Lowrider Culture Meets Reading Culture: Two Powerful New Projects

Join Jed Doherty for a heartfelt, high-energy episode featuring two creators who are all about getting kids excited to read. First, Jed chats with Laura De La Cruz, author of the picture book Lowrider for Sale. Laura introduces us to Gabby, a determined eight-year-old devastated to find a "for sale" sign on her dad's beloved lowrider. Through Gabby's efforts to save the car, kids glimpse the richness of lowrider culture—the chrome, murals, car shows, and especially the strong sense of community and family. Laura shares how the story grew from her own childhood—helping her dad with his car, losing him to cancer at eight, and wanting to honor his memory. Influenced by books like Yard Sale, she crafted a story that's emotionally real, with a hopeful but not "perfectly tied up" ending, reflecting the financial struggles many families face. In the second half, Jed welcomes back Maria Ashworth to introduce Where's Readsy?, an imaginative reading-ritual activity box. Kids meet Readsy, a book-loving creature who sneaks into homes at night, munches on "fuzzles," and leaves a trail of paw prints to the book he's been reading. Maria explains how the kit is designed to make kids want to read, not just read because they have to, and how her work as a roving storytime host for HOAs and communities inspired the project. She also opens up about being a struggling reader as a child and how that fuels her passion for bringing the magic of books into every family's home.