Read-Aloud Revival ®

Hold on to your hats everyone – I am sharing one of my very favorite middle grade series in this episode. I’m chatting with both my daughter Allison and someone who just might be my favorite living author, Jonathan Rogers.Jonathan is author of the fantastic Winderking series, which has been described as a cross between Tolkien and Twain.In this episode, you’ll hear:whether characters in books should serve as role models… or notthe way stories inspire us to live a better story ourselveshow Narnia tells more truth than a non-fiction bookPlus, Allison asks Jonathan about writing his trilogy, and he tells a great story about the origin of some of his characters. You don’t want to miss it!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/67/.

Here at the Read-Aloud Revival, we are BIG FANS of audio books, but we get asked all the time: “Do audio books count as real read alouds?”In today’s brand new episode of the podcast, I’m answering that question. In this episode, you’ll hear:whether or not audio books count as real readingwhere and how to listen (either alone or as a family)where I get the best deals on audio booksAudio books absolutely aren’t cheating, and I’m here today with your quick guide for getting started!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/66/.

Do you make the best use of the resources available to you at your local library? Or do you even know all of what your library can do for you?You’re not alone if the answer to either of those questions is “no.” Today I’m talking to Amy Commers, a Youth Services Librarian in Minnesota, about how you can get the most from (and give the most support to) your local library.In this episode, you’ll hear:putting tons of books on hold – it’s OK!navigating YAand how to make your library even better!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/65-2/.

Today you’re in for a treat… I’ve got an exclusive interview between New York Times bestselling author, Jeanne Birdsall (The Penderwicks series) and best-selling author, N.D. Wilson (100 Cupboards, Outlaws of Time, and others).Jeanne and N.D. are good friends, and in this interview held at Anderson Bookshop in Illinois, they talk about:why their books are more alike than you might thinkthe author who inspires both of their bookswhat they really hope to do for kids with the stories they tellFind the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/birdsall-wilson/.

Before Laura Martin ever authored her amazing Edge of Extinction series, she was a middle school language arts teacher. And her specialty was helping kids resistant to reading fall in love with books.In this episode, you’ll hear:some of her favorite tips to get your kids not just reading more, but really loving booksideas for organizing books by genre and helping your children create a “someday list.”and why kids who want to be writers should be listening to more books than they’re readingPlus: a couple of my kids make an appearance in this episode. They are the ones responsible for introducing me to this fabulous series, after all!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/64/.

The first time Nancy Carpentier Brown read G.K. Chesterton’s work, she didn’t just hate it – she actually burned the book!But things certainly changed. Nancy now not only works with the American Chesterton Society, she is a leading expert on Frances Chesterton, and a much-requested speaker on both Gilbert and Frances Chesterton.She’s also the author of The Father Brown Reader I and II, The Chestertons and the Golden Key, and The Woman Who Was Chesterton.In this episode, you’ll hear:about introducing kids Chesterton and his worklearning more about Chesterton yourself as a parentwhere to start when you’re overwhelmed!Also: I may have possibly read aloud during this episode. And even whipped out my British accent to do it. Maybe. Possibly. ;)Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/63/.

Take a peek at Greta Eskridge’s Instagram account, and you might just see her shin-deep in a tide pool with her kids, or hanging out on top of a mountain.It’s clear that Greta adores nature. But as a child, believe it or not, Greta didn’t spend a lot of time in nature. What did she do? She read about it.Now as a mama of four, Greta shares those same books with her children.In this episode, you’ll hear:books that fuel a love of naturehow books transport usand her tips for stress-free nature journaling with kidsEven if you don’t have a nature preserve in your back yard, this episode will help you instill a deep love of nature in your kids. The best part? Doing it through beautiful books.Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/62/.

I know this about you: you want to make meaningful and lasting connections with your kids.As a busy homeschooling mom of six, I completely understand that when the house is a mess and the laundry pile is overflowing and life feels just plain crazy, spending a few minutes reading aloud with my kids- even the kids who can read to themselves- is the most important thing I do all day.It’s an opportunity to be fully present--and that is a gift beyond measure these days.That’s why we started offering Author Access events at the Read-Aloud Revival… because those moments we spend with our kids during read-aloud time have a profound affect on our relationship.Introducing our kids to the creators of those stories? Takes everything up a level.On today’s brand new episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast…I take you behind the doors of membership and let you listen in on some of our member-only Author Access events.These are live video streams where kids got to meet authors and ask their questions in real time.Oh you’re just going to DIE when you hear Andrea Davis Pinkney. (And if you have a child who struggles with schoolwork or who may be dyslexic, I urge you to listen to hear what she has to say about that. 😍).Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/61/.

So many of us know Sally Lloyd Jones best as the author of the beloved Jesus Storybook Bible.Now you’re going to just love hearing her insightful thoughts about sharing stories with our kids.This is a sweet, but powerful episode that might catch you off guard- Sally is such a joy to listen to, and her words pack a big punch.In this episode, you’ll hear:reaching our children through storieshow she found the bravery to write a children’s bibleand as we celebrate a special milestone for that very book- 10 years!Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/60/.

Awoooooooo! Get ready for some pure delight in this episode of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast. We’re joined by the wonderful and witty author of the spunky and endearing Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series.In this episode, you’ll hear:where the idea of a governess caring for children raised by wolves came from (it turns out it’s a bit of Jane Eyre and a dash of The Jungle Book!)how she plots her mysterious storylinesand Maryrose even reads (and howls) a bit!This episode is not to be missed, and if you haven’t yet read the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series with your kids, you’re going to want to go grab the first by the end of the episode.Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/59/.