Exploring AI, Foster Care, and Friendship in Middle Grade Fiction
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 07/01/2025
How a Science‑of‑Reading Program and a 10‑Year‑Old Author Inspire Young Readers
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this uplifting episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two very different – but equally inspiring – guests who are helping kids fall in love with reading in their own ways. First, Jed talks with educator Sheila Robitaille about Reading Eggs, a science-of-reading–based ed tech program that helps children move from learning to read to reading to learn. Sheila breaks down the five pillars of reading—phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency—and explains how Reading Eggs weaves them together in a fun, gamified environment. She describes how kids earn...
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We Are Mighty: Tiny Acts That Tell Kids They Matter
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this uplifting episode, Jed welcomes New York Times bestselling author Sharon McMahon to celebrate her new picture book, We Are Mighty. Sharon shares how her lifelong love of reading started with a mom who read aloud every day and walked her to the library so often it became a second home. She and Jed talk passionately about why public libraries are “one of humanity’s best inventions” and truly democratic spaces where every child can access the same stories and information. Sharon explains that We Are Mighty grew out of her adult book, The Small and the Mighty, and out of a problem...
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Maine, Moose, and Motherhood (Sort Of)
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes beloved author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins, joining from his home state of Maine to celebrate his new picture book, Good Night, Bruce. Ryan shares the origin story of Bruce, the famously lovable grump who unexpectedly becomes the mom to three mice and four geese. Bruce, Ryan explains, is his outlet for all the grumpy feelings he usually keeps inside—a character who complains his way through life but always does the right thing for his family. Ryan talks about how a single sketch of a bear being followed by baby birds sat in his...
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Robots, Werewolves, and Wonder: Picture Books that Celebrate Imagination and Culture
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, “Robots, Werewolves, and Wonder: Picture Books that Celebrate Imagination and Culture,” Jed welcomes two sets of brilliant guests who show just how magical—and meaningful—picture books can be. First, author Jose Lourenco and illustrator James Braithwaite join us from Toronto to celebrate their best-selling debut picture book, Billie Builds a Robocorn. Jose explains that Billie, a kid navigating a move and new school, builds a homemade robotic unicorn—“Robocorn”—to ease her loneliness. James shares how their early idea started as a bedtime book and evolved into...
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From Monet to Blue Butterflies: Picture Books That Celebrate Curiosity and Inclusion
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two picture book creators who celebrate children’s creativity, curiosity, and the beauty of our differences. First, Jed chats with Jean Huxtable Hamerski, author of Marley’s Masterpiece. Inspired by her art‑loving granddaughter and a great‑nephew who once painted the house during nap time, Jean’s story follows Marley, a young artist who can’t stop thinking about Monet’s towering water lily paintings. After visiting a museum, Marley decides to create her own “masterpiece” on the walls, hallways, bathroom, and coffee table...
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Ethical Ed Tech: Putting Students Before Screens
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this thought-provoking episode, Jed welcomes Priten Soundar Shah, author of Ethical Ed Tech, to explore how schools can make wiser choices about technology in the classroom. Drawing on his background in philosophy, policy, classroom teaching, and ed tech development, Priten explains that we’ve let the tools drive our decisions instead of starting with the core question: What do we really want for our students? He and Jed talk about the mixed results of laptops and AI in schools, and how test scores haven’t magically improved just because districts spent more on devices. Priten shares...
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Love Runs Through Everything: Picture Books About Loss and Finding Your Place
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this powerful episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two picture book creators whose work helps families navigate some of life’s hardest—and most beautiful—truths. First, Shannon Gibney joins from Minnesota to talk about her picture book “Where Is My Sister?”, inspired by the stillbirth of her daughter. Shannon shares the shattering experience of losing a baby late in pregnancy and the long emotional healing that followed. As a writer, she went searching for honest, non‑sugar‑coated books about infant loss and found almost nothing, especially for families who aren’t...
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Wrapped With Love: Ashley Lam on Grandma, Wontons, and AAPI Heritage
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this inspiring episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes debut picture book author and Wall Street executive Ashley Lam, here to celebrate her new children’s book “Wrapped With Love: Wonton Noodle Day With Grandma.” Ashley shares how the story was inspired by watching her young daughter cook wontons with her grandmother during COVID. Those long days in the kitchen became a powerful reminder of intergenerational love, AAPI family traditions, and the importance of slowing down in a “go, go, go” world. She talks about how food is her mother’s love language, and...
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It’s Okay to Feel: Shannon Stocker on Boys, Big Emotions, and The Roach King of Raleigh
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this powerful episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes back Shannon Stocker, author of the new YA novel The Roach King of Raleigh, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Shannon shares the deeply personal inspiration behind Quill, a high school sophomore who’s juggling a painful mix of family addiction, financial hardship, sibling tension, and crushing loneliness. To help his struggling family, Quill starts breeding dubia roaches to feed his bearded dragon and sell to a local pet store – and those thousands of hidden insects become a vivid metaphor for the dark, buried...
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Small Acts, Big Ripples: Lin Oliver on Kindness, Kid Power, and SCBWI
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes legendary author, producer, and SCBWI co‑founder Lin Oliver to celebrate her new middle grade novel, The After School Kindness Crew: Pooch on the Loose, co‑written with Goldie Hawn. Lin shares how Goldie’s MindUP foundation and its focus on mindfulness, brain science, and helping kids self‑regulate inspired the series, which follows three “outlier” kids—Mia, River, and Tony—who secretly perform acts of kindness at school and in their community. Lin explains why she chose neurodiverse and artsy, non‑“typical” kids as...
info_outlineIn this dynamic episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty takes listeners on a fascinating journey through two remarkable middle-grade novels that push the boundaries of storytelling.
First up is J E Thomas and her groundbreaking middle grade novel "The AI Incident," which explores the complex world of artificial intelligence through the eyes of Malcolm Montgomery, a 12-year-old foster kid. Thomas reveals how her book tackles themes of technology, friendship, and personal growth, offering a nuanced look at how AI might impact education and human connections.
The episode then shifts to a captivating conversation with Newbery Award-winning author Karen Cushman, who introduces her latest work, "When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea." Cushman shares her unique approach to historical storytelling, discussing how she crafts narratives that transport young readers to different times and experiences.
Both authors offer profound insights into the writing process. Thomas explains how she found her narrative voice by connecting with her 12-year-old emotional self, while Cushman discusses overcoming her own writing fears with the support of her husband. Their stories highlight the importance of persistence, creativity, and authentic storytelling.
The conversations touch on critical themes that resonate with young readers and parents alike - from the challenges of foster care and the impact of technology to the power of curiosity and personal discovery. Both books serve as windows into different worlds, encouraging empathy, understanding, and imagination.
Listeners will be inspired by the authors' passion for storytelling, their commitment to creating meaningful middle-grade literature, and their ability to tackle complex subjects with humor, heart, and insight.
"The AI Incident" launches on July 8th, and Karen Cushman's "When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea" offers young readers a compelling historical adventure. Don't miss these incredible new additions to middle-grade literature!
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