Read-aloud Revival

Do you remember struggling through early reader books back when you were learning to read? Was it all Dick and Jane? Was it … boring?Think about this: nobody asks you now, as a grownup, how old you were when you became a fluent reader. Know why?Because nobody cares.What age your child is when s/he learns to read fluently (whether at age 4, or 7, or 9, or even older) doesn’t bear on their ability to read well later on. Early readers are not consistently better readers when they are adults.What does matter, though, (and it matters a LOT) is that your child’s thirst and desire for stories is not hampered by the reading process.We want our kids–even through the slog of learning to read (and yes, it can be a slog for a whole lot of us)–to know that reading is one of life’s sweetest delights.In this episode, you’ll hear: why reading aloud is critical at this stage of the game why your kids need to read words – lots and lots of words! – as they are learning to read (and how to help them get that) my suggestions for

I ‘m coming to you today with a simple tip that could make a HUGE difference in how often your kids pick up books for fun.In fact, it may seem *too* simple at first, so you’re going to have to try it for yourself!What is it? Put the books OUT. Face-out, I mean.Think about when you go to the library- are your eyes drawn to the picture book spines on the shelves, or to the face-out books on display?Do the same in your home and I bet you’ll be floored at how those covers will invite your kids to pick them up.A good book cover is simply an irresistible invitation to a child.In this episode, you’ll hear: the simplest way to get your kids to pick up more books on their own (and no, you don’t have to spend a cent or go back to the library again) how to keep the delight going week after week and how to make the most of the books you already own Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/104/.

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 just 29 pages of a children’s book Gail’s newest book (out today!) which she is especially passionate about! Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/103/.

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 importantly–a mom.I hope this podcast episode is wind in your parenting sails.In this episode, you’ll hear: how our kids’ identities are really shaped (it’s probably not the way you think it is) what our kids want from us more than anything else how to make the time we spend with our kids count Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/102/.

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 away.In this episode, you’ll hear:  what is was like for Jeanne to get her first book published how she always imagined the Penderwicks series as one single story which books inspired her writing (I bet you can guess a few!) Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/100/.

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/.

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 fantastic resource (of course!) Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/98/.

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 enjoy our teens’ company!Read more about this and the importance of treating your teen’s reading life more like a book club (and less like a school assignment) in The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids Through Books.In this episode, you’ll hear: what’s so magical about reading aloud with teens? why you can think of what you read with teens as adding concentric circles (in other words, we’re not moving up, we’re moving out) a few book recommendations to read with your teens, even

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 for this podcast gives you a hint at some of the other recommendations for this age range in The Read-Aloud Family!), but today…In this episode, you’ll hear: potential pitfalls when reading to 8-12’s what to do about “the classics” and just a couple of books that I think your 8- to 12-year-olds will love Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/96/.

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 look for in books for this age group just a few book recommendations

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 trick for reading aloud when toddlers are melting down — it’s like MAGIC Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/94/.

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 become real readers Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/93/.

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. Many appeal to my girls, as well! But if you have a boy in your life who just doesn’t love reading (yet!), then this episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast is for you.Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/boys/.

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/.

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 notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/89/.

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 Pye. So we knew she was gonna feel right at home here at RAR, right?In this episode, you’ll hear: how a building or a place can (and did!) become a book character Karina’s writing process (hint: she wrote her first books during NaNoWriMo) books suggestions that celebrate families Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/88/.

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 and see themselves reflected in the pages tons of suggestions from picture books, to books for teens, to books for parents Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/87/.

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, my favorite part) my 4-year-old twins chatting about a book we often read 3 times in a row Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/86/.

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 little uncomfortable.I enjoyed this conversation so very much, and came away with a ton of confidence and a lot of great books to read with my kids!In this episode, you’ll hear: why as parents, WE need to be the ones to have big conversations with our kids, and how books can provide  hooks to start those conversations why controversial books are so popular ‘read-alones’ vs ‘read-alouds’ various ways we can navigate the tough stuff with our kids Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/85/.

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’ attention Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/84/.