Reach Out and Read
108 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 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
Planet Word
July 07, 2022 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.1 MBIs a museum with words and not objects still a museum? Yes! Planet Word, a unique museum in Washington DC, houses immersive experiences dedicated to the celebration of words and language. Ann Friedman, Founder and CEO of Planet Word, joins us to talk about Planet Word’s overall mission and atypical design - both of which are deeply grounded in language arts and science.
How the Human Brain Learned to Read
June 23, 2022 07:00 - 36 minutes - 49.5 MBThe human brain doesn’t come wired to read. Remarkably, recognizing, decoding, and comprehending a single word takes many different repurposed brain circuits working together. Dr Maryanne Wolf, Dir. of the Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at UCLA breaks down the science of the reading brain — from the neuroscientific importance of oral language, to recognizing the alphabet, reading words, and ultimately, the experience of novel thought while reading.
Food is Love. Or is it?
June 09, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBFeeding and being fed isn’t merely a nutritional transaction — it’s also an emotional and relational act inexorably linked to the act of caring. Dr. Natalie Muth, a pediatrician and founder and director of the Children’s Primary Care Medical Group W.E.L.L. clinic, joins us to talk about how we can navigate the challenges of eating with children, and how it fits into early relational health.
Wonder: What It Means for Childhood
May 26, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 44.7 MBYoung children are born with a natural sense of wonder: an instinctual and powerful drive to explore and learn about their world. Dr. Frank Keil, professor of Psychology at Yale University and author of the new book “Wonder: Childhood and the Lifelong Love of Science”, joins us to talk about young children and how to recognize and encourage wonder —and, perhaps even more importantly—not to stifle it as they get older.
Child Poverty in the US: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
May 12, 2022 07:00 - 35 minutes - 48.4 MBChild poverty is a problem that’s much closer to home than many of us realize, with over a third of US children living in poverty at some point in their childhood. Dr. Benard Dreyer, Director of Pediatrics at Bellevue Hospital and one of the strongest voices in pediatrics on this issue, joins us to talk about the long and short term effects of child poverty and what we can do to alleviate it.
Building a Parent Nation
April 28, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.6 MBHow can we support children? By supporting their parents - particularly during the most critical years of their children’s development. Dr. Dana Suskind, author of the new book “Parent Nation”, joins us to explain how through a combination of interdisciplinary science and large-scale advocacy we can build a society where parents - and as a result their children - are supported in all aspects of life.
Kids and the Metaverse
April 14, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 45 MBThe ‘metaverse’ is the latest tech buzzword. But what in the world is it? Josh Golin, Executive Director at Fairplay, joins us to take a closer look at what it is, what it means for kids, and how parents can identify and navigate online design that targets kids.
Adoption: A Family Journey
March 31, 2022 07:00 - 32 minutes - 44.7 MBAdoption is a very common route to becoming a parent; yet, many don’t know how to talk about it, and know little about adoption. And even those strongly considering adoption have many questions and worries. Today we’re talking with leading adoption medical specialist Dr. Elaine Schulte about what non-adoptive and adoptive parents should know about attachment, family integration, and the language in and around adoption.
Child Refugees: What It Means to Leave a Home
March 17, 2022 07:00 - 35 minutes - 49 MBIf you’re a refugee, you’re disproportionately likely to be a child — and coping with many challenges that you’re developmentally unprepared to handle. Dr. Sherri Alderman and Ana Maria Dudley join us to discuss the consequences of war and displacement on children, and how we can help immediately improve - and ultimately sustain - refugee children’s physical, mental, and behavioral health.
Early Math Part 2: Building a Math Picture Book
March 03, 2022 08:00 - 35 minutes - 48.1 MBWe take a closer look at early math picture books themselves in Part 2 of our series on the topic. Robie Harris, author of Crash! Boom!, and Hilary Van Dusen, senior editor at Candlewick Press, explore with us the writing, design, and craft behind these books, and how early math principles lead into compelling stories for young children.
Early Math Part 1: What is Early Math and Why Does it Matter?
February 17, 2022 08:00 - 34 minutes - 48 MBWe know that reading aloud promotes everything from language enrichment to emotional intelligence, but did you know that it also helps with learning math? Marlene Kliman, Sr. Scientist at TERC, and Kim Brenneman, Program Officer for the Heising-Simons Foundation, join us to talk about the foundational principles of early math, how that comes through in picture books for young children, and the importance of investing in early math for all communities.
