In this episode of "Reading with Your Kids," host Jed Doherty welcomes back author Rob Renzetti to discuss the second book in his spooky middle-grade trilogy, "The Twisted Tower of Endless Torment." Renzetti shares his excitement for writing the sequel, explaining how he had a clear vision for the series even before the first book was published. Renzetti talks about the challenges of meeting the publisher's deadlines, but how he ultimately decided to release the books in the summer to coincide with the Halloween season, as the stories have a delightfully creepy vibe. Jed and Renzetti bond over ..read more

In this episode of "Reading with Your Kids," host Jed Doherty welcomes a diverse group of authors to discuss their latest children's books and share insights on literacy, education, and the power of storytelling. First up is Karol Hernandez, who celebrates her vibrant picture book "I Am Lachiva, the Colorful Bus of the Andes." Karol shares the cultural significance of the iconic Chiva buses in Colombia, describing their bright colors, unique designs, and vital role in rural transportation. She also discusses the challenges of translating a rhyming book into Spanish and the importance of authen ..read more

In this captivating episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with two remarkable guests who are using their unique talents to make a difference in the world. First, we hear from Kao Kalia Yang, a Hmong American author whose debut middle-grade novel, "The Diamond Explorer," takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and cultural identity. Kalia shares the powerful story of her family's harrowing escape from Laos during the Vietnam War, and how her father's resilience and love of storytelling inspired her own writing. She delves into the themes of her book, whi ..read more

In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty had the pleasure of speaking with several talented kid's book authors and illustrators. First up were sisters Janet Lord and Julie Paschkiss, who collaborated on the picture book "Crick Crack Crow." Janet wrote the story, while Julie brought the mischievous crow to life through her vibrant illustrations. The siblings discussed their creative process and the special connection they share as co-creators. Next, Jed welcomed John Krause, author of the Pudge Amazon middle-grade book series. Krause shared how his childhood nickname "Pudge ..read more

In this episode of Reading with Your Kids, we had the pleasure of speaking with two talented kids' book authors and illustrators - Carter Higgins and Ryeigh A Starr. Carter Higgins joined us to celebrate her delightful picture book "Round and Round the Year We Go," which celebrates the changing seasons and the joy of reading with kids. Carter shared how her experience as a school librarian influenced her approach to creating books that feel like a cozy story time experience. We also had the chance to chat with Ryleigh A Starr, the author behind the Australian Animals Children's Book Series. Ry ..read more

Hey there, book lovers! We've got a juicy episode for you today, packed with fruity fun and heartwarming family moments. First up, we chatted with Mike Boldt about his new picture book "Cantaloupe and Honeydew Ride a Bike." It's a sweet story about two melon pals learning to pedal their way through life's challenges. Mike shared some behind-the-scenes scoop on his creative process, including how he came up with the idea of personifying these fruity friends. He even spilled the beans on his unique illustration technique, combining real fruit photos with hand-drawn expressions. Pretty cool, righ ..read more

Hey there, book lovers and tech enthusiasts! Today's episode is a real eye-opener about how technology is revolutionizing reading for everyone, especially kids with learning differences. We kicked things off with Ayan Kishore from Benetech, who's doing amazing work with Bookshare. Imagine a free online library with over 1.3 million books, all accessible to kids who struggle with traditional reading. We're talking text-to-speech, customizable fonts, and even refreshable Braille displays. It's not just cool tech – it's life-changing stuff that's boosting reading comprehension for kids with dysle ..read more

Hey there, book lovers! Today we've got a real treat for you - two amazing authors talking about their fascinating new children's books. First up is Gabriella Aldeman, chatting about her bilingual book "Squawk of Spanish." This heartwarming story follows Max, a kid struggling to speak Spanish despite his bilingual household. Gabriella dives into the challenges of translating the book, the importance of embracing imperfection in language learning, and how to help kids gain confidence in speaking another language. She even shares some personal anecdotes about her own family's bilingual journey ..read more

Hey there, podcast fans! Get ready for an exciting episode of Reading with Your Kids featuring not one, but two awesome guests. First up, we've got Jerry Kolber from Atomic Entertainment, the mastermind behind the hit kids' podcast "Who Smarted?". Jerry dishes on how they're making learning fun for kids and parents alike with their daily 15-minute episodes covering everything from science to pop culture. But wait, there's more! We also chat with YA fantasy author M.B. Mooney about his epic new book "Shield of the King". Mooney takes us into the world of Elowin, a young elf navigating a complex ..read more

Hey there, book lovers! This episode of Reading With Your Kids was jam-packed with awesome insights about fostering a love of reading beyond the classroom. We chatted with Becca Sexton, a teacher librarian who shared some eye-opening facts.  Becca and Jed swapped stories about how school librarians changed their lives, and emphasized the importance of giving kids access to books and letting them choose what they want to read. They also touched on the power of pleasure reading and how it can turn kids into lifelong bookworms. We also heard from Sarah Versher, author of "Magnificent and Dif ..read more