Today, I’m thrilled to share a peek at the riches inside RAR Premium, our online community that helps you make meaningful and lasting connections with your books and helps homeschool mamas become the peace-filled, joyful mamas they’re called to be. Last summer, our Family Book Club selection was On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, the first book in the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. And we were lucky enough that Andrew agreed to join us to answer kids’ questions about the books. This ...
Mar 06, 2025•58 min
Have you ever read a book and felt like you’d actually been to that place? Me too. Once, while standing in line at an amusement park, I met a couple who told me they were visiting from Maine. And I almost said, “Oh, I was just in Maine!” Except I’ve never actually been to Maine. I had just read a book that was set in Maine, and it was so immersive, it felt like I’d been there. That’s the power of books. They take you places. Books help us experience different narratives and cultures from all ove...
Feb 20, 2025•35 min
Lately here at RAR we’ve been talking about reading for refreshment—reading for the pure joy of it—and how our own reading lives can be a source of energy and joy even in the throes of the busiest seasons of motherhood. This week on the podcast, we're revisiting an episode that dives into why reading isn’t just good for us and our kids, but why reading for fun is also an important part of our jobs. In this episode, we talk about why it’s so important and what it does for our kids and for us. I h...
Feb 06, 2025•38 min
Dear Duck, Please Come! is the most fun I’ve ever had writing a book. But writing the words is only half the story for a picture book. Which is why today, I’m delighted to share my conversation with the illustrator of Dear Duck, Please Come! , Charles Santoso. Charles was born in Indonesia, raised in Australia, and now lives in Singapore. He’s illustrated tons of books we love here at Read-Aloud Revival, and I was over the moon that he agreed to illustrate Dear Duck . In this episode, we’re divi...
Jan 23, 2025•46 min
At the start of a new year, we are overwhelmed with the phrase “New Year, new you!” And of course, we want to be better wives, better mothers, and better people. This desire to improve ourselves filters into our reading lives, too. It’s easy to justify a lot of our reading if it helps us be better for our families and communities. But what about reading for fun? What about reading fiction? When you’re a busy mom, is it worth it to carve out time to read just for the fun of it? And how would you ...
Jan 09, 2025•41 min
Gather your aspiring writers and littlest book lovers for this episode. I am so excited to welcome back author Millie Florence to talk about the beautiful book we created together, Beyond Mulberry Glen. Millie and I are chatting about the making of the book from inspiration to final draft with a series of fun questions from what scene was the hardest to write to what character she’d want to hang out with for an afternoon. Beyond Mulberry Glen is a read-aloud novel for the whole family, featuring...
Dec 26, 2024•43 min
What do happy homeschoolers have in common? Over the years, I’ve spoken with thousands of homeschoolers from all over the world. When I asked experienced moms what they do to cultivate peace and joy in their homeschool lives, I discovered there are five habits happy homeschool mamas often share. The good news is that YOU can adopt these habits, no matter what kind of homeschooler you are, what method or curriculum you use, what your budget is, or how many kids you have. You don’t need a new curr...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 11 min
What if I told you there’s an Icelandic Christmas tradition where the whole point is to spend an evening sitting around, sipping hot cocoa, and reading books? Sign me up, right? Today, we’re talking about Jolabokaflod, which loosely translates to “Yule Book Flood,” how it started, and how you can bring the magic of this bookish tradition into your home this Christmas. In this episode, you’ll hear: Where the Icelandic Yule Book Flood first began How Jolabokaflod is an invitation to slow down and ...
Nov 28, 2024•19 min
"Marley was dead, to begin with." That is one of the most famous first lines in English literature. It comes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, which is perhaps the greatest Christmas ghost story ever told. What is it that speaks to so many of us about this story of Scrooge and his ghosts? Today I want to talk about what makes this story so beloved and enduring–from its original bestselling release in 1843 through countless adaptations–to the place of fondness and tradition it has in so ...
Nov 14, 2024•29 min
As homeschooling moms, we often focus more on what we’re not doing than what we are doing. We fret about the lessons we should be teaching or the projects we should be creating. But here’s what we want you to remember (and what we try to remind ourselves): what you’re already doing is powerful. It’s purposeful. And best of all, what you’re already doing builds an enduring family culture. In this bonus episode, you’ll discover the power of what you’re already doing and why the culture we create i...
