Do you know a little girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut, a fighter pilot, or an aeronautical engineer? In this episode, we celebrate the achievements of women who dared to follow their own dreams at a time when they were laughed at and dismissed. First, host Suzanne McCabe talks with Rebecca Siegel, the author of To Fly Among the Stars: The Hidden Story of the Fight for Women Astronauts. Rebecca describes the early years of America’s space program, when 13 brave women trained in a secret, privately-funded program, hoping to earn their spot among the stars. These accomplished air racers, test pilots, and flight instructors later lobbied the White House and Congress to have women included in the astronaut program. Rebecca’s riveting tale about Jerrie Cobb, Janey Hart, and 11 other women serves as an inspiration for any girl who doubts that she can achieve whatever she sets her mind to. Suzanne also talks with Dr. Ronke Olabisi, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of California, Irvine. She tells listeners about her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut and how that led to her career as a biomedical engineer and inventor. Special Thanks: Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl Producer: Bridget Benjamin Associate Producer: Constance Gibs Sound engineer: Daniel Jordan Coming Soon: Honoring the Asian American Experience with Kelly Yang Music in Literature: Tami Charles and Lamar Giles

Scholastic Reads

To Fly Among the Stars: Celebrating Women in Science

In this episode, author Varian Johnson and illustrator Shannon Wright talk about Twins, their new graphic novel for middle-graders. The story centers around Maureen and Francine Carter, twin sisters who are growing up—and growing apart as they enter middle school. The Carter sisters also happen to be Black. “Writing the girls in this way, where there’s not a big trauma arc, was a very intentional choice,” Varian says. “It’s almost like a political act.” Varian has written several critically-acclaimed novels, including The Great Greene Heist and The Parker Inheritance, which was named a Coretta Scott King Honor Book in 2019. He and Shannon describe the experience of creating their first graphic novel together and why they think Twins is such a hit with young readers. Resources: The Power of Story: Diverse Books for All Readers (https://www.scholastic.com/site/power-of-story.html) 13 Black-Owned Bookstores to Know About (https://oomscholasticblog.com/post/13-black-owned-bookstores-you-should-absolutely-know-about) Learn More About Author Varian Johnson (http://varianjohnson.com/) Learn More About Illustrator Shannon Wright (https://shannon-wright.com/) Special Thanks: Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl Producer: Bridget Benjamin Associate Producer: Constance Gibbs Sound Engineer: Daniel Jordan Coming Soon: Women and STEM

The Making of Twins: A Conversation With Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright

For 12 years, World Read Aloud Day has challenged participants to grab a book, find an audience, and read aloud. The global effort is now celebrated in 173 countries and counting. For the past decade, Scholastic has been the title sponsor of World Read Aloud Day, which was created by LitWorld, a global non-profit that fosters a love of reading in children everywhere. In this episode, host Suzanne McCabe talks with literacy expert and author Pam Allyn, who is the founder of LitWorld. She'll share ideas for educators and families who would like to participate in this year's celebration, which takes place on February 3. Malcolm Mitchell will describe his own reading journey. “I was a 19-, 20-year-old college student whom the world praised for my ability to catch a pass,” he says. “But in the bookstore, I was buying The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Exclamation Mark, and The Giving Tree to help teach myself how to become more literate.” Malcolm is now the best-selling author of The Magician's Hat and My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World. His Share The Magic Foundation helps transform young lives through literacy. In his past life, Malcolm was a star wide receiver for the New England Patriots. He has a Super Bowl ring to prove it! Special Thanks: Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl Producer: Bridget Benjamin Sound engineer: Daniel Jordan Coming Soon: Coretta Scott King Honor Author Varian Johnson Talks About Twins, His Graphic Novel

