Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Norma Roth and her daughter Shayna Rose Penn return to the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate the latest title in their Lovable Lucy series “You’re So Big”. Norma and Shayna tell us that Lovable Lucy follows a curious and boisterous pup around as she faces a new beginning with her fur-ever home and new family. This tender book takes children in the paws of new situations of life while promoting kindness, inclusion, critical thinking, and different ways of expressing social and emotional confidence as well as so much more! Children, parents, grandparents and educators will love learning with Lucy and her family. While joining Lucy on her daily adventures, readers will appreciate how Lucy and her family approach and resolve new or challenging situations and incorporate those lessons into their own life! Click here to visit the Lovable Lucy website – https://lovablelucyseries.com/ Click here to visit our website – www.readingwithyourkids.com 

Shannon Addison is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her new #ChildrensBook My Crumby Guide To Baking & Friendship Making. Shannon tells us her interactive baking book and baking line are designed to help parents connect with their kids in the kitchen. Shannon’s characters, The Breadcrumbz, teach about friendship, connection, resilience, and acceptance. She would like to address the issue of parents NOT talking with their girls about the problems they are having with their friendships. She believes that if parents establish this communication early, it will help facilitate this type of interaction as girls enter their most difficult years--their teens. Click here to visit Shannon’s website – https://www.mycrumbyworld.com/  Click here to visit our website – www.readingwithyourkids.com

Bridgette Allen is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate the wonderful #PictureBook C Train. Bridgette is the founder and driving force behind The Circle tales, a series of illustrated picture books, activities and videos that encourages kids to come up with inventive solutions to the most pressing environmental issues of our time. The series demonstrates how we can learn from nature itself while challenging our concepts of waste and encouraging the continual use of resources.  Bridget tells us her background is in consulting for sustainability, especially reducing single-use plastic. It is this work that has inspired her to create The Circle tales. She hopes to engage children in conversations about repurposing and reimagining everyday objects. "C Train" highlights the importance of adapting to change and finding new purpose.  The story encourages readers to embrace new opportunities and limitations positively. Bridget hopes to help kids and parents approach change with open minds and adaptabilit

Emily Ettlinger is on the #ReadingWithYourKiids #Podcast to celebrate Skeleanor the Decomposer, a graphic novel for kids aged 6 to 9. Skeleanor, a music-loving skeleton, is determined to perform with the town band at the upcoming festival. But whether she plays the fiddle or the xylobone, the townspeople always run away screaming! She'll have to think outside the pine box if she wants to be on stage by festival night! This story is about enjoying what you do even if you aren't the best at it. Click here to visit Emily’s website – https://www.emiett.com/ Click here to visit our website – www.readingwithyourkids.com

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, and grains, and encourages curiosity in eating new things. Click here to visit the HDOFG page at Familius - https://www.familius.com/book/how-does-our-food-grow/  Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

Kevin 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 born in Boston and was a humble, gentle man who lived his faith through subtle actions and kindness towards others. He taught Kevin valuable lessons about unconditional love, faith, and the importance of education. The book delves into topics like forgiveness, not living with regrets, and building strong family bonds. Throughout the conversation, Kevin and Jedlie discuss the power of modeling behavio

Leslie Kimmelman is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her new #Childrens #PictureBook Ready, Set, Run. Leslie tells us this book is a celebration of the New York City Marathon, the World's largest Marathon. Leslie talks about the fun and welcoming atmosphere that surrounds the NYC Marathon, how is winds its way through all five borroughs of the city, the incredible detirmination it takes to compete in the event and how the event is open to all people. Leslie also talks about the many happy years she spent working on Sesame Street. Click here to visit Leslie's website - https://www.lesliekimmelman.com/  Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

Laura Gayle returns to the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her latest book, "Grandpa's Window." Laura shares her inspiration behind the book, her experiences with grief, and the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren.  Laura tells us that the book was written after her mother's passing, as the first grandparent death her four kids experienced. She highlights the challenges of finding the right balance of emotions, including love, sadness, grief, and hope, which resonates with kids and families navigating the grieving process. Laura talks about the beautiful intergenerational friendship that exists between grandparents and grandchildren. She highlights how these relationships involve a different kind of friendship than those with peers, marked by love, trust, and shared interests. Click here to visit Laura’s website – www.LauraGayle.com Click here to visit our website – www.readingwithyourkids.com

