Weekly KidLit Love Update: June 5, 2025
Hope Larson, Sarah Kurpiel & Lea Anne Borders
Happy Thursday!
It’s been a busy week on the KidLit Love podcast with not one, not two, but THREE episodes releasing to help us prepare for a beautiful season of summer reading!
Whether you’re looking for graphic novels, historical fiction or beautiful picture books, you’ll find what you’re looking for this week. I just added THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES by Kate Messner to my summer shelf and I cannot wait to read it.
Plus, if you’re looking for ways to choose your own summer bookshelf or help the younger readers in your lives do the same, you might like to take a look at my most recent Get Lit(erate). podcast episode on how to do just that!
Keep scrolling to find out more about the authors, the books and the delightful conversations inside the episodes.
Happy reading!
Stephanie
The Important Role of Comics: Very Bad at Math with Hope Larson
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Hope Larson about her newest middle grade graphic novel: Very Bad at Math.
In this semi-autobiographical graphic novel, readers meet Verity, an 8th grader who is seemingly perfect at everything….except math, something Verity tries to keep a secret.
Come listen as we talk about the important role that comics and graphic novels play in a reading life, the personal connections Hope has to Verity and how hard it can be to ask for help.
Here are the books mentioned in this episode. You’ll find links to my Amazon and Bookshop affiliate stores below. Thanks for your bookish support!
Very Bad at Math by Hope Larson (Amazon / Bookshop)
Here’s where you can find Hope online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/despairlarson/?hl=en
I’d love to know what you think of this episode. Share your comments below!
Celebrating Summer Reading with Lea Anne Borders of Bookelicious
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Lea Anne Borders, the founder and CEO of Bookelicious.
Bookelicious is a platform that uses cutting-edge technology to match kids with the books they’ll love, helping them build strong reading identities and inspire them to read more, a mission that I also share here on the podcast.
Come listen as we talk about the importance of summer reading, the innovative way Bookelicious works and how all of us can gear up for a great season of summer reading.
Here are the books mentioned in this episode. You’ll find links to where you can purchase the books directly on the Bookelicious site. Use the coupon code kidlit15 for 15% off! Plus, if you spend $25, you’ll get free shipping, too!
DON’T TRUST FISH by Neil Sharpson (Bookelicious)
CRANKY, CRABBY CROW (SAVES THE WORLD) by Corey R. Tabor (Bookelicious)
THE FIRST STATE OF BEING by Erin Entrada Kelly (Bookelicious)
GABBY TORRES GETS A BILLION FOLLOWERS by Angela Dominguez (Bookelicious)
LINK & HUD: SHARKS & MINNOWS by Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey (Bookelicious)
THE TROUBLE WITH HEROES by Kate Messner (Bookelicious)
Here’s where you can find Bookelicious online:
Website: https://www.bookelicious.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookeliciousbooks/
I’d love to know what you think of this episode. Share your comments below!
Magic Grounded in Reality: A Little Like Magic by Sarah Kurpiel
On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Sarah Kurpiel about her newest picture book: A Little Like Magic.
This charming book highlights the rewards of stepping outside of your comfort zone and finding inspiration in art and the natural beauty of the world.
Come listen as we talk about how Sarah taught herself to draw, the magic and themes inside of her book and her beautiful hopes for readers.
Here are the books mentioned in this episode. You’ll find links to my Amazon and Bookshop affiliate stores below. Thanks for your bookish support!
A Little Like Magic by Sarah Kurpiel (Amazon / Bookshop)
Here’s where you can find Sarah online:
Website: https://sarahkurpiel.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.kurpiel/
I’d love to know what you think of this episode. Share your comments below!
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