Turning Childhood Experiences into Stories of Courage and Wonder

Kaz Windness and Jim Roethe join Jed Doherty on Reading with Your Kids. Windness shares the inspiration behind Bitsy Bat Snow Star, the third book in a series about a bat who experiences winter for the first time. As Bitsy joins classmates in snowy activities, she becomes cold and uncomfortable but hesitates to speak up because she fears losing her friendships. The story explores self-advocacy, acceptance, and other ways to enjoy winter. The series draws on Windness's own experience as an autistic person and her child's, and aims to help children celebrate differences without reducing anyone to a label. She describes autism as a spectrum of individual experiences and support needs, and explains masking—hiding differences to fit in. She encourages families to ask what support or communication works best for each person. Windness reflects on discovering her own autism while seeking support for her child, and how understanding her needs helped replace years of feeling broken with self-acceptance and practical accommodations. She traces Bitsy's origins to a conversation with an art student about feeling out of place at school. When a publisher suggested changing the bat to an owl, Windness held onto the bat metaphor. The books prompt conversations about feelings, friendship, and self-advocacy; educator resources are at bitsybat.com. She also previews her playful Time Traveling Chickens books and says she has more Bitsy ideas. Jim Roethe says storytelling for his grandchildren inspired Enchanting Tales for Quizzical Kids. A retired attorney and birder, he writes animal tales about reciprocity, compromise, and helping others.

On this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes two authors whose books help families explore big feelings and imaginative worlds. First, personal injury attorney Jason Plotkin shares the story behind his picture book The Pickle, the Patch, and the Puppy. Inspired by a dog bite he experienced as a child, the book focuses on what happens afterward: the worry and fear that can linger, even when an injury is not severe. Plotkin introduces the "brain alarm" and a "bravery ladder," a series of small steps children can take to feel comfortable around dogs again. He also explains why parents may want medical care and to understand insurance claims, and how a lawyer can help keep a claim from straining a friendship. Then Jed catches up with returning guest Paolo Mazzucato, author of The Time Makers. In this middle-grade adventure, a boy and his mother follow clues about his missing father from their home to Ireland, where Irish folklore and a mythical land shape their journey. Paolo describes the story's heart as the mother-son relationship and its reflection on time: moments matter because they are limited. He also discusses how research and universal human emotions help bring folklore to life, and why fantasy gives him room to let his imagination roam. Together, the conversations celebrate books that invite families to talk, learn, and connect. From rebuilding confidence after a frightening experience to navigating loss, change, and wonder, both authors show how stories can help young readers grow together—with confidence.

Madison Lucchesi welcomes Jennifer Payne to discuss her picture book, Sounds of America, which follows a young Italian boy traveling from Naples to New York Harbor. Through the sounds he encounters, the story explores how children experience new places, community, safety, and belonging. Drawing on 25 years as a teacher, Jennifer shares her belief that children learn best when teaching connects with their individual interests and senses. She uses joyful language, sound, visuals, and playful reading to spark engagement and help ideas stick. For her, reading is a relationship: grown-ups can watch children's expressions and body language, then adjust their pace or tone to suit what a child needs. She also encourages families to make room for many paths into literacy. Audiobooks can connect struggling readers with stories, while graphic novels invite children to infer and think deeply. At home, she urges adults to model reading and make reading for joy part of family life, rather than letting reading levels define what children can enjoy. Her book can also open gentle, honest conversations about immigration and change, helping children feel heard and welcome. Through Victory Garden Kids, her tutoring program, she offers individualized academic and emotional support, building confidence through consistent relationships and tailored instruction. She is finishing a parent-focused literacy workbook, Victorious Reading, and already imagining more children's books. She hopes every child sees themselves in Polly's journey and leaves the story feeling wrapped in a sense of love and acceptance. Jed Doherty also welcomes Tricia Aquilar, author of Fruit Rainbow, which introduces colors through fruit, and the Once Upon a Lullaby series, pairing stories with songs via QR codes. She collaborates with musicians and is planning story-and-song events, including performances in Connecticut and Florida, with stops in Rhode Island and Alabama.

