Read-Aloud Revival ® – Details, episodes & analysis

Do you have a child who dreams of being a writer? Or maybe it’s your dream? How do you support those dreams and foster creativity while also raising kids and running a household?

Today, I’m delighted to welcome back author Laura Martin, who’s giving us her very best advice for how to nurture your child’s creative dreams and your own.

Laura Martin is the author of some of my very favorite page-turners for kids, including The Edge of Extinction series and Glitch, and she has a new book out, Wander Lost, that I know you’ll love too. 

We talk about the importance of capturing ideas as they come, what creative writing curriculum gets wrong about being a writer, and lots more.

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• Why Laura says that ideas are like lightning bugs
• How Laura nurtures her daughter’s creativity with time, space, and access to materials
• How Laura honed in on what she needs in order to write while juggling four children

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/nurturing-creative-dreams

We recently took a poll in RAR Premium about favorite reading genres, and it turns out that historical fiction isn’t just my favorite genre, but it’s the favorite of many of you as well.

Today, I’ve invited historical fiction lover and award-winning author Anna Rose Johnson to join me to discuss just what it is about historical fiction that draws us in. 

We’re also chatting about the inspiration for her stories, her research process, and what her parents did to support her as a budding writer. In turn, she shares a ton of recommendations for her favorite historical fiction for young readers.

In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• How historical fiction sweeps readers through a portal to another world
• How Anna Rose breaks down her research process into stages so it doesn’t get overwhelming
• How re-reading helped Anna Rose develop her ear and voice as a writer

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the Newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/why-we-love-historical-fiction/

When you hear the name Max Lucado, what comes to mind for you?

Max Lucado is best known as a pastor, speaker, best-selling inspirational author, and, in many Christian families, he’s a household name.

His books are written for everyone—especially those who are hurting, lonely, and discouraged. In his writing, he constantly points his readers back to the truth: that God loves you and you should let Him love you. 

Max is also an author of children’s books, several of which are favorites around here. 😊

Sarah invited him to Read-Aloud Revival to discuss his newest picture book, Just in Case You Ever Feel Alone, illustrated by Eve Tharlet. It’s a cozy, gentle book, perfect for snuggling up and sharing with your kiddos.

How are stories uniquely positioned to help readers feel seen and understood? Which books did Max Lucado love as a child? And what does he hope his books will do in the lives of his readers, young and old? We dig into all of it.

Listen in to hear: 

• The power of stories to meet people where they are and touch their hearts
• Why Max Lucado wanted to write a book about loneliness
• How reading with your kids builds their sense of comfort and safety

Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:

• Read-Aloud Revival
• Waxwing Books
• Subscribe to the newsletter

Find the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/max-lucado

The Bard. He can be a little intimidating, right? If you’ve ever wondered how to introduce your kids to Shakespeare, you are in a for a treat with this podcast episode.

Many of us met Shakespeare in a way that didn’t set us up to love him or even understand him. But today, I’m joined by Ken Ludwig, award-winning playwright and author of How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare – my very favorite resource for doing just that!

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why we should make Shakespeare a part of our curriculum 
• How to get over the intimidation factor, once and for all
• Exactly how and where to start teaching your kids Shakespeare (I promise, it’s easier than you think!)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/171/.

Do you ever feel lost when it comes to how to read a wordless book?

I’m convinced that some of the very best picture books being published today are wordless. They invite us to slow down, predict what will come next, make connections, and linger over a good story, well-told. 

Today I’m excited to share some of the best ones with you, as well as a simple guide for how to read them.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• why wordless books are worth our time
• how to read a wordless books (with tips for what to say as you turn the pages)
• just a few favorites 😉

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/170/.

Here at RAR, we can’t think of a better way to kick off a new year than to do it with books. 

That’s why we kick off every January with a challenge for your kids–to help them start their new year reading and reading and reading some more… and falling a little more in love with books in the process!

Today we’re sharing all the details of this year’s Read-Aloud Challenge. I’ll answer your questions, let you know how it works, which books “count,” (spoiler alert: you’re the boss!), and what to do if your kids get frustrated along the way.

We’re starting this challenge in January, but you can start it at any time! If you want your kids to read aloud for 25 days and fall more in love with books (and each other) in the process, you’re in the right place.

Ready to join us?

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• how the challenge will help your family kick off a great reading year and reset your rhythm
• setting your kiddos up for challenge success (even pre-readers!)
• answers to your questions about the challenge including what counts and who counts!

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/169/.

Welcome to a very special Christmas episode of Read-Aloud Revival, featuring three audio Christmas stories from one of our very favorite storytellers: Jim Weiss.

In this episode, 3 audio Christmas stories:

• The Nativity Story
• The Gift of the Magi
• The Nutcracker

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/168/.

Do you feel it in the air? The seasons are a-changing…and it’s just about the best time of year for reading with a cup of cocoa, next to a crackling fire. 

(I suppose in the Southern Hemisphere it’s lemonade and beach reading… but there’s no bad season for reading, right?)

We think you’re going to be very excited about what we have coming up in RAR this winter, plus a brand new addition to RAR Premium – Christmas School! Listen in while I tell you all about it.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

• an invitation to slow down and simplify this season (yes, please!)
• all about the first-ever RAR Christmas School
• a preview of what’s coming in 2021 

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/167/.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to talk with your kids about books. Specifically, we’re talking about open-ended questions, which you’ve probably heard us talk about before here at Read-Aloud Revival.

Open-ended questions are key to having conversations with your kids about anything they read, and anything you read together.

But what exactly qualifies as an open-ended question, and why do they work?

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

• How to make book conversation a habit
• How open ended questions are a form of narration
• How to talk about books even if you haven’t read them yourself

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/166/.

It happens to all of us at one point or another: reading shifts in our kids’ lives from being principally about joy and delight into something that needs to be done for school.

A lot of us notice a significant drop in how much our kids are reading for pleasure once the school year is well underway.

This is a problem. 

According to the National Literacy Trust, those who enjoy reading are better, more confident readers who spend less time online, and are more motivated by interest and achievement. (source)

In fact, we know that no single literacy activity has a more positive effect on comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, writing ability, or overall academic achievement than free voluntary reading. (source)

Not assigned reading. 

Not reading for school. 

Free voluntary reading.

I want to sit on this for a moment because the emphasis here is on reading for pleasure. Simply being ABLE to read, or reading because you are told to does not confer the same benefits as reading for pleasure.

That’s what we’re tackling today on the podcast. 

We also get to hear from one of my favorite authors about his newest book release! 

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

• How less can actually be more when it comes to your child’s reading life
• Why we want our kids to be friendly and affectionate with the books they’re reading 
• A list of books that are just plain fun--my recommended reads if reading has hit a slump in your house (or if you’re just ready for a good time!)

Find the rest of the show notes at https://readaloudrevival.com/165/.