RAR #181: Practical Tips for Reading a Book a Day

Kara Anderson (00:00):

Ooh, I've got to do a lot of editing there. All right. I'm sorry. Hold on. Edit out [inaudible 00:00:09]. [crosstalk 00:00:09] edit work here, so the hunky mailman. I don't know.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (00:21):

You're listening to The Read Aloud Revival Podcast. I'm your host, Sarah MacKenzie, homeschooling mama of six and author of the Read Aloud Family and Teaching from Rest. As parents, we're overwhelmed with a lot to do. It feels like every child needs something different. The good news is, you are the best person to help your kids learn and grow. And home is the best place to fall in love with books. This podcast has been downloaded 7 million times in over 160 countries. So, if you want to nurture warm relationships while also raising kids who love to read, you're in good company. We'll help your kids fall in love with books and we'll help you fall in love with homeschooling. Let's get started.

 

(01:13):

We are back with another episode about a book a day. This is what we've been talking about over the last several episodes and RAR team members, Kortney Garrison and Kara Anderson are back with me today to get really practical. Kara, do you want to recap a little for anyone who hasn't listened to those last few episodes yet?

 

Kara Anderson (01:33):

Yes, absolutely. When we read a book a day, our kids read the rewards of being exposed to a lot of different genres and types of stories. They also get a ton of practice rooting for the underdog. Visiting places are different from their own day-to-day lives and growing an empathy and compassion for others.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (01:54):

And just think of all that connection, reading a picture book a day is time well spent because I'm pretty sure that not a single one of us will say 20 years from now. I wish I read fewer books to my kids as they were growing up. So, one of the myths we're hoping to debunk with these episodes as well is that picture books are just for younger kids. Kort, do you want to speak to that for a minute?

 

Kortney Garrison (02:16):

Sure. We talked about that more completely in episode 180. That episode is all about reading picture books with older kids and teens, how to get them on board, what to read, why it makes a difference. We've got a book list that goes with it. So, if you have older kids or if you have younger kids who are quickly growing into older kids, you don't want to miss that episode in booklist@readaloudrevival.com/180.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (02:41):

Great. Okay. So in today's episode, we're going to tackle several questions about the nitty gritty practical stuff related to reading a book a day. So let's just jump right in.

 

Kortney Garrison (02:52):

Okay. So our first listener question is when you're doing a book a day, do you plan in advance what you're going to read or do you just grab what catches your eye that day?

 

Sarah MacKenzie (03:02):

Okay. I guess what I would suggest is asking yourself, what's the easiest way for me to read a book a day consistently, this week or this month or whatever. Give yourself a little space just to ask yourself that question. Because if for you, having those books chosen in advance and planned out would make it easier than do that, but if you are less likely to do a book a day challenge, because you're waiting to assemble, the quote unquote, just write book list or make all the titles dovetail with the calendar or the seasons or what you're learning about or anything else, then that's not making it easier for you. So in that case, picking a book in the morning, maybe while your coffee or your tea is brewing, just taking two minutes to skim yourself and pick something is a good way forward.

 

Kortney Garrison (03:50):

Ooh, I like that using that very small container of waiting for the coffee to brew and making the decision right then. And you might even be able to, beforehand, if you go to the library regularly, you could pick up a stack of books while you're there, keep them on a shelf or a basket, and use that time, while the coffee is brewing, to pick one for the day. You could also work through any of our booklets. We've got recommended books for every month of the year. My personal favorite is the March list. I feel like every one of those books is a winner. No matter what time of year it is. That book list that we made for the last episode, picture books that are especially good for older kids and teens. That's another great place to start.

 

Kara Anderson (04:29):

You could also put books face out for your kids to choose. We have a episode about putting books face out, it's episode 104, but this means you're choosing which books to display, but then your kids get to choose what to read that day. And that can be a fun way to get everyone involved in deciding what to read. You can even have each of your kids take terms. And I like that.

 

Kortney Garrison (04:52):

I love that so much at our house, we're kind of a little trashy. I don't put the books on the coffee table or facing out beautifully on the window sills. I just make a pile on the couch and it works like a term.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (05:05):

But this is so good. That's such a good reminder that we don't need to be fancy about this. You don't need special face out bookshelves or something, or an Instagram where these set up. It's really just about putting books face out because the covers will appeal to our children-

 

Kortney Garrison (05:21):

And they'll draw them in as an invitation.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (05:23):

I think any way you look at it, just making sure we're not getting too legalistic about any of this. The key question here is, what's the easiest way for you to read a picture book a day with your kids? However, you answer that. That's going to be a really good path forward for you, whether that's reading at whim or planning it out in advance.

