I was honored to be a guest on PR From The Heart’s Children’s Books Spotlight Series with John Masiulionis and Little Forrest for Episode #246, where we explored the vital connection between social-emotional learning and literacy.

In this episode, I shared the journey behind The Adventures of Harold from the Hood series—including A Trip to the Park, Friends Like Different Things, Fun Time Lunch Time, and When I Feel So Annoyed. We talked about how stories can help children build essential social skills, regulate their emotions, and discover their sense of belonging, teamwork, and self-worth.

We also discussed my work as a school counselor and creator of the Children Developing Social Skills Through Literacy program, the exciting process of bringing Harold’s adventures to life at Building A Culture Of Reading In Your Classroom 2025 at Mall of America, and how parents and educators can support children in developing both literacy and emotional intelligence.

📺 Watch Episode #246 here:


📚 Explore the Harold from the Hood series here: