Reading With Your Kids Podcast
Reading With Your Kids is all about encouraging parents to read with their kids, and cook with their kids, and do activities with their kids, and experience tv, movies and music together. In other words, our podcast is all about helping parents build stronger relationships with their kids.
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Reading Aloud, A Tradition Reimagined To Help Families Grow Closer
04/19/2024
Reading Aloud, A Tradition Reimagined To Help Families Grow Closer
This is a fun episode of Reading With Your Kids. We first chat with Bob Shea and Jarvis, author & illustrator of the #ChildrensBook "Oh, Are You Awake?". They discuss their creative process, from initially connecting online in 2019 to illustrate the story, despite never meeting. Jarvis shares enjoying the freedom of illustration in children's books compared to more realistic work. They emphasize writing simply to entertain themselves first. We then literally travel to the International Children's Book Festival In Bologna, Italy to meet Melissa Wakhu, founder of Soul Kids Africa publishing house in Kenya. She discusses the importance of representation in children's literature, having struggled to find quality books reflecting her son's African heritage growing up. She wrote her first book, about a hibiscus flower, to immerse children in their culture. Wakhu emphasizes reading aloud with children to bond and spark conversations. While not traditional in Africa, she found it invaluable spending time with her own kids. She wants to expose children to untold histories of African empires through books. Both interviews highlight using humor and playfulness in children's content. Authors discuss tapping into childhood memories and trusting instincts with feedback from trusted critics. Representation and cultural exploration through literature are emphasized as bringing communities together. Click here to visit our website -
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Empowering Parents To Fuel A Love Of Reading
04/18/2024
Empowering Parents To Fuel A Love Of Reading
This episode of Reading With Your Kids we meet Stephanie Barber and Renee Greene Murphy. Stephanie Barber introduces us to the reading.com mobile app. Stephanie explains that the app uses phonics-based lessons and decodable books to teach children to read at home. Jed questions how the app approaches traditional phonics instruction, and Stephanie responds that it focuses on collaborative learning between parents and children. They discuss challenges in education, including frequent curriculum changes and supporting dyslexic learners. Renee Green Murphy comes to Reading With Your Kids to celebrate her book "Your Hearts Voice". Renee shares how her personal experiences inspired her to write a children's book about intuition. She describes intuition as an innate gift that guides people towards right choices. Renee aims to teach children to identify and trust their intuition through her book. Jed and Renee discuss the importance of intuition in decision making for both children and adults. Renee also touches on the negative impacts of excessive social media exposure on children's ability to think independently. Overall, the conversations highlight the value of phonics-based literacy programs, parental involvement in education, and cultivating children's intuition from an early age. Click here to visit our website -
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Superpowers, Self-Publishing Success, and Sparking Young Readers' Love of Books
04/16/2024
Superpowers, Self-Publishing Success, and Sparking Young Readers' Love of Books
On this episode of "Reading with your Kids" we meet children's authors Alysson Bourque and Meredith Davis. First up is Alysson Bourque to celebrate her new children's book "Alleycat and the Sunday Scaries". She talked about how the book helps kids overcome fears by learning resilience from Alleycat and her friends. Alysson shared her journey from writing the series inspired by her own kids, to self-publishing success and being picked up by a traditional publisher. Later in the episode Meredith Davis celebrates her new middle grade novel "The Minor Miracle". The story follows a boy named Noah who discovers he can manipulate gravity. Meredith discussed why superheroes are so appealing to both children and adults, citing themes of empowerment. She emphasized finding one's own superpowers, including the power of reading. Meredith encouraged evaluating ideas and content through the lens of "true, good, and beautiful". Both authors provided advice for aspiring writers, stressing patience and perseverance. They highlighted the importance of engaging kids through personalized book recommendations and shared reading experiences between families. The interviews promoted literacy and creating understanding around the business of publishing. Click here to visit our website -
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Finding the Humanity in History: Conversations on Culture and Compassion
04/14/2024
Finding the Humanity in History: Conversations on Culture and Compassion
Today's episode of Reading with Your Kids features powerful conversations with authors Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and Deborah Friedman. Kimberly discussed her New York Times bestselling book "The Night War", set during the 1942 Velodrome d'Hiver roundup in Paris where over 13,000 Jews were detained. She explained why it's important for children's books to teach the history of the Holocaust in an age-appropriate way. Deborah Friedman then celebrated her new picture book "Partly Cloudy", aimed at sparking curiosity about science. The book tells the story of two bunnies with different perspectives on clouds - one sees them as art, the other understands their scientific properties. Both authors discussed the value of using children's literature to expose kids to diverse cultures and perspectives. They also emphasized the importance of observing the natural world and asking questions to cultivate curiosity. The conversations provided insights into the authors' creative processes and how they incorporate research into their storytelling. Click here to visit our website -
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Raffi Returns!
