dishes. Jenin’s interests include creating henna art, freestyle rapping (very badly), and pen-tapping offbeat.

Book Description: 

A young girl, filled with the sounds of her beloved city, shares a song with her grandmother that changes the two forever. After helping Grandma realize that the city makes music as beautiful as the sounds they hear in church on Sunday morning, the two sit down and take in all the sounds of the city…together.

Song in the City bridges the gap between generations of music and family, while centering love, understanding, and joy.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Song in the City. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

All the Places We Call Home

Christy Ewers: https://catagencyinc.com/about-1

SCBWI: https://www.scbwi.org/

Upcoming Projects:

When I Wrap My Hair

They Built Me for Freedom

First Borns Only (Jenin’s middle grade novel)

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

Can you gather with others and discuss a book together?

Find Jenin: 

Website: https://www.jeninmohammed.com/

Facebook/Instagram: @knotwritenow

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Listen in as Shirin Shamsi talks about unexpected joys in the creative process (despite the waiting), the importance of sharing family stories, the reality of displacement, and so much more. This conversation is truly a blessing, and, at the end, Shirin shares important thoughts about her second picture book, The Moon From Dehradun: A Story of Partition.

Today’s Picture Book: Zahra's Blessing: A Ramadan Story by Shirin Shamsi and illustrated by Manal Mirza

Born and raised in the UK, Shirin Shamsi moved to the USA and settled in Illinois, where she raised her six children—three human and three felines. Shirin is represented by Saba Sulaiman of Talcott Notch Literary. Her publications include: The Moon From Dehradun: A Story of Partition and Zahra’s Blessing: A Ramadan Story. She has co-authored two inter-faith books with Callie Lovvorn and Melissa Stoller: Planting Friendship : Peace, Salaam, Shalom and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom.

Book Description: Zahra hugs her cherished teddy bear and prays that Ramadan will bring her a longed-for sister. When her bear subsequently goes missing, Zahra finds herself grappling with intense feelings of loss. Over the next few weeks, as she volunteers with her mother at a local shelter for asylum seekers, Zahra befriends a displaced child, resulting in a newfound sense of gratitude and an unexpected Ramadan blessing. 

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Zahra's Blessing. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

The Moon From Dehradun: A Story of Partition by Shirin Shamsi and illustrated by Tarun Lak
Barefoot Books

 
Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     Think about your family history and family stories. Consider writing about your past and your family stories. A tip for getting started: make a list of things that you remember from your childhood.

2.     Be willing to share your experiences as a form of connection with friends and family. We can share stories with others.

Find Shirin:

Website: https://shirinshamsi.com/

Twitter: @ShirinsBooks

Instagram: @shirinshamsi1

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

The work of identifying our worries isn’t easy. Join us for this thoughtful conversation about why naming our worries matters.

Today’s Picture Book: Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival

Today’s Guest: Abbigail Glen of Shelves Bookstore

Abbigail launched Shelves on June 22, 2019 and has been serving as Charlotte, NC’s Friendly Neighborhood Bookseller ever since. In addition to being a dream come true, Shelves is both an online and Pop-Up bookstore that partners with other small businesses that have a brick & mortar presence in the Charlotte Metro area. She is committed to educating families and celebrating the joy that reading books brings to people all over the world because she believes that reading is freedom. She is on a quest to not only provide supporters with great books; but also create amazing lifestyle products made exclusively with readers, writers, and dreamers in mind. It’s been quite a journey so far and continues to surprise her along the way.

Book Description: 

Meet Ruby -- a happy, curious, imaginative young girl. But one day, she finds something unexpected: a Worry. It's not such a big Worry, at first. But every day, it grows a little bigger . . . and a little bigger . . . . Until eventually, the Worry is ENORMOUS and is all she can think about.

But when Ruby befriends a young boy, she discovers that everyone has worries, and not only that, there's a great way to get rid of them too . . . she just has to share her feelings.

This perceptive and poignant story is the perfect springboard for talking to children about emotions and anxieties.

Please support Shelves Bookstore by purchasing Ruby Finds a Worry: https://shelvesbookstore.com/product/ruby-finds-a-worry/

Other mentions in this episode:

Shelves Bookstore Reading Is a Lifestyle (RIAL) Subscription: https://shelvesbookstore.com/subscription/

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

Can we admit that there might be an issue concerning worry and can we work to unpack where this worry might have come from? What about this is bothering me? Can we peel the layers back and get honest with ourselves?

