Shows
Reading With Your Kids PodcastFostering Belonging & ConfidenceLooking for a fun family activity? Be sure to check out the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, November 9 & 10! Save on tickets by visiting www.ChiTag.com and use the promo code READ! In this episode of Reading With Your Kids Jedlie welcomed children's author Kim Larson to chat about her early reader book, "Goats Boat Won't Float." Kim explained the key differences between picture books and early readers - picture books have more complex vocabulary, while early readers focus on simple, engaging stories that new readers can tackle on their own. Kim shared the inspiration behind her h...2024-10-1355 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastPuppies, Kitties & Pelicans, Oh My!This episode of Reading With Your Kids featured two authors introducing us to their children's books that celebrate human-animal bonds and culture. Bethany Murgia, author of "Wagnificent", shared how her graphic novel was inspired by her dog. She discussed researching dog behavior and domestication to portray the dog's perspective accurately through illustrations. Murgia described creating a series to focus on empathy and understanding between species. Jedlie brought up experiences growing up with many dogs and interviewed Murgia about the challenges of writing graphic novels. They imagined families enjoying "Wagnificent" through read-alouds and conversations about nonverbal...2024-06-2155 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastHow Fantasy and Realism Can Educate and Inspire Young ReadersRajani LaRocca, Shannon Hitchcock and Amie Darnell Specht are on this episode of #ReadingWithYourKids to celebrate the power of story. We begin the episode by welcoming Rajani LaRocca back to the show. She is celebrating her new middle grade fantasy novel, Sona and the Golden Beasts. Rajani explained the setting and characters, including Sona who discovers an injured wolf pup and goes on a quest to save her mentor. Jedlie asked Rajani about her writing process. She said she started with the emotions of indignation and affection for marginalized people. They discussed how media has agendas and...2024-04-2655 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastAvoid Becoming A Phone Zombie ParentOn 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 s...2024-03-2957 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastCelebrating 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...2024-03-2858 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastBee Coming StrongAnandamayi Baker is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her award winning #ChildrensBook Bee Coming Strong. The book tells the story of a tiny little bee and her journey of overcoming bullying and low self-esteem with the help of her queen bee. Baker was inspired to write the book after observing how disconnected children have become from nature, and the anxiety many experienced during the pandemic. Jedlie and Baker discussed the importance of connecting children to nature to help reduce anxiety. They emphasized slowing down and paying attention to small things in nature. Baker shared how observing bees' curiosity i...2024-02-1725 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastA World Of LoveAimee Reid is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her new children's book A World Of Love. Jedlie interviews Aimee about the inspiration for the book, which came while she was camping with her family and an idea came to her about different animals caring for their young. Aimee discusses how she chose various animals from around the world to represent different parenting behaviors. Jed and Aimee talk about why kids relate to stories about animals and the importance of unconditional love. They discuss the value of reading with children and being fully present. Aimee shares that parenting is...2024-01-2527 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastSometimes Grandma Calls Me JeanJill and Phil Pietroburgo are on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate Jill's powerful new #ChildrensBook "Sometimes Grandma Calls Me Jean". Jill shares how she wrote the book to honor her mother's experience with dementia, and how reading it to her mother brought them both joy. She hopes it helps start important conversations about aging, empathy and compassion. Phil praises Jill for her strength in caring for her mother. Both discuss the book's ability to give kids a window into different lives and start family discussions. Jedlie agrees that representation matters and this book can help many families facing challenges.2024-01-1725 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastWe Belong To Each OtherGareth Higgins is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate his book "Cory in the Seventh Story Place," Gareth tells us this book was inspired by conversations on 'us versus them' mentality and unnecessary conflicts. Rooted in Gareth's experiences in Northern Ireland, he and his co-author aimed to address dehumanization and marginalization, especially for bullied or marginalized children. In their conversation on the podcast Gareth and Jedlie highlight the impact of words, advocating against the belief that names can't hurt. They discuss how societal conflicts often stem from a lack of belonging and fairness rather than just ideological differences. They...2023-11-2931 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastBeautiful El Salvador!Our host Jedlie recently had the honor of touring the beautiful nation of El Salvador with Clowns Without Borders. Sit back and enjoy some of he beauty, and some of the beautiful smiles, Jedlie encountered in El Salvador. Click here to visit the Clowns Without Borders website - www.clownswithoutborders.org Click here to learn more about visiting El Salvador - https://elsalvador.travel/en/ Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 2023-11-2302 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastNeurodivergent Kids Are Awesome!Jen Malia is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her new "Infinity Rainbow Club" series. Jen tells us this series features characters who have various neurodivergent traits. In this enlightening discussion, Jen and Jedlie explore the importance of recognizing and supporting neurodivergent individuals. They discuss the growing awareness of neurodiversity, including conditions like autism, ADHD, OCD, dyslexia, and more. Jen emphasizes the significance of understanding one's neurodivergent identity, as it can help individuals accept themselves and others more readily. The "Infinity Rainbow Club" series introduces readers to a diverse group of neurodivergent characters, each with unique strengths and challenges. T...2023-09-3029 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastBest FriendsIn this engaging episode of the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast we meet Shannon Hale, author of the graphic novel trilogy memoir consisting of "Real Friends," "Best Friends," and "Friends Forever." Hale explains that her autobiographical books delve into the challenges she faced growing up, focusing on friendships and her struggle with undiagnosed anxiety and OCD. The trilogy covers different phases of her childhood, providing insights into the intricate dynamics of friendships during various stages. The audio version of "Best Friends" is celebrated as an innovative approach to sharing these stories, offering a unique opportunity for families to listen together and spark...2023-08-2026 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastHow Does Our Food Grow?Brooke Jorden is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her new #ChildrensBook How Does Our Food Grow? Brooke tells Jedlie and our guest co-host Anne O'Leary that she partnered with the UN organization Kitchen Connection to create a tool for parents to talk to their kids about food. The book grew out of the philosophy that talking to your kids about food (where it comes from, what it does in your body, etc.) will allow them to build a healthy relationship with food that will last a lifetime. The book shows children growing and eating many different fruits, vegetables...2023-08-0134 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastLife Lessons From My DadKevin Martin is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate his new book, "All is Well." The book is both autobiographical and biographical, revolving around Kevin's father, who passed away from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in 2019. Kevin shares how he coped with grief by keeping a journal, which eventually evolved into this heartwarming book about their close relationship, growing up in South Boston, and finding their best selves as a family. It's a story of faith, savoring life's moments, and fulfilling bucket list items, all with a focus on building legacy and living life to the fullest. Kevin's father was...2023-07-3030 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastB Is For BananasCarrie Tillotson is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her new #PictureBook B Is For Bananas. Carries tells Jedlie and Madison D'Aires that A is for Awake . . . but B is for Bedtime. When the narrator of this alphabet book tries to make it a bedtime book, Banana objects. Bedtime is BORING! And Banana is the star of this book, so it should really be called B Is for Bananas instead. It shouldn’t be about bedtime at all. This is a journey through all the letters of the alphabet about a banana who is NOT ready to go to bed...2023-06-2025 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastThis Is The First Book I Will Read To YouFrancesco Sedita is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate his new #Childrens #PictureBook This Is The First Book I Will Read To You. Do you remember the first book you read to your kids?Maybe, maybe not. But Jedlie and Francesco are willing to bet you remember the feelings you had as you and your baby were transported to the soothing world of their story, sharing the special love of reading together for the first time. Click here to visit Francesco's website - https://www.francescosedita.com/books Click here to visit our website - ww...2023-05-2123 min
Reading With Your Kids PodcastA Different Kind Of Holden CaulfieldDavid Haynes is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate the re-release of his #YA #Novel Right By My Side. David tells Jedlie and co-host Cassandra Maisonet he is honored that this book has been named a Penquin Classic. In the novel we meet a different kind of Holden Caulfield in fifteen-year-old Marshall Field Finney, an ordinary, sullen teenager who discovers storytelling as a way to ease his adolescent anger and family tensions. Living with his parents in “Washington Park,” a housing development outside St. Louis, Missouri in the 1980s, his high-strung mother walks out on him and his father, a fl...2023-03-1825 min
That's Good ParentingHow Jedlie Took His Books From the Stage to Page to Make "Real Magic"Send us a textListen to today's episode, "How Jedlie Took His Books From the Stage to Page to Make "Real Magic” as Jed Doughtery a.k.a. "Jedlie" the host of the "Reading with Your Kids" podcast and Educational Magician shares how his time performing on stage led to his creation of his kids' book "Real Magic." In this episode hear:* How his background led to writing* How his stage experiences led to his book "muse"* A reading of his book, "Real Magic"* What he has learned in...2023-02-1331 min