Confetti Moments
129 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago -Avid picture book lover and teacher Courtney Hinshaw shares with you some of her favorite confetti moments: all things picture books, reading tips, conversations with book loving people, and her heart. If it gives Courtney a Confetti Moment, she will Open The Magic! Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/courtney-hinshaw/support
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Episodes
Episode 98: Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman
February 13, 2023 08:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBWhat a treat it was to be able to chat with this dynamic duo who brought us All Are Welcome. Today we will be talking about their newest book, All Are Neighbors. These women are as enthusiastic about picture books as I am, and it was an honor to get to know them better. You can connect with Alex on Instagram and her website. You can connect with Suzanne on Instagram and her website. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/courtney-hinshaw/support
Episode 97: Debbie Murphy
February 06, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBThis week I had the pleasure of meeting Debbie Murphy to talk about her new book, Jackie and the Mona Lisa. It is about Jackie Kennedy and her love of the arts and how she encouraged a country to learn more about the arts. It is a unique biography picture book that I know you will love. You can connect with Debbie through her website and Instagram. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/courtney-hinshaw/support
Episode 96: Nick Solis
January 30, 2023 08:00 - 42 minutes - 39.4 MBThis week I enjoyed getting to know Nick Solis. He is the author of My Town/Mi Pueblo which is a bilingual picture book about cousins from opposite sides of the border who visit each other’s towns and delight in their similarities and differences. I hope you enjoy our conversation. You can connect with Nick on Instagram and his webpage. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/courtney-hinshaw/support
Episode 95: Heidi Woodward Sheffield
January 23, 2023 08:00 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBIn this week's episode, I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with author and illustrator Heidi Woodward Sheffield. She is the author/illustrator of Brick by Brick for which she won the 2021 Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award. Brick by Brick is a book that celebrates the warm bond between a little boy and his dad as they work hard to achieve their dreams. You can find Heidi on Instagram and her webpage --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/courtney-hinshaw...
Episode 94: Angela Burke Kunkel
January 16, 2023 08:00 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBThis week I had the pleasure of talking with author Angela Burke Kunkel who is the author of Digging for Words. This book is based on the life of José Alberto Gutiérrez, a garbage collector in Bogotá, Colombia who started a library with a single discarded book found on his route. I hope you enjoy this conversation. You can connect with Angela on Instagram and her webpage. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/courtney-hinshaw/support
Episode 93: Celebrating Failures with Debut Author Andrea Burns
October 13, 2022 07:00 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBWelcome, Confetti Moments listeners! I am so excited to chat with debut picture book author–and my close friend–Andrea Burns. How do you approach your failures? After failing her driving test, not making dance teams, and failed socially while in high school, Andrea didn’t think much of her own failure. We live in a world where everything is about perfectionism. Andrea is bringing the honesty about failure to light. While working in the classroom, Andrea saw her students be super hard on ...
Episode 92: National Open the Magic Day with Courtney Hinshaw
September 25, 2022 07:00 - 16 minutes - 15 MBI am so excited to share this very special episode all about National Open the Magic Day (NOTMD) which is today, September 25! You will learn all about how I am going to celebrate National Open the Magic Day and what you could do to celebrate as well. I am so excited about the three books that I chose as part of my celebration of all things reading and picture books. I have linked some really great resources below that will help you celebrate NOTMD and create Confetti Moments! Please share w...
Episode 91: Saranya Raghavan
September 12, 2022 07:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBOn this week’s episode, you will meet Saranya Raghavan who is the creator behind the wonderful Instagram account Shelves of Color. You will be interested to learn Saranya’s day job and how she came to create her inspirational Instagram account. She shares about her love of reading as a child and how she has been able to nurture that same love of reading in her home with her children. I appreciated her explanation of how she uses picture books to discuss social and emotional issues with her c...