Celebrating World Read Aloud Day

In this episode, we focus on anti-racism education in the classroom and at home. Host Suzanne McCabe talks with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, an associate professor of language and literacy at Georgia State University and the author of Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy. Muhammad explains how researching Black literary societies from the 1800s inspires her work with students and teachers around the country. Monique Melton, an author, international speaker, and host of the Shine Brighter Together podcast, also offers her perspective on “what it looks like to actually explore, identify, and eliminate racism in every aspect of our society from the inside out.” *Special Thanks: *Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl Producer: Bridget Benjamin Sound engineer: Daniel Jordan *Coming Soon: *A Celebration of Black History

Anti-racism Resources for Your Home and Classroom

“Only those who try can achieve the impossible.” In this episode, we spotlight Stillwater, a new animated children's series from Apple TV Plus. Inspired by the beloved Zen shorts book series by Jon J Muth, the new series follows the adventures of three siblings whose neighbor happens to be a giant panda named Stillwater. Through his beautiful stories, the wise Stillwater helps the children cope with life's disappointments and sorrows, and hold onto their sense of joy and wonder. Host Suzanne McCabe talks with Mallika Chopra, an author, speaker, and wellbeing expert who serves as the mindfulness consultant on the TV series, and award-winning children's book illustrator and artist, Jon J Muth. Resources: You can learn more about Jon J. Muth here (https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/jon-j-muth/) and about Stillwater, the new animated TV series from Apple TV+ here (https://tv.apple.com/us/show/stillwater/umc.cmc.3czcagetjq31vvbgkkyp1xiao). Special thanks: Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl Producer: Bridget Benjamin Sound engineer: Daniel Jordan Coming Soon: Antiracism Resources for the Classroom

Stillwater: Marvel in the Moment

Today, we're celebrating Scholastic's 100th anniversary with President, Chairman, and CEO Dick Robinson. Dick's father, Maurice R. Robinson, known affectionately to generations of staffers as Robbie, founded the company in 1920, a venture that started with a small weekly newspaper has since grown into the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. Generations of readers have fond memories of attending a Scholastic Book Fair on an autumn afternoon, or checking off a list of books to purchase on one of the many Scholastic Book Club order forms that arrived in classrooms. Kids have grown-up with, and obsessed over Clifford the Big Red Dog, Goosebumps, The Baby-Sitters Club, Harry Potter, and Captain Underpants. Stories by Suzanne Collins, the late Walter Dean Myers, Raina Telgemeier, Pam Muñoz Ryan, and Kelly Yang, to name a few, still captivate young readers. Scholastic News and Junior Scholastic are still staples in classrooms across the country, and Scholastic Kid Reporters are still out there getting stories that matter to them and their young readers. Last, but not least, young people still receive coveted Scholastic Art & Writing Awards each year, as they have done for nearly a century. Past recipients include Andy Warhol, Bernard Malamud, Kay WalkingStick and Mozelle Thompson. The list goes on, but we wanted to hear from Dick about his memories of his father, the early years at the company, and how he has remained true to his father's vision, that few things are more magical than children discovering themselves in the pages of a book.

100 Years of Reading: Celebrating Scholastic’s Legacy

In this episode, we’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage with two of our favorite Latinx authors. First, host Suzanne McCabe talks with Aida Salazar about how one word, “deportation,” led to her heart-wrenching new novel, Land of the Cranes. Aida is also the author of The Moon Within, which won an International Latino Book Award for middle-grade fiction in 2019. Then Francisco Stork, the author of such acclaimed YA titles as The Memory of Light and Marcelo in the Real World, talks about his latest novel, Illegal. This page-turning thriller follows Sara Zapata and her brother, Emiliano, and their desperate escape from Mexico to the U.S. Illegal is a sequel to Francisco’s earlier novel, Disappeared. You can learn more about Land of the Cranes, Illegal, and all of our latest fiction and nonfiction at scholastic.com/kids. For a catalog of diverse books for readers of all ages, click here. To check out the Scholastic Student Vote, a virtual mock-election that has been running since 1940, visit scholastic.com/election.

