Wild Tales: Exploring Blended Families and Wildlife Conservation
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 07/29/2025
Jennifer Payne on Sounds of America and Finding a Place to Belong
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Madison Lucchesi welcomes Jennifer Payne to discuss her picture book, Sounds of America, which follows a young Italian boy traveling from Naples to New York Harbor. Through the sounds he encounters, the story explores how children experience new places, community, safety, and belonging. Drawing on 25 years as a teacher, Jennifer shares her belief that children learn best when teaching connects with their individual interests and senses. She uses joyful language, sound, visuals, and playful reading to spark engagement and help ideas stick. For her, reading is a relationship: grown-ups can watch...
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Prince Griff, a Hidden Dragon, and a Little Welsh Magic
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Jed Doherty talks with British author-illustrator Briony May Smith about The Secret Dragon, set in medieval Wales. Prince Griff secretly raises a dragon hatched from an egg given to him by his aunt Morgana, hiding it from his mother, Queen Rhiannon, who is allergic to magical beasts. As the dragon grows, the castle servants know about it, and the queen discovers the secret by following turkey feathers. The dragon is hypoallergenic, so she has not been sneezing. Smith says the characters came first, while Welsh castles, folklore, and legends such as the Mabinogion shaped the setting. She wanted...
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The Same Moon, Twelve Zodiac Animals, and Stories That Bring Us Together
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, host Jed Doherty welcomes three picture-book creators to discuss culture, creativity, and belonging. Author Teresa Robeson and illustrator Ping Zhu introduce Animals of the Chinese Zodiac: Meet Your Match. The book shares facts and personality traits for the twelve zodiac animals, plus the legend explaining how they were chosen. Teresa reflects on sharing cultural stories with young readers, while Ping describes growing up with zodiac traditions and creating a welcoming introduction for readers new to them. She also talks about her love of painting on paper and a playful...
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Discovering Your Roots and Finding Your Rhythm
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode of Reading with Your Kids, guest host Madison Lucchesi welcomes author Teri Arvesú González to discuss The Stories We Inherit. What began as a letter to her son grew into a book honoring his graduation from Jesuit education and exploring nine generations of family history. Teri reflects on how we inherit both strengths—like resilience and courage—and limiting expectations. Her hope is that readers will reflect on what helps them grow and preserve family stories. She encourages families to put down their phones, make time for conversation, and ask older relatives about...
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Bringing Laughter to the World—and Ghosts to the Bayou
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Reading With Yur Kids host Jed Doherty welcomes two guests to explore joy, storytelling, and place. First, Watson Kawecki, interim executive director of Clowns Without Borders, describes the organization’s work bringing performances, connection, and laughter to communities facing difficult circumstances. Its 13 active projects in 2026 span partnerships around the world, including refugee camps, schools, hospitals, and community spaces. Teams travel in small groups and work only when invited, with local needs and performer safety guiding each visit. Watson shares how a lifelong love of...
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Small Voices, Big Impact: Stories of Courage and Change
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Jed Doherty welcomes authors Carmen Rubin and Leslee Flanagan to explore how picture books connect children with history, family, and the world around them. Historian Carmen Rubin shares the story behind A Night for the Rice Carriers, honoring Yaya and Panza, West African women who hid rice in their braids while escaping enslavement. Their knowledge helped them survive and build new communities. Rubin celebrates their courage and ingenuity rather than focusing only on suffering. She chose a picture book to introduce history early through rhythm, imagery, and joy. Recalling stories shared as...
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Drawing The Hundred Acre Wood
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Joe Sutphin and Kevan Chandler joined host Jed Doherty to discuss creating their graphic novel adaptation of Winnie the Pooh. Joe explained that his earlier collaboration on Watership Down helped open the door to the project. He wanted Kevan as his writing partner, drawing on their close friendship and successful work together. Kevan, who grew up being read Winnie the Pooh, described joining the project as a dream come true and a joyful responsibility. Their goal was to make A. A. Milne’s original story visually accessible without reinventing it. Joe and Kevan worked to preserve beloved...
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Magic Marks & Ghost Armies: How Picture Books Build Brave Kids
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, we celebrate two powerful picture books that help kids see their own strength, uniqueness, and courage. First, Jed chats with Dr. Tisha Shipley, educator and author of Writer’s Magic Mark. Inspired by her nephew Ryder, who was born with a distinctive birthmark down his arm, Tisha’s story turns that mark into something literally magical. In the book, Ryder’s birthmark comes to life and helps his friends discover what makes them special—on the outside and the inside. Tisha shares how her 26 years in education shaped the book, why she’s so passionate about mental health...
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Teaching Kids History & Civility with Keith Morgan and Kelly Garrett
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
On this episode, we have a long and intense conversation with Keith Morgan, author of the adult biography Ruta’s Closet, which tells the powerful true story of one Jewish family’s survival during the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Lithuania. Keith shares how the book—originally written for adults—has become a vital resource for teaching teens about this dark chapter of history, and how he’s now working on age-appropriate versions and guides so parents and educators can share the story with younger readers. Keith recalls meeting Ruth, the survivor whose story he tells, and how her...
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Teaching Kids to Think Critically and Ask Questions
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, Jed welcomes back Angela Santomero, beloved creator behind Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and now the Princess Penelope’s Purse of Preposterous Things book and YouTube series. Angela shares how Princess Penelope’s adventures are designed to build critical thinking skills, kindness, and problem-solving in young kids—while still being totally silly and “preposterous.” She explains how careful research with children helps her team make sure the stories are both educational and genuinely funny, and why using “big” words like preposterous can be a...
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Get ready for an inspiring episode that explores the power of storytelling through graphic novels and wildlife conservation! We dive deep with two incredible authors who are changing the way kids understand family, nature, and personal growth.
First up is Lucy Knisley, creator of the "Pea Pod Farm" series, who shares her deeply personal graphic novel "Sugar Shack." Drawing from her own experiences of navigating a blended family after her parents' divorce, Lucy reveals how she transforms challenging childhood moments into compelling stories for middle-grade readers. Her graphic novel isn't just about family dynamics—it's a love letter to food, agriculture, and finding your place in the world.
Lucy passionately discusses the importance of graphic novels in children's reading development. She argues that these visual stories aren't just "picture books," but complex narratives that help kids develop visual literacy, emotional intelligence, and a love of reading. Parents, take note: supporting your child's interest in graphic novels can be a powerful way to encourage their reading journey!
Then we meet April Dwyer, a wildlife conservationist turned children's author, who introduces us to "How to Sing Like a Gibbon." Her book takes readers on a fascinating journey into the world of gibbons—intelligent, musical primates facing serious conservation challenges. April's mission is to educate children about these remarkable animals, their unique behaviors, and the critical importance of wildlife preservation.
Both authors demonstrate how children's literature can be so much more than simple entertainment. It can be a window into complex emotions, diverse ecosystems, and important life lessons. Whether you're interested in graphic novels, wildlife conservation, or just looking for a heartwarming conversation about storytelling, this episode has something for everyone.
Tune in and discover how books can open up new worlds for kids—and adults!
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