Episode 90: Sally Lloyd Jones
September 05, 2022 07:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBOn this week’s episode, you will meet the ever-charming Sally Lloyd Jones who is the author of many picture books and The Jesus Storybook Bible. She shares her inspiration and her process for creating stories that invite readers to have fun in a book. She talks about the honor and responsibility of writing for children. She has advice to share for parents and teachers to ignite the love of reading in your home and classroom. You will get all the details of how her new book Tiny Cedric came t...
Episode 89: Stephen Briseño
August 29, 2022 07:00 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBOn this week’s episode, you will meet my new friend and debut author Stephen Briseño. He is a life-long reader influenced and an awesome middle school English teacher. You will enjoy hearing about who and what encouraged him with regards to reading in his early years. Stephen also shares about the inspiration and story behind his debut picture book, The Notebook Keeper. It is really an amazing story. We also talk about his daily reading and writing habits that support his work as an author. ...
Episode 88: Anastasia McKenna
August 22, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 61.8 MBYou are in for such a treat this week. I can't wait for you to meet Anastastia McKenna who is a former teacher turned Storytime reader at The Twig Book Shop in San Antonio, TX. If you want to learn about the most engaging way to read a story, you are in the right place. She is the most enthusiastic story teller that I have ever met. She does weekly story times but also has taken her show on the road and does story time in schools and at libraries. She loves to help people find just the right...
Episode 87: Chris Barton
August 15, 2022 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBOn this week’s episode you will meet Austin-based children’s author Chris Barton. He is the author of some of my favorite nonfiction biography picture books. You will be interested to learn about Chris’ journey to becoming a picture book author. We share the same belief that picture books are the first stories that teach children to love reading and create a much-needed tactile reading experience. He loves to tell stories about how things in the world came to be. You will learn about the res...
Episode 86: Annie F. Downs
August 08, 2022 07:00 - 58 minutes - 54.2 MBToday’s “Back to School” episode is a dream come true for me. I got to interview one of my favorite people —Annie F. Downs. I first “met” Annie when I began listening to her podcast: “That Sounds Fun” during the pandemic. Annie is a former teacher turned podcaster, producer and author. She lives in Nashville, TN and gets to interview some of the most fascinating people. This episode will comfort you and inspire you as you start a new school year as a teacher or a parent. We had so much fun ...
Episode 85: Trudy Ludwig
June 06, 2022 07:00 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBI have been looking forward to this interview for awhile. You are going to love meeting Trudy Ludwig who is the author of many children's books including The Invisible Boy and Quiet Please, Owen McPhee and her newest book Brave Every Day. She says that her focus when she writes is to help kids connect with each other in kinder and more caring ways. She is definitely good at that. You will learn what profession she had before she was compelled to start writing children's books. You will learn...
Episode 84: Ella Schwartz and Dow Phumiruk
May 30, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 30.3 MBThis week you will love meeting the dynamic author/illustrator duo of Ella Schwartz and Dow Phumiruk. They both share about their careers before working on picture books and how their love of reading grew more slowly because of their family's immigrant background. You will learn the background story about Her Name was Mary Katherine: The Only Woman Whose Name is on the Declaration of Independence. You will enjoy learning about the special relationship that an author and illustrator have when...
Episode 83: Kirsten Larson
May 23, 2022 07:00 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBYou are going to love getting to know Kirsten Larson who used to work for NASA and came to be a picture book author when she realized how much she and her children loved the nonfiction section of the library. She shares how she likes to focus her writing on strong women in history. She shares her research process of using both primary and secondary sources. She discusses the idea that reading a picture book involves both the reading of words and the reading of pictures and how that brings me...
Episode 82: Tami Charles
May 16, 2022 07:00 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBThis week you are going to love getting to meet former elementary school teacher Tami Charles who is the author of All Because You Matter. We talk about who she was as a reader growing up and who inspired her to become a picture book author. We really connect over our thoughts on the importance of picture books. She shares some of the authors she looks up to as a writer and the influence they had on her students. We also discuss her growth as a writer and her habits of writing. You will lear...
