Magic, Mystery & The Incredible Phyllis Wong

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, we're celebrating both the cozy and the creepy sides of kids' lit! First, we welcome Alyssa Satin Capucilli, creator of the beloved Biscuit series, as she celebrates 30 years of her small yellow puppy who has helped millions of children become independent readers. Alyssa shares the heartwarming real-life moment that inspired Biscuit, explains the difference between picture books and first readers, and talks about why pattern, repetition, and those famous "woof woofs" are so powerful for young readers. She also reflects on generations of kids—and now teachers—who grew up with Biscuit, and offers thoughtful advice for aspiring children's authors. Then we shift from puppies to paranormal with Melanie Dale, author of the middle grade gothic novel Girl of Lore. Melanie introduces us to Mina Murray, her lore-obsessed heroine in small-town London, Georgia, where vampire legends might be more than just tourist bait. Melanie shares how her love of Dracula, classic horror, and even her work writing for Creepshow all fed into this spooky, funny, emotionally rich story. She also opens up about weaving mental health, friendship, and mother–daughter dynamics into the book, and suggests ways families can read and discuss it together. Whether you're snuggling up with Biscuit or turning pages with the lights turned low, this episode celebrates the joy of reading with kids at every age and stage.

In this episode, Jed welcomes Emily Sun Li, debut picture book author of Mister Chow's Night Market, for a warm and lively conversation about creativity, culture, and doing life a little differently. Emily shares how living in Taiwan for two years—zipping around on a moped, drinking fresh juice, and visiting night markets almost every evening—inspired her story of a sleepy grocery store and its equally sleepy, grumpy owner, Mister Chow. When they can't manage mornings, they reinvent the store as a night market, celebrating night owls, Taiwanese snacks, and the courage to pivot instead of forcing yourself to fit a schedule that doesn't work for you. Emily and Jed talk about adaptability as a crucial skill for kids today, the joy and community of Taiwanese night markets, and the importance of stories that are immersively rooted in a culture rather than told through an outsider's gaze. Emily also reflects on intergenerational relationships, explaining why she loves that older characters are central to her book and how picture books can show that growth and self-discovery don't stop when you become an adult. She describes her path from teaching in Connecticut to teaching in Taiwan, then studying writing for children, discovering picture books as a poetic form, and learning how to leave space for the illustrator's storytelling. Later in the episode, Jed is joined by Andrea Wang, author of the Newbery Honor–winning picture book Watercress, who talks about growing up as one of the only Asian American kids in rural Ohio, finding refuge in books, and writing emotionally honest stories about family, belonging, and heritage.

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes author Angela Cervantes to celebrate her new middle-grade mystery, The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy. Angela shares her lifelong love of soccer and mysteries, rooted in her childhood in a Mexican American community in Topeka, Kansas, where soccer wasn't yet a big organized sport. She talks about how the game connected her family and community, bringing both joy and heartbreak, and why she still follows teams like USA, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, England, and Croatia so passionately. Her novel centers on 12-year-old Diaz Espada, named after the number ten worn by Lionel Messi. Diaz is caught between his soccer-loving dad, a former college player, and his mystery-loving mom, a librarian who raised him on Agatha Christie and classic whodunits. When the World Cup trophy is stolen during a VIP reception in Miami—right as a tropical storm knocks out the lights—Diaz can't resist the case, even when adults tell him to step aside. Angela weaves in real history about the original World Cup trophy disappearing multiple times, including the famous story of Pickles the dog finding it in 1966, and the later theft in Brazil where the trophy was never recovered. That blend of real soccer lore and twisty mystery is what inspired her book—and she's eager to write more Diaz stories if kids love this one. The episode also briefly features Darshana Khiani, who shares Building a Dream, her picture book about Thai boys who build a floating soccer pitch, highlighting persistence and creativity in the face of challenges.

