Reading With Your Kids Podcast

Jedlie Circus Productions, Inc
  • 4.5 (118)
  • Kids & Family
  • Updated Daily

Reading With Your Kids is all about encouraging parents to read with their kids, and cook with their kids, and do activities with their kids, and experience tv, movies and music together. In other words, our podcast is all about helping parents build stronger relationships with their kids.

  1. 11h ago

    Secrets that Grow Claws, Farts that Wake Dinosaurs: Irresistible Reads for Reluctant Readers

    In this warm and wide-ranging episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two powerhouse creators whose books are perfect for sparking big feelings, big questions, and big laughs. First, Jessica Khoury joins us to celebrate her middle grade fantasy Monster and Apprentice. She introduces us to Roland, a 13-year-old boy who's been written off by almost every adult in his life—until the mysterious Arcanist takes him on as an apprentice monster hunter. In Roland's world, monsters are born from secrets kids hold too long—shameful, scary, or painful truths that grow teeth and claws when they're kept in the dark. Jessica shares how her grandparents' long legacy of fostering children inspired the emotional heart of the story, and how Roland arrived in her imagination fully formed—so vividly that she wrote half the book in one weekend. She also talks about reading aloud with her own reluctant-reader daughter, and how communal reading can build confidence, empathy, and deep family bonds. Then Joan Holub stops by to celebrate her hilarious new graphic novel Fart Boy and Reeky Dog: Dino Doom. Set during a school sleepover at a museum, one epic stink blast brings dinosaur skeletons roaring back to life. Joan talks about using humor, farts, and dino-chaos to hook reluctant readers, why graphic novels are such a powerful doorway into reading, and how her own childhood read-aloud memories shaped her career as the author of over 200 books for kids. Throughout, Jed threads everything back to the show's mission: helping families grow closer through reading together.

  2. 2d ago

    Super Smart Farms & Superpowered Feet: Growing Curious Kids

    In this fun and wide-ranging episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two sets of guests who are all about helping kids see the world—and themselves—differently. First, Jed chats with Candice Wierzbowski and Eric Hurlock, two of the creative voices behind The Super Smart Farm Show, a kids' podcast from Lancaster Farming newspaper. They talk about helping children understand where food really comes from and why farming matters to everyone, even city kids. Eric explains how the show answers playful questions like, "Does chocolate milk come from brown cows?" while sneaking in real science, nature, and STEAM learning. Candice shares how they use silly, talking animal characters, quizzes, and kid-submitted questions to keep young listeners actively engaged. Along the way, they explore topics like cow "myths," farm smells, cow farts' reputation in climate conversations, and the real challenges facing family farmers today. In the second half, Jed welcomes Kiyoko Hairston, author of the self-published picture book Freeda's Fabnificent Feet. Kiyoko introduces Freeda, a girl with very large feet who's teased at her new school—until those same feet help her save an elderly woman in a runaway wheelchair. Freeda then teams up with other kids whose "big" features become their superpowers. Drawing from her own childhood experience of being teased, Kyoko talks about shame, confidence, and her mission to help kids see that what makes them different is exactly what makes them powerful—and that, truly, no one can fill your shoes.

  3. 4d ago

    Into The Woods And Off To Bed

    In this heartwarming episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes back Dr. Dale Atkins to celebrate her new picture book, Dear Deer, a nature-centered story inspired by a true and powerful experience. During a quiet walk in a wildlife sanctuary, Dr. Atkins discovered a distressed fawn trapped in rising water while its mother watched anxiously from the shore. With the help of two local kids, she spent over two hours working to guide the fawn to safety. That real-life rescue, and the deep eye-to-eye connection she felt with the doe, became the emotional core of Dear Deer. Jed and Dr. Atkins explore how time in nature can calm anxious minds, help kids reset from screen time, and build patience, empathy, problem-solving, and resilience. They talk about simple ways families—even in cities—can connect with nature: walking different routes, listening quietly to birds, noticing trees and seasons, taking photos, and even turning those experiences into homemade books. Dr. Atkins also reflects on her "second career" as a children's author and her mission to help families deepen their relationships with each other and with the natural world. In the second half of the episode, Jed chats with Deborah Holt Williams about her delightful debut picture book, Nighty Night Dinos. Deborah shares how a short bedtime poem grew into a soothing, rhyming dinosaur story that helps little ones wind down for sleep. She talks about persistence through rejection, partnering with Familius, and the joy of finally holding her dream picture book in her hands—one that's perfect for dino-loving kids and their bedtime routines.

