Hosted by Charnaie Gordon, Here Wee Read: A Bookish Podcast celebrates diverse and inclusive books for kids and adults. In addition to interviewing kid lit and adult writers and illustrators on occasion, you’ll be updated on the latest bookish headlines and hear 30-second book reviews. This podcast is especially good for parents, caregivers, homeschoolers, librarians, and teachers who have the desire to diversify their bookshelves.
Do It Yourself Public Relations with Author, CEO and “PR Ninja” Nikkia McClain
In her former career, Nikkia McClain worked as a successful real estate agent in which she managed million-dollar properties. After several years of helping clients realize their real estate dreams, Nikkia wanted to explore other opportunities aligned to her personal goals to pursue a career in marketing and public relations – a very bold decision... read more
Nadia Odunayo, Founder of The StoryGraph
Nadia Odunayo is the founder and CEO of The StoryGraph, the new website that helps you to track your reading and choose which book to read next. She previously worked at Pivotal Labs as a software engineer and originally learned to code at Makers Academy in London. In her spare time she loves to... read more
We’re Still Here: Bookish Chat with Author Traci Sorell
Traci lives with her family in the Cherokee Nation, out in the country like she did as a child. Back then, she had geese, chickens, horses, dogs and cats. Her mother’s Cherokee family has been in the area since the removal of most Cherokee people from their southeastern homelands in 1838. Traci grew up hearing... read more
Too Small Tola: Getting to Know Award-Winning Author Atinuke
Atinuke is a Nigerian-born author who started her career doing traditional oral storytelling. Her books include a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Winner, a Notable Book for a Global Society, a Cybils Award Winner, and an Africana Award Winner. She is the author of the popular Anna Hibiscus series, B is for Baby, Too Small Tola... read more
Zonia’s Rainforest: A Conversation with Peruvian Author-Illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal
Juana Martinez-Neal is the Peruvian-born daughter and granddaughter of painters. Her debut as an author-illustrator, Alma and How She Got Her Name, was awarded a Caldecott Honor and was published in Spanish as Alma y cómo obtuvo su nombre. She also illustrated La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya, for which she won... read more
Getting to Know Debut Author Nandi Taylor
Nandi Taylor is a Canadian writer of Afro-Caribbean descent based in Toronto. Her debut novel Given garnered over one million reads on the online story sharing site Wattpad and earned a starred review from ALA’s Booklist magazine. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in English literature and a diploma in journalism.... read more
Becoming Vanessa: An Intimate Chat with Author-Illustrator Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Vanessa Brantley-Newton is a self-taught illustrator, doll maker, and crafter who studied fashion illustration at FIT and children’s book illustration at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She is the author and illustrator of Grandma’s Purse and Just Like Me, and has illustrated numerous children’s books, including The King of Kindergarten and Sewing... read more
Brave Bessie: Queen of the Sky: Bookish Chat with Author Roda Ahmed
Roda Ahmed the author of the children’s book “Mae Among the Stars” that published in 2018 with Harper Collins. “Mae Among the Stars” is inspired by the story of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel into space. Roda was born in Somalia and moved to Norway with her family and seven siblings. ... read more
The Pumphrey Brothers: Making Stuff Together Since 1981 Jarrett & Jerome Pumphrey
Jarrett has been a storyteller most his life, both on his own and in collaboration with Jerome. While their earliest work remains locked in a drawer—the key long lost for good measure—their first co-authored book, Creepy Things Are Scaring Me, was published by HarperCollins in 2003. Since then, Jarrett has been honing his skills of... read more
I Am Brown: Let’s Talk Illustrations with Animator & Illustrator Sandhya Prabhat
Sandhya Prabhat is an Independent Animator and Illustrator based in the Bay Area, California and is from Chennai, India. She holds an MFA Degree in Animation and Digital Arts from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature from Stella Maris College. Sandhya has illustrated more than ten children’s books.... read more
The ABCs of Black History: An Interview with New York Times Bestselling Author Rio Cortez
Rio Cortez is the New York Times bestselling author of The ABCs of Black History (Workman, 2020) and I Have Learned to Define a Field as a Space Between Mountains (Jai Alai Books, 2015). Born and raised in Salt Lake City, she now lives, writes, and works in Harlem. Letter by letter, The ABCs of... read more
My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World: Up Close and Personal with Superbowl Champion Malcolm Mitchell
Malcolm Mitchell is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of his non-profit organization Share the Magic Foundation. As the Chief Executive Officer, he focuses on the foundation’s overall growth, development, and impact. Malcolm grew up in Valdosta, Georgia, and attended the University of Georgia (UGA) where he obtained a Communications degree. Malcolm was drafted by... read more
