Reach Out and Read
114 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago -From the national organization Reach Out and Read comes a brand new podcast centered around the belief that children’s books build better brains, better family relationships, and happier, healthy children and societies. Join us as host Dr Dipesh Navsaria, a pediatrician with a children’s librarianship degree, dives into a wealth of varied early childhood health and literacy topics with expert guests examining the many facets of supporting the parent-child relationship as key to early success.
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Episodes
BoyMom
July 11, 2024 07:00 - 34 minutes - 39.1 MBRecent data shows that in school, by almost every metric, boys of all ages are doing worse than girls. How did this happen, how can we thoughtfully approach it, and turn the situation around? Ruth Whippman, author of "BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity" joins us to talk about raising boys in the US — how our boys are being shaped by society, how they’re reacting, and how we can help.
The Science Sessions: Cultural Pride and Children's Health
June 27, 2024 07:00 - 32 minutes - 37 MBRacism and discrimination affects the health of children, and can have lifelong consequences. Dr. Ashaunta Anderson, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, has been studying this, and in particular the concept of racial socialization. We discuss with her how ‘positive childhood experiences’ – such as embracing and enhancing cultural pride, can help mitigate these challenges.
Squish the Peas: Life Lessons from Toddlers
June 13, 2024 07:00 - 33 minutes - 38.8 MBEat with the funniest person in the office; when you wake up, give yourself a high five; turn off screens one hour before bed, and demand a bedtime story. These are just a few of the secrets to a happier life that our guest, Dr. Hasan Merali, author of "Sleep Well, Take Risks, Squish the Peas: Secrets from the Science of Toddlers for a Happier, More Successful Way of Life", says we can and should learn from both the young children in our lives…and from our past younger selves.
Building Early Relational Health Ecosystems
May 30, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 82 MBIn this special 'double feature' podcast recorded in front of a live audience, the Early Relational Health Funders Summit hear from four speakers with different experiences of building and maintaining a robust Early Relational Health ecosystem. We’re looking at the practices, programs, and policies that need to work independently, and also together, to fully benefit families with young children. Individual interviews can be found at the following timecodes: Dr. Dipesh Navsaria: 01:43 H...
Introducing 35 for 35
May 16, 2024 07:00 - 35 minutes - 41 MBThirty-five years ago, Reach Out and Read was founded in one clinic in Boston as a route to supporting shared reading with young children at home. Today, we're in all 50 states with 6200 program sites, comprising 8.8 million interactions through 7 million books. Marking that anniversary, and in partnership with Scholastic, we've created 35 for 35, a visionary, wide ranging collection of books that reflect our mission and the families and communities we serve. Marty Martinez, CEO of Reach Ou...
The Science Sessions: How Parenting Changes the Brain
May 02, 2024 07:00 - 30 minutes - 34.9 MBWe know that kids' brains change as they grow, but did you know that their parents' brains change too? Dr. Darby Saxbe, a clinical psychologist, professor and director of clinical training at the Department of Psychology, and the Principal Investigator of the NEST Lab (NeuroEndocrinology of Social Ties Lab) at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, joins us to talk about emerging research that shows how parenthood changes the brain and how encouraging focused time between pare...
Meg Medina, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
April 25, 2024 07:00 - 36 minutes - 42 MBBeloved author Meg Medina, current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and the first of Latina heritage in the program’s history, joins us to talk about 'mirrors and windows' in children's books and why what kids hear coming off the page is just as important as what they see.
Books Make Good Friends
April 11, 2024 07:00 - 30 minutes - 34.9 MB"If you love a book, no doubt many other people love it, too. That shared love connects us and sparks that miraculous feeling of not being alone in the world." Jane Mount's illustrations of book spines, covers, beloved bookstores, fanciful libraries, and so much more, bring that world vividly to life and illustrate how, indeed, Books Make Good Friends.
Kate DiCamillo on Reading, Writing, and Reading Aloud
March 28, 2024 07:00 - 37 minutes - 42.9 MBKate DiCamillo knows books. By far one of America's most successful children's writers (44 million books in print, translated into 41 languages), Kate joins us to talk about how reading – and reading aloud – has made her into the reader —and writer— she is today. We also learn — improbably — about how even sardine tins can be speakers of truth.
