Reach Out and Read

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.

Philanthropy touches our lives on a daily basis, but the decision-making process by those who hold the so-called 'purse strings' can be seemingly shrouded in secrecy. We talked to Dr. Katie Beckmann from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and Ira Hillman from the Einhorn Collaborative, who took us behind the scenes to help demystify the world of philanthropy.

Technology has been an indispensable tool during the pandemic, but how has the massive shift to an almost exclusively online life affected children? Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, and Dr. Jenny Radesky, a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and author of notable American Academy of Pediatrics statements on digital media, join us for a thoughtful, considered conversation on how to navigate this world.

An antidote to distraction in the modern age? A way to build better brains through books? Or simply a treasured memory of childhood — and parenting? We discuss all these aspects of shared reading aloud with Meghan Cox Gurdon, the children's book reviewer for The Wall Street Journal, and author of "The Enchanted Hour".