Meet the Author
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An Interview With Bryan Collier
by Bryan Collier
read by Bryan Collier
Part of the Meet the Author series
Award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier began creating art at the age of 15. Using his signature style, a vibrant mix of watercolor and collage, he brings stories to life. He's already lent his talents to such books as Visiting Langston, Rosa, and his own book, Uptown. Collier is the winner of numerous Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards: Trombone Shorty (2016), Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me (2014), I, Too, Am America (2013), Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave (2011), Rosa (2006) and Uptown (2001). Reading Rockets sat down with the artist for an exclusive interview.
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An Interview With Avi
by Avi
read by Avi
Part of the Meet the Author series
Avi is the 2003 Newbery Medal award winning author of Crispin: A Cross of Lead, and widely acclaimed for his works of historical fiction for middle grade readers. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Avi talks about the challenges of writing, his years as a librarian, and his symptoms of dyslexia. He also recalls what it was like to win the 2003 Newbery Medal in this engaging and wide-ranging conversation.
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An Interview With Patricia Polacco
by Patricia Polacco
read by Patricia Polacco
Part of the Meet the Author series
Patricia Polacco tells warm family tales drawn from her own childhood among an extended immigrant family of grandparents and cousins. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Patricia Polacco talks about writing and illustrating and the passing down of family history whose themes resonate with readers of all backgrounds.
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An Interview With Jon Scieska
by Jon Scieska
read by Jon Scieska
Part of the Meet the Author series
Jon Scieszka (which rhymes with Fresca) is the playful and cheeky author behind "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" and "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales". In these exclusive audio and video interviews with Reading Rockets, Jon Scieszka talks about his "weird" style and his concern about boys and reading.
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An Interview With Pamela Duncan Edwards
by Pamela Duncan Edwards
read by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Part of the Meet the Author series
Pamela Duncan Edwards often teams up with illustrator Henry Cole to create alliterative children's books like "Some Smug Slug". In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Pamela Duncan Edwards talks about her years as a school librarian and the joys of her work.
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An Interview With Anita Silvey for ReadingRockets.org
by Anita Silvey
read by Anita Silvey
Part of the Meet the Author series
Anita Silvey has spent her career working in the field of children's literature. She has worked as a publisher, a critic, a commentator, and a writer of books for young readers. Her voice is authoritative and steeped in experience. Silvey's passion for literature, linking readers to lasting books recognizes its impact on readers. Her enthusiasm and experience are evident whether she writes for adults about books for young readers or books for young readers.
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An Interview With George Ancona
by George Ancona
read by George Ancona
Part of the Meet the Author series
In 2002, George Ancona received the Washington Post-Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award for work that "has contributed significantly to the quality of nonfiction for children." In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, George Ancona talks about his photo-illustrated books and how he uses photography to offer insight into the everyday lives of children from different cultures.
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An Interview With Francisco Alarcón
by Francisco Alarcón
read by Francisco Alarcón
Part of the Meet the Author series
Francisco X. Alarcón is an award-winning poet who grew up in two countries: he spent time as a child in both Mexico and the United States. Songs he heard from his indigenous grandmother first inspired Alarcón's poetry, which he presents for readers in both English and in Spanish. In this exclusive video interview with ¡Colorín Colorado! Francisco Alarcón speaks about his Hispanic heritage and how it makes him a "a bi-national, bicultural, bilingual poet."
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An Interview With Robert Sabuda
by Robert Sabuda
read by Robert Sabuda
Part of the Meet the Author series
Since 1994 Robert Sabuda has taken three-dimensional pop-up books to new heights. Elaborate dinosaurs leap off the page. Colorful Christmas trees rise up and blink. Knights in shining armor joust before the king and queen. The ease with which these things twist, turn, and delight readers is the result of much trial and error. Robert Sabuda is a completely self-taught pop-up book artist. Without any guidebook or mentor, Sabuda has always had to challenge himself to find out what is possible.
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An Interview With Eve Bunting
by Eve Bunting
read by Eve Bunting
Part of the Meet the Author series
Eve Bunting is a spellbinding storyteller, both in conversation and in writing. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Eve Bunting relates amusing stories from her childhood in Ireland and offers insights into her books, some of which are unflinching in tackling tough subjects.
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An Interview With Shannon Hale
by Shannon Hale
read by Shannon Hale
Part of the Meet the Author series
Shannon's mother says she was a storyteller from birth, jabbering in nonsensical baby-talk. Once she could speak, she made up stories and bribed younger siblings to perform them in mini-plays until an elementary school teacher introduced her to the wonder of written fiction. At age 10, Shannon began to write books, mostly fantasy stories where she was the heroine. Her award-wining books include The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, River Secrets, Book of a Thousand Days, and Rapunzel's Revenge.