Nov 04, 2024•58 min
How do you know a good book when you see it? I remember walking into the big, beautiful children’s section at the library with my oldest, who was a baby. I wanted to find books to read aloud to her, but it was hard to know which ones we would love. That longing to find good books for my children was the spark that eventually became the Read-Aloud Revival podcast and RAR Premium community, where we’re always trying to find and share the very best books to read aloud with your family. Today, RAR P...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 2 min
A library should be a kind of paradise, don’t you agree? Author and illustrator Barbara Cooney certainly thought so. Barbara Cooney was an extraordinary author and illustrator of over 100 children’s books with stories that span the world, from the shores of Greece to the mountains of Appalachia. The more I learned about Barbara, the more I wanted to tell the story of this beautiful artist who, in every aspect of her life–from raising four children to traveling to gardening to winning awards for ...
Oct 17, 2024•41 min
Raising creative kids is a beautiful, worthwhile endeavor, but not one that is always neat and tidy! In today's episode, I’ve invited two of my good friends and fellow creatives—authors S. D. Smith and Carolyn Leiloglou—for a conversation on how our creative work as adults impacts our kids. We discuss everything from the challenges of nurturing creativity in our families to the influence of stories on our hearts and minds. S. D. Smith is the author of the wildly popular and perennial Let the Kid...
Oct 03, 2024•1 hr 13 min
What if I told you that your homeschool could be relaxed, bookish, and ordinary? If you’re anything like me, that’s music to your ears. Our kids thrive–and we do too–when our day-to-day homeschool is relaxed, bookish, and ordinary. In fact, that's what over 726 experienced homeschool moms told me were the three most important qualities. Today, I’m sharing a recording from a session I did at a series of homeschool conferences earlier this year called “Relaxed, Bookish, and Ordinary”. If you’re ho...
Sep 19, 2024•58 min
Which of these two activities would be easier for you? Describe the best life you could achieve over the next twenty years. Describe the best things that have happened to you over the past twenty years. I know that as a busy wife and mama, dreaming for the future can feel daunting. As I was reading Jon Acuff’s book, All It Takes Is a Goal this summer, I was struck by how this exercise can shift our perspectives as homeschool mamas and mentors of our children. In today’s episode, New York Times b...
Sep 05, 2024•44 min
Do you have a child who dreams of being a writer? Or maybe it’s your dream? How do you support those dreams and foster creativity while also raising kids and running a household? Today, I’m delighted to welcome back author Laura Martin, who’s giving us her very best advice for how to nurture your child’s creative dreams and your own. Laura Martin is the author of some of my very favorite page-turners for kids, including The Edge of Extinction series and Glitch, and she has a new book out, Wander...
Aug 22, 2024•45 min
We recently took a poll in RAR Premium about favorite reading genres, and it turns out that historical fiction isn’t just my favorite genre, but it’s the favorite of many of you as well. Today, I’ve invited historical fiction lover and award-winning author Anna Rose Johnson to join me to discuss just what it is about historical fiction that draws us in. We’re also chatting about the inspiration for her stories, her research process, and what her parents did to support her as a budding writer. In...
Aug 08, 2024•43 min
If you’re a homeschooling mom, chances are good that you’re familiar with Sally Clarkson. She is one of the most beloved names in homeschooling worldwide, and it’s no wonder why. She homeschooled her own four kids to adulthood and has been writing and encouraging homeschool moms for decades. She also happens to be one of our most frequently requested guests here at Read-Aloud Revival. So we have a treat for you today! A few years back, Sally Clarkson joined us in RAR Premium and shared the advic...
Jul 25, 2024•54 min
In the last couple of episodes, we’ve discussed the importance of fairy tales, especially in the development of the hearts and minds of our children. And you might be wondering . . . now that you know about the Gospel connections and symbolism of fairy tales, do you need to dissect every story and present all of the details to your kids? Experts say no. But it can be incredibly edifying for you as an adult! Today, we’ll discuss how to bring these “truer than true” stories into your kids’ lives a...
Jul 11, 2024•34 min
How can our families cultivate healthy relationships with technology? We’re all trying to impose limits on how, when, and why our kids interact with technology. But in our increasingly tech-driven world, it can be hard to navigate. Writer Erin Loechner is joining me on the podcast to discuss her new book, The Opt-Out Family , and to offer her life-giving take on building lasting connections with your kids. We discuss everything from the importance of boredom to Erin’s practical and easy-to-imple...
