The Guardian Children's Books podcast
This is the place for bibiophiles to meet and quiz their literary heroes. It’s a fun listen full of passionate young readers asking their favourite authors brilliantly insightful questions
Cecelia Ahern: ‘public shaming moved me to write Flawed’ - Guardian children's books podcast
Cecelia Ahern explains how she was moved to write her first YA novel, Flawed, by her dismay at society’s increasingly finger-pointing culture. Guardian children’s books site members Harriet, Amy and Rebecca grill her on the book, which is set in a powerfully realised society in which perfection is valued above humanity
Jacqueline Wilson for Guardian children's books podcast: 'This is a story competition about your imagination'
Jacqueline Wilson speaks to Michelle Pauli as she launches her creative writing competition for 7 – 12 year olds, where the prize is to have the winning story published in one of her books! Here she gives you tips about getting started, inventing characters and what the judges will be looking for
Gavriel Savit: 'I’ve never known the end of a chapter in my life' - children's books podcast
Harrowing second world war tale Anna and the Swallow Man has taken teen readers by storm. Teen site members Lottie is Dottie and Ayesha got to ask the author about the mythologisation of the Holocaust, deep and dark things, stories without end and the meaning of life
Women in fantasy – the children's books podcast
Get a fascinating insight into the world of teen/YA fantasy in this podcast with four amazing fantasy authors. Samantha Shannon, Sally Green, Lucy Saxon and Alwyn Hamilton talk world building, feminism, sex and why we need to stop comparing all female characters to Katniss Everdeen – however wonderful she is! Enter our signed fantasy books giveaway!
Guardian children's books podcast with Owen Jones: 'there's a craving for an alternative to how things are run'
Political commentator Owen Jones is grilled by teen site members CaraErica, Patrick and TheBookAddictedGirl on the writers who inspired his democratic socialist politics, the advice he’d give his 16-year-old self, and how young people should get involved in politics – and why…
Jeff Kinney: 'the joke always comes first' – children's books podcast
Find out what Jeff Kinney’s favourite Diary of a Wimpy Kid book is, why he really did wrap himself in toilet paper in Middle School and how he ALWAYS has writer’s block in this fabulous interview by the Eye Boggling Blurbs book group
Guardian children's books podcast with Sandi Toksvig: 'children disappear in history'
Sandi Toksvig reads from and talks about her latest book, A Slice of the Moon, an action-packed story of one family's journey across the world as they leave behind their home in Ireland during the potato famine and travel to America
Children's books podcast: Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers on their picture book, Imaginary Fred
Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl novels, and award-winning picture book creator Oliver Jeffers have paired up to create a book about imaginary friends, Imaginary Fred. Find out how they met by chance, collaborated across continents by skype, and, of course, whether they have their own imaginary friends
Sally Gardner: I wandered so far into the dark, dark wood I forgot to come out again - children's books podcast
On the 10th anniversary of her first book I Coriander, Sally Gardner talks to site member Patrick about writing historical novels, the power of fairy tales, dyslexia and why the school system needs a big shake up
Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer talk about Off the Page - children's books podcast
Mother and daughter writing duo Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer talk about the premise behind their funny YA romance, Off the Page, in which a fairytale prince leaves his storybook to experience life and love in high school, and describe the ups and downs of co-writing with the person who knows you - and sometimes annoys you - best
David Levithan: why I wrote my latest novel as a musical - teen books podcast
The bestselling author talks to site member Muchbooks about Hold Me Closer, his new novel written in musical form starring Tiny Cooper, book companion to Will Grayson, Will Grayson which David wrote with John Green.Read the first chapter of Hold Me Closer
Judith Kerr reads from When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Judith Kerr reads from her award-winning book, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, about her escape from Nazi Germany during the second world war
James Frey talks about Endgame - children's books podcast
James Frey is giving $3 million of his own money as a prize for those who can solve the puzzles that run through his new trilogy Endgame. Here he tells site member JBOO1698 all about his crazy, magical idea – and his obsession with hidden history
