Humans have rules for how to behave, but sometimes animals need to break those rules to survive. So Rude!: Animals Behaving Badlyintroduces seven human behavior rules and the animals that break them! Scarlet kingsnakes lie; they pretend to be venomous coral snakes to scare off predators. And hippos make a mess; they spray waste to defend their territories.
Today author Jessica Fries-Gaither joins us to share why she writes about animals, how she chose the creatures she featured, and her biggest pet peeve.
Lately, life feels like a lot for Marcella. Sixth grade seems complicated on purpose. She keeps forgetting her homework or getting distracted while she’s doing it. Plus, her bestie has new friends, and her parents even want to move apartments. She’s trying to keep track of the changes—but absolutely everything is stressing her out! Absolutely Everythingis a funny, thoughtful graphic novel about growing up, ADHD, and focusing on what makes you who you are.
Today author Damian Alexander joins us to share what inspired him to create this story, why he chose the graphic novel format, and more. Read on to find more interviews and exclusive previews!
As historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich said, “Well-behaved women seldom make history,” and the Grimké sisters were anything but well-behaved. Born into a family of enslavers in the South, Sarah Grimké and Angelina Grimké Weld were some of the first women to speak out about abolition and women’s rights. Arm in Arm: The Grimké Sisters’ Fight for Abolition and Women’s Rights explores the mostly forgotten lives of these complex women leaders.
Today author Angelica Shirley Carpenter joins us to share her source of inspiration for this YA nonfiction, her research process, and some of the most surprising finds.
In 1904, sixteen-year-old Luki travels from the US-controlled Philippines to the World’s Fair in Saint Louis, Missouri, where she discovers a wider world. But even as Luki makes friends and discovers intriguing things, she learns dangerous secrets and difficult truths. Facing pressures from all sides, she must decide what kind of future she wants after the fair. Wild Songis Luki’s personal journey of self-discovery set against a little-known, but pivotal moment in US. history.
Today author Candy Gourlay joins us to share her own writing journey and what the story meant to her. Read on to download the free teaching guide to accompany the text!
As someone with cerebral palsy who runs a lab to help others with cerebral palsy, Dr. Kathleen Friel is rewriting the rules, defying expectations, and opening up new possibilities for herself and others. Rewriting the Rules: How Dr. Kathleen Friel Created New Possibilities for Brain Research and Disabilityis the incredible true story of how a determined scientist rewrote the rules and followed her dreams. Clever illustrations from Josée Bisaillon accompany the first ever picture book about Dr. Kathleen Friel.
Today author Danna Zeiger shares what it was like to accompany Dr. Friel in the lab, her motivations for writing the book, and more.
What would you do if your school removed books from the library—books that reflected your identity, your history, your reality? InBan This!: How One School Fought Two Book Bans and Won (and How You Can Too), a powerful group of students and educators from Central York High School in Pennsylvania show exactly how they turned protest into progress. When their school board voted to ban a long list of books—many by or about people of color—the Panther Anti-Racist Union (PARU) refused to stay silent.
Written by PARU members Christina Ellis, Renee Ellis, Edha Gupta, Ben Hodge, Patricia Jackson, and Olivia Pituch, Ban This! breaks down the arguments often used to justify censorship and gives students the tools they need to stand up for their right to read. It’s more than a story—it’s a guidebook for young activists everywhere.
In this blog post, we’re thrilled to share answers from all six authors. Each one discusses their unique perspective on writing the book, youth activism, and why student voices matter now more than ever. Whether you’re a student, educator, or advocate, these insights will fuel passion to protect intellectual freedom. Read on to download the free educator guide and spark meaningful conversation.
What if submarines could filter sewer water? What if compost cannons could blast seed bombs over half a mile? Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan for Rewilding Every City on Earth takes readers through an avalanche of scientifically plausible inventions to fight climate change, rewild cities, and save the planet. Maverick inventor Steve Mushin creates a tour de force of extreme problem-solving for kids and teens (and anyone else) who love big ideas and want to save the world.
Today Steve joins us to share some of the coolest invention ideas in Ultrawild as well as some of the things he has learned while creating the book. Read on to find sneak peeks, interviews with Fanbase Press, and more!
Set in 1970, Zeyna Lost and Foundfollows twelve-year-old Zeyna, a British Pakistani girl caught between two worlds—and two continents. What begins as an awkward family trip to Pakistan quickly spirals into a high-stakes search when Zeyna’s parents mysteriously vanish, leaving only cryptic clues and whispers of a jewel heist behind. With her annoying little brother and a whip-smart cousin by her side, Zeyna embarks on a quest that’s as much about uncovering secrets as it is about discovering where she truly belongs.
In today’s blog post, we’re thrilled to welcome debut author Shafaq Khan to talk about her inspiration for the story, writing for middle grade readers, and what it means to grow up between cultures. Keep reading to download the free discussion guide.
In Beth Mills’ hilarious new picture book, No More Gnomes, Herbert’s legendary manners are pushed to the brink when Ms. Goat (yes, a goat) starts filling the yard—and Herbert’s life—with an ever-growing army of rude, gnome-sized nightmares. It’s a story of politeness under pressure, lawn ornament invasion, and one boy’s noble quest to say no nicely.
Today author-illustrator Beth Mills joins us to talk about the inspiration behind the book, how she named the garden gnomes, and what illustrations she loves the most. Let’s dig in.