Meet Marty Martinez, Reach Out and Read’s New CEO
February 07, 2022 08:00 - 21 minutes - 30 MBBreaking News: We’re pleased to introduce Reach Out and Read’s new Chief Executive Officer, Marty Martinez! He joins today’s podcast to share the personal and professional journey that led him to us, and what he’s looking forward to in his new position.
Co-Parenting Through Separation and Divorce
February 03, 2022 08:00 - 35 minutes - 48.3 MBWhen faced with divorce or separation, a couple that had trouble agreeing when they were together now need to agree on parenting when apart. Dr. David Hill, co-author of “Co-parenting Through Separation and Divorce: Putting Your Children First” joins us to talk about how to help parents get to a positive space for both themselves and their children, and how parenting decisions based on children’s best interests is a formula for success.
Reading in the NICU Part 2: What To Do and How To Do It
January 20, 2022 08:00 - 31 minutes - 43 MBWe talk about the emotional and physical architecture of NICU reading programs and their effect on babies, their families, and the medical staff who implement them, in Part 2 of our “Reading in the NICU” series. Dr. Viral Jain explains how these programs give parents a way to reclaim some element of their role, and how providers can offer practical reading help and guidance to NICU families. And, a song!
Helping Kids Face Challenging Emotions
January 06, 2022 08:00 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBParents love seeing their children experience feelings of joy, happiness, and success. Conversely, they often feel a desire to protect their children against feeling sadness, anxiety or a sense of loss. But is that best? And is it even possible? Newbery award-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly and Behavioral Pediatrician Dr. Nerissa Bauer join us to discuss how to parent kids when they’re faced with challenging emotions.
The Ideal Preschool Teacher
December 23, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 47.6 MBScience tells us early learning is critically important, yet somehow it’s both remarkably expensive and those doing it are massively underpaid. There’s a huge divide in how we think about education before age 5 and after, and that needs to change. Rachel Giannini, childhood specialist and “a preschool teacher’s preschool teacher”, joins us to talk about the state of early education in the US today, the art of working well with small humans, and what families should look for in an early chil...
Paper: A Timeless Innovation
December 09, 2021 08:00 - 26 minutes - 36.4 MBPaper! It’s everywhere and yet it’s not usually at the forefront of our thoughts. Despite this being a podcast about reading, we haven’t really talked about paper itself, or even how it shaped the format of books. Author and historian Mark Kurlanksy joins us to talk about the history of paper—and how technology and the transformation of information may influence what we transfer, when, and how.
Banned Books and The Discomfort They Bring
November 25, 2021 08:00 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MBBook banning is often done with the intention of “protecting children”. But who decides what is or isn’t okay? And are we doing children and their families a disservice when we do? We are joined by Pat Scales, expert on censorship and a retired librarian, and Alex Gino, award-winning author of several banned books to discuss why books are challenged, the effects bans have, and on the line between fear and intellectual freedom.
The First Chapter: A Conversation with Dr. Robert Needlman
November 11, 2021 08:00 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MBHow in the world did anyone have the idea to not only talk about shared book reading in regular medical checkups for kids, but to bring in a book and use it as part of the visit? Dr Robert Needlman, co-founder of Reach Out and Read did back in 1989, and he joins us to share the origins of this program — which has blossomed into the national program it is today.
How to Raise Kids Who Aren't A**holes
October 28, 2021 07:00 - 35 minutes - 48.3 MBThere’s no shortage of parenting advice out there. How much is opinion, and how much is based on research evidence? Science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer joins us to talk about exactly that: how parents can apply evidence-based tools and techniques to raise kids who will grow up to be, well, not a**holes. Some of it has to do with learning about how kids’ brains work, and some of it has to do with looking in the mirror at our own behavior as adults.
Reading in the NICU: Reclaiming Parenting of Newborns
October 14, 2021 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.4 MBNewborn Intensive Care Units are physically and emotionally daunting for new parents. With many of the typical parenting roles supplanted by medical necessity, parents can be at a loss for how to reconcile this new reality. But there is another way parents can care for their children that’s equally important. Dr. Carmina Erdei, a neonatologist and the medical director of the Growth and Development Unit at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, joins us to talk about how reading and talking to preemie...