04/12/2024
Raffi Returns!
This episode of Reading with Your Kids features an interview with the one and only Raffi! International children's recording artist Raffi returns to the show to celebrate his new album "Penny Penguin," which was inspired by his observations of birds like penguins. He enjoyed collaborating with the Good Lovelies on many songs, praising their strong work ethic and creativity. Music educator and author Frank Coates presented his debut children's book "There's Something in My Closet," about overcoming bedtime anxiety through positive affirmations. Both guests shared how they engage children through musical storytelling. Raffi described how songs can arise from specific emotions, while Frank uses rhythm, movement and percussion in interactive musical stories. Frank emphasizes being authentic and connecting with children, advising aspiring authors to remember what engaged them as kids. The host discussed how music stimulates brain development and how affirmations can boost children's confidence when delivered rhythmically. National recording artist Alaura Lovelight surprised listeners with a story of vulnerability from a school project, where students of various backgrounds shared hurtful things said to them. Her video aimed to show common humanity. The episode encouraged teaching kids to see past surface differences and value one another's experiences. Readers were invited to support the new works discussed and continue growing closer through shared reading. Click here to visit our website -
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Encouraging Creativity & Good Mental Health
04/11/2024
Encouraging Creativity & Good Mental Health
This episode of Reading with Your Kids Welcomed talented author - illustrators Ashley Belote and Pan Cooke. Ashley Beloit is on to celebrate her picture book "Don't Wash Winston." She shared the inspiration behind the story of a boy afraid to put his teddy bear in the washing machine. Host Jed Doherty related this to his own experiences with his daughter's beloved stuffed animal. Ashley discussed her career path studying children's literature illustration. She emphasized the importance of writing from personal experiences and encouraging children's creativity. The second guest was Pan Cook, who was debuting his graphic memoir "Puzzled" about growing up with OCD. He explained that OCD is misunderstood and manifests as intrusive thoughts leading to compulsive behaviors, rather than a preference for cleanliness. Pan discussed his experiences with OCD and different types of intrusive thoughts and rituals he experienced. He emphasized that OCD is treatable through cognitive behavioral therapy and medication. Both guests provided insight for parents on supporting children's mental health and creativity. Click here to visit our website -
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Addressing Big Concepts Simply For Little Minds
04/09/2024
Addressing Big Concepts Simply For Little Minds
This episode of Reading with Your Kids featured several children's book authors discussing their work. Kathleen Long Bostrom talked about her book "Daddy, Tell Me a Story," which was inspired by reading with her own kids. She emphasized the importance of empowering children through storytelling and letting them solve problems in books. Christina Dixon discussed her book "I Am the Moon," which came from questioning with her son about what life would be like on the moon. She highlighted the value of nurturing children's curiosity and imagination. Sarah Gaston shared that she writes "relatable Christian content that is not cheesy." Her latest book teaches an anxious dump truck to trust in God. She was motivated to fill gaps she found in resources for her own preschool son. The host discussed how faith-based stories can appeal to both religious and non-religious families by addressing big concepts simply. They also talked about some criticism Sarah has received and how she has grown from addressing concerns respectfully. The episode emphasized empowering children through reading, asking questions, valuing their thoughts, and inspiring their own creativity and storytelling. Click here to visit our website -
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Celebrating Ramadan and Entrepreneurship
04/07/2024
Celebrating Ramadan and Entrepreneurship
