This episode of Reading With Your Kids takes a deep dive into a  wide range of topics related to parenting, education, and children's health. Richard Capriola, an expert in adolescent substance abuse, discussed the importance of educating parents on the warning signs of drug and alcohol use in teens with our RWYK intern Kayla Nuehlen. He emphasized that knowledge is key to early intervention. Richard and Kayla discussed how schools could incorporate neuroscience into drug education to make it more engaging for students.

Teen drug use rates in the US were examined, noting that many teens believe drugs are widely available and not dangerous. Intergenerational relationships and the role of food in bringing families together were explored. We also welcomed author Tim Kleyn back to the show. Tim was on to celebrate his new kids' book Grilled Cheese, Yes Please. Tim also shared how becoming a parent influenced his books to incorporate more playfulness and reflect on a child's perspective.

.Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

#AdolescentSubstanceAbuse #TeenDrugUse #UnderageDrinking #YouthMentalHealth #AddictionPrevention #ParentingTips #DrugEducation #FentanylRisks #OpioidEpidemic

On this episode of #ReadingWithYourKids we answer wie explore puppy love and Bubble troubles. Alexandra Horowitz, celebrates her new book The Year of the Puppy. She discussed her career studying dog behavior and cognition. She explained how dogs were domesticated from wolves over thousands of years through selective breeding. Horowitz also talked about common misconceptions people have about dogs, like thinking they form dominance hierarchies like wolves.

Later in the episode Ellwyn Autumn returns to celebrate  her new picture book, A Fish Named Fancy. The book is about a boy fish named Fancy who likes to make shapes with his bubbles instead of circles like the other fish. He goes on an adventure to find others who are different too. Autumn said the book promotes acceptance of uniqueness and individuality. As a teacher, she talked about how kids as young as preschool age can start to form cliques and exclude others. Both authors provided advice for parents on how to help kids who feel left out, like encouraging other interests and hobbies to find friends.

Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

On this episode of #ReadingWithYourKids we celebrate the stories from Tyra Juliette Schwartz, Kalle Sudoof & Jenna Margon. We begin our celebration with a powerful conversation with Tyra Juliette Schwartz about her new kids' book  "The Sky is Red". Tyra tells us this book teaches self-trust through a fun superhero story. She emphasized the importance of instilling inner strength and resilience in children to believe in themselves despite challenges. We then speak with .

Kale Sudoff and his book "Stuart Quills and his Explosive Emotions" that explores a character dealing with change and nerves. Kale tells us the books was inspired by his own experience with stuttering. Kale encourages embracing differences and individuality. Our third segment showcases Jenna Morgan and her book "Twinkle". Jenna tells us this book  was inspired by her daughter's free spirit. It explores feeling pressure to conform versus being true to oneself. Both Kale and Jen found solace in creative writing and want to inspire kids through relatable characters.

Hard work, perseverance, and overcoming disappointment. were discussed. Tyra shared facing rejection but achieving dreams through hard work and self-belief. The importance of building resilience in children was highlighted. Overall the discussions promoted values of self-confidence, embracing uniqueness, and empowering children.

Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

This episode of Reading with Your Kids features conversations about children's literature, mental health, and self-acceptance. Guests William Hartwick and Francine Davila discuss their memoirs exploring personal journeys of healing through difficult life experiences. Hartwick shares how writing helped him process trauma and find self-love, represented through the metaphor of an "Invisible Backpack" carrying emotional burdens.

Helen Wu of Yeehoo Press discusses selecting books appealing to audiences in both the US and China, noting cultural differences in topics. Her company focuses on themes like STEM, hands-on learning, and diversity to foster global understanding.

Francine Davila returns to discuss her book "The Lonely Chameleon," exploring a character struggling with low self-esteem due to not fitting in. She shares overcoming bullying by accepting herself unconditionally in high school.

Overall, the conversations emphasize the power of self-love through challenging times and importance of inclusive, imaginative children's literature in building confident readers.

Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

Rajani LaRocca, Shannon Hitchcock and Amie Darnell Specht are on this episode of #ReadingWithYourKids to celebrate the power of story. We begin the episode by welcoming Rajani LaRocca back to the show. She is celebrating her new middle grade fantasy novel, Sona and the Golden Beasts. Rajani explained the setting and characters, including Sona who discovers an injured wolf pup and goes on a quest to save her mentor.

Jedlie asked Rajani about her writing process. She said she started with the emotions of indignation and affection for marginalized people. They discussed how media has agendas and the importance of parents talking with their kids about the media they consume. Rajani also shared details about the magic system in her book being collective magic formed through music and connection.

Next, Shannon Hitchcock and Amie Darnell Specht joined to discuss their new novel Dancing in the Storm. Shannon explained the story is about 12-year-old Kate who has been diagnosed with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). Amie further described FOP as a rare genetic disorder where the body forms sheets of bone over muscles, joints and ligaments.

Amie shared her experience growing up with FOP, including adaptations her parents allowed to let her be a kid as long as possible. Shannon then told how she learned of Amie's condition and decided to write a book together about a girl learning to live with FOP. They discussed the challenges of collaborating virtually during COVID-19.

Three fascinating guests on this epsiode of Reading With Your Kids. First up is Jennifer Nestor, author of  "Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality". This book  uses animal characters to help a young girl embrace her unique traits. Jane Smith's book "Teddy's Bear Takes a Tumble" shows a boy caring for his stuffed bear like his caring father cares for him, passing kindness through generations. Both authors emphasized the importance of embracing individuality and positive role models.

