When is a story worth telling? And why are the best stories in history seen through the lens of a single human being? We’re diving into those questions to day with one of the most talented and effervescent authors I know: Barb Rosenstock.
I recommend every single one of Barb’s picture book biographies. Listen to this episode and you’ll know why. You’ll find links to her books at the bottom of this post.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- the magic of “So what?”… just wait till you hear her talk about this!
- why Barb and Charlotte Mason could be friends (and she didn’t even know it!)
- how Barb researches her books and lands on stories she wants to tell
I also answer a listener question about gift book ideas for teachers.
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Listener Guide:
| 1:45 | Best book gifts for teachers |
| 4:34 | A ‘trickster tale’ |
| 6:35 | Barb Rosenstock is back! |
| 7:23 | Barb and Charlotte (Mason) |
| 10:10 | Dates aren’t enough 🗓 |
| 11:09 | A ‘long and meandering’ process |
| 12:43 | So what? |
| 13:41 | Ben Franklin and John Adams |
| 15:46 | ‘A natural connection’ |
| 17:11 | Ben Franklin’s Big Splash |
| 18:29 | Surface research and deeper research |
| 20:13 | Two new books |
| 21:47 | The ‘original juggler’ Abigail Adams |
| 26:07 | The most difficult book to research |
| 28:08 | Barb’s first book, Fearless |
| 28:32 | What’s next: Monet 🎨 |
| 29:56 | Let the kids speak |
Quotes to remember:
“It’s the one thing we all have in common: personhood. So having any topic, no matter what the… I don’t care if it’s science or math or a social studies topic or a history topic or whatever, relate it first by the stories of the people who did it. To me is just like, ‘Oh, of course that’s where you start.'” – Barb Rosenstock
“Idea is the easy thing, execution is everything.” – Barb Rosenstock
“A lot of times kids will say that they hate history. I don’t think they hate history. I think they hate the way it’s being presented.” – Barb Rosenstock
Links from this episode:
Some of Barb’s books:
Books Sarah recommends as teacher gifts:
