Kids’ Media Book Club: June Edition 📚
June Newsletter featuring Book of the Month reveal, industry trends, and community updates!
Somehow, it’s already June??!
May flew by. My month was packed with engaging conversations about the industry (with some of you!), a deeper dive into Roblox (I’m officially obsessed with Dress to Impress), and a few lucky wins in the Broadway lottery. (Those of you who know me IRL know I’m forever a theatre kid a heart.)
Nobody asked, but in honor of Tony weekend - my predictions: Maybe Happy Ending takes Best Musical (I thought I’d roll my eyes at a robot love story, but I was WRONG!) and I’m Team Nicole Scherzinger for Sunset Boulevard in the tight race for Best Actress (sorry, Audra fans). I still haven’t seen Oh Mary…so if anyone has a hook-up, you know where to find me :)
Anyway, back to why you’re all here. This month, I want to dive into a hot topic that’s not going anywhere anytime soon: AI. Whether you’re intrigued, intimidated, or already embracing it, I hope you’ll read and explore along with me this month.
Personally, I worry that if we don’t engage with these tools thoughtfully and creatively, someone else will, and they may not be thinking about kids or ethics the way we do. I hope this month’s read and exploration will open up discussions, not just around how we can use AI in our work, but how we should.
Here’s what you’ll find inside this month’s kickoff newsletter:
📚 Book of the Month: What we’re reading together (and why I picked it).
🎤 Show & Tell: Creative projects from our community.
📰 ICYMI: News, trends, and updates from across the kids’ media world.
As always, read what you want, skip what you don’t, and jump into the conversation whenever it feels right for you.
📚 Book Of The Month - June 2025
This month, I’m reading Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing) by Salman Khan, the founder of Khan Academy. The book dives into how artificial intelligence could reshape the future of learning by supporting deeper personalization, access, and equity in education.
A lot of the conversation around AI in the classroom is understandably cautious. But what happens when we look beyond those fears and ask: What could be possible? Instead of avoiding AI, what if we figured out how to teach with it, and more importantly, how to teach a generation of native users to think critically about it and harness it’s abilities for good?
While this book focuses on education, my hope is it opens the door to a broader conversation about AI in our creative fields too, especially in kids’ media. Maybe AI can help us build stronger, more personalized interactive experiences? Or support accessibility and offer new ways to tell stories? Where do we draw the ethical lines, and how do we stay human in the process?
I don’t believe AI should be a creative solution on its own. But I do think it’s a tool that’s important to understand, experiment with, and discuss since it’s clearly here to stay.
My ask this month is that you go into this month’s book and theme with an open mind. If we engage with it thoughtfully, I’m hopeful we may find ways to use AI as a tool that enhances our creativity and expands what is possible when it comes to creating content for kids.
📚 Here’s How to Join In:
1. Read (or Listen!) Along
Support your local library or bookstore! (If you’re ordering online: you can buy it here using my affiliate link — I get a very small kickback.)
Listen to the audiobook on Spotify with your Premium Subscription during your commute, while folding laundry, or walking the dog.
Read at your own pace. Dive in and take notes, skim the parts that interest you, or just follow the conversations here on Substack.
2. Join the Conversation
Share your thoughts & reactions or just leave a “like” on a post to show you’re here.
I’ll pop into the Substack Chat throughout the month — Please jump in! The chat is open and accessible for all subscribers and is an awesome way to connect.
3. Stay in the Loop
Follow along on Instagram for quick bites and reflections @kidsmediabookclub
I’ll also be reacting to industry trends and kids’ media news throughout the month on Substack. (Pro tip: Download the Substack app so you don’t miss a thing!
🎤 Show + Tell
Show & Tell is a space to celebrate what we’re making: new shows, books, podcasts, projects, ideas, anything you’re proud of! Each month, I’ll highlight a member of our community. If you’ve got something to share, send it my way!
June Spotlight: ✨New Substack - Life In The Machine by Matt Ferguson
This month, I’m excited to spotlight
, a member of the Kids Media Book Club and fellow Substack creator! His Substack Life in the Machine explores the intersection of AI and the animation industry. As an animation director for over 20 years, Matt brings a unique perspective to the conversation. I’m personally a fan of the weekly news round up, The Dope Sheet (linked above), which highlights the latest AI + media industry news.If you’re reading Brave New Words along with me this month and want to dig deeper into how these conversations are playing out in our industry, I highly recommend giving his Substack a read (and a subscribe!).
If you’ve got something coming up and want to be featured next month, I’d love to share it! You can DM me on Instagram @kidsmediabookclub, message me on Substack, or reply to the chat when the next call goes out.
📰 ICYMI
Breaking Down The Sesame Street x Netflix Deal - Sesame Street is going to Netflix! Starting later this year, the show's 56th season will premiere on Netflix, accompanied by 90 hours of classic episodes. I’m excited to see what Netflix does with the Sesame Street IP, as it’s an opportunity to really experiment and push kids’ media content.
Deadline - CoComelon to Transition to Disney+ in 2027 - In a significant shift in the preschool entertainment landscape, CoComelon will move from Netflix to Disney+ in 2027. I was surprised to see Cocomelon Lane was excluded from this deal, especially as Disney plans to build a robust franchise with the IP, starting with a CoComelon movie in theaters in 2027. I’ll certainly be watching to see how this partnership evolves.
Kidscreen - Roblox to roll out character licensing tools in Q3 - Roblox is launching a License Manager this fall, letting creators legally build games using popular characters and IPs. It’s a huge opportunity, especially for young developers who intuitively know what other kids want. But the big question: which brands will be bold enough to hand over their characters without tight supervision?
👋 Before You Go...
Have a friend or coworker who might enjoy the Kids’ Media Book Club? Share this newsletter with them. The more, the merrier!
Working on something for kids and families? Let’s connect! I’m looking for my next role and open for both full-time positions and/or freelance and consulting work. I help teams develop original kids’ series, build character-driven worlds, and bring stories to life across TV, digital, and emerging platforms. Learn more about my work and reach out to collaborate here 👉: www.julietmenz.com
If you have thoughts, ideas, or feedback on this newsletter, hit reply or DM me @kidsmediabookclub here or on IG. I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks so much for the shout out! I'll be picking up the book and following along for sure. As a father of two, AI and education is VERY much on my mind these days.