RAR #109: How to Take Your Kids Around the World through Picture Books
Most of us can’t travel the world with our kids. But that shouldn’t keep up us from traveling the world with them through books. Today on the Read-Aloud Revival Podcast, Rea Berg and I are talking about how to take your kids (of all ages) around the world through picture books.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- why no one ‘grows past’ picture books
- the joy and accomplishment that comes with sharing a book with all ages
- how we can give our kids a heart for the world through carefully chosen books
Click the play button below:
Listener Guide
Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast:
- 1:45 Circles, not ladders
- 3:55 Rea Berg is back!
- 7:33 Too old for picture books?
- 10:20 Around the World with Picture Books
- 13:47 Spreading the feast
- 15:50 A springboard for older kids
- 17:55 Giving our kids a heart for the world
- 18:51 Miles and miles of empathy
- 25:39 Beauty, wonder and joy
- 26:33 Let the kids speak
Links from this episode:
- RAR Membership
- RAR #31: Reading Aloud for History, Rea Berg
- Beautiful Feet Books
- Around the World with Picture Books Part I Guide
- RAR #48: Give Your Child the World, Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time, Jamie Martin
- RAR #83: Why Read Picture Books with Older Kids?
- #classroombookaday
The Around the World with Picture Books program can be found here:
Around the World with Picture Books
Quotes to remember:
“A picture book is an art museum in your child’s lap.”
“I think that’s the real beauty of a classic children’s book or an award-winning children’s book: as an adult when you sit down and read it with your child, you’re getting just as much out of it as the child. Often, just because of our perspective and our life experience, even more than your child is getting.”
“Even if you‘ve never been a reader your whole life, you can pick up a picture book with your child or a grandparent that’s never been a reader. And it can be a door to whole new worlds for us.”
Books from this episode:
(All links are affiliate links.)
What a great show! I used the Five in a Row curriculum with my older two boys when they where in the lower grades and now use a mix including some of My Fathers World etc. Is this curriculum sold as a whole unit or can you break it down? It’s very important for our family to help our kids learn and love the global family! My 10 and 13 read their younger brothers picture books behind the scenes :) lol Thanks for such a wonderful show!
I really enjoyed this episode! We are using the around the world curriculum this year and are loving it. We are combining it with Bookshark level 5 which also begins with China and that is how I am teaching both my older and younger children this lovely curriculum. It’s working really well. Thanks for a great discussion.
We listened to “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” on audio book over a year ago with my then 11 yr old son. It was riveting, agonizingly sad, and redemptive. We both loved it. You can look up Ted Talks of William Kamkwamba, but wait until after reading the book or you will spoil the story! Excellent choice.
I don’t typically like to comment, but I wanted to share that our family, in fact, is using Around the World w/ Picture Books for our 2nd, 4th, 6th, & 7th graders.
We just completed the first country (China) and let me just say, the book selections Rea chose are extraordinary for middle schoolers & even adults!
Additionally, our family added a newborn into our mix & I knew that my time would be greatly limited this year. Being able to read a book in one sitting feels like an accomplishment to my mama soul on the days when I can’t even get dinner fixed!
Even more so is the fact that the books are chock full of beauty & character.
win : win!!
In our home we love & follow Charlotte Mason methods, so for my older children, I’m having them complete written notebooking narrations as well as reading additional chapter books which tie into the country being studied.
We truly are having a beautiful year!
I am in the middle of The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. Emotional roller coaster but so good!!!!
Couldn’t love Rea more! Thanks for having her on the show again. One of my favorite guests. She is full of beautiful recommendations in literature.
We just ordered Maps and cannot wait to get it in our hands! So many great titles…reserving some from the library now! Thank you for sharing so many amazing titles all of the time!