A Story Born From Friendship, Love & Courage
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 03/16/2025
Discovering Your Roots and Finding Your Rhythm
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of Reading with Your Kids, guest host Madison Lucchesi welcomes author Teri Arvesú González to discuss The Stories We Inherit. What began as a letter to her son grew into a book honoring his graduation from Jesuit education and exploring nine generations of family history. Teri reflects on how we inherit both strengths—like resilience and courage—and limiting expectations. Her hope is that readers will reflect on what helps them grow and preserve family stories. She encourages families to put down their phones, make time for conversation, and ask older relatives about...
info_outline
Bringing Laughter to the World—and Ghosts to the Bayou
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Reading With Yur Kids host Jed Doherty welcomes two guests to explore joy, storytelling, and place. First, Watson Kawecki, interim executive director of Clowns Without Borders, describes the organization’s work bringing performances, connection, and laughter to communities facing difficult circumstances. Its 13 active projects in 2026 span partnerships around the world, including refugee camps, schools, hospitals, and community spaces. Teams travel in small groups and work only when invited, with local needs and performer safety guiding each visit. Watson shares how a lifelong love of...
info_outline
Small Voices, Big Impact: Stories of Courage and Change
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Jed Doherty welcomes authors Carmen Rubin and Leslee Flanagan to explore how picture books connect children with history, family, and the world around them. Historian Carmen Rubin shares the story behind A Night for the Rice Carriers, honoring Yaya and Panza, West African women who hid rice in their braids while escaping enslavement. Their knowledge helped them survive and build new communities. Rubin celebrates their courage and ingenuity rather than focusing only on suffering. She chose a picture book to introduce history early through rhythm, imagery, and joy. Recalling stories shared as...
info_outline
Drawing The Hundred Acre Wood
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Joe Sutphin and Kevan Chandler joined host Jed Doherty to discuss creating their graphic novel adaptation of Winnie the Pooh. Joe explained that his earlier collaboration on Watership Down helped open the door to the project. He wanted Kevan as his writing partner, drawing on their close friendship and successful work together. Kevan, who grew up being read Winnie the Pooh, described joining the project as a dream come true and a joyful responsibility. Their goal was to make A. A. Milne’s original story visually accessible without reinventing it. Joe and Kevan worked to preserve beloved...
info_outline
Magic Marks & Ghost Armies: How Picture Books Build Brave Kids
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, we celebrate two powerful picture books that help kids see their own strength, uniqueness, and courage. First, Jed chats with Dr. Tisha Shipley, educator and author of Writer’s Magic Mark. Inspired by her nephew Ryder, who was born with a distinctive birthmark down his arm, Tisha’s story turns that mark into something literally magical. In the book, Ryder’s birthmark comes to life and helps his friends discover what makes them special—on the outside and the inside. Tisha shares how her 26 years in education shaped the book, why she’s so passionate about mental health...
info_outline
Teaching Kids History & Civility with Keith Morgan and Kelly Garrett
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode, we have a long and intense conversation with Keith Morgan, author of the adult biography Ruta’s Closet, which tells the powerful true story of one Jewish family’s survival during the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Lithuania. Keith shares how the book—originally written for adults—has become a vital resource for teaching teens about this dark chapter of history, and how he’s now working on age-appropriate versions and guides so parents and educators can share the story with younger readers. Keith recalls meeting Ruth, the survivor whose story he tells, and how her...
info_outline
Teaching Kids to Think Critically and Ask Questions
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, Jed welcomes back Angela Santomero, beloved creator behind Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and now the Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things book and YouTube series. Angela shares how Princess Penelope’s adventures are designed to build critical thinking skills, kindness, and problem-solving in young kids—while still being totally silly and “preposterous.” She explains how careful research with children helps her team make sure the stories are both educational and genuinely funny, and why using “big” words like preposterous can be a...
info_outline
The Admiral of Adventure Meets The Brave Fuzzy
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, we’re celebrating two very special books that help families and kids explore big ideas—through story, science, and faith. First, Jennifer Swanson returns to talk about her new nonfiction Christmas book, “Unto Us a Child Is Born: A Family Celebration of Christmas” (Workman Publishing). Known for her STEM and STEAM books, Jennifer steps into faith-focused nonfiction for kids ages 8–12 and their families. She explains how the book weaves Bible verses, narrative explanations, and classic hymns to walk readers through the Nativity story, inviting families to read,...
info_outline
Hyper Kids & Free Voices: Celebrating Energy, Empathy, and the First Amendment
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this uplifting episode of Reading with Your Kids, we’re celebrating kids’ energy, voices, and rights through two powerful picture books and conversations with their inspiring creators. First, guest host and Emerson College journalism student Madison Lucchesi talks with Ruth Fleury, author of Hyper Kid, so they say. Ruth shares how her energetic son and her years as a kindergarten teacher inspired her to write a story that reframes “hyper” as positive energy, not a problem to be fixed. She and Madison talk about giving kids space to move, “wiggle breaks,” and the importance of...
info_outline
Executive Functioning, Parent Advocacy, and A Night of Madness
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of the Reading With Your Kids Podcast, we’re celebrating two very different – but beautifully connected – books that can spark powerful family conversations. First, Jed welcomes Denise Abdale, author of the back‑to‑school picture book “Jacob Gets Organized.” Drawing on over 40 years as an educator and special education advocate, Denise explains what executive functioning skills really are—planning, organization, time management—and why so many kids struggle with them. She shares practical, parent-friendly strategies: color‑coded notebooks and folders,...
info_outlineIf you're looking for an inspiring new children's book that teaches important lessons about resilience, kindness, and courage, you'll want to check out "Brave Buzzy Bee." In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty chats with the delightful co-authors, Rima Fakih and Theresa Alhayek, about how this charming picture book came to be.
Rima and Theresa's collaboration started when Theresa's previous book, "Dream Big Little Princess," caught Rima's eye. Rima, a busy mom, former Miss USA and UN influencer, was inspired to write her own children's book, and she reached out to Theresa. The two hit it off immediately, bonding over their shared experiences of raising large families and even having preemie babies on the same day!
As Rima and Theresa describe their writing process, it's clear they have a wonderful, supportive partnership. They worked together remotely, going back and forth on every word to craft the perfect rhyming story about the brave little buzzy bee. And when an editor suggested flipping the ending, the co-authors embraced the challenge, ultimately creating an even stronger, more empowering tale.
Throughout the conversation, Rima and Theresa's passion for the project shines through. They're excited to see how kids and parents react to "Brave Buzzy Bee" and are already dreaming up ideas for future collaborations - perhaps even a book for moms and dads! We also welcomed back author George Neeb to celebrate his new children's book Hot Cocoa and Courage. This delightful story was inspired by George's experience of building a cabin in the wilds of Ontario with his sons,
If you're looking to inspire courage, kindness, and a love of reading in the young readers in your life, be sure to check out "Brave Buzzy Bee." With its delightful characters, catchy rhymes, and valuable lessons, this picture book is a must-read.
Click here to visit our website – www.ReadingWithYourKids.com
Follow Us On Social Media
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/readingwithyourkids
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/readingwithyourkids/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-with-your-kids-podcast/
Please consider leaving a review of this episode and the podcast on whatever app you are listening on, it really helps!