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Artwork for Book Friends Forever Podcast

Book Friends Forever Podcast

Alvina and Grace
Children's Literature
Children's Book Publishing
Publishing Industry
Children's Books
Children's Publishing
Book Banning
Hachette Book Group
Social Media
Picture Books
The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon
Longevity In Publishing
Independent Bookstores
Publishing
Acquisitions Process
Bucket Lists
Mental Health
Book Publishing
Indie Bookstore Sales
We Need Diverse Books
Middle Grade Literature

Children's book publishing's secrets are revealed as we listen in on fascinating, unguarded, insider discussion from two uniquely qualified best friends: award-winning author/illustrator Grace Lin, and one of NYC's top editors, Alvina Ling. Go behind the scenes of kid lit and catch a glimpse of the lives of the best-selling author and editor, and the relationship between them.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
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Artwork for Book Friends Forever Podcast

Latest Episodes

Grace Lin and Alvina Ling check in on how they're doing with their new year's resolutions at the halfway through the year(ish) point. They remind themselves about their words of the year, and then run through four resolutions each, and talk about the... more

YouTube

Apologies for the quality of Grace's audio! We're hoping to fix it for next week's episode.

Grace Lin and Alvina Ling talk about several topic, including aging--as they're both in perimenopause, they're dealing with issues like frozen shoulder and ... more

YouTube

Grace and Alvina discuss a recent article in the Atlantic that bemoaned the end of reading in our society, the so-called "literacy crisis," and they also talk about Hachette Book Group's Raising Readers initiative to help counter that crisis and enco... more

YouTube

Grace and Alvina talk about that age-old question of nature vs nurture and how much people's genes versus upbringing and environment affect their personalities and lives. Alvina has been particularly thinking about this topic because of all of the di... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Quade Kelley
Founder of Reading Athlete and youth reviewer with SLJ and Bank Street ties
Reading Athlete; Bank Street Youth Reviewers; SLJ Heavy Medal Mock Newbery
Episode: Episode 357: Teen Book Reviews with Quade Kelley!
Laurel Snyder
Guest co-host, author and poet
Episode: Episode 356: Vocation vs job and revisiting Old Worlds with guest co-host Laurel Snyder
Michele Kirichanskaya
Guest, author/teacher active in ace representation
Episode: Episode 358: Queer Representation in Children's Literature with Michele Kirichanskaya!
Shaina Birkhead
Associate Executive Director of the Children's Book Council
Children's Book Council
Episode: Episode 335: Children's Book Week with Melissa Thom and Shaina Birkhead!
Stephen Colman
Husband of Grace Lin, guest host for this episode
Independent/Producer
Episode: Episode 341: Reality Television with Stephen Colman!
Carol Hinz
Associate publisher of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books at Lerner Publishing Group
Lerner Publishing Group
Episode: Episode 340: Minnesota Editors with Carol Hinz and Andrew Karre!
Andrew Karre
Senior executive editor at Dutton Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House
Penguin Random House
Episode: Episode 340: Minnesota Editors with Carol Hinz and Andrew Karre!
Alison Morris
Children's Literature Specialist
Episode: Episode 338 CHOP SUEY: TIK TOK, AGENT QUESTIONS, PREPARING FOR TRAVEL AND BOOK RECS WITH ALISON MORRIS.
Julie Hedlund
Award-winning picture book author and founder of the 12 by 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge.
Episode: Episode 336: Writing Communities with Julie Hedlund!

Hosts

Grace Lin
Award-winning author/illustrator and editor-level contributor in kidlit; co-host with long-standing collaboration with Alvina Ling.
Alvina Ling
Editor and host with deep ties to major publishing houses; known for editorial guidance and industry leadership in kidlit.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 272 ratings
  • Love!

    I adore this podcast from best friends and industry insiders Alvina Ling and Grace Lin. I’ve learned so much about the world of publishing and take regular inspiration from their episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jhedlund
    United States3 months ago
  • Wonderful and heartening show about the publishing industry and the people within it. 🥰

    Grace and Alvina’s show is like snuggling up in a warm blanket with bookish friends and listening to salient publishing thoughts of the day.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LauraGigiL.
    United States8 months ago
  • I look forward to each episode!