 

Kara Anderson (05:41):

That's such a good way to look at it. That's such a good way to look at so many things. Whatever is the easiest way don't put up stumbling blocks for yourself-

 

Kortney Garrison (05:49):

Before you even get started.

 

Kara Anderson (05:51):

Yeah, really good.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (05:53):

Okay. Let's move on to the next question. This one comes from Amanda. She left us a voicemail.

 

Amanda (05:58):

Hi Sarah. My name is Amanda. I have two little boys. My oldest is three. He'll be four in a few months. And my question comes after. I've just listened to your interview with Dr. Hutton. I am so encouraged to just read more picture books with my son, even though I feel like I am ready to move on to novels or something a little bit longer, but I find that right now. It's more difficult to just have access to the library, to new picture books. And so, we're reading the same ones over and over again. And I'm wondering if we're still going to get the same effects on the brain while we read the same book over and over and over again, even if it's practically memorized. And then, along with that, he loves Richard Scarry's. We have his best story book ever, which is essentially a treasury of a bunch of his golden books.

 

(06:51):

And in that, a lot of times, I'm just pointing to things and naming them or he's pointing to things and naming them. And so do you think that books like that are going to have a similar effect on the brain as reading a picture book would? In that, he's building his knowledge, his vocabulary, his bank, as you said, and I appreciate your time and I'm so thankful for all you do. Bye-bye.

 

Kara Anderson (07:13):

Ooh. All right. A two-parter. Let's start with the first question. Does rereading have the same benefits on the brain as first reading? Sarah? You want to take this one?

 

Sarah MacKenzie (07:25):

Yeah, I think, Amanda, if you haven't heard episode 141 yet on why rereading is possibly the best reading, you just might enjoy that episode a whole lot. There are actually tons of benefits our kids get from rereading that they don't get on the first read of a book. So, the short answer, I think is, yes, rereading the book is just as impactful on the brain and significant for the brain as reading it for the first time and actually possibly more so.

 

Kortney Garrison (07:55):

Yeah. The research on this is just kind of crazy. There's a study that you mentioned in episode 141 that children are actually more likely to retain knowledge of vocabulary. If they're exposed to words through repeatedly reading the same book than if they're encountering those same new words in a different book. This kind of amazing, basically new knowledge, better vocabulary, our academic gains that all kids get from reading or hearing a book. But, rereading the book really makes the retention of that vocabulary go up.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (08:28):

Yeah. I mean, I think this is even more powerful when we remember that generally speaking, we'll find the best, most beautiful language in picture books. They tend to be crammed with beautiful language like poetry, even more so than chapter books and novels. So, if what we're going for is higher retention of knowledge and vocabulary and all that good brain stuff Dr. Hutton talked about in that episode, choosing picture books is going to pay off big for us over longer works. And then rereading those picture books is going to solidify everything and sort of take it to the next level.

 

Kara Anderson (08:59):

There's more to reading too. Actually, that's one of our most listened to episodes, episode 141. Why rereading is possibly the best reading? So, have a listen to that one, if you can. And there was a second part of this question. It was about Richard Scarry type books, and are just pointing at pictures and naming things, basically. Is that helpful? What do you have to say about those Sarah?

 

Sarah MacKenzie (09:24):

Oh, my kids loved those and I will admit that as a child, I remember adoring Richard Scarry, that as an adult, they're not my favorite books to read, probably because I don't enjoy the whole point and say kind of reading experience as much as my kids do. But, I do think, there's a few things these books in particular offer. I think, they offer a really wide vocabulary because, as you're pointing to items and you're naming them, I mean, that's a vocabulary building experience in itself. And they're just delightful. Every kid I know seems to love these kinds of books. I know all six of my kids have loved these kinds of books. And the other benefit that I think these books offer in particular is that, you don't need an adult to read them the whole time.

 

(10:04):

So I'll often grab these Richard Scarry books or other books like them when I know we're going to be waiting in a waiting room at the dentist office, or at a soccer game, or outside the ballet studio or something, because my younger readers who may not be able to read on their own have always been able to enjoy them, even if I can't sit and read to them at that time. So, I think they have a place and I would value them and keep them and let my kids love on them. I mean, I wouldn't only read these books, but sure doesn't sound like that's what you're doing, Amanda. So, I don't think they're subpar in any way. They just offer something different.

