
Shedding Light on Mental Health Struggles and Empowering Portrayals of Diversity
03/19/24 • 59 min
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In this episode of Reading With Your Kids we meet authors John Schu and Amy Freidl. John Schu shared about his Middle Grade novel in verse "Louder Than Hunger," which explores his personal experiences with mental illness including anorexia as a teenager. He discussed the importance of creating a story that provides hope and tools to help readers overcome challenges like self-doubt. John discussed issues like the stigma around males experiencing eating disorders, and how open discussions can help reduce shame and encourage seeking help. John shared turning points in his recovery process, like setting a goal of living in a neighborhood that represented community. Amy Friedl then discussed her picture book series "Strong Girls Travel," which features adventures of a girl named AJ in various national parks. The goal is to show girls they can go on brave adventures. Amy chose to write for an older audience because picture books can appeal to reluctant readers. They discussed engaging students through choice and appealing topics related to parks. The hosts and guests also reflected on challenges in education systems, like an over-reliance on testing and pressures of social promotion that may not serve students well. Overall, the conversations highlighted using literature as a positive way to discuss important topics and shape attitudes around mental health, empowerment, and developing a love of reading.
Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com
In this episode of Reading With Your Kids we meet authors John Schu and Amy Freidl. John Schu shared about his Middle Grade novel in verse "Louder Than Hunger," which explores his personal experiences with mental illness including anorexia as a teenager. He discussed the importance of creating a story that provides hope and tools to help readers overcome challenges like self-doubt. John discussed issues like the stigma around males experiencing eating disorders, and how open discussions can help reduce shame and encourage seeking help. John shared turning points in his recovery process, like setting a goal of living in a neighborhood that represented community. Amy Friedl then discussed her picture book series "Strong Girls Travel," which features adventures of a girl named AJ in various national parks. The goal is to show girls they can go on brave adventures. Amy chose to write for an older audience because picture books can appeal to reluctant readers. They discussed engaging students through choice and appealing topics related to parks. The hosts and guests also reflected on challenges in education systems, like an over-reliance on testing and pressures of social promotion that may not serve students well. Overall, the conversations highlighted using literature as a positive way to discuss important topics and shape attitudes around mental health, empowerment, and developing a love of reading.
Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com
Previous Episode

Middle Grade Novel Transports Readers to Egypt Through Cultural Identity
This episode of the Reading with Your Kids podcast features conversations with several authors about their children's books and the topics of reading, imagination, cultural identity, and mental health.
Nedda Lewers discussed her middle grade fantasy novel "Daughters of the Lamp," which follows a 12-year-old Egyptian American girl discovering her family's magical legacy. Christina Pellegrino shared her picture book "Buster and the Brain Bully," inspired by her therapy dog work and addressing issues like anxiety in children.
Other segments focused on the power of children's imaginations and how technology has changed their experiences. Speakers discussed representing diverse cultures and navigating identities between two worlds. Co-reading books was highlighted as an opportunity for in-depth family conversations.
Therapy dog Foster was described bringing comfort to hospital patients. His handler overcame their own mental health struggles by helping others through their work.
Author Christine Ricci McNamee joined from East Boston to discuss her Logan series about a magic bone-wielding dog. Libraries were celebrated as social spaces beyond screens that foster creativity and community.
Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com
Next Episode

Empowering Kids Through Stories: Fostering Literacy, Empathy and Life Skills from an Early Age
This episode of Reading with Your Kids features conversations with two fascinating authors. Our first guest is Ann Suk Wang, author of the picture book "The House Before Falling Into the Sea." She discussed how the book was inspired by her mother's experiences as a child during the Korean War. Her mother and grandparents took in refugees fleeing conflict. The book tells this story through the eyes of Ann's mother when she was seven years old. Ann wanted to bring awareness to this overlooked period of history. She and her illustrator carefully crafted the story to discuss difficult topics like war in a way that is accessible to children.
Our second guest is Rella B, a children's author, podcaster, and YouTuber. She discussed some of her works, including "If Shapes Could Talk" and "Mama, I Got a dollar," which aim to teach early financial and social-emotional literacy. RellaB emphasized the importance of exposing kids to diverse topics through books and media. Her YouTube channel and podcast provide resources for families where caregivers may struggle with literacy or have limited time. Both guests discussed the value of reading challenging books with kids and helping them develop empathy, confidence, and life skills from an early age.
Click here to visit our website - www.readingwithyourkids.com
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