{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Owl Capone & Spicy Nuggets: Big Feelings, Big Hearts","description":"In this lively episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed celebrates two fantastic picture books that blend heart, humor, and big feelings. First up we celebrate \u201cOwl Capone\u201d with debut author Christy Ewers and illustrator Rob Sayegh Jr. Christy shares how a lifelong fascination with classic gangster movies and Al Capone\u2019s quote, \u201cDon\u2019t mistake my kindness for weakness,\u201d eventually hatched into Owl, the kindest soul in the Windy Forest. She wanted to flip the gangster trope, exploring what happens when someone kind is hurt or betrayed\u2014and how choosing to \u201ckill \u2019em with kindness\u201d is its own kind of strength. Rob, who is also represented by Christy as his agent, talks about instantly seeing the character in his mind and diving deep into Chicago and Capone lore. He sprinkles the art with playful Easter eggs\u2014like the Green Bill (a wink to Chicago\u2019s Green Mill) and Deers & Roebuck\u2014creating layers of jokes and details that kids will love and grown-ups will quietly appreciate. Christy also pulls back the curtain on the role of a literary agent, describing it as part producer, part lawyer, part therapist, and full-time advocate for creators navigating a constantly shifting marketplace. Later, Jed welcomes Loryn Brantz, author-illustrator of \u201cI Am a Spicy Nugget.\u201d Inspired by her own fiery, big-feelings kid, Lauren uses humor and imaginative play\u2014like pretending her daughter turned into a \u201cspicy nugget\u201d\u2014to diffuse meltdowns. The book helps families name big emotions, talk about anger, and see tantrums with more empathy and playfulness, while reminding kids (and parents) that feelings are powerful, but manageable. ","author_name":"Reading With Your Kids Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/readingwithyourkids.libsyn.com\/site","html":"