It's the final episode of our mini series and the final episode of the season! Today's guest is Marion Lindsay, who I can say is a very loved illustrator in my house.

Marion Lindsay is a children's book illustrator who lives and works in the UK. She is best known for creating the artwork for the chapter book series "Zoey and Sassafras" written by Asia Citro. These wonderful stories allow Marion to draw some of her favourite things; a strong female main character and her brilliantly fluffy cat, magical creatures and science experiments, all set in a lush, natural environment.
Marion has always been arty and after studying illustration for her first degree she moved to Sweden for the better part of her twenties, absorbing influences from Scandinavian culture and developing a lifelong love for all things Moomin. On returning to the UK Marion completed an MA in children's book illustration at Cambridge School of Art, winning the prize for Best New Talent in her graduating year. Since then she has illustrated a great many chapter books as well as picture books, school books and all sorts of things in between!Marion lives with her family in the Cotswolds where, whenever she gets a moment, she likes to paint a picture or decorate something; anything that needs a picture or a pattern. She has a great love for black ink on paper which alternates with a great desire to use every colour in the pallette!

Relevant links:

You can follow Marion on Instagram or find her on her website.

Books mentioned: Alligator Pie, Maisie Hitchens, Zoey and Sassafras

About the show:

You can find all of the books from Turning Back the Pages on Bookshop.org.

Follow ⁠Ally⁠ on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Twitter/X⁠

Thank you to ⁠Juqboxmusic and ⁠zXennial_Music⁠ for the show music

Welcome to the second week of the mini art season, aka, the season where I, someone who knows next to nothing about art, talk to the artists of children's books. These artists have been so wonderful and interesting to talk to, and this week's guest, Amy Grimes, is no exception!

As a child, fairytales and fantastic illustrations captivated Amy’s mind and sparked her passion for beautiful artwork and writing. Over the years she has created various kinds of art but her favorites pieces are those inspired by stories. She has illustrated two of her own children’s books as well as several books by other authors and she writes a quarterly column for Cultivating Oaks Press. She believes artwork that reflects goodness and truth can bring light into peoples lives, encouraging them and giving them hope. Her inspiration comes from long walks, rambling prayers, starry skies, and dreamy fairy tales. She enjoys a quiet life with her husband in a house full of treasured books and bright colors. A sleek, black cat and two very silly bird dogs keep her company each day while she paints.

Relevant links:

Amy's Instagram

And The Light Comes In

Lucilla and the Gnarly Skein

About the show:

You can find all of the books from Turning Back the Pages on Bookshop.org.

Follow ⁠Ally⁠ on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Twitter/X⁠

Thank you to ⁠Juqboxmusic⁠ and ⁠zXennial_Music⁠ for the show music

Welcome to the mini season where we are discussing the art of children's books. This week, my guest is Jenny Williams.

Jenny Williams is the artist and owner behind Carrot Top Paper Shop, an online shop for bookish kindred spirits founded in 2015. She is also the coauthor of Eat Like a Heroine (End Game Press 2024). Jenny is passionate about nurturing creativity and approaching every aspect of life with a heroine mindset. She and her family live in a little house in the big woods in Oklahoma. Find her online at artistjennywilliams.com and @carrottoppapershop on Instagram.
Relevant Links:

Watch Mary Steenburgen read Strega Nona.

About the show:

You can find all of the books from Turning Back the Pages on Bookshop.org.

Follow ⁠Ally⁠ on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Twitter/X⁠

Thank you to ⁠Juqboxmusic⁠ and ⁠zXennial_Music⁠ for the show music

This week on the podcast, I am joined by the delightful Laura Bontje.

Laura Bontje is a fiction editor and children’s book author who writes stories that celebrate childhood curiosity, language, and STEM. A former teacher, Laura worked in the not-for-profit industry before taking the leap into freelance editing. Her first book, Was It a Cat I Saw?, was released this past March. Her second, When the Air Sang, comes out on April 8, 2025, with more to come!

