My Friend Isabelle. Celebrating 20 Years Of Friendship, Advocacy & Hope
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Release Date: 08/31/2025
Heroes of 1776: Janie Nitze Is Teaching Kids the Real Courage Behind the Declaration
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this inspiring episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes Janie Nitze, co-author of the picture book Heroes of 1776, to shine a light on the real human courage behind the Declaration of Independence. Speaking from historic Concord, Massachusetts, Janie shares how her background clerking for Justice Neil Gorsuch and their shared concern about the decline in civic education led them to create a children’s book that doesn’t just march through events, but highlights the sacrifices of men, women, and even children of the Revolutionary era. Janie explains that many of the Declaration’s...
info_outline
Korean Folk Tales & Big Feelings: Stories that Heal
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this warm and wide-ranging episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two guests who are using stories to nurture both imagination and emotional resilience. First, Julie Kim joins us from Washington State to celebrate her new book, Korean Folk Tales for Kids. Julie shares how she carefully chose ten tales—from hilarious trickster stories to thoughtful, heart-centered narratives—that feel both deeply Korean and universally human. She talks about “The Gratitude of the Zelkova Tree” and how it reflects our relationship with nature and the environment, and why she deliberately...
info_outline
Rare Genes, Big Hearts & Grouchy Groundhogs: Stories That Help Kids Shine
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this inspiring episode, Jed welcomes two wonderful guests whose work helps kids feel seen, valued, and excited about reading. First, Jed talks with Melissa White Boyer, author of I Am Rare: Discovering What Makes Us Shine. Inspired by her son’s diagnosis with the rare genetic disorder Weidman-Steiner syndrome, Melissa shares the long, emotional journey to finally getting a diagnosis and the shock of realizing there was no roadmap for what came next. She explains how that experience led her and her husband to found the Rare Genes Movement nonprofit, and how her picture book helps all...
info_outline
Hands, Hearts, and Habitats: ASL, Deaf Culture, and Rainforest Conservation
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this uplifting episode, Jed welcomes back Kathy McMillan, ASL interpreter, children’s librarian, and creator of the new picture book series “Sign the Seasons.” Kathy shares how the four-book series—starting with Sign the Seasons: Fall—invites kids and families to learn American Sign Language through everyday seasonal concepts like trees, squirrels, and weather. She explains how Familius Publishing partnered with her in a uniquely thoughtful way, involving her in every stage of illustration and bringing in both an ASL/Deaf culture advisor and an early childhood education advisor (a...
info_outline
Being Brave Even When You're Scared
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Join host Jed Doherty for a heartwarming, dog-filled episode of the Reading With Your Kids podcast, featuring two picture books that celebrate courage, love, and healing. In the first half, Jed chats with Jonathan Graziano, creator of the beloved Noodle “Bones or No Bones” videos, about his new picture book “Milton Makes a Move.” Jonathan shares Milton’s real-life journey from a hoarding situation in Korea to finding a forever home with him. They talk about how Milton’s anxiety and bravery mirror what many kids feel when facing big firsts—starting a new school, moving, or trying...
info_outline
Just Enough: The Tidy Dad’s Philosophy for Stuff, Space, and Sanity
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode, Jed welcomes Tyler Moore, better known as Tidy Dad, to talk about his book “Tidy Up Your Life.” Tyler shares how a season of overwhelm—upsizing his family and career at the same time—left both his apartment and his mental health in disarray. That experience pushed him to explore the deep connection between a cluttered home and a cluttered mind, and how small, consistent decisions can transform both. Living with his wife and three daughters in a 750-square-foot New York City apartment (plus a modest cottage), Tyler has been forced to define what is “just...
info_outline
Dark Thrills & Noble Quests: Using Story to Talk About Values with Kids
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two very different – but beautifully complementary – guests whose books open the door to big family conversations. First, Jed chats with Rachel Peterson, author of the YA thriller Killing Sadie. Rachel, who describes herself as “aggressively pleasant,” explains why such a cheerful person writes about murder, anxiety, and worst‑case scenarios. She shares how dark, campy thrillers and B‑horror movies helped her manage her own anxious teen years, and why today’s teens may find comfort and “self‑therapy” in scary stories...
