If you have a gifted, twice-exceptional, or advanced reader, this episode is for you. Today I’m chatting with Colleen Kessler of Raising Lifelong Leaners. A gifted specialist and mother of her own gifted and twice-exceptional kids, Colleen understands the challenges of connecting advanced readers with books…

… and the challenges that arise when your advanced reader can read anything, but isn’t emotionally ready to have free reign at the library.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • what to do when your kids can read “older” books, when you know they aren’t ready for the content
  • Book recommendations that feature gifted or twice-exceptional kids
  • The answer to whether your child can read too much (we know… it sounds like a good problem to have, but it can be a struggle!)

I also answer two listener questions about finding books for sensitive kids, and great book series for young, voracious readers.

Click the play button below to start listening:

Listener Guide

Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast:

2:56Book suggestions for sensitive readers
6:58Recommendations for young, voracious readers
9:11Graphic novel ideas
10:53Welcome Colleen!
12:25You don’t need to ‘move up’
13:37On not pre-reading
15:37Raising discerning readers
18:22Strewing books
19:49Should advanced readers read easy books?
23:31Recommendations for gifted and twice-exceptional kids
25:03Biographies and non-fiction
26:24Can kids read too much?
32:08My Best Friends Are Books
34:1oLet the kids speak

Quotes to remember:

It’s our job to teach discernment. It’s our job to help our kids know what their values and morals are, and to help them see within a book if it’s going to be something that’s going to feed them, or that it’s something they might want to put aside.” – Colleen Kessler

“We know that kids become faster, stronger readers when they read a lot … so, sticking with books that are easy for them isn’t a cop-out.” – Sarah Mackenzie

Books from this episode:

Some links are affiliate links.

A Bear Called Paddington
Matilda
A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet)
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective
Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1)
The Absent Author (A to Z Mysteries)
Millicent Min, Girl Genius
The Relatives Came
The Boxcar Children (The Boxcar Children, No. 1) (The Boxcar Children Mysteries)
The Penderwicks
The Boxcar Children Mysteries
Series of Unfortunate Events #1: The Bad Beginning Rare Edition Enhanced
Hooray for Anna Hibiscus
Tumtum & Nutmeg: The Rose Cottage Tales
Schooled
Chasing Vermeer (Scholastic Gold)
Ungifted
Supergifted
Some of My Best Friends Are Books: Guiding Gifted Readers (3rd Edition)

You’ll also enjoy:

More free resources and booklists

Get the best episodes and reources
from the Read-Aloud Revival

Powered by ConvertKit