We all have our favorite stories – the books that make us feel excited, energized, and joyful to read again and again. But what would happen if, one day, you reached for your favorite book only to find it missing from its place on the shelf? In Bianca Schulze’s upcoming picture book, Sharing is Caring, Dragon, the main character has to deal with this exact problem. We had the opportunity to Bianca about Dragon and the lessons she learns, as well as the author’s own love of children’s literature.
About Bianca Schulze
Bianca Schulze is the founder and editor of The Children’s Book Review — a resource devoted to children’s literature and literacy — and hosts The Growing Readers Podcast. Bianca is also the author of Don’t Wake the Dragon, which was translated into 20 languages and is now a six-book series, and 101 Books to Read Before You Grow Up, an Amazon Editors’ pick for Best Nonfiction for Kids. A passionate advocate for children’s literature, Bianca serves as the Webinar Coordinator for the SCBWI Rocky Mountain Chapter and is an active member of The Authors Guild. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Bianca now lives near Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and three children, where she continues to be a reader, reviewer, and devoted children’s book lover.
Thank you so much for joining us, Bianca. Let’s get started.
This is the sixth book in your Dragon series. Can you give readers a quick introduction to Dragon and some of the lessons she’s already learned in the previous books?
First of all, thank you so much for the opportunity to share Dragon with your readers. Throughout the books, she has learned many wonderful life lessons! In her first adventure, Don’t Wake the Dragon, readers meet Dragon as she tries to sleep peacefully in her castle while the kingdom bustles around her. Then, in Who Loves the Dragon?, she discovers the joy of friendship during the kingdom’s special Friendship Festival. When she starts school in Just Be Yourself, Dragon, she is super nervous (just like many of us!) but finds her courage and makes lovely new friends.
One of Dragon’s biggest challenges comes when she learns about telling the truth in Tell the Truth, Dragon — it isn’t easy, but she discovers that honesty strengthens our friendships. And speaking of friendships, Dragon even broke down barriers by becoming friends with Sir Fiero (a knight — gasp!), showing everyone that knights and dragons can absolutely be best buddies! And now, in our newest story, Sharing is Caring, Dragon, she’s learning about sharing and patience at the library.
Each book is not just a story, but an interactive adventure filled with fun activities where YOU, the reader, get to help Dragon along her journey — whether singing lullabies, giving encouragement, or helping her make good choices. This interactive element makes reading these books a fun, engaging experience, where you can become a part of Dragon’s world if you let yourself loose and your imagination free!
What kind of dilemma is she facing in Sharing is Caring, Dragon, and what lessons does she learn from it?
In Sharing is Caring, Dragon, Dragon faces a classic childhood dilemma at the library: she discovers Sir Fiero has checked out her favorite book. Instead of waiting her turn, Dragon impulsively grabs the book right out of his hands! Through this situation, Dragon learns important lessons about:
- Respecting others’ property and taking turns
- Understanding that sharing is a form of showing others that we care
- Managing disappointment when something we want isn’t immediately available
- Patience: waiting her turn to read the book
My hope is that this story helps young readers understand that sometimes we need to wait our turn, even when we really want something immediately. Sharing is a great way to show our friends that we care about them!
This is your seventh time working with illustrator Samara Hardy, who has illustrated all of the Dragon books as well as your book Cattitude. What does your collaborative process look like? Has it changed at all over the years of working together?
As the author and someone who does not illustrate, I have a wonderfully hands-off relationship with the illustration process. I trust Samara Hardy’s exceptional talent completely with bringing our Dragon stories to life, and she’s never let me down across all the Dragon books and Cattitude. I write the stories, and then my editor at Clever Publishing, Elena Izmaylova, and Samara coordinate directly. Samara has an incredible talent for infusing energy and emotion into every illustration. Our collaborative process has stayed consistent because it works so well—I focus on storytelling while giving her the creative freedom to work her magic with the visuals.
In addition to being a picture book author, you also founded The Children’s Book Review and The Growing Readers Podcast. Tell us a little about those projects, and how they came to be.
The Children’s Book Review (TCBR) began as my passion project while pursuing my path to becoming a published author. Since 2008, it has evolved from a simple blog into a comprehensive literacy resource that helps connect young readers with great books. We provide book reviews, curated reading lists, author interviews, and practical guidance to support and empower parents, educators, and caregivers to foster a love of reading in children.
The Growing Readers Podcast naturally emerged as an extension of TCBR, offering deeper conversations with children’s book creators to uncover the stories behind their work. Through both platforms, I’ve been able to combine my love of children’s literature with helping others discover great books and reading inspiration.
Who is one of the most memorable guests that you’ve had on the Growing Readers podcast?
This is near impossible to answer because I’m inspired by every guest I have on the show. But since I’m a rule breaker, I’m going to give you two (but I really just want to give you the full list — ha!): Jamie Lee Curtis because of the energy that she brings into the world and Kate DiCamillo because of her heart filled with hope.
What are your hopes for the approaching landscape of children’s literature? Do you feel like the genre is moving in the right direction in terms of diversity, inclusion, and representation?
As an author and advocate for children’s literature, I’m both hopeful and concerned about our current landscape. While we’re seeing encouraging progress in publishing diverse voices and experiences, we also face unprecedented challenges with book banning. Every child deserves to see themselves in stories and learn about others’ experiences, but politically motivated book bans are threatening this fundamental right.
A book that might be life-changing or even lifesaving for one child shouldn’t be kept from them because another family objects to its content. Adults can guide their own children’s reading choices, but those personal decisions shouldn’t restrict access for others.
The publishing industry is moving in a positive direction with increased representation, but we must ensure these changes are meaningful and lasting. We need to protect access to diverse stories while continuing to expand opportunities for creators from all backgrounds. Most importantly, we must ensure these books reach the children who need them most — because sometimes, that one perfect book can make all the difference in a young reader’s life.
On your website, you mention that you love to interact with your fans. What’s a memorable interaction you’d had with a young reader that warmed your heart or made you laugh?
One of my most touching moments as an author came through an Instagram message from a parent whose three-year-old had requested a “noisy knights party” inspired by a Don’t Wake the Dragon scene. It hit me then—my stories were bringing joy to families I’d never met. That was when I truly realized the impact my books could have in homes worldwide, and it completely warmed my heart.
Lastly, in honor of Sharing is Caring, Dragon, what was your favorite book to borrow from the library when you were a growing reader yourself?
As a kid, I was drawn to interactive books like Where’s Waldo? and Animalia by Graeme Base—they were perfect for a reluctant reader like me who loved visual engagement. Looking back, it’s no surprise I gravitated toward writing interactive stories myself. I want to create that same sense of excitement and participation that helped me fall in love with reading.
A big thank you to Bianca for taking the time to speak with us on her work, both on the page and beyond it! Be sure to find her online at biancaschulze.com, or on Instagram or Facebook at @biancaschulzewriter. Lastly, don’t forget to pre-order Sharing is Caring, Dragon, and add it to your family’s TBR list.
To see our recommendations for banned children’s books that all kids should read, check out our article here.
To see our Bookshop list of delightful recommendations for mini bookworms, click here.
