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Author Interviews

Unretouchable: An Interview with Author Sofia Szamosi
Author Interviews

Unretouchable: An Interview with Author Sofia Szamosi

In the new YA graphic novel by debut author Sofia Szamosi, readers follow Olive as she spends the summer before art school at a coveted internship helping one of the fashion industry’s elite digital-imaging specialists. After a glamourous New York photoshoot, she learns that taking pictures is only the first step andis thrown into the world of image retouching software. Soon she is fixating on her own appearance and pondering the ethics of her work behind the scenes. Unretouchable is a window into a hugely influential world of fashion photography and a tribute to self-acceptance.

Today we welcome author and illustrator Sofia Szamosi as she shares her greatest influences, the themes of the book, and what she thinks of the current fashion industry.

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Big Bear and Little Fish: An Interview with Author Sandra Nickel
Author Interviews

Big Bear and Little Fish: An Interview with Author Sandra Nickel

Big Bear and Little Fish is a sweet story of unexpected friendship between Bear (who is very big!) and Fish (who is very little!), told in accessible prose that’s just right for beginning readers.

Today on the Lerner blog, author Sandra Nickel joins us to discuss influential books, the emotive illustrations, and who she relates to the most: Bear or Fish! Read on to find the official book trailer, a free discussion guide, and more.

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Be a Bridge: An Interview with Authors Irene Latham and Charles Waters
Author Interviews

Be a Bridge: An Interview with Authors Irene Latham and Charles Waters

Inclusivity, respect, and connection: these are the keys to a positive environment and healthy relationships. The brand new picture book Be a Bridge uses upbeat rhyming verse and colorful illustrations of a diverse group of students to help bring young readers together.

Acclaimed authors Irene Latham and Charles Waters use this book to bring key themes from their earlier collaborations (Can I Touch Your Hair? and Dictionary for a Better World) to a young audience. Today they join us on the Lerner blog to reveal their inspiration and experiences working together. Read on to find out more!

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Attention Hijacked: An Interview with Author Erica B. Marcus
Author Interviews

Attention Hijacked: An Interview with Author Erica B. Marcus

Technology is constantly at our fingertips, and sometimes we don’t realize how too much screen time negatively impacts our health. Attention Hijacked: Using Mindfulness to Reclaim Your Brain from Tech explores exactly how technology affects consumers, dispels misinformation, and helps readers make personal usage decisions. 

Today author Erica B. Marcus joins us to discuss what sparked her interest mindful technology use, her own struggles with tech use, and the biggest surprise in her research. Read on to download a free technology survey for young readers.

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The Art of Magic: An Interview with Author Hannah Voskuil
Author Interviews

The Art of Magic: An Interview with Author Hannah Voskuil

When ZuZu and Andrew discover a set of enchanted art supplies that allow them to create magical creatures, they find themselves drawn into a supernatural struggle for control of their town. Perfect for imaginative young readers, The Art of Magic: A Novel features a unique magic system set in the real world, with powers explicitly rooted in creativity.

Today author Hanna Voskuil joins us to discuss her favorite moments writing the book, her ideas for the book’s art, and a new scribble project to share with the classroom!

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Glowing Bunnies!?: An Interview with Author Jeff Campbell
Author Interviews

Glowing Bunnies!?: An Interview with Author Jeff Campbell

Modern genetic technology has the potential to remake animals in almost any way we can imagine. With reassuring, wry humor, Glowing Bunnies!?: Why We’re Making Hybrids, Chimeras, and Clones explores the possibilities, dangers, and ethical issues of bioengineering.

Today author Jeff Campbell joins us to discuss genetic engineering, eco-disasters, and the importance of discussing bioengineering with teens. Read on to download the free teaching guide!

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The Adventures of Dr. Sloth: An Interview with Author and Photographer Suzi Eszterhas
Author Interviews

The Adventures of Dr. Sloth: An Interview with Author and Photographer Suzi Eszterhas

Did you know that a sloth baby will stay with its mother for up to 12 months? Discover the mysterious lives of sloths with scientist Dr. Rebecca Cliffe and photographer Suzi Eszterhas in the new middle grade nonfiction The Adventures of Dr. Sloth: Rebecca Cliffe and Her Quest to Protect Sloths.

Today author and photographer Suzi Eszterhas joins us to talk about her love of sloths, her greatest sloth adventure, and her hopes for the book. And read on to catch up on some special sloth news!

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Dungeons, Dragons, Monsters, & Magic: Exit Interview with the Creators of A House Divided
Author Interviews

Dungeons, Dragons, Monsters, & Magic: Exit Interview with the Creators of A House Divided

A House Divided, a series of fantasy graphic novels full of humor and intrigue, is the result of a longstanding collaboration between writer Haiko Hörnig and artist Marius Pawlitza. The project has spanned years of active creation and has origins years before that work started, in the duo’s longtime friendship. To celebrate the release of the climactic, heartfelt final volume, The Lost Daughter, the Lerner Blog spoke with Hörnig and Pawlitza about how far they have come with the series and surprises along the way.

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Gold Mountain: An Interview with Author Betty G. Yee
Author Interviews

Gold Mountain: An Interview with Author Betty G. Yee

Debut author Betty G. Yee tells a suspenseful, immersive depiction of a pivotal point in US history in Gold Mountain. In the 1860s, Tam Ling Fan needs money to help her father. Disguised as a boy, she travels from China to America to take a dangerous job as a laborer on the Transcontinental Railroad.

Read on to discover Betty’s inspiration for this YA novel, her favorite memories during her research, and her hopes for young readers. Don’t forget to download the free educator resources!

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