Meeting Reach Out and Read's 'Book Czar'
March 14, 2024 08:00 - 32 minutes - 37.4 MBReach Out and Read has been working on a remarkable new strategy around a key element of what we do: books! A strong approach is key to supporting our mission and as a sustainable part of how we work. Angela Cunningham, Reach Out and Read's National Director of Books Strategy and Partnerships, joins us to talk about how we approach books, and what the future might hold.
Lullabies and Language
March 07, 2024 08:50 - 28 minutes - 32.7 MBLullabies can not only help soothe a sleepy baby, they may also help them learn language. Dr. Giovanni Di Liberto of the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience at The University of Dublin, joins us to talk about his new study that challenges conventional understanding of early language acquisition in the infant brain.
Leo Lionni: Storyteller, Artist, Designer
February 29, 2024 08:00 - 31 minutes - 35.9 MBLeo Lionni changed the picture book landscape with beloved titles such as Frederick, Swimmy, and A Color of His Own. But those books are just a small window into his extensive career as a graphic designer, painter, and a master of fine art. Annie Lionni, Leo's granddaughter, and Leonard Marcus, a children's book historian, join us to talk about the life and art of Leo Lionni as shared in their new book "Leo Lionni: Storyteller, Artist, Designer."
Randolph Caldecott: The Artist Behind the Medal
February 15, 2024 08:00 - 35 minutes - 40.8 MBYou’ve likely heard of the Caldecott Medal. But how much do you know about Caldecott himself and his revolutionary work? Barbara McClintock and Michelle Markel, illustrator and writer, respectively, of Tomfoolery! Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming of Age of Children’s Books, join us to talk about Caldecott’s art as a turning point in the history of children’s books, and the enduring influence he’s had on picture books ever since.
What is the Institute of Museum and Library Services?
February 01, 2024 08:00 - 33 minutes - 38.4 MBCrosby Kemper, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, joins us to explain the role of the federal government in the support and empowerment of America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. His careful stewardship and deep thoughts around how we protect and promote these incredible American civic institutions are evident in this far-reaching conversation.
Peter Brown and The Wild Robot
January 18, 2024 08:00 - 36 minutes - 41.8 MBWriting for children—especially books that can be emotionally challenging—requires a great deal of insight, honestly, talent, and self reflection; and that's before you even pick up the pencil! Peter Brown, author of The Wild Robot, a beautifully crafted and deeply moving middle grade novel about technology, nature, and family, joins us to talk about his approach to this work.
Early Relational Health: Proven and Simple
January 11, 2024 08:00 - 37 minutes - 42.7 MBA new report from Harvard University and the Burke Foundation reinforces what we have long known at Reach Out and Read: simple, well-delivered initiatives to support early relational health have proven and profoundly beneficial results for children and their families. Dr. Junlei Li, lead author of the report and co-chair of the Human Development and Education Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, joins us to discuss how we can understand and support the work of those on the e...
The New Brownies' Book
January 04, 2024 08:00 - 32 minutes - 36.7 MBIn 1920, as Black art and writing flourished during the Harlem Renaissance, W.E.B. Du Bois created the first magazine aimed specifically at Black youth. Titled “The Brownies’ Book: A Monthly Magazine for Children of the Sun", the magazine featured celebrated Black creatives of the time. Nearly 100 years later, Dr. Karida Brown and Charly Parker have revived and expanded upon Du Bois' work to “showcase new art and writing for children” and created and published "The New Brownies’ Book: A Lo...
Children's Books for Times of Crisis
December 21, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 39 MBA core role of parents and caregivers is to help children make sense of an often-challenging world around them. Miriam Udel, professor of German and Jewish Studies at Emory University, joins us to talk about how children's books can help parents and children alike when their world is "on fire".
Untangling the Thread of Racism
December 07, 2023 08:00 - 31 minutes - 35.7 MBThe American Academy of Pediatrics has long recognized that the world outside the walls of hospitals and clinics has a major impact on the health of children. A new book from the Academy, “Untangling the Thread of Racism”, aims to be a thoughtful, practical, and hands-on resource that addresses many aspects of this important but challenging topic. Dr. Jacqueline Dougé, a general pediatrician, public health practitioner, and one of the editors of the book, joins us to talk about how health pr...
