I'm willing to bet that you are familiar with Gail Gibbons's work. Not only is she incredibly prolific, she is just one of those authors who becomes our go-to when it comes to learning with our kids. Gail Gibbons is the author of more than 170 books for kids. Primarily a non-fiction author, her signature style includes engaging illustrations and carefully researched topics. In this episode, you’ll hear: why Gail loves making non-fiction for kids how she manages to fit such big topics between jus...
Jul 14, 2018•35 min
When I talk to and meet with other moms, I get a sense that we all want the same thing. We all long to connect with our kids. And, of course, we also want to stay connected – even in the teen years. Well, today’s guest knows all about that, and she’s here to give us some tips and tricks to be the kinds of parents our kids really need (and want). It’s a whole lot simpler than many of us make it. Dr. Meg Meeker is a pediatrician, parenting expert, bestselling author, podcaster, and maybe most impo...
Jul 09, 2018•39 min
I don’t know about you, but I want to make some really awesome memories with my kids this summer. I don’t want the whole season to pass in a whirlwind of swimming lessons, camping trips, and sticky popsicle juice without getting a chance to look into my kids’ eyes, get to know them better, and have some great conversations. If that’s you too, then this episode of the podcast is for you. We’re talking about three simple steps you can use to connect with your kids this summer in a meaningful and m...
May 30, 2018•33 min
Can you believe it? It’s Episode 100! And amazingly, we just crossed over a pretty huge milestone here at The Read-Aloud Revival: over 4 million downloads of the podcast. You know, I couldn’t have picked a better guest for this week’s 100th episode celebration. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jeanne Birdsall, author of the Penderwicks series. The final book in the series, The Penderwicks at Last is available today, so your Penderwicks fans are going to want to get their hands on that right...
May 14, 2018•53 min
Lola Dutch is a little bit … much. And yet, she’s also like so many of us. I think you’re just going to love her! Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Lola Dutch creators Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Lola came to be Why so many of us seem to identify with her What this book means for instilling creative courage in our kids Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/99/ . 📖 Order your copy of Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated ...
Apr 30, 2018•43 min
Many of us want to help our children learn a second language, but where do we start? And what if we only speak one language ourselves? Anne Guarnera of Language Learning at Home is joining us today to walk us through it. Although it isn’t her first language, she speaks Spanish in her home and encourages families to learn new languages together. In this episode, you’ll hear: How to get started learning a new language How learning a second language helps us with our native language How books are a...
Apr 23, 2018•44 min
Last week we talked about reading aloud to kids who can read on their own, but today we’re taking that a step further and talking about reading aloud with teens. You know the most important thing about reading aloud with teens, right? Surprise! It’s not their literary value or whether your teen knows how to analyze a story. It’s better than that. (Much better). Reading with teens can be pure magic. It’s such a simple way to slow down and enjoy one another’s company. And it’s really important to ...
Apr 16, 2018•27 min
If there is one thing I hope you take away from this episode – it’s this: keep reading to your 8-12 year olds. Kids ages 8-12 are so fun to share books with, and you can have such wonderful conversations with this age group. Plus, you are continuing to make memories and associate reading with warm feelings. That’s a total win! There’s lots more in The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids Through Books about reading with kids ages 8-12 (in fact, that picture...
Apr 09, 2018•29 min
Kids who are 4-7 years old often love stories and can even begin to enjoy chapter books. Reading aloud to kids this age can be such a delight! You’re also able to have great conversations about what you’re reading together. There’s a whole chapter in The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids Through Books about reading with this age group, but today… In this episode, you’ll hear: what you are really going for at this stage (you’ll like the answer!) what to l...
Apr 02, 2018•29 min
Guess what? The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids is now available everywhere! In this episode, I’m thrilled to share a little from the book about reading aloud to your 0-3 years olds. And of course, I’ll make a couple of book suggestions … Of course. In this episode, you’ll hear: the most important thing when it comes to reading aloud to kids age 0-3 problems you’ll run into when reading with babies and toddlers (and how to navigate them) my favorite tr...
Mar 21, 2018•29 min
Today I get to share a chapter from my new book, The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids . This is chapter 6 (one of my favorites!), where I talk about how we can create a book club culture at home, and thereby raise kids who read for the love it. This is how our kids become “real readers.” In this episode, you’ll hear: how and why to create a book club culture in your home why we need to read books that don’t “count” toward anything! how to help your kids...
