Reading With Your Kids Podcast Jedlie Circus Productions, Inc

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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