You May Contribute A Verse

Close Your Eyes and Jump with Alicia Meyers!

We've known Alicia Meyers [https://www.byaliciameyers.com] since we were all three kidlit babies back in pandemic days when we had no idea what we were doing! Josh still doesn't know what he's doing. Long live Totally Funny Critique Group!  Alicia's educational book The A-to-Z Teaching Toolkit [https://www.byaliciameyers.com/atoz] came out this month (November 2025) and we're eagerly awaiting her picture book debut Tic-Errific Me [https://viviankirkfield.com/2025/11/17/cover-reveal-tic-errific-me/], coming next June!  Alicia hustles. And also rocks a mean teddy bear Halloween costume (check out her socials for evidence). _________ This episode’s book reviews:  ALL MY STRIPES [https://bookshop.org/p/books/all-my-stripes-a-story-for-children-with-autism-danielle-royer/c73c3dbad477f0e4?ean=9781433819162&next=t] by Shaina Rudolph [https://shainarudolph.com/] and Danielle Royer [https://lernerbooks.com/contributors/16807?srsltid=AfmBOooNTiba9eVLqNNddMjVjY0XdZVJ24gktHcTDMsrY4B0uDOpQhq4], illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin [https://www.jzartworks.com/] ZOMBEES [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-zombees-justin-col-n/79c34e3285a4bba8?ean=9781665922500&next=t]by Justin Colon [https://justincolonbooks.com/], illustrated by Kaly Quarles [https://www.kalyquarles.com/] THE WORLD'S BEST CLASS PLANT [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-world-s-best-class-plant-audrey-vernick/bc1e14f7ffeba9f5?ean=9780525516354&next=t] by Audrey Vernick [https://www.audreyvernick.com/] and Liz Garton Scanlon [https://lizgartonscanlon.com/], illustrated by Lynnor Bontiago [https://www.lynnorbontigao.com/]   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost  [https://www.instagram.com/hellomaddiefrost/]or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  [https://www.maddie-frost.com/] Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com [https://scottholmesmusic.com/]   Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here [https://linktr.ee/VerseShow]!!  Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords [https://twitter.com/JoshMonkwords], @brennajeanneret [https://twitter.com/BrennaJeanneret], and @jonseym0ur [https://twitter.com/JSeym0ur] and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Ainissa Ramirez's SPARK!

Ainissa Ramirez [https://www.ainissaramirez.com/] has something in common with the subject of her debut picture book, Jim West [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/787550/spark-jim-wests-electrifying-adventures-in-creating-the-microphone-by-ainissa-ramirez-illustrated-by-setor-fiadzigbey/], inventor of the microphone: the passion, the drive, and the creative spark to turn her commitment into her reality. It was an honor to talk to Ainissa, and if you want to hear more of her voice, listen to her podcast Science Underground [https://www.ainissaramirez.com/podcast/episodes], or maybe her TEDx Talk [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJAqUdgoGoI]!   _________ This episode’s book reviews:  THE WALK [https://binghamwrites.com/the-walk/], by Winsome Bingham [https://binghamwrites.com/], illustrated by E.B. Lewis [https://eblewis.com/] EVERY MONDAY MABEL [https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Every-Monday-Mabel/Jashar-Awan/9781665938150], by Jashar Awan [https://jasharawan.com/]   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost  [https://www.instagram.com/hellomaddiefrost/]or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  [https://www.maddie-frost.com/]   Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com [https://scottholmesmusic.com/]     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here [https://linktr.ee/VerseShow]!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords [https://twitter.com/JoshMonkwords], @brennajeanneret [https://twitter.com/BrennaJeanneret], and @jonseym0ur [https://twitter.com/JSeym0ur] and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Nathan Christopher Works Well Under Pressure...