  4. 5d ago

    A Quilt of Stars & Godzilla Dreams: Stitching Space, Grief, and Hope

    In this inspiring episode of Reading With Your Kids, we blast off from a tiny Minnesota town all the way to the International Space Station—and then settle into the balcony of a creaky old movie theater. First, Jed chats with astronaut Dr. Karen Nyberg and her co-author Anne McCallum about their beautiful picture book A Quilt of Stars: Astronaut Karen Nyberg Stitches a Dream. Karen shares how her childhood love of sewing and her dream of space travel came together when she actually sewed in space, using Velcro, Ziploc bags, and a makeshift sewing nook on the ISS. She describes the powerful "overview effect" of seeing Earth without borders and how that perspective shaped both her life and this book. Anne talks about discovering Karen's story, the global quilt project that collected over 2400 star-themed blocks from more than 30 countries, and how this book can spark family conversations about dreams, perseverance, and our shared humanity. Then we head from orbit to the projection booth with author Brad Barkley, who introduces his YA novel The Real Life of Zara Keig. Zara is a 16-year-old still grieving her mother's death, hiding out as a projectionist in a rundown theater that only shows old black-and-white monster movies. As she navigates first love, loss, and a distant dad, the book gently explores grief, mental health, and figuring out who you are—for both teens and parents. Jed and Brad highlight how co-reading this novel can open honest, heartfelt conversations in families.

  5. Jul 14

    Can Dads Really Have Postnatal Depression?

    In this powerful episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes Dr. Christopher Choukalas, author of Even the Darkest Night: A Memoir of Paternal Postnatal Depression. Dr. Chris shares how what began as a simple journaling practice during a traumatic postpartum period—twins born at full term alongside his wife's life‑threatening postpartum hemorrhage—became a memoir to help other fathers feel less alone. An anesthesiologist and ICU doctor during the height of COVID, Dr. Chris describes the emotional dissonance of holding his healthy babies while knowing, in clinical detail, just how close his wife came to dying. This stress, combined with years of infertility treatment, spiraled into severe anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression. With honesty and vulnerability, he explains how his wife, Lindsay, first recognized that something deeper was wrong and gently pushed him toward therapy. Dr. Chris reflects on the stigma men face around mental health, why he uses the term "paternal postnatal depression," and how naming his condition reduced shame and allowed him to do the hard work of healing. He also connects his struggle to unresolved pain from his own father's abandonment, and shares how therapy, time, and intentional connection—especially reading with his now almost‑six‑year‑old twins—helped rebuild his marriage and his sense of self. Later in the episode, Jed also chats with Miss Bri, author of Having a Giraffe as a Classroom Pet, and Anastasia Saridakis, author of My First Time on a School Bus, both offering gentle, kid‑friendly stories about inclusion, courage, and big feelings around new experiences.

