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SPEED ROUND! 4 Award Winners on The Yarn Podcast

August 4, 2026 by Travis Jonker

It’s been a while since we’ve made a SPEED ROUND episode of the Yarn podcast, and this one is a lot of fun: award winners Candace Fleming, Zeke Peña, Jasmine Warga, and Rebecca Stead answer some rapid-fire questions. Subscribe below to catch every episode of The Yarn: iTunes Spotify Stitcher

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Recent Posts

Dare I Say . . . Back to School Books? 2026 Edition

I’m here to name a few brand-new (2026) books that you might want to have on hand for the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, before disappearing into the forests of Endor. IN THIS CLASSROOM by Andrew Hackett, illustrated by Arthur Lin CLEM CLAM THE CLASS CLOWN by Laurie Keller [...]

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Notes on July 2026

3 of my favorite posts from the past month!

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Recent Comments

Jun 7, 2026

John Schu on Exclusive Cover Reveal: THIS IS A THEATER by John Schu, illustrated by Jaime Kim

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May 28, 2026

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"I HATE this. Books are supposed to teach us about the time they were written and/or set. How else will girls appreciate ..."

May 20, 2026

Betsy Bird on The 2026 Children’s Lit Animal Rankings

"Now let's talk about animals that are the stars of their own books. Because I'm seeing a plethora of puffins this year, ..."

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Apr 28, 2026

Travis Jonker on The Ultimate Caldecott Database is Ready for You

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Book Reviews

Review: Gnome and Rat by Lauren Stohler

When you read an early graphic novel as excellent as Gnome and Rat, so many other books look boring in comparison.

9 Books I Loved (But Didn’t Review) in 2022

I didn't review them, but I love them.

Books on Film: I Need a New Butt!

An assistant principal was fired for reading I NEED A NEW BUTT! to students

See More Reviews »

More Recent Posts

Children’s Books in the Amazon Top 100

July 30, 2026 by Travis Jonker

Sometimes I wonder: How many children's books are among the top 100 bestsellers on Amazon? And which books are they?

Newbery Honor Winner Chanel Miller on The Yarn Podcast

July 28, 2026 by Travis Jonker

Chanel Miller is on the latest episode of The Yarn podcast.

The 2026 Unicorn Report

July 27, 2026 by Travis Jonker

Rounding up all the 2026 unicorn books.

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One Star Review, Guess Who? (#233)

July 24, 2026 by Travis Jonker

Can you guess the children’s book by its scathing one-star review on Goodreads?

Books on Film: A Viral Picture Book Hit, 40 Years After Being Published

July 23, 2026 by Travis Jonker

Do you remember The Weighty Word Book? If your birth date rides the Gen X/Millennial line like mine, there’s a good chance seeing the cover unlocks some childhood memories. The book, illustrated by Janet Stevens, has had a recent resurgence due to Tik Tok, and CBS news has the full story.

The Origin of an Imprint on The Yarn Podcast

July 21, 2026 by Travis Jonker

Over on The Yarn podcast, author Cynthia Leitich Smith and editor/publisher Rosemary Brosnan talk about the imprint they co-created: Heartdrum. I loved hearing about how the idea for this imprint became a reality, and their hopes for the imprint going forward.

Books on Film: Ann M. Martin on THE DAILY SHOW

July 20, 2026 by Travis Jonker

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Baby-Sitter’s Club series, Ann M. Martin visited The Daily Show for an extended interview. As funny as it is illuminating.

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