This episode of Reading With Your Kids featured discussions about entrepreneurship and business with teenagers Finley Scurlock and Jason Liaw, authors of the book "Down to Business." The authors shared their experiences interviewing over 50 entrepreneurs for the book and encouraged other teens to pursue their passions. They credited their success to taking risks at a young age. The speakers discussed how Gen Z and Gen Alpha are entrepreneurial generations who want to solve problems through business. However, entrepreneurship education is lacking in schools. They argued it should be a fundamental part of learning. Jason found inspiration from the story of Mei Chu, who scaled her candle business from soup cans into a multimillion dollar company. Other entrepreneurs like Danielle Vincent and Jenny Bauer provided guidance through challenges like failure and differentiation. The host emphasized that entrepreneurship is about making a positive impact regardless of business size. Representation in books was highlighted through stories celebrating Muslim holidays Ramadan and Eid. Author Sahtina Abaza discussed the importance of books providing a window into other cultures. Click here to visit our website -
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Dive Into Underwater Forests & Social Emotional Skills!
04/05/2024
Dive Into Underwater Forests & Social Emotional Skills!
This episode of Reading with Your Kids featured fascinating discussions about science, books, and education. Jennifer Swanson, our dean of all things STEM & STEAM, shared her work exploring an ancient underwater forest off the coast of Alabama through her new book The Lost Forest. She emphasized the importance of sparking curiosity in children through hands-on learning. Serena Li then discussed the mission of Duck Duck Books to teach social-emotional skills through diverse children's literature. Her personal story highlighted how these skills can impact mental health and family relationships. Both guests agreed that parents are their child's first teachers and should instill unconditional love. Serena Li also introduced a new platform called Book an Author that aims to simplify connections between authors, schools, and bookstores. By posting opportunities and profiles, it allows these groups to efficiently find each other at the right time. Overall, the episode celebrated reading as a way to bond with children and promoted inclusive education through science, books, and new digital tools. Click here to visit our website -
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Mirrors & Windows, The Power Of Diverse Kids' Books
04/04/2024
Mirrors & Windows, The Power Of Diverse Kids' Books
Today's episode of Reading With Your Kids celebrates the importance of inclusivity and diversity in children's literature. Crystal Foote discussed her book "Inclusivity Superheroes," which features characters with unique abilities to promote acceptance of differences. She hopes it will help teach children lessons about diversity at a young age. Jed Doherty shared a personal story of how embracing inclusivity allowed him to meet his wife.. Dr. Christine Ko discussed her book "Sound Switch Wonder," co-written with her son Owen about his experience with cochlear implants. She explained how cochlear implants work and the controversy surrounding them in the Deaf community. However, her priority was communication with her son. Her son enjoys the ability to experience silence by removing his implants. Both authors emphasized the importance of representation in books so children can see themselves. Jed Doherty and the speakers agreed on the importance of embracing diversity, cultural understanding, and staying curious about others' experiences. The conversation highlighted using children's literature to promote inclusion and appreciation of differences. Click here to visit our website -
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How Co-Reading Can Help Kids Navigate Tough Emtions & History
04/02/2024
How Co-Reading Can Help Kids Navigate Tough Emtions & History
This episode of Reading with Your Kids featured conversations with two authors of middle grade novels. Stephanie Brick discussed her book "The Secret Doors of Cannondale," about an outcast girl who discovers secret portals to magical worlds. Brick drew inspiration from her childhood love of exploring secret passageways and hideouts. She and Jed Doherty talked about how co-reading books can help kids build resilience through discussing themes like self-esteem and loss. Adam Gidwitz then shared about his spy thriller "Max in the House of Spies," inspired by true stories of children rescued from Nazi Germany. The authors and Jed discussed the importance of understanding different perspectives in history and fiction. They also talked about using books to have meaningful conversations about current issues like refugee crises. Both authors reflected on how researching and writing their novels changed their own views on understanding complex characters and situations. Click here to visit our website -
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Fostering Community & Kinship As We Celebrate Easter
03/31/2024
Fostering Community & Kinship As We Celebrate Easter