Jed Doherty talks with British author-illustrator Briony May Smith about The Secret Dragon, set in medieval Wales. Prince Griff secretly raises a dragon hatched from an egg given to him by his aunt Morgana, hiding it from his mother, Queen Rhiannon, who is allergic to magical beasts. As the dragon grows, the castle servants know about it, and the queen discovers the secret by following turkey feathers. The dragon is hypoallergenic, so she has not been sneezing. Smith says the characters came first, while Welsh castles, folklore, and legends such as the Mabinogion shaped the setting. She wanted the castle to feel domestic rather than imposing. Her traditional illustration style draws on Impressionist use of light and shade. Smith also describes how personal experiences influence her stories: she became an aunt while writing the mischievous Aunt Morgana. She enjoys illustrating her own books as well as interpreting other authors' stories, appreciating the fresh perspective each offers. The Secret Dragon is out in the United States, with editions planned for Germany, France, and the UK; publishers may adapt character names for local readers. Brad Johnson discusses Stella Found a Feather, inspired by his granddaughter. The feather-finding story introduces ten common birds through descriptions and field-guide details. Johnson calls this approach "hiding the broccoli"—weaving lessons into an entertaining story rather than preaching. A former television writer whose credits include Coach, Arrested Development, and Family Guy, he self-published the book and enjoyed learning its production tools. He uses ChatGPT to critique completed drafts rather than rewrite them, and sees AI as a useful tool that needs sensible safeguards.

In this episode, host Jed Doherty welcomes three picture-book creators to discuss culture, creativity, and belonging. Author Teresa Robeson and illustrator Ping Zhu introduce Animals of the Chinese Zodiac: Meet Your Match. The book shares facts and personality traits for the twelve zodiac animals, plus the legend explaining how they were chosen. Teresa reflects on sharing cultural stories with young readers, while Ping describes growing up with zodiac traditions and creating a welcoming introduction for readers new to them. She also talks about her love of painting on paper and a playful flowchart that helps readers discover which animal's traits feel like their own. Together, they celebrate books as mirrors for children who recognize their experiences and windows into unfamiliar cultures. Next, author Christine Rivera Creque discusses The Same Luna, a story about a girl visiting Puerto Rico, disoriented by unfamiliar food, language, and family traditions. With help from her abuela, Luna begins to connect beneath the same moon. Christine shares how childhood visits and wanting her daughter to connect with Puerto Rican roots inspired the book. She recalls island favorites and suggests families explore heritage through language, food, music, and dance. The conversation also touches on the island's beauty, its ongoing recovery and infrastructure challenges, and the importance of caring for Puerto Rico. Christine says her next manuscript follows a work-from-home parent and child navigating a Zoom meeting. Across both conversations, the guests show how picture books can spark curiosity, affirm identity, and help families feel at home across cultures.

On this episode of Reading with Your Kids, guest host Madison Lucchesi welcomes author Teri Arvesú González to discuss The Stories We Inherit. What began as a letter to her son grew into a book honoring his graduation from Jesuit education and exploring nine generations of family history. Teri reflects on how we inherit both strengths—like resilience and courage—and limiting expectations. Her hope is that readers will reflect on what helps them grow and preserve family stories. She encourages families to put down their phones, make time for conversation, and ask older relatives about their memories. Drawing on her journalism career, she shares advice for curious journalists and aspiring storytellers: question old assumptions, start creating, and fact-check carefully. In the episode's second conversation, Jed Doherty talks with author Nancy Paris about her middle grade novel It's Me, Lily McKee. Paris drew on her childhood as a dancer, her teaching dance, and the antics of her students to create Lily, a big-hearted eight-year-old with a lively imagination. She shares how writing became a creative outlet during the pandemic and explains how dance builds discipline, teamwork, and confidence. The pair also discuss choreography as a tradition passed from teacher to student, supported by video. Paris is now writing a sequel, tentatively titled Lily McKee and the Too Bossy Problem, where Lily mixes ballet and kung fu in a story about leadership and listening. Together, these warm, thoughtful, and engaging interviews celebrate the many ways stories connect generations, inspire creativity, and help us understand ourselves.

Reading With Yur Kids host Jed Doherty welcomes two guests to explore joy, storytelling, and place. First, Watson Kawecki, interim executive director of Clowns Without Borders, describes the organization's work bringing performances, connection, and laughter to communities facing difficult circumstances. Its 13 active projects in 2026 span partnerships around the world, including refugee camps, schools, hospitals, and community spaces. Teams travel in small groups and work only when invited, with local needs and performer safety guiding each visit. Watson shares how a lifelong love of clowning led from Ringling Brothers and hospital clown care to humanitarian work. She explains that evidence for healthcare clowning is growing, though it remains uncommon in U.S. children's hospitals. Listeners can donate, find clown-training resources, and attend fundraisers in October. The conversation then turns to New Orleans author Rachel Marsh and her middle-grade novel, Grandpere's Ghost Swamp. Rachel explains how Basil's ghostly adventures reveal Louisiana's disappearing wetlands and introduce young readers to environmental change in an approachable way. The book draws on Rachel's experiences in the French Quarter, Cajun culture, and the region's folklore. She discusses the cozy-spooky tone, her writing journey, and the shift in Basil's friend Tommy's career-day ambition from a mafia boss to a ghost hunter. Rachel reflects on the differences and wetland connections between New Orleans and Boston, and shares that her next project is a scarier young adult boarding-school story inspired by Cajun and Creole folklore. Together, both interviews celebrate creativity, resilience, and finding ways to bring joy and wonder into everyday life.

