Mar 11, 2025
On the latest episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast,
host Jed Doherty had the pleasure of chatting with two talented
children's book authors - Lela Nargi and Riley Cross.
Lela Nargi joined the show to celebrate the release of her new
picture book, "The Lonely Goose." Jed and Lela discussed the unique
bond between Canada geese, and how Lela's story explores themes of
love, loss, and resilience in the animal kingdom. Lela shared her
passion for wildlife and nature, and how she hopes the book will
inspire families to appreciate the beauty of the natural world,
even in urban environments.
Later, Jed welcomed Riley Cross to the program to talk about her
new middle-grade novel, "The Swamp of Doom." Riley explained how
she collaborated with her own kids to design the quirky characters,
including a half-alligator, half-shark creature named Alacarte. The
two discussed the importance of encouraging creativity and
imagination in both children and adults, and how Riley's background
as a high school language arts teacher informs her approach to
storytelling.
Throughout the conversation, Jed and the authors explored the ways
that books can help kids (and grown-ups!) face their fears, build
empathy, and find joy in the unexpected. Whether it's a Canada
goose navigating the loss of her mate or a young girl with the
"superpower" of bad luck, these stories offer a unique window into
the human (and animal) experience.
Listeners are sure to be inspired to pick up "The Lonely Goose" and
"The Swamp of Doom" - and maybe even start their own family reading
adventures in the process.
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