Books Without Words? Explaining Wordless Picture Books
September 30, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.2 MBReading without words? We generally associate reading with text, but reading *pictures* can offer a rich and delightful opportunity for insight and literacy growth as well. Though often overlooked, wordless picture books are more accessible for pre-verbal and pre-literate children, and they can provide an enhanced interactive reading experience for a wider audience. Caldecott winning author and illustrator David Wiesner—aka ‘the father of the wordless picture book’—joins us to talk about the...
Back to School: Making Human Connections a Priority
September 16, 2021 07:00 - 35 minutes - 48.6 MBAs we transition back to school during an ongoing pandemic, we hear a lot about a ‘covid learning slide’, which adds to the stress of a return. But, is that really how we should be framing this? There’s another way to think about all this. Boston Public Schools Principal Julia Bott, and Helen Westmoreland, the Director of Family Engagement at National PTA, join us to share how parents and caregivers can recalibrate their expectations through a focus on nurturing human connections.
Detoxifying Stress: Resiliency, Relationships, and Reading Together
September 02, 2021 07:00 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MB“Toxic stress defines the problem. Relational health defines the solution.” This is the core of the recent revision to the American Academy’s policy statement on toxic stress, and co-author Dr. Andrew Garner joins us to explain how we need to move beyond adverse childhood experiences to discuss and support positive childhood experiences. The number one element? The presence of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships, which proactively build the resilience needed to cope with future adv...
Best Beginnings: Book Sharing from Birth
August 19, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutes - 44 MBA baby’s brain is forming thousands to millions of neuronal connections per minute, absorbing new information in the first six months. This is the perfect opportunity to start a shared reading routine, right from birth. But are overwhelmed, sleep-deprived parents ready to add one more thing to their plate? Dr. Anna Miller-Fitzwater joins us to talk about Reach Out and Read’s “Back to Birth” program, and how to make reading with infants practical and achievable for new parents.
Quirky Kids
August 05, 2021 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBWhen parenting, teaching, or caring for kids, there can be a fine line between those with a readily identifiable diagnosis, and those who are just plain “different”. Dr. Perri Klass and Dr. Eileen Costello, co-authors of “Quirky Kids: Understanding and Supporting Your Child With Developmental Differences”, join us to talk about quirky kids, and the joys and challenges they can bring to families.
Sometimes You Have to Lie
August 05, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutes - 44.3 MB‘Ole Golly says there is as many ways to live as there are people on the earth’. So says Harriet in “Harriet the Spy”, the brainchild of author Louise Fitzhugh. Today we dive in deeper with one of literature’s most beloved ‘quirky’ kids, with a discussion of how Harriet and Louise broke the mold of children’s literature. Guest host Dr Perri Klass speaks with Leslie Brody, author of the highly acclaimed new biography “Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Louise Fitzhugh, Renegade ...
From Book Desert to Reading Oasis
July 22, 2021 07:00 - 35 minutes - 48.8 MBHave you heard of book deserts? Nearly half of our nation’s children live in one: neighborhoods that lack public libraries and bookstores and where more than half of low-income children live in homes where books are an unaffordable or unfamiliar luxury. Dr. Molly Ness, an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Education at Fordham University, and Alvin Irby of Barbershop Books, join us to talk about how to not only alleviate book deserts, but create book ‘oases’ that set children and families ...
Opening Up the Book on Reach Out and Read
July 08, 2021 07:00 - 38 minutes - 52.3 MBIt’s clear that Reach Out and Read has become a significant part of American pediatrics. And while operating on such a large scale can generate incredible results, challenges also crop up. We’re going to ‘open up the book’ on our organization with someone who is uniquely positioned to do — Reach Out and Read CEO Brian Gallagher joins us to talk about where the organization is today, where we’re going, and what opportunities and obstacles we might face along the way. And also, a podcast firs...
Raising Black Children
June 24, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutes - 44.7 MBAll parents face challenges somewhere along the journey of raising children. But some groups of parents deal with issues that don’t necessarily affect all. Drs Nia Heard-Garris and Nevin Heard join us to talk about how Black children in American navigate racial identity development and awareness, and how their parents can balance the desire to protect them — yet prepare for — the harsh reality of racism.