Jun 27, 2024•46 min
Fairy tales are the stories that shape so many of our childhoods, but they are more than just whimsical tales for children. They can hold deep, gospel truth and offer profound insight into the Christian life. They have the power to inspire hope, ignite courage, and spark delight in not only our children, but in us, too. Fairy tales aren’t merely stories, they’re vessels of light in our modern world. They have the capacity to become companions to us, to buoy us along the journey. In today’s show,...
Jun 13, 2024•34 min
A picture book is an art gallery for the lap. 📚 That’s something we say all the time here at Read-Aloud Revival, and today we’re going to introduce you to one of our absolute favorite examples of this. We're diving into the enchanting world of illustrated picture books with Scott Gustafson, the master illustrator behind the breathtaking illustrations in the beloved Classic Fairy Tales picture book. Classic Fairy Tales is my all-time favorite illustrated collection of fairy tales, and it’s one o...
May 30, 2024•47 min
Summer is fast approaching, and here's what we propose: a relaxed and simple summer that offers just enough structure to keep those long sticky days from melting into chaos... and just enough fun to keep your kids asking for more. Also: Fairy Tales. Last week, I did a couple of live workshops on three simple steps to have a Fairy Tale Summer with your kids, no matter how old they are. In today’s episode, I share the workshop recording, and you can also watch the video workshop that includes all ...
May 16, 2024•57 min
Are you intimidated by the thought of teaching Shakespeare? You’re not alone. A lot of people struggle to connect to Shakespeare’s work, even if they really want their kids to be familiar with his plays. What if I told you there's a way to make teaching Shakespeare to your kids enjoyable for them… …AND delightful for you? In today’s episode, Ken Ludwig, celebrated playwright and author of How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare , argues that the reason so many of us feel like we don’t get Shakesp...
May 02, 2024•1 hr 10 min
Can you believe it? The Read-Aloud Revival Podcast is ten years old!! That means it’s time for a party! 🥳🥳 Ten years is a long time to have a podcast, but we’re not slowing down anytime soon. We’re having WAY too much fun for that. In honor of this milestone, I’ve got a Casey Kasem-style countdown for you of the top ten episodes from the first ten years of Read Aloud Revival. And as a way to say thank you to YOU for listening, if you leave us a review before April 30, 2024, you’ll be entered i...
Apr 18, 2024•51 min
When you hear the name Max Lucado, what comes to mind for you? Max Lucado is best known as a pastor, speaker, best-selling inspirational author, and, in many Christian families, he’s a household name. His books are written for everyone—especially those who are hurting, lonely, and discouraged. In his writing, he constantly points his readers back to the truth: that God loves you and you should let Him love you. Max is also an author of children’s books, several of which are favorites around here...
Apr 04, 2024•41 min
Do you ever find yourself wishing you had more time to read? Oh, every day? (Yeah, we get that.) We’re pretty confident that every mom wishes she had more time to read. Carving out a little time to enjoy your own reading life is worthwhile, even in those seasons when you think it’s impossible. (Sarah has six kids, and when three of them were babies age one and under, it definitely felt like an impossible season!) But reading makes us better humans, better mamas, and better women. It also makes u...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 11 min
We all want our kids to read, right? If you’re listening to this podcast, it’s probably safe to say that you want your kids to grow up to read more often than the average adult does. We want them to be lifelong learners and avid readers who read for pleasure. So it’s worth considering how we can cultivate the habits of real adult readers in our kids so that they grow up to be the readers we want them to be. And it turns out some of those skills are actually in direct opposition to how we tend to...
Mar 07, 2024•44 min
Today, I’m sharing two recent episodes from my weekly coaching podcast, Circle with Sarah, that is available exclusively to members of RAR Premium. I wanted to share them with all of you because I think the message applies to most of us. A lot of us have this funny habit of focusing on getting DONE with the thing we most want to do. Of getting it over with and checking it off the list. It’s maybe more prevalent in our lives than we even realize. And I want to invite you to think about how that i...
Feb 22, 2024•29 min
This year at Read Aloud Revival, we’re focusing on reading for joy. It’s so easy for reading to become another thing on your to-do list, but when we make reading a source of joy, of respite from our busy lives, it’s like running into a clear creek on a hot, dusty hike. Nurturing your reading life nurtures you, which in turn helps us be better moms, better homeschoolers, better parents, better women. Today I’m joined by Jennifer Pepito, creator of The Peaceful Press, which offers fabulous curricu...
Feb 08, 2024•41 min
