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.
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Listener Guide
Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast:
| 2:56 | Book suggestions for sensitive readers |
| 6:58 | Recommendations for young, voracious readers |
| 9:11 | Graphic novel ideas |
| 10:53 | Welcome Colleen! |
| 12:25 | You don’t need to ‘move up’ |
| 13:37 | On not pre-reading |
| 15:37 | Raising discerning readers |
| 18:22 | Strewing books |
| 19:49 | Should advanced readers read easy books? |
| 23:31 | Recommendations for gifted and twice-exceptional kids |
| 25:03 | Biographies and non-fiction |
| 26:24 | Can kids read too much? |
| 32:08 | My Best Friends Are Books |
| 34:1o | Let the kids speak |
Links from this episode:
- Free book quiz or text QUIZ to 33777
- Colleen’s site
- Colleen’s podcast
- Great Homeschool Conventions
- The Real Mom Tour
- RAR #137: Why Your Kids Love Graphic Novels (and which we like best!)
- RAR #132: Books for Teens, and Why YA is a Genre (not a reading level)
- Sarah on Colleen’s podcast: Building Connections Through Books
- From Colleen’s site: Finding books for your gifted readers
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:
You’ll also enjoy:
- Favorite Picture Book Treasuries
- Why Re-Reading is Possibly the Best Reading
- Picture Books Biographies We Love
📷Featured photo is from the cover of a book Colleen recommends, Some of my Best Friends are Books.
