SCBWI Podcasts

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Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conversations with publishing pros, and award-winning and bestselling writers and illustrators who inform and inspire about the ins and outs of the children's book industry. Find out about the craft and creative process behind young adult novels, picture books, middle-grade fiction, graphic novels, and nonfiction.

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30 recent

May 15, 202644 min

Experimenting with Visual Styles featuring Claudia Rueda

In this week's episode we are joined by Claudia Rueda. Claudia Rueda is a Colombian author and a New York Times Best Seller illustrator of over thirty picture books. Rueda's books have been published in the United States, Mexico, and Spain and have been translated into seventeen different languages. She’s a 2016 Hans Christian Andersen and Astrid Lindgren Awards nominee. Claudia went to Law and Art school and worked as a political cartoonist in Colombia. She then studied Children’s Book Illustration at UC Berkeley and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Claudia lives in New York City and teaches a course on picture books at the School of Visual Arts. Buy her latest book here: bookshop.org/a/19191/9781536236583Check out her website here: claudiarueda.comFollow her on IG here: @claudiaruedaSupport the show

May 7, 202658 min

Writing for the Kids Who Need It with Torrey Maldonado

In this week's episode we are joined by Torrey Maldonado.Torrey Maldonado was born and raised in Brooklyn, growing up in the Red Hook housing projects. He has been a teacher for New York City public schools for nearly 25 years and his fast-paced, compelling stories are inspired by his and his students’ experiences. His popular novels for young readers include What Lane?, which garnered many starred reviews and was cited by Oprah and the New York Times for being an essential book to discuss racism and allyship; Tight, which won the Christopher Award, was an ALA Notable Book, and an NPR and Washington Post Best Book of the Year; and his very first novel, Secret Saturdays which has been in print for over ten years. Connect on Instagram @torreymaldonadoBuy Torrey's latest book here: bookshop.org/a/19191/9780593624968Check out all of Torrey's books here: bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Torrey+MaldonadoVisit his website here: torreymaldonado.comSupport the show

March 26, 202651 min

How Jason Reynolds Creates

In this week's episode we are joined by Jason Reynolds.Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of many award-winning books, including Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), Long Way Down, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (with Ibram X. Kendi), Stuntboy, in the Meantime (illustrated by Raúl the Third), and Ain’t Burned All the Bright (with artwork by Jason Griffin). The recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors, Reynolds is also the 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. He has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America, and various media outlets. He is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing for Young People MFA Program and lives in Washington, DC.Buy Jason's latest book here: bookshop.org/a/19191/9798347102372Check out Jason's website here: www.jasonwritesbooks.comCheck out Heirloom Literary here: www.heirloomliterary.comwww.instagram.com/jasonreynolds83/www.instagram.com/heirloom_literary/Support the show

March 12, 202646 min

The Life of a Storyteller with Selina Alko

In this week's episode we are joined by Selina Alko. Selina Alko is an award-winning author and illustrator known for blending lyrical storytelling with vibrant mixed-media art. Raised in Vancouver by a Turkish Jewish father and Jewish mother, she grew up immersed in culture, creativity, and diverse perspectives that continue to shape her work. Selina has a degree in art history from University of British Columbia and a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts. She has created more than twenty-five acclaimed children's books, with features in The New York Times, NPR, People, and Time Out New York Kids. A two-time National Jewish Book Award winner, her titles have also been honored as Junior Library Guild Gold selections and Bank Street Best Books of the Year. She is the recipient of the Mills Tannenbaum Award for Excellence in Children’s Literacy.Buy her latest book here: https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9780316570633Check out the rest of her work here: https://www.selinaalko.com/Support the show

February 27, 202641 min

The Real Deal with Kate DiCamillo

In this week's episode of the SCBWI Podcast we are joined by Kate DiCamillo!In her own words, here is her bio: "I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, raised in Clermont, Florida, and currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I write for both children and adults and I like to think of myself as a storyteller.Here are a few more facts about me: I am short. And loud. I hate to cook and love to eat. I am single and childless, but I have lots of friends and I am an aunt to three lovely children (Luke, Roxanne, and Max) and one lovable dog (Franklin).I think of myself as an enormously lucky person: I get to tell stories for a living."Buy her books here: https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Kate+DiCamilloCheck out her website here: www.katedicamillo.comSupport the show

