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”,...
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Belonging, Not Blending In: Gina Casazza’s Mission to Empower Young Readers
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this uplifting episode of Reading with Your Kids, Jed welcomes author and literacy advocate Gina Casazza, whose journey from struggling student to children’s book creator will resonate with kids and grownups alike. Gina shares how everything changed in eighth grade when she read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Seeing herself in Ponyboy’s story turned her from a reluctant reader into a “Rory Gilmore–level” book lover who never went anywhere without a book. Years later, an unexpected experience in a Navy SEAL prep program led her to a powerful realization: belonging and fitting in are...
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Big Feelings, Pets, and Puerto Rican Flavor
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this warm and wide–ranging episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes back two guest authors whose books celebrate culture, compassion, and kids with big feelings. First, Jy de la Vega returns to share her new early reader graphic novel, “Annalise: The Special Dish.” Inspired by her own daughter, who is on the autism spectrum, J’s story follows Annalise as she tries to create a “special” recipe for a school party. Along the way—through tostones, mofongo, and finally pasteles—Annalise discovers that what truly makes something special isn’t how fancy it is or how...
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Lowrider Culture Meets Reading Culture: Two Powerful New Projects
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Join Jed Doherty for a heartfelt, high-energy episode featuring two creators who are all about getting kids excited to read. First, Jed chats with Laura De La Cruz, author of the picture book Lowrider for Sale. Laura introduces us to Gabby, a determined eight-year-old devastated to find a “for sale” sign on her dad’s beloved lowrider. Through Gabby’s efforts to save the car, kids glimpse the richness of lowrider culture—the chrome, murals, car shows, and especially the strong sense of community and family. Laura shares how the story grew from her own childhood—helping her dad with...
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Dream Big With Shannon Hale Graphic Novels, Fear and Big Feelings
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of Reading With Your Kids, we’re celebrating two wonderful graphic novels—starting with a deep dive into Shannon Hale’s new middle grade graphic novel Dream Big. Joining Jed from an Airbnb in Utah, Shannon talks about the beauty and diversity of the U.S., her travels to schools and bookstores in at least 45 states, and what it’s like to live life on the road with “book people.” She reflects on a career of 50+ books, translated into 25 languages, and admits she hardly lets herself think about all those readers—it’s too overwhelming, so she keeps her focus on the...
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Drawing Our Difficulties: David Soren on Turning Pain into Characters
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this heartfelt episode, Jed welcomes back filmmaker and author David Soren to celebrate Visible: The Sort of True Story of a Not So Hidden Disease, the powerful follow-up to his middle grade novel Invisible. Drawing from his own experience growing up with Crohn’s disease, David shares how his fictional stand-in, JJ Sugar, navigates life with his biker-beast disease, Norm, and how their relationship slowly shifts from fear and resentment toward understanding and even a kind of friendship. David and Jed talk about the many kids living with hidden diseases—conditions like Crohn’s,...
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If Kids Are Having Fun They're Learning
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this heartfelt episode of the Reading With Your Kids podcast, Jed welcomes Daria, musician, teaching artist, and author of the joyful new picture book Cicada Sing Along. Drawing on decades of performing in schools, Daria and Jed celebrate the magic that happens when kids aren’t just sitting and listening, but making music together—banging on drums, buzzing like cicadas, and discovering instruments from around the world. Daria shares how the so‑called “cicada apocalypse” inspired her to turn fear and “Ew, bugs!” into curiosity and delight. In Cicada Sing Along, kids learn real...
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Curiosity, Donuts, and Magic Shoes: Leah Wolf Hearst On Growing Brave, Present Kids
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of the Reading With Your Kids podcast, Jed welcomes two inspiring picture book creators who are helping families nurture curiosity, confidence, and connection. First, Jed chats with Leah Wolf Hurst, an occupational therapist, yoga teacher, personal trainer, ergonomist, and mindfulness coach known as “The Wolf of Wellness.” Leah introduces her picture book “Bob’s Donuts for Breakfast,” a sensory-rich love letter to San Francisco that follows a carefree dog and an anxious squirrel on a delicious adventure through iconic city landmarks. Leah explains how these two...
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Trees, Tales and Armadillos: Nuturing Cultural Curiosity And Courage
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this lively episode of the Reading With Your Kids Podcast, Jed welcomes two wonderful guests whose picture books help kids feel seen, brave, and deeply connected to the world around them. First, Jed chats with Jalpa Vaidya Patel, licensed social worker and author of “Wizzy: The Worldly Tree: A Tale of Cultural Curiosity.” Jalpa shares how her background in social work and Native American studies shaped a gentle new way to talk about culture with kids. Instead of starting with “we’re all different,” Wizzy begins with the truth that we’re all interconnected and that every family...
info_outlineGet ready for an incredible journey through children's literature that will inspire, educate, and warm your heart! In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty sits down with three remarkable authors who are changing the landscape of children's books one page at a time.
First up is Wunneanatsu Lamb Cason, who shares the magical story behind "Grandmother Moon," a beautiful picture book that bridges generations and cultural understanding. Inspired by her own grandmother's teachings, Wunneanatsu creates a touching narrative that celebrates indigenous storytelling and the powerful bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
Next, we dive into historical fiction with Darlene Campos and her middle-grade novel "The Center of the Earth." This eye-opening book explores the little-known story of Jewish refugees who found safety in Ecuador during the Holocaust. Campos brings history to life through the eyes of young characters, proving that children's literature can be both educational and deeply moving.
Rounding out the episode is Jessica Marie, the creative mind behind the "Mess Monster" series. With humor and heart, Bell tackles relatable childhood experiences, showing kids that it's okay to be a little messy and imperfect.
What makes this episode truly special is the authors' shared commitment to representation, empathy, and storytelling. They demonstrate how children's books can be powerful tools for understanding different cultures, experiences, and perspectives. Whether it's exploring indigenous traditions, uncovering hidden historical narratives, or simply making kids laugh, these authors prove that children's literature is about so much more than just entertainment.
Parents, educators, and book lovers will walk away feeling inspired and excited about the incredible stories being told for young readers today. It's a reminder that every book is a potential window into another world, another experience, another way of understanding.
So grab your kids, pick up a book, and get ready to explore, learn, and connect through the magic of storytelling!
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