Alligators, Excavators & Judy the Great
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this lively episode of Reading With Your Kids, we’re celebrating the power of picture books and biographies to turn kids into lifelong readers. First, Jed welcomes author Brooke Hartman and illustrator Michael Slack to talk about their exuberant new picture book Exca Gator—a swampy, construction-site romp starring an alligator who drives an excavator. Brooke shares how the idea sprang from her daughter’s adorable mispronunciation of “excavator,” and how her own childhood around construction equipment inspired all the rumbling, clanking onomatopoeia in the text. The story follows a...
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What If You're The Only Muslim Kid At A Catholic School?
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of the Reading With Your Kids podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes two creators whose books spark big, meaningful conversations for families. First, Jed chats with Huda Al Marashi, author of the middle grade novel Hail Mariam. The story follows Mariam, the only Muslim girl at her local Catholic school, as she navigates the burden of representation, questions about faith, identity, and belonging, and the gray areas that arise when family, culture, and religion intersect. Huda shares how her own experience as a Muslim student in Catholic and Jesuit schools inspired the book, and...
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Can AI Replace Our Memories?
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, we welcome author-illustrator Claire Keane to talk about her deeply personal new picture book, “Who Are You?” Claire shares how the idea began not with a character, but with a question—quite literally. After making a video reel to “explain” who she was as an artist and as the daughter and granddaughter of famous cartoonists, she woke up one morning hearing a loud inner voice ask, “Who are you?” That moment sent her on a creative and emotional journey. Claire describes spending a year and a half stuck on an idea involving a girl in a...
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This Ten Year Old Invented An App That Makes Screen Time Smarter
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes three very different—but equally exciting—guests who are passionate about helping kids grow smarter and braver. First, Jed chats with Adam Adler and his 10‑year‑old daughter Isla, the father–daughter team behind Wyzly, a groundbreaking screen time app for kids. Tired of daily battles over iPads and YouTube, Isla came up with the idea for an app that doesn’t just shut devices off—it asks kids educational questions to unlock their favorite apps. Adam explains how Wyzly uses a “learn to earn” model and...
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A Nightingale, A Cello & A Risky Radio Stunt That Changed Evverything
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Join host Jed Doherty on the Reading With Your Kids podcast for a heartwarming, history‑meets‑home episode featuring two wonderful picture book creators: Patricia Newman and Pooja Makhijani. First, Patricia introduces Beatrice and the Nightingale, a nonfiction picture book about Beatrice Harrison, a renowned English cellist whose garden duet with a wild nightingale became one of the earliest global nature broadcasts on BBC radio. Patricia and Jed explore how this magical moment of music, nature, and early technology captivated millions of listeners and why Beatrice is such a powerful civic...
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The Healing Garden, Helping Kids Face Cancer With Courage And Hope
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
It’s been said that you spend the first forty years of your life looking forward, and the last forty looking back—from death toward your life. But what if you never get the chance to look forward? Imagine being young and told you may only have a year to live. All around you, you see people living the life you’ve been cheated out of. How would that feel? How could you find hope in that? These are the feelings and questions that children with cancer—and those who love and support them—face every day. Jed Doherty sat down with two powerful experts to discuss exactly that on a new...
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Writing From The Parts That Hurt
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, Jed welcomes author James Ponti to talk about Europa, book seven in his bestselling City Spies series. James shares the irresistible premise: a British secret agent known as Mother adopts kids from around the world—each with a special talent and a code name based on their home city—and raises them as a family of spies. In Europa, explosives expert Sydney returns to the spotlight as the main character, caught between questions of trust and a terrifying villainous group called Umbra, whose leader is trying to hold Europe hostage from prison. James explains the challenge and...
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600% More Prescriptions: What’s Happening to Kids in the Age of GLP‑1s?
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes Dr. Lauren Hartman, adolescent medicine physician and author of Freeing Children and Young Adults from Shame, Scales, and Stigma. Dr. Hartman dives deep into how diet culture, weight stigma, and even well‑meaning doctors can unintentionally harm kids and teens. She explains how a simple directive like “you need to lose weight” can trigger restrictive eating, eating disorders, and lifelong shame—especially in vulnerable young people. Dr. Hartman offers practical scripts parents can use with doctors, family members, and...
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Years of Frustration, One Daily Challenge Changed Everything
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Join us for a delightful episode featuring acclaimed picture book creators Marla Frazee and Julie Fogliano as they take us behind the scenes of their newest collaboration, “Because of a Shoe.” Host Jed Doherty leads a warm, insightful conversation exploring the magic that happens when author and illustrator unite to craft memorable children’s books. Julie shares the heartfelt inspiration behind her story—rooted in her own childhood and experiences as a mom dealing with the “shoe struggle”—and reveals how writing “Because of a Shoe” was both therapeutic and hilarious. Marla...
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Tina Turner’s Story Reimagined for Kids
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Dive into an inspiring episode celebrating the legacy of Tina Turner, the Queen of Rock & Roll, through the eyes of debut author Ebony Lynn Mudd. In this lively conversation, host Jed Doherty welcomes Ebony as she shares the story behind her picture book, “Just Like Tina,” inspired by Tina Turner’s extraordinary life and generational impact. Listeners will hear how music brings families together, with Ebony recalling childhood memories dancing to Tina’s hits alongside her son and mother, underscoring how iconic artists unite people of all ages. The episode delves into why Ebony...
info_outlineJoin host Jed Doherty for an inspiring episode that brings together the best of family adventure and uplifting children’s literature! This week, discover “Belle’s RV Adventures” with author Kenny Phillips, whose real-life journeys with his wife and their lovable dog Belle have taken them over 180,000 miles across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Kenny shares insights on the RV lifestyle, the joys of travel, and how his picture book encourages families to explore, learn, and bond together—whether it’s a cross-country trip or backyard camping with a storybook in hand.
Next, meet Francine Juhlin, author of “Let Your Sparkle Shine” from the Camp Confidence series. Francine draws from her own remarkable experiences as a military aircraft electrician and her personal journey of self-acceptance to craft stories that help children build confidence and embrace what makes them unique. Learn about her Confidence Club for Kids, her innovative STEM programming, and her heartfelt message: every child can shine just as they are.
Packed with real-life tales, writing advice, and the importance of fostering resilience in kids, this episode is perfect for parents, educators, and young readers who value adventure, creativity, and confidence. Don’t miss practical tips on RV technology, heartfelt encouragement, and expert storytelling—plus ways to connect with both authors for more family travel inspiration and confidence-boosting resources!