Matthew Paul Turner is on Reading With Your Kids to celebrate his children's book "You Will Always Belong." He explained that the book encourages children to feel a sense of self-acceptance and belonging. Matthew emphasized that loving oneself is important for truly loving and accepting others. He discussed previously feeling called to provide his own children with a healthy introduction to God through children's literature. Matthew shared his experience finishing a deceased friend's unfinished books, saying it helped with the grieving process. He found it powerful when a pastor later told him one of his books brought comfort to a woman in her final days. The conversation touched on themes of community, self-doubt and God's message of not being afraid. Matthew hopes "You Will Always Belong" will help children feel seen and empowered in their own belonging. Jed Doherty recommended supporting Matthew's work and reflecting on fostering belonging in the face of life's uncertainties. The discussion provided thoughtful insights into faith, mental health and using children's stories to start meaningful family discussions. We also hear a highlight from one of our past conversations with Mitali Perkins Click here to visit our website - ,
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Avoid Becoming A Phone Zombie Parent
03/29/2024
Avoid Becoming A Phone Zombie Parent
On this episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast we have the pleasure of meeting authors Chiara Columbi and Heather Duke. Chiara Colombi, discussed her debut picture book Rocket Ship Solo Trip. She drew inspiration from her love of space and desire to foster science interest in her kids. The book taps into emotions of new experiences. Jedlie shared memories of storytelling for his kids and its impact. He stressed developing emotional intelligence through stories. Heather Duke, shared creating her book Two Shoes from an improvised story for her son. She found publishing unexpectedly fulfilling but struggled balancing creative work and family life. The conversation covered differences in children's literature cultures internationally and excitement around future space exploration. Both guests caught the author bug and teased more books. Jedlie encouraged mindfulness in parenting, like admitting mistakes to help kids feel heard and respected. Click here to visit our website -
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Celebrating Healthy Habits & Diversity!
03/28/2024
Celebrating Healthy Habits & Diversity!
On this episode of Reading with Your Kids we celebrate healthy habit and diversity with Dr Rachel Wellner and Erin Danelle Russell. Dr. Rachel Wellner is the author of the Doctoroo #PictureBook series. Doctoroo is a marsupial doctor who travels the world helping animals and children. Dr. Wellner tells us she created Doctoroo to teach kids important health lessons in an engaging way. The books take readers on magical medical adventures while promoting preventative healthcare. Jedlie and Dr. Wellner talked about how parents can use the books to start important conversations about health with their kids. Erin Danielle Russell also joined us to celebrate her new #PictureBook Seoul Food. Seoul Food tells the story of a biracial girl who creates a meal celebrating both her black American and Korean American heritages. Erin explained that the book was inspired by her own mixed-race background. She wanted to write a story that her future children could relate to. Erin and Jedle talked about the value of exposing kids to different cultures through food. They also talked about the importance of books that allow children to see themselves represented. Click here to visit our website -
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Modeling Hope: Parenting Strategies to Guide Children Through Uncertain Times
03/26/2024
Modeling Hope: Parenting Strategies to Guide Children Through Uncertain Times
Parents, don't miss this episode of Reading With Your Kids! Sue Atkins, a BBC parenting expert, emphasizes modeling hopeful behavior for kids and guiding their technology use. She returns to promote her book club featuring books addressing child anxiety. She discusses delaying smartphones for kids to protect mental health, instead prioritizing family activities. Parents are encouraged to reflect on their own phone usage and mindfulness. She also tells us about a volunteer reading program is shared where reluctant readers find joy in stories. The importance of reading to develop confidence and critical thinking is highlighted. Author Gina Prosch promotes her new book "Hope More Than Wishful Thinking" teaching kids that hope requires hard work, not just wishes. Her character Holly learns this lesson. Finding positivity each day through gratitude is discussed, even on hard days. While social media algorithms spread negativity, focusing on real-world hobbies and reading together is recommended to cultivate joy and resilience in children. Click here to visit our website -
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Being An Author Ain't Easy
