KidLit Love Newsletter: April 2025
Here's a bit of love from the world of children's literature!
This month, I released a lifelong dream into the world: a summer reading experience where teachers can earn professional learning credit for reading children’s books together AND have lovely conversations with the authors of those books, too.
Enter the KidLit Love Summer 2025 Book Club Experience!
We’ll explore nine books across the summer to help you build rich book knowledge that will transform your teaching in the coming year and help you connect your students with the books they need when they need them, too.
It’s hosted here on Substack, so all discussions, resources, and author chats are in one easy-to-access place. You can attend live or watch the replays and they’ll be available all year long, too.
The best part? You’ll engage with authors in multiple ways. Some of your favorite authors will join us for exclusive discussions, bonuses and resources! Learn more about the book club at this link!
Here are some of the books that I’ve been looking forward to releasing this month and a round-up of all my podcast episodes, too. You’ll find a quick summary and links to my Amazon and Bookshop affiliate links below.
Happy Browsing!
April Book Birthdays🎈🎁📖🎂📚🎉
April Book Birthdays are here! Here are the newly released books that have made their way to me:
🎉MISTACO by Eliza Kinkz (Amazon / Bookshop)
🎉ROAD TRIP REDEMPTION by Becca Wierwille (Amazon / Bookshop)
🎉PRECIOUS by Carlos Aponte (Amazon / Bookshop)
🎉STORM SINGER by Sarwat Chadda (Amazon / Bookshop)
🎉FIRST JOYS by Véronique Joffre (Amazon / Bookshop)
🎉JUST A BANANA by Barney Saltzberg (Amazon / Bookshop)
🎉BRAVE by Weshoyot Alvitre (Amazon / Bookshop)
🎉CHILDREN’S FAVORITE ARABIC STORIES by Jehanne Moharram (Amazon / Bookshop)
🎉DEAR GIRL, BE FREE by Jamie Scheumann (Amazon / Bookshop)
More Books to Love🎈🎁📖🎂📚🎉
These books weren’t released in April, but they are worth mentioning because I loved them:
🎉HEARTS IN MY POCKET by Nancy Tupper Ling (Amazon / Bookshop)
🎉I WANT TO DANCE IN PANTS by Jess & Ruyman Hernandez (Amazon / Bookshop)
Recent KidLit Love Podcast Episodes: 📚❤️🎙️🔊✨
Here are the KidLit Love podcast episodes released this past month:
Heart-Warming Horror: It’s Watching by Lindsay Currie
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Meera Trehan about her newest middle grade novel: Snow.
The book is both a beautiful and haunting fantasy where an imprisoned princess needs the help of a girl from the modern world to undo a wish gone wrong and save her snowy kingdom.
Come listen as we talk about Meera’s shift from law to writing, the way she needs her worlds to make sense and my favorite elements of the book….but with no spoilers, of course! Come listen!
Celebrating Women’s Voices: She Spoke Too with Kathy MacMillan & Manuela Bernardi
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Kathy MacMillan and Manuela Bernardi about their books: She Spoke: 14 Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World and She Spoke Too: 14 More Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World.
These multi-modal books are both a celebration and a call to action and feature 28 actual, literal voices of women making change in addition to the beautiful narrative inside. Reading and listening gave me goosebumps and I'm thrilled to talk with them on the podcast today.
Come listen as we talk about their individual backstories, how they came together to collaborate on this series, how they narrowed down their choices from so many influential women and what they hope the book encompasses. Come listen!
A Series of Funny Firsts: CANtaloupe and HoneyDO Bake a Cake with Mike Boldt
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Mike Boldt about his new picture book: CANtaloupe and HoneyDO Bake a Cake.
This is his newest picture book in the Can Do series, a series filled with funny firsts that focus on a universal childhood experience and features two melons
with hilariously—and helpfully—opposite attitudes. In this book, Cantaloupe and HoneyDo want some cake, so they bake it together with hilarious outcomes.
Come listen as we talk about how the series started from a single sticky note, the important ways Mike portrays the characters and the connections readers can make with the various events in the series. Come listen!
Protecting the Right to Read with Sabrina Baeta and Tasslyn Magnusson of PEN America
On this bonus episode of the KidLit Love podcast, we’re honoring the right to read with Sabrina Baeta and Tasslyn Magnusson of Pen America.
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression and champions the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world, something we wholeheartedly believe and embrace on this podcast.
Come listen as we talk about the work PEN America is doing to support readers and writers, the alarming statistics around book banning and what we can do to help. Come listen!
The Importance of Representation: Jollof Day with Bernard Mensah
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Bernard Mensah about his newest picture books: Esi the Brave and Jollof Day.
Both of these books are filled with stunning beauty and capture the beauty and tradition of family culture.
Come listen as we talk about Bernard’s important mission in children’s literature, the many stories he is hoping to tell and where they come from and how important it is to read, read widely and celebrate our stories. Come listen!
Dog-Loving Kids on a Mission: The Unlikely Heroes Club with Kate Foster
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Kate Foster about her newest middle grade novel: The Unlikely Heroes Club.
This heart-warming book is about five dog-loving kids who have a mission to accomplish and a mystery to solve and it will hold space in my heart forever.
Come listen as we talk about the real-life inspiration behind the book, the incredible feeling of safety that will envelope readers and the practical tips and techniques found inside the pages that will support all readers, young and old. Come listen!
Beautiful & Haunting Middle Grade: Snow by Meera Trehan
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Meera Trehan about her newest middle grade novel: Snow.
The book is both a beautiful and haunting fantasy where an imprisoned princess needs the help of a girl from the modern world to undo a wish gone wrong and save her snowy kingdom.
Come listen as we talk about Meera’s shift from law to writing, the way she needs her worlds to make sense and my favorite elements of the book….but with no spoilers, of course! Come listen!
Creative Problem-Solving: The Ava Lin Series by Vicky Fang
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Vicky Fang about her newest releases in her Ava Lin series: Ava Lin Best Friend and Ava Lin One of a Kind.
The Av Lin series is a delightful collection of books about a first grader who is good at making things, eating snacks and writing lists. These books have a mix of humor and heart, laughter and learning.
Come listen as we talk about Vicky’s path into children’s literature, how pieces of her own childhood and family life are sprinkled throughout the pages, her favorite notebook and much, much more. Come listen!
Reaching Readers’ Hearts: Kaya of the Ocean with Gloria Huang
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Gloria Huang about her newest middle grade novel: Kaya of the Ocean.
This is an exciting, fresh, beautiful middle grade fantasy about embracing who you really are and is for every reader, everywhere, young and old. It’s sure to leave a mark on your heart as it did mine.
Come listen as we talk about the beautiful parallel entry points for readers, the important lessons of being true to your real self and asking for help when you need it. It was a beautiful conversation. Come listen!
Fun & Family: Hazel the Handful by Jamie Michalak
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Jamie Michalak about her newest picture book: Hazel the Handful. Click the image above to listen!
In this delightful picture book, readers follow the adorable puppy, Hazel, through a typical day at home as a very important dog, until the baby arrives, that is, and everything changes. It’s for dog-lovers, expanding families and everyone in between.
Come listen as we talk about Jamie’s childhood experiences that helped her become the writer she is today (You won’t want to miss our discussion on childhood newspapers!), the inspiration behind the book and her hopes for readers. Click here!
Thanks for reading! I’ll be back next month with another round-up of amazing podcast episodes, along with some extra kidlit love, too. Thanks so much for being part of my bookish community! Book people are the best people…especially in kidlit!