Author Interviews – Page 5

Stokes: An Interview with Authors Ty Chapman and John Coy

He shoots! He scores! Maurice Stokes was 6’7″ and could play offense and defense like no one else his size in the NBA in 1958. After experiencing a career-ending injury during a game, other players rallied to support him. Stokes: The Brief Career of the NBA’s First Black Superstar is the first picture book to chronicle his life and career.

Today authors Ty Chapman and John Coy join us to share how they collaborated to write this picture book biography and the most surprising parts of their research. Read on to download the free teaching guide to accompany the text.

Author Interviews

Slippery, Spicy, Tingly: An Interview with Author Yangsook Choi

There’s nothing more delicious than a good mystery! And Keo’s grandmother reveals the best treasure in Slippery, Spicy, Tingly: A Kimchi Mystery by Yangsook Choi. In this heartwarming picture book, Keo’s halmoni unexpectedly comes to visit and digs a hole in the backyard. He’s not sure what’s going on, but he’s going to find out!

Today author Yangsook Choi joins us on the Lerner blog to share her creative process, why kimchi is so important, and her hopes for young readers. Keep reading to see the official book trailer!

Author Interviews

I Fuel: An Interview with Author Kelly Rice Schmitt

Follow the production of fuel from the first formation of oil to the refining process and beyond in I Fuel: How Energy Powers Our Busy World by Kelly Rice Schmitt and illustrated by Jam Dong. This fun and fact-filled picture book shares the story of where fuel comes from, how we use it, and how renewable sources are providing cleaner forms of energy.

Today author Kelly Rice Schmitt joins us to share some of her creative decisions while writing I Fuel and her hopes for young readers. Read on to find a free activity guide to use in the classroom and beyond!

Author Interviews

They Thought They Buried Us: An Interview with Author NoNieqa Ramos

In They Thought They Buried Us Yuiza knows every horror movie trope and plotline. But when they receive a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school they must uncover the school’s sinister secrets and try to get out alive.

Today author NoNieqa Ramos joins us to discuss the first spark of this story, genre fiction, and more! Continue reading to download the free discussion guide!

Author Interviews

Rats to the Rescue: An Interview with Author Scott Riley and Illustrator Huy Voun Lee

Sometimes heroes come in the smallest packages! In Rats to the Rescue: The Unlikely Heroes Making Cambodia Safe discover how how human deminers are working with specially trained HeroRATs to locate landmines and make Cambodia safe for everyone.

Today author Scott Riley and illustrator Huy Voun Lee join us to share their creative processes, their hopes for readers, and some insider info on how this nonfiction picture book came to be!

Author Interviews

Bear’s Big Idea: An Interview with Author Sandra Nickel

The creators of Big Bear and Little Fish return for another sweet story of friendship and adventure. In Bear’s Big Idea Fish always has great ideas for what to do. Now it’s Bear’s turn and she promises to have a brand new BIG idea…if only she can find out where ideas come from.

Today author Sandra Nickel joins us to share her inspiration for the story, her hopes for young readers, and more. Read on to watch the official book trailer and to download the free educator resource!

Author Interviews

The Rule of Three: An Author Interview with Heather Murphy Capps

In The Rule of Three, seventh grader Wyatt has a three-part plan: play travel baseball, letter on the varsity team, and play college ball at a Division One school. But when travel team tryouts get tense, mysterious wisps of smoke surround him. As Wyatt tries to figure out what’s causing this mysterious smoke and how to control it, he discovers it’s connected to a painful family history.

Today author Heather Murphy Capps joins us to share the important themes behind this middle grade story and her research process behind the book’s historic events. Read on to download the free teaching guide!

Author Interviews

The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie: Author Interview with Lee Wind

Undertake a journey to examine gender identity and representation throughout history in The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities around the World by Lee Wind. The idea that all humans fall into one of two gender categories is largely a construct created by those who benefit from that belief. Historical evidence and primary sources reveal the infinite variety and beauty of everyone’s gender.

Today author Lee Wind join’s us to reveal why he wrote this book, why it’s important, and stories yet to be told. Read on to download a free educator guide!

Author Interviews

Eyes Open: An Interview with Author Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Thoroughly researched and resonant with our own times, Eyes Open is a historical novel in verse which follows on young woman’s coming of age during the Salazar dictatorship in 1960s Portugal. Sónia’s comfortable middle-class life is upended when her boyfriend is arrested for anti-government activities and her family’s restaurant is closed for its association with “undesirable” artists. Sónia is forced to leave school and take a low-paying job at a hotel laundry to support her family. There, she bonds with her coworkers and joins efforts to improve working conditions.

Today author Lyn Miller-Lachmann shares how she first came to learn about Portugal’s history, how her translation work influenced her poetry, and more. Photos are from Lyn’s travels in Portugal during April of 2024. Read on to download a free teaching guide!