If you’ve ever bounced on a trampoline, enjoyed a popsicle, or used earmuffs to keep warm, you have children to thank—all those things were invented by remarkable kids.
Librarian and blogger Betsy Bird recognizes that some of the best ideas spring from the minds of pint-size geniuses, and she’s looking forward to showcasing their brilliance.
Bird (an occasional Kirkus contributor) will host the Story Seeds podcast, scheduled to launch later this year, which will feature kid-lit authors writing short stories based on ideas from children aged 7 to 12.
“By recognizing children as the creative rockstars that they are, Story Seeds will empower young people as creators, thinkers, and storytellers,” Bird said in a news release.
We're delighted to officially announce that our favorite Funny Girl, Betsy Bird (@FuseEight) is the host of The Story Seeds Podcast! Honored to have her with us on this journey and can’t wait for you to hear her pow-wow with our awesome slate of storytellers! #podcastsforkids pic.twitter.com/W6IrVoN3sm
— Literary Safari Media (@LitSafariMedia) September 24, 2019
The podcast will feature children explaining their ideas for stories to kid-lit authors, who will develop short stories based on the kids’ original concepts. Participating writers include Tracey Baptiste, Aram Kim, Rajani LaRocca, and Veera Hiranandani.
Story Seeds is the brainchild of Sandhya Nankani, the founder and publisher of the studio Literary Safari. “Creativity is an essential 21st-century survival skill and my vision in creating Story Seeds is to inspire families and educators to celebrate and nurture it,” Nankani said. “By showcasing and modeling a collaborative creative process, Story Seeds will demonstrate that when children are given their rightful place at the table, amazing things can happen.”
The podcast has already gained the imprimatur of 11-year-old Irthan R., who endorsed it on the Story Seeds website, saying, “Listeners out there, use your imagination. And dab on the haters!”
Michael Schaub is an Austin, Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.