Monica Mancillas is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her children's book "How to Speak in Spanglish." The book celebrates the beauty of bilingualism and explores the joys and challenges of growing up in a multicultural environment. Monica shares her personal experiences and insights, highlighting the benefits of raising bilingual children and breaking down misconceptions about code-switching. Monica affirms the value of raising bilingual children, dispelling the common myth that mixing languages will hinder language fluency. She emphasizes that children who speak multiple languages often perform better academically and gain valuable cultural connections. Monica tells us about her own upbringing in California, where she spoke Spanish as a child but gradually transitioned to English due to environmental factors. She candidly discusses her feelings of shame and embarrassment about not being fluent in Spanish. The discussion dives into the benefits of bilingualism, including enhanced cognitive ab

Jessica Kim is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her middle-grade novel, "Make a Move, Sunny Park." Jessica tells us the main character of her novel is Sunny Park, a 12-year-old Korean American who loves dancing. "Make a Move" is a friendship story that explores Sunny's struggles with social anxiety and her passion for Kpop and dance. Jessica says she wanted to write for shy and socially anxious girls, offering a relatable main character. As a people pleaser herself, she wanted to address the struggle of finding one's courage and saying no when needed. Jessica also speaks about the power books have to serve as a window that enables kids to have a look inside a culture they may not be familiar with. Click here to visit Jessica’s website – www.JessKimWrites.com Click here to visit our website – www.readingwithyourkids.com

Nic Yulo returns to the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her brand new #PictureBook, "Out of the Blue." Nic tells us about her creative process, inspirations, and the message behind her latest book. “Out Of The Blue” revolves around Coral, a small and quiet girl on a school field trip to an aquarium, where she discovers a tiny, overlooked creature named Kraken. As the plot unfolds, Coral learns to embrace her uniqueness and find her voice. Nic reveals that her love for the ocean and fascination with marine life inspired the main characters of the book, Coral and Kraken. As a self-proclaimed nerd, she shares her admiration for octopuses and the various species she researched while creating the story. The desire to portray the beauty and mystery of the ocean influenced the inclusion of marine creatures in the narrative. We also talk about being seen, which is a prevalent topic in "Out of the Blue." Nic discusses how she wanted to explore the feelings of invisibility and how they can resonate with read

Kathleen Long Bostrom is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her new #ChildrensBook "Since the Baby Came: A Siblings' Learning to Love Story." Kathleen tells us the inspiration for the book is the emotional roller coaster older siblings experience when a new baby arrives. Older siblings may feel excitement, jealousy, and uncertainty during this new phase of family life and that all these emotions are normal and should be acknowledged.     Kathleen also tells us how she wanted to make poetry fun and accessible for young children. The book consists of 16 different poems that tell a complete story, using various poetic formats. Kathleen hopes this book will have a long shelf life as children grow older and can relate to different parts of the story. Click here to visit Kathleen’s website - www.kathleenlongbostrom.com Click here to visit our website – www.readingwithyourkids.com

NFL Network Correspondent and Sirius Radio Host Michael Yam is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate his #childrens #picturebook "Fried Rice and Marinara." Michael tells us that this project started as a response to his cousins seeking diverse children's books for their mixed-race children. The book celebrates his Chinese and Italian heritage, with a young character named Mikey facing the dilemma of choosing between his two favorite cuisines for his birthday party. We discuss the significance of positive representation in children's literature, providing "mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors" that allow kids to see themselves and others in a positive light.  Michael highlights the lack of diversity in children's stories and hopes that his book will help cultivate a path for storytelling as a viable career for young Asian children. Michael shares personal stories, emphasizing the unifying power of food in diverse families and the beautiful fusion of cultures that can happen around the dinner t

In this episode of the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast we welcome Katie Krause, author of the children's book "Don't Say No to H2O: Water Is So Good." Katie shares the inspiration behind her book, which stems from her own struggles with drinking water throughout her life. She talks about her journey in writing the book and the importance of encouraging children and adults to drink more water for their health and overall well-being. "Don't Say No to H2O" follows the story of a young girl who refuses to drink water, no matter how much her parents encourage her. She prefers flavored drinks like milk and juice but shuns water altogether. However, as she grows older, she starts to understand the benefits of drinking water and eventually embraces it as an essential part of her life. The book aims to spread the message of the importance of drinking water in an enjoyable and relatable way. Katie shares that becoming a children's author was not on her original bucket list, but the inspiration struck her one day, leading