Find Abbigail:

Website: https://shelvesbookstore.com/

Instagram: @shelvesbookstore

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelvesbookstore

Reading Is a Lifestyle (RIAL) subscription: https://shelvesbookstore.com/subscription/

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Listen in as Gloria talks about a story finding you long before it’s time to write a story, the desire we have to be affirmed in our experiences, the radical possibility of building book clubs around picture books, and, of course, so much more!

Today’s Picture Book: Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua by Gloria Amescua and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
Gloria Amescua is an author, poet and educator. Her picture book biography, CHILD OF THE FLOWER-SONG PEOPLE: LUZ JIMÉNEZ, DAUGHTER OF THE NAHUA (illustrator, Duncan Tonatiuh) was awarded a Pura Belpré Author Honor.  It also was a co-winner of the Américas Award and ILA Alma Flor Ada winner. It was a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, ALA Notable Books and various Best of Nonfiction/Informative lists 2021/2022 and a SCBWI Golden Kite Finalist.
Book Description: As a young Nahua girl in Mexico during the early 1900s, Luz learned how to grind corn in a metate, to twist yarn with her toes, and to weave on a loom. By the fire at night, she listened to stories of her community's joys, suffering, and survival, and wove them into her heart. But when the Mexican Revolution came to her village, Luz and her family were forced to flee and start a new life. In Mexico City, Luz became a model for painters, sculptors, and photographers Soon, scholars came to learn from her. This moving, beautifully illustrated biography tells the remarkable story of how model and teacher Luz Jiménez became "the soul of Mexico"--a living link between the indigenous Nahua and the rest of the world. 

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Child of the Flower-Song People. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:
Ransom Center at the University of Texas | The Writing Barn | Teaching Guide for Child of the Flower-Song People

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1.     Ask older generations for their stories AND record them, write them down!
2.     If you’re interested, consider researching your ancestry
3.     Have a picture book book club and discuss conquest of indigenous people, colorism, discrimination, and reparations, etc.
4.     Write a poem about who you are (refer to the teaching guide): 
Who do you see when you look at me?
Do you see . . . 

Find Gloria:
Website: www.gloriaamescua.com | Twitter: @gloriaamescua | IG/FB: @gloriaamescuawriter

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Join us for this joyful conversation about finding magic, the power of even the tiniest good deeds, planting surprises in the forest, and other moments of delight!!

Today’s Picture Book: A Good Deed Can Grow illustrated by Holly Hatam and written by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Today’s Guest: Holly Hatam 

Holly is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Dear Girl, and Dear Boy, as well as Unicorns Are Real!, Made by Maxine, and Jack (Not Jackie). She loves hugging trees, drinking tea, sniffing books, music, animations, and most importantly, unicorns. She invites you to be transported into her magical world by visiting her on Instagram: @hollyhatamillustration.

Book Description: 

A good deed can grow like a seed. . . .
 
 Join a loving community as they work to create a better world. Whether planting a garden or visiting a sick friend, picking up litter or playing music at the senior center, kind actions—no matter how big or small—can spread like a ripple, impacting the lives of others for the better. Jennifer Chambliss Bertman’s inspiring text and Holly Hatam’s joyful illustrations celebrate how anyone, young or old, can make a difference. It all starts with a good deed.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing A Good Deed Can Grow. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

Jennifer Chambliss Bertman’s Book Scavenger Series

Holly’s upcoming book with Roma Downey, Message in the Moon (October 2023)

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     Ask yourself when you’re having a hard day: what brought me joy today? OR what brought me joy yesterday?

2.     Ask yourself: how can I bring some kindness today?

Find Holly:

Website/blog: https://hollyhatam.com/

Instagram: @hollyhatamillustration

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today we’re talking about immigration experiences, seeing past labels, and the power of hope with Terry Catasús Jennings.

Today’s Picture Book: The Little House of Hope by Terry Catasús Jennings and illustrated by Raúl Colón

 Terry Catasús Jennings is a Cuban-American writer who immigrated to the United States after her father was jailed in Cuba by Fidel Castro’s government. She was twelve at the time and knew no English. The Little House of Hope is a semi-autobiographical story in which immigrants give each other a helping hand in a new country. In addition, Terry is the author of numerous books, including a biography in verse about Pauli Murray and the award-winning Definitely Dominguita series. Her goal in life is to lead us to embrace our common humanity, as well as sing the praises of Cuban food. She lives in Reston, Virginia with her husband, and enjoys visiting with her five grandchildren, often encouraging them to bring their parents along. 

