In this episode of the David Watson Podcast, I sit down again with children’s author Amy Pollack to talk about her Jelly Bean series – The Adventures of Jelly Bean, The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, and The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean – and the very real issues young readers face today.

Amy explains how Jelly Bean’s world tackles topics like poverty, mixed-race identity, bullying at school, and the tensions between caring parents, independent children, and wise grandparents.

We talk about how parental prejudice can show up in subtle ways, how kids learn to think for themselves, and why grandparents often bring a calming, long-view perspective into family life.

Amy also shares powerful stories from her own family history: growing up with parents and grandparents shaped by the Great Depression, what real poverty looked like, and how those experiences inspired the characters and emotional depth in her books.

We explore why writing can be so therapeutic, how authors pour their own doubts and memories into fictional characters, and why Jelly Bean has become a “real role model” for so many young readers.

If you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, or simply love children’s books that make kids think, you’ll enjoy this short, thoughtful conversation with Amy about empathy, resilience, and the messy reality of growing up.

In this episode we talk about: The Jelly Bean series and what each book explores Why Amy keeps the titles simple and clear How Jelly Bean deals with friendship, class, and mixed-race identity

Bullying in schools and how Jelly Bean responds in book four Parents’ fears, stereotypes, and trying to “protect” their children

The role of grandparents as listeners, guides and stabilising influences Amy’s own parents and grandparents, poverty in the Depression era, and “Sunday best” shoes

How writing helps us process grief, memory and complicated emotions

Why Jelly Bean ended up being called a real role model

Find Amy Pollack and the Jelly Bean books: Website: https://amypollack.com