"William's Doll" and the Legacy of Charlotte Zolotow
June 10, 2021 07:00 - 25 minutes - 35.2 MBThe publication of Charlotte Zolotow’s picture book William’s Doll (1972) not only broke gender stereotypes, but became a landmark moment in American children’s literature. In a bonus episode of our “Inner Truths: LGBTQ” series, host Dr. Perri Klass speaks with Charlotte’s daughter, Crescent Dragonwagon (a prolific author herself), about the making of William’s Doll and her mother’s cultural impact as a writer and editor of books that have encouraged tolerance, kindness, and authenticity fo...
Inner Truths, Part 2: The Research Behind LGBTQ+ Children’s Books
June 10, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 45.9 MBIn Part 2 of our series on LGBTQ+ children’s books, we talk to Dr. Jamie Campbell Naidoo, a professor at the University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies. We discuss how to evaluate LGBTQ+ books for kids, common portrayals of ‘rainbow families’ in children’s books, balancing accessibility and privacy issues for books around these topics, and, of course why, year after year, LGBTQ+ children’s books continue to be the most challenged genre.
Inner Truths: Crafting LGBTQ+ Children’s Books
May 27, 2021 07:00 - 34 minutes - 46.9 MBLGBTQ+ children’s books play a crucial role in offering ‘mirrors and windows’ for all children and their caregivers, yet they remain not only hard to find, but often challenged by society. In Part 1 of our two-part series, we’ll explore the craft and creativity behind LGBTQ+ children’s literature with Lesléa Newman, author of 75 books including the well-known “Heather Has Two Mommies”, and Kyle Lukoff, author of “Call Me Max” and “When Aidan Became A Brother.”
Parenting from Prison: Maintaining Connections through Reading
May 13, 2021 07:00 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MBWhile parenting can be challenging, can you imagine what it’s like doing so from behind bars? Even so, maintaining the parent-child relationship is critical to reducing the harm to children of having an incarcerated parent. We span the professional and personal of this subject, first with investigative journalist Ludwig Hurtado on the rise of reading-aloud programs at jails and prisons nationally. Then, Greg Williams and his daughter Melissa share their personal story of being separated b...
How We Read Now
April 29, 2021 06:00 - 31 minutes - 43.2 MBWhen it comes to reading preferences, are you on Team Print or Team Digital? It turns out you may not have to pick sides. How we read matters, but why we make that choice may matter more. Dr. Naomi Baron, Prof. Emerita of Linguistics at the American University and author of How We Read Now, breaks down the impact of reading medium on learning and what strategies we can offer our children - and ourselves - in order to read effectively in all formats.
And the Winner is... Book Awards and Children's Literature
April 15, 2021 06:00 - 35 minutes - 48.6 MBThe shiny medallions prominently displayed on award-winning children’s books are familiar to many. But what’s behind those seals? How are the winners chosen? And, of course, what is it like to WIN one? Kathleen T Horning, well-known expert and member of numerous children’s book award committees, takes us behind the scenes of the process. Then we speak with Carole Lindstrom, author of this year’s Caldecott Medal winner, “We Are Water Protectors” (illustrated by Michaela Goade), to hear ab...
Different Stories: Developmental Differences and Reading Aloud
April 01, 2021 06:00 - 35 minutes - 48.5 MBWe know shared reading benefits all children, but for those with developmental differences it offers unique opportunities. Dr Monica Ultmann, the Director of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at the Tufts Children’s Hospital in Boston, and Sally J. Pla, an award-winning children’s writer, join us to share their experiences, insights, and stories about reading with children who differ from typical.
Military Families: Resilience, Readiness, and Reading
March 18, 2021 06:00 - 34 minutes - 46.9 MBMilitary families face situations that pose distinctive social and emotional challenges to the health and wellbeing of their children. First, AAP President Dr Lee Beers draws on her own past experiences in caring for military families and shares her approaches. Then the Kikta family joins us to share their personal, direct experience of how reading together helped them and their four children through multiple deployments.
The Secret To Reading With Young Children
March 04, 2021 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBWe know reading aloud with children matters. But whether you’re experienced at it or if you’re not sure how to read well with young children, we can all learn from Dr. Andrea Zevenbergen. She joins us to break down the concept of Dialogic Reading, and offers advice on how to model, coach, and help offer effective guidance.
