Reading With Your Kids Podcast

On this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes Georgie Badiel Liberty to discuss The Water Princess Builds a Well, sequel to her picture book The Water Princess. Georgie shares that the first book draws on her childhood in Burkina Faso, where she walked for hours with her grandmother to fetch water.
After becoming Miss Burkina Faso and Miss Africa, Georgie moved to Paris for an international modeling career. Visiting her pregnant sister brought her face-to-face with the continued struggle for water in her home community—and renewed her commitment to give back.
Through the Georgie Badiel Foundation, she says, more than 300 water projects have brought clean water to over 700,000 people. She describes a sustainable approach: training local women in basic water and sanitation engineering so communities can maintain wells when they break. Georgie hopes her books prompt families to talk about water access and encourage children to notice problems and help solve them.
She also celebrates Burkina Faso's art, culture, welcoming people, and beloved "bicycle chicken," which she hopes to bring to American audiences. Listeners can support the foundation through volunteering or donations.
In the episode's second conversation, author Brian Young introduces Sophie Sprite and the Sasquatch Secret, a fantasy mystery about a teen who uncovers a hidden species while coping with grief. Young discusses acceptance, individuality, and audiobooks as a way to welcome reluctant readers. He also previews Sophie's next adventure in Ireland, inspired by Irish folklore and the series' expanding fantasy world.

This episode of Reading With Your Kids brings together two conversations about books that spark imagination, laughter, and meaningful conversations with young readers. First, host Jed Doherty welcomes Dork Diaries creator Rachel Renee Russell and illustrator Nikki Russell to celebrate the full-color edition of Dork Diaries 2. Rachel reflects on the series' remarkable success—more than 55 million books sold worldwide—and recalls that, at the beginning, she simply hoped the first book might earn enough for new furniture.
Nikki describes the painstaking digital coloring process, with hundreds of Photoshop layers and several days of work on a complex illustration. She and Rachel explain why they're bringing color to the books for today's young readers, while keeping the original ink editions available. They also discuss a short animation in development, hopes to colorize the backlist, possible film and musical ideas, and plans for merchandise. Nikki shares how she learned from Disney artists and demonstrates that her art is created by hand, not AI.
In the second conversation, intern Madison Lucchesi interviews author Kara LaReau about Licorice, a middle-grade novel about a cat named Kitty, a new home, and a possible haunting. Kara connects the story's gothic atmosphere to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and to losing her beloved cat. Beneath the spooky premise are themes of grief, belonging, insecurity, and fear. She encourages adults and children to talk about big feelings and find comfort in shared stories. Laro also reflects on editing, revision, writing a standalone novel, and her community-centered Witchy Cakes series.

We're celebrating episode 2500 of Reading with Your Kids with true champions: NCAA national wrestling champion Anthony Robles, his mom, Dr. Judy Robles, and author Dr. Jenny Trocchio.
Anthony shared how his picture book, Unstoppable Anthony, was inspired by his son, Abel, and the lessons his mother taught him about perseverance. The story follows Anthony's journey from being born without his left leg to discovering wrestling, finding ways to adapt, and winning the 2011 NCAA national championship. He described seeing challenges as puzzles to solve—and using other people's doubts as motivation. Losses, he explained, gave him lessons he could use to improve, while the struggle made each achievement meaningful.
Dr. Judy reflected on supporting Anthony's independence, even when it frightened her or drew criticism. She believed that letting him try, fall, and find his own solutions helped him build resilience. Their conversation also touched on the importance of parents being present without trying to solve every problem for their children. Anthony, now a coach and father, hopes to offer Abel that same steady support as he follows his own path.
In the episode's second conversation, Madison Lucchesi welcomes Dr. Jennie Trocchio celebrate Hurry the Hurricane, a picture book that helps children understand storms and the feelings they can bring. Drawing on her work with children, she explained how clear, approachable stories can reduce uncertainty and help kids feel included. Her suggestions included involving children in family preparations with simple checklists and fun tasks.
Together, these conversations celebrate perseverance, supportive families, and stories that help children feel capable when facing life's challenges.

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.