Immigrant Stories: A Conversation With Latinx Authors Aida Salazar and Francisco Stork

When you hold a new book in your hands, the rest of the world seems to fade away. Lots of great titles from Scholastic are hitting the shelves this fall, bringing the promise of adventure to our young readers. We wanted to give you a preview of the books you can look forward to, so we invited some of our authors to read aloud. First, Tami Charles reads All Because You Matter (https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/book/all-because-you-matter-9781338574852/), her love letter to Black and brown children. (2:31) Next, Christina Soontornvat takes us inside the pages of Icing on the Snowflake (https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/book/icing-on-the-snowflake-by-christina-soontornvat/), the latest title in her popular chapter book series, Diary of an Ice Princess. Christina’s adventures for elementary school readers start with a simple premise: What if Frozen’s Elsa went to regular school? If you have any Elsa fans in your house, this is the series for them! (6:41) We also hear from Brazilian author Vitor Martins. He shares an excerpt from his new queer romance, Here the Whole Time. This story about the magic of first love explores the insecurities that many teens feel around body image. (11:12) Then, Kara McDowell reads from her new novel for young adults, One Way or Another. It’s a poignant story about a girl who learns to face her debilitating anxieties as she navigates a relationship with her best friend and longtime crush. (17:55) For 8- to 12-year-olds who enjoy horror and spooky mysteries, Daka Hermon reads from her suspense-filled debut, Hide and Seeker (https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/book/hide-and-seeker-by-daka-hermon/). (25:39) Last but not least, middle-grade favorite Kelly Yang reads the opening pages of Three Keys (https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/book/three-keys-by-kelly-yang/), the highly-anticipated sequel to her debut best-seller, Front Desk (https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/book/front-desk-9781338157826/). (31:52) You can learn more about these titles and all of our latest fiction and nonfiction at scholastic.com/kids. To check out the Scholastic Student Vote, a virtual mock-election, that has been running since 1940 visit scholastic.com/election. Special thanks: Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl Producer: Bridget Benjamin Associate producer: Mackenzie Cutruzzula Sound engineer: Daniel Jordan

Reading Aloud With Scholastic Authors: A Fall Preview

“It all started at the very beginning of seventh grade.” Sound familiar? To millions of Baby-Sitters Club fans, Kristy Thomas, Claudia Kishi, Mary Anne Spier, Stacey McGill, and Dawn Schafer are favorite childhood friends. In this episode, the breakout stars of the new Netflix TV show—Sophie Grace (Kristy), Momona Tamada (Claudia), Malia Baker (Mary Anne), Shay Rudolph (Stacey), and Xochitl Gomez (Dawn)—answer questions from our Scholastic Kid Reporters. We also spotlight author Ann M. Martin, who created the beloved book series. Host Suzanne McCabe spoke with Ann in 2016, amid celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the best-selling series, which began in 1986 with the publication of Kristy’s Great Idea. You can learn more about The Baby-Sitters Club book series, including the graphic novels, here and the Netflix TV show here (https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/books/baby-sitters-club/). Special thanks: Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl Producer: Bridget Benjamin Associate producer: Mackenzie Cutruzzula Sound engineer: Daniel Jordan

The Baby-Sitters Club Debuts on Netflix

On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges integrated the all-white William Frantz Public School in her New Orleans neighborhood. She was six years old. Ruby’s courageous journey helped pave the way for Black and brown students across the United States to gain access to educational opportunities that had been denied to them for centuries. Sixty years later, “Black Lives Matter” has become a rallying cry for an end to the systemic racism that continues to harm African Americans nationwide. Ruby is still speaking out and still speaking up. In 1995, she created the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which is dedicated to fostering respect and equality for people of all races and backgrounds. She talks with children everywhere about the disease of racism, which she says is “a disease of the heart.” In this episode, Ruby talks with host Suzanne McCabe about the events that led her parents to risk the hostility of segregationists for a better life and how her story can help today’s young people bring about lasting change and equality. To learn more about the Ruby Bridges Foundation, go to rubybridges.com, and follow Ruby on Instagram at @RubyBridgesOfficial. If you’d like to share Ruby’s story with your students, you can order her 1999 memoir, Through My Eyes, here. Click here to access the Power of Story, a catalog of diverse books for readers of all ages. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Produced by Bridget Benjamin Associate produced by Mackenzie Cutruzzula Sound mix, editing and recording by Colin Poellot