03/24/2024
Being An Author Ain't Easy
This episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast features conversations with Michelle Nelson-Schimdt and Leah Cypess. Michelle returns to the show to share about how her career and income as an author declined significantly in the past year, leaving her with a negative bank balance. She discussed how she had tied her identity too closely to her career success and income. Michelle is now substitute teaching and doing other work. She encouraged listeners to not define themselves by their career or income. Leah Cypess, author of the Sisters Ever After middle grade novels. She discussed her latest book in the series, The Last Rose, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast from the perspective of Beauty's younger sister. Leah talked about drawing inspiration from having daughters to understand the middle grade perspective. She aims to show different types of sibling relationships in each book. Leah also shared about her winding path to becoming an author, having studied other fields before committing to writing full-time. Both authors provided writing advice and encouraged listeners to support their work. Click here to visit our website -
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Expanding Minds: Encouraging Literacy and Conversation
03/22/2024
Expanding Minds: Encouraging Literacy and Conversation
This episode of Reading with Your Kids featured several guests discussing literacy and children's books. Monica Mancillas returned to celebrate her new book "Sing It Like Celia," which tells the story of a 12-year-old girl dealing with her mother's disappearance through joining a band and learning about salsa music. Mancillas discussed drawing from her own experiences with family separation and the importance of representation in literature. The show also welcomed Eden Estabrook to discuss her book "Arnie the Armadillo Goes to Antarctica," which introduces young readers to complex vocabulary words in a fun and engaging way through illustrations and repetition in the story. Estabrook aimed to challenge the idea that young children can't learn advanced words, citing research showing their ability to learn language at a young age. A highlight of the episode was an interview segment with celebrated author Kate DiCamillo. She shared her early struggles with learning to read and how her mother used personalized flashcards and a non-phonics approach to help DiCamillo discover the empowerment of literacy. DiCamillo emphasized the value of conversations about difficult topics in books and finding trustworthy role models. Overall, the episode celebrated diverse children's literature and promoted literacy as a way for families to bond through reading together and discussing important themes and vocabulary. The guests encouraged expanding views of what young readers are capable of and continuing efforts to make reading accessible to all. Click here to visit our website -
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Empowering Kids Through Stories: Fostering Literacy, Empathy and Life Skills from an Early Age
03/21/2024
Empowering Kids Through Stories: Fostering Literacy, Empathy and Life Skills from an Early Age
This episode of Reading with Your Kids features conversations with two fascinating authors. Our first guest is Ann Suk Wang, author of the picture book "The House Before Falling Into the Sea." She discussed how the book was inspired by her mother's experiences as a child during the Korean War. Her mother and grandparents took in refugees fleeing conflict. The book tells this story through the eyes of Ann's mother when she was seven years old. Ann wanted to bring awareness to this overlooked period of history. She and her illustrator carefully crafted the story to discuss difficult topics like war in a way that is accessible to children. Our second guest is Rella B, a children's author, podcaster, and YouTuber. She discussed some of her works, including "If Shapes Could Talk" and "Mama, I Got a dollar," which aim to teach early financial and social-emotional literacy. RellaB emphasized the importance of exposing kids to diverse topics through books and media. Her YouTube channel and podcast provide resources for families where caregivers may struggle with literacy or have limited time. Both guests discussed the value of reading challenging books with kids and helping them develop empathy, confidence, and life skills from an early age. Click here to visit our website -
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Shedding Light on Mental Health Struggles and Empowering Portrayals of Diversity
03/19/2024
Shedding Light on Mental Health Struggles and Empowering Portrayals of Diversity
