The Yarn
Travis Jonker and Colby SharpThe Yarn takes listeners behind the scenes of children's literature. Each episode features an author or illustrator talking about how they create books for young readers.
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 263 | Founded | 11 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsEducationBooks | |||
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Latest Episodes
In this episode, author Aaron Reynolds takes us behind the scenes of the bestselling Jasper Rabbit universe - from Caldecott Honor winner CREEPY CARROTS and picture book follow-ups, to the new Creepy Tales chapter book series. Aaron talks about his i... more
In this episode, author Nancy Hudgins takes us behind the scenes of her nonfiction debut, BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU: The Storied Life of Ursula Nordstrom, Editor of Extraordinary Children's Books.
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In this episode, author N. West Moss takes us behind the scenes of her debut middle grade novel BIRDY
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Join thousands of children's lit supporters reading Colby's weekly dispatches from the classroom.
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In this episode, author/illustrator Philip Stead takes us behind the scenes of his first middle grade novel, A POTION, A POWDER, A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC.
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- amazing podcast!
This was such a compelling episode to listen to, especially hearing Sara Pennypacker unpack the inspiration behind Lucas’ story in THE LION’S RUN. I loved how the conversation highlighted courage as the choice to act despite fear in difficult circumstances. It left me thinking about how impactful these kinds of stories can be for readers of all ages.
Apple Podcasts5Mary Burruss
United Statesa month ago - Thank you
As a listener from Spain, I never miss an episode of The Yarn. Travis and Colby bring such genuine love, curiosity, and care to every conversation about books, authors, and the craft of writing. The way you celebrate stories and the people who create them, makes a real difference far beyond borders. Thank you for your dedication to the children’s book community and for constantly growing my reading pile. Colby, I also love your book talk videos on YouTube; they’re such a joy to watch! How I wish... more
Apple Podcasts5pori00
Spain5 months ago - Love this podcast!
The book joy is flowing in the short and sweet episodes! Such great conversations. Thanks!
Apple Podcasts5DDebrovnerUnited States8 months ago - Thanks from the public library!
This podcast makes me a better children’s librarian for my public library kids. It helps me discover books I haven’t read yet, which I then read and suggest to patrons. I also recommend The Yarn to the public school teachers I work with. This improves our relationship, which is already strong thanks to our shared commitment to children and books. I consider Colby and Travis partners in my work. Thanks!
Apple Podcasts5Library MaryUnited Statesa year ago - Best kidlit podcast
The Yarn is my favorite podcast about children’s books. I learn about many new books along with books that have been out a while but slipped past me. Thank you, Travis and Colby, for all of the interviews and insights you share with listeners!
Apple Podcasts5AMO545United Statesa year ago
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Apple Podcasts | #157 |  Canada/Arts/Books |
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Yarn
What is The Yarn about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A thoughtful show about children's literature, featuring authors and illustrators who discuss craft, research, and the storytelling decisions behind middle grade and picture books. Episodes highlight behind-the-scenes looks at writing processes, collaboration with editors and designers, and how books connect with readers in classrooms, libraries, and at festivals. A standout pattern is concise, story-forward interviews that blend practical writing tips with personal journeys, often grounded in literature history, empathy, and kid-centered storytelling. The format is short, accessible, and particularly useful for educators, librarians, and aspiring creators seeking actionable insights and book recommendations.
Where can I find podcast stats for The Yarn?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Yarn. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Yarn and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does The Yarn get?
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What are the audience demographics for The Yarn?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Yarn, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
How many subscribers and views does The Yarn have?
To see how many followers or subscribers The Yarn has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to The Yarn?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Yarn:
1. Totally Booked with Zibby
2. What Should I Read Next?
3. From the Front Porch
4. The Book Case
5. All the Books!
How many episodes of The Yarn are there?
The Yarn launched 11 years ago and published 263 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact The Yarn?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Yarn?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Yarn from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Yarn?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Yarn. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on The Yarn?
Recent guests on The Yarn include:
1. Nancy Hudgins
2. N. West Moss
3. Philip Stead
4. Dan Santat
5. Sara Pennypacker
6. Jasmine Warga
7. Betsy Bird
8. Derrick Barnes
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.