In this joyful episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes librarian and debut middle grade author Haley Neil to celebrate her spooky-silly new book, Greta Grimsdark and the Normal New Neighbor. Haley shares stories from her work in the library, where she spends her days covered in slime, leading "Make and Play" programs, and helping kids discover books they truly love—especially those transitioning from graphic novels to more text-heavy stories.
Haley and Jed shine a big spotlight on librarians as unsung heroes, describing libraries as hubs for early literacy, STEM, crafts, and community support, especially for families who rely on them for internet access and free programming. Haley encourages families to "library hop," talk to their librarians, and never hesitate to ask for book recommendations.
They dive into Greta Grimsdark's world, where Greta's parents are dragons, her brothers are ghosts, vampires, and zombies—and Greta herself is the "scariest" thing of all: a human child. Haley describes the book as "Addams Family meets Junie B. Jones" with "cute Wednesday Addams vibes"—a lower middle grade, highly illustrated story perfect for bedtime read-alouds, classroom reading, and precocious independent readers. Beneath the funny, eerie surface, Greta's story explores friendship, identity, difference, and belonging, including casual representation like a brother who uses sign language.
Haley also talks about bibliotherapy—using books to help kids process big feelings and tough topics—and the joy of writing for kids, caregivers, teachers, and librarians all at once. Throughout, Jed and Haley return to their shared mission: helping families read together, talk together, and grow together through stories.
Jed also welcomes back Ginny Neil, former longtime teacher turned nature-loving picture book author, to celebrate her new title A River of Wind. Ginny shares how a magical encounter with tiny "spiderlings" floating on silvery threads sparked the idea for the book, which explores all the surprising things that travel on the wind—from familiar sights to hidden wonders high above our heads. Drawing on more than 38 years in the classroom and her life in the mountains, Ginny reflects on how nature, curiosity, and hands-on exploration shape both her writing and her teaching. She and Jed talk about the lasting impact of COVID on kids' social and fine motor skills, the loss of unstructured play, and the pressure to "schoolify" young children too early. Ginny argues passionately for giving kids time outdoors, space to ask questions, and freedom from constant screens and supervision so their natural curiosity—and STEM thinking—can flourish. They also discuss bullying prevention, the importance of building a culture of respect instead of just running short-term programs, and how parents can nurture curiosity simply by modeling it themselves and involving children in everyday problem-solving. Throughout, Ginny's deep love for kids, learning, and the natural world shines through, along with her joy in visiting classrooms and creating books that invite children to look closer, wonder more, and fall in love with the world around them.
