This episode of #ReadingWithYourKids featured two guests discussing self-publishing children's books. Jay Miletsky shared his experience successfully self-publishing over 600,000 copies of his books. He emphasized treating book publishing like a business by understanding costs, profit margins, and marketing strategies. 

The second guest, Larry Daley, introduced his debut picture book "Float." The story follows a girl who causes chaos in an aquarium. Daley said the book explores learning to stay calm during unexpected events. Rather than pursuing traditional publishing, Daley chose to crowdfund "Float" through a Kickstarter campaign.  This allowed Daley to maintain creative control while getting community support.

The host and guests discussed the importance of marketing when self-publishing. Traditional routes like agents and large publishers involve high costs and compromises. Alternative models like crowdfunding and smaller presses give more opportunities for diverse stories. The episode highlighted treating books as small businesses requiring entrepreneurial skills. It encouraged aspiring authors to view writing as one part of a larger publishing process.