Jed Doherty welcomes authors Carmen Rubin and Leslee Flanagan to explore how picture books connect children with history, family, and the world around them. Historian Carmen Rubin shares the story behind A Night for the Rice Carriers, honoring Yaya and Panza, West African women who hid rice in their braids while escaping enslavement. Their knowledge helped them survive and build new communities. Rubin celebrates their courage and ingenuity rather than focusing only on suffering. She chose a picture book to introduce history early through rhythm, imagery, and joy. Recalling stories shared as her grandmother braided her hair, Rubin stresses the importance of passing family histories between generations. The book invites conversations about ancestry, bravery, identity, and community. She also previews a 1960s-set book about a friendship between a Black girl and a Jewish boy. Author Leslee Flanagan discusses Sea Glass Kids: Ocean Pollution Solutions, inspired by volunteering at Mystic Aquarium and seeing animals harmed by plastic and discarded fishing gear. In the story, children educate their community and encourage people to reduce pollution. Flanagan says the problem can feel overwhelming, but small actions add up, and children can motivate adults. Trash from inland neighborhoods can reach the ocean through storm drains and streams. A former teacher and lifelong animal lover, she reflects on her winding career, cancer diagnoses, and determination to create meaningful work. Both authors celebrate resilience and show how stories can help people of every age learn, connect, and make a difference in their communities.

Joe Sutphin and Kevan Chandler joined host Jed Doherty to discuss creating their graphic novel adaptation of Winnie the Pooh. Joe explained that his earlier collaboration on Watership Down helped open the door to the project. He wanted Kevan as his writing partner, drawing on their close friendship and successful work together. Kevan, who grew up being read Winnie the Pooh, described joining the project as a dream come true and a joyful responsibility. Their goal was to make A. A. Milne's original story visually accessible without reinventing it. Joe and Kevan worked to preserve beloved lines while using dialogue and illustrations to reveal character expressions, physical humor, and the warmth of friendship. They hope the graphic novel gives families another inviting way to read together, enjoy familiar quotes, and discover the story's clever, "heady" humor. Joe said the book was a pleasure to draw, while Kevan shared that working on it sparked ideas for future fiction about friendship, community, and accessibility. Joe is developing a solo graphic novel for Moody Publishers, and the pair are preparing release events, including a planned New York Comic Con launch. Kevan also discussed his nonprofit, We Carry Kevin, which helps families find accessibility backpacks and support. In the second conversation, author Julie Brangers introduced Hey Giraffe, a picture book full of fun facts about giraffes. She hopes to inspire children to explore nature through zoo visits, library books, and simple activities, and plans to donate proceeds to a sanctuary or safari.

In this episode, we celebrate two powerful picture books that help kids see their own strength, uniqueness, and courage. First, Jed chats with Dr. Tisha Shipley, educator and author of Writer's Magic Mark. Inspired by her nephew Ryder, who was born with a distinctive birthmark down his arm, Tisha's story turns that mark into something literally magical. In the book, Ryder's birthmark comes to life and helps his friends discover what makes them special—on the outside and the inside. Tisha shares how her 26 years in education shaped the book, why she's so passionate about mental health and social emotional learning, and how we can get back to telling kids, very directly, "Here's what makes you unique." She also talks about her companion curriculum, Growing Gratitude and Confidence, and all the free classroom resources she created to make gratitude and self-worth part of everyday school life. Then, Jed welcomes Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of Ghost Army: The Troop of Artists Who Helped Win World War II. Sarah introduces listeners to the real-life "Ghost Army," a secret unit of artists, designers, and sound experts who used deception—not bullets—to mislead enemy forces and save lives. Through her fictional soldier Charlie, she shows young readers that art can be as powerful as any weapon. Sarah explains how she gently tackles the topic of war for children and shares stories from her wide-ranging writing career, from picture books to adult novels and even Star Wars. Two authors, two unforgettable books, and one big message: your gifts matter, and they can change the world.