When she’s not reading and writing, Laura likes to follow her whims toward new hobbies: having tried out crossword puzzle creation, cookie decorating, and watercolor sketching, she’s currently teaching herself to crochet. Laura was raised in Calgary, Alberta, and now lives in London, Ontario, with her husband, two young kids, and a fluffy grey cat who behaves like a dog.

Relevant Links:

Follow Laura on Instagram or Twitter.

About the show:

You can find all of the books from Turning Back the Pages on Bookshop.org.

Follow ⁠Ally⁠ on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Twitter/X⁠

Thank you to ⁠Juqboxmusic⁠ and ⁠zXennial_Music for the show music

This episode is for anyone who has ever wanted undreds of cats, thousands of cats, million and billions and trillions of cats!

On this week’s episode of Turning Back the Pages, author Heather C. Morris and I are discussing Wanda Gag's Millions of Cats. This was my first time reading it, and I was fascinated by the story as well as the illustrations.

Heather C. Morris is the grateful author of multiple books for kids – fiction, nonfiction, picture books, and middle grade – including Trunk Goes Thunk! (Gnome Road Publishing, 2024), and a ghost story in the Haunted States of America Anthology (Godwin Books/Macmillan, 2024). She is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Middle Grade Hub, and the 12×12 picture book challenge.

When Heather’s not reading, typing, or doodling, you’ll find her hiking the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains with her husband, their three kids, and their rescued border collie.

Relevant Links:

Instagram and Twitter/X

Website

The trunk video

About the show: Turning Back the Pages is on Bookshop.org! https://x.com/morrwriting

Follow ⁠Ally⁠ on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Twitter/X⁠

Thank you to ⁠Juqboxmusic⁠ and ⁠zXennial_Music⁠ for the show music

This week on the podcast, Paola Santos joins me to discuss four of Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales.

Paola Santos is a children’s book author born and raised in Venezuela. After moving to Canada, she found the courage to share the words and stories that had long been enclosed in her imagination. Her stories are now woven with her culture, experience in a new country, hope, happiness, and diversity. Paola holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Literature and Children’s Literature and Reading Promotion. She is the author of How to Eat a Mango, which was published last month, and the forthcoming picture book A House in My Barrio in 2026.

You can find Paola on her website or instagram or X.

You can find her books and all Turning Back the Pages books on Bookshop.org About the show:

Follow ⁠Ally⁠ on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Twitter/X⁠

Thank you to ⁠Juqboxmusic⁠ and ⁠zXennial_Music⁠ for the show music

On this week’s episode of Turning Back the Pages, I am joined by Tate Godwin.

Tate Godwin is a kids' graphic novelist and illustrator living and drawing in North Carolina. He loves making stories about friendship, facing fears, and being true to oneself. His debut kids' graphic novel, Operation: Cover-Up will be published by Andrews McMeel on January 21, 2025

Relevant Links:

Tate's Instagram and Website

About the show:

To read any of the books from Turning Back the Pages, visit the podcast's Bookshop.org store!

Follow ⁠Ally⁠ on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Twitter/X⁠

Thank you to ⁠Juqboxmusic⁠and ⁠zXennial_Music⁠ for the show music

What happens when you realize one of your favorite childhood books is a bit more problematic than you realized as a child? My guest, Shruthi Rao, and I discuss this and more in this week's episode of Turning Back the Pages.

Shruthi Rao writes for children. Her books, both fiction and nonfiction, have been published in India and the USA. Shruthi likes books, food, trees, benches, science, ad long walks. She finds people utterly fascinating. Originally from Bengaluru, India, Shruthi now lives in northern California.

Relevant Links:

Shruthi's Instagram

Shruthi's Website

This week's sponsor (Just kidding! Find the show's books here)

About the show:

Follow ⁠Ally⁠ on ⁠Instagram⁠ or ⁠Twitter/X⁠

Thank you to ⁠Juqboxmusic⁠ and ⁠zXennial_Music⁠ for the show music