info_outline
All the Ways We Learn and Love: Neurodivergent Kids & Brave Dogs
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this inspiring episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two wonderful picture book creators who are helping families talk about big feelings, different brains, and everyday courage. First, Jed chats with Chloe Ito Ward, author of All the Ways We Learn, a gentle, affirming picture book about neurodivergence in the classroom. Chloe shares how the story toggles between what we “think” learning should look like—sitting still, making eye contact, hands in laps—and the many valid ways kids actually learn, including kids with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia....
info_outline
Goooooooal! Soccer, Dopamine, and Dreams with Author-Comedian Ana Karina de Silva
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes Ana Karina de Silva, a neurodivergent author, comedian, and educator, to celebrate her new picture book Pedro’s Dream. The story follows Pedro, a passionate young soccer player with ADHD who learns to understand his brain, advocate for himself, and build strategies for success—like using checklists and visual cues, and working with a supportive coach and dad who also has ADHD. Ana shares how her own late ADHD diagnosis reshaped her understanding of “forgetfulness” and “not finishing tasks,” reframing them as brain-based...
info_outline
Modeling Curiosity for Kids: Michael J. Rosen on Science, Story, and Wonder
Reading With Your Kids Podcast
In this inspiring episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes back author Michael J. Rosen to celebrate How to Dive to the Deepest Place on Earth, his picture book collaboration with legendary astronaut and ocean explorer Dr. Kathy Sullivan. Michael shares the fascinating story of how he first met Kathy—before the Mariana Trench dive was even an idea—and how her lifelong curiosity led her to choose between charting the ocean floor and flying into space. Michael walks us through the mind‑bending reality of the Mariana Trench expedition: four hours sinking in a tiny sphere through...
info_outlineExclusive Deals For Reading With Your Kids Listeners!
Visit www.zivo.life and use the promo code READ to get 30% off The Better Microalgae – your ultimate daily nutrient boost!
Visit www.BigForkBrands.com and use the promo code READ to get 20% off the most delicious pork snacks ever.
Visit www.CozyEarth.com and use the promo code READ to get an incredible 41% off their ultra cozy and comfy bedding.
In this heartwarming episode of "Reading With Your Kids," host Jed Doherty celebrates the 20th anniversary of the beloved children’s book "My Friend Isabelle" with special guests Eliza and Isabel Woloson. Eliza, the author, and her daughter Isabelle, the inspiration for the book, share the story behind their mission to promote inclusion and friendship for children with disabilities. Isabelle, who has Down syndrome, opens up about her life, her independent living in Boulder, her job as a barista, and her dreams of becoming a life coach. The conversation dives into the importance of starting early conversations about differences, the progress made in inclusive education, and the ongoing challenges faced by people with disabilities in society.
Jed and Eliza discuss how parents and teachers can foster acceptance and understanding, while Isabelle encourages kids and adults alike to ask questions and embrace curiosity about disabilities. The episode also highlights resources like Think College and the need for more businesses to directly employ people with disabilities.
Later in the episode, author Heather Stigall joins to introduce her new picture book, "Gilbert and the Ghost." Heather shares the inspiration behind her story about a boy who feels invisible and seeks friendship with a neighborhood ghost. She discusses the importance of helping children who feel unseen and the joy of creating picture books that spark family memories.
Listeners will love the friendly, insightful conversations about inclusion, empathy, and the power of children’s literature to build bridges. The episode wraps up with info on upcoming book signings, resources for families, and a reminder that everyone deserves to feel seen and valued.
Click here to visit our website – www.ReadingWithYourKids.com
Follow Us On Social Media
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/readingwithyourkids
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/readingwithyourkids/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/reading-with-your-kids-podcast/
Please consider leaving a review of this episode and the podcast on whatever app you are listening on, it really helps!