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Heroes In Unexpected Places

Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Release Date: 06/10/2025

Heroes In Unexpected Places show art Heroes In Unexpected Places

Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Hey there, book lovers! This episode of Reading with Your Kids was a total blast, packed with two incredible authors who are changing the game in children's literature. First up, we met Lauren Magaziner, the brilliant mind behind "The Incorruptibles," a middle-grade novel that turns the typical magic story on its head. Imagine a world where magic isn't all sparkly and wonderful, but actually a tool for oppression. Lauren's main character, Fiora, is a resistance fighter who's learning to fight magic with technology. It's like a superhero origin story, but with a twist that teaches kids about...

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Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Calling All Book Lovers and Parents! Get ready for an incredible journey into the world of children's literature with our latest Reading with Your Kids podcast episode featuring two extraordinary authors: Margo Sorenson and Sylvia Greif. Dive into the delightful world of "Calvin Gets the Last Word," where a young boy and his trusty dictionary embark on a hilarious quest to find the perfect word to describe his annoying older brother. Margo Sorenson brings humor and heart to this charming story, showcasing how words can be both powerful and playful. But wait, there's more! Travel to Hawaii with...

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Teaching Gratitude and Perseverance Through Sports and Stories show art Teaching Gratitude and Perseverance Through Sports and Stories

Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Looking for a way to inspire your kids with meaningful stories that go beyond the playground? Our latest Reading with Your Kids podcast episode is a game-changer, featuring three incredible authors who are transforming how children learn valuable life skills through storytelling. Meet Brett Gunning, a former NBA coach, and Stacy Padula, an accomplished author, who have teamed up to create the "On the Right Path" book series. These aren't just basketball books - they're powerful narratives that teach kids about character, resilience, and personal growth. Each story takes place during a...

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Are you a parent navigating the wild world of social media and its impact on family life? Then you won't want to miss this eye-opening episode of Reading with Your Kids featuring author Elissa Brent Weissman and parenting expert Sue Atkins! Weissman's latest middle-grade novel, "So Over Sharing," dives deep into the complex world of mommy influencers and their children's experiences. The book follows two 12-year-old girls dealing with very different but equally challenging online personas created by their mothers. From picture-perfect lifestyle blogs to brutally honest parenting content, the...

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Words, Space, and Self-Discovery show art Words, Space, and Self-Discovery

Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Get ready for an incredible episode of Reading with Your Kids featuring two amazing authors who are transforming children's literature! First up, meet Jasminne Paulino and her groundbreaking middle-grade novel in verse, "The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez" - a powerful story about a neurodivergent seventh-grader with astronomical dreams. Then, dive into Katherine Davis Gibbon's fascinating picture book "Words," where language literally comes to life! Gibbon explores how words can be friends, teachers, and powerful tools for understanding ourselves and others. Her innovative approach shows...

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Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Looking for the ultimate summer reading strategy? We've got you covered! In this jam-packed episode of Reading with Your Kids, experts from Bookalicious reveal how to prevent the dreaded "summer slide" and make reading an adventure kids will actually enjoy. Did you know kids can lose up to 20% of their school-year learning during summer break? Yikes! But here's the good news: reading just five books can totally turn that around. Lea Anne Borders and Lorien Hunter from Bookalicious share game-changing tips for parents looking to keep their kids' brains sharp and engaged. The secret weapon?...

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Reading With Your Kids Podcast

In this heartwarming episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the world of children's storytelling, featuring three incredible creators who are redefining children's literature. First up, Scott Rothman and Zachariah Ohora share the magical backstory of their hilarious picture book, KittyBunkPort. Born from a playful moment with Rothman's son in Maine, the book transforms a simple mispronunciation into a whimsical tale about a town full of scaredy cats and a haunted lighthouse. Their conversation reveals the beautiful, often unexpected...

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Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Get ready for an exciting episode that blends children's literature, artistic creativity, and family empowerment! We're exploring the world of "Don't Lose Mr. Cuddles" with author Dev Petty and illustrator Mike Boldt, while also diving deep into family dynamics with Lee Benson from Dinner Table. First up, Dev and Mike take us behind the scenes of their latest children's book featuring Chip, the enthusiastic dog. They share hilarious insights into the creative process, revealing how Mike builds characters using simple shapes (did you know Chip is essentially two potato chips?) and how Dev...

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Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship with Rajani LaRocca show art Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship with Rajani LaRocca

Reading With Your Kids Podcast

In this heartwarming episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty sits down with two incredible authors who are changing the landscape of children's literature. First up is Rajani LaRocca, a physician & author who's making waves with her powerful new picture book, "Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship in the United States." LaRocca's book is more than just a children's story—it's a celebration of immigration, diversity, and the true meaning of being an American. Drawing from her own experience as a naturalized citizen, she explores how people from different backgrounds contribute to...

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Reading With Your Kids Podcast

In this heartwarming episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty dives into two incredible children's books that explore identity, belonging, and the power of representation. First up are sisters Peace and Ndidi Amadi, authors of "Chi Chi and Didi Love Their Names," a delightful picture book that celebrates cultural heritage and the importance of embracing one's unique identity. The Amadi sisters share a powerful narrative about growing up as Nigerian-American immigrants, highlighting the challenges of having names that are difficult to pronounce. Their book isn't just a story - it's a...

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More Episodes

Hey there, book lovers! This episode of Reading with Your Kids was a total blast, packed with two incredible authors who are changing the game in children's literature.
First up, we met Lauren Magaziner, the brilliant mind behind "The Incorruptibles," a middle-grade novel that turns the typical magic story on its head. Imagine a world where magic isn't all sparkly and wonderful, but actually a tool for oppression. Lauren's main character, Fiora, is a resistance fighter who's learning to fight magic with technology. It's like a superhero origin story, but with a twist that teaches kids about power, corruption, and the importance of looking beyond black and white thinking.
Then we switched gears to Ryan Kiscaden, who's doing something totally different with his "Next Up" book series. Ryan's on a mission to make skilled trades look cool to kids. His book "The Air Came to a Stop" isn't just about HVAC and plumbing - it's about showing children that trades are heroic, important work. He's challenging the old narrative that college is the only path to success and showing kids that being a plumber or HVAC technician can be an awesome, fulfilling career.
Both authors share a similar passion: helping kids understand the world is complex, nuanced, and full of opportunities. Lauren does it through a magical adventure that challenges moral absolutes, while Ryan does it by celebrating the everyday heroes who keep our world running.
The conversation was full of laughs, insights, and those magical moments that make reading with kids so special. Whether you're interested in magical resistance fighters or the heroes who fix our water heaters, this episode had something for everyone.
The big takeaway? Reading isn't just about entertainment - it's about opening minds, challenging assumptions, and showing kids that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
So grab a book, cuddle up with your kids, and get ready to explore some incredible stories!

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