BookHuddle with Readgab
Episodes
65: Christmas Reindeer Bring Hope, Magic and Joy - Matt Tavares Dasher Picture Book Author Interview
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered why reindeer pull Santa's sleigh? The picture book Dasher provides a beautiful origin story families and schools will love...
64: The Beauty of Novels in Verse Enhance the Way We Connect to Stories - Interview with Marcella Pixley
13 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A captivating ghost story evolves into an intense family drama with strong themes of forgiveness, self-identity, and family. Neshama, this powerful no...
Graphic Novels Make the Best Gifts - Tom Angleberger Author Interview BookHuddle
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Don't take life too seriously, have some fun too! If you could spend all day doing what you loved most, what would it be? Would you write silly s...
62: The Power of Read Alouds and Why You Should Make Time for Them - Interview with Kate DiCamillo
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Those who have experienced the magic of a read aloud know they are a must in every home and classroom. Reading to children is so important and in this...
61: YOU Are Worth Embracing Exactly As You Are - Erin Soderberg Downing Middle Grade Author Interview
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a group of extended family members who barely know each other spend a summer together on an island? Old family secrets arise. Is the...
60: Remembering Our Veterans - Honor Flight by Jeff Gottesfeld Author Interview
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A beautiful way to teach kids about Veterans Day is to use picture books and Jeff Gottesfeld has written some incredible ones with beautiful illustrat...
59: Don't Fear the Graphic Novels - Interview with Middle Grade Author Brian Gonsar BookHuddle
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Gonsar's recently published graphic novel for middle grade readers is wonderfully spooky without being scary. In our interview we discuss n...
58: Kim and Penn Holderness Author Interview - A Picture Book For Everyone With ADHD and Without It!
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have ADHD? Does someone you love have ADHD? Do you know anyone at all who has ADHD (yes, you do!) Then this picture book, All You Can Be With A...
57: Chris Grabenstein Middle Grade Author Interview - New Puzzle Book for Kids
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many reluctant readers are pulled in by an incredible middle grade puzzle book. In this episode Chris Grabenstein and I discuss his newest book, Ms. P...
56: Memories, Grief, and Magic - Middle Grade Author Interview C.M. Cornwell
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Memories are an important part of our identities, but what happens when an individual loses some of their foundational memories? Could she get them ba...
55: Middle Grade Author Interview with Kimberly Newton Fusco - It is OK to be the Quiet Kid
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Quiet kids are often told to speak up. But Kimberly knows that it is ok to be the quiet kid. In The Secret of Honeycake a story unfolds about a quiet ...
54: Historical London, Orphans, and Shadow Monsters - Ryan James Black Middle Grade Author Interview
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The London Blitz was scary enough, but combine it with a shadow monster? Middle grade author Ryan James Black has crafted an incredible spooky/histori...
53: Adapting Tuck Everlasting Into a Graphic Novel - Interview with K. Woodman-Maynard
20 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
K. Woodman-Maynard and I discuss what it was like for her to adapt the classic middle grade book Tuck Everlasting into a graphic novel. We also explor...
52: Misunderstandings Have Higher Stakes With Dragons Involved! Mari Mancusi Middle Grade Author Interview
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dragon fantasy and dystopian books are right up my alley. So combine the two and BAM! You have an amazing storyline by middle grade author Mari Mancus...
51: We Need Fun, Ridiculous Books For Kids! Raj Sidhu Middle Grade Author Interview
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Raj Sidhu has crafted a brilliant work of fiction about a group of kids that get pulled into their favorite role playing game. If you are looking for ...
50: Middle Grade Horror Novel in Verse With Autism Themes - Meg Eden Kuyatt Author Interview
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Middle Grade Author Meg Eden Kuyatt shares about her newest novel in verse, The Girl In The Walls. Meg is autistic and shares powerful personal reason...
49: Sharing Cultural Differences Can Bring Us Closer Together - Author Interview with Kaela Rivera
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who has not wondered at some point in their lives, where do I belong? In this episode, middle grade author Kaela Rivera and I discuss her fantasy seri...
48: Powerful Novel in Verse On Neurodivergent Struggles and Success - Author Interview Jasminne Paulino
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you've read The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez you may have noticed that this book is full of emotion. That is because the topics and sto...
47: Who is in Charge of Your Story? A MG Realistic Magical Tale About Anxiety - Erin Stewart Author Interview
02 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anxiety comes in many forms. Often it looks different for kids than for adults. Erin Stewart has crafted an incredible story about a couple kids with ...
46: Empowering Others With Hope and Confidence Judith Rossell Middle Grade Author Interview
26 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Middle grade author Judith Rossell has a new captivating book out. In this episode we discuss the creating of The Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls...
45: Why Write Spooky Middle Grade Books? Interview with J.A. White Middle Grade Author
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
J.A. White is a middle grade author of some fantastically spooky books including: Nightbooks (a Netflix film), Gravebooks, Shadow School, The Thickety...
44: Love, Grief, and Death All Wrapped Up In One Of The Best Books I've Read- Aubrey Hartman Middle Grade Author Interview
12 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kids will love this amazing fantasy about an usher for deceased animals in an eternally autumn forest. In this episode middle grade author, Aubrey Har...
43: Caroline Starr Rose - Acknowledging and Facing Our Fears - Middle Grade Author Interview
05 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many times in life where our fears come to us without our permission. Do we acknowledge them? Face them? Turn away? Caroline and I discus...
42: The Best Books of 2025 So Far... Shannon Balloon and Karen Reeder chat about some new favorites
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What are the best middle grade books that have released in 2025? Shannon Balloon from Middle Grade Matters and Karen Reeder from Book Huddle talk abou...
41: Grace Lin Author Interview - Chinese Folklore Mixed with the Modern
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss themes from the amazing New York Times best seller, The Gate, The Girl And The Dragon by middle grade author Grace Lin. Fin...
40: If Walls Could Talk - Allie Millington Middle Grade Author Interview
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We are joined by middle grade author Allie Millington to discuss her most recent book, Once for Yes. We talk about how she writes from unique perspect...
39: Control Your Mind Control Your Life - Middle Grade Author Interview with Ben Guterson
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Middle grade author, Ben Guterson, joins us to discuss his newest book, The Shadow of the World-Famous Nine. If you love a good mystery and solving pu...
38: Dhonielle Clayton on the Future of Magic Schools Where Every Person Is Seen - Middle Grade Author Interview
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if there was a school where every person was welcome? From all backgrounds. Where diversity in all of its forms is truly seen. Middle grade autho...
37: Scary Books Get Kids Interested in Reading - Wendy Parris Middle Grade Author Interview
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Summer is the perfect time to read scary stories! Wendy's middle grade spooky story, Stage Fright, is such a great book for older kids and adults...
36: Teach Kids How to Talk to Someone They Disagree With - Interview with Stuart Gibbs
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stuart Gibbs newest book, FunJungle: All Ears, just came out and it is not only such a FUN book, it also has some powerful themes. For instance, can y...
35: Memories Make Us Who We Are - Middle Grade Author of The Abandoned Theater - Interview with Dana Robertson
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if you couldn't remember several years of your life? What effect would that have on you? What would happen if you could get those memories b...
34: Depression Through the Eyes of a Child - Interview with Middle Grade Author Bobbie Pyron
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Middle Grade author, Bobbie Pyron, absolutely wowed me with her newest book, Octopus Moon. This powerful novel in verse, about a preteen learning to u...
33: What Happens When Characters Step Into Their Creativity - Interview With Middle Grade Author Lauren Wolk
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Children make the best artists. Children make the best writers. And singers. And every other type of creators. Partly because they don't worry ab...
32: Forgiveness, Family, and Healing - Interview with Children's Book Author Sydney Dunlap
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Considering the other side of a story and why that is important in healthy relationships. How do we walk in someone else's shoes? And why?Why is ...
31: Being a Good Friend While Being Yourself - Interview with Author Kevin Garone
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two of the major themes of Kevin Garone's I Know What UFO Did Last Summer are friendship and being true to who you are. Sometimes it can feel dif...
30: On Being Bullied and Finding Someone to Talk To - Interview with Middle Grade Author Carolyn Mackler
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if you wrote a letter to the past and the past wrote back? In this episode middle grade author, Carolyn Mackler, talks about using letters for tw...
29: You Choose Your Own Destiny - Finding the Couarge to Be Yourself - Interview with Philippa Leathley Middle Grade Book Author
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Philippa Leathley's astounding new middle grade fantasy challenges readers to be the ones to discover their own personalities and futures. When k...
28: The Problem with Forever - Interview with Middle Grade Author Stacy McAnulty
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could live forever? Would there be any problems with that? In this episode Stacy discusses themes from her middle grade series, The Evers:...
27: Why Adults Should Read Children's Books - Middle Grade March, Interview with the Creators
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today's throwback we hear from the hosts of the original Middle Grade March readathon. Eight years ago two bookish gals decided to start a mon...
26: Weaving Religion into a Magic System - Interview with Middle Grade Author RM Romero
01 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
R.M. Romero is an international bestselling author of mulitple books for children. In the Tale of the Flying Forest she composes a beautiful fantastic...
25: How To Bring Up Hard Discussion Topics with Children - Interview with Middle Grade Author, Christina Wyman
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It is often hard to figure out how to bring up heavy topics with kids. In this episode of BookHuddle bestselling middle grade author, Christina Wyman,...
24: Throwback Creating Books That Teach Social/Emotional Skills - Author Interview Sheree Elaine
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Social/Emotional Learning is such an important topic in homes and schools so I am excited to share this throwback episode that was previously only ava...
