Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Acclaimed author Victoria Bond is on the podcast to celebrate the final chapter of her Zora and Me Trilogy. This trilogy is a powerful fictionalized account of Zora Neale Hurston's childhood adventures explores the idea of collective memory and the lingering effects of slavery. "History ain't in a book, especially when it comes to folks like us. History is in the lives we lived and the stories we tell each other about those lives."

Jeff Kubiak returns to the podcast to celebrate his new Childrens Book "It's Me!" This book is dedicated to every person who has ever felt less about who they are or want to be because of someone else's opinion, feelings, or prejudice. Jeff hopes we ditch the prejudiced labeling, and embrace our common humanity.

No one expected that when David McArthur came on the Reading With Your Kids Podcast to celebrate his whimsical picture book would turn into a powerful conversation about a horrific crime, child abuse and mental health.

Sherry Howard returns to the podcast to introduce us to her new middle grade novel The Spirits Among Us. This is a thrilling tale of a wheelchair bound teen searching for ghosts and ways to connect with her deceased mom. This is a fun book to co-read with our tweens & teens

Such a fun time speaking with D Jude Miller. he is back on the show to celebrate his latest Children's book Halloween Boy & The Christmas Kid. This is a hilarious book based on a real life, and really improbable friendship.

Tara Aryan is on the #RWYK #Podcast to celebrate her picture book Queenie Corona and the Ten Little Prints. This is a delightful way to teach kids how to stop the spread of germs through proper hygiene.

Sean Patrick O'Reilly & Dave Alvarez celebrate Randolph the Reindeer. When a beloved family heirloom is destroyed, an ex-hotshot reindeer must brave a deadly snowstorm to reach Santa's workshop for a replacement before a family s Christmas is ruined forever. A touching and heartwarming Christmas tale with a positive message about friendship and family.

Chris Eliopoulos has worked in every aspect of comic book creation. He's most known as a prolific letterer, but in recent years has begun writing and drawing comics, some of which have been nominated for Eisner and Harvey awards. He is on the podcast to celebrate the Ordinary People Change The World Series he creates with Brad Meltzer

John Gallagher helps us kick off our celebration of Graphic Novels, comic books and Illustrated stories. John is the art director of the National Wildlife Federation's "Ranger Rick" magazine and has been drawing comics since he was five. He joins us today to celebrate Max Meow, Cat Crusader.

While many of us are disappointed we can not be with family on this Thanksgiving holiday Samarrah Clayman helps us remember that we do have lots to be thankful for. Her poignant picture book Will Jax Be Home For Thanksgiving shares the story of her son's battle with a brain tumor.

Christopher Gordon is on the Podcast to celebrate his wonderful Timothy's Lessons In Good Values picture book series. He is joined by his business manager Kristin Bento. In addition to their books Chris & Kristin also celebrate their native island nation of Trinidad & Tobago

Super show with two great guests celebrating two great picture books. Ellwyn Autumn returns to the show to celebrate Teddy Bear Tea. And A C Altintas joins us from Slovenia to celebrate I Don't Want To be A Dragon With No Teeth.

Saadia Faruqi & Laura Shovan are on the podcast to celebrate their new middle grade novel A Place At The Table. This is a powerful story of friendship that grows between two girls from very different religious, cultural and economic backgrounds.

Today we speak with two great guests. Joy Resor beings the show celebrating Designed To Shine, Volume 2. This is a wonderfully inspiring collection of poems. We also speak with Eric Hagen. His new children's book GoGo the Fish was inspired by his time in the Peace Corps. Thanks to Wonder Crate for sponsoring this episode

Marian "Hannah" Carlson is on the podcast to help us get ready for Thanksgiving. She tells us about her new #PictureBook "The Adventures Of Plimoth Plantation as Told by the Mayflower Mouse". This is a fun way for kids to learn about the history of the first Thanksgiving. Thanks to Wonder Crate for sponsoring this episode. Use the code word READ at www.wondercratekids.com to save 10% off any subscription

Our Dean of all things #STEM & #STEAM Jennifer Swanson returns to the #Podcast to celebrate Everything You Need to Ace Chemistry in One Big Fat Notebook. This is the latest in a wonderful series that helps middle & high school kids understand subjects they find challenging. A big thank you to Wonder Crate for sponsoring this episode.

Cathy Goldberg Fishman is on the #RWYK #Podcast to celebrate her beautiful picture book A Winter Walk In The City. This book introduces kids to many of the holidays we celebrate in Winter. This episode is sponsored by Wonder Crate.