Through My Eyes: Ruby Bridges on the Struggle for Racial Justice

Change is in the air, and we're delighted to bring a fresh new voice to the podcast. Debut author Leah Johnson is here to talk about You Should See Me in a Crown, her joyful, hilarious young adult novel about the irrepressible Liz Lighty. As a queer, Black teen in a prom-obsessed Midwestern town, Liz thinks that it’s impossible to fit in. But when she meets the new girl at school—who is also her competition for prom queen—everything changes. In this episode, Leah talks with host Suzanne McCabe about growing up in Indiana, becoming a fiction writer, and “giving queer folks the happy ending they deserve.” Learn more about Leah and You Should See Me in a Crown. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Produced by Bridget Benjamin Associate produced and edited by Mackenzie Cutruzzula Sound mix and recording by Daniel Jordan

Celebrating Pride Month With Debut Novelist Leah Johnson

During the pandemic, many of us have experienced feelings of fear, anxiety, and loss. These feelings extend to children, too, who are learning new lessons at home and wondering what the future holds. They may be worried about family members and their own safety while trying to keep up with schoolwork, which is looking very different these days. What can parents and educators do to help kids cope with uncertainty and continue to learn and thrive? In this episode, host Suzanne McCabe talks with Dr. Eli Lebowitz, an associate professor at the Yale Child Study Center and director of their Program for Anxiety Disorders. In 2018, Scholastic and the Child Study Center formed a collaborative to explore how literacy can be used to foster resilience among children and families. You can find additional information about the collaborative and explore their coronavirus resources here. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Produced by Bridget Benjamin Associate produced and edited by Mackenzie Cutruzzula Sound mix and recording by Daniel Jordan

Helping Kids and Parents Cope With Covid-19 Anxiety

In this episode, host Suzanne McCabe, who is the editor of Scholastic Kids Press, talks with five Kid Reporters about life during the coronavirus pandemic. She asks young journalists in Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and the Philippines how they are coping with the global health crisis and what “the new normal” means to them. Scholastic Kids Press, which was founded in 2000, is an award-winning program of journalists between the ages of 10 and 14 who write "news for kids, by kids." The program is open to students around the world.   Special thanks: * Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl * Produced by Bridget Benjamin * Associate produced and edited by Mackenzie Cutruzzula * Sound mix and recording by Daniel Jordan

Listening to Kid Reporters: Life During the Pandemic

In her latest novel, Furious Thing, Jenny Downham discusses the insidious nature of gaslighting, the power of one 15-year-old girl’s anger, and the risk of speaking up about those feelings. Downham is also the author of Unbecoming, You Against Me, and Before I Die, which was made into a 2012 movie, Now Is Good, starring Dakota Fanning.

Furious Thing: YA Author Jenny Downham on the Power of Gaslighting

In this episode, we chat with Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden about the importance of representation for our young readers. Dr. Hayden is the first woman and first African American to serve as the Librarian of Congress, the world’s largest library. She also discusses the Library’s Rosa Parks exhibit that immerses visitors in Parks’ reflections, handwritten notes, and photos. Additional Resources: Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words (https://www.loc.gov/exhibitions/rosa-parks-in-her-own-words/about-this-exhibition/) exhibit features rarely seen materials that offer an intimate view of Rosa Parks and documents in her life and activism. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Produced and edited by Bridget Benjamin Associate produced by Mackenzie Cutruzzula Sound mix and recording by Daniel Jordan

The Librarian of Congress: Why Representation Matters

Scholastic's podcast about the joy and power of reading, the books we publish for children and young adults, and the authors, editors, and stories behind them. We’ll explore topics important to parents, educators, and the reader in all of us.