Ainissa Ramirez has something in common with the subject of her debut picture book, Jim West, inventor of the microphone: the passion, the drive, and the creative spark to turn her commitment into her reality. It was an honor to talk to Ainissa, and if you want to hear more of her voice, listen to her podcast Science Underground, or maybe her TEDx Talk!   _________ This episode’s book reviews:  THE WALK, by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by E.B. Lewis EVERY MONDAY MABEL, by Jashar Awan   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

...but doesn't work otherwise? We take issue with that part. But either way: enjoy this conversation with PB Workshop-creator, writer of When Santa Wrote Back!, and wearer of cool glasses Nathan Christopher!  --------   This episode’s book reviews:    FLY GUY VS THE FLYSWATTER by Tedd Arnold THE MUSHROOM OF DOOM by Becky Davies and Thomas Elliott WANDA HEARS THE STARS by Amy S Hanson and Wanda Diaz Merced, illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Lydia Lukidis is here! She is a wealth of knowledge and experience and has brought all her passion for Garfield and Seinfeld to bear in her latest book Garfeld... I mean, Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog. Enjoy Lydia's verse!    --------   This episode’s book reviews: JIM! Six True Stories About One Great Artist: James Marshall by Jerrold Connors LITTLE BOO by Maddie Frost     The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Danielle Sharkan is our guest this week! On her writing journey, debuting with some heavy topics, eggplants (or aubergines?), and more!  Danielle debuted last year with SHARING SHALOM, following up this year with ELLIE THE EGGSPERT.  Enjoy!   --------   This episode’s book reviews: BORED PANDA by Mike Bender, illustrated by Chuck DillonBEST BUDS by Becky Scharnhorst, illustrated by Jiarui Jiang   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Darrin MacLeod (of Mrs. and Mr. MacLeod!) is here. We explore their collaboration, how The Grunions came to be, and Darrin's history as a traveling, writing vagabond who used to run a surf school.   Mrs. and Mr. MacLeod wrote HOW TO EAT A BOOK and THE DOOR THAT HAD NEVER BEEN OPENED BEFORE (whew, long title) and the forthcoming BIRTHDAY BEAR.    --------   This episode’s book reviews:   I COME FROM ANOTHER GALAXY by James Kwan TEENY TINY TOADY by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Keika Yamaguchi  UP UP EVER UP by Anita Yasuda, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

It's Steena Hernandez day! Show up and do the thing, claim your agency, and bring your A-game. Steena's debut book Lupita's Brown Ballet Slippers is available today! What's pancaking? How do you plan a school visit? What's Josh's favorite shape? All these answers and more await you.   --------   This episode’s book reviews:   I HATE EVERYTHING by Sophy Henn VALLEY: THE WIGGLE-BUTT PUP by Jae Lynn, illustrated by Juliette Miron CHURRO STAND by Karina N. Gonzalez, illustrated by Krystal Quiles   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Since we first recorded this episode, our guest Jyoti Rajan Gopal has had two books published, and that should tell you a great deal about her hustle and her dedication.  Desert Queen is one we talked about most in this conversation, but 2025 has also seen Love is Here with You: A Lullaby of Blessings and The Power of Your Name as well! Congrats, Jyoti! Jyoti has also started a podcast called In the Picture, which you should check out here!   --------   This episode’s book reviews:   INVESTIGATORS by John Patrick Green FEELING BOO by Alex Boniello and April Lavalle, illustrated by Olivia Chin Mueller KAFKA AND THE DOLL by Larissa Theule, illustrated by Rebecca Green   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where's the fire? Cedar Pruitt is here and it's been a long time coming! Her book FIRE FLIGHT: A WILDFIRE ESCAPE was out in early 2024 and we are sandwiched right in between that delight and her 2026 book WHAT MARCEL FOUND: THE INCREDIBLE DISCOVERY OF THE LASCAUX CAVE PAINTINGS.   -------- This episode’s book reviews: WHISPERS FROM MOTHER EARTH by Maryam Khalifah   TINY HIKER by Natasha Zimmers, illustrated by Jaimie MacGibbon   OSCAR'S AMERICAN DREAM by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Today’s guest is Meg Auchenbach, author illustrator of If You Are An Artist! We talk about what it actually looks like when an editor asks for more work, an inside look at what it  takes to be an author/illustrator in today’s market, joining a debut group and the mystery of all mysteries: how do you manage your writing time with other commitments and life!    Make sure to listen until the end for Meg’s Dead Manuscript and my impersonation of Kip from Napoleon Dynamite!   Team Versy is Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster, and Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, and science communicator. This episode was proudly sponsored by Tielmour Press Our guest for this conversation was Meg Auchenbach. You can find Meg here.  This episode’s book reviews: OLIVIA by Ian Falconer   VERA LA VALIENTE IS SCARED by Ana Siqueria illustrated by Teresa Martinez   TO CATCH A GHOST by Rachel Michelle Wilson    The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!  Find us on IG @joshmonkwords and @brennajeanneret as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment! Thanks and see ya next time.  You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken and Brenna Jeanneret.