Our celebration of Diwali continues as we chat with Sandhya Acharya. Her new #KidLit 10 Gulab Jamons, a delightful story that celebrates friendship, family and all of the deliciousness of Diwali. Big thanks to our friends at Wonder Crate for sponsoring this episode of the podcast.

Monique Gray Smith is on the podcast to help celebrate International Kindness Day and Native American Awareness Month. Her book When We Are Kind - Nihá'ádaahwiinít'íigo is the first book we have featured that has been translated into Navajo.

You've heard of the 12 days of Christmas? Ajanta Chakraborty is here to tell us all about the fantastic five days of Diwali, India's Festival of Lights! Anjanta is the driving force behind Bollywood Groove & Culture Groove, programs dedicated to helping to raise multi-culture kids.

Bryanne Leeming introduces us to Unruly Splats. This is a fantastically fun way to teach kids the basics of coding. Bryanne tells us the Unruly vision is to build ridiculously fun learning tools and experiences for the young people who will create the future.

Marla Benevides, sometimes known as the Cuban Goddess Book Lady, is on the podcast to talk about Homeschooling. Traditional public schools aren't so traditional in the days of Covid and homeschooling may provide more stability for some families. Marla is also an Usborne Affiliate

All over the world, there are reports of children turning into MINE monsters when they see someone else touch something they like. Brittany Plumari has responded to this "crisis" by writing How To Cure A Mine Monster, a delightful book that teaches kids manners.

Choose Your Reader was founded by Mike Coles, a lawyer, award-winning screenwriter, and children's book author. As a divorced Dad, Mike wanted to create a way to connect with his son, even when they were apart. Choose Your Reader was developed so that Mike could share the stories his son loved with children everywhere, and build a platform for others to do the same.

Katie Zhao is on the #podcast to celebrate her debut middle grade novel The Dragon Warrior. This is the first in a series of books inspired by Chinese Mythology.

Today we welcome Stephen Wunderli to celebrate his #ChildrensBook Dear Moon. Stephen is the author of six books for children and young adults. He believes adventure is always the best medicine and that curiosity is the best teacher.

Nikkii Bergstresser joins us to celebrate her new #ChildrensBook Seasons For Stones. This is a wonderful conversation about a book that reminds kids about the power of small acts of kindness.#Kindness #SmallActsOfKindness

This is a special republication of an episode that was first heard in December of 2018. Nine members of the Spooky Middle Grade Authors group come together to create and read an original short story just for the Reading With Your Kids audience. This was an especially fun experience for everyone involved. Check out www.spookymiddlegrade.com

Josh Roberts is a member of the Spooky Middle Grade authors group. His latest novel, The Witches of Willow Cove, was inspired by the Salem Witch trials. Josh also tells us what is was like growing up in a funeral home near the site of those witch trials.

Lorien Lawrence is on the #Podcast to celebrate her debut middle grade novel "The Stitchers". Lorien is a member of the Spooky Middle Grade Authors group. In addition to writing Lorien is a middle school English teacher from Connecticut. She has creative writing degrees from Wheaton College and Bath Spa University. When she's not reading or writing, she can be found hunting ghosts with her family.

Kim Ventrella returns to the podcast to celebrate "Hello Future Me" & "The Secret Life of Sam." Kim tells us she has always been a little on the weird side. She tells us that she once ate part of a giant cockroach (not on purpose) and that she has held many different jobs, including working as a 'scare actor' in a haunted house.

Spooky Middle Grade author Jacqueline West helps us celebrate Halloween Week with a chat about her Books of Elsewhere series and so much more. Jacqueline tells us she believes reading spooky books can be empowering for kids!

We kick off our Halloween Week Celebration with two not so scary authors. Paige Lawrence celebrates Gobblin' Ghouls. And Erica D Allen celebrates Cairo's First Halloween, a book inspired by a series of social media posts that went viral!

Trevor Lai is an award-winning author, illustrator and entrepreneur who has published more than 15 books for readers of all ages. He is also the founder and CEO of UP Studios, which is dedicated to creating, developing and producing content and merchandise based on original properties for kids and families.Today he talks about creating his iconic character Boomi and the need for creators, and all of us, to be fluent in both languages and culture.

