Podcast Summary

Podcast: New Books Network (Children's Literature Channel)

Host: Mel Rosenberg
Guest: Suzy Levinson
Episode: Suzy Levinson, "Dinos That Drive" (Tundra Books, 2025)
Date: October 4, 2025

Overview of Episode's Theme

This lively and heartfelt episode celebrates the launch of Suzy Levinson’s new book, Dinos That Drive, a poetry picture book combining dinosaurs, vehicles, humor, and fun facts. Host Mel Rosenberg dives deep into Levinson’s creative process, her background in acting and writing, the technical craft of rhymer’s poetry, and her career journey from theatre to acclaimed children’s author. The conversation also touches on the challenges and triumphs of publishing funny, rhyming picture books and teases Levinson’s forthcoming projects.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Introduction & New Book Overview ([02:24], [02:41])

• Dinos That Drive is a picture book poetry collection featuring dinosaurs and vehicles, illustrated by Dustin Harbin and published by Tundra Books (an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada).
• Levinson credits the illustrator’s unique style:

  "He just has such incredible..." ([03:20])

• Editor: Margot Blankier.
• Mel celebrates the book’s release and humorously requests Levinson to "show everybody the book" and share a reading ([02:28]).

2. How the Book Was Made ([04:15], [04:48], [05:12])

• Levinson shares the joy of collaborating with Dustin Harbin, highlighting the endpapers featuring dinosaur constellations.
• She describes being "blown away" by the illustrations.
• The book’s format includes playful poems for each dino-vehicle combo and banter from two small dinosaur characters providing fun facts.

3. Poetry Samples and Creative Choices ([05:12]–[06:28])

• Suzy reads from her poem "Thunder Lizard" (Brontosaurus on a motorcycle):

  "Boom. Boom. Broom. Broom. Do you hear that engine roar? Zip, zip. Zoom, zoom. Check it out. A dinosaur, Brontosaurus on the move. Heavy metal in the groove, helmet on his tiny head..." ([05:21])

• Facts are woven into the poems as dialogue between two recurring cartoon characters.

Notable Quote

• On why facts became dialogue:

  "As nonsensical as these poems feel, they're actually written with a certain kind of logic. That's how I chose which dino goes with what vehicle." ([06:53]–[07:53])

4. The Birth of the Characters' Banter ([08:00], [08:38])

• Initially, facts were in italics—editor Margot Blankier suggested voice-y banter.
• Inspiration: Statler and Waldorf from The Muppet Show.
• Levinson recalls the revelation and immediate urge to write:

  "It suddenly became so clear...My husband and I drove home a day early, and we literally put the suitcases down, and I went to the computer and I wrote the whole thing out." ([08:38])

5. The Craft and Challenge of Rhyme ([10:16]–[12:34])

• The technical demands of rhyme and meter are explored.

• Mel calls the poetry "hilarious...the rhyme is fine and the meter is sweeter" ([10:47]).

• Levinson emphasizes the difficulty and commitment required for quality rhyming poetry:

  "It is so aggravating when you can't find the perfect word because you have to make it sound natural, conversational...you can't throw in a bunch of inversions or forced beats..." ([11:45])

• Levinson enjoys working within structure:

  "It's like writing a word puzzle for myself and then having to solve it." ([11:17])

6. Influence and Inspirations ([13:11]–[13:39])

• Mel draws a parallel to Ogden Nash, which Levinson takes as a compliment but admits she wasn’t familiar with Nash until after starting her own poetry ([13:14]).
• Early favorites included James Marshall, the Frances books, Sendak, and Shel Silverstein ([27:23]).

7. Personal Journey: Theatre to Writing ([14:04]–[21:57])

• Levinson’s creative roots in Massachusetts: daydreaming, loving books, and acting in high school ([14:04]).
• Acting ambitions led her to New York, performing mainly in plays before transitioning out of the profession ([16:06]).
• She describes the struggle to find her creative outlet and the slow process of discovering children's writing ([19:47]):

  "If you had asked me then what kind of picture book you're going to write, I wouldn't have guessed...the voice I've developed as a writer feels like it directly connects to who I was when I was a kid." ([19:17])

8. Breaking into Children’s Books ([22:24]–[25:35])

• Early missteps: assumed writing picture books would be easy, tried to go it alone.
• The necessity of classes, critique groups, and community via SCBWI and 12x12:

  "It took some time to convince myself...this is actually a craft. I have to take a class." ([24:30])

• Learning structure and finding support transformed her approach.

