Kidlit Happy Hour

12
Arts #135, Books #46

Join New York Times bestselling and award-winning children’s book author Joanna Ho, and children’s book author Caroline Kusin Pritchard as we dive into storytelling - the craft, the industry, the creative life - with fellow kidlit authors, publishing professionals, and folks outside the children’s book world. Storytelling happens in so many spheres beyond books, and we will draw insights and connections from everywhere to improve our craft and lives as writers. Grab a drink, cozy up and explore storytelling with creative minds inside children’s publishing and beyond.

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Recent Episodes
  • Ep. 35: Voice: Namrata Tripathi on Jazz Odysseys and the Toothy Work of Excavating Truth
    May 27, 2025 – 55:19
  • Ep. 34: Joanna and Caroline Are Back After a Five-Month Hiatus!
    May 13, 2025 – 45:42
  • Ep. 33: Voice: Raina Telgemeier on Emotions as Truth and the Power of Emojis
    Dec 5, 2024 – 01:06:41
  • Ep. 32: Voice: Aida Salazar on Embarrassing Your Characters and Writing as a Spiritual Practice
    Nov 14, 2024 – 01:01:03
  • Ep. 31: Character: Jasmine Warga on Robots, Geese, Turtles and the Alchemy of Writing
    Oct 31, 2024 – 54:47
  • Ep. 30: Character: Adib Khorram on Keeping Your Mental Filing Cabinet Full and Why NSYNC Transcends Backstreet Boys
    Oct 22, 2024 – 50:33
  • Ep. 29: Character: Randy Ribay on Asking the Right Questions and Graphing Relationships in Writing
    Oct 10, 2024 – 01:08:24
  • Ep. 28: Setting: Grace Lin on Writing Where You Want to Be and the Myth of the "Real Writers"
    Sep 24, 2024 – 59:45
  • Ep. 27: Setting: Liz Garton Scanlon on Creating Context and Chasing Stories Through a Dreamscape
    Sep 10, 2024 – 01:08:30
  • Ep 26: Theme: Minh Lê on Burying Telephone Wires and Leaving Space for Connection
    Aug 27, 2024 – 58:40
  • Ep 25: Theme: Laurel Snyder on Maintaining an 8 year-old Brain and Creating in the Face of Capitalism
    Aug 20, 2024 – 54:47
  • Ep 24: We're back! Caroline and Joanna Kick off Season 2
    Aug 13, 2024 – 21:49
  • Ep. 23: Reflections: Joanna and Caroline on Taking Leaps That Make No Sense and Our Favorite Moments From This Past Year
    Jun 25, 2024 – 01:11:34
  • Ep. 22: Finding Audience: Claribel A. Ortega on Cultivating Real Community and No "Little Book Energy"
    May 15, 2024 – 01:01:42
  • Ep. 21 Finding Audience: Emily Lyman on Reframing Self-promo and Why Good Marketing is Storytelling
    May 7, 2024 – 54:17
  • Ep. 20: Finding Audience: Cynthia Leitich Smith on Story as a Circle and Making Magic Out of Nothing
    Apr 3, 2024 – 01:00:53
  • Ep. 19: Polishing Story: Tavita Pritchard on Trusting the Process and Letting 5-Year-Olds Feel Their Feelings
    Mar 19, 2024 – 01:10:10
  • Ep. 18: Polishing Story: Andrea Davis Pinkney on Screaming on the Cyclone and Our Page One Pact
    Mar 5, 2024 – 49:17
  • Ep 17: Polishing Story: Lil Miss Hot Mess on Doing Nails, Dolly Parton, and Killing Our Darlings
    Feb 20, 2024 – 49:17
  • Ep. 16: How to Build a Story: Erin Entrada Kelly on Writing Organically and Trapping Guinea Pigs in a Well
    Feb 8, 2024 – 58:56
  • Ep. 15: How to Build a Story: Angel Barreto on Making Samgyetang and That One Scene From the Bear
    Jan 31, 2024 – 48:47
  • Ep. 14: How to Build A Story: Jerry Craft on Writing Authentic Feel-Goods and Characters with Body Odor
    Jan 23, 2024 – 50:12
  • Ep. 13: How to Build A Story: Nic Stone on Walking Barefoot in Her Yard and Personifying Emotions
    Jan 16, 2024 – 01:10:15
  • Ep. 12: Finding Ways into Story: Frankie Quiñones on Moving Past Fart Jokes to Sharing His Truth
    Dec 28, 2023 – 44:00
  • Ep 11: Finding Ways into Story: Yuyi Morales on Getting Lost and Feeling Your Way Home
    Nov 28, 2023 – 49:00
  • Ep 10: Finding Ways into Story: Christina Soontornvat on Listening to Songs 500 Times and Earning Endings
    Nov 14, 2023 – 46:18
  • Ep 9: Writing Truth: Karla Souza on the Visceral Truths and an Asymmetry of Power
    Nov 1, 2023 – 48:28
  • Ep 8: Writing Truth: Carlos Andrés Gómez on Saying Things Everyone Else is Too Terrified to Say
    Oct 25, 2023 – 45:44
  • Ep 7: Writing Truth: Liz Kleinrock on Representation as Low-Hanging Fruit and Finding Our North Star
    Oct 18, 2023 – 47:10
  • Ep 6: Writing Truth: Maggie Tokuda-Hall on Trashing Drafts and Caping for the Giving Tree
    Oct 3, 2023 – 55:34
  • Ep. 5: What is Story? Reflections with Joanna and Caroline
    Sep 26, 2023 – 28:09
  • Ep 4: What is Story? Michelle Li Says You Learn Something, You Feel Something, You Do Something
    Sep 19, 2023 – 52:52
  • Ep. 3: What is Story? Donna Barba Higuera and Drinking Every Time You Hear the Word ”Wonder”
    Sep 5, 2023 – 47:11
  • Ep 2: What is Story? Dan Santat on Holding Multiple Complexities and Harry Winkler
    Aug 22, 2023 – 56:58
  • Ep 1: Introducing Kidlit Happy Hour
    Aug 7, 2023 – 21:03
Recent Reviews
  • heyjamiejo
    Writerly Validation
    I love this podcast so much. The advice the real, the struggle of writing is real and the openness and vulnerability of both the hosts and guests is so rare. Grab a drink, sink into a cozy couch and listen as great writers talk about life, and process, and everything in between.