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids we meet authors John Schu and Amy Freidl. John Schu shared about his Middle Grade novel in verse "Louder Than Hunger," which explores his personal experiences with mental illness including anorexia as a teenager. He discussed the importance of creating a story that provides hope and tools to help readers overcome challenges like self-doubt. John discussed issues like the stigma around males experiencing eating disorders, and how open discussions can help reduce shame and encourage seeking help. John shared turning points in his recovery process, like setting a goal of living in a neighborhood that represented community. Amy Friedl then discussed her picture book series "Strong Girls Travel," which features adventures of a girl named AJ in various national parks. The goal is to show girls they can go on brave adventures. Amy chose to write for an older audience because picture books can appeal to reluctant readers. They discussed engaging students through choice and appealing topics related to parks. The hosts and guests also reflected on challenges in education systems, like an over-reliance on testing and pressures of social promotion that may not serve students well. Overall, the conversations highlighted using literature as a positive way to discuss important topics and shape attitudes around mental health, empowerment, and developing a love of reading. Click here to visit our website -
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Middle Grade Novel Transports Readers to Egypt Through Cultural Identity
03/17/2024
Middle Grade Novel Transports Readers to Egypt Through Cultural Identity
This episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast features conversations with several authors about their children's books and the topics of reading, imagination, cultural identity, and mental health. Nedda Lewers discussed her middle grade fantasy novel "Daughters of the Lamp," which follows a 12-year-old Egyptian American girl discovering her family's magical legacy. Christina Pellegrino shared her picture book "Buster and the Brain Bully," inspired by her therapy dog work and addressing issues like anxiety in children. Other segments focused on the power of children's imaginations and how technology has changed their experiences. Speakers discussed representing diverse cultures and navigating identities between two worlds. Co-reading books was highlighted as an opportunity for in-depth family conversations. Therapy dog Foster was described bringing comfort to hospital patients. His handler overcame their own mental health struggles by helping others through their work. Author Christine Ricci McNamee joined from East Boston to discuss her Logan series about a magic bone-wielding dog. Libraries were celebrated as social spaces beyond screens that foster creativity and community. Click here to visit our website -
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Ain't Nothing Like Family
03/15/2024
Ain't Nothing Like Family
On this episode of Reading With Your Kids we welcome authors Kristin Peach, Rae Augustine and Tom Tracy. Kristen Peach talked about her book series Tales from Slacksville, focusing on the book "Slacksville's Worst Superheroes." She described creating silly characters like Speed Person and Samsung Man. Ray Augustine discussed their debut middle grade novel "Hang About Far From Home," which follows a dog and cat exploring themes of homelessness and belonging. Tom Tracy discussed his award-winning book "Some Families, All Families," which celebrates diverse families through illustrations of different structures and traditions. Click here to visit our website -
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Bringing Adventure & New Experiences To Young Readers
03/14/2024
Bringing Adventure & New Experiences To Young Readers
Looking For A Fun & Thrilling Book To Read With Your Kids? This episode of Reading With Your Kids features three amazing authors you will be so glad to know. Our first guest is Brad Mason, author of the book "Charlie Chaloosy is Often Quite Choosy." Brad discussed how he was inspired to write the book after being challenged by a friend. He talked about his background as an educator for 34 years and how the book aims to encourage kids to try new things. We then take a listen back to our conversation with Grammy winning recording artist Mr G who asks how many squirrels are in the world. We then meet Charles O'Neill, author of the middle grade book series "The Adventures of Jafir." Chuck explained that the stories take place in 1830s Ethiopia and follow Jafir as he searches for his sister Butina after they get separated. Each chapter ends in a cliffhanger to keep readers engaged. Chuck discussed how the series will take Jafir to different locations around the world as he continues his search. Click here to visit our website -
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Knights, Elephants and Not The Easter Bunny, Oh My!
