Reach Out and Read

Join Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, a pediatrician specializing in minority health, and Dr. Nevin J. Heard, a clinical counseling professor focused on multicultural issues, as they delve into the complexities of raising Black children. They discuss the generational shifts in parenting strategies, the different messages for Black sons and daughters, and the critical concept of racial identity development. The impact of movements like Black Lives Matter on parenting and tips for choosing diverse books are also explored, providing insights for navigating racial equity in family life.

In Part 2 of our series on LGBTQ+ children’s books, we talk to Dr. Jamie Campbell Naidoo, a professor at the University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies.  We discuss how to evaluate LGBTQ+ books for kids, common portrayals of ‘rainbow families’ in children’s books, balancing accessibility and privacy issues for books around these topics, and, of course why, year after year, LGBTQ+ children’s books continue to be the most challenged genre.

The publication of Charlotte Zolotow’s picture book William’s Doll (1972) not only broke gender stereotypes, but became a landmark moment in American children’s literature.  In a bonus episode of our “Inner Truths: LGBTQ” series, host Dr. Perri Klass speaks with Charlotte’s daughter, Crescent Dragonwagon (a prolific author herself), about the making of William’s Doll and her mother’s cultural impact as a writer and editor of books that have encouraged tolerance, kindness, and authenticity for generations of children.

LGBTQ+ children’s books play a crucial role in offering ‘mirrors and windows’ for all children and their caregivers, yet they remain not only hard to find, but often challenged by society.  In Part 1 of our two-part series, we’ll explore the craft and creativity behind LGBTQ+ children’s literature with Lesléa Newman, author of 75 books including the well-known “Heather Has Two Mommies”, and Kyle Lukoff, author of “Call Me Max” and “When Aidan Became A Brother.”

While parenting can be challenging, can you imagine what it’s like doing so from behind bars?  Even so, maintaining the parent-child relationship is critical to reducing the harm to children of having an incarcerated parent.  We span the professional and personal of this subject, first with investigative journalist Ludwig Hurtado on the rise of reading-aloud programs at jails and prisons nationally.  Then, Greg Williams and his daughter Melissa share their personal story of being separated by bars while reading and being read to, and how these programs shaped their relationship.

When it comes to reading preferences, are you on Team Print or Team Digital? It turns out you may not have to pick sides. How we read matters, but why we make that choice may matter more. Dr. Naomi Baron, Prof. Emerita of Linguistics at the American University and author of How We Read Now, breaks down the impact of reading medium on learning and what strategies we can offer our children - and ourselves - in order to read effectively in all formats.

The shiny medallions prominently displayed on award-winning children’s books are familiar to many. But what’s behind those seals?  How are the winners chosen?  And, of course, what is it like to WIN one?  Kathleen T Horning, well-known expert and member of numerous children’s book award committees, takes us behind the scenes of the process.  Then we speak with Carole Lindstrom, author of this year’s Caldecott Medal winner, “We Are Water Protectors” (illustrated by Michaela Goade), to hear about her experience.

Dr. Monica Altman, a leading pediatrician at Tufts, and award-winning author Sally J. Pla explore the transformative power of reading for children with developmental differences. They discuss practical strategies for adapting stories for sensory impairments and how reading fosters deeper family connections. Sally shares her insights on authentically portraying neurodiverse characters and emphasizes the importance of balance in representation. Together, they highlight the significance of empathy and understanding in both storytelling and nurturing young readers.

Military families face situations that pose distinctive social and emotional challenges to the health and wellbeing of their children.  First, AAP President Dr Lee Beers draws on her own past experiences in caring for military families and shares her approaches.  Then the Kikta family joins us to share their personal, direct experience of how reading together helped them and their four children through multiple deployments.

We know reading aloud with children matters.  But whether you’re experienced at it or if you’re not sure how to read well with young children, we can all learn from Dr. Andrea Zevenbergen.  She joins us to break down the concept of Dialogic Reading, and offers advice on how to model, coach, and help offer effective guidance.