Episode #247: CHOP SUEY: Publishing news, World Happiness, and Think Again
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss the various publishing news including some relating to book banning, they discuss the results of the World Happiness Report, and they talk about the book THINK AGAIN by Adam Grant. And Alison Morris of First Books joins to offer some book recommendations!
How have you been?
Grace went to a 50th Birthday surprise party for her friend John! The party was at the Electromagnetic Pinball Museum and Restoration in Pawtucket, RI. The book friends discuss surprise parties, do you like them? Yay or nay? They also just booked a trip to celebrate their 50th birthdays in Bermuda! (October!). Grace explains her total eclipse events and Alvina experiences the earthquake in NY! The eclipse reminded them of the book, Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass.
Publishing News!
Alvina shares the news about two Harper Collins editors, Mabel Hsu and Ben Rosenthal, who left for Sourcebooks to establish a new children’s book imprint there. In book banning news…Wish Tree book is being debated in a Virginia County because of complaints that the tree is depicted in having both male and female parts (which is true.) The Wild Robot Projects by Peter Brown also up for debate in this way.
Scholastic has announced acquiring Nine Story Media Group.
World Happiness Report!
Finland is #1 once again! Here’s the full report!
Book Recommendations with Alison Morris!
Alison Morris recommends some Poetry books!
I’m From by Gary R. Gray Jr. and illustrated by Oge Mora
Summer is Here by Renee Watson and illustrated by Bea Jackson
We Are Branches by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beth Krommes
Climbing the Volcano: A Journey into Haiku by Curtis Manley and illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann.
Gratefuls
Alison is grateful for National Parks and getting out into nature! Grace is grateful for the meaningful work that she does. Alvina is also grateful for the eclipse viewing!
Alison Morris is a nationally recognized children's book buyer with an infectious enthusiasm for reading and 20 years' experience matching books to readers. As the Senior Director of Title Selection for nonprofit First Book, she oversees the curation of children’s and young adult books on the First Book Marketplace, hand-selecting a diverse range of titles that speak to and address the needs of kids in underserved communities, with a keen eye to inclusion, authenticity, and kid-appeal. She previously served as Senior Editor at Scholastic Book Clubs, Children's Book Buyer for Wellesley Booksmith and The Dartmouth Bookstore, and was the founding blogger of the ShelfTalker children’s book blog for Publishers Weekly. She'll be joining us from her home near Washington, DC where she spends LOTS of time discussing books with her husband, illustrator and graphic novelist Gareth Hinds.
THANK YOU!
Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio for producing and editing this podcast. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)
You can find Alvina @Planetalvina on Twitter and TikTok and @Alvinaling on Instagram and Threads, @alvinaling on BlueSky
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Instagram and Threads, @authorgracelin on Facebook, @gracelinauthor on TikTok, and @authorgracelin on BlueSky Social!
Alison Morris is @AlisonLMorris on Twitter and @kidlitgirl on Instagram
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