9. The “Rhyming Bug” and Technical Growth ([27:18]–[30:58])

• Levinson found joy—and a niche—in writing rhyme, especially after taking Renée LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab course:

  "Her class changed everything for me. Everything." ([29:48])

• On rhyme, meter, and form:

  "By the way, meter is not counting syllables. That's what I learned in Renee's class." ([28:51])

10. Building a Career: Submissions, Agents, and Books ([32:37]–[38:21])

• Strategy: publish rhymed poetry in children’s magazines (Highlights, Cricket, etc.) as credits toward selling books ([30:58]).
• Agent journey:
  • Found dream agent Rachel Orr through 12x12’s Gold level ([34:02]).
  • Experienced slow progress; first agent didn’t work out, then finally signed with Rachel Orr after a yearlong wait ([34:11]–[36:10]).

11. “Animals in Pants”: Previous Book ([38:42]–[42:43])

• Mel praises Animals in Pants for its multi-level humor and non-pandering style:

  "A lot of humor is adult humor...it works on multiple levels." ([39:16])

• Origin story: invented the “pantaloons” form because strict poetry forms felt confining ([40:02]).
• Sample poem "Cattitude":

  "This cat wears pants. They're custom made in tiger striped velour. You can't ignore a cat in pants. That's what he wears them for." ([41:12])

• Mel highlights the cleverness of the giraffe/kilt rhyme:

  "Pants, they don't fit. When your legs are like stilts, that's why giraffes wear kilts." ([41:59])

12. Looking Ahead: New and Upcoming Projects ([44:58]–[47:47])

• Levinson’s first two books have been poetry collections, but more story-arc-driven picture books are coming.
• She recently sold three new books:
  • A Year in Clown Town (Tundra): “One big long poem...about the months of the year. A little bit inspired by Chicken Soup with Rice.” ([45:47])
  • Salvador Snake Looking for Love (Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins): Based on a doodle from Levinson’s youth ([46:28]).
  • A not-yet-announced board book ([47:36]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the joy of pairing facts and fun:
  "As nonsensical as these poems feel, they're actually written with a certain kind of logic." – Suzy ([07:53])

• On embracing rhyme’s challenges:
  "You have to make it sound natural, conversational...nothing forced. Everything has to feel tonally consistent." – Suzy ([11:45])

• On writing background and creative autobiography:
  "When I write a character that's too close to myself, I'm just aware of the inauthenticity...but if I write in, in the voice of, like, a rock and roll dinosaur..." – Suzy ([20:13])

• On discovering the right creative path:
  "...all of a sudden it occurred to me and I had tears in my eyes. I was like, this is my calling. How did I not see this before?" – Suzy ([23:05])

• On the reality of publishing:
  "It is very hard to sell poetry collections." – Suzy ([44:58])

• On the support of community:
  "Suddenly I was in it in a way that I hadn't been before, when I was just all by my lonesome, crying out into the universe, why doesn’t anyone like my writing?" ([25:35])

Reading & Performance Highlights

• [05:21] and [12:49]: Levinson reads "Thunder Lizard" and "Carnivore Part 1" (T. Rex poem).
• [09:29]: Banter sample between dinosaur characters.
• [41:12]: Levinson reads “Cattitude” poem from Animals in Pants.
• [41:59]: Giraffe/kilt poem.
• [48:19]: Levinson sings "Iguanagon, a sad country song" from Dinos That Drive.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:28 – Book introduction, showing & describing Dinos That Drive
• 05:12 – Reading “Thunder Lizard” poem
• 06:53 – Explaining the logic behind poem/vehicle-dino choices
• 08:00 – Backstory on character banter addition
• 10:16 – The challenge and joy of rhyming poetry
• 13:11 – Influence (Ogden Nash)
• 14:04 – Growing up and the roots of creativity
• 19:17 – Connecting childhood personality to written voice
• 22:24 – Moving from acting to writing, and learning the craft
• 27:18 – The “rhyming bug” and the impact of Renée LaTulippe’s class
• 34:02 – Agent journey and the long wait
• 38:42 – Animals in Pants origins and book reading
• 44:58 – Forthcoming projects and what’s next
• 48:19 – Singing “Iguanagon, a sad country song” from Dinos That Drive

Tone and Atmosphere

The conversation is enthusiastic, witty, supportive, and reflective. Mel acts as both cheerleader and inquisitor, drawing out the humor and deep thoughts in Levinson’s process. Levinson is candid and self-deprecating, full of insight into both the challenges and the joys of writing funny, rhyming picture books.

Conclusion

This episode is a must for anyone curious about children’s publishing, poetry, or the winding roads of creative careers. With candid discussion of adversity, perseverance, and technical mastery, it’s both a celebration of a funny, imaginative new book and a source of honest inspiration for aspiring writers.

Final Note: Dinos That Drive launches October 5, 2025 from Tundra/Penguin Random House Canada. Levinson has more books on the way and a distinctive voice in contemporary children’s poetry—full of wit, technical skill, and warmth.