Reading Our Way Through Friendships, Differences and Farewells

In this heartwarming episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes back second-grade teacher and picture book author Andrew Hackett to celebrate his new book, In This Classroom, and later sits down with Susan Cain and her son Eli Cain to talk about their tender picture book, Lucky and Norman: Saying Goodbye Is Bittersweet.

Andrew shares how he juggles teaching, parenting, and writing—squeezing in drafts on soccer sidelines and early mornings—and why he actually loves revision more than drafting. He describes In This Classroom as his “manifesto” for what a classroom community can and should be: a place where differences are celebrated, kindness is taught alongside academics, and every child feels seen. Jed and Andrew talk honestly about the pressures on teachers, the loss of play in early grades, and how families can partner with educators to build truly inclusive, caring classrooms.

In the second half, Susan and Eli recount the real-life story behind Lucky and Norman: two donkeys in Spain that Eli and his brother fell in love with—and then had to leave. Together they explore how kids experience goodbyes for the first time, why that pain can feel endless, and how memories can transform sorrow into something quietly beautiful. Susan connects this to her work in Quiet and Bittersweet, while Eli reflects with striking wisdom on longing, love, and growing up.

This is a gentle, thoughtful conversation about community, empathy, and helping kids navigate big feelings—through reading, listening, and simply being there.