Stories of Gratitude
November 22, 2023 08:00 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBWe're thankful to every person who reads aloud to a child. To mark this holiday devoted to giving thanks, we're bringing back an episode we recorded during the pandemic. We asked three children’s authors — Traci Sorell, Ann Clare LeZotte, and Dr Sayantani DasGupta — to read aloud their own stories of gratitude, and we're grateful to share those stories with you again.
Talk Baby Talk
November 09, 2023 08:00 - 31 minutes - 43.9 MBReach Out and Read has commissioned and published its first children's book, Talk Baby Talk! In an effort to increase access to books that are representative of families from all races, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds, this book is reflective of Reach Out and Read’s mission, which focuses on the parent/caregiver-child relationship through daily reading. We discuss with Alex Chu, Executive Director for Reach Out and Read Northeast, author Tricia Elam Walker, and illustrator Cbabi Bay...
The Science Sessions: Research Through Learning Networks
November 02, 2023 07:00 - 32 minutes - 43.9 MBReach Out and Read, in partnership with Columbia University, the Center for the Study of Social Policy, and the Institute for Child Success, is proudly embarking on the first national longitudinal study of early relational health. Tyson Barker, Chief Science & Innovation Officer at ICS joins us to talk about how the study will incorporate end-user design to learn best how to promote nurturing early relationships between young children and their caregivers.
Reading Sad Books Is Good for Your Kids
October 26, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBChildren’s books should not only offer “windows and mirrors” into other cultures, races, and religions, but into a range of feelings and emotions. Craig Fehrman, author of a recent essay in The New York Times titled “Reading Sad Books Is Good for Your Kids”, joins us to talk about the importance of creating, sharing, and discussing children’s books that mix the “tragedy and joy that define great art and also real life.
Gibberish
October 12, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.3 MBMoving to a new country is a challenge for everyone, but especially so for children. New immigrants often face pressure to assimilate quickly — to ‘dress like us’ and talk ‘like us’ — and stop speaking the languages that ‘don’t make sense’ to our ears. Young Vo, author of the new children’s picture book “Gibberish”, joins us to discuss these common tropes and says it’s not the newcomer that’s speaking “gibberish”; it’s us.
Thinking Sideways to Solve Problems
September 28, 2023 07:00 - 36 minutes - 49.5 MB“Think sideways” isn’t just a catch phrase - applied thoughtfully, small changes in mindset and approach can have a big impact. Anthony Barrows, Managing Partner and Founder at the Center for Behavioral Design and Social Justice at Project Evident, joins us to share his research—informed often by his own life story—into how applied behavioral science can help us successfully solve big problems.
Translating Children's Books
September 14, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBHow hard could it be to translate a children’s book — they are mostly pictures and so few words, after all? It's not so simple, it turns out. Daniel Hahn, a writer, editor, and literary translator who has translated hundreds of adult and children’s books alike joins us to break down the artistry and nuance that goes into successfully translating children’s picture books.
The Science Sessions: Reach Out and Read Impact Study
September 07, 2023 07:00 - 29 minutes - 40.6 MB“The Science Sessions” is a new feature from the Reach Out and Read Podcast that examines and explains up-to-date, groundbreaking research on early relational health, early literacy, and more. In this inaugural episode, Dr. Marny Dunlap and Callee Boulware, two authors of a recently published transformative new study, join us to discuss what they found about the effects of exposure to Reach Out and Read on caregiver reading frequency and behaviors.
Once Upon a Time …
August 31, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.5 MBEverything in a fairy tale has already been lost. The fairy tale is where we go to find it again.” Sabrina Orah Mark, author of the new book “Happily” and an award-winning writer and columnist for The Paris Review, joins us to talk about how fairy tales shape - and reflect - our reality in childhood, and beyond.
Pictured Worlds
August 17, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MBIllustrated children’s books capture the imagination of children and adults alike like no other art form. Leonard Marcus, one of the world’s preeminent authorities on children’s books and their creators, joins us to talk about “the special nature of the illustrated children’s book as a cultural enterprise that is at once rewarding art form, a bridge across cultures, and a ladder between generations.“
The End of the Reading Instruction Wars?
August 03, 2023 07:00 - 37 minutes - 51.3 MBNearly everyone can learn to read — if they’re taught correctly. It turns out that one of the primary approaches to teaching reading in schools was proven wrong decades ago. Emily Hanford, the host and investigative journalist behind the explosive “Sold A Story” podcast series, joins us to explain how educators came to believe in something that isn’t true and are now working to undo it.