December 12, 202552 min

Trusting the Story with Shannon Messenger

In this week's episode we are joined by Shannon Messenger. Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts where she learned—among other things—that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She’s studied art, screenwriting, and television production, but realized her real passion was writing for kids and teens. She’s the internationally, New York Times, and USA Today bestselling author of the award-winning middle grade series, Keeper of the Lost Cities, as well as the Sky Fall young adult series. Her books have been featured on multiple state reading lists, published in numerous countries, and translated into many languages. She lives in Southern California with her family and an embarrassing number of cats. Find her online at shannonmessenger.com and on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @sw_messenger.Buy her latest book here: https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9781534463400Support the show

December 5, 202544 min

How to Keep Kids Reading with Dan Gutman

In this week's episode, we welcome back Dan Gutman! New York Times best-selling and award-winning author Dan Gutman has written more than 190 books for readers from kindergarten through middle school. Dan’s My Weird School series includes 100+ titles, and has sold more than 35 million copies globally over the past 20 years. Dan also is the author of the best-selling Genius Files series, the Baseball Card Adventure series, and many more.Dan’s books have been named Junior Library Guild Selections and Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, and have been awarded numerous state book awards, including: The California Young Reader Medal, the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, and the Iowa Children’s Choice Award, among others. When he’s not writing books, Dan loves to ride his bike, play pickleball, throw Frisbees, and explore New York City where he lives with his wife Nina. To find out more, follow Dan on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can follow him on IG @dangutmanbooksPurchase his latest book here: https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9780823453856Check out his website here: https://dangutman.com/Support the show

November 21, 202553 min

Loving Your Inner Dork with Mother-Daughter Duo Rachel Renée Russell and Nikki Russell

Rachel Renée Russell is the author of the #1 New York Times Best Selling book series, Dork Diaries which has spent 331 weeks on the New York Times Bestsellers list for Children’s Series. She’s an attorney who prefers writing Tween books to legal briefs mainly because books are a lot more fun, and pajama pants and bunny slippers aren’t allowed in federal court.Rachel first introduced us to Nikki Maxwell in 2009 and has written 17 books in the Dork Diaries series which have sold more than 55 million copies worldwide. For a peek at some of the books that have been translated into 52 languages in 57 countries, check out the Dorks Around the World section of this website.Nikki Russell is an artist. She is also the illustrator of the Dork Diaries series, which have sold over 50 million copies and translated over 32 languages.Buy their latest book here: https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9781665988384Follow them here: Tiktok and IG @dorkdiariesSupport the show

November 14, 202552 min

Sitting Down with SCBWI's Global Translator Coordinator, Avery Fischer Udagawa

In this week's episode we are joined by Avery Fischer UdagawaAvery Fischer Udagawa grew up in Kansas and studied English and Asian Studies at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. She holds an MA in Advanced Japanese Studies from The University of Sheffield. She has studied at Nanzan University, Nagoya, on a Fulbright Fellowship, and at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies, Yokohama. She writes, translates, and works in international education near Bangkok, where she lives with her bicultural family. She volunteers as Global Translator Coordinator in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.Buy Avery's most recently translated book here:The Village Beyond the Misthttps://bookshop.org/a/19191/9781632063922Support the show

October 23, 202557 min

Inside the World of Narrative Nonfiction with Ann Bausum

In this week's episode we are joined by SCBWI Golden Kite Winner Ann Bausum. ANN BAUSUM has written nine National Geographic books for young readers during the past 12 years. Her publication list features six works of social justice history, two presidential history reference books, and a photobiography. She has won numerous awards, including a Sibert Honor Award from the American Library Association and three other national awards for literature.Purchase her latest book here: https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9781250816573Check out her website here: www.annbausum.comFollow her on socials here: @abausauthorSupport the show