Episode 81: Lisa Robinson
May 09, 2022 07:00 - 31 minutes - 29.4 MBI am so excited about this week's episode. I am happy to introduce you to Lisa Robinson the author of The Sweetest Scoop which is the biography of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. She shares about her amazing upbringing with parents who were in the Peace Corp. You will be fascinated to learn all the places she has lived. She is currently a practicing child psychiatrist, mom and author. She has a beautiful take on the importance of picture books and their impact on social-emotional learning. Lisa s...
Episode 80: Margaret Greanias
May 02, 2022 07:30 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBThis week it is my pleasure to introduce you to Margaret Greanias—a busy mom of three and a picture book author. She shares how someone with an MBA found themselves as a picture book author. We talked about our favorite genres of books and how books that show different cultures are so important. We also shared our love of reading and book conferences. You get to hear about her newest book Amah Faraway and the memories that inspired it. Margaret shares about where her ideas come from for her...
Episode 79: Shelley Johannes
April 25, 2022 07:00 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MBToday is a special treat- It is my birthday and believe it or not, it is also my guest Shelley Johannes’ birthday! Can’t believe it. She is the author and illustrator of the Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker series and the More Than Sunny picture book. She was originally an architectural designer and never imagined that she could be an author and illustrator, too. She discusses the special combination of words and images that picture books offer and how it is a unique reading experience w...
Episode 78: Charlotte Offsay
April 18, 2022 07:00 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBThis week I had the pleasure of talking to Charlotte Offsay, the author of A Grandma's Magic. Charlotte talks about her move from the corporate world to her dream job as a picture book writer. She talks about the importance of picture books and the influence her love of reading had on her job today. You will also learn the inspiration for her newly released book called A Grandma's Magic. It was a joy to get to know Charlotte. Be sure to connect with her on her website or Instagram or Twitter...
Episode 77: Scott Rothman
April 11, 2022 07:00 - 54 minutes - 50.5 MBThis week you will have the pleasure of meeting Scott Rothman. He is a former screenplay writer turned picture book author. He talks about his early love of reading and the picture book he wrote when he was only 12 years old. He discusses the camaraderie of the picture book community and some of his proudest moments as an author. There may be a few rabbit trails where we discuss our favorite sports teams, how we like our hamburgers, and left-handed people. Scott has a natural humor and easy-...
Episode 76: Benson Shum
April 04, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 31.4 MBThis week I got to speak with Benson Shum who works for Disney Animation on some movies you have definitely heard of. That is his day job and spends time writing and illustrating picture books at night. We talk about his journey to becoming a picture book author and how he gets the ideas for his books. Benson has a unique outlook on how stories should be told. He also talks about living up to others’ expectations and being okay with the choices that you make and how your family influences wh...
Episode 75: Giles Andreae
March 28, 2022 07:00 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MBYou are in for a treat this week as I introduce you to the remarkable Giles Andreae, author of the ever-popular Giraffes Can’t Dance and many more titles. Giles lives in the UK, and we had to get creative to coordinate our schedules in order to find an ideal time to chat in spite of the time zone differences. Giles is not only a picture book author but also an illustrator and cartoonist and songwriter. Giles shares his journey to becoming a picture book author, some of his upcoming projects ...
Episode 74: Beth Anderson
March 21, 2022 07:00 - 44 minutes - 41.4 MBOn this week's episode, I am so pleased to introduce you to Beth Anderson who is a 20+ year veteran ESL teacher turned biography and historical fiction picture book writer. Beth shares her process when researching for her amazing biographies. She says she is on a treasure hunt for details to make her books accurate and engaging. Her biographies are unique because she has found such interesting historical figures as her focus. This is an inspiring conversation that I am sure you are going to ...
