When I think of someone who fully embraces a family culture built around books, Melissa Wiley comes to mind right away. As a mother of six and author of several children’s books, she has managed to make reading aloud a central part of family life in her home.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- what creating a family culture around books looks like in a busy household
- how she considers read-alouds as she’s writing children’s books
- her own (super helpful) tip for remembering accents and dialects
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Links from this episode:
- Melissa’s website
- Melissa’s page of book recommendations
- Cybils: Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awaards
- Jen Robinson’s Book Page
- Kidlitosphere Central
- As Cozy As Spring (here’s the post where she mentions Wormwood Forest)
- Back to Basics– that giant resource Melissa would bring if she was stranded on an island :)
- Living Without School– Leoni’s blog (Melissa mentions learning a lot from her, specifically her use of pegs)
- The Writing Process Blog Tour (a post by Melissa)
- Scrivener (both Melissa and I use this for our writing, and I actually got going on Scrivener using this incredibly awesome e-course)
Books from this episode:
(All links are Amazon affiliate links.)
The Prairie Thief
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A fantastical twist to a tale of life on the prairie made this an instant family favorite at our house. Louisa Brody’s life on the Colorado prairie takes an unexpected turn when her father is locked away in jail and she is sent to live with the awful Smirch family. Can Louisa and her friends save her father from a guilty verdict?
More info →My Father’s Dragon
FROM SARAH
Start with this book, if you haven't read many (or any!) chapter books or novels with your child before. Short chapters, rich narrative, and an engaging story will reel your listeners in.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
When Elmer Elevator tells a stray cat about his dream of being able to fly, he learns of a captive dragon on Wild Island. The dragon has been forced by the jungle residents to serve as their shuttle across a wide river — and anyone who rescues the dragon from its cruel captors might be entitled to a free ride.
More info →The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook
This collection of 21 stories is often described as timeless. First printed in 1925, the book takes kids on sweet adventures along with Milly-Molly-Mandy and even includes a map of her town for reference.
More info →Harriet the Spy
It’s not Harriet’s fault that she notices everything. But when her friends find a notebook filled with her honest and sometimes hurtful observations, Harriet worries she won’t be able to repair her friendships.
More info →Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost
A terrific way to introduce kids to specific poets, their lives and their work. We especially recommend these in the series: Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Robert Louis Stevenson, Walt Whitman, Carl Sandburg.
More info →Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson
**Description from Amazon: Bolin’s four-page introduction describes and explains Emily Dickinson’s odd lifestyle and creative productivity...prettily colored watercolors.”School Library Journal Footnotes glossing antiquated diction are well-handled.”Washington Post
More info →Little Bear Boxed Set: Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, and Little Bear’s Visit
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
To celebrate Little Bear's thirty-fifth anniversary, three paperback editions in the series—Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, and Little Bear's Visit—have been slipcased in a boxed gift set for a whole new generation of children.
More info →Inch and Roly Make a Wish
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Meet the friendly insects of the all-new Inch and Roly Ready-to-Read series—books destined to become instant classics.It is a quiet day. Inch and Roly and their friends, Dragonfly and Beetle, are looking for something to do. They can walk to the wishing well and wish for something to do!
More info →Fox and Crow Are Not Friends (Step into Reading)
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Fox and Crow can agree on two things: their love of cheese and loathing of each other. These cagey animals will do whatever they can to outwit their sworn enemy and claim sole possession of the prized cheese they keep finding.
More info →Emily
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
From Michael Bedard and two-time Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Barbara Cooney comes a story about American poet Emily Dickinson and the young girl who befriends her.What if your neighbor were the reclusive poet Emily Dickinson?
More info →Here Comes McBroom: Three More Tall Tales
**Description from Amazon: In the further adventures of Josh McBroom, the crops grow so fast, you'd better step out of the way when you plant corn, red barns turn blue in the cold, and words freeze still in mid-air. "As fresh as ever."--Booklist.
More info →Peter Rabbit Naturally Better Classic Gift Set
**Description from Amazon: A Naturally Better collection of classic tales! Peter Rabbit . . . Naturally Better is back again, and this time he?s brought some friends! This brand-new eco-friendly boxed set includes four classic Beatrix Potter tales that meet ?naturally better? criteria and showcase their ?green? appeal with th...
More info →The Railway Children (Puffin Classics)
**Description from Amazon: When Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station, and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master hims...
More info →We Are in a Book! (An Elephant and Piggie Book)
**Description from Amazon: Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.Gerald and Piggie are best friends.In We Are in a Book! Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being read. But what will happen when the book ends?Using vocabulary perfect for beginning readers (and vetted by an early-learning s...
More info →The Mouse of Amherst
**Description from Amazon: A mouse's-eye-view of Emily DickinsonWhen a mouse named Emmaline takes up residence behind the wainscoting of Emily Dickinson's bedroom, she wonders what it is that keeps Emily scribbling at her writing table throughout the day and into the night. Emmaline sneaks a look, and finds that it's poetry!...
More info →Poetry for Young People: Lewis Carroll
**Description from Amazon: With fantastic characters and enchanting language, Lewis Carroll created magical wonderlands children have always loved to visit. These 26 selections from his classic works have never lost their fascination. Open the covers of this beautifully illustrated collection and take a magical journey throug...
More info →The Dream Keeper and Other Poems
**Description from Amazon: Illus. in black-and-white. This classic collection of poetry is available in a handsome new gift edition that includes seven additional poems written after The Dream Keeper was first published. In a larger format, featuring Brian Pinkney's scratchboard art on every spread, Hughes's inspirational mes...
More info →Red Sails to Capri (Puffin Newberry Library)
**Description from Amazon: A NEWBERY HONOR BOOKThe minute he saw the boat with the red sails moving into the harbor, Michele knew that something exciting was going to happen. Sailing on the ship were three men who would come to stay at Michele's parents’ inn. The men said they were searching—one for beauty, one for advent...
More info →The Martha and Charlotte Little House books can be found here.