Heavy Medal
Tag: picture books
Celebrate Filipino American History Month: A Q&A Balikbayan Box Full of The Shape of Love by Carren Jao
A discussion of balikbayan boxes, "the slowest, most meaningful love letters." Author and journalist Carren Jao delves deep into not simply her book, but the state of Filipino stories in the larger culture today.
Magical Realism, Colored Pencils, and the Story of Migration: We Discuss Mariposa’s Journey with Creators Belen Medina and Juana Martinez-Neal
Migration, whether it's by humans or insects, is the subject of today's book. We dive, and dive deeply, into its origins and the choices its creators made along the way.
Review of the Day: Goodbye, Koi by Jack Wong
Anxious children, kids that feel deeply for animals, and young people who are worried about some big change in their lives will all be able to particularly relate to what Goodbye, Koi is telling them: sometimes, you have to give up what's familiar for a chance to glimpse the sky.
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Publisher Preview: Levine Querido (Fall/Winter 2026)
A gorgeous array of books from all kinds of different voices. We're pulling out all the stops today for a list you are not going to want to miss this fall.
“Funny with a Touch of Baba Yaga”. It’s a Scritch! Scratch! Q&A with Teri Sloat and Zuzana Čupová
If creepy vibes are what your kid readers are hankering for, then let me introduce to you the star of the fall season.
From Eames to I Dream of Jeannie: A Brian Won Interview About Horizontal Crocodile
It has a mid-century aesthetic and a hero with a body like a visual design tool. Today we're talking with the incredible Brian Won about his latest picture book and why it's a standout in the field.
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Publisher Preview: Hippo Park (Fall 2026)
Skewed gourds and fearful mice. All-consuming crushes and dark nights of the doggy soul. It's an array of titles coming out in the near future to know about!
The Queen of Unreliable Picture Book Narration: A Jess Hannigan Q&A About The Cow in the Dark at Night
"I’m using all of my characters in a similar way, as a tool to facilitate gasps and protests from readers." We talk with Jess Hannigan about her latest gasp-inducing title.
Review of the Day: The Ribbon by Tessa Blackham
Practically wordless, this author/illustrator debut title manages to capture the beauty, pathos, and sheer wonder of ballet while, at the same time, touching on the joys and anxiety of performance AND pulling off some visual acrobatics in the art.
Boop! It’s a (Five Starred) Skeleton and Cat Q&A with Author/Illustrator Brandon James Scott
Consider it Halloween in July! Today we sit down with Brandon James Scott, creator of the FIVE starred title THE SKELETON AND THE CAT to get at the heart of this incredible friendship tale.
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A Bad God’s Guide to Fart Jokes and Philosophy, a guest post by Louie Stowell
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