Book Description: 

To turn a shabby little house into a welcoming home, all it takes is a big-hearted family eager to help others. . . and a little hope. La casita offers a home for those who don’t have anywhere to go. It’s a safe place in a new land, and Esperanza is always the first to welcome them. An inspiring, semi-autobiographical story of how immigrants can help each other find their footing in a new country.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing The Little House of Hope. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

Kirstin Cappy and I’m Your Neighbor Books: https://imyourneighborbooks.org/

Watercress by Andrea Wang and Jason Chin: https://bookshop.org/p/books/watercress-andrea-wang/14906330?ean=9780823446247

Shine On, Luz Véliz! by Rebecaa Balcarbel: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shine-on-luz-veliz-rebecca-balcarcel/17837995?ean=9781797209678

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     When you see someone who is beginning to learn English, do you see them as a mother or a father? Do you see them as sitting around the table with their family? Having hardships and also having joys?

2.     When you think about your own family, what would you want other people to know about?

3.     Do you think that every person has a right to be safe no matter where they are born?

Find Terry:

Website: http://www.terrycjennings.com/

Twitter: @terrycjennings

Instagram: @terry.c.jennings

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today’s Picture Book: Watercress by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin.
Maria Marianayagam is a Sri Lankan-Canadian children's book author. She was born in India and grew up in Nigeria and four provinces across Canada.  Maria is a former chemical engineer who fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an Umma (mom). Maria enjoys writing lyrical picture books centered on STEM, faith, and South Asian culture, as well as high concept middle-grade grounded in culture. Her debut picture book THE AMAZING POWER OF GIRLS releases June, 2024 from Sourcebooks eXplore. When Maria is not writing, she can be found traveling the world, devouring books, and spending time with her wonderful family. She resides in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and two daughters.
Book Description: While driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl's Chinese immigrant parents spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. They stop the car, grabbing rusty scissors and an old paper bag, and the whole family wades into the mud to gather as much as they can. At first, she's embarrassed. Why can't her family just get food from the grocery store, like everyone else? But when her mother shares a bittersweet story of her family history in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged--and the memories left behind in pursuit of a new life.
Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Watercress. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/
Other mentions in this episode:
“Good storytelling engages our fundamental humanity.” – from “The Power of Immersive Storytelling” by Cleary Vaughan-Lee:
SCBWI, Erin Murphy Literary Agency, Neal Porter Books
Maria’s debut picture book: The Amazing Power of Girls (June 2024)
Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1. Mine our memories for specific experiences true to our own lived experiences. Both happy and hard. Ask ourselves: how did I experience that as a child? How do I feel about that now? What understanding do I bring to this moment now that I didn’t have as a child?
2. Reflect on our own histories. Ask questions of one another to know how we came to be. Ask our families so that we can understand the sacrifices. And extend this to understanding these things about each other.

Find Maria: Website: https://www.marianayagam.com/ | Twitter/Instagram: @msmarianayagam | Newsletter: https://www.marianayagam.com/contact (scroll down)

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

“Just by pure design, a picture book is for all ages, for all generations.” –Michelle Nott

Today’s Picture Book: Teddy, Let’s Go by Michelle Nott and illustrated by Nahid Kazemi

Michelle Nott is a bilingual, dual-nationality author who finds inspiration in her family, her travels, and particularly in American and French literature, culture, and art. Born in the United States, Michelle has also lived in France and in Belgium. Michelle taught French (pre-K, elementary, high school, and college) and Creative Writing (high school) before focusing her attention on writing for children. She finds crafting picture books an ideal way to combine her love and respect for children, language, and fine art. She strives to share this passion with readers of all ages. Teddy Let’s Go! is Michelle’s third book for children and her debut picture book. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, two daughters, and their rescue dog.

 Book Description: “Teddy and My are made for each other—literally in the case of Teddy, a teddy bear lovingly stitched and stuffed by Grandma for the newborn baby. From eating mushy vegetables to playing with blocks, Teddy is there every step of the way as My grows older. Even as the little girl goes to school and makes new friends, she can always count on Teddy for playtime, comfort, and friendship. As she leaves early childhood behind, My comes to rely on Teddy less and less. But Teddy still has an important role to play in My’s life.” (from the publisher’s website)

 
Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Teddy, Let’s Go! Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

Tucson Festival of Books: https://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/

Michelle’s questions for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     What or who brought you comfort as a child and through your growing up years? And how was that feeling of security offered? And if you can’t identify anything or anyone then ask yourself what or who would have been helpful? Then turn that around and ask yourself who do you want to be for others and how can you offer that to someone else?