Content advisory: Portland, rainbows, girl cheese, gender expansiveness, A Song for Nolan, Rushie Ellenwood, and big energy! (And Vicki Johnson)   Enjoy responsibly!   This episode was proudly sponsored by Tielmour Press.   --------   DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode’s book reviews:   VERA LA VALIENTE IS SCARED by Ana Siqueira, illustrated by Teresa Martinez ISLAND STORM by Brian Floca, illustrated by Sydney Smith   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Ana Siqueira is a beacon of dedication and inspiration! Her latest books VERA LA VALIENTE and STICKY HERMANA come out in August and October 2025, respectively, and both are equally wonderful.   This episode was proudly sponsored by Tielmour Press.   --------   DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode’s book reviews:   MISTACO! A TALE OF TRAGEDY Y TORTILLAS by Eliza Kinkz DINOSAURS: A SHINE-A-LIGHT BOOK by Sara Hurst, illustrated by Lucy Cripps FORTS by Katie Venit, illustrated by Kenard Pak     The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Sue Lancaster is here to enrich your ears with her voice and your eyes with her books... and her magazine, The Toy! Check out last year's Supermoon (from Tielmour Press!) and, out in May, Outside the Box!    This episode was proudly sponsored by Tielmour Press.   --------   DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode’s book reviews:   SANTIAGO'S DINOSAURIOS by Mariana Rios Ramirez, illustrated by Udayana Lugo GROUCHO THE GROUCHY GROUNDHOG by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Tara Hannon I AM COW, HEAR ME MOO by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Gus Gordon   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

It's Brenna, Jenna, and Josh. Oh my. Jenna Johnson joins us today for discussion of her debut books EVERY BODY MOVE! (out in September 2025, and a singalong!) and I SPARK LIKE LIGHTNING (out in winter 2026). And believe us when we say there's more goodness to come from Jenna soon!  Our chat with Jenna goes way beyond her debuts to permission, persistence, passion, and the agonizing roller coaster that is the publishing industry. We hope you enjoy!   This episode was proudly sponsored by Tielmour Press. -------- DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! This episode’s book reviews: CARSON CROSSES CANADA, written by Linda Bailey and illustrated by Kass Reich THE BABY WHO STAYED AWAKE FOREVER, by Sandra Salsbury SAFE CROSSING, by Kari Percival   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Today we cross into uncharted realms! It's a podcast head-to-head-to-head as we talk to Danielle Render Turmaud, picture book author, therapist, and host of the podcast You, Me, and The Writing Journey! (check out this same conversation and all her others over on her feed!) Danielle's virtual event Take Your Kid to Publishing Day is Saturday, July 19, and registration is still open through late June! This event will introduce kids to the business of publishing, and maybe help some of our kids understand what the heck we spend so much time doing. Sign up today! This episode is an emotionally honest doozy and a great one for those of us (meaning all of us) who sometimes have to build a little resilience to withstand the waiting, frustration, and rejection.   Show note: early in the chat we reference Michele Ziemke's Mighty Kidlit community. Check it out!   This episode was proudly sponsored by Tielmour Press. -------- DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode’s book reviews: PRAIRIE BOY: FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TURNS THE PRAIRIE INTO A HOME by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal JIM! SIX TRUE STORIES ABOUT ONE GREAT ARTIST: JAMES MARSHALL by our own friend of the pod Jerrold Connors STINKBIRD HAS A SUPERPOWER by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Bob Shea   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

