I Move A Lot & That's OK
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a part of a military family, this episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast is a must-listen. We had the pleasure of chatting with Shermaine Perry-Knights, the author of the "I Move a Lot, and That's Okay" children's book series, and she shared some truly eye-opening insights. Shermaine, who comes from a military family herself, wrote these books to help kids navigate the challenges of frequent moves and adjusting to new environments. As she explained, military children often change schools 6-9 times between kindergarten and graduation - that's...
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New Year, New Perspectives: Celebrating Neurodiversity and School Bus Safety in 2025
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
As we kick off the new year, this episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast is packed with valuable insights and heartwarming stories that will have you seeing the school bus in a whole new light. First, we chat with Valerie Higley, a seasoned school bus driver who's bringing her real-world expertise to life in her new children's book, "Shaman Rides the School Bus." Valerie shares the inspiring tale of Shaman the goat, who's navigating the ins and outs of riding the big yellow bus for the first time. But this book is about so much more than just a fun story - it's a crucial tool for...
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Best of 2024
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready for an all star end oof the year episode of Reading with Your Kids! We had a really impressive lineup of guests, starting with 13-year-old author Orion Jean. Orion wrote a book called "Race to Kindness" about a young boy who uses kindness to inspire his community. Orion is wise beyond his years - he talked about how kindness can make a big impact, even in small conversations. It was awesome to hear how he's already making a difference through projects like donating toys, meals, and books. Next up was comedian Joe Ghetto, who wrote a new children's book called "Where's Bearry?" about...
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Unleash Your Inner Lego Master
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready to explore the amazing world of LEGO and STEM with our guest, the one and only Jennifer Swanson - the Dean of all things STEM and STEAM! In this fun-filled episode, Jennifer shares the scoop on her new book, "LEGO Amazing Earth," which lets kids design their own ecosystems using everyone's favorite building blocks. We also hear from Sasha Gooray, the driving force behind the Joyful Learning Center. Sasha shares her passion for helping K-8 learners turn challenges into joyful success through personalized tutoring and a focus on developing life skills. She discusses the importance of...
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Live At The Writer's Loft
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
What a fun time I had at the Writer's Loft holiday book festival in Hudson, MA! It was great to meet so many talented children's book authors and learn about their latest projects. Janet Costa Bates was there celebrating her picture book "Time for Bed, Old House" - a sweet story about a grandpa who helps his grandson settle down for a sleepover. Janet shared how meaningful it was when a mom told her that her biracial son saw himself represented in the book's main character. Representation in kids' books is so important, and it's awesome to see more diversity. I also chatted with Helen...
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Bringing Humor, Magic & Heart To Children's Books
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready for an inspiring episode filled with heartwarming stories from children's book authors! We're chatting with Tammy Gerhard, Ria Agawall, and Russell J. Fellows, each bringing their unique perspectives and passion for creating engaging, meaningful books for young readers. First up, we meet Tammy, the author of "Cocoa Hugs and Coffee Mugs" and the upcoming "I Love My Community Activity Book." Tammy shares the powerful message behind her books - that we can disagree with others, yet still show them love and kindness. As the owner of Silk City Coffee Shop, Tammy has created a warm,...
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A Very Hot Chocolatey Christmas
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Alright folks, buckle up because we've got one wild Christmas tale for you! It all starts with the youth group from a local parish getting together to plan their annual holiday service project. But when they decide to visit the nursing home, things take an unexpected turn. Cal's grandma goes missing from the home, and the whole gang springs into action to try and find her. Meanwhile, a crazy accident happens on a nearby bridge, with a school bus ending up partially submerged in the river. Cal and his friend Michaela jump in to help, and soon find themselves in a harrowing situation...
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Empowering Stories Of Adoption
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Get ready to be inspired! In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, we dive into the powerful world of adoption, hearing from two incredible guests who are using their personal experiences to make a difference. First up, we welcome Lorri Antosz Benson, an author who has an incredible adoption story of her own. Lorri shares the heartbreaking yet ultimately joyful journey of placing her child for adoption decades ago. But this wasn't just any adoption - Lorri's daughter later reached out to reconnect, and the two families have formed an unbreakable bond. Lorri's books, including her...
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Navigating College Choices
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this insightful episode, Jed Doherty sits down with Dr. Pamela Ellis, the founder of Compass College Advisory, to discuss the ins and outs of helping kids make the best college choices. As a passionate educator, Dr. Ellis shares her expertise on fostering financial literacy from an early age and the importance of having open conversations about college costs and goals. Jed and Dr. Ellis dive into the challenges many families face, like the lack of information provided to parents about the college application process. They emphasize the value of campus visits that focus on academics, not...
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The King And The Monster
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Join us for a captivating conversation with authors Kathi Lockwood and Dominika Dvorzhak as they share their inspiring journeys in creating children's books that address complex issues like addiction and the experience of being an only child. First, we meet Kathi, the author of "The King and the Monster," a picture book that uses metaphors and adventure to help kids understand the impact of addiction on families. Kathi shares how the book was born out of her own family's struggles, and how she worked to craft a story that separates the person from the disease, encouraging compassion and...
info_outlineGet ready for an all star end oof the year episode of Reading with Your Kids! We had a really impressive lineup of guests, starting with 13-year-old author Orion Jean. Orion wrote a book called "Race to Kindness" about a young boy who uses kindness to inspire his community. Orion is wise beyond his years - he talked about how kindness can make a big impact, even in small conversations. It was awesome to hear how he's already making a difference through projects like donating toys, meals, and books.
Next up was comedian Joe Ghetto, who wrote a new children's book called "Where's Bearry?" about his son losing a favorite stuffed animal. Joe shared how the story became a fun way for him to bond with his kids through reading. He had a great perspective on how writing for kids is a different creative process than his comedy work, but he really enjoyed the challenge.
We also heard from author Rajani LaRocca about her new fantasy book "Sona and the Golden Beast." Rajani created this rich, Indian-inspired world and the story deals with some heavy themes around colonialism. But she balanced that with relatable characters and emotions that draw you in. I loved how she talked about putting her characters through tough situations to see how they'd handle it.
And we met 15-year-old DeMarco Avant, who wrote a book called "Teenage Boss" to teach financial literacy to other teens. DeMarco has already accomplished so much, like taking college classes in high school. But he was refreshingly honest about still making mistakes with money sometimes.
Finally, bestselling author Kendare Blake joined us to discuss her new YA book "Warrior of Legend." This is the conclusion to her "Hero Maker" duology, which is connected to her previous "Three Dark Crowns" series. Kendare shared how she loves putting her characters through challenging situations to see how they respond.
Overall, this episode was a great mix of creativity, wisdom, and inspiration from authors at all different stages of their careers. I always love hearing the stories behind the books and how the writers put their hearts into their work.
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