Howl-ingly Good Fun: Exploring the Chicago Toy and Game Fair and the Trumpet the Wolf Pup Series
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 10/20/2024
Hearing The Heart, Solving The Maze
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready for an inspiring and heartwarming episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast! Today, we're chatting with two incredible authors who are using their talents to make a real difference in the lives of young readers. First up, we'll be talking to Hannah Jessen Conway about her beautiful new picture book, "Love Sounds Like." Hannah's story is a personal one - it was inspired by the journey of her own son who was born profoundly deaf. As Hannah shares, learning of her son's hearing loss was a major adjustment, but it also sparked an incredible idea. "Love Sounds Like" explores the...
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Building Blocks Of Language
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
If your kids struggle with time management and staying on task, you'll want to tune in to this insightful conversation with Mindy Hudon, the author of the new middle-grade graphic novel "Kodi's Adventure: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher." As a speech-language pathologist specializing in executive function skills, Mindy has a unique perspective on the challenges kids face when it comes to planning, organization, and time management. In this episode, she shares how she created the character of the "Time Snatcher" to represent the distractions and obstacles that can derail kids,...
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Fight Hate, Make Art
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready for an inspiring conversation with two talented authors who are bringing extraordinary stories to life! In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty sits down with Maria Van Lieshout, the author and illustrator of the YA graphic novel "Song of a Blackbird," and Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw, the creator of the captivating picture book "The Super Volcano." First, Maria shares the fascinating backstory behind "Song of a Blackbird." She explains how discovering her grandparents' hidden history during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam sparked her passion for this project....
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From Swans To Superheroes
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready for an inspiring journey through the world of children's literature! In this episode, we sit down with a talented trio of authors and illustrators who are using their creative talents to empower young readers. First, we chat with Holly Peppe about her delightful new picture book, "Sophie and the Swans." Holly shares the heartwarming true story that inspired her tale of a young girl's special bond with a pair of devoted swans. As we learn, Holly's own experiences living on a picturesque lake filled with wildlife sparked her imagination and led to this charming story about the power of...
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Sailing The Oceans Of Compassion
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
If you're looking for a heartwarming and thought-provoking middle-grade novel that explores themes of diversity, mental health, and environmental stewardship, you'll want to check out "Safe Harbor" by Padma Venkatraman. In this episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with Padma to dive into the inspiration and themes behind her latest book. Padma shares how her own experiences as a young Indian immigrant to the United States shaped her desire to create stories that reflect the diverse experiences of children. She explains the powerful metaphor of "stories...
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Laughter & Love Knows No Borders
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
If you're looking for a heartwarming and inspiring conversation, you've come to the right place! In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, we had the pleasure of chatting with Frankie Thompkins, the new executive director of Clowns Without Borders USA, as well as authors Azizi Tuere and Kao Kalia Yang. Frankie shared the incredible mission of Clowns Without Borders - providing relief through the power of laughter in areas of crisis, both internationally and right here in the US. As she explained, clowning has this unique ability to transcend language barriers and bring joy to people...
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Overcoming Fear & Finding Friendships
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Join us for a delightful conversation with two talented children's book authors, Cynthia MacKay and Helen Wu! We dive into the magic of nature, the importance of mindfulness, and the rich traditions of Lunar New Year. First up, we chat with Cynthia about her upcoming picture book "If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe." Cynthia shares how her own childhood experiences with nature inspired this story, which uses a bumblebee as a metaphor to help kids overcome their fears and anxieties. She emphasizes the power of slowing down, being present, and connecting with the natural world around us. We...
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Fostering Empathy & Inclusion
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids we meet two talented children's book creators, Katie Mazeika and Michael Cooper. You're really going to love learning about their inspiring stories and the important messages behind their books. First, we chatted with Katie Mazeika, the author and illustrator of the picture book "Maybe Just Ask Me." Katie shared her personal journey of losing her eye to cancer as a young child, and the challenges she faced going to school with an eye patch and head scarf. She emphasized how crucial it is to teach kids to talk openly and honestly about disabilities,...
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Mixed Feelings
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready for an inspiring and insightful conversation on raising healthy, mindful kids! In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty sits down with two remarkable guests - author and illustrator Liana Finck, and the dynamic duo behind the "Live Well, Lead Well" lifestyle, Melissa Collier Coulier and Melanie Samuels. First up, Liana Finck shares the story behind her delightful new children's book, "Mixed Feelings." As Liana explains, the book explores the complex, layered emotions that kids (and adults!) often struggle to put into words. From "shy, but not sure why" to...
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Books As Catalysts For Change
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes author Elly Swartz to discuss her new middle grade novel "Same Page." Elly shares the inspiring story behind the book, which follows a determined young girl named Bess who forms a group of "book warriors" - a team of rock star librarians - to fight a book ban at her school. Elly explains how the visual of books being removed from a school book vending machine was a key part of the story, as she wanted to empower kids to take action and make a difference. The conversation then turns to the vital role of libraries and...
info_outlineHey there, reading fans! If you're looking for a fun-filled family weekend, you won't want to miss the upcoming Chicago Toy and Game Fair. Our good friend Mary Couzins, the founder of this amazing event, joined us on the show to give us all the exciting details.
But that's not all - we also had the pleasure of chatting with author Leokatia George about her Trumpet the Miracle Wolf Pup book series. Leokatia shared the inspiring true story behind the main character, Trumpet, a critically endangered Mexican gray wolf who was a surprise addition to the Wolf Conservation Center's breeding program.
The Chicago Toy and Game Fair is back and better than ever on November 9-10 at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. This is the largest toy and game fair in North America, and it's packed with hands-on fun for the whole family. From interactive play zones to exciting competitions, there's something for everyone.
One of the coolest parts is the Young Inventor Challenge, where kids get to showcase their creativity and innovation. Over the years, some of these young inventors have even gotten their products licensed and sold in stores like Target! How cool is that?
And of course, you know the reading with your kids podcast will be there, so be sure to stop by our booth. You might even get a chance to be interviewed and featured on a future episode!
So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets today using the discount code "READ" and get ready to ignite your imagination at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair. It's an event the whole family will love - plus, you can discover new books like Trumpet the Miracle Wolf Pup to share with your little ones!
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