Episode 73: The Pumphrey Brothers
March 14, 2022 07:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBThis week you get to hear the genius behind The Pumphrey Brothers book-making process. Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey are authors of the books The Old Truck and The Old Boat and the upcoming Somewhere in the Bayou. You will enjoy hearing the brothers recall their journey to becoming collaborative picture books authors/illustrators. They also talk about the connection between their reading lives as children and their current professional work. You can connect with them through their individual I...
Confetti Moments for bookful people!
March 13, 2022 23:53 - 1 minute - 1.63 MBConfetti Moments is a podcast hosted by picture book expert Courtney Hinshaw of Ramona Recommends. Each week Courtney interviews different authors, illustrators or other bookful people who share her love and appreciation for picture books. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/courtney-hinshaw/support
Episode 72: Andrea Wang author of Watercress
March 07, 2022 08:00 - 33 minutes - 31.4 MBI cannot tell you what an honor it was to do this week’s episode. I am proud to introduce you to Andrea Wang, who is the 2022 Newbery Honor Book Award recipient and the Asian-Pacific American Award for Literature recipient for the book Watercress (this book also won the Caldecott medal). She shares the story behind this semi-autobiographical book that has received such acclaim. You will learn more details about the story and its impact on the literary world and those who have read it. A spec...
Episode 71: Book Love with Melissa Perisco of In Our Library
February 28, 2022 08:00 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MBThis is the last episode in my Book Love series. I am happy to introduce you to Melissa Perisco. She is a Pre-K through 5th grade Library Media Specialist who you can find at In Our Library on Instagram. We talk about her journey to becoming a librarian and her favorite books that give her a Confetti Moment. She shares about the personal impact of picture books that focus on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Melissa models vulnerability that will inspire you. This is a very moving episode...
Episode 70: Book Love with Rosie D'Urso of Library Mom Books
February 21, 2022 08:00 - 48 minutes - 45.2 MBWelcome back to another episode in our Book Love series. This week you have the treat of meeting Rosie D'Urso of Library Mom Books. She is a former collegiate lacrosse player turned librarian. Rosie is the ultimate Book Enthusiast. We have an amazing conversation about the power of teachers, the hope that books provide and how a confetti moment can change a kid’s life. Rosie also shares some of her librarian expertise with regards to family library visits and all the amazing things that libr...
Episode 69: Book Love with Eliana Bishop from Kid Lit is Magic
February 14, 2022 08:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBToday, we continue with the Book Love series. I am happy to introduce you to Eliana Bishop of the Bookstagram: Kid Lit is Magic. She is in the corporate world but loves picture books as much as I do. You will learn about how becoming a mom grew her true love of reading, and she found that picture books helped her to connect with her son and others in the Instagram world. We talked a lot about the value of having books that reflect your community and culture. She shares what books have really...
Episode 68: Book Love and Secret Covers with Aimee Smith
February 07, 2022 08:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBI am so excited about this month's podcasts. I have invited some of my bookful friends to chat with me about the picture books that we love. Get your pens and wish lists ready because we are going to be talk about all our favorites and you are going to want to add some of them to your shelves. In today's episode, I am happy to introduce you to Aimee Smith— a former second grade teacher turned stay-at-home mom. She loves discovering “secret covers” which is what is sometimes hiding behind t...
Episode 67: 22 Tips for How to Create a Reader in 2022 with Courtney Hinshaw
January 31, 2022 08:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBThis week I am excited to share 22 tips for how to create a reader in your home or class in 2022! The tips are both practical and creative. I know, firsthand, the impact that picture books can have in a person’s life. I want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to gain a love of learning through the Confetti Moments that happen when you read a picture book!. You will also get a sprinkling of new books coming out in 2022 that I am really looking forward to reading! This is a jam-pack...
