Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss several topics, including tips on how to stay grounded, various publishing news including the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, BookCon returning, and a bookstore in San Francisco deciding not to carry Harry Potter. They also discuss various recent developments regarding AI. And then, Alison Morris joins to give some book recommendations, and they end as always with what they're grateful for.

How have you been?

Alvina talks about her anniversary “glamping” adventure with Stephen on Governor’s Island. Zohran Mamdani wins mayoral nomination! Grace had events in Quincy and Watertown, Ma at libraries to kick of their summer reading programs and Readers Theater. Grace is starting to plan for her “Very Asian Book Trip” with Debbie Michiko Florence!

How to ground yourself

The Book Friends talk about how to ground yourself in today’s political climate. They reference two articles with tips on this topic: From Psychology Today: “How to Feel Grounded in an Uncertain World” and from the Calm website: “How to Ground Yourself When You Feel Stressed or Anxious”.

Publishing News

The Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards were announced. The winners are for the picture book:

Picture Book winner: I Know How to Draw an Owl
by Hilary Horder Hippely; illus. by Matt James

Fiction Award winner: Everything We Never Had
by Randy Ribay

Non-fiction winner: Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown
by Candace Fleming

My Daddy is a Cowboy won an honor! by Stephanie Seales

More Publishing News…

BookCon is BACK! Javits Center in April 18 & 19, 2026

Booksmith book store in San Francisco has declined to sell Harry Potter books because they do not want to support JK Rowling’s anti-trans views.

AI Discussion: AI Summer reading list news

What we could be reading! With Alison Morris

Summer Holiday Books:

So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story by Anne Wynter and illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Catia Chien

Anniversary Books: (like The Rubik’s Cube 50th Anniversary!)

Me & The Magic Cube by Daniel Fehr and illustrated by Golden Cosmos

Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube by Kerry Ardhya and illustrated by Kara Kramer

How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles Darwin by Nicholas Day and illustrated by Hadley Hooper (Out in Jan 2026)

Gratefuls

Alvina is grateful for air conditioning! Grace is thankful that her schedule is clearing up and for her new chickens! Alison is grateful for going to ALA this year.

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.) See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.

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 Blue Sky.

You can find Alison Morris @ kidlitgirl on Instagram

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