You May Contribute A Verse
This is the podcast You May Contribute a Verse, where we talk to kidlit creators, share their stories, and learn from their journeys!
Episodes
Today's second-timer is our last-timer of 2025! Matt Forrest Esenwine graces us once again with his delightful, radio-ready voice for a soothing exit to the year.
In addition to Matt's twelve other books (some of which you can hear about in our first conversation from 2021), this year Matt released his anthology A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World.
We don't get to talk a ton about anthologies, so th...
Karyn Friedman-Everham (Josh's agent sibling - hi, Joyce!) has a fascinating story that's a little bit backwards from how most of us approach our debuts, but that's what makes her story fascinating and very endearing!
Her 2024 debut was Otter Oughta Know, followed in October 2025 by Chesed. Two different paths, one cool convo!
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This episode’s book reviews:
It's been almost five years and THIS is our first episode that includes a singalong?
Today it's Rafael and Allison Rozo day! Check out Diego Fuego the Firefighting Dragon, out July 2025, and Unique Like You, out September 2025!
Allison and Rafael are a delight and we hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we did!
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This episode’s book reviews:
THE FABULOUS FANNIE FARMER by Emma Bland Smith, illustrated by Susan Rea...
We've known Alicia Meyers since we were all three kidlit babies back in pandemic days when we had no idea what we were doing! Josh still doesn't know what he's doing. Long live Totally Funny Critique Group!
Alicia's educational book The A-to-Z Teaching Toolkit came out this month (November 2025) and we're eagerly awaiting her picture book debut Tic-Errific Me, coming next June!
Alicia hustles. And also rocks a mean teddy bear Hal...
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!
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This episode’s book reviews:
THE WALK, by Winsome Bingham, illu...
...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!
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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 Arre...
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!
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This episode’s book reviews: JIM! Six True Stories About One Great Artist: James Marshall by Jerrold Connors
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!
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This episode’s book reviews: BORED PANDA by Mike Bender, illustrated by Chuck Dillon BEST BUDS by Becky Scharnhorst, illustrated by Jiarui Jiang
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.
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This episode’s book reviews:
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.
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This episode’s book reviews:
I HATE EVERYTHING by Sophy Henn VALLEY: THE WIGGLE-BUTT PUP by Jae Lynn, illustrated by Juliette Miron CH...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 ...
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.
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This episode’s book reviews:
WHISPERS FROM MOTHER EARTH by Maryam Khalifah TINY HIKER by Natasha Zimmers, illustrated by ...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 impers...
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.
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This episode’s book reviews:
VERA LA VALIENTE IS SCARED by Ana Siqueira, illustrated by Teresa Martinez
ISLAND STORM by Brian Floca, illustr...
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.
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This episode’s book reviews:
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.
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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 ...
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...
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 ...
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.
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.
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