Episode 66: Valentine's Day Books with Courtney Hinshaw
January 24, 2022 08:00 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBFebruary and Valentine's Day mean all things love and hearts and friendship and pink! On this week's episode, I share my favorite picture books and ideas for Valentine's Day. There are so many great books—old and new—that make this month and holiday special. I hope you enjoy, and please reach out to me on Instagram or at ramonarecommends.com to share your favorites. The following are the list of books from this episode. Click the titles to shop my Amazon affiliate links. House of Love Wh...
Episode 65: My Story with Courtney Hinshaw
January 17, 2022 08:00 - 50 minutes - 46.9 MBToday I am going to share my heart with you. My personal story is a hard one for me to tell but also a very important story for me to share. My story explains why I started Ramona Recommends, and why I believe that picture books are for everyone! They changed my life and made me who I am today. I hope that this story will inspire you if your journey has been anything like mine, or it might give you insight into a student or family member's struggles. After listening, please reach out if you ...
Episode 64: SEL-Anxiety and Worry with Courtney Hinshaw
January 10, 2022 08:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBThis episode is dear to my heart. I simply love sharing about how to use Social and Emotional Learning picture books to help people. This topic of books has been so helpful to me on my mental health journey. In today's episode, I am very honest about my social and emotional growth and what books you might use to help a child or friend or yourself, as well. Please share this episode with others who might benefit from its message. Below are the books that I discussed during this episode. Like...
Episode 63: National Days with Courtney Hinshaw
January 03, 2022 08:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBHappy New Year! I am so excited for today's episode. I am sharing all you need to know about how to celebrate National Days with some really special picture books. This is one of my students' favorite times in my class. I love being able to find just the right book to pair with a National Day, especially the really unique ones. You will also learn all about National Open the Magic Day that is celebrated each year on September 25! Enjoy this first episode of 2022! It's going to be an amazing "...
Episode 63: National Days with Courntey Hinshaw
January 03, 2022 08:00 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBHappy New Year! I am so excited for today's episode. I am sharing all you need to know about how to celebrate National Days with some really special picture books. This is one of my students' favorite times in my class. I love being able to find just the right book to pair with a National Day, especially the really unique ones. You will also learn all about National Open the Magic Day that is celebrated each year on September 25! Enjoy this first episode of 2022! It's going to be an amazing ...
Be Back in 2022
December 06, 2021 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.13 MBHi! I just wanted to let you know Confetti Moments will be taking a winter vacation, but will be back on Monday, January 3rd, 2022. I am so thankful to all of you for listening and sharing in the confetti. Hey, can you do me a favor? Will you share about Confetti Moments? I know the authors and illustrators would be so pumped. You guess it, I will be elated too! Oh! AND! leave a review where you listen to podcasts? #merrychristmastome I did leave you with 3 of my favorite winter titles. Ple...
Episode 62: Wordless Picture Books with Hanna Stroud
November 29, 2021 08:00 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBI am happy to introduce you to literacy tutor and consultant Hanna Stroud who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In this informative episode, Hanna shares so many creative ways that picture books benefit everyone- some things that I had never even considered. You will enjoy learning about her literacy journey and how she came to be an avid reader. Hanna’s favorite format of picture books is wordless picture books. She really is a wordless picture book expert! Hanna shares how she came to lov...
Episode 61: Sita Singh
November 22, 2021 08:00 - 38 minutes - 36 MBThis week I am proud to introduce you to former architect turned author, Sita Singh. She is excited to share about her debut picture book, Birds of a Feather. You learn the story behind how the book came to be and her passion for bringing more diversity to children's literature. She also shares her insights into all the ways picture books influence and appeal to readers of all ages. One of my favorite moments was hearing her childhood stories about growing up in India and finding her love of...
Episode 60: Colby Sharp
November 15, 2021 08:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBThis week’s conversation is such a treat! I am thrilled that you get to meet fifth-grade teacher and author of Game Changer: Book Access for All— Colby Sharp. He shares his love of using picture books in his class and how he manages his literacy lessons throughout the day with a focus on independent reading. We have some honest conversations about reading “ups and downs” and Colby shares some great insights about inspiring reading in classrooms and keeping book collections relevant to studen...