In this episode, Jed welcomes back Australian author Geoffrey McSkimming, creator of the much‑loved Phyllis Wong and Cairo Jim series. Geoffrey joins from Sydney to celebrate Phyllis Wong and the Lure of the Lighthouse, the eighth book in the series, and talks about why Phyllis remains one of his favorite characters—resourceful, brilliant, magical, and deeply inspired by his wife, Sue-Anne Webster, a renowned stage magician. Geoffrey explains how magic and mystery writing overlap: both rely on misdirection, red herrings, and staying several steps ahead of the audience. He shares how he loves constructing mysteries that feel surprising but satisfying, so readers say, "That got me!" instead of feeling let down at the end. He also reveals he's working on a new collection of interrelated, humorous mystery short stories for young and young-at-heart readers. Language is at the heart of Geoffrey's writing. He talks about using rich but accessible vocabulary, giving kids context clues instead of talking down to them. He recalls how acting in Shakespeare plays immersed him in great language and how many of his early readers grew up to become professionals—some even crediting his books and their sophisticated language as an influence. Later in the episode, Jed chats briefly with Barbara Brown, an elementary music teacher and author of I Am Musical: Adventures with Waffles. Barbara shares how her picture book—starring her real-life dog Waffles—aims to remind kids that being musical isn't about perfection or virtuosity; it's about how music makes you feel, connect, and communicate.

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed Doherty welcomes author Matthew Burgess and illustrator Robin Rosenthal to celebrate their charming new picture book, Serafina Makes Waves. Serafina is no ordinary cat—she's full of catitude, completely confident on land, but absolutely terrified of water. When her parents sign her up for swim lessons before a family vacation, she'll do just about anything to avoid getting in the pool. Robin shares how Serafina began as a single sketch of a cool, sassy beach cat with big goggles and a stuffed bunny named Noodles. The character existed before there was any story or even a name. During a critique group meeting, Robin showed the drawing to Matthew and asked how writers come up with stories. Pressed to give a real example, Matthew spontaneously suggested a cat who is deathly afraid of water but forced into swim lessons. Robin chuckled—and that reaction convinced Matthew there was something special there. From that moment, they began improvising the story together, volleying ideas back and forth. They talk about the unusual nature of their collaboration: in traditional publishing, authors and illustrators often never even meet. Here, the illustration sparked the story, and the two creators stayed in close conversation, refining both text and art so Serafina's voice, attitude, and emotional journey truly matched Robin's visual vision. Both Matthew and Robin reflect on their hopes that this book will help kids see their own confidence, bravery, and big feelings reflected on the page. Later in the show, Jed also chats briefly with Cedella Marley about her picture book Marley and the Family Band, inspired by her own childhood move from Jamaica to Delaware and her father Bob Marley's musical legacy of unity, joy, and resilience.

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes back legendary children's singer, songwriter, and author Raffi to celebrate his new picture book "Mama Loves It." The book is based on a song Raffi recorded with Canadian trio The Good Lovelies, all about kids pitching in with household chores. Through joyful lyrics and warm illustrations, it encourages children to see chores not as burdens, but as chances to help their families and feel like part of a team. Raffi talks about his long creative journey—over 50 years of making music for children—and what keeps him energized: the pure magic of songwriting and the knowledge that millions of fans are waiting for new music. His upcoming album centers on the power of love, which he describes as the most powerful, infinite energy we know—something the world needs more of, especially in turbulent times. He reflects on his audience of "Beluga Grads"—the adults who grew up with his music and now share it with their own kids—and the joy of performing for children who come ready to sing, laugh, and enjoy his famously silly jokes. Raffi also shares his Child Honouring philosophy and the work of the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring, which promotes principles like respect, nonviolence, and emotional intelligence, especially in the early years of life. In the final segment, Jed chats briefly with Dr. Rekha Rajan about her lively picture book "Can You Dance Like A Peacock?", which invites kids and families to move, dance, and learn animal facts together, blending STEM learning with the arts and joyful, interactive reading.

On this episode, Jed welcomes author and neuroscientist Gail Martino, whose new picture book "Feathered and Famous: Meet America's All Star Birds" celebrates the national and state birds of the United States and the stories behind them. Gail explains how her book helps kids (and parents) discover the unique traits that made each bird worthy of representing a state—from the clever chickadee of Massachusetts, which actually grows part of its brain in the fall to help remember where it hid seeds, to the hopeful, homey robin of Connecticut, often seen as a harbinger of spring. She also describes the engineering genius of birds' nests, like robins using mud as "mortar" and the Baltimore oriole's swinging, sock‑like nest that can withstand strong winds. Gail shares how her father's backyard bird feeder sparked her curiosity as a child, eventually leading her into a career in neuroscience, product development, and innovation consulting—and now to writing books that connect kids to nature, geography, history, and STEM skills. She talks about the importance of teaching kids to observe the world, balancing screen time with real‑world curiosity, and using tools like eBird and Merlin to make birding fun and interactive for families. She also highlights how many state birds, like the brown pelican of Louisiana, have become powerful symbols of conservation success. Later in the episode, Jed chats briefly with author Jill Esbaum about her playful new picture book "Stink Bird Has a Superpower", a story inspired by the wonderfully weird hoatzin of the Amazon and Jill's passion for helping kids discover that everyone has a superpower.

