Feb 14, 2025
Wow, what an insightful and heartwarming conversation we had on
the podcast today! We were joined by the dynamic duo behind the new
picture book "Home" - author Matt de la Peña and illustrator Loren
Long. These two creative minds really clicked as they shared the
story behind their collaborative process.
Matt explained that "Home" explores the evolving concept of home,
inspired by his observations during the pandemic. He was fascinated
by how homes took on new roles and how nature started to reclaim
spaces. Loren, the perfect match for bringing these big ideas to
life, shared how he relished the challenge of illustrating profound
themes. The two clearly have a deep mutual respect, often finishing
each other's thoughts as they described their fruitful
partnership.
But it wasn't all just about the book - Matt and Loren also touched
on the importance of not shying away from complex topics in
children's literature. They believe kids are more than ready to
grapple with big ideas, as long as the stories offer hope and
resilience too.
We also heard from debut author Alison McGauley, whose picture book
"Kenzie's Little Tree" draws from her own family's experiences with
chronic illness. Alison spoke passionately about the need to have
open conversations with kids about difficult topics, something she
learned firsthand. Her book aims to both reflect the realities of
families facing health challenges and provide a window for those
who haven't had that experience.
Overall, this episode was a treasure trove of insights into the
creative process, the power of representation in children's books,
and the transformative role that open dialogue can play, even for
our youngest readers. I'm sure listeners will come away feeling
inspired and eager to share these meaningful stories with the
little ones in their lives.
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