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An Interview With Bruce Degen
by Bruce Degen
read by Bruce Degen
Part of the Meet the Author series
If a picture can speak a thousand words, Bruce Degen's illustrations can spark a thousand smiles. From sixth-grade, this illustrator of the wildly popular "Magic School Bus" series knew that art would be a big part of his life. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Degen talks about his early artistic roots, the inspirational value of fruit, and what it's like to collaborate with author Joanna Cole.
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An Interview With Jack Prelutsky
by Jack Prelutsky
read by Jack Prelutsky
Part of the Meet the Author series
Jack Prelutsky writes wonderfully wacky poems that children find irresistible. In this interview, Jack Prelutsky explains why he used to equate reading poetry with eating liver and considered writing poetry a hazard to his health.
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An Interview With Margaret Peterson Haddix
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
read by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Part of the Meet the Author series
As a kid, Margaret Peterson Haddix was a real bookworm. was so attached to reading, that she considered the characters in books like Harriet the Spy and Little Women to be her friends.
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An Interview With Peter Sis
by Peter Sis
read by Peter Sis
Part of the Meet the Author series
Peter Sís is the celebrated writer and illustrator of "Madlenka" and the Caldecott Honor book "Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei.". In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Peter Sís talks about the winding path that led him to New York City, his father's Tibetan journey, and how his own children have influenced his work.
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An Interview With Sherri Smith
by Sherri Smith
read by Sherri Smith
Part of the Meet the Author series
Sherri Smith writes novels that feature strong female protagonists dealing with issues of racial and ethnic identity. One critic described her work as a "gumbo of cultural collisions and discoveries." In "Hot, Sour, Salty Sweet," Ana, a 13-year-old Chinese-American/ African-American girl, grapples with her family as both a source of strength and deep embarrassment. In the award-winning "Flygirl," Smith tells the story of Ida Mae, a young African-American woman who dreams of serving in the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during WWII, but encounters discrimination.
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An Interview With Jerry Spinelli
by Jerry Spinelli
read by Jerry Spinelli
Part of the Meet the Author series
Jerry Spinelli still remembers the night when he was awakened by a phone call. His novel, Maniac Magee, had just won the 1991 Newbery Medal. "Life hasn't been the same since," Spinelli recalls.
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An Interview With Christopher Myers
by Christopher Myers
read by Christopher Myers
Part of the Meet the Author series
Christopher Myers comes from a long line of creative storytellers. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Christopher Myers talks about his Brooklyn neighborhood, his work, and how reading touches every part of his life.
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An Interview With Norton Juster for adlit.org
by Norton Juster
read by Norton Juster
Part of the Meet the Author series
"It seems to me that almost everything is a waste of time," Milo laments. "[T]here's nothing for me to do, nowhere I'd care to go, and hardly anything worth seeing." And so we are introduced to young (and so very bored) boy named Milo, a tollbooth, and an adventure in a very strange place called Dictionopolis. The world knows and loves "The Phantom Tollbooth," and its creator, Norton Juster - a professional architect who also loved writing delightfully inventive books for children.
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An Interview With Anita Silvey for adlit.org
by Anita Silvey
read by Anita Silvey
Part of the Meet the Author series
The author of 100 Best Books for Children and 500 Great Books for Teens, Anita Silvey has devoted 35 years to promoting books that inspire children to become enthusiastic, lifelong readers. In this interview, find out what Silvey thinks about the future of the book and listen to the thrilling real-life anecdote about the creators of Curious George. As she says, "every children's book tells a story, but every children's book has a story behind it."
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An Interview With Kathleen Krull
by Kathleen Krull
read by Kathleen Krull
Part of the Meet the Author series
Did you know that Beethoven's favorite food was macaroni and cheese? Did you know that John F. Kennedy used to bark like a seal before giving important speeches? Well, if you read Kathleen Krull's biographies for young readers, you'll learn many such facts. Through solid research, lively writing, and juicy "gossip", Krull transforms iconic figures from the past into real human beings. "We're all secretly People magazine readers at heart," she explains, "even though we might not admit it."
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An Interview With Jesus Cortez
by Jesus Cortez
read by Jesus Cortez
Part of the Meet the Author series
Dr. Jesus Cortez offers some ideas engaging ELLs as readers, as well as tips for choosing culturally diverse titles for the classroom.