 

Kortney Garrison (10:37):

Yeah. Richard Scarry is sacred. At our house, we still have my husband's copy from his childhood of busy, busy world. It's been taped up again and again.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (10:49):

I sort of approach reading Richard Scarry like reading a wordless book.

 

Kortney Garrison (10:53):

So, it's pointing at what you say, but I think, there's more there. There's more to see. There's jokes, there's recurring themes, there's characters. We just talk about what we're seeing.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (11:05):

And so even though they might not have the same sophisticated language of a narrative, more poetic book, they offer a lot to a young reader.

 

Kara Anderson (11:13):

I was just thinking, as we were talking about those that when my kids were younger and we were working on Spanish, we read a lot of books that were similar to the Richard Scarry layout that were vocabulary building books with themed pages like that. So I think, that goes back to that too, building vocabulary.

 

Kortney Garrison (11:32):

Yeah, like food in French or whatever.

 

Kara Anderson (11:35):

Yeah. Where it's all in a context that connects it and makes extra sense to help reinforce those ideas.

 

(11:51):

So, here's another practical question this person asks, when do you suggest that we do this book a day? Is there a time of day that is better than others? What do you think?

 

Sarah MacKenzie (12:01):

I think, whenever it's most likely that you'll do it. Again, we're kind of coming into that idea of how can I make this easy? How can I make it possible that I'll get to this consistently? For me, I know that if I read earlier in the day, that's better because I'm fresher earlier on. My kids tend to be less cranky earlier on in the day. Once it gets to late afternoon, it gets a little chaotic. I've got teens involved in activities, the neighbor kids are home. So, it just seems less likely that we're actually going to get sit down and read together the later in the day that it gets.

 

(12:35):

And we can do a bedtime read aloud if we need to. But, as big of an advocate for reading aloud as I am, I don't usually read bedtime stories anymore. I just let audio books do that because I am tuckered out by bedtime and I really want to enjoy reading aloud as much as my kids do. And I do not enjoy it when my number one goal is to get those kids out of sight for the rest of the day. So, for me earlier in the day is better. But again, it comes back to that question. When is it going to be easiest for you with your current schedule? And your kids' age is in the season of life that you're in. Just this week, don't even think about it like big picture, just this week or this month, right now with what you have going on. When is the easiest time for you to do it consistently?

 

Kortney Garrison (13:19):

Yeah. One suggestion that we often give around here is to pair reading aloud with a snack or a meal because we're already feeding our kids probably multiple times a day. So, pegging the read aloud time to a time that we already know will happen, mealtime, that's an easy way to sort of remind ourselves of what we want to do.

 

Kara Anderson (13:39):

Yeah. Here's another voicemail question. This one comes from [Alison 00:13:43].

 

Winston (13:44):

Hello, Sarah. This is Alison from Missouri. We enjoy your podcast. And I was just wondering if you could give me any recommendations for picture books about vehicles. I have a two year old boy who loves trucks, trains, planes, you name it and I'm running out of ideas. So, I thought I'd put that bug in your ear and see if you can give me any more.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (14:10):

My favorite kind of question of all. Can you recommend any books for a kid who loves, I mean, I just love that question no matter what it is, however that sentence ends. I'm pretty sure we can help her out. And obvious suggestion to me, the one that comes to me first off, which you probably already knows about is Good Night, Good Night Construction Site. And there are some spin-offs by that same author and illustrator that are worth reading too, like Mighty Mighty Construction Site and a few others, I think.

 

Kara Anderson (14:39):

I just thought when we were listening to that message of a book that you introduced me to, Sarah. Is it Sheep in a Jeep?

 

Sarah MacKenzie (14:45):

Oh yes.

 

Kara Anderson (14:45):

Would that count?

 

Sarah MacKenzie (14:47):

For sure.

 

Kara Anderson (14:48):

If that counts, Alison, I know that your family's a big fan of that one, Sarah.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (14:53):

[crosstalk 00:14:53] by Nancy Shaw and it's just hilarious. There's a whole series. That's the one that has a vehicle in it, but they're really fun.

 

Kara Anderson (15:01):

And of course, we mentioned Richard Scarry earlier and he has a book called Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go. That is one of those [inaudible 00:15:08] kind of books that kids keep looking at for a long time.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (15:12):

Candice Fleming and Eric Rohmann, they're a husband and wife team and they have a couple of books that also might be of interest here. One is called Bulldozer's Big Day, and the other one is Bulldozer Helps Out. And those are both pretty big hits with y twins when they were young. They were super fascinated by diggers. Let's see what else? Oh, we had these board books from Chronicle books. One was called Motor Mix Flight and the other was called Motor Mix Emergency. They're board books that were divided into three sections. And then you flip through the top, the middle or the bottom section to make different things that go. And my twins loved those. They got a lot of love in our house. So Motor Mix is what you want to look for. We'll put those in the show notes.

