You May Contribute A Verse

Team Versy is Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster, Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster Jon Seymour, podcast wizard, author/illustrator and family man.  Our guest for this conversation was Marisa Cleveland. You can find Marisa on Twitter. DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! This episode’s book reviews: LA PRINCESA AND THE PEA by Susan Middleton Elya, illustrated by Juana Martinez Neal BUFFALO WILD written by Deidre Havrelock and illustrated by Azby Whitecalf HOW TO EAT A BOOK written and illustrated by Mr. and Mrs. MacLeod   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   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find

I've never seen Perfect Man and Troy Wilson in the same room together. Have you? Could they be the same...? Troy's on the podcast this week, true believers! Excelsior! Between the 1st and 14th of February (of 2024, for those of you living in the future), share this episode on socials and tag us for a chance to win a copy of Perfect Man, in celebration of Perfect Man's 20th anniversary! This episode's reviews: JUMP IN by Shadra Strickland ISLAND GIRLS: FREE THE SEA OF PLASTIC, written by Blair Northen Williamson and illustrated by Svitlana Holovchenko JULIAN IS A MERMAID by Jessica Love FRED GETS DRESSED by Peter Brown 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   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and

Team Versy is Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster, Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster Jon Seymour, podcast wizard, author/illustrator and family man.  Our guest for this conversation was Susan Johnston Taylor. You can find Susan on Twitter. DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! This episode’s book reviews: DON’T CALL ME GRUMPYCORN by Sarah McIntyre A GIFT FOR NAI NAI by Kim-Hoa Ung TENACIOUS: FIFTEEN ADVENTURES ALONGSIDE DISABLED ATHLETES by Patty Cisneros Prevo and illustrated by Dion MBD   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   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our

Steph Campisi sells caravans by the seashore. So you can camp easy. Enjoy this first chat of 2024 with Steph sounding erudite, Brenna sounding energetic and engaged, and Josh sounding like he had a spring 2023 cold. If you're not already a member of our shared Discord PB Workshop, managed by Nathan Christopher and mentioned herein, join here! DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! We have a Patreon! Check it out here. Just launched - more to come, but there are STICKERS. Thanks to #TeamVersey member Steena Hernandez for her shoutouts this week of Jessica Milo and Jenna Johnson, and congrats to Steena on her upcoming 2024 debut PB LUPITA'S BROWN BALLET SLIPPERS. Our reviews were Maddie Frost-flavored this week! Go check out her WOMBATS series (Wizard's Wharf releases in February 2024!) and all her other work at Maddie-Frost.com. Maddie also did our quokka mascot Versey! 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

Team Versy is Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster, Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster and Jon Seymour, podcast wizard, author/illustrator and family man.  Our guest for this conversation was Brian Gehrlein. You can find Brian on Twitter. DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! This episode’s book reviews: TOWN IS BY THE SEA by Joanne Schwartz illustrated by Sydney Smith BLOOM by Julia Seal and MARY WEARS WHAT SHE WANTS by Keith Begley  PARKER PETERZAK by Angel Tate illustrated by Brittany Moodie   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

An XL-sized episode gift for the holidays follows! Our chat with Federico Erebia about his debut novel Pedro and Daniel (and WAY beyond) is so great.   This episode's book reviews:  LOU by Breanna Carzoo SEALS ARE JERKS by Jared Chapman THE BEAR ATE YOUR SANDWICH by Julia Sarcone-Roach   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey (holiday version!), 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 Bluesky @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

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 Jilanne Hoffmann. You can find Jilanne on Twitter on Instagram and Blue Sky. DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here! This episode’s book reviews: GRUMPY MONKEY by Suzanne and Max Lang NO PANTS written and illustrated by Jacob Grant I AM MY ANCESTOR’S WILDEST DREAMS written by Tanisia Moore and illustrated by Robert Paul Jr.   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 Scot

The one where Josh embarrasses himself. On purpose. We talk to Maria Dismondy and Adam Blackman of Cardinal Rule Press this week about how CRP came to be, AND why and how they came to choose and publish Brenna's debut, The Law of Birthdays, out in May 2024 (add it on Goodreads today!)! DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode’s book reviews: RUDELY interrupted by an interloper. Our apologies.   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 Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur, and

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 Laurel Snyder. You can find Laurel Snyder on Instagram. DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode’s book reviews: THE BAD SEED written by Jory John illustrated by Pete Oswald THE PERFECT SEAT written by Minh Le and Gus Gordon THERE’S A ZOMBIE IN THE BASEMENT by Stan Yan   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

"There's a big contract, there are a lot of words in it, and none of them rhyme..." Ah, the perennial conflict with us picture book writers looking to break through. Thankfully for our guest this week, Rebecca Gardyn Levington, she seems to have managed to figure it out, with her 2022 debut Brainstorm quickly followed by this year's Whatever Comes Tomorrow, and apparently many more to come! And hey illustrators, or authors if you're feeling bold, stay tuned (or fast forward if you're pressed for time?) for an illustration challenge at the end of the episode! Tag your entry on social with #PingPongPattyVerse!   DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!  This episode’s book reviews: MY DAD IS A TREE by Jon Agee THE UNBUDGEABLE CURMUDGEON by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock A PIZZA WITH EVERYTHING ON IT by Kyle Scheele, illustrated by Andy J. Miller (not Pizza, but maybe Pizza? it's very mysterious)   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and w

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 Malcolm Newsome. You can find Malcolm on Twitter and Instagram. DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode’s book reviews: IT’S FALL by Renee Kurilla HUGO AND THE IMPOSSIBLE THING by Renée Felice Smith and Chris Gabriel illustrated by Sydney Hanson THE MONSTER ABOVE THE BED by Kailei Pew illustrated by Steph Lew   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 Scot

We recorded this during a break in Josh's workday. Please ignore his work phone buzzing incessantly in the background! Chelsea Lin Wallace is incredible and we hope you enjoy this chat! Chelsea's mom is a psychologist, but it's only here that we really delve into the deepest recesses of her mind and our writing inspiration.   DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!  This episode’s book reviews: Humphrey the Egg-Splorer by Nadia Ali, illustrated by Valenti Gubianas Vampenguin by Lucy Ruth Cummins Donuts for Everybody by Jerrold Connors!   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 spo

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 Kate Allen Fox. You can find Kate on Twitter BlueSky and Threads. DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!   This episode’s book reviews: FOLLOW THAT FROG by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Matthew Cordell HIDDEN GEM by Linda Liu BANANA written and illustrated by Zoey Abbott   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 scott

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 o

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 illustra

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! ------ Our reviews this week: Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall Monet's Cat by Lily Murray, illustrated by Becky Cameron Superbuns! by Diane Kredensor

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

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! ------ 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

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 yo

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! ------ 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