2.     Can you imagine what might be happening in another person's life?

Find Michelle: 

Website: https://www.authormichellenott.com/

Twitter: @MimiLRN

Instagram: @michnott

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Michelles-Kid-Lit-Bookshelf/100063646329893/

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today’s Picture Book: The Talk by Alicia D. Williams and illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

Alicia D likes chunky guacamole, shiny things, dancing, good stories, and great jokes.

She is the proud mother of a brilliant college student. Her passion for storytelling stems from conducting school residencies as a Master Teaching Artist of arts-integration. 

ALICIA D is the author of Genesis Begins Again, which received the Newbery and Kirkus Prize honors, was a William C. Morris prize finalist, and won the Coretta Scott King--John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Alicia D is also the author of several picture book biographies: Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston AND Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress. 

Book Description: “As a little boy grows into a bigger boy, ready to take on the world, he first must have that very difficult conversation far too familiar to so many Black and Brown Americans in this gentle and ultimately hopeful picture book.” (from the publisher’s website)

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing The Talk. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

“Ballad of Birmingham” by Dudley Randall

More about Dr. Rudine Sims Bishops and windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors: https://library.ncte.org/journals/LA/issues/v85-2/6175

Dat Dere by Oscar Brown Jr.

The educator’s guide for The Talk will be available here soon.

Questions for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     What are the activities that bring you joy? What realities might try to block that fully realized joy?

2.     In this discussion about giving the talk and having heard the talk, where do you locate yourself? Where might others around you locate themselves?

Find Alicia D:

Website: https://www.aliciadwilliams.com/

Instagram: @authoraliciadwilliams

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

 “Activism is not just one thing. There’s no one way to be an activist. There’s no one way to serve your community. Your gifts can be used as they are.” –Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Today’s Picture Book: Mae Makes a Way by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and illustrated by Andrea Pippins

Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is the author of several children’s books, including 8th Grade Superzero, It Doesn't Take A Genius, Operation Sisterhood, an IndieNext Pick, and the picture books Someday Is Now, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, and Mae Makes A Way. She is a member of the Brown Bookshelf, and editor of the We Need Diverse Books anthology The Hero Next Door.  She’s written for various outlets, including PBS Parents, Read Brightly, American Baby, Healthy Kids, and some of her childhood favorite hip hop fanzines like Right On! Magazine. Olugbemisola has worked extensively in youth development, and was twice awarded a public service fellowship for her creative arts and literacy project with adolescent girls. Olugbemisola lives with her family in New York City where she writes, makes things, and needs to get more sleep.

Book Description:  Mae had a dream to make one-of-a-kind hats. But the path for a Black female designer was unclear, so Mae made a way, leaving her home in the segregated South to study at the Chicago School of Millinery. Mae had the skills, but craved the independence to create her own styles. So Mae found a way. In Philadelphia, she became the first Black woman to own a business on South Street. Whether you were Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Marian Anderson or a lady from the neighborhood, Mae wanted you to look good and feel special in one of her original hats. A mother, a successful entrepreneur, and a community advocate, Mae led the way.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Mae Makes a Way. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture: https://nmaahc.si.edu/
Someday Is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and illustrated by Jade Johnson
Makeda Makes (upcoming easy reader series)

Questions for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     How can we welcome people just as they are?

2.     How can I be of service to my community with who I am and what I have right now?

3.     How can who I am and what I have to give have an impact on someone else’s life?

Find Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich: Website: https://www.olugbemisolabooks.com/ | Instagram: @olugbemisolarhudayperkovich | Twitter: @ olugbemisola

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Listen in as Des talks about how picture books are art and exist on multiple levels, and how what might appear as a simple story can hold even more meaning for an adult reader.

Today’s Picture Book: Nothing Special by Des Cooper and illustrated by Bec Sloane

Desiree is a 2015 Kresge Artist Fellow, former attorney, and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist who writes extensively about racial and gender equality. Her debut collection of flash fiction, Know the Mother, won numerous awards, including the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Award. Her essay, “We Have Lost Too Many Wigs,” was listed as a notable essay in The Best American Essays 2019. Her first children’s book, Nothing Special, received a starred review from Booklist. After spending her 30-year career in Detroit, she now lives in the Virginia Beach area where she cares for her mother and three grandchildren.

