Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Get ready for a delightful dive into the world of storytelling with Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr, the dynamic duo behind the beloved Ben Yokoyama book series! In this heartwarming episode of Reading with Your Kids, the creative couple shares the story behind their final installment, "Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Destiny." Matthew, a self-proclaimed easily confused writer, and Robbi, a talented illustrator with a design background, have crafted a unique approach to children's books. Their series follows Ben, a literal-minded third-grader who gets hilariously tangled up in misinterpreted fortune cookie fortunes. This final book takes Ben and his best friend Janet on a cross-country road trip filled with typical Swanson-Behr hijinks. What makes their books special is the incredible collaboration between Matthew and Robbi. They're complete opposites - Matthew is deadline-driven and goal-oriented, while Robbi loves starting her day with an ice cream sundae and pushing deadlines to the last minute. Their comple