Reading With Your Kids Podcast

In this episode, host Jed Doherty welcomes two picture-book authors to talk about imagination, family, and the kindness stories can inspire.
First, R.J. Palacio shares The Haunted Playground, a playful tale in which Rex Magnificus, king of the ghosts, invites spirits from around the world to unwind at an annual post-Halloween gathering. When two living children stumble upon the party, they join the ghosts for a night of fun.
Palacio explains that the idea began with a morning walk past a park scattered with discarded Halloween costumes. She reflects on noticing small sparks, trusting ideas that linger, and having the courage to begin writing before knowing where a story will lead. She also praises illustrator Brett Helquist's whimsical, atmospheric art, especially its gradual shift from shadowy colors to bright celebration and its hidden details that invite rereading.
Throughout the conversation, Palacio describes kindness as a thread running through her work. She hopes children will discover that people who seem different can become friends, and that stories can encourage empathy without sounding preachy. She also celebrates teachers, librarians, and face-to-face community.
Then Deborah Pierce introduces her debut, Mrs. Rose in the Sweet Adventure, inspired by her mother's vivid storytelling and created especially for her grandchildren. In the book, Mrs. Rose, a magical flower, takes the children to Candyland, where kind words and friendship help them cross a chocolate-milk river on gumdrops.
Pierce says a follow-up, Mrs. Rose and the Undersea Adventure, is nearly finished, extending the series' lessons about mutual respect.

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids Jed welcomes author-illustrator Ashley Belote to discuss her early-reader graphic novel, Squirrel Lock Holmes: Mystery at the Corny Maze. Ashley describes Squirrel Lock as a spirited woodland detective partnered with Mole Watson. The character grew from her childhood love of Nancy Drew, Junie B. Jones, and Spy Kids. The idea arrived during a playful "squirrel moment" while she was researching another project and sketching a flying squirrel.
Chip the Chipmunk disappears in a corn maze, and more animals go missing, prompting Squirrel Lock and Watson to investigate. Ashley says animal characters can make lessons feel less intimidating for young readers. She finds horses challenging to draw. Moving from picture books to an 80-page graphic novel gave her room to build relationships, develop clues, and create a fuller mystery. She starts with the solution and works backward to plant clues. She also values how readers infer what happens between panels and read visual cues. Ashley shares that book three, A Mole in One Mystery, is planned for June 8, 2027, and she is working on book four. She hopes families will make their own guesses as they read.
The episode also features Samantha Reynolds discussing Help Me Be Me, her parenting picture book inspired by conscious parenting. She encourages parents to let children make choices, make mistakes, and learn from natural consequences instead of trying to control every outcome. A hidden teddy bear adds playful fun to reading. Samantha also mentions upcoming creative projects, including a family film and animated programs.

Jed Doherty welcomes listeners to two conversations about books and literacy.
First, Mia Wenjen celebrates the third annual Newton Children's Book Festival, taking place November 15 at the American Legion Nonantum Post 440. Its accessible venue will welcome 100 authors and illustrators, with young adult books included for the first time. After growing from 1,000 attendees in its first year, the festival offers more room, parking, and food options. Wenjen describes her goal of bringing children face-to-face with authors and showcasing creators from diverse backgrounds and genres.
She also discusses her picture book Barbed Wire Between Us, a story connecting Japanese American incarceration during World War II with the experiences of immigrants. Wenjen explains how she shaped it as a reversal poem: the words are repeated in reverse order, while punctuation shifts the meaning. Illustrator Violeta Encarnacion's sepia and turquoise palettes help distinguish the book's past and present.
In the second conversation, Varsha Bajaj talks about her middle-grade novel Roar. Rohan, a 12-year-old boy from Houston, travels to northern India to visit his grandfather at a tiger sanctuary. The story alternates between Rohan's perspective and Arya, a tigress protecting her cubs. Bajaj says visiting a sanctuary transformed her understanding of the story and inspired her to give the tiger a voice.
The conversation explores identity and belonging, as Rohan feels both an insider and outsider in a country connected to his heritage. Bajaj highlights the book's conservation themes and how it can spark family discussions about wildlife, friendship, and finding one's passion.

Join host Jed Doherty for an episode featuring two authors whose books invite readers to lead with kindness and imagination.
First, Janet Zappala introduces Guapo in the Mystery of Goodness Grove, a picture book inspired by Guapo, a steer weighing more than 3,000 pounds. Guapo is famous for his gentle nature, heart-shaped forehead marking, and friendship with Mabel, a pot-bellied pig. Janet explains how their bond sparked a story about celebrating differences and treating others with kindness. She believes children learn values by watching caring actions, not just hearing advice. She discusses moving from journalism to children's books, collaborating with writer Wendy Perkins and illustrator Laura Kaleja, and the joy she finds in reading with children. Profits from her books support animal rescues.
Then Christopher Mannino shares Starkeeper, a standalone middle-grade fantasy in his shared Builder's World, where natural wonders are someone's job. Jack is expected to hang stars, but longs to become a poet. Menino traces the novel's whimsical inspiration to theater, imagery, and a desire to create wonder and cozy fantasy. He describes starting with a striking image and building a story around it.
Living in Malta, Mannino introduces a virtual pen-pal program for students in grades three through six. Zoom sessions will explore Malta's history, culture, geography, and daily life, including island realities such as importing essential resources. He hopes the program will connect students to his books and spark curiosity about the world. Together, the conversations celebrate stories that foster empathy, learning, and joy.

This episode brings together two authors whose work helps children connect with books and learning in different ways.
Martha Seif Simpson joins Jed to talk about her easy-reader graphic novel, I Will Not Eat Latkes, designed for readers and the Hanukkah season. She explains how family latke-making traditions inspired the story: oxidized potatoes once prompted a guest to call them "rusty potato mush." In the book, Nosh the koala encourages Potchki the ring-tailed lemur to try latkes by being brave like his hero, Judah Maccabee. Martha shares why easy readers use simple language, how illustrations and graphic novel panels bring the tale to life, and why libraries and audiobooks can welcome more children into reading.
Rachel Glowacki then introduces Move with Me Books, her movement-based literacy project, and her book All Through the Crown. Inspired by yoga and the song "The Wheels on the Bus," the book uses colors, body parts, rhythm and movement to help children explore feelings and energy. Rachel explains how movement can support attention, mood and learning, especially for children who benefit from kinesthetic experiences. She also reflects on making learning inclusive and playful.
Across both conversations, Jed and his guests celebrate libraries as welcoming community resources, honor different ways children learn, and encourage adults to follow kids' interests rather than judging what they choose to read. The episode is a reminder that stories can spark curiosity, build confidence, and bring families together—whether around a plate of latkes or a rainbow of movement.