Kidlit These Days
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Children's Books In Verse
15 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in to hear Nicole and Nusrah talk about excellent children’s literature in verse, alongside a conversation with the wonderful Charles Waters, t...
Books by Asian American Femme Authors
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in to hear Nicole and Nusrah talk about Asian American femme authors, in conversation with the wonderful Kelly Yang, author of Front Desk and Par...
Middle Grade Books with Non-Binary and Trans Leads
18 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week Nicole and Nusrah are back to talk about some excellent middle-grade books with non-binary and trans leads. For even more kidlit news and ...
Empowering Reads In Honor Of Women's History Month
04 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Nusrah discuss empowering board books in honor of Women’s History Month! For even more kidlit news and recommendations, sign up for our...
The Changing Face Of Fantasy Chapter Books
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and guest Jenn Northington discuss the results of the 2021 Rainbow List, fantasy chapter books, and hear from BB Alston, author of Amari and th...
Celebrating the 2021 Youth Media Awards
04 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss the results of the 2021 Youth Media Awards and celebrate some of their favorite books honored by the awards. For even mor...
Remembrance
21 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew talk about current awareness of the Holocaust among Millenials and Gen Z individuals as well as antisemitic images and language pre...
Our Most Anticipated Books of 2021
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew talk about the books they’re most looking forward to in 2021. Joining us is Sailaja Joshi, CEO and founder of Mango and Marigold ...
Stay Safe
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew talk about the collective pandemic experience and how, despite all going through this together, we can end up feeling awfully alone...
How To Talk About the Hard Stuff
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew talk about working with children through challenging questions with truthful answers. Joining us is special guest Jelani Memory, au...
Kidlit Holiday Gift Guide
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew share a selection of the books they’ve recommended most this year. This episode is sponsored by TBR, Book Riot’s subscripti...
Welcome To Kidlit These Days
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kidlit These Days is your kidlit connoisseurs pairing the best of children’s literature with what’s going on in the world today. Join hosts Matthe...
Talking to Kids about the Election
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew talk about the election, political leadership, and using your voice to bring about democratic change. This episode is sponsored...
Calling on the Strength of Our Ancestors
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew talk about the ancestral strength and the ability to look ahead knowing who and what has already come before you. Joining us is spe...
Self-Publishing and Getting It Right
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew talk about the opportunistic and demanding world of self-publishing and why some self-published authors say that traditional publis...
School in the Cloud
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew talk about cloud-based schooling, self-organized learning environments, and school reimagined in fantasy fiction. This episode ...
Graphic Novels from Lived Experiences
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew talk about #ownvoices representation in comics, pocket culture, and we reflect on Black Panther and the late Chadwick Boseman. Joi...
Celebrating ADA 30
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew celebrate the 30th anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Joining is special guest Keah Brown, a disabi...
A Different Kind of Back-To-School
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss how the coronavirus is affecting decisions to reopen schools and what school will look like in the fall. This episode is ...
OwnVoices, Heard and Valued
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss the creation and use of the #OwnVoices hashtag, representation of diversity in kidlit, and the value of storytelling throug...
What To Do With All of Those Statues
09 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss historically problematic statues, how legal does not always mean moral, and we reflect on the kidlit authors whose works ha...
Anti-Racist Play List, Part Two
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss racial literacy and implementing an anti-biased/anti-racist framework in schools, with help from a bookshelf playlist of st...
Anti-Racist Play List, Part One
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss doing the work of anti-racism, sitting with discomfort, and building children’s aptitude toward empathy and social justic...
Transgender Voices of Color
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss representation of transgender voices of color, bravery in the face of survival choices, and the strength we already possess...
Our World, Reimagined
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss how this time of safe-at-home is giving readers and bookmakers opportunity to reimagine our world through activism, design,...
Book Festivals Go Virtually, Everywhere
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss the creative ways books and bookmakers are connecting with readers during stay-at-home regulations. Joining is special gues...
