Episode #135: CHOP SUEY! CRT, DOJ, and Audiobooks
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss so-called Critical Race Theory, the DOJ's case against PRH's purchase of S&S, and audiobooks. Also, Alison Morris stops by with some book recommendations with a gratitude theme!
*REMINDER: The Book Friends are doing an episode dedicated to the memory of those authors and illustrators we lost this year in 2021. They would love to hear your memories of these authors and how they touched your life in some way or another. On the bookfriendsforever.com menu, click “Record your author/Illustrator Tribute” and record your memories through Speakpipe. Some of the authors and illustrators we lost: Jerry Pinkney, Tomie DePaola, Beverley Cleary, Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, Patricia Reilly Giff, Floyd Cooper, and Gary Paulsen. We encourage you to leave a memory and we’ll share it on a special upcoming episode! Thank you!
Don’t forget to order Grace Lin’s 2021 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon trilogy calendar is available NOW! Right now you can only get it from the Eric Carle Museum and supply is limited so get yours today!
“How have you been?”
Grace has been gardening and planting for the spring. This makes her feel hopeful in general. Hazel had her vaccine shot and Grace got her booster shot. She has been going through Kids Ask Authors book reviewer club apps! You can find Grace at the Eric Carle Museum lately signing her Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Trilogy 2022 calendars!
Alvina got to be a guest visitor to a book club (1st graders) where they were reading Year of the Dog. She was able to answer all kinds of fun questions about the Melody and the book. One of the questions; “Did you have bangs when you were young too?”
Critical Race Theory:
The Book Friends discuss the definition of CRT, if and how it’s being taught in schools, and how it is wrapped up with systemic racism. They talk about how to help educators fight against censorship, banned books, and how things are just getting out of control. Banned books discussed: New Kid by Jerry Craft and A Big Mooncake for Little Star.
Publishing News!
Read this Publisher’s Weekly article to learn more about the DOJ suing to stop the purchase of Simon and Schuster by Penguin Random House. Grace and Alvina define monopoly vs. monopsony.
Audiobooks!
Discussion of the @RandiJoDalton tweet, “As a Mohawk librarian, when I defend audiobooks, it’s personal. My people were telling stories orally long before stories came packaged in book form. There are many ways to “read” something. There are a thousand ways to tell a story.” Learn more about Grace and Alvina’s thoughts on audiobooks.
Book Recs About Gratitude! with Alison Morris:
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.
Gratefuls:
Grace is grateful for the vaccine shots for Hazel, her own booster shot, and that Hazel is finally reading Where The Mountain Meets the Moon! Alvina is grateful that the end of the year is upon us. She is looking forward to spending time with family and relaxing in California. Alison is grateful that there are still new books coming all the time. Her husband, Gareth Hinds has new graphic novel out called “Graceling”.
*If you’re a patron, don’t forget to check out this week’s Random Questions feed! Authors Sarah Jean Horowitz and Grace Lin answer the random question: “What would the name of your debut album be?” Click here to listen! If you’re not a patron already, join today!
Thank you for tuning in! 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
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Twitter and Instagram and @gracelinauthor on TikTok and @authorgracelin on Facebook
Alison Morris is @AlisonLMorris on Twitter and @kidlitgirl on Instagram
Order the 2022 WTMMTM CALENDAR: https://shop.carlemuseum.org/category/books/autographed-books/grace-lin
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