You May Contribute A Verse

Tara Lazar Is Not A Jerk

The one where Josh makes Tara Lazar cry with his questions, and the state of the publishing industry makes us all cry. Tara's Flat Cat, illustrated by Pete Oswald, releases today (as of episode publication, September 19th, ALSO unrelatedly Talk Like A Pirate Day)! Check it out!
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! 
This episode’s book reviews:
The Smart Cookie by Jory John and Pete Oswald (of Flat Cat fame!)
Goldilocks and the Three Knocks by Gregory Barrington
Louis by Tom Lichtenheld
 
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com 
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com  
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!  
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here! 
 
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on the socials at @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Let’s Get Nuts With Steph Lucianovic

This is You May Contribute A Verse!
 
I’m Brenna Jeanneret. Kidlit author, and co-host of this podcast, duh!
I’m joined by my co-host, Josh Monken, kidlit author, dad, and science communicator. And Podcast Wizard Jon Seymour, an author-illustrator, family man, and data dude. 
 
If you’re in the query trenches, if you’re hearing crickets on sub, if you just started, keep going. Steph’s book WHAT IS HOPE illustrated by Kelsey Buzzell drops today and is the perfect button for Steph’s opening point–writing takes time and it’s ok to take a break, sometimes a long break, writing will be here and so will hope. 
 
Also, you’ll want to check Steph’s page to see Tara Hannon’s original illustrations that helped to inspire this beautiful and important book. 
 
Our guest for this conversation was Steph Lucianovic. You can find Steph on Twitter.
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! 
This episode’s book reviews:
MINA by author-illustrator Matthew Forsythe
THE ELDERS ARE WATCHING by David Bouchard illustrated by Roy Henry Vickers
THE DAY I SWAPPED MY DAD FOR TWO GOLDFISH  written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean
 
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com 
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com  
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!  
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here! 
 
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Twitter @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time. 
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.

Sometimes I Podcast with Jess Townes

The title of this episode is, of course, a play on our guest Jess Townes's latest book Sometimes I Cry, due out in September (2023, for those of you in the future).
Jess and Josh are Midwest neighbors! Josh thinks it's really cool that his new buddy Jess works at his own local bookstore. Brenna also thinks it's cool to feature cake in your books. In this episode we kind of unveil some things about cake in Jess's work.
Josh is here, Brenna is here, and Jon is here! And our Linktree is here (please subscribe!).
And Justin Colon's Kidlit Hive editorial services (and other upcoming events!) are here!
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Our reviews this week:
Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall
Monet's Cat by Lily Murray, illustrated by Becky Cameron
Superbuns! by Diane Kredensor

From Rejection to NYT Best-Selling Author With Pat Zietlow Miller

I’m Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster joined by Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster.
Josh and I found that with our powers combined, we could make Captain Planet. Maybe not, but at least our powers combined can make a pretty rad podcast with the help of behind-the-scenes wizardry from Jon Seymour.
Our guest for this conversation was Pat Z. Miller. You can find Jess on Twitter.
Check out more about Sophie’s Squash here. 
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
 
This episode’s book reviews:
 
CLOVIS KEEPS HIS COOL written by Katelyn Aronson and illustrated by Eve Farb.
RIBBIT: THE TRUTH ABOUT FROGS? written by Annette Whipple
KEL GILLIGAN’S DAREDEVIL STUNT SHOW written by Michael Buckley and illustrated by Dan Santat.
 
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com 
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com  
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!  
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here! 
 
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Twitter @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time. 
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.

Claire Taylor’s Little Thoughts

Little Thoughts Issue 6 is officially open for submissions, and this episode is officially open for your ears to consume! Our guest this week is Claire Taylor, purveyor and proprietor of Little Thoughts Press Magazine. We get a great glimpse into how Little Thoughts came to be and where things stand today. At the time of recording, the theme reveal late in the episode was a real journalistic scoop!
Claire's debut picture book, Benjamin's Sad Day, is also forthcoming from Golden Flece Press!
Josh is here, Brenna is here, and Jon is here! And our Linktree is here (please subscribe!).
And Justin Colon's Kidlit Hive editorial services (and other upcoming events!) are here!
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Our reviews this week:
Sometimes I Grumblesquinch, written by Rachel Vail and illustrated by Hyewon Yum
Boop!, written by Bea Birdsong and illustrated by Linzie Hunter
Chez Bob by... Bob Shea

An Interview with Jess Hernandez Who Did NOT Forget the Unicorns!

