Soaring Imaginations: Exploring the Skyriders Series with Polly Holyoke

The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

In this inspiring episode, award-winning children's author Polly Holyoke joins us to discuss her enchanting middle-grade fantasy series, Skyriders.

Polly shares her insights on the power of storytelling to ignite imaginations and empower young readers to believe in their ability to make a difference. From her creative process in building immersive fantasy worlds to her unwavering commitment to crafting characters that resonate with kids, Polly offers a glimpse into the magic behind her beloved books. She also delves into the importance of infusing stories with meaningful themes, such as empathy, resilience, and the courage to effect change, while never losing sight of the joy and excitement that keeps young readers turning the pages.

Whether you're a fan of the Skyriders series, an aspiring writer, or simply someone who believes in the transformative power of children's literature, this episode will leave you inspired and motivated to embrace the magic of storytelling in your own life. Join us for a captivating conversation with Polly Holyoke, and discover how books can truly change the world, one young reader at a time.

Transcription: You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Order Copies: The Skyriders series on ⁠Amazon⁠ and ⁠Bookshop.org⁠.

Resources: Visit her online at pollyholyoke.com

Polly Hollyoke Talks About:

• Writing exciting books that hook kids and keep them reading, to help develop a love of reading and combat the many distractions competing for kids' attention today
• Balancing the creation of immersive, fantastical worlds with grounding the stories in relatable themes and realistic character development
• Drawing inspiration from myths, history (like the Pony Express), and other fantasy works to build unique worlds, like the flying horses and telepathic bonds in Skyriders
• Crafting animal characters, like the sky horses, who have distinct personalities and meaningful relationships with the human characters
• Depicting difficult issues like grief, loss, and the cost of battles in an age-appropriate way that doesn't shy away from the realities
• Empowering young characters, especially girls, to have agency, make a difference, and change their world for the better, even when they feel powerless in their daily lives
• Hoping to inspire young readers that they can make a positive impact, just like real kid activists such as Greta Thunberg and local eco groups
• The importance of authors visiting schools to connect with young readers, share their passion, and inspire kids that they too can tell meaningful stories