 

Kortney Garrison (15:56):

Oh, I bet that two-year-old is going to go crazy for those.

 

Kara Anderson (16:00):

Little Blue Truck is another favorite by Alice Schertle and there are several spinoffs of that one. And, If I Build A Car by Chris Van Dusen, which was really fun, has really fun rhyming texts as well as fantastic illustrations. And then the classic Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is always a favorite. And there's a really good audio version of that one accompanied by the London Philharmonic that was made by Maestro Classics. And we'll put that one in the show notes too.

 

Kortney Garrison (16:28):

And, we always buy Freight Train by Donald Cruz for families, as a gift for new parents, because we love that book so much. Okay. But we should probably stop because we could keep going and make this whole episode about transportation books. We will put all of these titles in the show notes so you can find them at readaloudrevival.com/181.

 

Kara Anderson (16:52):

Okay. Next question. This listener writes, can you talk about the investment of money picture books are? It can feel indulgent to spend money on something we're going to be finished within 10 minutes.

 

Kortney Garrison (17:03):

This is a good question because picture books give a good return on investment, lots of bang for a small investment of time. But what about the investment of money? I mean, plunking down $17 for a 10-minute read. Even if I'm going to reread it, that's a lot of money and it feels like a valid hurdle. So what do you say about this, Sarah?

 

Sarah MacKenzie (17:25):

One thing I think we should keep top of mind here is that stories don't really deliver value as a per bird investment. War and peace is not worth more than pride and prejudice. Some of us might have the opposite, even though war and peace is four times as long. So, a picture book is probably 500 words or less, maybe a lot less, but you're not paying 18, 20 bucks, whatever. We're not paying for 500 words because I mean, you could get 500 words for free on the internet anytime you want them. Instead, we're paying for something else.

 

(18:02):

We're paying for a memory and experience. We're paying that in hopes that this book will offer poetry of language, richness of art, and immersive story and opportunity to connect and to rest and to enjoy each other and the world a little bit. So, this opportunity to expand our minds and our souls, and that's kind of a lot that we're asking for 20 bucks to do when we look at it that way. But, that's what we're paying for when we spend our money on a picture book and then, we can consider as well, that if it lives on our bookshelf and it becomes one of our child's favorites, then it's also becoming a childhood companion that they'll never forget.

 

(18:39):

Just like we don't forget the books we loved as children. So, we're paying for that picture book once. And then that book is delivering all this richness over and over and over again with every repeat read where, we mentioned earlier, those benefits are actually going up every time. So, I think my hunch here is to say that, we're all obviously limited to the number of picture books we can purchase, and that's a good thing, actually, because rereading is so beneficial and so helpful. And, we want some books to become our kids' best childhood friends, best childhood books that they really remember, the ones that they really treasure. So, those books are worth investing in our home shelves. And, we just don't want to tell ourselves that we're spending 20 bucks on 10 minutes of time because that's not what we're doing. That's not really true. We're getting so much more than that.

 

Kortney Garrison (19:28):

Okay. That's good. I love the war and peace, pride and prejudice, $20 for 500 words. That really kind of changes how I'm thinking about it. Maybe it's worth thinking too about how we choose which books to buy in which books to borrow. Way back in episode 19, the women who write it as [Lynn's library 00:19:45], they said there are some books that are just house guests. They come, they stay for a while and they're gone. So, those are books from the library or from a little free library or the thrift store. But there are others that you want to live with. Those are the books that you purchase. So, in our family, we borrow from the library first. And then, if we're borrowing again and again, we'll consider buying the book.

 

(20:06):

Kara, in episode 178, you mentioned the Maple Hill Farm books by the Provensens. And we have loved these books for years and years, but we don't own them. We just get them from the library. Well, after you reminded me of the books, I had to take the plunge and I put it in an order so that we can have them forever.

