The KidLit Pod

KLP Chat: Jess Galatola on Teaching, Parenting, and Everything in Between

Aug 10, 2026 · 1 hr · 12 segments

The foundational building blocks of language are essential for setting a child up for success. And tackling this, one book at a time (including those pesky homophones), is Jess Galatola. In episode…

The foundational building blocks of language are essential for setting a child up for success. And tackling this, one book at a time (including those pesky homophones), is Jess Galatola. In episode 13 of The KidLit Pod, Jess shares how she always wanted to be a teacher, and she always loved storytelling, but she never made the connection between the two until later in life - that she could bring two passions together to create beautiful stories that connect with kids. As a former drama/English teacher and curriculum specialist, Jess Galatola discusses her early love of storytelling, drama, and reading (especially Enid Blyton). Shara and Jess share how teaching and mentoring can help benefit a child, and how the simple question of, 'What do you want to be when you're older' should be reconsidered to, 'What do you enjoy now?' They discuss parenting in a world of AI and deepfakes, the importance of critical thinking, empathy, and building connection in classrooms, as well as how reading aloud remains valuable even for older kids. Jess shares her experiences supporting her eldest child’s DLD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia, contrasts her sons’ different attitudes to school, and describes limiting screens and using graphic novels to encourage a love of reading. Following this, Jess discusses the inspiration and the pathway to publication behind her graphic novel Seasons of Clementine (Perentie Press), and her picture book (Larrikin House), both out this year. She also previews upcoming projects: YA short, Parallel Tracks (Rhiza Press) and picture book, The Little Breeze (EK Books). **BOOK** **SPOTLIGHT**: The Witch Who Couldn’t Spell (phonics/homophones and perseverance) published by Larrikin House, author Jess Galatola and illustrator Lu Baker. **MENTIONS**: Perentie Press - Bethany Loveridge and Rochelle Stephens Fiona from Are You Afraid of the Books - @are\you\afraid\of\the\_books Bethany Loveridge - @bethanyloveridgeauthor Hayley Hackenberg - @hayleehackenbergauthor Kristen Willis - @tondocreative Seetha Dodd - @seethadodd\_author Jenni Barrand - @illustration\_jennibarrand Lu Baker - @lubakerart The Prime Minister Problem by Brenton Cullen Megan Daly - Raising Readers Sold A Story podcast 2027 Perentie Prize for Graphic Novel Manuscripts (text only) **LINKS**: Jess Galatola on Instagram - @jess.galatola Jess Galatola website - www.jessgalatola.com.au Seasons of Clementine by Jess Galatola, illustrated by Jasmine Berry Some Families Change by Jess Galatola, illustrated by Jenni Barrand Follow The KidLit Pod on Instagram (@thekidlitpod) *Find out more about The KidLit Pod host, Shara Curlett, here:* Shara Curlett on Instagram (@sharacurlett) Shara Curlett Website (www.sharacurlett.com)

The foundational building blocks of language are essential for setting a child up for success. And tackling this, one book at a time (including those pesky homophones), is Jess Galatola. In episode…

Helping Children Find Their Path5:17 – 11:41

Shara CurlettHost

5:17

I have this theory and there's no basis to it whatsoever, but I have a theory that a kid in their kind of formative 12, 13 years, they kind of know then innately what they want to do with their lives.

Shara CurlettHost

5:31

And I think it takes us, some of us, an entire lifetime to go back to that place.

Shara CurlettHost

5:37

Absolutely.

Shara CurlettHost

5:37

Others are fortunate to just know from the outset, yeah, I love this and I'm going to follow this.

Shara CurlettHost

5:43

And I have...

Shara CurlettHost

5:45

the inkling of an idea that it stems from having some kind of mentor person in your life, someone to kind of guide you, identify what it is that you are potentially good at or what you enjoy.

Shara CurlettHost

5:57

And then, you know, guiding the person in that direction and giving them all the possibilities and all the options.

Shara CurlettHost

6:04

And I think like as a teacher, you're still storytelling, right? You're still- Exactly.

Shara CurlettHost

6:09

Forming.

Shara CurlettHost

6:09

Every day.

Shara CurlettHost

6:10

Exactly.

Shara CurlettHost

6:11

So 12, 13 year old Jess is doing exactly the same thing that she loved back then.

Shara CurlettHost

6:16

I find it a fascinating kind of thought that you could look at all these kids if you're doing a school talk and say, if only you could follow what you love right now, that could be what you want to do for the rest of your life.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:27

Yeah.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:28

And I think there's two scary things for kids.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:30

They're terrified if they don't have that direction.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:34

So we did a lot of year 10, we call them set plans.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:38

So senior educational plan where you're planning out their pathway and, you know, parents are very clear about what they want their kid to do.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:46

And sometimes that does not align with what the kid is good at or really wants to do, or, you know, even where the kid is at in terms of how they are performing in different classes.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:57

So having that teacher lens has been important for me as a parent to sort of step back and let my kids find the things that they love and encourage the things that they love.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:08

And it's funny, you were mentioning that.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:10

I remember hearing Neil deGrasse Tyson, the physicist, speaking about what he wanted to do and how he knew that he loved science and space.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:19

And he said he had a parent who fostered a love of everything.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:24

So took them to theatre school.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:25

took them to sport, took them to the museum, took them to galleries.

Helping Children Find Their Path5:17 – 11:41

Shara CurlettHost

5:17

I have this theory and there's no basis to it whatsoever, but I have a theory that a kid in their kind of formative 12, 13 years, they kind of know then innately what they want to do with their lives.

Shara CurlettHost

5:31

And I think it takes us, some of us, an entire lifetime to go back to that place.

Shara CurlettHost

5:37

Absolutely.

Shara CurlettHost

5:37

Others are fortunate to just know from the outset, yeah, I love this and I'm going to follow this.

Shara CurlettHost

5:43

And I have...

Shara CurlettHost

5:45

the inkling of an idea that it stems from having some kind of mentor person in your life, someone to kind of guide you, identify what it is that you are potentially good at or what you enjoy.

Shara CurlettHost

5:57

And then, you know, guiding the person in that direction and giving them all the possibilities and all the options.

Shara CurlettHost

6:04

And I think like as a teacher, you're still storytelling, right? You're still- Exactly.

Shara CurlettHost

6:09

Forming.

Shara CurlettHost

6:09

Every day.

Shara CurlettHost

6:10

Exactly.

Shara CurlettHost

6:11

So 12, 13 year old Jess is doing exactly the same thing that she loved back then.

Shara CurlettHost

6:16

I find it a fascinating kind of thought that you could look at all these kids if you're doing a school talk and say, if only you could follow what you love right now, that could be what you want to do for the rest of your life.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:27

Yeah.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:28

And I think there's two scary things for kids.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:30

They're terrified if they don't have that direction.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:34

So we did a lot of year 10, we call them set plans.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:38

So senior educational plan where you're planning out their pathway and, you know, parents are very clear about what they want their kid to do.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:46

And sometimes that does not align with what the kid is good at or really wants to do, or, you know, even where the kid is at in terms of how they are performing in different classes.

Jess GalatolaGuest

6:57

So having that teacher lens has been important for me as a parent to sort of step back and let my kids find the things that they love and encourage the things that they love.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:08

And it's funny, you were mentioning that.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:10

I remember hearing Neil deGrasse Tyson, the physicist, speaking about what he wanted to do and how he knew that he loved science and space.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:19

And he said he had a parent who fostered a love of everything.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:24

So took them to theatre school.

Jess GalatolaGuest

7:25

took them to sport, took them to the museum, took them to galleries.