Book Description: Six-year-old Jax can't wait to leave Detroit and spend a week with his grandparents in coastal Virginia, where he's sure he'll be spoiled with the kinds of special things he enjoys at home: toys, movies, and hamburgers. As he dreams of the adventures he'll have, his PopPop has other ideas. He fills their days with timeless summer fun-crabbing, shucking corn, and counting fireflies. Illustrated entirely of repurposed textiles, NOTHING SPECIAL is a buddy story that spans generations, and a love letter to the Black family connections that survive the Great Migration.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Nothing Special. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

KNOW THE MOTHER by Des Cooper

Marilyn Nelson and her book A WREATH FOR EMMETT TILL
 

Questions for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     What is it that you want to save and pass on? What of you do you want to make sure the next generation knows or understands about your family’s journey? What are the treasures that you can continue to pass on? What needs to be preserved and who can you give that gift of your life experience to?

2.     Can we turn that question outward and find out about someone else? What might someone else want to preserve in their family’s story?

Find Des Cooper

Website: www.descooper.com

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

“You can see forward. You can see who are. But at the same time if you think about it, it helps you look back. If you look in the mirror, you can see behind you.” –Adrea Theodore

Today’s Picture Book: A History of Me by Adrea Theodore and illustrated by Erin K. Robinson

Adrea is a mom, pediatrician and children’s book author from Durham, North Carolina.  Her debut picture book, A History of Me, was published in January 2022 by Neal Porter Books at Holiday House. It is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and is being translated and published in other languages (Japanese, Portuguese).

 When not writing, Dr. Theodore works in a local child advocacy center with children being evaluated for abuse or neglect. Every child she sees there also has a story to tell. 

Book Description: Being the only brown girl in a classroom full of white students can be hard. When the teacher talks about slavery and civil rights, she can feel all the other students' eyes on her. In those moments she wants to seep into the ground, wondering, is that all you see when you look at me?

Having gone through the same experiences, the girl's mother offers a different, empowering point of view: she is a reflection of the powerful women that have come before her, of the intelligence, resilience, and resourcefulness that have been passed down through the generations. Her history is a source of pride, a reason to sit up straight and recognize everything beautiful and powerful in herself.
 

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing A History of Me. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI): https://www.scbwi.org/

Questions for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     Think about your family tree. Who are the people in your family tree? How far can you trace it back? What are the characteristics they have that you know about? What are some of the characteristics you think you’ve inherited from them?

2.     Can you share with others some of the stories from childhood? Stories that might connect us with one another? What stories might remind us that we weren’t the only one?

Find Adrea Theodore

Website: www.adreatheodore.com

Twitter: @adrea_theodore

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

“Don’t be afraid to collect picture books as a grown-up who has no connection to children. That doesn’t make you strange or weird. That makes you a curator of really beautiful art and a collector of stories.” –Carter Higgins

Today’s Picture Book: Big and Small and In-Between by Carter Higgins and Illustrated by Daniel Miyares

Carter is the author of many books for young readers, including Everything You Need for a Treehouse, an NPR Best Book of the Year, This is Not a Valentine, a Kids' Indie Next List selection, and the chapter book series, Audrey L & Audrey W. Her first book as both author and illustrator, Circle Under Berry, was named a Best Book of 2021 by Publisher’s Weekly, Smithsonian Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.

Carter is a creative storyteller who designs playful experiences around visual literacy and believes the wit of kids' language is the best poetry of all. She is an Emmy-winning visual effects and motion graphics artist and spent a decade as an elementary school librarian.

Book Description: 

This wide, wonderful world contains many things. Some things are as big as a family of bears; some are as small as a reflection in a puddle. Some things are felt rather than seen.

In between it all is . . . you. What kinds of things will you collect?

This lovely, lyrical book collects the world by size. Every page encapsulates one precious moment that perfectly represents both a size and an experience. A beautiful, giftable meditation on what it means to be a kid-and what it means to be a human.

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Big and Small and In-Between. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

Quote from Ursula Nordstrom: “I am a former child, and I haven't forgotten a thing.”

