{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The Shocking Truth About Playtime and Read\u2011Alouds in Today\u2019s Classrooms","description":"Join Jedlie for a heartfelt, high\u2011energy double feature celebrating the power of stories, family, and big feelings. First up, speech therapist and children\u2019s author Kimberly Delude chats about her picture book series \u201cFreddie the Fly.\u201d Freddie is a lovable little fly who struggles with listening, reading nonverbal cues, and social skills. Kimberly shares how a single bored student in grad school inspired her to create fun, kid\u2011friendly stories instead of dry, adult\u2011focused \u201cdo this, don\u2019t do that\u201d materials. She and Jed dive into why reading with kids builds vocabulary, confidence, and connection, why we shouldn\u2019t \u201cdumb down\u201d words in children\u2019s books, and how parents being honest about their own struggles can make kids feel less alone. They also touch on selective mutism, the magic of a child finally speaking, and Kimberly\u2019s tech\u2011savvy modern fairy tale \u201cDigital Red.\u201d Then we head to Southern California with Wanda Arlene Barajas, author of \u201cBenny the Brave: A Story of Love, Loss and Learning.\u201d Inspired by her real rescue dog who loses a front leg, Wanda\u2019s book gently helps kids explore fear, sadness, frustration, and hope. She and Jed talk about preparing kids for life\u2019s hard changes before they happen, coping in healthy ways, and how one accident pushed her to finally pursue her dream of writing. Wanda also celebrates the rich, family\u2011centered culture of Puerto Rico and teases her upcoming book \u201cKarina and Sabi: A Journey to the Heart of Cidra,\u201d which spotlights an endangered local dove and the importance of caring for our world. A warm, inspiring episode for anyone who loves kids, books, dogs, or Puerto Rico. ","author_name":"Reading With Your Kids Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/readingwithyourkids.libsyn.com\/site","html":"