Latkes, Learning and the Power of Movement

This episode brings together two authors whose work helps children connect with books and learning in different ways.

Martha Seif Simpson joins Jed to talk about her easy-reader graphic novel, I Will Not Eat Latkes, designed for readers and the Hanukkah season. She explains how family latke-making traditions inspired the story: oxidized potatoes once prompted a guest to call them "rusty potato mush." In the book, Nosh the koala encourages Potchki the ring-tailed lemur to try latkes by being brave like his hero, Judah Maccabee. Martha shares why easy readers use simple language, how illustrations and graphic novel panels bring the tale to life, and why libraries and audiobooks can welcome more children into reading.

Rachel Glowacki then introduces Move with Me Books, her movement-based literacy project, and her book All Through the Crown. Inspired by yoga and the song "The Wheels on the Bus," the book uses colors, body parts, rhythm and movement to help children explore feelings and energy. Rachel explains how movement can support attention, mood and learning, especially for children who benefit from kinesthetic experiences. She also reflects on making learning inclusive and playful.

Across both conversations, Jed and his guests celebrate libraries as welcoming community resources, honor different ways children learn, and encourage adults to follow kids' interests rather than judging what they choose to read. The episode is a reminder that stories can spark curiosity, build confidence, and bring families together—whether around a plate of latkes or a rainbow of movement.