 

Kara Anderson (20:23):

I was thinking, our books of the week are cream of the crop. They are great books to own. So, if you're looking for a gift for a child you love, or you're thinking to start adding some books to your home library, those could be a good place to start. They're really sort of a collection of read aloud revival favorites.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (20:42):

Books of the week for those listeners who aren't familiar, there are a series of recommendations I did a while back while I was choosing one excellent book to highlight each week. Those really fun. There're very short videos to go with it. They're about 60 seconds and we've got those all collected on the website so we can link to those in the show notes. And yeah, those are great books to own, I think, as well as the books that we choose for family book club set, RAR premium. Those can be great books to own, as well. Because we always choose those family book club books with an eye for best of the best type quality that makes them really good to add to your family bookshelves with an investment if you can. Really good to revisit often. And those are the kinds of books that you want to be, like you had mentioned Courtney, that you want to live at your home instead of just be house guests.

 

(21:26):

And of course, as you were saying that I was thinking. And there are those books. We bring home from the library that we need to usher out early because they're staying too long. It's like Ben Franklin quote, fish and house guests start to go bad after three days or something.

 

Kortney Garrison (22:04):

Okay. Well, it's time to wrap up. So, let's share a picture book that we've liked lately. Before we go, who's going to go first.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (22:10):

Me. I want to go first. I always want to go first. Okay. So the book I wanted to talk about today is called A Splash of Red: The Life And Art of Horace Pippin. And this is, surprise, surprise, a picture book biography. This one's written by Jen Bryant. She also did the picture book biography about a Louis Braille called Six Dots. That's my nine-year-old's all-time favorite picture book ever, at all. She just absolutely loved that book. So this is another one that's written by her. It's illustrated by Melissa Sweet, who's one of my favorite illustrators. She uses these amazing collages to do a lot of the storytelling. We're going to read this one in RAR premium this fall. So we're going to make a family book club guide to go with it and get to meet the author illustrator. Very excited about that.

 

Kara Anderson (22:58):

Yes. Very excited about that one. Okay. I've been waiting to share this one. There is, it's not new, but it's newish to me. It came out in December 2019, but our library was shut down for forever. So it's like, all these books are brand new. We first saw the first book, Madeline Finn and the Library Dog at the American Library Association conference a few years ago. Do you guys remember that? We got to meet the creator Lisa Papp.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (23:23):

I actually remember you gasping when you saw the cover.

 

Kara Anderson (23:27):

I know, because ... Okay. Yeah. So, there's Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, which was the first one. And it was actually one of those books of the week that you talked about Sarah. And that one just I guessed, because my daughter was part of a read to a dog program through our local library for years. And it's actually, I think, how she learned to read really naturally, sort of with that pressure lifted of having to perform which we talked about in the last episode.

 

(23:54):

So, there's Madeline Finn and the Library Dog. And then the next one was, Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog, which of course we also volunteered at an animal shelters. So that one, it's like these books are just made for us. And the newest one is Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (24:10):

Oh, I haven't seen this one. I don't think.

 

Kara Anderson (24:13):

I know. I know. And it's so good if you have a dog lover or if you're just looking for a sweet empathetic book, the whole series is just so good.

 

Kortney Garrison (24:22):

They are really, really sweet books. I want to tell you about a new picture book that was translated from French called The Night Walk. It was written and illustrated by Marie Dorleans. It's very simple lyrical book about a family waking up in the night and going for a walk, sort of a companion piece to The Night Tree by Eve Bunting or Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. This story is full of magic and expectation, and the ending is perfect. I read it with my twelve-year-old, sort of reading over my shoulder and we were silently reading it together. And as we got to that last page, we both, we just let out a breath. Just a perfect ending.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (25:05):

Okay. Well, let's hear from the kids and find out what they've been reading lately.

 

Kortney Garrison (25:16):

Now it's time to hear from the kids. Bill, tell us about the books they've been loving lately.

 

Anastasia (25:22):

My name's [Anastasia 00:25:31].

 

Kid's Interviewer (25:34):

And how old are you Anastasia?

 

Anastasia (25:35):

Four.

 

Kid's Interviewer (25:37):

Where do you live?

 

Anastasia (25:38):

At Washington.

 

Kid's Interviewer (25:40):

And what is your favorite book?

 

Anastasia (25:43):

Daniel Tiger's No Red Sweater for Daniel.

 

Kid's Interviewer (25:46):

And what do you like about it?

 

Anastasia (25:48):

I should get him new sweater.

 

Speaker 9 (25:54):

My name is [Silas 00:25:54]. I am seven years old.

 

Kid's Interviewer (25:56):

Where do you live?

 

Speaker 9 (25:58):

Oh, yeah. Purdy, Washington. And my favorite book is Amulet and [inaudible 00:26:03]. I like [inaudible 00:26:04] because it's funny and adventurous, and I like it because it's adventurous. Bye.