Robin Polanski Morrison is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her #ChildrensBook "The Good Morning Book." Robyn explains that her book aims to provide a soft start to the day, encouraging children (and people of all ages) to take a deep breath, be mindful, and set positive intentions for the day. Robyn also shares about her personal experience with postpartum depression, which played a role in the creation of the book. She explains how reading to her child during that challenging time became a helpful coping mechanism. It is believed that postpartum depression effects one in ten women in the United States. Robyn tells us some of the ways friends and family can provide support to new moms, such as offering specific help, asking about their well-being, and understanding the challenges they may face. Click here to visit Robyn’s website – www.TheGoodMorningBook.com Click here to visit our website – www.readingwithyourkids.com

Rosalie Mastaler is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her #ChildrensBook Hunter’s Tall Tales. Rosalie tells us this book was inspired by her son Hunter, who has a limb difference. Rosalie shares the story behind the book and its message of friendship, inclusivity, and addressing curiosity about disabilities in a positive way. The book highlights the importance of fostering curiosity and asking questions about differences while emphasizing the significance of recognizing the person behind the disability. The author discusses how children's natural inquisitiveness can be channeled positively by promoting conversations about disabilities at home and through books and media. Rosalie encourages parents to teach their children about inclusivity and acceptance so that encountering individuals with disabilities becomes a normal and comfortable experience. Rosalie shares that her primary goal with the book was to evoke emotions in young readers. She wanted children to feel a sense of friendship, humor,

Lindsey Larson is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her #ChildrensBook “Meeting Exceptional Friends." The book focuses on children with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of embracing and celebrating differences. Lindsey shares that the book aims to educate children and parents about accepting and including individuals with disabilities. She highlights the significance of asking questions and having open discussions to foster understanding and friendship. Lindsey draws from personal experiences as a parent of a child with disabilities and an occupational therapist. She also mentions the positive impact of inclusive play and adaptive devices on playgrounds. The book encourages dialogue between parents and children and includes discussion questions and resources for further engagement. Additionally, the podcast acknowledges Lindsey's military family background and expresses gratitude for their service. Lindsey tells us she hopes to continue creating books related to disability education, i

Lauren Chaitoff is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate moving and feeling alive with our kids. She is the founder of Yogi Beans, and the author of 108 Awesome Yoga Poses For Kids. Lauren invites us all to go on a Yoga adventure! Lauren tells us we can wiggle and giggle our way through these amazing yoga poses that will help us all feel good! Inside this book, you’ll find tons of playful yoga positions that will show you how moving your body can be fun. Let your imagination soar as you become a bouncing Frog, a magical Mermaid or a soaring Rocket Ship with these simple, silly stretches. Plus, learn how to slow your breathing and calm down when you’re mad or sad with poses like Lion’s Breath or Sun Breath. Click here to visit Lauren's website - https://yogibeans.com/  Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com   

Best selling author Patrice Karst is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to celebrate her latest #ChildrensBook The Invisible String Backpack. Patrice tells us this is a companion book to The Invisible String—which has sold 1.5 million copies to date— that offers a complete socio-emotional toolkit for back-to-school—and your whole life! In the story we meet Mila on her first day of school. But mixed with her excitement is worry. What if she can’t find her classroom? What if no one likes her? What if she’s too nervous to speak up? With a little advice from her brother, she learns that she has everything she needs right in her Invisible Backpack: an Invisible Microphone to help her find her voice, an Invisible Flashlight for when she’s feeling lost, an Invisible Net to catch her if she falls, and much more. Her pack is bottomless! The Invisible String is the very first thing that she puts in her pack—and each time she uses it, it gets bigger and better. Click here to visit Patrice's website - https://patriceka

Popular comedy writer James Breakwell is on the #ReadingWithYourKids #Podcast to bring us the story of a determined boy with big dreams who remains undeterred by all the naysayers! James tells us that in You Can't Be A Pterodactyl we meet Tommy, a young boy who knows exactly what he wants to be when he grows up. But when he announces that he plans to be a pterodactyl, it turns out he’s surrounded by skeptics (because what would he eat? Where would he live? How would he make money?). What’s a kid with a big dream to do? Well first of all, he’s not about to give up. (And he has a lot of good answers!) And fortunately, Tommy also has a wonderfully open-minded dad who helps him find a way to fulfill his goal. Kids will be cheering for Tommy on his road to pterodactyldom in this funny, engaging story, all the way to its clever resolution. Click here to visit James' website - https://explodingunicorn.com/you-cant-be-a-pterodactyl/  Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com