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, we're celebrating two joyful, community-minded picture books that are perfect for creating memories with kids. First, Jed chats with Jodi Tatiana Charles, author of Going to the Festival. Inspired by her decade of volunteering—two years as president—at the Marblehead Festival of the Arts in Massachusetts, Jodi turned her experiences into a vibrant picture book that honors festivals, volunteers, and community life. She talks about how annual events bring neighbors together, support local businesses, and create multigenerational memories that last a lifetime. We meet her four main characters—Tanner, Sebastian, Beatrice, and Danielle—each reflecting different talents and personalities, and each carrying a bit of Jodi and her illustrator, Julia Potvin. Jodi also shares how Easter eggs hidden in the illustrations, intergenerational scenes, and a strong sense of place make the book relatable whether or not you've ever been to Marblehead. Then we welcome back Kris Tarantino, author of Bed Slime Blues, the follow-up to Be My Valent-Slime. Kris introduces us to her four monster characters—Snoodle, Iggy, ZZ, and Fleck—who stand in for kids facing classic bedtime battles: baths, toothbrushing, more snacks, more stories, and missing stuffies. She explains how she learned to let the illustrator tell half the story, how revision truly transforms a manuscript, and how her school visits use humor and interactivity to get kids excited about reading and writing. Kris also teases the third "slime" book, centered on the monsters' first day of school. This episode is all about community, connection, and the magic of picture books.

In this joyful episode, Jed chats with creative couple Jeanine Pastores and Joshua Jackson, the team behind the beloved character Tubby Nugget and their middle grade graphic novel "The Adventures of Tubby Nugget: Nuggetville Escape." Jeanine and Joshua share how Tubby Nugget began in 2016 as a private joke and love language between them. Jeanine called Joshua her "nugget," and he started drawing a little, squishy nugget character to cheer her up—whether she was sad, needed a laugh, or they were apologizing after a fight. Those doodles became webcomics on Instagram, which unexpectedly went viral, turning Tubby Nugget into their full-time career. They talk about navigating health challenges, leaving traditional employment paths, and finding purpose in creating something joyful for others. Both emphasize how crucial supportive family, friends, and a great manager have been, especially as Asian artists whose parents bucked the stereotype and encouraged them to pursue the arts. Jeanine describes the story of Nuggetville Escape: Tubby lives in a town where everyone is expected to be dipped in gold and conform, but he loves his squishy brown coat, colors, and good food. With the help of his loving parents and friends, he chooses to be true to himself. The book celebrates self-acceptance, supportive relationships, and respecting different paths in life. They also discuss their creative collaboration as author and illustrator, the challenges of scope and workload, their thriving merch (especially plushies), and their hopes to expand Tubby Nugget into even more media to reach kids and families everywhere. We also share a listen back to a past conversation with author Emily Ettlinger

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes Kiersta Halseth, joining from Germany's enchanting Black Forest, to celebrate her debut picture book, "Lolli Stromboli and the Mysterious Hole." Kiersta shares her remarkable journey from a marketing and communications career in Florida and California, to a bold leap of faith that took her to Thailand, where she taught English, met her German partner, and eventually settled in the Black Forest with their daughter, Lola. Kiersta explains how Nighttype Books was literally born from a dream. Struggling to read tiny, low-contrast text in picture books during dim, cozy bedtime reading with her daughter, she imagined a series of easier-to-read, larger-font, visually calming books designed specifically for nighttime. That dream became Lolli Stromboli and the Adventures of Mouse House, with book one introducing Lolli and Mouse, whose magical mouse-hole portal takes young readers on gentle travel adventures around the world. The series blends soothing bedtime stories, immersive illustrations by Keziah Crossley, and a growing collection of free parent resources about nighttime reading and reducing screen use before bed. Kiersta and Jed dive into the science and magic of reading before sleep, the dangers of too much screen time, and the deep emotional connection that forms when parents read to their kids every night. In the second half of the episode, Jed invites Carolyn Watkins from New Hampshire to talk about her uplifting new picture book, "Trailblazer Shine." Originally written as a song, the book encourages kids to face life's ups and downs with kindness, courage, and a positive mindset, reflecting Carolyn's 35-year career teaching preschool, kindergarten, and first grade.