Questions for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     “How quiet it gets on stage when it’s your turn, and you’re not sure about your talent.” How do you feel when you have to do something brave and scary? Can we ask ourselves how we feel about things when we find ourselves face to face with big, scary emotions? (maybe consider engaging with a journal practice and portions from the book as a journaling prompt)

2.     Can you discover the shared memories for stories?

Find Carter Higgins

Website: https://www.carterhiggins.com/

Instagram: @carterhiggins

Twitter: @carterhiggins

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Today’s Picture Book: American Desi by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and illustrated by Supriya Kelkar

Jyoti Rajan Gopal is a writer, mom and Kindergarten teacher. Growing up, she lived in Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, India and China. She now lives in New York, in a quirky old Victorian in Yonkers, with her husband, where they raised their two daughters. Her favorite place in the house is the wrap around porch where she loves to gather with family or friends, read, write and drink coffee.  Jyoti writes stories that speak to her heart, that reflect her multiple identities, that she wishes her daughters had growing up, that she wishes her students had now. When not writing or teaching, she loves to read - a lot! - work in her garden, dance and explore the many New York State Park trails.

Book Description:  A young girl longs to know where she fits in: Is she American? Or is she Indian? Does she have to pick or can she be both? With bright, joyful rhyme, and paired with an immersive art style using American and Indian fabrics, American Desi celebrates the experiences of young children growing up first and second generation Indian American: straddling the two cultural worlds they belong to, embracing all they love of both worlds and refusing to be limited by either. | Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing American Desi. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:
Third Culture Kids: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20161117-third-culture-kids-citizens-of-everywhere-and-nowhere
My Paati’s Saris by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and illustrated by Art Twink (out now), Desert Queen (forthcoming), One Sweet Song (forthcoming)
Picture Book Writing 1 through the Writing Barn: https://thewritingbarn.com/class/perfecting-the-picture-book-i-with-jyoti-gopal-2/

Questions/Activities for further engagement based on the discussion:
1. When the girl asks, “What is the color of me?” what does it mean to her and what does it mean to you?
2. What are some of the ways you might feel pushed and pulled by the parts of you?
3. Ask another person specific questions about their experience with identity straddling; have a conversation with another person and ask: 1) what does your identity mean to you? 2) Is one part more important than the other? 3) how do these different parts of you expand you rather than limit you? 4) how do these different parts of you bring you joy?

Find Jyoti:
Website: https://www.jyotirajangopal.com/ | Twitter: @jyotigopal | Post: @jyotigopal | Instagram: @ jyotirgopal

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

“I think picture books minister to us. In all kinds of ways. Not only do they bring joy, but they also can encourage healing. They can make us feel seen.” –Tameka Fryer Brown

Today’s Picture Book: Twelve Dinging Doorbells by Tameka Fryer Brown and illustrated by Ebony Glenn

Tameka is a picture book author who writes to sow seeds of self-love, pride, connectivity, and inclusion in the hearts of children. Her books (Brown Baby Lullaby, My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood, and Around Our Way on Neighbors’ Day) have won awards like the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award and the Anna Dewdney Read Together Award, and have been honored on best book lists by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, New York Public Library, Bank Street College, NPR, Parents Latina Magazine, The Little Free Library, and more. Tameka newest picture books include Not Done Yet: Shirley Chisholm’s Fight for Change and That Flag.

Book Description: Every holiday, aunties, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and neighbors come over to eat, sing, and celebrate life. But all our main character can think about is the sweet potato pie Granny makes just for her. As tables fill, she and Granny move the pie to keep it intact. The task becomes tricker as the room grows with dancing and card games and pie cravings. Just when all seems lost and there's no more pie, Granny pulls out a sweet surprise.

 A cumulative all-holiday carol packed to the brim with family, food, love, and Black joy!

 
Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers by purchasing Twelve Dinging Doorbells. Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

Other mentions in this episode:

 #ThanksgivingWithBlackFamilies

 Writing your own version of Twelve Dinging Doorbells: https://tamekafryerbrown.com/resources/stuff-for-twelve-dinging-doorbells/

Questions for further engagement based on the discussion:

1.     What is it about ourselves and our family gatherings that are special?

2.     What are some things that we can do to stay more connected to our families and friends?

Find Tameka:

Website: https://tamekafryerbrown.com/

Twitter: @teebrownkidlit

Instagram: @tamekafryerbrown

Facebook: @tamekafryerbrownchildrensbookauthor

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

All the Places We Call Home by Patrice Gopo and illustrated by Jenin Mohammed

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López

Please consider supporting your local independent booksellers with purchases! Find a store here: https://www.indiebound.org/

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!

Ultimately, Patrice believes you’re never too old for a great picture book AND these tiny tales can lead to big connection! Join us for the journey and discover something that might contribute to YOUR thriving.

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Ripening Time, Patrice's 2nd picture book, released April 22, 2025. Order your copy from your local bookstore or one of Patrice's local bookstores!

Also, please visit the podcast’s bookshop.org page for a complete list of books discussed!