1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 On this episode of Reading with Your Kids, host Jed Doherty welcomes Georgie Badiel Liberty to discuss The Water Princess Builds a Well, sequel to her picture book The Water Princess. Georgie shares that the first book draws on her childhood in Burkina Faso, where she walked for hours with her grandmother to fetch water. After becoming Miss Burkina Faso and Miss Africa, Georgie moved to Paris for an international modeling career. Visiting her pregnant sister brought her face-to-face with the continued struggle for water in her home community—and renewed her commitment to give back. Through the Georgie Badiel Foundation, she says, more than 300 water projects have brought clean water to over 700,000 people. She describes a sustainable approach: training local women in basic water and sanitation engineering so communities can maintain wells when they break. Georgie hopes her books prompt families to talk about water access and encourage children to notice problems and help solve them. She also celebrates Burkina Faso’s art, culture, welcoming people, and beloved “bicycle chicken,” which she hopes to bring to American audiences. Listeners can support the foundation through volunteering or donations. In the episode’s second conversation, author Brian Young introduces Sophie Sprite and the Sasquatch Secret, a fantasy mystery about a teen who uncovers a hidden species while coping with grief. Young discusses acceptance, individuality, and audiobooks as a way to welcome reluctant readers. He also previews Sophie’s next adventure in Ireland, inspired by Irish folklore and the series’ expanding fantasy world. Reading With Your Kids Podcast http://readingwithyourkids.libsyn.com/site <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/43698959/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/208722844