Celebrating five years of E Train Talks with Steve Sheinkin on National Chess Day!

What happens when the greatest chess player in the world faces off against a supercomputer capable of calculating millions of moves in seconds?

In this episode of E Train Talks, I’m excited to welcome back New York Times bestselling author Steve Sheinkin to talk about his newest book, Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Match That Changed the World!

Co-written with chess Grandmaster Maurice Ashley and illustrated by award-winning graphic novelist Thien Pham, this incredible graphic novel tells the true story of one of the most fascinating chess matches in history, when world champion Garry Kasparov faced off against IBM’s supercomputer, Deep Blue.

Steve and I talk about the history behind the match, the rise of artificial intelligence, and what makes this story so interesting, even if you don’t play chess!

And since this episode is going live on National Chess Day, what better way to celebrate than with a chess match of our own? Stick around until the end to watch Steve and me face off at the chessboard! Who will come out on top? You’ll have to watch to find out!

Be sure to like this video and subscribe to E Train Talks Books for access to more interviews, book reviews and recommendations!

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Where Every Child's Journey Begins with a Book.

Readers Make Leaders!

Support E Train Talks Literacy Initiative and give the gift of books to children in underprivileged communities and help open doors to a brighter future: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/4938608

E Train Talks, Inc., is a 501©(3) nonprofit founded and led by Ethan (known as E Train), a 15-year-old award-winning literacy advocate and Giving Tuesday teen leader. E Train is committed to celebrating early literacy and inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children of all ages. Through engaging interviews with children's authors, book reviews, school visits, and literacy-focused events, E Train sparks curiosity and encourages children to discover the magic of reading. By championing diverse voices and stories, E Train not only supports language development and comprehension skills but also helps children build empathy, confidence, and a strong educational foundation.

I’m excited and extremely proud to welcome two amazing storytellers and Earth Heroes who have come together to tackle one of the biggest issues facing our planet, the climate crisis.

Meet Meera Subramanian and Danica Novgorodoff.

Meera is an award winning environmental journalist, author, and National Geographic Explorer who has spent much of her career writing about climate change, our environment, and the people affected by it.

Danica is an award winning artist, writer, and New York Times bestselling illustrator. Together, they bring their unique perspectives and talents to this important conversation about our planet and the climate crisis.

Meera and Danica combined their passion for the environment, knowledge, and incredible talent to create A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE: GLOBAL YOUTH CONFRONT THE CLIMATE CRISIS, a powerful nonfiction graphic novel that explores the realities of climate change through the stories of four young climate activists from around the world.

Through the real stories of teen climate activists, stunning illustrations, and eye opening statistics about rising global temperatures and the impacts of environmental disasters, Meera and Danica connect the science of climate change with the human lives it is already affecting.

As part of my E Train Talks Environmental Literacy Initiative, I visit classrooms, share eco-friendly books, and talk with students about simple ways we can care for our planet and take action on climate change. A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE fits perfectly with the mission of E Train Talks Earth and the work I’m doing to help young people understand that they can make a difference.

With their knowledge, creativity, and passion, Meera and Danica have given readers a meaningful way to connect with both the realities of the climate crisis and the solutions that are within our reach. I hope you’ll watch my thoughtful and insightful conversation with these two incredible humans!

Be sure to like and subscribe to E Train Talks Books for access to more interviews, book reviews and recommendations!

Powered by E Train Talks, Inc. ‪‪‪​⁠

Where Every Child's Journey Begins with a Book.

Readers Make Leaders!

Support E Train Talks Literacy Initiative and give the gift of books to children in underprivileged communities and help open doors to a brighter future: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/4938608

E Train Talks, Inc., is a 501©(3) nonprofit founded and led by Ethan (known as E Train), a 15-year-old award-winning literacy advocate and Giving Tuesday teen leader. E Train is committed to celebrating early literacy and inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children of all ages. Through engaging interviews with children's authors, book reviews, school visits, and literacy-focused events, E Train sparks curiosity and encourages children to discover the magic of reading. By championing diverse voices and stories, E Train not only supports language development and comprehension skills but also helps children build empathy, confidence, and a strong educational foundation.

In his first graphic memoir, MEXIKID, Pedro Martín introduced readers to the unforgettable story of his childhood, family, and a memorable road trip to Mexico. The book went on to receive a Newbery Honor and the Pura Belpré Author and Illustrator Awards.

Now Pedro is back with MEXIKID DREAMS, and readers once again get to step into the life of young Pedro as he dreams about his future and hopes for a life beyond sharecropping in the strawberry fields.

I had such a great time talking with award-winning author and illustrator Pedro Martín about his childhood, his family, and the experiences that eventually found their way into his books. We also talked about his creative journey and something you might not know: before becoming the creator of the critically acclaimed MEXIKID books, Pedro spent more than two decades as an artist at Hallmark!

There is so much to learn about Pedro and the stories behind his stories. And, of course, we talk about MEXIKID DREAMS, with some fun sneak peeks into what readers can expect from Pedro’s newest adventure. This was such a fun and interesting conversation. I hope you’ll check it out!

MEXIKID DREAMS arrives in the book world on September 1, 2026. Be sure to continue the MEXIKID adventure with book two!

Here's where to find out more about Pedro Martin's book journey: https://pedromartinbooks.com

Be sure to like and subscribe to E Train Talks Books for access to more interviews, book reviews and recommendations!

Powered by E Train Talks, Inc. ‪‪@etraintalks‬ Where Every Child's Journey Begins with a Book.

Readers Make Leaders!

Support E Train Talks Literacy Initiative and give the gift of books to children in underprivileged communities and help open doors to a brighter future: https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/4938608

E Train Talks, Inc., is a 501©(3) nonprofit founded and led by Ethan (known as E Train), a 15-year-old award-winning literacy advocate and Giving Tuesday teen leader. E Train is committed to celebrating early literacy and inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children of all ages. Through engaging interviews with children's authors, book reviews, school visits, and literacy-focused events, E Train sparks curiosity and encourages children to discover the magic of reading. By championing diverse voices and stories, E Train not only supports language development and comprehension skills but also helps children build empathy, confidence, and a strong educational foundation.