Catitude At The Pool

In this episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed Doherty welcomes author Matthew Burgess and illustrator Robin Rosenthal to celebrate their charming new picture book, Serafina Makes Waves. Serafina is no ordinary cat—she's full of catitude, completely confident on land, but absolutely terrified of water. When her parents sign her up for swim lessons before a family vacation, she'll do just about anything to avoid getting in the pool.

Robin shares how Serafina began as a single sketch of a cool, sassy beach cat with big goggles and a stuffed bunny named Noodles. The character existed before there was any story or even a name. During a critique group meeting, Robin showed the drawing to Matthew and asked how writers come up with stories. Pressed to give a real example, Matthew spontaneously suggested a cat who is deathly afraid of water but forced into swim lessons. Robin chuckled—and that reaction convinced Matthew there was something special there. From that moment, they began improvising the story together, volleying ideas back and forth.

They talk about the unusual nature of their collaboration: in traditional publishing, authors and illustrators often never even meet. Here, the illustration sparked the story, and the two creators stayed in close conversation, refining both text and art so Serafina's voice, attitude, and emotional journey truly matched Robin's visual vision. Both Matthew and Robin reflect on their hopes that this book will help kids see their own confidence, bravery, and big feelings reflected on the page.

Later in the show, Jed also chats briefly with Cedella Marley about her picture book Marley and the Family Band, inspired by her own childhood move from Jamaica to Delaware and her father Bob Marley's musical legacy of unity, joy, and resilience.