Exploring AI, Foster Care, and Friendship in Middle Grade Fiction
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 07/01/2025
Bringing Water, And Hope, To Her Community
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes Georgie Badiel Liberty to discuss The Water Princess Builds a Well, sequel to her picture book The Water Princess. Georgie shares that the first book draws on her childhood in Burkina Faso, where she walked for hours with her grandmother to fetch water. After becoming Miss Burkina Faso and Miss Africa, Georgie moved to Paris for an international modeling career. Visiting her pregnant sister brought her face-to-face with the continued struggle for water in her home community—and renewed her commitment to give back. Through...
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Big Feelings, Ghost Cats, and Dork Diaries
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
This episode of Reading With Your Kids brings together two conversations about books that spark imagination, laughter, and meaningful conversations with young readers. First, host Jed Doherty welcomes Dork Diaries creator Rachel Renee Russell and illustrator Nikki Russell to celebrate the full-color edition of Dork Diaries 2. Rachel reflects on the series’ remarkable success—more than 55 million books sold worldwide—and recalls that, at the beginning, she simply hoped the first book might earn enough for new furniture. Nikki describes the painstaking digital coloring process, with...
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Letting Kids Find Their Own Way: Anthony and Dr. Judy Robles
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
We’re celebrating episode 2500 of Reading with Your Kids with true champions: NCAA national wrestling champion Anthony Robles, his mom, Dr. Judy Robles, and author Dr. Jenny Trocchio. Anthony shared how his picture book, Unstoppable Anthony, was inspired by his son, Abel, and the lessons his mother taught him about perseverance. The story follows Anthony’s journey from being born without his left leg to discovering wrestling, finding ways to adapt, and winning the 2011 NCAA national championship. He described seeing challenges as puzzles to solve—and using other people’s doubts as...
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Finding The Spark: Creativity, Community & Kindness
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, host Jed Doherty welcomes two picture-book authors to talk about imagination, family, and the kindness stories can inspire. First, R.J. Palacio shares The Haunted Playground, a playful tale in which Rex Magnificus, king of the ghosts, invites spirits from around the world to unwind at an annual post-Halloween gathering. When two living children stumble upon the party, they join the ghosts for a night of fun. Palacio explains that the idea began with a morning walk past a park scattered with discarded Halloween costumes. She reflects on noticing small sparks, trusting ideas...
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Ashley Belote on Mystery, Illustration, and Graphic Novels for Young Readers
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids Jed welcomes author-illustrator Ashley Belote to discuss her early-reader graphic novel, Squirrel Lock Holmes: Mystery at the Corny Maze. Ashley describes Squirrel Lock as a spirited woodland detective partnered with Mole Watson. The character grew from her childhood love of Nancy Drew, Junie B. Jones, and Spy Kids. The idea arrived during a playful “squirrel moment” while she was researching another project and sketching a flying squirrel. Chip the Chipmunk disappears in a corn maze, and more animals go missing, prompting Squirrel Lock and Watson...
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Celebrating Literacy, Representation, and Wildlife
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Jed Doherty welcomes listeners to two conversations about books and literacy. First, Mia Wenjen celebrates the third annual Newton Children’s Book Festival, taking place November 15 at the American Legion Nonantum Post 440. Its accessible venue will welcome 100 authors and illustrators, with young adult books included for the first time. After growing from 1,000 attendees in its first year, the festival offers more room, parking, and food options. Wenjen describes her goal of bringing children face-to-face with authors and showcasing creators from diverse backgrounds and genres. She also...
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Stories That Teach Kindness, Courage and Wonder
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Join host Jed Doherty for an episode featuring two authors whose books invite readers to lead with kindness and imagination. First, Janet Zappala introduces Guapo and the Mystery of Goodness Grove, a picture book inspired by Guapo, a steer weighing more than 3,000 pounds. Guapo is famous for his gentle nature, heart-shaped forehead marking, and friendship with Mabel, a pot-bellied pig. Janet explains how their bond sparked a story about celebrating differences and treating others with kindness. She believes children learn values by watching caring actions, not just hearing advice. She...
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Latkes, Learning and the Power of Movement
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
This episode brings together two authors whose work helps children connect with books and learning in different ways. Martha Seif Simpson joins Jed to talk about her easy-reader graphic novel, I Will Not Eat Latkes, designed for readers and the Hanukkah season. She explains how family latke-making traditions inspired the story: oxidized potatoes once prompted a guest to call them “rusty potato mush.” In the book, Nosh the koala encourages Potchki the ring-tailed lemur to try latkes by being brave like his hero, Judah Maccabee. Martha shares why easy readers use simple language, how...
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Stories That Help Us Laugh, Create and Heal
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, host Jed Doherty welcomes picture-book creators Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox to talk about their new book, Beware the Sock Monkeys. The couple describes how they began making books together and how their close collaboration lets them shape both manuscript and illustrations. Jonathan shares the playful premise: a family’s missing socks may have been taken by sock monkeys. Inspired by folklore, family jokes, and an orange stuffed monkey, the story follows three sisters and a skeptical dad. They also discuss school visits, children’s unexpected questions, and Heather’s...
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Mirrors, Windows & Worlds Of Wonder
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
This episode brings together authors, artists, and a generous dose of imagination to explore how books connect generations and shape young readers. We first hear from author Tracy Todd and illustrator Vashti Harrison about That You Are Here Is No Small Thing. Todd says the title grew from her visit to Senegal and Ghana, where she reflected on the survival of ancestors and the lives of future generations. The deeply personal book honors this history as an affirmation, while Harrison describes its Afrofuturist, non-linear journey through memory, space, and time. Together, they hope it will...
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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