{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The Beginner's Guide To Wonder: Magic, Puerto Rico & Picture Books","description":"Join host Jed Doherty for a joyful, imagination-filled episode featuring two wonderful picture book creators: Keith Negley, author-illustrator of \u201cThe Beginner\u2019s Guide to Being a Wizard,\u201d and Wanda Arlene Barajas, author of \u201cCarina and Sabi: A Journey to the Heart of Cidra.\u201d In the first half, Keith shares how a quirky old diary, The Journal of a Disappointed Man, inspired his hilarious new series, The Beginner\u2019s Guide. He explains how he mixes the serious \u201cvoice\u201d of a how\u2011to manual with completely ridiculous wizardly details\u2014like emergency cheese, space pie, and strict duel etiquette (no summoning Grandma\u2026 she\u2019s way too powerful!). Keith talks about testing jokes on his kids, constantly collecting ideas from everyday life, and starting his stories with strong visual images that make kids eager to turn the page. He also describes his journey from editorial illustration to children\u2019s books and the \u201cGandalf\u201d mentor who gave him permission to trust his own creative instincts. In the second half, Wanda takes listeners on a warm, heartfelt trip to Cidra, Puerto Rico through Carina and Sabi. She introduces Sabi, a magical Paloma Sabanera (an endangered pigeon found only in parts of Puerto Rico), and explains how the story celebrates nature, heritage, and the pride of growing up Puerto Rican. Wanda and Jed swap personal memories of Puerto Rico\u2014coqu\u00ed frogs, family, festivals, and food\u2014and explore how stories can help all children, whether or not they\u2019re Puerto Rican, feel curious about other cultures while becoming more proud of their own. ","author_name":"Reading With Your Kids Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/readingwithyourkids.libsyn.com\/site","html":"