Rephonic
Artwork for The Yarn
Children's Literature
Graphic Novels
Creativity
School Library Journal
Children's Books
Education
Writing Tools
Procrastination Techniques
The Invention Of Hugo Cabret
Reading
Chooch Helped
Caboose
Santa's First Christmas
Writing Process
Spider In the Well
The Kids In Mrs. Z's Class
Jovita Wore Pants
A Hero's Guide To Summer Vacation
The Experiment
Graphic Novel

The 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.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes269Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducation

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Artwork for The Yarn

Latest Episodes

In this episode, two time Newbery Medalist Lois Lowry takes us behind the scenes of her latest novel, BUILDING 903.

In this episode, author Rex Ogle takes us behind the scenes of his latest book, ABSENT.

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Join thousands of children's lit supporters reading Colby's weekly dispatches from the classroom.

Subscribe to 100 Scope Not... more

In this episode, Caldecott Honor winner Micha Archer takes us behind the scenes of her book with author Anne Wynter, WHILE WE'RE HERE.

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Join thousands of children's lit supporters reading Colby's weekly dispatches ... more

Rapid-fire Q&A with Candace Fleming, Zeke Peña, Jasmine Warga, and Rebecca Stead

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Aaron Reynolds
Author of Creepy Carrots and related Jasper Rabbit books
Self-published/Authorship within the Jasper Rabbit universe
Episode: #263 Aaron Reynolds - CREEPY CARROTS and Beyond
Nancy Hudgins
Author and researcher behind Books Good Enough For You
Author
Episode: #262 Nancy Hudgins - BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU Unraveled
N. West Moss
Author of Birdy
Author, Birdy
Episode: #261 N. West Moss - BIRDY Unraveled
Philip Stead
Author/Illustrator of A Potion, A Powder, A Little Bit Of Magic
Author/Illustrator
Episode: #260 Philip Stead - A POTION, A POWDER, A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC Unraveled
Dan Santat
Caldecott Medal–winning creator, author/illustrator of Sashimi
Episode: #259 Dan Santat - SASHIMI Unraveled
Sara Pennypacker
Author of The Lion's Run
Author
Episode: #258 Sara Pennypacker - THE LIONS' RUN Unraveled
Jasmine Warga
Newbery Honor-winning author
Episode: #257 Jasmine Warga - THE UNLIKELY TALE OF CHASE AND FINNEGAN Unraveled
Betsy Bird
Children's librarian and creator of the blog A Fuse 8 Production.
School Library Journal
Episode: #250 Betsy Bird - A FUSE #8 PRODUCTION Unraveled
Derrick Barnes
Award-winning New York Times bestselling author
Episode: #248 Derrick Barnes - THE INCREDIBLY HUMAN HENSON BLAZE Unraveled

Hosts

Travis Yonker
Host of The Yarn
Colby Sharp
Host of The Yarn

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 160 ratings
  • 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 Podcasts
    5
    Mary Burruss
    United States4 months 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 Podcasts
    5
    pori00
    Spain8 months ago
  • Love this podcast!

    The book joy is flowing in the short and sweet episodes! Such great conversations. Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DDebrovner
    United Statesa year 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 Podcasts
    5
    Library Mary
    United States2 years 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 Podcasts
    5
    AMO545
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Peers note strong rapport and thoughtful questions from hosts that elevate conversations with authors and illustrators.
Audiences value the concise episodes that fit well for classroom discussions and library recommendations.
Listeners praise the show for its warmth, insight, and accessible depth into book creation.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#174
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#240
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#262 Nancy Hudgins - BOOKS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU Unraveled
Q: My first question actually is just how you got into children's books. Could you walk through the journey of that?
Hudgins describes a transition from law to children's literature, the desire to engage with intellectually interesting writing, and the process of joining SCBWI, exploring picture book biographies, and gradually moving toward middle-grade work.
#259 Dan Santat - SASHIMI Unraveled
Q: Dan, tell us a little bit about your new graphic novel.
It's about a little boy sea creature who is alone in the world, who encounters an urban myth and ends up living in a school lost and found as he explores a town and its quirky residents, using humor to navigate growing up and belonging.
#258 Sara Pennypacker - THE LIONS' RUN Unraveled
Q: What was the hardest part of writing this book?
Maintaining respectful portrayal of those affected by war while immersing in accurate historical detail without overwhelming young readers.
#258 Sara Pennypacker - THE LIONS' RUN Unraveled
Q: Why focus on courage and empathy in this story?
Because courage, when rooted in empathy, becomes a quieter but more enduring form of bravery that resonates with kids who may feel they have limited power to act.
#258 Sara Pennypacker - THE LIONS' RUN Unraveled
Q: What made this seed worthy to you?
The realization that children were used as couriers in the resistance during WWII, which offered a powerful, tangible way to show courage and agency in young readers without shrinking from harsh history.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Yarn

What is The Yarn about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Short, insightful conversations with authors and illustrators about how they craft children's books, from picture books to middle grade and graphic novels. Episodes often explore the writing process, publishing journeys, collaboration with editors and designers, and the balance between storytelling and education. The shows tend to spotlight behind-the-scenes decisions, inspiration sources, and the practical realities of creating kid-lit that resonates with both young readers and adults such as teachers, librarians, and parents. A notable strength is its time-efficient interview style and a mission to illuminate the craft for classroom and library audiences, making it a strong fit for teachers, librarians, and industry professionals seeking ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Yarn?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Yarn:

1. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
2. Code Switch
3. The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. The Wirecutter Show

How many episodes of The Yarn are there?

The Yarn launched 11 years ago and published 269 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 The Yarn?

Recent guests on The Yarn include:

1. Aaron Reynolds
2. Nancy Hudgins
3. N. West Moss
4. Philip Stead
5. Dan Santat
6. Sara Pennypacker
7. Jasmine Warga
8. Betsy Bird

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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