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Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Kids & Family Podcasts

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.

Location:

United States

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes

Celebrating Healthy Habits & Diversity!

3/28/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:58:11

Modeling Hope: Parenting Strategies to Guide Children Through Uncertain Times

3/26/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:56:01

Being An Author Ain't Easy

3/24/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:56:05

Expanding Minds: Encouraging Literacy and Conversation

3/22/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:57:14

Empowering Kids Through Stories: Fostering Literacy, Empathy and Life Skills from an Early Age

3/21/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:55:31

Shedding Light on Mental Health Struggles and Empowering Portrayals of Diversity

3/19/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:59:24

Middle Grade Novel Transports Readers to Egypt Through Cultural Identity

3/17/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:56:49

Ain't Nothing Like Family

3/15/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:59:54

Bringing Adventure & New Experiences To Young Readers

3/14/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:57:55

Knights, Elephants and Not The Easter Bunny, Oh My!

3/12/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:59:03

Teaching Bullies A Lesson With KIndness

3/10/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:59:00

What Would A Hip Hop Elementary School Look Like?

3/8/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:55:33

These Authors Will Make You Laugh, Cry & Everything In Between

3/7/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:55:34

Two Authors Take Flight with Stories of Friendship, Faith and Finding Your Place

3/5/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:55:25

Lost Envelopes and Surfing Lessons: Celebrating Cultural Traditions and Intergenerational Bonds

3/3/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:56:32

Tales & Tips From The Indie Publishing High Seas

3/1/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:57:23

Nature Is So Cool!

2/29/2024
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 - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:23:31

Giving Voice To Lonely Vegetables, & Kids

2/28/2024
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 the characters. Jessa McLean and the host discuss the issue of loneliness among children and the importance of inclusion. They also talk about the benefits of virtual schools like flexibility and work-life balance while still building connections. Jessa provides details about her upcoming book in the series called "The Lonely Vegetables," which will give vegetables a voice to discuss why they are important from their perspective. Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:26:39

The Spider Who Wanted To Be A Kitten

2/27/2024
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 creatively about how to use Luigi's extra legs to create kitten-like features. Both the author and illustrator enjoyed collaborating on bringing Luigi to life. They hope the story will teach children that it's okay to be yourself and not pretend to be something you're not. Michelle and Kevin appreciate the feedback they received throughout the creative process from editors, art directors, and each other. Listeners are encouraged to check out Luigi, the spider who wanted to be a kitten and other books by these talented creatives. Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com

Duration:00:25:16

How You Become You

2/25/2024
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. While entertaining kids with imaginative illustrations, O'Brien hopes the book also resonates with adults. He encourages making reading a collaborative family experience and having meaningful conversations about life lessons from books. The podcast host appreciates O'Brien's message and believes both children and parents can benefit from being fully present and open to wisdom in kids' literature. Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids

Duration:00:27:06