Reading With Your Kids Podcast

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes Cliodhna O'Sullivan, author of the YA romantasy Her Hidden Fire, and Steph Carse, creator of the picture book I Am Awesomely Made.
First, Jed chats with Cliodhna O'Sullivan about her powerful new YA romantasy that blends magic, romance, and sharp social commentary. We meet Aya, a girl with a rare magical gift who secretly gives her power to her best friend to save his family's status. That one choice pulls her into a darkly enchanting magic academy on remote islands inspired by Ireland's castles and misty landscapes. Cliodhna shares how growing up poor with an alcoholic, gambling-addicted father shaped her understanding of exploitation, sacrifice, and systems built on the backs of vulnerable people—core themes in Her Hidden Fire. She also talks about love triangles done right, multiple POVs across the trilogy, and her long, twisty road to publication that included losing both an agent and a publisher before finally finding the right home for her book.
Later, Jed talks with Steph Carse about I Am Awesomely Made, a picture book and movement rooted in his nonprofit YICount.org. Drawing on his own bullying experiences, Steph explains how the book helps kids build self-worth, understand their incredible bodies, and use the power of words to push back against bullying—especially in the age of social media and cyberbullying. Together, they explore how families can start life-giving conversations that remind kids they matter and are, truly, awesomely made.

In this inspiring episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes author Celesta Rimington to talk about her powerful new middle grade novel "Reach." Centered on a boy named Denver, Reach explores the complicated emotions that come with blended families, sibling tension, and the grief of losing the "old" version of your family. When a mysterious magical forest and an ancient talking tree transform Denver's younger stepbrother into a tree, Denver is forced to confront his unspoken wishes and big feelings about change, loss, and love.
Celesta shares how her own childhood—losing her father at a young age, becoming the older half-sibling in a large blended family, and feeling both responsible and displaced—informs Denver's journey. She also explains how nature, national parks, and asking "what if?" questions fuel the magic in her stories, including Reach, The Elephant's Girl, and Tips for Magicians. Parents and educators will love her ideas for using Reach to spark family conversations about grief, change, identity, and the idea of "forced family" versus chosen family, as well as the fun STEM elements in the book, from robotics to the "wood wide web."
Later, Jed talks with Michael Cottman, author of "Segregated Skies: David Harris's Trailblazing Journey to Rise Above Racial Barriers." Michael shares the inspiring true story of David Harris, the first Black commercial airline pilot for a major U.S. airline, and how his perseverance, humility, and courage during the Civil Rights era can inspire young readers, especially during Black History Month.

In this inspiring episode of the Reading With Your Kids podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with former Major League Baseball player turned artist and author Micah Johnson to talk about his powerful new middle grade novel, Aku: Journey to Ibra.
Micah shares how a casual comment during spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers unexpectedly launched his art career, eventually leading him to create Aku, a Black kid in an astronaut helmet inspired by his nephew's question, "Can astronauts be Black?" What began as a painting grew into 3D art, public sculptures, and now a fast‑paced, sci‑fi adventure book designed to help kids dream big, build confidence, and understand that no one reaches their dreams alone.
Micah and Jed dive into themes of asking for help, vulnerability, and representation, exploring how seeing yourself in powerful roles—on a giant canvas, in VR, or on the page—can reshape a child's sense of what's possible. Micah also pulls back the curtain on his creative process, explaining how he uses VR sculpting and 3D printing to build the world of Aku and make art more accessible to kids and families.
In the Listen Back segment, Jed revisits a conversation with author Andrea Williams about her book Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues. They discuss Effa Manley's trailblazing role as a Black woman team owner, the history of the Negro Leagues, and why sharing honest, complex Black history with kids is essential for raising thoughtful, informed readers.

In this heartwarming episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed Doherty welcomes Brooklyn teacher and award-winning author Torrey Maldonado to celebrate his debut picture book "Just Right."
Torrey shares the deeply personal story behind the book: his relationship with his niece, whom he helped raise and who later asked him to walk her down the aisle because he had been "the only dad" she'd ever known. That love and chosen-family bond lives at the center of Just Right. Torrey and Jed talk about how love doesn't have to be biological to be real or powerful, and how kids can find their "just right people" in uncles, aunts, teachers, and neighbors, not just parents.
Torrey explains that Just Right shows how small, everyday moments can lift a child from "down to up," and how cherishing people matters more than any gift. He also describes his writing style as "roller coaster fiction"—short, tight, joyful stories kids want to ride again and again. Balancing nearly 30 years of teaching in New York City with writing, he says he writes "spoonful by spoonful," like slowly tunneling out of Shawshank.
Later in the episode, Jed chats with Danna Smith, author of "Zenguin." Danna introduces listeners to a sweet, anxious little penguin who learns calming techniques like breathing, yoga, and simple mindfulness. Drawing on her own childhood anxiety, Dana talks about giving kids (and parents) a gentle, playful toolbox to recognize big feelings and find their calm—one breath, and one page, at a time.

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes picture book author Barb Rosenstock to talk about her captivating new title, Houdini's Library. Drawing on her deep love of history and storytelling, Barb shares how a tiny sign at the Library of Congress—"Houdini Collection" —sparked years of research and ultimately this book.
Barb and Jed dive into the real Harry Houdini: not just the "handcuff king" and daring escape artist, but a relentless learner who built a massive working library of magic books. Barb explains that Houdini, who likely had only a second‑ or third‑grade education, used books to teach himself everything—from escapes to showmanship to public relations. They talk about how he studied older tricks, respected the magicians who came before him, and combined ideas to create something new—powerful lessons for kids about persistence, creativity, and hard work.
Barb also highlights the team effort behind both Houdini's performances and her own books, reminding listeners that big achievements are almost never solo acts. She connects Houdini's discipline to athletes like Kobe Bryant: the first in the gym, the last to leave, still practicing even at the top.
Later in the episode, Jed chats with 12‑year‑old author Shravya Khandelwal, whose middle grade novel The Curse of Judice blends suspense, demons, and a brave heroine named Sarah. Shravya talks about her love of spooky, supernatural stories, how curiosity pulls kids into mysteries, and what it feels like to be a young, published author balancing school, big dreams, and book promotion.