From Fibs To Forests
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Calling all nature-loving bookworms! In this captivating episode, we dive into the world of children's literature that celebrates our deep connection to the earth. Join Jed as he chats with two talented authors, Kate Shooltz and Becky Bell, who are using their creative powers to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. First up, we meet Kate, the brilliant mind behind the picture book "Kate the Earthling." Kate shares her personal journey of discovering the concept of "biophilia" - the innate human love for the natural world. She explains how this passion has blossomed into her...
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Embracing Dreams & Building Community
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Hop on board as we chat with the delightful duo behind the charming children's book "Theodore, the Sloth Who Wants to Race"! JL McCreedy and her husband Sam join us from the beautiful country of Italy to share the heartwarming story behind their sloth-tastic tale. It turns out Theodore the sloth wasn't just a silly idea - he was actually born out of a low point in JL and Sam's own lives. As they were feeling frustrated with their own dreams and ambitions, comparing themselves to a determined-yet-slow-moving sloth sparked their creativity. With Sam's veterinary expertise on these unique...
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Navigating the Challenges of Social Media and Self-Esteem in Kidlit
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty explores a diverse range of children's books that aim to inspire, empower, and connect young readers. First up Jed welcomes back author Monica Mancillas to discuss her new middle grade romcom, "Taco Tuesday." Monica shares how the book's dual-perspective narrative explores the challenges and emotions of 12-year-olds, as the main characters, Julian and Dulce, navigate the complexities of moving, family dynamics, and budding relationships. The conversation delves into the unique considerations of writing for different age groups,...
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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...
info_outlineHop on board as we chat with the delightful duo behind the charming children's book "Theodore, the Sloth Who Wants to Race"! JL McCreedy and her husband Sam join us from the beautiful country of Italy to share the heartwarming story behind their sloth-tastic tale.
It turns out Theodore the sloth wasn't just a silly idea - he was actually born out of a low point in JL and Sam's own lives. As they were feeling frustrated with their own dreams and ambitions, comparing themselves to a determined-yet-slow-moving sloth sparked their creativity. With Sam's veterinary expertise on these unique creatures, the couple quickly penned the first draft, but the real challenge was bringing Theodore to life through illustration.
JL openly shares her self-doubts and insecurities about her artistic abilities, but with Sam's encouragement, she taught herself to draw and the rest is history! Their conversation highlights the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and not letting perceived limitations hold you back from pursuing your passions.
Beyond the book, we learn about JL and Sam's fascinating global adventures, living and working everywhere from Germany to China. Their travels have undoubtedly influenced their storytelling, which often celebrates community, tradition, and the special spaces we call home.
We also chat with Seina Wedlick, author of Space For Everyone. "Space for Everyone" celebrates the importance of community and family traditions centered around the kitchen table. As Seina explains, the book follows a young girl who is anxious about moving to a new home, worried she'll lose the sense of belonging her family's large, welcoming table has always provided. Through the story, Seina highlights the everyday moments and memories made around the table - sharing meals, drinking tea, doing homework - that create a lasting sense of home, no matter where you live. Seina drew inspiration from her own family's experiences, including the special role their own expansive table played in their lives as they moved between different countries. By focusing on this relatable, universal experience, Seina hopes the book will encourage kids to reflect on what spaces and keepsakes feel most like "home" to them.
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