Reading With Your Kids Podcast

  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...

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 i...

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...

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...

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 substitu...

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 th...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 an...

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....

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 b...

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 no...

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...

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 school...

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 sister...

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...

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 to...

Jessa McLean is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her new children's book series called "The Lonely Series." She discusses her first book, "The Lonely Side of the Christmas Tree," which tells the story of the side of the Christmas tree that faces the wall and doesn't get decorated from its perspective. She aims to use these books to help children who feel lonely by relating them to...

Michelle Knudson and Kevin Hawkes are on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate their new children's book, Luigi, the spider who wanted to be a kitten. Michelle shares how the story was inspired by a real spider she met while staying in a friend's country home. Kevin discusses the challenge of illustrating a spider in a way that would make it appear cute and cuddly. He had to think creativ...

O'Brien McMahon is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate his new picture book "How You Become You." He discusses how the book aims to provide guidance for both children and parents on figuring out who you are and what you love. It presents a framework of trying new things, reflecting on your experiences, and finding ways to pursue your interests and live according to your beliefs. Whil...

Jessica Gold and Brian Werts are on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate Jessica's children's book "The Winner at Being Me." Jessica discusses how the book explores children finding their hidden talents. Brian shares how he brought the characters to life through illustration. Jed reflects on challenges raising two different children and their interests. The guests discuss the importance...

Claire Noland is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate the release of her new children's book "Nancy Best Had a Dress." She discusses the story, which takes place during the Great Depression and features illustrations by Angela Hawkins. Claire talks about how the book can spark conversations about sustainability and reusing materials. Host Jed Doherty provides marketing tips for author...

Erica Richmond is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate the release of her debut children's book, Pixie and the Bees. She discusses how the story came from her own experience with anxiety, which she describes as feeling like buzzing bees inside her body. Erica shares strategies she uses to manage anxiety, such as exercise, breathwork, and mindfulness. Jed Doherty and Erica discuss the...