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Making SUNDUST with Zeke Peña

September 29, 2025 by Travis Jonker

Travis: Back in June, I talked with author/illustrator Zeke Peña about his beautiful new picture book, SUNDUST. In this episode, Zeke talks about the unique way SUNDUST was created, and his unconventional path to making picture books. We hope you enjoy this episode. Subscribe below to catch every episode of [...]

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Recent Posts

Nicholas Day on Connecting Frankenstein to a Volcano Eruption

COLBY: I am always on the lookout for great middle grade nonfiction. It is a hole in both my classroom library and in my own personal reading. I’m thankful that authors like Nicholas Day are creating books that are filling that hole. In this episode, I chat with Nicholas about [...]

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Barbara O’Connor Stops by to Talk Dream

COLBY: Barbara O’Connor is always one of the most popular authors in my fifth grade classroom. Kids cannot get enough of her stories. I am so excited to share my conversation with Barbara about her new book Dream (a companion to Wish). Subscribe below to catch every episode of The [...]

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Recent Comments

Apr 30, 2025

Chris on My Week of Celebrating Children’s Books in Alaska

"I am sitting here with tears in my eyes because I am from Alaska, but no longer live there, and the enthusiasm and care ..."

Jan 24, 2025

Alan Gratz on Our 2025 Preview Episode!

"We can probably make one of your 2025 interview wishes come true. By which I mean Questlove, of course. Shoot me an emai ..."

Apr 14, 2024

Kelly Van Kirk on LOUDER THAN HUNGER: LIVE w/ John Schu

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Jan 29, 2023

Travis Jonker on Looking Ahead: Our 2023 Preview

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Constance G. Pappas on Looking Ahead: Our 2023 Preview

"Hello, I too, LOVE The Yarn. It makes me a better librarian and I love the banter. From Show 180: Here's the list of bo ..."

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Travis Jonker on Looking Ahead: Our 2023 Preview

"Thanks for listening, Pia - you're right, we should add a list of the books we talked about for these episodes! I'll add ..."

Jan 18, 2023

Pia on Looking Ahead: Our 2023 Preview

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Dana Silver on Taking a Look Back: Our 2022 Year in Review Episode

"This was an incredible episode. I am a literacy coach and would love to compile all of your recommendations from this ep ..."

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Travis Jonker on Michaela Goade on BERRY SONG and Getting The Caldecott Call for WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS

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Jan 2, 2023

Travis Jonker on Taking a Look Back: Our 2022 Year in Review Episode

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Nancy on Michaela Goade on BERRY SONG and Getting The Caldecott Call for WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS

"Thank you Michaela!! Love your books! We sold soo many copies of The Water Protectors on our bookstore in Munising Michi ..."

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More Recent Posts

The Lost Sophie Blackall Interview

August 16, 2025 by Colby Sharp

COLBY: Back in the summer of 2016, I interviewed Sophie Blackall the day before she gave her Caldecott acceptence speech for Finding Winnie. It was a huge honor to get a little bit of her time right before this huge moment in her life. I selfishly never shared our conversation. It was mine, and sort […]

SPEED ROUND with the 2025 Newbery Winners!

July 28, 2025 by Travis Jonker

SPEED ROUND with the 2025 Newbery winners!

The Yarn LIVE with the 2025 Newbery Winners! (Part I)

July 19, 2025 by Travis Jonker

A special LIVE episode with all the 2025 Newbery winners!

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How Colby Sharp Celebrates Reading with Students

June 17, 2025 by Colby Sharp

COLBY: I’ve been on summer break for about a week. It has been amazing to read when I’m not exhausted from teaching. I’m in the point of summer reading, where everything I read makes me think of a kid that I had in class this past school year. In our latest episode of The Yarn, […]

Behind the Scenes of a Caldecott Honor Winning Book: Molly Mendoza and Aida Salazar Discuss JOVITA WORE PANTS

June 1, 2025 by Travis Jonker

Aida Salazar and Molly Mendoza take us behind the scenes of their Caldecott Honor winning book.

Pably Cartaya visits The Yarn

May 18, 2025 by Colby Sharp

COLBY: I had an amazing time chatting with Pablo Cartaya about his latest book, and instant New York Times Bestseller, ‘A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation’. We talked about the new book, fatherhood, and a whole lot more! Check out the episode below! Subscribe below to catch every episode of The Yarn: iTunes Spotify Stitcher […]

‘The best poem is the one that starts with ‘and”: Mk Smith Despres Visits The Yarn

May 3, 2025 by Travis Jonker

Author Mk Smith Despres takes us behind the scenes of their poetic picture book THERE'S THAT SUN AGAIN.

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Archives

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From the Archives (2018)

Jarrett J. Krosoczka talks Hey, Kiddo on The Yarn

‘I don’t know if I could have written this novel five years ago’ Cynthia Leitich Smith on Hearts Unbroken

Not on The Yarn: Minh Lê on All Things Considered

Goal for 2018: Interview Tara Westover for The Yarn

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