  6. Jul 12

    Bad Thingamajigs & Big Feelings: Growing Empathy Through Story

    On this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two fantastic creators who help families see the world—and their walks around the block—a little differently. First, Jed chats with Matt Van Rensburg, author of the Reading With Your Kids Certified Great Read "How to Sell the World: The Stonehearted Story of Greyson Grimm." Matt explains the unforgettable premise: Greyson is the caretaker of the world, tasked with eating invisible "bad thingamajigs" that appear whenever people are unkind. His work keeps the world in balance, but each bite slowly turns his heart to stone. Matt and Jed dive into the deeper themes of empathy, emotional "vibes," and how adults often forget the joy and pure-hearted perspective of children. Matt shares how David Bowie, Nirvana's "The Man Who Sold the World," stand‑up comedy, and over 20 years of teaching young kids all helped shape this whimsical, meaningful middle grade series. Then Jed welcomes back Lucy Knisley, author-illustrator of the charming new picture book "Searching for Wocks." Lucy shares how the story grew from pandemic days in Chicago, when playgrounds and lakefronts were closed and her three-year-old began collecting little treasures—rocks, pen caps, leaves—on slow, careful walks. They called these treasures "walks," and Lucy turned that real-life ritual into a tender, funny story about a child's serious, almost scientific engagement with the world. She talks about thinking in comics, balancing words and images, how parenting reshaped her creative life, and why letting kids lead their own explorations (without leaning on generative AI) is so important. This episode is full of heart, creativity, and great ideas for sparking family conversations after you read together.

  7. Jul 10

    Reading Our Way to Hope: Two Middle Grade Novels that Heal and Inspire

    In this heartwarming episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes two middle grade authors whose stories are perfect for sparking big family conversations. First, singer-songwriter and author Tia McGraff joins us from the shores of Lake Erie to celebrate her new novel In Your Dreams, Jake, part of the Jake the Road Dog series. Tia shares how her rescue dog Jake, once just a day away from being euthanized, became a beloved "road dog" traveling to festivals, bookstores, and schools—and eventually inspired a middle grade story told through his eyes. She and Jed talk about the joy of live family events, the sacred honor of performing for kids, and how music, books, and creativity help families cope with grief, change, and challenging times. Tia also reflects on her journey from country music stages and Johnny Cash appearances to writing children's novels and kid-friendly songs like her "Caterpillar Song." Then, Jed chats with Austin Kairnes, author of The Blind Boy Who Saw the Invisible King. Austin explains how a title that came to him on a COVID-era walk grew into a rich quest story about Joe, a blind boy searching for answers from a mysterious king. They explore themes of bullying, empathy, faith, and seeing the world through non-visual senses. Austin shares how his Catholic faith quietly shapes the story, how reading aloud shaped his own family life, and why he believes nightly reading is one of the best ways to pass on values and build lifelong connections.

  8. Jul 9

    Reading Our Way Through Friendships, Differences and Farewells

    In this heartwarming episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes back second-grade teacher and picture book author Andrew Hackett to celebrate his new book, In This Classroom, and later sits down with Susan Cain and her son Eli Cain to talk about their tender picture book, Lucky and Norman: Saying Goodbye Is Bittersweet. Andrew shares how he juggles teaching, parenting, and writing—squeezing in drafts on soccer sidelines and early mornings—and why he actually loves revision more than drafting. He describes In This Classroom as his "manifesto" for what a classroom community can and should be: a place where differences are celebrated, kindness is taught alongside academics, and every child feels seen. Jed and Andrew talk honestly about the pressures on teachers, the loss of play in early grades, and how families can partner with educators to build truly inclusive, caring classrooms. In the second half, Susan and Eli recount the real-life story behind Lucky and Norman: two donkeys in Spain that Eli and his brother fell in love with—and then had to leave. Together they explore how kids experience goodbyes for the first time, why that pain can feel endless, and how memories can transform sorrow into something quietly beautiful. Susan connects this to her work in Quiet and Bittersweet, while Eli reflects with striking wisdom on longing, love, and growing up. This is a gentle, thoughtful conversation about community, empathy, and helping kids navigate big feelings—through reading, listening, and simply being there.

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4.5
out of 5
118 Ratings

About

Reading With Your Kids is all about encouraging parents to read with their kids, and cook with their kids, and do activities with their kids, and experience tv, movies and music together. In other words, our podcast is all about helping parents build stronger relationships with their kids.

Information

  • Creator
    Jedlie Circus Productions, Inc
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jedlie Circus Productions, Inc
  • Show Website
    Reading With Your Kids Podcast

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