Mar 19, 2018•37 min
Sometimes it can be tricky to find books for boys. It’s not so much that they need different books than girls do, but… well… …at some point, you may find it’s difficult to match your boys up with books they love. You know what I mean, right? The kind of books they’ll stay up late reading with a flashlight underneath the covers. The kind of books that give them an insatiable thirst for reading. The kind of books that turn them into readers . These books, of course, are not just books for boys. Ma...
Mar 13, 2018•35 min
A Wrinkle in Time is one of my favorite books to share with kids, and it’s featured as one of my top picks for read-alouds in chapter 15 of one of the brand new book, The Read-Aloud Family. The movie’s release later this week offers families a wonderful opportunity to experience the book together and have some meaningful conversations about all kinds of topics. (This is both an article and a podcast. If you’d prefer to read the article, visit https://readaloudrevival.com/wrinkle/ .) 📖 Order you...
Mar 04, 2018•26 min
Need a few Easter basket ideas for your young readers? We’ve got you covered! In this episode we’re bringing you books and bookish ideas for kids infant-teen. In this episode, you’ll hear: favorite children’s bibles and Easter books fiction books that your kids will love to find in their baskets this year Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/90/ . 📖 Order your copy of Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien by Katie...
Feb 26, 2018•44 min
It could be said that if not for a slightly impulsive email to Andrew Pudewa, the Read-Aloud Revival might not exist. That’s right – today I am welcoming back Andrew Pudewa from the Institute for Excellence in Writing – who was also the very first guest on the podcast. In this episode, you’ll hear: why reading aloud matters when to start literary analysis with our kids (the answer might surprise you!) what to do if your kids what you to read all their schoolwork to them Find the rest of the show...
Feb 21, 2018•42 min
Today I’m sharing one of the best books I read last year. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street is uniquely wonderful– a refreshing and upbeat middle grade novel featuring a loud and lively big family (5 kids and their parents), a curmudegonly landlord, a talented bunny, and enough witty dialogue to keep you warm for the rest of winter. This is now my go-to recommendation for families who love The Penderwicks , All-of-a-Kind Family , The Saturdays or The Moffats . The author’s dog is named Ginger Py...
Feb 12, 2018•44 min
In today’s episode of the podcast, we’re sharing books about adoption. Some are picture books, some are YA– and we’ve got a little something for everyone in between. These are books that will help your family celebrate the adopted children in your life. Brooke Cooney has made it her mission to share books about orphaned children, fostering and adoption. In this episode, you’ll hear: about books for families who are waiting to bring their child home books that help adopted kids to feel understood...
Feb 06, 2018•42 min
Today, I’m hoping to tell you about some authors/illustrators you may not have heard about before! These aren’t necessarily new authors, but they may be new to you. In this episode, you’ll hear: picture books, middle grade books and even books for your tweens and teens – I’m covering ALL the bases! graphic novel suggestions that you’ll approve of ( and that your kids will like) a couple of favorites from our house, including one book that my 5-year-old carried around for weeks plus (admittedly, ...
Jan 29, 2018•28 min
I think this is one of the best conversations we’ve had so far at The Read-Aloud Revival. Today we’re talking “messy” books. Parents – you probably know just what I mean. Messy books are those books that tackle hard topics. Or maybe they just have stuff in the background that makes us a little nervous about our kids reading them. Today I’m talking with Betsy Farquhar of Redeemed Reader about how best to handle these kinds of books, and why we shouldn’t just ignore them – even if they make us a l...
Jan 23, 2018•47 min
What can we do about our kids who don’t love reading? Today I’m sharing a few ideas, as well as a few books that just might turn your reluctant reader into a reader who stays up past bedtime, sneaking books under the covers with a flashlight. In this episode, you’ll hear : what’s more important than helping our kids fall in love with reading (it’s not what you think) what we can do when a child says he’s not a reader some books that are bound to grab and hold even the most reluctant readers’ att...