 We discussed creating children's books that address difficult topics through enjoyable stories. Traditional publishing was compared to self-publishing, with Jane Smith choosing to independently publish to directly connect with readers. We end the show with a delightful chat with Valentina, an Italian government official who was instrumental in coordinating an initiative that sponsored tweny publishers to visit the International Children's Book Festival. Valentina shares her loveof  the history, culture, and famous cuisine of Bologna, Italy, including underground rivers and Michelangelo's smaller statue.

Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

This episode of Reading with Your Kids featured conversations with several authors celebrating books and literacy. Jenna James discussed her Mozzarella book series, which draws inspiration from her travels between Ireland and Italy. The stories follow cheese-named characters on adventures throughout the world in search of happiness. James emphasizes exposing children to other cultures through her bilingual books and interactive activities.

Jenny Murray joins us from the International Children's Book Festival in Bologna, Italy. She has been attending the festival for over twenty years, representing Children's Books Ireland. She shared insights on encouraging literacy. Her organization educates adults about the wide range of books available and promotes Irish authors. Jenny discussed the importance of cultural exchange and language learning. We also have a listen back to an interview with Jane Yolen. Jane, who is the author of over 400 published books, reflected on her writing process . She emphasized the power of paying attention to find story ideas everywhere and letting children's imaginations flourish. You can hear the entire interview with Jane, which was originally published on April 1, 2021 on our website.

All of the guests discussed challenges like engaging parents who struggle with reading themselves. Ideas included modeling reading behavior. The episode celebrated diverse voices in literature and empowering children through stories.

Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

This episode of #ReadingWithYourKids features author and animator Sean Charmatz and Rawandan author and publisher Gasani Mutesi, Sean Charmatz joins us to celebrate his Bubble Cat series of picture books. Sean discusses how his character Bubble Cat learns strength, confidence and resilience despite appearing fragile. He reflected on how becoming a father influenced his storytelling perspective.

We met Gasana Mutesi at the International Children's Book Festival in Bologna, Italy. Gasana emphasized how reading with children is important for building character, bonding and sparking conversations about values. She believes books act as windows and doors into new perspectives and experiences. She discussed using animal characters in her books to introduce concepts like chores to children in a fun way.

Both guests stressed that books can open discussions on sensitive topics in a practical way for children. If parents want to shape their children's humanity and values, they must model that behavior themselves through open conversations sparked by shared reading experiences. Books have the power to influence culture for generations.

The conversation concluded with insights on Rwanda's cultural richness and recovery from tragedy under strong leadership. Gusana promotes reading and publishing stories reflecting cultural values through her company.

Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

This is a fun episode of Reading With Your Kids. We first chat with Bob Shea and Jarvis, author & illustrator of the #ChildrensBook "Oh, Are You Awake?". They discuss their creative process, from initially connecting online in 2019 to illustrate the story, despite never meeting. Jarvis shares enjoying the freedom of illustration in children's books compared to more realistic work. They emphasize writing simply to entertain themselves first.

We then literally travel to the International Children's Book Festival In Bologna, Italy to meet Melissa Wakhu, founder of Soul Kids Africa publishing house in Kenya. She discusses the importance of representation in children's literature, having struggled to find quality books reflecting her son's African heritage growing up. She wrote her first book, about a hibiscus flower, to immerse children in their culture.

Wakhu emphasizes reading aloud with children to bond and spark conversations. While not traditional in Africa, she found it invaluable spending time with her own kids. She wants to expose children to untold histories of African empires through books.

Both interviews highlight using humor and playfulness in children's content. Authors discuss tapping into childhood memories and trusting instincts with feedback from trusted critics. Representation and cultural exploration through literature are emphasized as bringing communities together.

Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

This episode of Reading With Your Kids we meet Stephanie Barber and Renee Greene Murphy. Stephanie Barber introduces us to the reading.com mobile app. Stephanie explains that the app uses phonics-based lessons and decodable books to teach children to read at home. Jed questions how the app approaches traditional phonics instruction, and Stephanie responds that it focuses on collaborative learning between parents and children. They discuss challenges in education, including frequent curriculum changes and supporting dyslexic learners.

Renee Green Murphy comes to Reading With Your Kids to celebrate her book "Your Hearts Voice". Renee shares how her personal experiences inspired her to write a children's book about intuition. She describes intuition as an innate gift that guides people towards right choices. Renee aims to teach children to identify and trust their intuition through her book. Jed and Renee discuss the importance of intuition in decision making for both children and adults. Renee also touches on the negative impacts of excessive social media exposure on children's ability to think independently. Overall, the conversations highlight the value of phonics-based literacy programs, parental involvement in education, and cultivating children's intuition from an early age.

Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com 

On this episode of "Reading with your Kids" we meet children's authors Alysson Bourque and Meredith Davis. First up is Alysson Bourque to celebrate her new children's book "Alleycat and the Sunday Scaries". She talked about how the book helps kids overcome fears by learning resilience from Alleycat and her friends. Alysson shared her journey from writing the series inspired by her own kids, to self-publishing success and being picked up by a traditional publisher.

Later in the episode Meredith Davis celebrates her new middle grade novel "The Minor Miracle". The story follows a boy named Noah who discovers he can manipulate gravity. Meredith discussed why superheroes are so appealing to both children and adults, citing themes of empowerment. She emphasized finding one's own superpowers, including the power of reading. Meredith encouraged evaluating ideas and content through the lens of "true, good, and beautiful".

Both authors provided advice for aspiring writers, stressing patience and perseverance. They highlighted the importance of engaging kids through personalized book recommendations and shared reading experiences between families. The interviews promoted literacy and creating understanding around the business of publishing.

Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com