Everything You Need To Know About Life You Can Learn from A Dog
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 07/07/2026
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...
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Skeletor In Therapy! And Other Ways To Hook Reluctant Readers
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this fun, fast-moving episode of Reading With Your Kids, we’re heading to Eternia—by way of your family’s favorite reading chair. Jed welcomes syndicated cartoonists Stephan Pastis and Will Henry to celebrate their hilarious new illustrated middle grade novel, The Adventures of He‑Man and Porter #1: Skeletor Ate My Homework. Stephan shares how Porter Avery’s obsession with Masters of the Universe action figures creates real trouble both at home and in Eternia—especially when Porter’s dad confiscates the Power Sword and He‑Man suddenly loses his in the other world. Stephan...
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Escape, Grief and Growth. How Stories Help Kids & Teens Cope
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two sets of guests whose books highlight just how powerful stories can be—for thrills, for connection, and for healing. First, Jed chats with Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss, co-authors of the YA murder mystery The Escape Game. Set on a reality TV escape-room competition, the book follows Sierra, returning to the show where her sister Alicia was murdered—determined to unmask the real killer. Marissa and Tamara share how the idea was born from an art-heist escape room, how their 20-year friendship began with Sailor Moon fan fiction, and...
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Hope in Messy Mourning: Jackie Baker’s Journey After Her Son’s Suicide
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this powerful episode, Jed Doherty welcomes Jackie Baker, author of Messy Mourning: Hope for Mothers Grieving the Loss of a Child to Suicide. Jackie shares the heartbreaking story of her firstborn, Sebastian—a bright, curious, book-loving boy who grew up in a home where reading, faith, and family were central. She recalls sweet memories, from anatomy books at home to anxiously awaiting new Harry Potter releases, painting a vivid picture of a joyful, inquisitive child. As Sebastian entered high school, Jackie and her family began to notice serious changes: depression, anxiety, poor...
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Dragons, Ghosts, and Librarians: Haley Neil Takes Us Inside Greta Grimsdark
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this joyful episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes librarian and debut middle grade author Haley Neil to celebrate her spooky-silly new book, Greta Grimsdark and the Normal New Neighbor. Haley shares stories from her work in the library, where she spends her days covered in slime, leading “Make and Play” programs, and helping kids discover books they truly love—especially those transitioning from graphic novels to more text-heavy stories. Haley and Jed shine a big spotlight on librarians as unsung heroes, describing libraries as hubs for early literacy, STEM, crafts, and...
info_outlineIn this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes three fantastic guests who each showcase a different way stories can shape our lives.
First, Bruce Littlefield joins from his farm in upstate New York to celebrate his picture book “Everything You Need to Know About Life You Can Learn from a Dog.” Bruce shares how his usually optimistic outlook was shaken by a rough morning—bad news, a broken porch—and how his dog Felix, joyfully unfazed, inspired him to rethink who the real “lifestyle expert” in the house was. Drawing on years of watching dogs in New York City and at home, Bruce turns traits like self-acceptance, curiosity, forgiveness, and the ability to “shake things off” into gentle life lessons for kids and grown-ups. He and Jed swap heartfelt dog stories—border collies carving tracks in the yard, childhood pets like Snuggles and London teaching responsibility, calm, and empathy—and reflect on how dogs help children learn to care for others.
Then Gregory Rizzi discusses his YA sci‑fi novel “Continuum.” Set on a harsh distant planet, the book follows Jacob, a Praetorian Guard soldier, as he discovers the planet’s hidden history, strange creatures, and deeper truths about creation, fathers, and sons. Gregory talks about how becoming a father and returning to his faith reshaped the story’s themes of suffering, resilience, and what we pass on to our kids.
Finally, Amy Doslich introduces her picture book “STEM Day” and her kid-powered podcast “Kids Ask Authors Answer.” A former actuary turned author-illustrator, Amy celebrates lesser-known STEM careers and invites children to ask authors their own fun, surprising questions—plus she’s organizing a big free kids’ ebook day on August 5.