Read-Aloud Revival ®

If you want to make more meaningful and lasting connections with your kids through books in the coming year, then I have a tip for you: Don’t try to read aloud every day.Not what you thought I would say? Well, then. You’d better listen to the rest.This episode of the podcast is the shortest yet– and maybe the most important. It’s only 8 minutes long.You’ll find out…Why you don’t need to read aloud to your kids every single dayMy simple technique for feeling good about getting to important things I get to… most daysWhat you won’t regret at the end of this yearhttps://readaloudrevival.com/rar-365/.

Jonathan Auxier has been a writer for a very long time, but he says he never really felt like he had found his place until he began writing children’s literature.Thank goodness he did!The New York Times best-selling author of what he calls “strange stories for strange children,” his books include Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, The Night Gardener and most recently, Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard.In this episode he joins Sarah (and 13-year-old Allison!) to talk about writing for children, and why he’s so driven to connect kids with stories.In this episode, you’ll hear:his mother’s decision to homeschool him for a year so he could read for three hours a daywhy he always recommends other authors’ books too to the kids he meetsscary books and sensitive kidsAllison’s favorite books series (Jonathan hadn’t heard of it before!)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/56/.

What happens when you get three book-loving ladies together to chat gratitude and the best Thanksgiving books?In this episode, you’ll hear:there’s just a bit of excitementso Sarah orders a book on air! (We love it when she does that!)and then we end up with a big list of great books like the one belowSo join the whole Read Aloud Revival Team – Sarah, Kortney, and Kara – as we chat picture books, pie and our favorite suggestions for instilling gratitude in our children through stories.Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/55/.

James Daniels is passionate about many things – his family, his church, good food, gardening and education. He’s also driven to make sense of educational philosophy in a way that’s helpful for othersIn this episode, you’ll hear:about sharing enthusiasm for books with our kidshow our excitement about a book matters much more than whether the book has made it to the top of every book listhis favorite way to recommend books to parents and educators- it might surprise you!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/54/.

Linda Sue Park is the author of more than 20 books- including Newbery Award winning A Single Shard (an astounding book and every bit deserving of the Newbery) and the world-changer, A Long Walk to Water.When we were drumming up ideas for who to have on the podcast this season, I knew one thing for sure: I wanted to talk to Linda Sue Park.I’m a mega-fan of Linda Sue Park, and in this episode, we take on whether children’s books can change the world.Do you think they can? Listen and hear what Linda Sue Park thinks – you might be surprised!In this episode, you’ll hear:diversity in children’s literaturehow books give kids ‘practice’ for lifeadvice for young writersFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/53/.

Although Melissa Sweet didn’t grow up a reader, she has always had a love and passion for creating, which shows in the beautiful drawings, paintings and collages she has used to illustrate numerous picture books.She also an accomplished author, and her most recent book is about the one and only E.B. White- the ma who wrote Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan.Melissa joins us today to talk about:bringing E.B. White to life through her picture book biographyher artistic processand her favorite E.B. White book – it might be your favorite too, although it’s certainly a difficult choice, isn’t it?!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/bonus-sweet/.

Tricia Goyer is the well-known author of more than 50 encouraging books for women, moms and teens. She’s also a homeschooling mama of 10, and 7 of her children came to her family through adoption.In this episode, you’ll hear:  how reading aloud helped her to bond with her adoptive childrenhow although she grew up in a non-reading family, reading and writing has become a huge part of her family’s culturethe books that made her both a reader and a really prolific writerFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/52/.

Reading aloud is a treat, and Carole Joy Seid wants us to remember that every time we pick up a book to share with our kids.In this episode, she is joining us again to talk about the Golden Age of Children’s Literature. Some of these books may be new to you, and some you may have heard of before, but wondered if they would stand the test of time and still make great read-alouds. (Hint: They do!)You’re going to want to listen carefully – Carole shares tons of great suggestion with her signature enthusiasm from authors like:Lois Lenskithe d’AulairesHoward Pyle and more!These books will definitely help your family build memories around the moments spent cuddled together reading.Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/51-2/.

When it comes to activities for your preschoolers, do you often feel overwhelmed? I do. I’ve overcomplicated it in the past, and that’s left me a bit tired when it comes to creating a warm and rich learning environment for my youngest kids.Jennifer Pepito has re-inspired my enthusiasm, however. In this episode, you’ll hear:focus on simple play based on booksput connecting with our young kids firstmake learning to read more activeFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/50/.

When I first saw Rebecca Bellingham’s TedX talk, Why We Should All Be Reading Aloud to Children, I was so moved that I watched it twice in a row. Then I shot a note off to the Read-Aloud Revival podcast manager: “can we get her on the podcast?”And we did. :) You’re in for a treat in this first episode of season 9!In this episode, you’ll hear:the theater of reading aloudhaving difficult discussions around booksRebecca’s tips for sharing enthusiasm for books with our kidsFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/49-2/.