Rephonic
Artwork for The Yarn
Children's Literature
Creativity
School Library Journal
Graphic Novels
The Kids In Mrs. Z's Class
Procrastination Techniques
Spider In the Well
Santa's First Christmas
Character Creation
Collaboration In Storytelling
My Weird School
American Library Association
Newbery Honor
Writing Tools
The Ship In the Window
Not Nothing
The First Cat In Space
Writing Process
Curiosity Academy
Peppermint Falls

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 monthlyEpisodes246Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducation

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Artwork for The Yarn

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Zeke Peña takes us behind the scenes of his author/illustrator debut picture book, SUNDUST.

This episode is sponsored by NOSY CROW, and their innovative STORIES ALOUD program, which gives readers instant access to professionally pro... more

In this episode, award-winning author Nicholas Day takes us behind the scenes of his latest narrative nonfiction book for middle grade readers: A WORLD WITHOUT SUMMER: A VOLCANO ERUPTS, A CREATURE AWAKENS, AND THE SUN GOES OUT.

This episode is spons... more

In this episode, author Barbara O'Connor takes us behind the scenes of her bestselling middle grade novel WISH, and upcoming companion book DREAM. 

This episode is sponsored by NOSY CROW, and their innovative STORIES ALOUD program, which gives reade... more

We've been keeping this one under wraps for NINE years. An interview with Sophie Blackall in 2016 about her Caldecott Medal winning book, FINDING WINNIE (written by Lindsay Mattick). 

This episode is sponsored by NOSY CROW, and their innovative STOR... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Zeke Peña
Author and illustrator of children's books, known for his debut picture book Sundust
Episode: #246 Zeke Peña - SUNDUST Unraveled
Nicholas Day
Author of children's non-fiction, known for works like "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" and "A World Without Summer".
Episode: #245 Nicholas Day - A WORLD WITHOUT SUMMER Unraveled
Barbara O'Connor
Children's author and New York Times bestselling author of "Wish" and "Dream".
Publisher: MacMillan
Episode: #244 Barbara O'Connor
Ruth Behar
Author of Across So Many Seas
Nancy Paulson Books, Penguin Random House
Episode: #241 Newbery Winners 2025 (Part I)
Chanel Miller
Author of Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All
Penguin Random House
Episode: #241 Newbery Winners 2025 (Part I)
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Author of One Big Open Sky
Holiday House
Episode: #241 Newbery Winners 2025 (Part I)
Kate O'Shaughnessy
Author of The Wrong Way Home
Canop Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House
Episode: #241 Newbery Winners 2025 (Part I)
Erin Entrada Kelly
Author of The First State of Being
Greenwillow Books, HarperCollins
Episode: #241 Newbery Winners 2025 (Part I)
Candace Fleming
An author known for her narrative nonfiction books about historical figures.
Episode: #240 Candace Fleming - THE ENIGMA GIRLS Unraveled

Hosts

Travis Yonker
One of the hosts, Travis Yonker, has a background as a teacher and is known for his strong engagement with children's literature and his ability to connect with both authors and listeners.
Colby Sharp
Co-host, Colby Sharp is a fifth-grade teacher and a prominent advocate for children's literature, bringing an educator's perspective to the discussions which enriches the conversation around reading and authorial intent.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 153 ratings
  • 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 States7 months 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 States9 months ago
  • Best Kid Lit Podcast

    I stumbled upon The Yarn podcast in December of 2020, when our library was only doing curbside service and I was terribly missing the kids and their parents and hooking them up with books. It was a “pandemic highlight” for me—I listened to Travis and Colby as they reviewed the books of that year, and practically cried tears of joy! i’ve since kept up with it, and have listened to many of the back episodes, sometimes more than once (Gary Paulsen). Travis and Coby interview authors and illustrator... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Losing Steadily
    United Statesa year ago
  • Wow! If you love to read this will make a smile tickle your face

    I really enjoyed listening to Gary Paulsen who died two years ago. He has he had a huge heart. I’m 67 now and for 20 years or more I’ve been reading children’s and why a fiction and nonfiction as well as written for adults.

    When people say they don’t read kids books I say … no Mark Twain?

    I really like Patterson and Applegate and so many of these writers thank you for doing the show! I really like the elephants too.

    Liz

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LizSweetwater
    United Statesa year ago
  • An amazing podcast

    This podcast is such a delight to listen too! The conversations are really amazing. It is a real treat to hear directly from the authors and illustrators how their book first came to life!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kristina Lucia
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

There are positive remarks about how the podcast assists in discovering new books to recommend to young readers, enhancing listener's professional libraries.
The focus on new releases and author interviews is frequently mentioned as a highlight, bringing valuable insights into the world of children's literature.
Many enjoy the personable and engaging hosts, stating the podcast feels like a friendly and comfortable chat amongst peers.
Listeners appreciate the insightful conversations about the creative process behind children's books, which help inform their own practices as educators and librarians.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#90
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#239
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#246 Zeke Peña - SUNDUST Unraveled
Q: What do you hope happens when this book goes out into the world?
Zeke hopes it serves as a reminder that young people belong where they are and sparks curiosity in their environment.
#246 Zeke Peña - SUNDUST Unraveled
Q: What is like a typical day of work for you?
Zeke describes his workday as flexible, often allowing for short bursts of creativity around his responsibilities as a parent.
#246 Zeke Peña - SUNDUST Unraveled
Q: What kind of inspiration did you draw from to finish that narrative?
Zeke mentions that the text was a struggle, but grounded in the experience of sun and place, allowing him to finalize his story in a way that wasn't purely autobiographical.
#246 Zeke Peña - SUNDUST Unraveled
Q: Can you talk a little bit about how you got into children's books?
Zeke explains that he didn't study children's literature formally; he learned through experimentation, trial and error, and by participating in the music scene in El Paso.
#245 Nicholas Day - A WORLD WITHOUT SUMMER Unraveled
Q: What was the hardest part about writing this book?
Deciding on the tonal balance to convey the seriousness of the disaster while making it suitable for young readers.

Audience Metrics

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

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

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

A unique exploration of children's literature, this series offers listeners insightful conversations with authors and illustrators about their creative processes and the stories behind their works. Throughout various episodes, themes such as the importance of storytelling, the challenges of writing for young audiences, and the impact of personal experiences on literature are discussed, enhancing the depth of understanding for both educators and book enthusiasts. The hosts foster a warm, engaging atmosphere, making it feel as though listeners are sharing a cozy conversation with friends while discovering valuable insights and recommendations for children's books.

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?

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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. The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast
2. Totally Booked with Zibby
3. What Should I Read Next?
4. NPR's Book of the Day
5. Wild Card with Rachel Martin

How many episodes of The Yarn are there?

The Yarn launched 10 years ago and published 246 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.

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What guests have appeared on The Yarn?

Recent guests on The Yarn include:

1. Zeke Peña
2. Nicholas Day
3. Barbara O'Connor
4. Ruth Behar
5. Chanel Miller
6. Lesa Cline-Ransome
7. Kate O'Shaughnessy
8. Erin Entrada Kelly

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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