In this episode of Friday Feast, Sara and Diane talk with Jill Morgan of Purple House Press about her nearly 2 decades worth of memories of beloved children's author Leonard Kessler who died earlier this year. Kessler is the author of the Mr. Pine books among many others and he served as a mentor to Jill as she got into publishing and throughout the end of his life. This wonderful man lives on in his beautiful books at Purple House Press. Listen into this episode to hear about his Army service, friendship with Andy Warhol, his purple door, and his delightful love of crayons. We agree with Jill when she says that like Mr. Rogers, Leonard Kessler was a national treasure.

You can learn more about Kessler at Biblioguides here: https://www.biblioguides.com/pub/author/leonard-kessler

(If you do not have a Biblioguides membership, you can sign up here. This is our affiliate link but we are not compensated in any way. We are simply sharing it to help.)

Books mentioned in this podcast (linked to our reviews with a look inside):

Mr. Pine's Purple House

Mr. Pine's Mixed Up Signs

Mrs. Pine Takes A Trip

That's Not Santa

Stan The Hotdog Man

Miss Jaster's Garden

The Blueberry Pie Elf

Little Old Man Who Cannot Read

Goose

Duchess Bakes a Cake

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/24/books/leonard-kessler-dead.html

Interview: Remembering Leonard Kessler - author of the Mr. Pine books