Mrs. Sapp is President and CEO of Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership, an agency she helped to create 37 years ago, transforming it from a six-volunteer organization into a multi-million dollar agency with state and national outreach to families, schools, and communities. The mission of Informed Families is "helping kids grow up safe, healthy and drug-free." Mrs. Sapp is a recognized leader in drug prevention through grassroots involvement and is the recipient of numerous honors and community service awards. She has served on the Advisory Councils of The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the Florida Governor's Drug Control Policy Council.

Kerry Gallagher, JD is an innovative teacher, school administrator, lawyer, TEDx speaker, keynote speaker, education consultant, downhill skier, hiker, mom, and wife. She currently serves as Director of K-12 Education at ConnectSafely, an internet safety non-profit in Palo Alto, California. Kerry is co-author of several ConnectSafely award-winning guidebooks for parents and teachers on topics that include social media, data privacy, education technology, copyright, and more.

Tam Warner Minton loves the ocean. She loves scuba diving in the ocean and photographing all of the creatures that call the ocean their home. Today she celebrates her beautiful photo books All Fish Faces (a Reading With Your Kids Certified Great Read) & More Fish Faces.

Zack Bush & Laurie Friedman are on the show to celebrate their Little Book of Presidential Elections. This is the latest in their series of books that helps generate great family conversations about important topics. This non partisan picture book is a great tool to help answer question that may arise during the upcoming US election season

Everyone knows that all sloths are slow. Well, all sloths except for Sam, the speedy sloth. Being different is hard for Sam, as he doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. Matthew Ralph celebrates his wonderful new picture book that reminds kids that comparing yourself to others won't get you far, you are pretty wonderful, just the way you are.

Author Kathy MacMillan & Illustrator Julia Castaño are on the Reading With Your Kids Podcast to celebrate thier new picture book The Runaway Shirt. This is a wonderful tale that turns a chore into a delightful journey of imagination. The team also talk about how much fun they had working together.

Joana Pastro is on the podcast to celebrate her fun & empowering Children's book A Damsel Not In Distress. When she's captured by one villain after another, LillyBelle will need to use her charm and her wit to save herself and prove once and for all that damsels don't have to be in distress--all in time for tea!

NY Times Best Selling author Brad Meltzer is on the #Podcast to celebrate his acclaimed Ordinary People Change The World children's book series. Brad tells us how he was inspired to create the series to introduce his kids to real heroes. He also tells us why the latest book in the series, "I Am Anne Frank" is so special to him.

Carole Lindstrom is on to help us celebrate Indigenous People's Day and her critically acclaimed children's book We Are Water Protectors. Carole shares her inspiration for the book and also talks about what it is like growing up as a Native American.

We have a great time speaking with one of the World's most accomplished illusionists Lyn Dillies. In addition to being passionate about magic Lyn is passionate about voting. She is here to remind everyone that your vote is magic!

Circus Performer Leah Orleans is here to motivate us to turn fitness into a habit, for good! Leah's A, B, C's of Fitness Program is a fun way for families to spend quality, active time together. Check out Leah's A, B, C's of Fitness website - https://theabcsoffitness.com/abcs-info You can see Leah in action as one half of Acrobatrix - https://www.acrobatrix.com/

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month. Dr Kathryn Garforth helps us raise our awareness & understanding of this learning challenge. Dr. Garforth has professional expertise in Educational Psychology and a personal understanding of the frustrations children and adults with learning difficulties experience at home, school, work, and in extracurricular activities.

Author & educator Luke Reynolds returns to the podcast to celebrate Even More Fantastic Failures. This is a wonderful collection of stories that help kids understand that failure is often a first and needed step towards success.

Gina McMurchy Barber is on the podcast to help us acknowledge Downs Syndrome Awareness Month. Gina is the author of two wonderful novels that feature characters with Downs Syndrome. Both books are in part based on her experiences growing up with a sibling who had Downs Syndrome

Sarah Kathryn Frey is on the podcast to celebrate Alice Eloise's Silver Linings. This is the story of a silly, playful Double Doodle pup named Alice Eloise who dreams of becoming a service dog for her best friend, Sarah Kate. No matter how hard she tries, she just can't tame her natural silliness into the serious respectability that service dogs so often possess. The story is based on Sarah's relationship with her silly service dog. Be sure to check out her Kickstarter page - go to kickstarter.com and search for Alice Eloise's Silver Linings

How would you spend 5 million dollars in thirty days? Stacy McAnulty celebrates her new middle grade novel Millionaires for the Month. This is a thought-provoking story about friendship, privilege, and the value of a penny.