Let’s read, learn and grow together, one diverse character at a time.
Check out the episodes
Ainara gives us her take on the book Witchlings, and tells us why it’s one of her favourite book series with its rich themes of friendship and perseverance. Then, she travels to New York to chat with author Claribel A. Ortega, who gives us a guided tour of Peekskill, New York, the inspiration for the Witchlings’ fictional home town of Ravenskill.
After a deep-dive into Beatrice and Croc Harry, the latest book from author Lawrence Hill, Ainara jumps on her bike to meet him deep in the forest to discuss talking animals, wordplay, self-identity, and oatmeal.
Ainara gives us a peek into the magical world of The Witch Boy trilogy, one of her favourite comfort reads. Then, she jets off to Los Angeles to meet up with artist and author Molly Knox Ostertag to talk about her success in comics and why she needed to tell this important story of following your true nature.
Ainara reviews today’s book, Shuri by Nic Stone - and shares her favourite elements from the story and how she can’t wait to head to the library to get the next installment in the series. She’s joined by her pal and actress, Kamaia Fairburn - and the two library nerds tour all the magical offerings of their local public library.
After a glowing review and synopsis of The Barren Grounds, Ainara travels through her attic portal to visit author David A. Robertson under the prairie night sky. He shares his reasons for writing the series and gives us some insight into the Cree folklore that helped shape these magical tales.
We’re introduced to Rosena Fung’s playful graphic novel Living with Viola, a book about a girl learning to tame her anxiety. Then, Ainara travels by train and subway to visit Rosena in her Toronto studio, where they discuss the themes of the book and Rosena’s art. There’s even time for a little drawing demonstration from Rosena.
Ainara introduces us to the world of Zoe Washington, whose father is wrongfully incarcerated for a crime, and how she works to clear his name and get him released. All while training to be a winning contestant on a bake-off TV show. Ainara then travels to a bakery to frost cupcakes with author Janae Marks while she gives us some more details on the book and drops some hints about the sequel.
Ainara can’t count how many times she’s read the Newbery Award winning New Kid, and gives us all the reasons why this graphic novel story about identity is a regular go-to for her. Then, she jumps on a plane and a couple of trains to visit the artist behind the book, Jerry Craft in drizzly Connecticut.
Ainara gives us her trademark deep-dive into the first novelization of Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds, which leads to her love of the movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. A lucky and imaginary multiverse portal allows her to jump directly onto Hollywood Blvd, where she meets up and chats with Spider-Verse co-director, Peter Ramsey about representation in film inside the Dolby Theater.
We learn why the book “Frizzy” speaks so loudly to Ainara and how important hair acceptance has been to her. Then, we hear from a few of our author friends on the subject - Claribel Ortega, author of Frizzy,, Peter Ramsey, an executive producer of the Oscar winning short film Hair Love, and Lawrence Hill, author of Beatrice and Croc Harry
Ainara’s Bookshelf was produced with financial participation of these incredible funders
