Exploring AI, Foster Care, and Friendship in Middle Grade Fiction
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 07/01/2025
Teaching Empathy Through Birds & Books
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Latin Grammy–nominated musician and debut picture book author Sonia de los Santos joins Jed to talk about birds, borders, and the magic of bilingual stories. Sonia shares the inspiration behind her new picture book La Golondrina, based on her song of the same name. The story follows a young girl who becomes fascinated with swallow birds while visiting her grandmother, and slowly begins to see her own migration story reflected in their long journeys. Sonia connects this to her real life, growing up in Monterrey, Mexico, then moving to the New York City area to pursue musical theater,...
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The Shocking Truth About Playtime and Read‑Alouds in Today’s Classrooms
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Join Jedlie for a heartfelt, high‑energy double feature celebrating the power of stories, family, and big feelings. First up, speech therapist and children’s author Kimberly Delude chats about her picture book series “Freddie the Fly.” Freddie is a lovable little fly who struggles with listening, reading nonverbal cues, and social skills. Kimberly shares how a single bored student in grad school inspired her to create fun, kid‑friendly stories instead of dry, adult‑focused “do this, don’t do that” materials. She and Jed dive into why reading with kids builds vocabulary,...
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Unforgetable Stories Of Love & Survival
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this heartfelt and adventurous episode, Jed welcomes Jessica Collins and Lisa Malamed to celebrate their upcoming picture book Where’s Big Dog: A Story of Loss and Love. Inspired by Jessica’s beloved golden doodle Lucy, the book gently helps children and adults navigate the loss of a pet. Jessica and Lisa share sweet, funny memories of Lucy—like how she’d jingle her collar instead of barking to wake Lisa up—and talk about how deeply pets become part of the family. They explain that the dogs in the book aren’t named or gendered so any reader can see their own pet in the story....
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Your Dog Is The Best Children's Book Critic
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Reading With Your Kids” welcomes two wonderful guests who celebrate the magic of stories, family, and imagination. First, New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff joins Jed to talk about her new middle grade fantasy, The After Myth. Tracy shares how the excitement of a new book release never fades, especially when a story is as personal as this one. She reveals that her heroine Penelope and sidekick Fifi are secretly based on her real-life college best friend and herself. Tracy describes The After Myth as a Greek‑mythology‑inspired adventure set at Naximanders Academy, where...
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Get Off The Bench & Play!
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode, I welcome Andrea Goldner, affectionately known as Nanni Andi, to talk about her picture book Nanni Andi and Our Adventure to All Friends Park and her lifelong work as a nanny. Andrea shares how, after raising her own kids, she went “back” into childcare because it’s what she truly loves and does best. Calling herself a “new wave Mary Poppins,” she explains why reading to children from newborn age is so powerful: it builds vocabulary, confidence, and, most importantly, a deep emotional bond. Andrea describes how her stories prepare kids for real-world...
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Why Reading With Your Kids Still Matters In A Divided World
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, Jed welcomes third grade teacher and debut picture book author Alex Friedrichs to talk about his heartwarming new book, Sweet Rescue. Alex shares how the story was born in the most surprising way—a 4 AM dream that sent him and his wife straight to the coffee pot so he could get the idea down before it disappeared. That dream later became the basis for a story his team created on the Amazon kids’ show Play-Doh Squished, where judges said it “sounds like a movie,” and eventually evolved into his published picture book. Alex introduces us to Hungry Joe, a ravenous little...
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History, Harmony & Hope
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of Reading With Your Kids, we’re celebrating two very different – but wonderfully complementary – books for young readers. First, Jed talks with Maria Dolores Aguila, author of the middle grade novel in verse “The Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez.” Maria shares the powerful true story behind her book: the 1931 Lemon Grove incident in California, when Mexican and Mexican American children were illegally segregated into a makeshift “school” in a converted barn. Their families organized, chose Roberto Alvarez as the lead plaintiff, and won a court...
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Seeking The Light In A Dark World
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of the Reading With Your Kids Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes two amazing middle grade authors who explore how stories can help kids find light, courage, and connection in a complicated world. First, Jed talks with Emily Bain Murphy, author of the new middle grade fantasy “Light Seekers, A Kingdom of Shadows.” Emily shares the inspiration behind her richly imagined world of Wildfell Hall, where darkness is growing stronger after an event called The Great Betrayal. We meet Finn, his sister Lydia, and best friend Adrian, three kids with few adults in their lives who are...
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The Cost of Sacrifice: Parenting, Trauma, and YA Fantasy
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes Cliodhna O’Sullivan, author of the YA romantasy Her Hidden Fire, and Steph Carse, creator of the picture book I Am Awesomely Made. First, Jed chats with Cliodhna O’Sullivan about her powerful new YA romantasy that blends magic, romance, and sharp social commentary. We meet Aya, a girl with a rare magical gift who secretly gives her power to her best friend to save his family’s status. That one choice pulls her into a darkly enchanting magic academy on remote islands inspired by Ireland’s castles and misty landscapes....
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What Happens When A Wish Breaks Your Family?
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this inspiring episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes author Celesta Rimington to talk about her powerful new middle grade novel “Reach.” Centered on a boy named Denver, Reach explores the complicated emotions that come with blended families, sibling tension, and the grief of losing the “old” version of your family. When a mysterious magical forest and an ancient talking tree transform Denver’s younger stepbrother into a tree, Denver is forced to confront his unspoken wishes and big feelings about change, loss, and love. Celesta shares how her own...
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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