What Gives Abby White Hope

What Gives Abby White Hope

Author: Matthew C. Winner February 7, 2026 Duration: 3:48

Abby White, author of D.J. Rosenblum becomes the G.O.A.T. (Levine Querido), shares what is giving her hope today: pockets of people are taking wonderful care of each other, despite the world being bad in a thousand ways right now.

 

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today. 

 

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org. 

 

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/). 

 

Our music is by Podington Bear. 

 

Podcast hosting by Libsyn. 

 

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

 

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.

 


At The Children's Book Podcast, host Matthew C. Winner sits down with the people who make the stories we love. Each conversation pulls back the curtain on the entire journey of a book, from that first spark of an idea to the moment it lands in a reader's hands. You'll hear directly from authors and illustrators, of course, but also editors, designers, and others whose work is essential but often goes unseen. Matthew brings his perspective as a teacher, librarian, and writer to these discussions, creating a space that feels both insightful and warmly familiar. The core of this podcast is a genuine celebration of how stories shape us. It explores how the right book can mirror a child's own experience or open a window to a completely different life, building empathy and connection across generations. This isn't just about how books are made; it's about why they matter so deeply. Supported in partnership with Boyds Mills, the podcast focuses on positively impacting young readers by amplifying voices and stories that resonate. Tune in for thoughtful, engaging dialogues that will deepen your appreciation for children's literature, whether you're a parent, educator, librarian, or simply someone who believes in the magic of a well-told tale. You're invited into a community that values the craft and heart behind every page.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Children's Book Podcast
Podcast Episodes
A Reminder of Why You're Doing This with Rachel Orr [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:50
Rachel Orr, editorial agent with Prospect Agency, joins Matthew to talk about growing together and following that gut feeling. Visit Rachel Orr online at https://portfolio.prospectagency.com/2017/03/21/536/ You can learn…
Remembering Tomie DePaola [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:13
This is a rebroadcast of a conversation with the late Tomie DePaola that originally aired on this podcast on November 27, 2018. Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. Our…
Remembering Jane Yolen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:50
This is a rebroadcast of a conversation with the late Jane Yolen that originally aired on this podcast on June 26, 2017. Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org. Our podcas…
There's Nothing Like a Book with Nancy Paulsen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:30
Nancy Paulsen, president and publisher at Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers/Penguin Random House, joins Matthew to talk about devote most of your time to the work of bringing books into the world.…
A Muppets Sensibility with John Patrick Green [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:04
John Patrick Green, cartoonist of Weather or Not (First Second), joins Matthew to talk about the journey of a new school year and never having exactly the same class again. Visit John Patrick Green online at www.johnpatr…
The Best We Can Possibly Be with Sophie Blackall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:20
Sophie Blackall, author of Story Rug (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), illustrated by Phoebe Wahl, joins Matthew to talk about being bound together in community through listening and making things with our hands.…
Do It Together with Julie Fiveash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:59
Julie Fiveash, cartoonist of The Froggy Library: Welcome to Soggy Stump (Levine Querido), with colors by Jess Lome, joins Matthew to talk about getting over the challenge of a new project pretending that you know enough…
A Gut Feeling with Jennifer Rofé [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:49
Jennifer Rofé, senior agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, joins Matthew to talk about growing together and following that gut feeling. Visit Jennifer Rofé online at https://www.andreabrownlit.com/Team/jennifer-r…
Discovering Myself and Uncovering Our History with Andrew W. Shaffer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:59
Andrew Shaffer, author of What Kind of Queen?: A Royal Biography of Drag Queen and Activist José Sarria (Harry N. Abrams), co-authored with Kyle Casey Chu and illustrated by Cindy Lozito, joins Matthew to talk about focu…