Episode 59: The Smart Cookie with Pete Oswald
November 08, 2021 08:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBThis is a much-anticipated episode—This week I had the pleasure of visiting with illustrator/author Pete Oswald who illustrated the newly released The Smart Cookie which is the most recent addition to the Food Group book series by Jory John. Pete shares about his life-long love of drawing and animation. You will learn how his family is his biggest support and a great source of honest feedback. A real treasure in this episode is all the insights Pete shares about the making of The Smart Cooki...
Episode 58: Friends Talk with Courtney Hinshaw and Andrea Burns
November 01, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBThis week my book buddy, Andrea from @bookishburnsss, and I got together to chat all about books and so much more. You will learn about our favorite monthly book event called Check It Out. Click here to register for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving-Themed Check It Out. We also discuss our favorite Thanksgiving foods and opinions on Black Friday shopping. We had so much fun talking about all the books that are coming out in the next few months. We offer up some ideas about adding SEL books to your cla...
Episode 57: The Crayons' Journey with Drew Daywalt
October 25, 2021 07:00 - 55 minutes - 51.6 MBOh what a treat this interview was! I am so happy for you to meet former screenwriter turned picture book writer, Drew Daywalt. You will enjoy hearing the origin story for The Day the Crayons Quit and how long it took to get that fantastic book published. Drew shares his literary journey that has some interesting twists and turns and is ultimately rooted in his family’s influence in exposing him to wonderful stories. Drew has excellent advice for both people who don’t like to write and for a...
Episode 56: Starfish: Lisa Fipps
October 18, 2021 07:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBWelcome, listeners. This week's episode really hit close to home this week. I had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa Fipps author of the middle grade novel-in-verse novel called Starfish, which is her debut novel. The book focuses on the impact of body-shaming and the struggle to have a positive body image of yourself when the world's messages are against you. Lisa shares candidly the personal stories that inspired Starfish. You will also learn about Lisa growing up in a rural area as a very ...
Episode 55: Mental Health with Dan Santat
October 11, 2021 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBYou are in for a very special and important episode this week. I had the pleasure of speaking with Caldecott-winning author-illustrator Dan Santat. One of the highlights of this week's episode is a very honest and vulnerable conversation about the personal story that inspired After the Fall. We discuss the societal stigma around mental health and specifically anxiety and depression. Dan shares great advice for aspiring authors and illustrators about finding your own voice and style when you ...
Episode 54: Sharing is Caring with Samantha Berger
October 04, 2021 07:00 - 39 minutes - 36.8 MBToday's episode is a true Confetti Moment conversation. Samantha Berger and I discuss the gift that picture books are for every reader, not just young children. You will want to listen as Samantha describes picture books as an "exceptionally high art form," and the unique experience there is as one waits with anticipation for each page to turn. We discuss the importance of book access and how strongly this influences readers and writers. She has been told she has the "soul of a child," and s...
Episode 53: Dream Big with Kobi Yamada
September 27, 2021 07:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBThis week I had the honor of interviewing Kobi Yamada who is the author of the What Do You Do With an Idea? . . .Problem? . . .Chance? series. He has such wise words to share about the power of picture books and their intergenerational significance. You will learn the story behind how What Do You Do With an Idea? became a book. He shares about the importance of failure in our lives and how he brought that theme to life in one of his newer books, Trying. Kobi is someone who really understands...
Episode 52: National Open the Magic Day- Saturday Sept. 25
September 20, 2021 07:00 - 19 minutes - 18 MBIn this episode, I discuss the story behind National Open the Magic Day. You will learn all the details about how to celebrate this special day with me and others who want to share in our common love of picture books and the magic that happens when we read. I also share about the special author panel interview that I got to do with some of the authors and illustrators of the six National Open the Magic Day featured books. I have created a handout that has questions and activities for each bo...