Jerry Pinkney: An Artist Against the Odds
July 20, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43 MBJerry Pinkney is one of the most celebrated children’s book illustrators of all time. Having illustrated more than 100 books, Jerry won numerous awards including multiple Caldecott medals and Corretta Scott King Illustrator Awards and Honors before his passing. Gloria Pinkney, Jerry’s wife, creative partner, and best friend for more than 60 years, joins us to talk about Jerry’s life, talent, and his relentless drive to show young readers and those with learning disabilities how he became an ...
The Teachers
July 06, 2023 07:00 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MB"Politics, greed, and mismanagement have made this profession incompatible with physical and mental health." Who are we talking about? It’s teachers, and we talk to Alexandra Robbins’, author of the new book “The Teachers: A Year Inside America’s Most Vulnerable, Important Profession.” It’s a great look at the reality of America’s teachers: what’s working, what’s not, and how we can fix it.
Optimal Motherhood
June 22, 2023 07:00 - 38 minutes - 52.2 MBNew parents are often encouraged to ask for help. But the source of that help, and how we provide it — whether it’s physical or emotional - has changed drastically over the years. Instead of turning to close friends and family, many modern mothers turn to social media – sometimes with unexpectedly harsh results. Jessica Clements and Kari Nixon, co-authors of Optimal Motherhood and Other Lies Facebook Told Us, join us to talk about modern motherhood, how groups meant to support and uplift mot...
Elbert in the Air
June 08, 2023 07:00 - 35 minutes - 48.1 MB“Just be yourself” is often easier said than done. It requires time, contemplation, awareness, and often, bravery. And it’s really difficult to write a children’s book that doesn’t come off as simplistic advice, but is carefully crafted and delivers the message well. Author Monica Wesolowska joins us to talk about her new children’s books that explore what kids experience when they want to ‘be themselves’, how they can connect with others once they do, and the support they need along the way.
If I Betray These Words
May 25, 2023 07:00 - 34 minutes - 47.3 MB“Clinical burnout” is the phrase often used to describe the number of health care practitioners who feel a loss of joy in their work, a sense of despair, and a feeling of disengagement. But is this an individual problem…or a larger systems problem? Dr. Wendy Dean, CEO and co-founder of The Moral Injury of Healthcare, joins us to talk about how those responsible for treating some of the most vulnerable patients in society are employed by corporations whose explicit goal is to maximize shareho...
New Directions at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
May 11, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBThe Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has been a leading voice in the field of early childhood development, especially around the role of relationships. Their new work, termed “ECD 2.0", focuses on connecting the brain to the rest of the body in a broader ecological context. Dr. Lindsey Burghardt, Chief Science Officer at the Center on the Developing Child, and a practicing primary care pediatrician, joins us to help synthesize and translate the science behind the impact...
Changing Hearts and Minds Like a Pro
April 27, 2023 07:00 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MBWe spend a lot of time trying to change other people’s minds on all sorts of subjects. Does it work — but just a little, or maybe not at all? How we attempt to shape the opinions of others matters, and as it turns out, there’s a science behind how to do it well. Moira O’Neil, Senior Vice President of Research Interpretation at the FrameWorks Institute, joins us to explain how we can best communicate around contentious issues, and do so in a way that builds progressive change.
Becoming Better Grownups
April 13, 2023 07:00 - 34 minutes - 47.5 MBParents often worry about how to raise their children to be “good people.” But there’s an assumption that once you’re an adult, you’re done “growing”, and no longer need to progress on that journey to being a better version of yourself. Brad Montague, author of “Becoming Better Grownups”, says we can counter that notion in a unique way… in a world which can seem increasingly childish, he says we should become more childlike.
A Perfect Mistake
March 30, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.7 MBOne in five of us have learning and attention issues, including specific learning disabilities like dyslexia and ADHD. Increasingly, children’s and YA books are not only including but embracing neurodiverse characters, and the conversation is expanding to include – and normalize – many facets of the broad variety of how we engage with the world. Melanie Conklin, a Bank Street Best Children’s Book winner, and author of A Perfect Mistake, joins us to talk about how neurodiverse kids are repres...