    Great conversations and a look behind-the-scenes! I love that Alvina and Grace always end with what they’re grateful for. Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DDebrovner
    United States9 months ago
  • Personal and informative!

    I love that Grace and Alvina are good friends from way back, which gives this podcast a real personal feel. At the same time, as veterans of the publishing industry, their content is very enlightening to me as an author/illustrator much earlier on in his career.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stan the Zombie Dad
    United Statesa year ago
  • Made me read more books!

    Discovered this podcast after reading “Chinese Menu” by Grace Lin. Fascinating insights into Children’s book publishing! I have a new-found appreciating for authors publishing diverse books — these books already have a positive impact on my child. The podcast also have tons of book recommendations and I have tried some and loved them, including “Simon sort of says”, “Mexikid” and “Last chance”.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dan Liu & Jun Yin
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Weekly episodes feel like chatting with friends who share strong industry expertise and generous book recommendations.
Listeners praise the show as an insider, warm, and informative window into kidlit publishing.
Audience finds the discussions honest, practical, and deeply supportive of authors and illustrators.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#239
Norway/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 357: Teen Book Reviews with Quade Kelley!
Q: What is the Robie Harris Youth Choice Award and how does it operate?
It is a youth-driven award designed to reflect young readers' voices, decided by a nationwide group of youth; it addresses challenging topics and centers on age-appropriate, literarily strong books; it currently has one winner per year with plans for expansion.
Episode 357: Teen Book Reviews with Quade Kelley!
Q: What is Reading Athlete and how did it come about?
Reading Athlete was founded to intersect mind, body, and story by modeling vulnerability and building community through reading, inspired by a peer's suicidal ideation in middle school and the belief in the healing power of stories.
Episode 357: Teen Book Reviews with Quade Kelley!
Q: When did you first start reviewing books and what drew you into this path?
Quade explains he began reviewing around fifth grade through the Bank Street Center for Education Youth Reviewers Program, continued as a youth ambassador, and later joined Bank Street's committee, driven by a desire to understand how awards are chosen and to represent youth perspectives.
Episode 354: CHOP SUEY: Gossip, Song Lyrics, Advice, and Book Recs with Alison Morris!
Q: What is the main topic of this episode?
The hosts revisit gossip as a social phenomenon, then explore song lyrics, and finally share book recommendations and personal/advice reflections with their guest.
Episode 350: CHOP SUEY: Asian American identities, Book Banning, Birthday Celebrations and Book Recs with Alison Morris!
Q: Alison, what are you grateful for?
Alison expresses gratitude for the supportive community of Asian American KidLit creators and the opportunity to participate in meaningful in-person events like the Asian American Voices Retreat, as well as appreciation for Hawaii and its unique sense of belonging.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Book Friends Forever Podcast

What is Book Friends Forever Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two longtime friends pull back the curtain on the children's book publishing world, sharing insider perspectives from editorial, authoring, and storytelling. Episodes commonly explore industry trends, publishing decisions, Book Week and literacy initiatives, diverse representation, and the interplay between real-world events and kidlit. Notable ingredients include candid conversations between Grace Lin and Alvina Ling, generous book recommendations, and behind-the-scenes updates about imprints, tours, and publishing culture. The show often blends practical craft guidance with personal anecdotes, making it a go-to for authors, illustrators, editors, librarians, and readers curious about how books for kids come to life. A standout trait is th... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Book Friends Forever Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Book Friends Forever Podcast:

1. You May Contribute A Verse
2. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
3. 3 Point Perspective: The Illustration Podcast
4. Writers With Wrinkles
5. 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast

How many episodes of Book Friends Forever Podcast are there?

Book Friends Forever Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 300 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Book Friends Forever Podcast?

Recent guests on Book Friends Forever Podcast include:

1. Quade Kelley
2. Laurel Snyder
3. Michele Kirichanskaya
4. Shaina Birkhead
5. Stephen Colman
6. Carol Hinz
7. Andrew Karre
8. Alison Morris

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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