Join us in this in-person conversation with Matthew Forsythe—acclaimed creator of Poko and the Drum, Mina, and Aggie and the Ghost. Known for his cinematic pacing, emotional subtlety, and the stillness of his characters, Matthew talks about how his picture books grow from sketches, memories, and one core emotion—whether courage, anxiety, or the shadows we carry.

In this episode, we explore:
• how he balances introvert–extrovert energies in storytelling
• how animation influences his sense of drama
• the emotional “keywords” behind each book
• the invisible dialogue between reader and creator……

Antoinette Portis is an award-winning American author and illustrator of picture books. Her debut title Not a Box became a contemporary classic, followed by Not a Stick, Wait, A New Green Day, Hey, Water! and others.

Her work is celebrated for its elegant minimalism, visual wit, and a profound respect for children’s creativity and perception. Before becoming a full-time author-illustrator, she worked as a creative director at Disney. Portis’s books invite readers to rediscover the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary.

In this episode, we dive into the wonderfully creative world of Charise Mericle Harper—author, illustrator, and all-around imagination expert. With simple shapes and a great sense of humor, Charise shows us how stories come to life, how drawing is really about sharing ideas, not making things perfect, and how limitation sparks her creativity. 

Charise makes all kinds of books: picture books, early readers, graphic novels, chapter books… and she even experiments with embroidery and stop-motion animation. Come hear how she brings it all to life!