🎧 The Reader's Heart Podcast | Guest: Cynthia Leitich Smith
- Jennifer LaGarde
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Recently, I've noticed how my own transient and often traumatic childhood continues to inform the way I read literature for young people. Even when books aren't explicitly about those things, it is hard for me not to consider how my own reader's heart may have responded to or been healed by the story and how it is told. This may be why I've always responded to Cynthia Leitich Smith's work and to her anthology, Legendary Frybread Drive-In, specifically. Certainly these things were on my mind throughout this episode, especially as I relistened to it during the editing process. I couldn't help but notice how I kept circling back to the ideas of connection, safety, and the people and places that present themselves exactly when we need them.
In a world that often encourages us to retreat into ourselves, the drive-in imagined by Cynthia and all the other authors who contributed to this Printz Award-winning story collection offers an alternative. It suggests that what we need most may not be another distraction or another screen, but rather a deeper connection to one another, to our communities, and to the stories that help us make sense of who we are.
These ideas also deeply inspired the educator activity that I created for students reading Legendary Frybread Drive-In as part of a novel study or book club. That said, I loved chatting with Cynthia Leitich Smith and left our conversation even more inspired by her than when we began. I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed making it.
ABOUT THIS WEEK'S GUEST
Cynthia Leitich Smith is the bestselling, acclaimed author of books for children and young adults, including Jingle Dancer, Sisters of the Neversea, and the Blue Stars series (with Kekla Magoon). A citizen of the Muscogee Nation, Cynthia is recognized as a leading voice in children's literature and has received numerous honors for her contributions to the field, including the American Indian Youth Literature Award, the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature, and the Texas Literary Hall of Fame induction.
In addition to her work as an author, Cynthia is a passionate advocate for Native representation in children's publishing and serves as the curator of Heartdrum, an imprint dedicated to Indigenous stories. Her latest book, Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, is a collaborative collection featuring a remarkable group of Indigenous creators who come together to imagine a magical drive-in that appears when it is needed most.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
EDUCATOR ACTIVITY
One of my goals for this season of The Reader's Heart is to create resources that help readers continue thinking about the ideas explored in each episode. Whenever possible, I'll be creating student activities inspired by my conversations with authors and illustrators and sharing them here as a free resource for educators. While The Reader's Heart is a podcast for adults, the books we talk about are written for kids. My hope is that these activities will serve as a bridge between the two. I'm excited to share the activity for Legendary Frybread Drive-In as it was inspired by two specific aspects of our conversation:
The idea that the drive-in appears to those in need both when and how they need it.
Cynthia's comment that the authors who contributed to this book created a diagram of the drive-in grounds, adding items as each story evolved. I loved this idea and wanted to include it in the activity!
In this resource, students are invited to inventory the many versions of Sandy June's legendary gathering place, imagine what their own drive-in might look like, reflect on why this magical space rejects social media, and ultimately create a map of the drive-in itself. Along the way, they'll consider how places, people, and communities can help us feel connected, supported, and understood when we need it most.
To make these activities as useful as possible, I've created them as Canva templates. That means you can make your own copy, adapt them for your learners, and customize them to fit your classroom, library, or book club needs.
That said, although this should go without saying, while I very much hope you'll use these resources with the readers you serve, you are not allowed to sell them. Please feel free to share them (with credit), but I absolutely do not want to find them on Teachers Pay Teachers, y'all.
👉 Download the Legendary Frybread Drive-in Educator Activity
RESOURCES & LINKS
Please enjoy a special discount of 20% off the titles mentioned in this episode (or others of your choice) by visiting Bookelicious and using the code JENNIFERLAGARDE. Note: I do not make any money from these sales, but I am delighted that you get to save some!
Cynthia's books on Bookelicious
Connect with Cynthia
MORE ABOUT THE READER’S HEART
Rooted in the belief that our world needs the magic of children’s literature now more than ever, the Reader’s Heart podcast captures conversations with authors and illustrators about children's literature as a vehicle for empathy and joy in a dark world. I'm so excited about this project and it's my wish that it brings you as much light and hope as it has brought me.
Special thanks to Corinna Luyken for creating the beautiful illustration that will serve as the show's logo. I've always found Corinna's art so moving and she perfectly captured the spirit of what I am trying to do, which is to put warmth and love into the world during a time when so many are working to limit kids' access to the warmth and love inherent in children's literature. (Also, don't forget, you can use the discount above to buy Corinna's books from Bookelicious, too!)
If all goes to plan, episodes will drop every two weeks through September 2026. Once you've had a chance to listen, I hope you will consider leaving The Reader's Heart a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review! Podcast reviews are one of the best ways to support your favorite shows and help others find these conversations.
WHERE TO LISTEN:
Wherever you listen to podcasts!
