Read-Aloud Revival ®

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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 gamewhy 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 books that your kids will truly enjoy, and that will help you build warm memories as your child learns to love readingFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/105/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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 weekand how to make the most of the books you already ownFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/104/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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 kidshow she manages to fit such big topics between just 29 pages of a children’s bookGail’s newest book (out today!) which she is especially passionate about!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/103/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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 elsehow to make the time we spend with our kids countFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/102/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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 memorable way.No matter what ages your kids are, let’s make a fantastic reading summer.Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/101/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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 publishedhow she always imagined the Penderwicks series as one single storywhich books inspired her writing (I bet you can guess a few!)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/100/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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 beWhy so many of us seem to identify with herWhat this book means for instilling creative courage in our kidsFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/99/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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 languageHow learning a second language helps us with our native languageHow books are a fantastic resource (of course!)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/98/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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 you haven’t been reading aloud to him or her latelyFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/97/.

Join us for Shakespeare Summer!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’swhat to do about “the classics”and just a couple of books that I think your 8- to 12-year-olds will loveFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/96/.