A Story Born From Friendship, Love & Courage
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 03/16/2025
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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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,...
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Body Image, Belonging, and Love Across Languages
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this inspiring episode of the Reading With Your Kids Podcast, Jed welcomes two wonderful guests whose picture books open the door to big, heartfelt family conversations. First, Jed chats with Erin Washington, author of I’m Just Like Me. Erin shares how her biracial, very tall 10‑year‑old daughter inspired the story after feeling different from her classmates. When Erin went looking for a picture book that celebrated a child who didn’t look like everyone else, she couldn’t find one—so she wrote it. Erin talks candidly about her own 20‑year struggle with body image and eating...
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Joy, Funk & Family Secrets
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
This episode of the Reading With Your Kids Podcast is a joyful celebration of music, memory, and intergenerational connection, featuring two fantastic creators: Shadra Strickland and Celina Frenn. In the first half, Jed chats with Shadra about her vibrant new picture book, Here Comes the Band, a tribute to HBCU marching band culture. Shadra shares her own background in Atlanta’s band scene and describes the electrifying energy of halftime shows—the booming bass drums, sizzling cymbals, sequined dancers, and jaw-dropping pageantry that make the band the real main event. She talks about...
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Owl Capone & Spicy Nuggets: Big Feelings, Big Hearts
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this lively episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed celebrates two fantastic picture books that blend heart, humor, and big feelings. First up we celebrate “Owl Capone” with debut author Christy Ewers and illustrator Rob Sayegh Jr. Christy shares how a lifelong fascination with classic gangster movies and Al Capone’s quote, “Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness,” eventually hatched into Owl, the kindest soul in the Windy Forest. She wanted to flip the gangster trope, exploring what happens when someone kind is hurt or betrayed—and how choosing to “kill ’em with...
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Mischief, Monsters, and Middle Graders: Celebrating Cryptid Stories with Adriana Cuevas
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of the Reading With Your Kids Podcast, Jed welcomes back award-winning author and teacher Adriana Cuevas to celebrate her spooky new middle grade novel, Mischief and Monsters. Adriana explains what cryptids are—creatures born from mythology, urban legends, and local lore—and shares how each state, including her home state of Texas, seems to have its own mysterious monsters. Listeners meet some of the unforgettable creatures in the book, from the Bear King of Marble Falls and La Lechuza to the Houston Batman, Wampus Cat, Madre de Aguas, and of course, a chupacabra. Adriana...
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Mistakes, Magic, and Mystery: How Gareth P. Jones Writes Wildly Interactive Books
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of the Reading With Your Kids Podcast, Jed welcomes the wildly inventive Gareth P. Jones, author of the Solve Your Own Mystery series. Gareth shares how he writes his twisty, choice-filled mysteries without a strict plan, often discovering the solution right alongside his readers. He talks about the joy and chaos of letting kids help shape the story—both on the page and in his live “Mystery Makers” shows, where the audience becomes the cast, the co-writers, and sometimes the comedians. Gareth also dives into his work turning picture books into “mini musicals”,...
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.
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