Episode #284: Simple Joys
With all the terrible things going on in the world right now, Grace and Alvina decide to help make themselves and others feel a little better by listing 25 small things that bring them joy. Listen to find out if their lists have any overlap! For the Fortune Cookie segment, they talk about the TikTok ban, and a potential replacement.
How have you been?
Grace has been watching the news and feeling a little nervous about the state of the world. Her arm is feeling better. Grace has been working on her Lunar New Year letter and the paper cut out! A friend pointed out that the first paper-cut she made looked like a make body part so she made a new one! Grace has been making efforts to build more of a community so she’s started to have once a month lunches with Heidi Stemple, Lisa Yee, and Molly Burnham. They really appreciate Lexi at High Five Books. It has made such a differnce for them to have such a supportive independant bookstore in thier town. High Five Books just expanded so they are going to throw go there for a surprise champagne toast. Here’s a photo from that event!
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORES!
Alvina went to Linda’s celebration of life. Stephen’s mom asked Alvina to lead everyone in singing a song. Work has been incredibly busy for Alvina and they had their mock Caldecott ceremony.
Simple Joys
The book friends talk about the little things that bring them joy.
Alvina: popcorn, the smell of lavender, dancing, doing puzzles (especially when you put those two pieces together!), a nice warm mug and choosing the mug, soup dumplings, music, getting immersed in a really great book, bring awestruck by beauty, looking at stars, sunrises and sunsets, clouds, sun dogs, sounds of the tennis ball, bodies of water, cozy sweaters, cute and funny animal videos, brunch, waxed apples, karaoke, heart-warming stories, finally getting to go to the bathroom after you have been holding it forever, hearing and saying, “I love you!”
Grace: Coconut cake, a warm drink in your hand, lucky colors, hot air balloons, scarves, two colors of paint: Jade Green and Rose Pink, making snow sculptures, when the moon is that orange/yellow color, colored lanterns lit at night, eating a fresh apple off the tree, re-reading a favorite book, rainy days and watching everyone walking around with umbrellas, green moss, fire in the fireplace, Boba Tea, moon cake tins, ordinary things are artistic, seaglass and worn rocks, and miniature worlds!
Please tell us about your SIMPLE JOYS!
Fortune Cookie Segment:
The Tik Tok ban!
‘Tell me about…”
Alvina talks about the new book that she has edited, Will’s Race For Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes.
Gratefuls
Alvina is grateful that Stephen’s family lives close by and they can visit and support each other. Grace is thankful for the community of children’s book author and illustrators that are getting together in Northampton and building community.
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.
Please keep tagging and messaging us on social media using the hashtag #bookfriendsforever! OR message us on Instagram @bookfriendsforever_podcast or email us at bookfriendsforever@gmail.com! Please let us know if you have any topic ideas!
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