In 2007 and 2008 the Horn Book had a (more-or-less) monthly podcast. We are happy to make these episodes available once again here. Our podcasts featured conversations with writers, illustrators, and editors, chats about current trends, and insider takes on reviewing and publishing.

Beach Bag Books

Roger Sutton and Martha Parravano talk with Kitty Flynn about twelve great new books for summer. From the 700-plus-pages of Beach Blondes to the chapter book Goof-Off Goalie to Jack Prelutsky's poetry, we've got your vacation reading covered.

20:20   |   Posted July 23, 2008   |   List of books discussed

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Roger and the City: Part 2

Roger’s NYC tour continues, with a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to pay homage to some classic children's book characters. Next, at Central Park’s Frances Hodgson Burnett memorial fountain, Roger talks with children’s literature historian Leonard S. Marcus, who tells us about his new book, Minders of Make-Believe (Houghton).

14:55   |   Posted June 25, 2008

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Roger and the City: Part 1

On a recent trip to New York, Roger Sutton spent an evening with author Richard Peck and Egmont USA publishers Elizabeth Law and Douglas Pocock. Sitting in Elizabeth’s living room, the four talked about Harry Potter, Gossip Girl, Philip Pullman, and just what draws adult readers to young adult books. Be sure to listen to the whole episode; midway through, Richard Peck reveals his current project (hint: “I’m bringing Grandma Dowdel back”).

9:25   |   Posted June 3, 2008

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Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Catherine Gilbert Murdock’s first two YA novels, Dairy Queen and The Off Season (both Houghton), feature laconic Wisconsin farm girl — and football player — DJ Schwenk. Murdock’s latest novel, Princess Ben (Houghton), stars a very different type of character in an imagined fantasy world. Executive editor Martha Parravano spoke with the author about this shift from contemporary realism to fairy-tale fantasy.

13:32   |   Posted April 16, 2008   |   Photo credit: Greg Martin

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Lee Kingman & Virginia Lee Burton

Lee Kingman is the author of The Best Christmas and many other books for children. A children’s book editor at Houghton Mifflin in the 1940s, she worked with Virginia Lee Burton, author-illustrator of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and other classics. Horn Book designer Lolly Robinson visits Lee at her house in Gloucester, Massachusetts, to talk about writing, editing, and design.

11:48   |   Posted February 11, 2008   |   Read more about Lee's almost eighty-year association with the Horn Book.

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Caldecott 2008

Caldecott committee member (and roving reporter) Roger Sutton brings us along for the announcement that The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick won the 2008 Caldecott Medal. From croaky pre-dawn thoughts to giddy post–press conference reactions, Roger and his recorder are there. Cameo by Newbery Honor–winner Gary Schmidt (The Wednesday Wars).

12:25   |   Posted January 17, 2008

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Holiday Gift Books

Terri Schmitz, owner of the Children's Book Shop in Brookline, Massachusetts, and a frequent Horn Book Magazine contributor, helps Kitty Flynn with her holiday shopping.

14:57   |   Posted December 14, 2007   |   Book list to accompany this podcast   |   Photo credit: Gay Pampalone

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Philip Pullman

From his home in England, author Philip Pullman talks with Roger Sutton about The Golden Compass movie and responds to the recent controversy here in America surrounding his trilogy, religion, and politics.

Read a transcript   |   More about Philip Pullman   |   14:16   |   Posted December 4, 2007

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Grace Lin & Alvina Ling

Grace Lin, author-illustrator of many picture books including The Ugly Vegetables (Charlesbridge), worked with her childhood friend and editor, Alvina Ling, on her novel, The Year of the Dog (Little). Horn Book designer Lolly Robinson talks with them about friendship, blogging, and Robert’s Snow, a cancer-research fundraising auction taking place online this November and December.

10:33   |   Posted November 9, 2007

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Lois Lowry

The author of The Giver and other books discusses movies and books with Roger Sutton.

9:34   |   Posted October 15, 2007

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M. T. Anderson

Author M. T. Anderson talks about The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume One: The Pox Party (Candlewick), winner of the 2007 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for fiction as well as the 2006 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

13:02   |   Posted September 28, 2007   |   Photo credit: Richard Asch

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Roger Sutton

The Horn Book's editor in chief chats with Kitty Flynn about current trends, popular series, and choosing books for kids.

11:01   |   Posted September 12, 2007   |   Photo credit: Alison Gontarz

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Jon Scieszka

Roger Sutton visits author Jon Scieszka (The Stinky Cheese Man, Time Warp Trio series) to discuss teaching, reading, and second-grade humor.

11:21   |   Posted August 29, 2007   |   Photo credit: James Schuck

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Credits

Music

The NEC Youth Philharmonic Orchestra

The Horn Book podcast theme music is from Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major, K. 495, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, recorded on June 7, 1997 in a performance by Luiz Garcia, horn, and the NEC Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Benjamin Zander conducting. We are thankful to Pat Maxfield and Ellen Pfeifer at the New England Conservatory for making this recording available.

Audio assistance: Ken Silber, Silken Audio

XML: Hugh Flynn  

The Horn Book podcast was produced and edited by members of the Horn Book staff.

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