It’s 25 years since “Because of Winn Dixie” was published, which means 25 years of readers enjoying the heart and honesty of Kate DiCamillo. We’re delighted to share this conversation with one of kidlit’s most beloved authors, and chat with Kate about her unforgettable characters and craft. As Kate says, “Characters are people I’ve discovered, not made up.” Come discover Kate’s world with us!Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online: Contact us:
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Bluesky: @booksmitten.bsky.social
Produced by Patrick Flores-Scott and Heather Shumaker
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
SCBWI Marvelous Midwest 2024
Gary D. Schmidt
Sherri L. Smith
James Solheim
Interviewees:
Aaron Fox (MO)
Debbie Gonzales (MI)
Kat Higgs-Coulthard (MI)
Leslie Helakowski (MI)
Danielle Defoe (MI)
Kathy Halsey (OH)
Amy Flynn (OH)
Sheila Willobee (MI)
Kathy Groth (WI) - Sunken Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, Ocean Party (Illustrated by Becca Hart)
Joyce Uglow (WI) - Stuck: The Story of the La Brea Tar Pits (Illustrated by Valerya Milovanova )
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
Creepy Crayon by Aaron Reynolds; Illustrated by Peter Brown
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw; Illustrated by Margot Apple
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
The Mousery by Charlotte Pomerantz; Illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
On Writing by Stephen King
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
The Scene Book by Sandra Scofield
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
Ready, Set, Dough! by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Jon Agee's Website
My Dad is a Tree
Milo's Hat Trick
My Rhinoceros
The Wall in the Middle of the Book
This Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard Byrne
The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on X/Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jean Luc Ishimwe
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jean Luc Ishimwe
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
The Art of Yuta Onoda
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jean Luc Ishimwe
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Mentioned in this episode:
nErD Camp PA
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff; Illustrated by Felicia Bond
Family Style by Thien Pham
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Flying Lessons & Other Stories Edited by Ellen Oh; Kelly’s short story in this middle grade anthology is “The Beans and Rice Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn.”
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
Isaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist; Illustrated by Darnell Johnson
The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly J. Baptist
Eb & Flow by Kelly J. Baptist
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott
The Griffins of Castle Cary by Heather Shumaker
Find us online:
Kelly J. Baptist: kellyiswrite.com
Jack Cheng: jackcheng.com
Patrick Flores-Scott: patrickfloresscott.com
Heather Shumaker: heathershumaker.com
Email us: hello@booksmitten.us
@booksmittenpod
Follow our progress on Twitter this season with #booksmittenchallenge
Produced by Jean Luc Ishimwe
Music by Duck Duck Chicken
Our Books for Children and Young Adults:
Find us online:
Contact us: hello@booksmitten.us
X/Twitter: @booksmittenpod
Produced by Jack Cheng
Music by Duck Duck Chicken