  • Wookiehumper
    Great podcast
    Love all the guests and the hosts are amazing and insightful.
  • Indigecooker
    What’s needed to support emerging authors
    This podcast is full of insights to think about-ideas that one can then practice in their craft of writing. Loving all the guests AND the hosts are funny and down to earth❤️ A great pair. I especially loved listening to the episodes with Nic Stone and Cynthia Leitich-Smith.
  • ToddRam
    My Favorite Kidlit Podcast!
    If you’re looking for a super fun podcast about storytelling and writing for kids (or for anybody,) this is it! Joanna and Caroline are gifted writers who are super curious about what they can learn from all sorts of creatives. Every episode is inspiring, grounded in love and respect for kids, and overflowing with joy. Who doesn’t need more joy?
  • Entertaining and inspiring!
    Joyful and inspiring with so much depth and authenticity
    I love listening to Caroline and Joanna’s conversations—with each other and with the incredible lineup of guests they’ve already hosted! This is such a joyful, inspiring, personable podcast that doesn’t shy away from deep and hard topics and questions. I really appreciate that balance—which is hard to pull off! And I’d really love to go to happy hour with these two lovely hosts!
  • Brinda’s Bookshelf
    Chemistry Makes the Show!
    As a newly agented kidlit writer (dare I say “author?”), I absolutely appreciate the insight into craft, storytelling, emotion, and hardships that Joanna, Caroline, and their guests provide. Their questions and observations are so insightful - I’m learning so much! I can tell they put in hard work to make this a valuable contribution to the industry!
  • Robert C Trujillo
    New new
    Hey just started listening! Met Johanna but haven’t met Caroline yet. I love hearing from kidlit creators and I love the fact that you give them space to talk, speak, and pause! Juiced to hear more. -Rob
  • Amstr
    Rich and rewarding conversations about children’s lit
    Caroline and Joanna aren’t afraid to go deep with their guests about storytelling, writing for children, and being human. I always come away with something insightful.
  • ccninth
    Great podcast!
    I love this podcast; it’s my new favorite. I love the way Joanna and Caroline show such curiosity and empathy and intelligence and humor in each episode! The guests have been so inspiring.
  • LizKrock
    The best dynamic duo
    I adore Caroline and Joanna! Not only do they share wonderful content online, I absolutely love their dynamic in these interviews and think it’s awesome that they have such a variety of guests on their show!
  • grrlpup
    keeping it real in kidlit
    Just listened to the episode with Maggie Tokuda-Hall, and I loved the mix of fun, writing process, guiding principles, and telling it like it is about life in the publishing industry and life in general. Looking forward to catching up on more episodes!
  • Maria Oka
    Fun AND Thought Provoking!
    Oh goodness, I just listened to the first five episodes in one day. Oops! Gotta get back to my writing now. But this podcast is just so much fun and there are such great conversations, it was hard to pull myself away. Caroline and Joanna are funny and passionate and their guests have been amazing. Would highly recommend to kid lit writers or anyone who cares about story. There is so much humor, compassion, and learning here. Love.
  • Abowlersdraws
    Accessible and Inspiring!
    This is such a gem! Caroline and Joanna’s curiosity about, and passion for storytelling creates an accessible and fun gateway into kidlit. Despite both being successful and established authors, they’ve maintained the beginner’s mindset and their conversations invite the listener to do the same. Really inspiring stuff regardless of if you’re a Caldecott winner, a novice, or just a human with a love of stories. Can’t wait to see where they go from here!
  • TJ Bug
    Fun and Insightful!
    So far this podcast has been so much fun but it also dives right into the struggles and joys of creating stories for kids. In Episode 2 Dan Santat shares some amazing insights that really got my brain humming, and I love the overshare section of the podcast. Joanna and Caroline have truly created a cozy environment for kid lit nerds to learn and laugh!
  • Pinkchristine
    New Kidlit Podcast Joy!
    Excited for this new kidlit podcast and to follow along on Joanna and Caroline’s podcasting journey! These two best friends are so lovely to listen to, a joyful first episode.
  • Anne_MW53
    Like hanging out with two friends!
    I’ve been eagerly anticipating this podcast so yes, I’m a little biased - but I love it! The two hosts are obviously close friends and have an easy rapport that’s delightful to hear. I loved hearing their anecdotes and can’t wait for the interviews they have coming up. This is already a must-listen for me!
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.