In this interview, Eric Jensen, an internationally recognized speaker and writer on student poverty and brain-based learning, discusses how the educational mindsets and practical strategies from his latest two books, "Poor Students, Rich Teaching: Mindsets for Change" (2016) and "Poor Students, Richer Teaching: Mindsets for…

This co-authored article describes a community literacy oral history project involving 14 undergraduate students. It is intellectually situated at the intersection of writing studies, oral history, and African American rhetoric and distinguished by two features: 1) we were a combined team of 20 collaborators, and 2) our narrator, Frank Gilyard,…

This article features a conversation between Usha Mukunda, who identifies herself as a librarian, and Vivek Vellanki, who is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in education. Mukunda has been successful in challenging the stereotypical image of the librarian as being serious, angry, and detached. Shortly after meeting her, one would likely be…

Ever since Katniss Everdeen, the arrow-slinging heroine of Suzanne Collins's "Hunger Games" trilogy, was snatched from the cruel clutches of a ruthless government, one can't stop thinking about the feisty 16-year-old from District 12. What sort of flesh-devouring, mutant killing machine awaits her next? How can she possibly lead a successful…

With increasing frequency, authors in academic and non-academic fields are releasing their books for free digital distribution. Anecdotal evidence suggests that exposure to both authors and books increases when books are available as free downloads, and that print sales are not negatively affected. For this study we interviewed ten authors to…

The mid-1960s saw civil rights victories in Congress during Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency. In "Going Down Jericho Road," Michael Honey wrote how Martin Luther King Jr.'s final focus showed that the struggle for black and working class parity continued. The 1968 Memphis sanitation workers strike was a gritty struggle won in the streets by a host…

Jack Gantos, an author who has 37 books to his credits with "Rotten Ralph", "Joey Pigza" and "Hole in My Life" being the widely acclaimed ones, describes how he set about righting his transgression from the dire life as an inmate to his dream of becoming an author. Gantos states that the true function of a writer is to write a masterpiece and no…

This interview with a successful composer, writer, wife, and mother of five covers her start as writer of children's books, relationship of her stories to her own life, the writing of dialogue, transition of "Freaky Friday" to film, working with publisher, influence of her childhood, and attempt of literature to influence attitudes. (EJS)

Presents two interviews: one a conversation with illustrator and Caldecott Medal winner Mary Azarian (Illustrator of the 1999 Caldecott Medal book, "Snowflake Bentley"); and a conversation with author Louis Sachar, author of the 1999 Newbery Medal book, "Holes." (SR)

Presents an interview with 2000 Newbery Medal winner Christopher Paul Curtis. Reveals the author's journey as a reader and a writer, offers glimpses into the humor and upbeat attitude of Bud (the main character in Curtis' s award-winning book "Bud, Not Buddy"), and gives a peek into what readers can expect next from this award-winning…

Maurice Sendak, illustrator of over 60 books (including 10 he has written), was interviewed by Virginia Haviland, head of the library of Congress Children's Book Section. Topics discussed in this interview include: Sendak's own reaction to books as a child; the role fantasy plays in the lives of children and adults; the recurring symbol in…

An interview with Harold Courlander, novelist and folklorist of African, Caribbean, Far Eastern and United States cultures, and a short bibliography of his work. (JG)

Presents an interview with Karen Hesse, author of 12 books of fiction for young, middle, and older readers, and winner of the 1998 Newbery Award. Offers an overview of Hesse's books, organized into picture books, transition chapter books, and novels. Presents a discussion of the themes found in her books, highlighting children's discussion…