 

Hannah (26:09):

Hello, my name is [Hannah 00:26:15] and I'm six years old. I live in London in England and my favorite read aloud book is The Faraway Tree. And my favorite thing about it is that the top of the tree beds and there was a magical land. Bye.

 

Michael (26:36):

Hi, my name is [Michael 00:26:38] and I'm from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and my age is 10. I like Sugar Gliders, the book Sugar Gliders, because they're super cute.

 

Katherine (26:53):

Hi, my name is [Katherine 00:26:54] and I am eight years old. I am from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. And I like The Princess in Black. I also liked the series. I like them because, she can change her identities from person to person. It's so fun.

 

Michael (27:16):

Hello. My name is [Obie Walker 00:27:20] and I'm six years old and I'm from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. And my favorite book is All Better. And this is why I like it because there's stickers, plastic stickers that you can actually take off the book and then put them on the hurt animals. And I really like it because it's really fun to look at.

 

Daniel (27:52):

Hello. My name is [Daniel 00:27:54]. I live in the state of Minnesota. I'm six. And my favorite book is Winnie the Pooh. And what I like about it is that Pooh is a bear of very small brain, but with a large heart.

 

Winston (28:12):

My name is [Winston 00:28:13] and I am nine years old and I live in Michigan. One of my favorite books series is Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke. I like it because it has a lot of dragons and a lot of mythical creatures.

 

Micah (28:27):

Hi, my name's [Micah 00:28:28] and I am six and I live in California. And my favorite book is The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. It's the best series in the world.

 

Coralie (28:39):

Hi, my name is [Coralie 00:28:41] and I'm 10. And my favorite book is Where The Red Fern Grows. And I like it because the book really shows the connection between the boy and the dog. And I really just like how the way that the author writes the book and I'm from California.

 

Rosie (29:00):

Hi, my name is Rosie, and I am nine years old, and I live in San Diego, California. And my favorite book is Ember's End. And it is the last book in The Green Ember series. I like it because the characters will go against their parents to help their friends.

 

Speaker 17 (29:23):

Hi, my name is [Tiffany 00:29:25] and they live in California. My name is [Deni 00:29:33] and my favorite book is Treasure Islands.

 

Speaker 18 (29:42):

Hi, my name is [Tim 00:29:44]. I live in California and I'm four. And my favorite book is Frog and Toad.

 

Speaker 19 (30:05):

Hi, my name is [Annie 00:30:07]. I live in San Diego, California. I'm six. And my favorite book is Pippi Longstocking. I like it because she's funny in the book.

 

Sarah MacKenzie (30:20):

Thank you kids. Excellent recommendations today, as always. Remember, you can go to the shownotes@readaloudrevival.com/181. See all the books we mentioned in this episode and to find all of the printables and helps for your picture book a day. Ask yourself the question, how can I make this easier? And then go from there. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back in a couple of weeks with another episode. In the meantime, go make meaningful and lasting connections with your kids. Three books.

 

(30:56):

So many of us feel overwhelmed in our homeschool. There's a lot to do, and it feels like every child needs something a little different. The good news is you are the best person on the planet to help your kids learn and grow. And home is the best place to fall in love with books. I'm Sarah MacKenzie. I'm a homeschooling mother of six, the author of Teaching From Rest and The Read Aloud Family. And I'm the host here on The Read Aloud Revival Podcast. This podcast has been downloaded over 8 million times. And I think, it's because so many of us want the same things. We want our kids to be readers, to love reading. We want our homes to be warm and happy havens of learning and connection. We know that raising our kids is the most important work of our lives.

 

Speaker 20 (31:59):

That's kind of overwhelming, right? You are not alone. In Read Aloud Revival premium, we offer a family book clubs, a vibrant community and circle with Sarah, coaching for you, the homeschooling mom, so you can teach from rest, homeschool with confidence, and raise kids who love to read. Our family book clubs are a game changer for your kids' relationship with books. We provide you with a family book club guide and an opportunity for your kids to meet the author or illustrator live on screen. So, all you have to do is get the book, read it with your kids and make those meaningful and lasting connections. They work for all ages, from your youngest kids to your teens.

 

(32:52):

Every month, our community also gathers online for a circle with Sarah to get ideas and encouragement around creating the homeschooling life you crave. They're the most effective way I know to teach from rest and build a homeschool life you love. We want to help your kids fall in love with books, and we want to help you fall in love with homeschooling. Join us today at RAR Premium.