BFF's: Book Friends Forever
March 16, 2023 19:56 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBAs we know, strong relationships are key to success in personal and professional endeavors. Our next guests combine both: Grace Lin, an award-winning author, and Alvina Ling, Editor-in-Chief at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, join us to talk about their professional success, how as Asian-American women they navigate an industry that still struggles with diversity, and, notably, how they draw on the friendship they’ve had since childhood to bolster themselves to do their important, muc...
What Happened To You?
March 02, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutes - 48.5 MBTrauma in children is shockingly common — almost half of all children have experienced at least one significant traumatic experience. Yet trauma-engendered behaviors are often met with ‘What’s wrong with you?’, when, as our guest Dr Bruce Perry relates, the question should be ‘What happened to you?’ His co-authored book with Oprah Winfrey helps us disentangle trauma, as well understand the powerful, protective role of healthy relationships with family, community, and culture.
Maybe An Artist
February 16, 2023 08:00 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBWe turned our ‘author spotlight’ on an up-and-coming, engaging, and extremely talented young voice. Liz Montague is a cartoonist, writer, and illustrator who weaves social justice, and personal and political awareness into smart, thoughtful, and deeply resonating cartoons. She also happens to be one of the first Black female cartoonists to be published in the New Yorker. Liz joins us to talk about her book, and how she became comfortable with her own identity as an artist.
Portable Magic
February 02, 2023 08:00 - 35 minutes - 48.7 MBBooks are magic. The way they smell, the feel of their pages, illustrations on their covers, weight in your hands - all these elements convey meaning in excess of their verbal content. Our guest, Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Oxford University, and author of Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers, joins us to talk about these factors and how, when and why books became…iconic.
The Case for Make Believe
January 19, 2023 08:00 - 34 minutes - 47.2 MBWhat is “play”, and how hard is it to understand what it really is? Turns out it’s more of a challenge to grasp than you’d think, and not everyone understands that play is not merely amusement for children. Dr Susan Linn, psychologist and world-renowned expert on creative play, joins us to talk about the role of play in a child’s development — and how children can use creative play to access and express their feelings.
The Legacy and Future of Native American Education
January 05, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBNative American education is one of our country’s culturally richest areas, but it comes at the expense of a very dark past. We take a closer look at the abuse Native American children experienced at government-run schools in the US in the 19th and 20th centuries, the intergenerational trauma that followed, and how Native American educators address this and move forward now. Francis Vigil from the Pueblo of Zia, is Jemez Pueblo, Jicarilla Apache, and an indigenous educator and consultant. He...
Malcolm Mitchell Loves to Read
December 22, 2022 08:00 - 34 minutes - 47.1 MBWe’ve turned the spotlight on many gifted authors, but our next guest is the first to win a children’s book award and a Super Bowl ring. Malcolm Mitchell, American football professional, children’s author, youth literacy advocate, and CEO of the Share the Magic Foundation, joins us to talk about his journey to literacy, and how he overcame professional and personal adversity in the process.
I Talk Like a River
December 08, 2022 08:00 - 37 minutes - 51 MBStuttering affects approximately 5% of U.S. children—it’s very common! Jordan Scott, poet and author of “I Talk Like a River”, and Brooke Edwards, Director of Speech for SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young, join us to talk about how stuttering affects children, and how all of us — caregivers, professionals, and beyond — can make their interactions with people who stutter a more positive and communicative experience.
Seeing Into the Reading Brain
November 24, 2022 08:00 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBThanks to advances in brain imaging, we can measure reading’s structural and functional benefits. Dr. John Hutton, a pediatrician and assistant professor in the Division of General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, joins us to talk about what we can learn from neuroimaging about how children’s activities can affect their brain structure, and what probably helps — or hinders — children’s development.
Leadership on Location
November 10, 2022 07:00 - 34 minutes - 47 MBAfter three years, the annual Reach Out and Read Leadership Conference was finally back in person. More than 150 leaders gathered in Madison, Wisconsin over three days to share their vision, values, and voice - all in the name of ROR’s mission. Listen to their conference takeaways, what inspires their work, and what drives our community forward.
Puppet Talk
October 27, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBWhy would someone write a research paper involving puppets? Well, puppets can not only be a tool for helping children feel more comfortable in medical settings, but more recently have been used to support relational health. Dr. Gretchen Domek, Associate Professor and the Frankenburg Research Professor in Developmental Pediatrics at the University of Colorado, joins us to talk about her work introducing finger puppets as a tool to help caregivers talk with their infants both at home and abr...