What happens when a child’s quiet creativity gets the attention it deserves? Children’s author and illustrator Piper Thomas joins Rich Bennett to explore why reading a child’s story can help them feel heard, valued, and ready to keep creating.
Picking up a conversation that began at the Book Fair at Bel Air, Piper shares the inspiration behind The Littlest Library and its hands-on activity that helps readers make their own tiny books. She also discusses Black Bug Soup: A Tale of a Frog With Allergies and What If a Book Were a Balloon.
Along the way, Piper opens up about the challenges of self-publishing, marketing as an introvert, and finding the confidence to call herself an author. She explains how thoughtful feedback from her former teacher, author Susan Muaddi Darraj, helped her grow.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How stories and activities can encourage children’s creative expression.Why honest feedback matters alongside encouragement.What book fairs teach independent authors about connection and marketing.How business knowledge supports a sustainable writing career.Where Piper hopes to take her creativity next, including voice acting and audiobooks.
Explore Piper’s books and social channels:
https://linktr.ee/Pipthomasbooks
Find The Littlest Library at Odd Bird Bookshop:
https://oddbirdbookshop.com/products/the-littlest-library
This episode is sponsored by Freedom Federal Credit Union:
https://www.freedomfcu.org/
Subscribe to Conversations with Rich Bennett, share this conversation with a parent or teacher, and leave a review wherever you listen. If you purchase one of Piper’s books, consider leaving an honest book review, too.
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