I’m Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster joined by Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster.
Josh and I found that with our powers combined, we could make Captain Planet. Maybe not, but at least our powers combined can make a pretty rad podcast with the help of behind-the-scenes wizardry from Jon Seymour.
Our guest for this conversation was Jess Hernandez. You can find Jess on Twitter.
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
 
This episode’s book reviews:
Mr. S, by author-illustrator Monica Arnaldo
THE BOOK OF RULES by Brian Gehrlein, illustrated by Tom Knight
LITTLE FOX AND THE WILD IMAGINATION written by Jorma Taccone and illustrated by Dan Santat
 
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com 
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com  
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!  
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here! 
 
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Twitter @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time. 
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.

Ms. Wauson’s House with Kristin Wauson

Kristin Wauson is Josh's Disney hookup. Want to know more? Better listen!
Also, Kristin Wauson's debut picture book Mr. Thatcher's House is wonderful! 
 
Josh is here, Brenna is here, and Jon is here! And our Linktree is here (please subscribe!).
And Justin Colon's Kidlit Hive editorial services (and other upcoming events!) are here!
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Our reviews this week:
Carson Crosses Canada, written by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Kass Reich
Facts vs Opinions vs Robots, written and illustrated by Michael Rex
Woven of the World, written by Katey Howes, illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova

The Moo and The Hoo of Publishing with Audrey Perrott

I’m Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster joined by Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster.
Josh and I have embarked on this kidlit journey together this year, having become critique partners early in the year, only to find that our powers combined could make captain planet. Maybe not, but at least our powers combined can make a pretty good podcast. But we couldn’t do it without the behind-the-scenes wizardry from Jon Seymour.
Our guest for this conversation was Audrey Perrott. You can find Audrey on Twitter.
This episode’s book reviews:
INSIDE MY IMAGINATION by Marta Arteaga illustrated Zuzanna Celej
THE SWING by Britta Teckentrup
Big by Vashti Harrison  
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com 
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com  
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!  
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here! 
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Twitter @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time. 
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.

Sparkles Suit Anne Appert!

This week's conversation is with - according to their website - artist, author, aunt, and alliterator Anne Appert. And yes I had to re-record all those a-words a bunch of times to get this right.
Anne's the author-illustrator of Blob, a book with which I hope you're familiar, which champions individual self-expression, even if it doesn't mean adhering to strict labels other than "I'm me." Their follow-up book comes in winter 2024 and is titled 'What If You Wish,' and really takes a hard look at that central, childlike question, exploring in a gentle way what it means to consider possibilities.
There's a cautionary tale in here about leaving your work up on Instagram, but at least in Anne's case that turned out wonderfully. If you haven't before, visit Anne's website at anneappert.com and in particular, head over to their Ko-Fi (or coffee, however you say it) shop for some incredible sticker packs and prints that I've picked up, myself.
Josh is here, Brenna is here, and Jon is here! And our Linktree is here (please subscribe!).
(PS, listen to the first few minutes of our conversation, pause, and then check out the Sparkle Suit!)
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Our reviews this week:
I Just Ate My Friend by Heidi McKinnon
I Am Me: A Book Of Authenticity by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
The Bread Pet by Kate Depalma, illustrated by Nelleke Verhoeff
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Check out (something close to) Anne's amazing typewriter keyboard here!
Check out our awesome quokka artist Maddie Frost!
And finally, if you'd like to support the podcast and ALSO want to celebrate a friend, an achievement, or a friend's kidlit achievement, we'd love it if you'd purchase a Community Shout-Out to help keep the lights on!

The Many Glittery Layers of Drag Story Hour with Jonathan Hamlin

I’m Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster joined by Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster.
Josh and I have embarked on this kidlit journey together this year, having become critique partners early in the year, only to find that our powers combined could make captain planet. Maybe not, but at least our powers combined can make a pretty good podcast. But we couldn’t do it without the behind-the-scenes wizardry from Jon Seymour.
Our guest for this conversation was Jonathan Hamlin. You can find Jonathan and Drag Story Time on Twitter.
This episode’s book reviews:
DON’T EAT BEES by Dev Petty illustrated by Mike Boldt.
ALL THE BEATING HEARTS by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Catia Chien.
MISS RITA, MYSTERY READER by Sam Donovan and Kristen Wixted illustrated by Violet Tobacco.
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com 
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com  
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!  
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here! 
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Twitter @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time. 
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.