Look for the Helpers, the Essential Workers
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss food insecurity, how interconnected we are, and the capacity in all of us to be a helper. This episode is sponsored by: ...
Kidlit These Days Turns One
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew look back on a year of the Kidlit These Days podcast and highlight some of their favorite episodes and interviews. This episode i...
Kidlit Combats Coronavirus
19 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of racism and social media, how the virus is impacting school kids and families, and...
Loving Our Bodies
05 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole and Matthew discuss the need for more inclusive representation of all kids of bodies in children’s literature, accepting how different does n...
Seeing Others Without Fear
20 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew and Nicole discuss combatting xenophobia by adopting a stance of cultural humility and helping shape children’s understanding of a broader w...
Serving Up the 2020 Youth Media Awards
06 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew and Nicole discuss the results of the 2020 Youth Media Awards, highlight some of their favorite books recognized, and how this awards year cou...
Dismantling White Privilege
23 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew and Jenn discuss anti-bias education, understanding our own white privilege, and listening to and learning about the challenges that many marg...
Seeing Homelessness
09 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the homelessness epidemic, how homelessness affects children, and the need for greater representation of poverty and hom...
Hosting a Mock Book Award
12 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the Youth Media Awards, educators doing mock book awards with their students, and we look back on some of our favorite K...
Our Gift-Giving with Book Boxes
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew share gift ideas in the form of book boxes packed with choice reads and thoughtful add-ons perfect for the reader or readers in you...
Making Neurodiversity Visible
31 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about representation of neurodiverse individuals, giving authentic voice in children's literature, and building empathy for al...
Climate Change and Changemakers
17 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the climate change, young activists, and a needed willingness for adults to listen, not just to these young voices, but ...
Comics for All
03 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the booming graphic novel market, state book awards centering comics, and go-to resources for librarians and educators i...
Banned Books
19 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about why books get banned, what book titles appear on ALA's Most Challenged Books list, and why Banned Books Week is a great ...
An Indigenous Peoples' History
05 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about looking honestly at history, tribal land acknowledgements, and engaging young people in the history going on today. Join...
Back to School
22 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about back-to-school anticipation, exceptional ways to get to school, and the resilience and determination each student posses...
Diversity-Focused Publishing
08 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about identifying a publisher by its "voice", focusing on the specific in order to connect with the universal, and they highli...
Reading Audiobooks
25 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew and guest host Tirzah Price talk about the booming audiobook industry, the literacy benefits of audiobooks, and some of the stories and story...
Standing on Shoulders
11 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the trailblazers in children's literature, including recognizing some of the first authors of color and indigenous autho...
#8: Pride
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the LGBTQ representation in children's literature, anti-queerness and parallels with colorism and racism, and what LGBTQ...
Bonus: SFF Kidlit
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sharifah and Jenn discuss favorite kidlit from SF/F. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS here, or via Apple Podcasts here. The show can also be found o...
#7: Honoring Jewish American Heritage
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the ripples from recent synagogue attacks, books that center the Jewish faith and culture, and we're reminded that we ar...
#6: Save School Libraries!
30 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the heart of the school, the disheartening trend of diminishing school libraries, and the inherent value of school libra...
#5: Change In Plans
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about inclusive author visits, soft censorship, and one middle grade author's reflection on her experience speaking at a schoo...
#4: Hooray for Teachers
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the amazing and vibrant education community online, authors who started out as teachers teachers, and teachers we saw an...
#3: Demystifying the Hijab
18 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about speaking to children on the danger of hate-laced speech toward Muslims, seeking understanding of hijab and the importanc...
#2: The Artifacts Tell The Story [UPDATED]
05 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about exploring historical artifacts up close, Karina’s visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture...
#1: The Wall in the Middle of This Podcast
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Karina and Matthew talk about the border wall between Mexico and the United States, one Idaho school staff and their alarming choice of Halloween cost...
Introducing Kidlit These Days!
08 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Matthew and Karina, the hosts of our newest show all about kidlit! Books Discussed: The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon Song for a Whale b...