Reading With Your Kids Podcast

On this episode of Reading With Your Kids, we're celebrating two very different – but wonderfully complementary – books for young readers.
First, Jed talks with Maria Dolores Aguila, author of the middle grade novel in verse "The Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez." Maria shares the powerful true story behind her book: the 1931 Lemon Grove incident in California, when Mexican and Mexican American children were illegally segregated into a makeshift "school" in a converted barn. Their families organized, chose Roberto Alvarez as the lead plaintiff, and won a court case that reintegrated the school – more than 20 years before Brown v. Board of Education.
Maria explains how family research led her to discover her own connection to Mexican repatriation, and why so much of this history has been forgotten. She also talks about writing the story in free verse to make it accessible, especially for reluctant readers, and describes the deeply engaged reactions she sees when she visits Title I schools in San Diego and shares this local, living history with kids.
Then Jed welcomes David McMullin, a former musical theater performer turned children's author, to talk about his joyful new board book "Rock and Roll, Baby." Inspired by the classic lullaby "Rock-a-Bye Baby," David reimagines it as a boisterous, musical romp, with each spread capturing a different music style—rock, country, punk, Latin, R&B—and a different moment in a baby's day.
David reflects on moving from Broadway to books, dealing with hundreds of rejections, and the magic that happens when parents sing, play, and read with their little ones.

On this episode of the Reading With Your Kids Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes two amazing middle grade authors who explore how stories can help kids find light, courage, and connection in a complicated world.
First, Jed talks with Emily Bain Murphy, author of the new middle grade fantasy "Light Seekers, A Kingdom of Shadows." Emily shares the inspiration behind her richly imagined world of Wildfell Hall, where darkness is growing stronger after an event called The Great Betrayal. We meet Finn, his sister Lydia, and best friend Adrian, three kids with few adults in their lives who are invited on a quest to find a legendary lake made of light. Emily discusses writing this series during the pandemic, her desire to help kids "seek the light" through themes of faith, beauty, hope, and kindness, and practical ways she encourages her own kids to unplug from negativity and intentionally look for beauty in everyday life. She and Jed also celebrate co‑reading, talking about how families can use books like Light Seekers to spark meaningful conversations at home.
Then Jed is joined by Aaron Starmer, author of the spooky, heartful middle grade novel "You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This." Aaron introduces Roman, a 12‑year‑old tasked with cleaning out his late grandfather's house, where he uncovers a jar of formaldehyde, a mysterious handwritten book, and the eerie family legend of the tow beast. Aaron talks about why creepy middle grade books appeal to kids, how family stories and secrets shape identity, and why he loves writing fiction that blends chills with emotional depth.

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes Cliodhna O'Sullivan, author of the YA romantasy Her Hidden Fire, and Steph Carse, creator of the picture book I Am Awesomely Made.
First, Jed chats with Cliodhna O'Sullivan about her powerful new YA romantasy that blends magic, romance, and sharp social commentary. We meet Aya, a girl with a rare magical gift who secretly gives her power to her best friend to save his family's status. That one choice pulls her into a darkly enchanting magic academy on remote islands inspired by Ireland's castles and misty landscapes. Cliodhna shares how growing up poor with an alcoholic, gambling-addicted father shaped her understanding of exploitation, sacrifice, and systems built on the backs of vulnerable people—core themes in Her Hidden Fire. She also talks about love triangles done right, multiple POVs across the trilogy, and her long, twisty road to publication that included losing both an agent and a publisher before finally finding the right home for her book.
Later, Jed talks with Steph Carse about I Am Awesomely Made, a picture book and movement rooted in his nonprofit YICount.org. Drawing on his own bullying experiences, Steph explains how the book helps kids build self-worth, understand their incredible bodies, and use the power of words to push back against bullying—especially in the age of social media and cyberbullying. Together, they explore how families can start life-giving conversations that remind kids they matter and are, truly, awesomely made.

In this inspiring episode of Reading With Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes author Celesta Rimington to talk about her powerful new middle grade novel "Reach." Centered on a boy named Denver, Reach explores the complicated emotions that come with blended families, sibling tension, and the grief of losing the "old" version of your family. When a mysterious magical forest and an ancient talking tree transform Denver's younger stepbrother into a tree, Denver is forced to confront his unspoken wishes and big feelings about change, loss, and love.
Celesta shares how her own childhood—losing her father at a young age, becoming the older half-sibling in a large blended family, and feeling both responsible and displaced—informs Denver's journey. She also explains how nature, national parks, and asking "what if?" questions fuel the magic in her stories, including Reach, The Elephant's Girl, and Tips for Magicians. Parents and educators will love her ideas for using Reach to spark family conversations about grief, change, identity, and the idea of "forced family" versus chosen family, as well as the fun STEM elements in the book, from robotics to the "wood wide web."
Later, Jed talks with Michael Cottman, author of "Segregated Skies: David Harris's Trailblazing Journey to Rise Above Racial Barriers." Michael shares the inspiring true story of David Harris, the first Black commercial airline pilot for a major U.S. airline, and how his perseverance, humility, and courage during the Civil Rights era can inspire young readers, especially during Black History Month.

In this inspiring episode of the Reading With Your Kids podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with former Major League Baseball player turned artist and author Micah Johnson to talk about his powerful new middle grade novel, Aku: Journey to Ibra.
Micah shares how a casual comment during spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers unexpectedly launched his art career, eventually leading him to create Aku, a Black kid in an astronaut helmet inspired by his nephew's question, "Can astronauts be Black?" What began as a painting grew into 3D art, public sculptures, and now a fast‑paced, sci‑fi adventure book designed to help kids dream big, build confidence, and understand that no one reaches their dreams alone.
Micah and Jed dive into themes of asking for help, vulnerability, and representation, exploring how seeing yourself in powerful roles—on a giant canvas, in VR, or on the page—can reshape a child's sense of what's possible. Micah also pulls back the curtain on his creative process, explaining how he uses VR sculpting and 3D printing to build the world of Aku and make art more accessible to kids and families.
In the Listen Back segment, Jed revisits a conversation with author Andrea Williams about her book Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues. They discuss Effa Manley's trailblazing role as a Black woman team owner, the history of the Negro Leagues, and why sharing honest, complex Black history with kids is essential for raising thoughtful, informed readers.