03/12/2024
Knights, Elephants and Not The Easter Bunny, Oh My!
Super episode of Reading With Your Kids featuring four fascinating authors & illustrators. Susanna Lloyd and Patti Donnelly celebrated their book "Here Be Dragons," an interactive story where the text and illustrations tell different narratives. They described developing the hapless knight character and subverting stereotypes. Other authors discussed finding inspiration from everyday experiences. Dazzle Ng shared that her book "When an Elephant Hears No" came from saying no to her son at bedtime. T.L. Macbeth's book "I Am Not the Easter Bunny" was inspired by his mother's silly story idea. The authors emphasized the importance of writing down ideas when they strike. The conversation also touched on cultural differences in children's literature. Books from places like the Philippines and Latin America often incorporate local language and address challenges facing communities. Meanwhile, some authors enjoy playfully subverting expectations through characters like an angry elephant or insistent bunny. Overall, the discussion provided insight into diverse creative processes. The authors emphasized fostering children's creativity through involvement and materials. They look forward to future collaborations that continue exploring emotional intelligence and storytelling from around the world. Click here to visit our website -
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Teaching Bullies A Lesson With KIndness
03/10/2024
Teaching Bullies A Lesson With KIndness
Leticia Ordaz and her son Bronx Baeza are on #ReadingWithYourKids to celebrate their new children's book Super Peanut and the Big Bully. Bronx came up with the idea for the book when he was 5 years old after witnessing bullying in his school. The book tells the story of Super Peanut, who is Bronx, and his encounter with Grulow, a boy who is seen as a monster by the other kids due to his bullying behavior. With Super Peanut's help, Grulow discovers his kindness and turns back into a boy. Leticia shared how proud she was of Bronx for sticking with writing the book for over 4 years. She supported Bronx throughout the process. They discussed the importance of addressing bullying and teaching kindness. Bronx was excited for the book's message to help other kids. Jed and Leticia emphasized the role bystanders can play in stopping bullying by speaking up. They hoped the book and Leticia's outreach efforts will inspire kindness among children and a movement of empowering kids to address bullying situations. Leticia is passionate about increasing access to books for underrepresented communities and inspiring young people to pursue their dreams, like Bronx did in writing his first book. Click here to visit our website -
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What Would A Hip Hop Elementary School Look Like?
03/08/2024
What Would A Hip Hop Elementary School Look Like?
This episode of Reading with Your Kids featured conversations with two fascinatingauthors. Dr. Tony Keith discussed his memoir "How the Boogey Man Became a Poet," sharing his experience navigating college as a first-generation student and coming out. He emphasized the importance of education and integrating hip hop culture into teaching. Kathleen Davis then joined to talk about her middle grade novel "Dean's Magical Mix-Up." She drew inspiration from her son disliking school and wrote Dean's story to have meaningful discussions about identity and what kids would change. Both authors highlighted the value of reading with children of all ages and not clipping their wings. They encouraged continuing conversations around difficult topics and issues kids face using books. The episode celebrated storytelling's power to help kids feel seen and empowered. Click here to visit our website -
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These Authors Will Make You Laugh, Cry & Everything In Between
03/07/2024
These Authors Will Make You Laugh, Cry & Everything In Between
Today's episode of Reading With Your Kids features two guests who share stories of imagination and loss. Author Andrew Hackett discussed his trio of books coming out this spring. In "Ollie the Acorn and the Mighty Idea," a boy eats an acorn hoping to transform and face his bully, embarking on a journey of self acceptance. "Curly Locks" follows a girl who dislikes her curls, finding her way into a magical hair salon run by three hairs. Hackett draws from his experience teaching children to infuse fun and silliness into learning. We also heard from Irma Prosser about her book "I Miss the Baby." She explored using picture books to help kids and families cope with grief over miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss. Both authors saw the power of reading to start important conversations and provide mirrors for children's emotions. Their works give tools for understanding difficult topics and supporting others through life's challenges. Click here to visit our website -