I don't think we've ever talked about Jared Leto on the podcast before. Or the board game Clue for that matter. Katie Venit is here with the niche hits! FORTS and CASSINI'S MISSION are out, respectively, in July and August and to be perfectly honest it's a crime you can't get them now, because they're great and Katie is amazing. We all vibed!   This episode was proudly sponsored by Tielmour Press. Shoutout this week from Brittany Pomales to Elayne Crain for her debut There's Something Odd About the Babysitter! -------- DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode’s book reviews: SPARKLE PIGS by Kit Holliday MUNCHPIE MORGAN by Merry Lorenz, illustrated by Kenneth Anderson CACTUS QUEEN by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Jenn Ely   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!  Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

This episode gets philosophical! As you listen, stand up, spread your arms wide, and tell yourself you are a writer (if you in fact identify as such)! Bonni Goldberg is a poet, author, public speaker, teacher, and really great podcast guest. Check out her picture book Doña Gracia Saved Worlds and her books on writing! This was a wonderful chat!   This episode was proudly sponsored by Tielmour Press. -------- DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! Help support Trenise and Travis after a devastating theft here.    This episode’s book reviews: CAMILLA, CARTOGRAPHER by Julie Dillemuth, illustrated by Laura Wood THE PHONY BALONEY OF GRETA MALONEY by Karla Clark and illustrator Emma Clements THE GHOST WITH THE SMELLY OLD UNDERWEAR by Jose Carlos Andres illustrated by Gomez    The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!  Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Proudly portraying professionalism per perennial plans, presenting: Prittany Pomales... I mean Brittany! It Started with a P just released in April! (But obviously it hadn't yet when we first recorded this chat last year)  Enjoy - she is a pleasure! --------- Our sponsor is Tielmour Press! Check out Fungi Are More than Mushrooms, out March 2025, AND Jon's new kids' show, Hook Book Barrel! Our reviews this week: I ROCK MY HAIR by Angel Tate BEING A DOG: A TAIL OF MINDFULNESS by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Pete Oswald THE BAKERY DRAGON by Devin Elle Kurtz   DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot Versey, and was generously created for us by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!  Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Our response to meeting Vicky Fang? Charmed, I'm sure.  Check out Vicky's chapter book series Ava Lin, the latest installment, Ava Lin, Super Duper Happy, out June 2025!   Our reviews this week: LLAMAS GO BANANAS by Briony Britten, illustrated by Pauline Gregory THE INTERPRETER, by Olivia Abtahi, illustrated by Monica Arnaldo IT STARTED WITH A P, by Brittany Pomales, illustrated by Andrew Joyner   DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot Versey, and was generously created for us by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!  Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Judy Campbell-Smith is here! Check out her books Baseball for Breakfast (coming 2026), Ice Cream Everywhere, and AJ's Neighborhood, AND make sure and join PB Power Hour if you can. It's a great resource for the community. Enjoy! ----- Our sponsor is Tielmour Press! Check out Fungi Are More than Mushrooms, out March 2025, AND Jon's new kids' show, Hook Book Barrel! Our reviews this week: THE BAKERY DRAGON by Devin Elle Kurtz ELWOOD BIGFOOT: WANTED: BIRDIE FRIENDS! by Jill Esbaum and Nate Wragg KAT HATS by Daniel Pinkwater   DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot Versey, and was generously created for us by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!  Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Today’s guest is picture book author Carrie Finison make sure to check out her newest release, Pigs Dig A Road illustrated by Brian Biggs to see her incredible rhyming skills in action! We chat about Carrie’s start with Baby Bug magazine and writing short snippets, Latin scansion, of all things, and how rhyme has ruined radio for her! We also dove into the Rutgers conference and Carrie was kind enough to share the intro to a piece that landed her her agent along with the query letter!  Team Versy is Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster, Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster Jon Seymour, podcast wizard, author/illustrator and family man.  This episode was proudly sponsored by Tielmour Press Our guest for this conversation was Carrie Finison. You can find Carrie here.  DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! This episode’s book reviews: TOO MUCH! AN OVERWHELMING DAY by Jolene Gutiérrez and illustrated by Angel Chang  LITTLE LION GIRL by Olivia Hope and illustrated by Fiona Woodcock A PINECONE! by Helen Yoon The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!  Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment! Thanks and see ya next time.  You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.