The Magical World of Pictures and Stories: In Conversation with Thomas Taylor
Having begun his career as an illustrator whose debut project was the cover art for the immensely popular Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Thomas Taylor showcased his writing prowess through his first novel Malamander. Malamander, the first book in the The Eerie-on-Sea Mysteries, was an instant hit with kids, parents, teachers and librarians who […]
Tracing History for the Future Through Fiction: In Conversation with Donna Barba Higuera
Donna Barba Higuera joined us for the very first author interaction of the 2022 NLF Reading Challenge. Her second novel, The Last Cuentista, from which she performed the reading, received the prestigious John Newbery Medal and the Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award in 2022. It was highlighted early in the conversation how the book gives […]
One with Nature: In Conversation with Rohan Chakravarty
With quirky illustrations that seem to pop right out of your screen, author-illustrator Rohan Chakravarty walked us through his new book, Naturalist Ruddy: Adventurer. Sleuth. Mongoose. What really set apart this session of the NLF Reading Challenge was the purely interactive approach with which Rohan gripped everyone’s attention. Naturalist Ruddy is about your average mongoose […]
Hope in the Face of Hopelessness: In Conversation with Divya Arya
“There’s one question I get asked a lot, about the impact my book had on the two protagonists, Saumya and Duaa”. Divya Arya kickstarted her session for the NLF Reading Challenge by elaborating upon this very aspect. Her book Postbox Kashmir explores the intertwined lives of two girls, Saumya and Duaa, one letter at a […]
The Strong Waves of Empathy: In Conversation with Julian Sedgwick
For Julian Sedgwick, Tsunami Girl is the product of his lifelong immersion in Japanese culture, history, and beliefs, alongside his friendships rooted in the nation. It is a dedication to the communities who were affected by the 2011 Great Tōhoku Earthquake. During the NLF Reading Challenge, he spoke in detail about his experience of writing […]
A Closer Look at The World Around You: In Conversation with Katherine Applegate
Katherine Applegate is an author whose concern for the environment and the world around her makes its presence felt across her work. Her book, Willodeen, was described as a “cheer-worthy, inspiring, animal-centered tale”. In her writing, it’s always the final sentences in each of her chapters that really hits the point home for the readers, […]