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Two Authors Take Flight with Stories of Friendship, Faith and Finding Your Place
03/05/2024
Two Authors Take Flight with Stories of Friendship, Faith and Finding Your Place
In this episode of Reading with Your Kids we welcome authors Julie Whitney and Nancy Tupper Ling. We begin with Julie who discussed her new book "Astra and Hollywood," the sequel to her first book about a lonely airplane named Astra. She talked about Astra making her way to Hollywood and meeting new airplane friends. Julie also discussed the process of writing the books and bringing them to schools. Next, Nancy Tupper Ling discussed her book "One Perfect Plan," which tells Bible stories through short poems. Each poem starts with the word "one" to represent the themes of what one person or thing can do. Nancy explained how she chose which Bible stories to include and worked with an illustrator to bring the stories to life. Both authors emphasized the importance of sparking conversations with children about themes of friendship, loyalty, and making a difference in the world. Click here to visit our website -
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Lost Envelopes and Surfing Lessons: Celebrating Cultural Traditions and Intergenerational Bonds
03/03/2024
Lost Envelopes and Surfing Lessons: Celebrating Cultural Traditions and Intergenerational Bonds
This episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast featured two authors celebrating new books. The first guest was Yobe Qiu, who discussed her debut chapter book called The Missing Red Envelopes. She explained the cultural significance of red envelopes in Asian traditions and told the story of two sisters collecting envelopes for Lunar New Year. The book follows what happens when one of the sisters loses the bag containing all the envelopes. The second guest was Connor Derelioglu who discussed his middle grade novel Kili and Nakoa. The story follows a boy named Kili who goes surfing one day and is impressed by an older man's surfing skills. Throughout their interactions, the man teaches Kili how to embrace challenges. Both authors discussed the importance of portraying diverse cultures and intergenerational relationships in children's literature. We also hear a highlight from our 2018 conversation with LeVar Burton. Clikc here to visit our website -
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Tales & Tips From The Indie Publishing High Seas
03/01/2024
Tales & Tips From The Indie Publishing High Seas
This episode of #ReadingWithYourKids featured two guests discussing self-publishing children's books. Jay Miletsky shared his experience successfully self-publishing over 600,000 copies of his books. He emphasized treating book publishing like a business by understanding costs, profit margins, and marketing strategies. The second guest, Larry Daley, introduced his debut picture book "Float." The story follows a girl who causes chaos in an aquarium. Daley said the book explores learning to stay calm during unexpected events. Larry's book is being published by Booking Media, a publishing company that is very unique in that the author-illustrator keeps their rights to their creations. Booking Media and Daley chose are using Kickstarter to allow families to pre-order Float. The host and guests discussed the importance of marketing when self-publishing. Traditional routes like agents and large publishers involve high costs and compromises. Alternative models like crowdfunding and smaller presses give more opportunities for diverse stories. The episode highlighted treating books as small businesses requiring entrepreneurial skills. It encouraged aspiring authors to view writing as one part of a larger publishing process. Click here to visit our website -
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Nature Is So Cool!
02/29/2024
Nature Is So Cool!
Jessica Stremer is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate two new children's books - Lights Out about the light pollution movement to help migrating birds, and The Great Barrier Reef about the USS Risky aircraft carrier that was intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef. She explains how lights distract and endanger birds during migration and how organizations like Audubon work together for conservation. Jed is amazed at bird navigation abilities and enjoys learning with his kids. They discuss challenges of writing accessible nonfiction and using pictures to introduce complex STEM topics. Jessica also worked to turn complicated subjects into understandable concepts for young readers. Both agree exposing kids to science through books can expand their worlds and interests. Click here to visit our website -
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