23: Throwback - Brandon Mull Middle Grade Author Interview
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this throwback episode from March 2023, New York Times Bestselling middle grade author Brandon Mull shares about his books Candy Shop War, Beyonder...
22: Mystery and Other Elements Kids Love in Books - Middle Grade Author Interview Janet Sumner Johnson
18 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a kid want to read a book? An enticing cover? A great title? A good mystery? Something else? In this episode we discuss with middle grade a...
21: Kids Love to Read Novels in Verse! Interview with Jessica Vitalis
11 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Novels in verse have taken the children's literary world by storm these last few years and is it any wonder with how captivating and consumable t...
20: Our Favorite Middle Grade Books of the Year - A Conversation with Colby Sharp
28 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Content creator and author Mr. Colby Sharp joins me today to discuss some of our favorite children's books released in the 2024 year. While it wa...
19: Genre Smash! Historical Fiction and Fantasy in One Amazing Book - Interview with Sam Subity
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dragons and WWII?? Ummm, yes please! In today's episode you get to hear all about this Sam Subity's amazing new book, Valor Wings. Find mor...
18: Celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah in One Book - Interview with Authors Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Accomplished authors, Joanne Levy and Marissa Meyer, teamed up to bring the world a heartwarming story reminiscent of the parent trap where twins swap...
17: What are the Children's and Young Adult Book Lovers' Literary Awards? Interview with Cybils Chair Terry Doherty
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever heard of Cybils? The Children's and Young Adult Book Lovers' Literary Awards. Have you ever wondered how which books win whic...
16: We Are More Than Our Mistakes - Interview with Middle Grade Author Laura Stegman
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are joined by middle grade author Laura Segal Stegman to hear about the conclusion of her debut middle grade series Summer of L.U.C.K. There ...
15: Even Fantasy Heroines Experience Social Emotional Learning Moments - Interview with author Polly Holyoke
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Skyriders is the ulimate fantasy series when it comes to moments of excitement and intense danger. But even a young developing heroine has moments whe...
14: ADHD, Body Farms, Forensic Science, and Zombies!
06 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spooky middle grade books are some of the most fun to read because of the creepy elements, but mix it with some ridiculously fun zombies? And you have...
13: Why You Should Read Middle Grade Horror with author M.R. Fournet
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spooky books are so much fun whether it be during the Halloween season, summer, or any other time of year. In this episode of Book Huddle middle grade...
12: The Power of a Good Picture Book with Author David LaRochelle
14 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many ways that one can use picture books in teaching children. David LaRochelle's picture books captivate and entertain children and...
11: Julian Randall on Pilar Ramirez Series Throwback Plus Hearing Him Talk About His Newest, Chainbreakers
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is really fun because we get to hear from Julian Randall in this throwback from last year. What makes it fun is that he talks abo...
10: Cats, RV Life, and Picture Books with Tiffany Moore
25 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When your RV cats make friends with a street cat what else are you going to do besides make a picture book about it? In today's episode of Book H...
9: Weaving Culture Into Children's Literature
18 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's author interview we are joined by American Colombian children's book author, Alexandra Alessandri. Alexandra writes across all th...
8: Connecting with Children Through Picture Books with Author Sasha Saidman
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Picture books are more than pretty drawings and nice words. They can be a beautiful way to connect with and bond with your children. Sasha Saidman is...
7: Teach Kids to Read Through Play with The Fidget Game Creator Brandi Dugal
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode we revisit an episode that aired on the video podcast back in January where Brandi Dugal shares her experience gamifying teach...
6: Dive into a Discussion With the Author and Illustrator of the Beautiful Picture Book Mermaid Day
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode I am joined by the brilliant creative team behind the fun picture book, Mermaid Day. Children's book author, Diana Murray...
5: Jennifer Swanson Interview About Nonfiction Children's Books and Why Kids Love Them
13 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode I am joined by Jennifer Swanson from the Solve It For Kids podcast from Little Listeners Lounge. Jennifer is an incredible sci...
4: Wait! What? Dan Gutman Didn't Like to Read!?!
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
So many people know Dan Gutman as the incredible author of the fun My Weird School series, but did you know that there was once a time that Dan Gutman...
3: Matthew Landis on Weaving History into Middle Grade Adventure Books
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Book Huddle I am joined by the middle school teacher/history lover/writer extraordinaire Matthew Landis. He shares his love of hist...
2: Jenni L Walsh on Finding Happiness During Trials
22 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Book Huddle I am joined by talented middle grade author, Jenni L Walsh, to discuss her newest book, Operation Happy. Main character...
1: Abby Cooper on True Colors and Kids and Emotions
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episdoe of Book Huddle I am joined by amazing middle grade author, Abby Cooper, to discuss her newest book, True Colors. We talk all about emo...