Jan 15, 2018•28 min
Do you read picture books with older kids? Could this be a picture book year for your family? Today, the whole RAR crew is chatting picture books – and why it’s a great idea to read them with your bigger kids too! In today’s episode, you’ll hear: Kortney’s simple and systematic approach to reading picture books how to do “classroom book a day” with your kids at home where to find great picture books recommendations This episode is just what you need to kick-start a picture book habit this year! ...
Jan 08, 2018•46 min
Parents of wiggly kids – the proof is here. In this episode with author Dr. Michael Gurian, you’ll hear scientific evidence demonstrates that many kids not only need to move while being read to, they actually retain information better when they are allowed to do so. In this episode, you’ll hear: why boys might prefer to read non-fiction, and why we should let them why we don’t need to worry about our kids reading graphic novels how we can help resistant kids fall in love with reading You’ll love...
Nov 28, 2017•44 min
I think it’s fair to say this is my favorite episode of the podcast we’ve ever done. You probably know Katherine Paterson as the author of books like Bridge to Terabithia , Jacob Have I Loved and the Great Gilly Hopkins , but if you’re not familiar with her essays about writing for children, you’re about to have your socks knocked off. The way Ms. Paterson thinks about reading and writing books for kids blows me away. I’m in awe. In this episode, you’ll hear: what she really thinks when she hear...
Nov 21, 2017•40 min
What do you give as gifts for young readers? (Besides books, of course!) Here’s a whole list of gift ideas for the young readers in your life. In this episode, you’ll hear Great gift ideas for babies through teens Ideas beyond books – games, book accessories, puzzles, posters, shirts and more Ways to help kids make books their own, and begin to identify as readers Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/80/ . 📖 Order your copy of Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illus...
Nov 13, 2017•27 min
What should we look for when we’re choosing books for our children? It’s as easy at 7 points, as you’ll hear in this episode with Sarita Holzmann of Sonlight Curriculum. Sarita is a veteran homeschool mom and book lover. In this episode, you’ll hear: how her son went from struggling reader to Valedictorian all about her 7-point all-star test for books book recommendations that your kids will love and remember long after they leave home Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival....
Nov 06, 2017•34 min
Once upon a time, I said we didn’t love treasuries at our house. Welllll … its time to eat some crow. Lately, we’ve been reading lots of picture book treasuries, and we are LOVING THEM. They are perfect for longer reading sessions, for taking on errands when you know you’ll be sitting in waiting rooms, and for building your family’s library with quality books on a budget. In this episode, you’ll hear: our very favorite collections – which treasuries we’re loving most (and which have added extras...
Oct 30, 2017•27 min
Scholastic’s Kids and Family Reading Report is a national survey of children ages 6–17 and their parents that explores attitudes and behaviors around books and reading. In this episode, I’m joined by author, Vice President, and Editor-at-Large at Scholastic, Andrea Davis Pinkney. We talk about what the most recent report means for us as parents–and there’s a lot for us in there! In this episode, you’ll hear: why we need to build home libraries, and how to do that without breaking the bank what k...
Oct 23, 2017•34 min
What do you do when reading aloud doesn’t work out exactly how you hoped? Maybe your kids are arguing or you’re falling asleep … But you know how valuable it is to read aloud, so what can you do? In this episode, you’ll hear: 5 ways to make reading aloud enjoyable for everyone ( even you! even if you normally get tired! ) how to keep sibling bickering at bay and toddlers busy so that you can read more why 10 minutes of reading aloud is enough (it really is. promise.) Find the rest of the show no...
Oct 16, 2017•24 min
It can be challenging to keep track of the books our kids read, right? But if we want to grow a family of readers, we kind of need to have a system that actually works! So today I’m sharing about our simple reading journals. how to create a treasured list of books your kids read at any age how to make sure reading journals don’t impede your kids’ reading, but rather create delight (and help our children connect with books) Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/75/ . 📖 ...
Oct 09, 2017•18 min
This might be our shortest-ever episode, but also one of the most important. It’s all about what matters most. Today I’m talking about how we can make a simple choice that will make a *huge* impact on our kids and families. In this episode, you’ll hear: how to figure out what matters most, even when we are DEEP in the trenches of parenting how to help our kids form strong sibling bonds making sure that even when life is hard, we get to the most important thing of all Find the rest of the show no...
Sep 27, 2017•18 min
