Dr. Lynette Fraga, Reach Out and Read's new CEO, joins us to talk about the lived experience she brings to this role, and her plans to accelerate our mission, scale impact, advance equity, and, of course, strengthen families.

We don't know what we don't know. And when it comes to relationships, approaching others from the perspective of not knowing can often make those relationships stronger.  Dr. Claudia Gold, a pediatrician and writer with over 20 years experience in the field, joins us to talk about humility, listening, "rupture and repair", and a ‘willingness to be surprised’ can help support not just early relational health, but relationships throughout the lifespan.

Judy Blume is one of the most prolific and beloved writers of our time — but also is at the center of many debates over what is appropriate for children, to the point of being one of the most banned.  Rachelle Bergstein, author of the new book The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us, joins us to talk about Blume's life, how the changing social and political ideologies of the 1950's, 60's, and 70's influenced her work, and how Judy came to write 'culture-altering' works for generations of readers.

Junie B. Jones was first introduced to young readers over thirty years ago, but her ability to make children laugh - and some adults angry - hasn't changed.  Colleen AF Venable, a seasoned children's author whose graphic novel adaptation of Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus hit shelves earlier this year, joins us to talk about the beloved children’s series, its namesake, and the controversies that have followed it from the beginning.

Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek are two of the most remarkable, beloved writers and illustrators working in children's books today. Working both together and separately, they have created dozens of well-known and acclaimed books—and show no signs of slowing down! In a rare interview, Kevin and Laura share their creative process, and how finding an 'emotional truth' is at the heart of all their stories.

How we think and talk about kids and digital media use has evolved as we've learned more and refined better approaches that are more practical for parents.  Dr. Jenny Radesky, Co-Medical Director of the AAP's Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, joins us to talk about "The 5 C's" - a straightforward and highly effective way for parents to manage this challenging topic.

We can all benefit from healthy relationships and connections, but sometimes kids (and adults) just want some 'alone time' - and that's OK too.  Author and illustrator Vera Brosgol joins us to dig into several of her fantastically imaginative book worlds that help explore relationships with our family, and ourselves.

Poetry is often perceived to be "hard" or inaccessible, but as our next guests illustrate, poetry can offer an "uplifting journey through everyday moments, moods and experiences" for kids at any age or stage of development. Author Matthew Burgess and illustrator Doug Salati join us to talk about "Words With Wings", their magical new book of poems for children and families.

How can one discuss topics such as social exclusion, anxiety, paranoia, human intimacy, affection, and our need to bond with others?  A brilliant book, The Hedgehog's Dilemma, by Dutch author Toon Tellegen, is a "metaphor for the dilemma humans are faced with in their intimate relationships with others", exploring all this in an accessible manner for adults and children alike.  Its English translator, David Colmer, joins us to explain how.

Approaching families with a ‘resilience lens’ is a relatively new practice but might turn out to be one of the most impactful tools in our pediatric toolbox yet.  Dr. Gretchen Pianka, author of “Coaching Families for Resilience: How Pediatricians Can Support Caregivers and Prevent Burnout", joins us to talk about how this manner of thinking can help parents and pediatric care clinicians better approach childcare challenges."