Monday, June 22, 2015: Today we begin a week-long series of interviews about books for kids. Bob talks with writer Kate DiCamillo whose young adult novels works have been honored with some of the genres most prestigious awards, including the Newberry Award. DiCamillo’s third novel, The Tale of Despereaux, was even turned into an animated film. Next, Bob talks with William Joyce. He’s the author and illustrator of many beloved children’s books, including George Shrinks and Rolie Polie Olie, both of which are Emmy Award winning TV shows. He is also a commercial illustrator whose has graced multiple New Yorker covers and a filmmaker who contributed to Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Robots. He also wrote The Man in the Moon, the first in a series called The Guardians of Childhood. Joyce turned that book into a film for DreamWorks Animation. Then, Bob talks with the 2013 Caldecott Medal winner Jon Klassen, author and illustrator of This Is Not My Hat and 2011’s I Want My Hat Back.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015: Caldecott award-winning illustrator Brian Selznick is the author of 2007’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which was turned into a movie by director Martin Scorsese. Selznick talks with Bob about that book and about Wonder Struck, which tells two congruent tales, one in illustrations and the other in words. Then, Bob talks with illustrator Chris Van Allsburg, a three-time Caldecott winner and the creator of a number of classic children’s books, including Jumanji, The Polar Express, and The Z Was Zapped. In 1984, Van Allsburg drew The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, a series of illustrations that hint at stories. More than a dozen notable writers – Sherman Alexie, Jules Fieffer, Gregory Maguire among them – along with millions of school children – have written short stories to go with each illustration in a book titled The Chronicles of Harris Burdick.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015: Bob talks with British author Neil Gaiman about his career of writing for kids and his many award-winning books, including Coraline and The Graveyard Book, which follows the story of young Nobody Owens who lives, where else – in a graveyard. Next up is Daniel Handler, better known as Lemony Snicket, the author of the popular “children’s” tales A Series of Unfortunate Events. Then Bob talks with Irish writer Eoin Colfer about his famous series, the highly popular Artemis Fowl books for young people.
Thursday, June 25, 2015: Beloved writer Judy Blume has been the voice of young people’s literature for over 40 years. The author of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, the Fudge books, and many others, Blume has added screenwriter to her resume. Based on her 1981 novel, Tiger Eyes follows a young woman forced to cope with the aftermath of her father’s murder. Then, Bob talks with children’s book author Norton Juster. He’s the author of the classics The Phantom Tollbooth and The Dot and The Line. In 2011, he teamed up again with friend and illustrator Jules Feiffer for the book titled The Odious Ogre.
Friday, June 26, 2015: As an ex-felon, writer Jack Gantos might have seemed like an odd choice to win the 2012 Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award in children’s literature. But Gantos has been writing acclaimed books for young people for years, including his popular Joey Pigza series. Now he’s written two novels Dead End in Norvelt and the sequel From Norvelt to Nowhere. Gantos talks with Bob about these two almost-but-not-quite true books, as well as his own surprisingly true tales from his unusual past.