...but doesn't work otherwise? We take issue with that part. But either way: enjoy this conversation with PB Workshop-creator, writer of When Santa Wrote Back! [https://bookshop.org/p/books/when-santa-wrote-back-nathan-christopher/2b6ab61b6c2c86ad], and wearer of cool glasses Nathan Christopher [https://hellonathan.ca/]!  --------   This episode’s book reviews:    FLY GUY VS THE FLYSWATTER [https://bookshop.org/p/books/fly-guy-vs-the-flyswatter-fly-guy-10-tedd-arnold/47f775d8502202c4] by Tedd Arnold [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11446.Tedd_Arnold] THE MUSHROOM OF DOOM [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-mushroom-of-doom-becky-davies/8ed9a7c1f0c345ef] by Becky Davies [https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6978884.Becky_Davies] and Thomas Elliott [https://littletiger.co.uk/author-illustrator/thomas-elliott] WANDA HEARS THE STARS [https://bookshop.org/p/books/wanda-hears-the-stars-a-blind-astronomer-listens-to-the-universe-amy-s-hansen/213df39b08b0a934] by Amy S Hanson [https://www.amyshansen.com/]and Wanda Diaz Merced [https://royalsociety.org/about-us/who-we-are/diversity-inclusion/case-studies/scientists-with-disabilities/wanda-diaz-merced/], illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza [https://catagencyinc.com/rocio-arreola]   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost  [https://www.instagram.com/hellomaddiefrost/]or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  [https://www.maddie-frost.com/]   Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com [https://scottholmesmusic.com/]     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here [https://linktr.ee/VerseShow]!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords [https://twitter.com/JoshMonkwords], @brennajeanneret [https://twitter.com/BrennaJeanneret], and @jonseym0ur [https://twitter.com/JSeym0ur] and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Surrender to Lydia Lukidis!

Lydia Lukidis [https://www.lydialukidis.com/] is here! She is a wealth of knowledge and experience and has brought all her passion for Garfield and Seinfeld to bear in her latest book Garfeld... I mean, Groucho the Grouchy Groundhog [https://bookshop.org/p/books/groucho-the-grouchy-groundhog-volume-1-lydia-lukidis/34835e5c00d11da4]. Enjoy Lydia's verse!    --------   This episode’s book reviews:  JIM! Six True Stories About One Great Artist: James Marshall [https://bookshop.org/p/books/jim-six-true-stories-about-one-great-artist-james-marshall-jerrold-connors/4f1605f0eca26b34] by Jerrold Connors [https://jerroldconnors.com/] LITTLE BOO [https://bookshop.org/p/books/little-boo-maddie-frost/792eb5d487c1a24d] by Maddie Frost [https://www.maddie-frost.com/]     The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost  [https://www.instagram.com/hellomaddiefrost/]or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  [https://www.maddie-frost.com/]   Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com [https://scottholmesmusic.com/]     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here [https://linktr.ee/VerseShow]!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords [https://twitter.com/JoshMonkwords], @brennajeanneret [https://twitter.com/BrennaJeanneret], and @jonseym0ur [https://twitter.com/JSeym0ur] and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Danielle Sharkan and Uniting Against Things That Are Bad

Danielle Sharkan [https://www.instagram.com/danielle_sharkan/?hl=en] is our guest this week! On her writing journey, debuting with some heavy topics, eggplants (or aubergines?), and more!  Danielle debuted last year with SHARING SHALOM [https://bookshop.org/p/books/sharing-shalom-danielle-sharkan/eb6784c802b406c5], following up this year with ELLIE THE EGGSPERT [https://bookshop.org/p/books/ellie-the-eggspert-danielle-sharkan/74be6288154f21c7].  Enjoy!   --------   This episode’s book reviews:  BORED PANDA [https://bookshop.org/p/books/bored-panda-mike-bender/0d4749a629db44e4] by Mike Bender [https://www.instagram.com/iammikebender/?hl=en], illustrated by Chuck Dillon [https://www.chuckdillon.net/] BEST BUDS [https://bookshop.org/p/books/best-buds-becky-scharnhorst/7a334e69e15b8ed0] by Becky Scharnhorst [https://beckyscharnhorst.com/], illustrated by Jiarui Jiang [https://www.instagram.com/jiaruii_jiang/]   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost  [https://www.instagram.com/hellomaddiefrost/]or on her website Maddie-Frost.com  [https://www.maddie-frost.com/]   Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com [https://scottholmesmusic.com/]     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here [https://linktr.ee/VerseShow]!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords [https://twitter.com/JoshMonkwords], @brennajeanneret [https://twitter.com/BrennaJeanneret], and @jonseym0ur [https://twitter.com/JSeym0ur] and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!