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An Interview With David Adler
by David Adler
read by David Adler
Part of the Meet the Author series
"Blink your eyes and say click!" Cam Jansen, David Adler's heroine with a photographic memory, has captured the imagination of millions of readers. The prolific Alder has also written several picture book biographies for children, bringing historical figures to literary life. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, David Adler discusses the "Supermarket Room" of his teaching career, simple math methods, and the reason why Benjamin Franklin never wore a wig.
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An Interview WIth Lois Lowry
by Lois Lowry
read by Lois Lowry
Part of the Meet the Author series
Lois Lowry's first children's book, "A Summer to Die", was published in 1977. In 1979 Lowry finished Anastasia Krupnik, the story of a quirky 10-year-old girl who wants to become a writer. During the 1980s, Anastasia reappeared in numerous books. In 1990 Lowry's novel, "Number the Stars", received the prestigious Newbery Medal. Four years later, Lowry won a second Newbery Medal for her most well-known book, "The Giver." More recently, Lois Lowry has been writing a lighthearted series for younger readers about a spirited second-grade girl named Gooney Bird Greene.
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An Interview With Nikki Grimes
by Nikki Grimes
read by Nikki Grimes
Part of the Meet the Author series
Nikki Grimes was born in Harlem, but grew up in many different parts of New York. As a foster child from a broken home, she moved from place to place, always saying goodbye to new friends. Reading and writing became her survival tools. When she had no one else to talk to, Grimes wrote poems and stories about the things that were bothering her. As an avid reader, she checked out library books by day and read at night by flashlight.
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An Interview With Emily Gravett
by Emily Gravett
read by Emily Gravett
Part of the Meet the Author series
British author and illustrator Emily Gravett brings a fresh perspective to her children's books.
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An Interview With Laurie Halse Anderson
by Laurie Halse Anderson
read by Laurie Halse Anderson
Part of the Meet the Author series
In elementary school, Laurie was terrified that she'd never be able to learn how to read. With help from her teachers, Laurie did crack the code and then became one those students who hide library books inside textbooks during class. Now, she's the award-winning author of Young Adult books like Speak, Chains, and Wintergirls.
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An Interview With Nikki Giovanni
by Nikki Giovanni
read by Nikki Giovanni
Part of the Meet the Author series
Nikki Giovanni is a woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind, and her writing is all the stronger for it. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, the poet and author discusses everything from Rosa Parks to reading with her son. She even clarifies the link between books, chocolate, and Harry Potter!
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An Interview With Lois Ehlert
by Lois Ehlert
read by Lois Ehlert
Part of the Meet the Author series
Lois Ehlert's unique children's books, such as Color Zoo, reflect her creative and curious mind. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Lois Ehlert discusses her early love for art and how she continually strives to create highly original children's books.
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An Interview With Tanya Stone
by Tanya Stone
read by Tanya Stone
Part of the Meet the Author series
Tanya Lee Stone began making up stories when she was a kid.Stone has written nearly 100 books about animals, nature, science, history, and biography. Many of the stories she writes now deal with themes of strong women and empowering girls.
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An Interview With David Shannon
by David Shannon
read by David Shannon
Part of the Meet the Author series
David Shannon is the writer and illustrator behind the eponymous "No, David!" books. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, David Shannon talks about his love for bright colors, his distaste for lima beans, and where he gets the ideas for his books.
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An Interview With Mem Fox
by Mem Fox
read by Mem Fox
Part of the Meet the Author series
Mem Fox is Australia's best-known children's book author. Her books are tremendously popular in the U.S. as well, and she has traveled widely as a writer, teacher, and passionate proponent of reading aloud to children.
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An Interview With Deborah Heligman
by Deborah Heligman
read by Deborah Heligman
Part of the Meet the Author series
Deborah has written more than 26 books, including the acclaimed Holidays Around the World and Charles and Emma: The Darwins Leap of Faith. Deborah is an active blogger on the I.N.K. (Interesting Nonfiction for Kids) blog and helped establish a companion site for teachers called INK Think Tank, which connects great nonfiction books to curriculum standards.
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An Interview With Betsy Lewin
by Betsy Lewin
read by Betsy Lewin
Part of the Meet the Author series
Betsy Lewin, the illustrator of Click Clack Moo, takes a playful approach to her work. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Betsy Lewin discusses her career goals as a child and the inspiration she gets from exotic trips abroad.
