Conversation started 10 September 2015, 10:14 p.m. ERIN: Hello! Here we are, sometime later, at the beginning of season two of Number Five Bus Presents. It is our task to write an introduction. Whenever I have to write an introduction, I always hear the word “introduction” with a French accent. It’s a symptom of having taken many, many ballet classes and ballet exams. Right before the music would begin, the narrator would come on over the speaker and say something like […]

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Conversation started 13 July 2015, 1:56 p.m. CORDELL: Welcome aboard the Number 5 Bus, David! I’ll be your driver today, now hold on. It’s gonna be a wild, fast, bumpy ride. Kidding, this thing goes as slow as can be. So walk around, crack a window, enjoy the ride. Just don’t pull the cord until we’ve arrived at your stop. I’ve been a big fan of yours since the first time I laid eyes upon Leaves. That book remains one […]

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FIRST, A NOTE OF INTRODUCTION FROM JULES… Hi there, those who have hopped onto the Number Five Bus. Jules from 7-Imp here. As I type this, it’s the evening of the 2015 Carle Honors, and editor Neal Porter is being celebrated as an Honoree in the category of Mentor. You can read about it here. As you can also see at that link, Neal is the publisher of his own imprint at Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), and he’s being doing that […]

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FIRST, A MESSAGE FROM MAC… This interview with Carson Ellis, one of my favorite living artists, started in July and unfolded over email very slowly over many weeks. Toward the end of the process I stayed on Carson’s farm for a couple of days and we pointedly avoided talking about anything that might come up in the interview, lest we offer the readers of this wonderful blog any conversation that felt canned. MAC: Hi, Carson! Where are you today? What […]

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Conversation started 19 September 2015, 8:59 p.m. PHIL: Hi Tao, howsit going? I’m writing to extend a casual invitation to participate in season two of Number Five Bus. The general idea for season two is to have Bus riders from season one conduct their own online conversations with people of their choosing. For example, for episode one we have Matthew Cordell talking with David Ezra Stein. I’ve been hesitant to contact you because I know you’ve got a new little […]

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INTRO: I heard through the children’s literature grapevine that Hervé Tullet was coming to the United States for an extended stay. What I didn’t know is that when I reached out to him to talk, he’d be right in the middle of the move. Conversation started 20 August 2015 TRAVIS: Hi Herve! I have a question. Do you know The Number Five Bus Presents? Phil and Erin Stead asked if I would like to have a conversation with someone for the site, and […]

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Conversation started 1 July 2015, 11:44 a.m. E.T. SERGIO:  Dear Antoinette, I’m very glad you agreed to chat with me about books and anything else that will come up. I know you are busy these days, so if it’s okay with you, I’ll begin with telling you a little bit about my childhood reading (and picture-gazing). I didn’t own many books when I was little, but a few of the ones I did have were, and still are, very dear to […]

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FIRST, A NOTE FROM CECE: So…the following is probably going to be the least introspective conversation between two illustrators you’ll ever read on Number Five Bus Presents. I guess when I talk to illustrators, I want to know more about what they’re doing when they’re not illustrating. As I was putting our correspondence together, I noticed that Lauren and I come across as total middle-schoolers, but nevertheless, it was a genuine conversation between two illustrators who really don’t like to […]

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Conversation started 2 December 2015, 1:30 p.m. REBECCA: Okay! I’m going start by being selfish and asking what I really want to know: How has the process of writing changed for you over the years? Do you feel as if your creative impulse comes from the same place it always did? (And do you ever feel tapped out?)​ KATE: ooooh,  a process question.  i love a process question. let’s see.  i’ll start with the easier part first: does the impulse […]

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Last October Sydney Smith flagged down the Bus. Later that week his book, Sidewalk Flowers, won the Governor’s General Award in Canada. It was also named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. Not bad! Conversation started 27 October 2015, 9:44 p.m. SYDNEY: Hello, It was a while ago, but in San Fransisco we were introduced by our mutual agent, Emily, and i wanted to reach out and say hi, from fan. I hope you are having a good autumn! PHIL: Hey […]

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Who will it be? The suspense is killing me!

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