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An Interview With Janet Wong
by Janet Wong
read by Janet Wong
Part of the Meet the Author series
Janet Wong's career switch was so dramatic that she was featured on a segment of The Oprah Winfrey Show. When Wong left her job as Director of Labor Relations at Universal Studios in Hollywood, she dreamed of becoming a children's book author. Over the next two years, she took a writing class, submitted manuscripts, and piled up more than two dozen rejection letters. Through a combination of practice, persistence, and talent, Janet Wong quickly became a successful writer of poetry and picture books for young people.
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An Interview With Denise Fleming
by Denise Fleming
read by Denise Fleming
Part of the Meet the Author series
As a young girl Denise Fleming used to spend hours in her father's workshop cutting, gluing, carving, and building things. Today, she spends many hours in her own workshop, where she makes the paper that she uses to illustrate her picture books.
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An Interview With Robert Neubecker
by Robert Neubecker
read by Robert Neubecker
Part of the Meet the Author series
An interview with author and illustrator Robert Neubecker, creator of the Wow! books.
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An Interview With Eric Rohmann
by Eric Rohmann
read by Eric Rohmann
Part of the Meet the Author series
Eric Rohmann believes that each story needs illustrations that match its tone, content, and sensibility. As a children's book illustrator, this means knowing how and when to use different media and techniques.
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An Interview With Rick Riordan
by Rick Riordan
read by Rick Riordan
Part of the Meet the Author series
Between teaching and writing other books, Riordan didn't think he had time for a children's novel.
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An Interview With Marc Brown
by Marc Brown
read by Marc Brown
Part of the Meet the Author series
Marc Brown is the author and illustrator of Arthur, everyone's favorite aardvark. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Marc Brown chats about his childhood, the Arthur television shows on PBS, and his friendship with the late Mr. Rogers.
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An Interview With Laura Elliott
by Laura Elliott
read by Laura Elliott
Part of the Meet the Author series
Laura's first YA historical novel, Under a War-torn Sky, grew out of an article about her father's experiences as a B-24 pilot with the French Resistance during World War II. The book won lots of awards and Laura continued its story in A Troubled Peace. As a former journalist, she's also "reported" on other important historical events through her books, including the Civil War in Annie, Between the States, the Revolutionary War in Give Me Liberty, and the civil rights movement in Flying South.
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An Interview With E.B. Lewis
by E. B. Lewis
read by E. B. Lewis
Part of the Meet the Author series
Lewis's interests in fine arts & illustration led him to coin the term "artistrator" to describe his work. Lewis's illustrations have been described as "uniquely captivating" have earned him the Coretta Scott King Award & a a Caldecott Honor.
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An Interview With Chris Van Allsburg
by Chris Van Allsburg
read by Chris Van Allsburg
Part of the Meet the Author series
Chris Van Allsburg is the author and illustrator of many celebrated children's books such as The Polar Express and Jumanji. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Chris Van Allsburg talks about his big breakthrough, his books, and their transformation into movies.
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An Interview With Mark Teague
by Mark Teague
read by Mark Teague
Part of the Meet the Author series
Mark Teague likes to find humor in the everyday events of childhood. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Mark Teague talks about his books, the kids he meets when visiting schools, and his books "Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School" and "How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?"
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An Interview With Henry Cole
by Henry Cole
read by Henry Cole
Part of the Meet the Author series
Illustrator Henry Cole explains the inspiration, experiences, and processes behind his work.
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An Interview With Jack Gantos
by Jack Gantos
read by Jack Gantos
Part of the Meet the Author series
Jack Gantos' interesting life has provided the raw material for many of his books. The Jack Henry middle-grade fiction series was based on Gantos' own adventures as a boy, and the award-winning Joey Pigza books resulted from Gantos' interactions with children with ADHD.
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An Interview With Pat Mora
by Pat Mora
read by Pat Mora
Part of the Meet the Author series
Pat Mora is a Mexican-American author and poet. She writes short books for children about families, Mexican-American culture, and the desert. In this exclusive video interview with ¡Colorín Colorado! Pat Mora tells us about her childhood, her books, and Día de los Niños/Día de los libros
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An Interview With Linda Sue Park
by Linda Sue Park
read by Linda Sue Park
Part of the Meet the Author series
Linda Sue Park, Korean American author of children's fiction, has been an avid reader and writer her entire life. In fact, she began poetry and story writing before kindergarten -- at the age of four. Linda's mainly focuses on historical fiction. "Seesaw Girl", "Kite Fighters", "A Single Shard" (2002 Newbery Medal winner), "Project Mulberry," "Bee-Bim Bop," and "Archer's Quest" all delve in to the Korean culture and history -- embroidery, kite fighting, celadon pottery, silkworms, and Korean food.