Demystifying Philanthropy
February 18, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBPhilanthropy touches our lives on a daily basis, but the decision-making process by those who hold the so-called ‘purse strings’ can be seemingly shrouded in secrecy. We talked to Dr. Katie Beckmann from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and Ira Hillman from the Einhorn Collaborative, who took us behind the scenes to help demystify the world of philanthropy.
The Other Side of the Screen: A Thoughtful Conversation on Children and Digital Media
February 04, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBTechnology has been an indispensable tool during the pandemic, but how has the massive shift to an almost exclusively online life affected children? Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, and Dr. Jenny Radesky, a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and author of notable American Academy of Pediatrics statements on digital media, join us for a thoughtful, considered conversation on how to navigate this world.
The Enchanted Hour
January 21, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 41.2 MBAn antidote to distraction in the modern age? A way to build better brains through books? Or simply a treasured memory of childhood — and parenting? We discuss all these aspects of shared reading aloud with Meghan Cox Gurdon, the children’s book reviewer for The Wall Street Journal, and author of “The Enchanted Hour”.
Policy in Action: North Carolina
January 07, 2021 07:00 - 27 minutes - 38 MBOne might think that investing in programs that meaningfully support children, families, and early learning can’t possibly survive the “red tape” of government bureaucracy. But when the right people with the right focus are involved, innovative and creative approaches can become a reality. This week, we talk to Dr Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr Elizabeth Erickson, Medical Director of Family Connect - Durham about North Carolina’...
The Magic of Reading Aloud
December 24, 2020 07:00 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBCan you imagine reading aloud for an incredible 3,218 nights in a row? Alice Ozma, author of “The Reading Promise”, and her father Jim Brozina, a children’s librarian, join us to talk about their remarkable adventure doing exactly this, lovingly known as “The Streak”. In the second half of the show, actor Kyliegh Curran has a special read-aloud treat for us, perfect for this festive season.
Jason Reynolds is Crazy About Stories
December 10, 2020 07:00 - 30 minutes - 42.4 MBJason Reynolds, novelist, poet, and the Library of Congress’s National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, joins us in a far-ranging, sublime, and deeply honest conversation about the power of imagination, literature, and storytelling to allow America’s youth to grow, to strive, and to reverse the ills of racism and beyond.
Stories of Gratitude
November 26, 2020 07:00 - 30 minutes - 41.8 MBReading aloud brings people together, and we thank every person who reads aloud to a child. To mark this holiday devoted to giving thanks, we asked three children’s authors — Traci Sorell, Ann Clare LeZotte, and Dr Sayantani DasGupta — to read aloud their own stories of gratitude.
Nicholas Kristof: Equity in America
November 12, 2020 07:00 - 36 minutes - 49.8 MBPulitzer prize winning journalist Nicholas Kristof has covered neglected social and economic welfare topics all over the world, but his most recent book, “Tightrope: Americans Reaching For Hope” is an exploration of poverty in America seen through a very personal lens – the community in which Nick grew up. Strikingly, while many may focus on the importance of support for adults, rehabilitation, and remediation, Nick and his co-author and wife, Sheryl WuDunn, chose to put the focus on someth...
Vote Kids
October 29, 2020 06:00 - 35 minutes - 48.7 MBWe're joined by Mark Del Monte, CEO of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Dr. Nate Chomilo, pediatrician and policy expert from Minnesota, to discuss how the world of policy affects the everyday lives of children and families — and the issues to keep in mind as we vote this year.
A Good Time To Be Born
October 15, 2020 06:00 - 38 minutes - 53.2 MBIt’s easy to think that the way we think about children and parenting is the way it’s always been — the birth of a child is accompanied by the expectation that that baby will grow up happy, healthy, and become an adult. However, a mere century ago that wasn’t necessarily the case. So what changed? How has the role of parenting transformed? Dr. Perri Klass, author of the new book "A Good Time to Be Born", joins us to talk about the social, and medical, events that transformed childhood and ...
Advancing Early Foundational Relationships
October 01, 2020 06:00 - 27 minutes - 38.1 MBEarly foundational relationships are the strongest predictor of young children’s long-term success — what happens to kids in those early months and years of life sets the stage for how they relate to others and the world around them, and how those others relate to them. Dr David Willis, Developmental-Behavioral pediatrician and Senior Fellow with the Center for the Study of Social Policy, and Claudia Aristy, Director of Children of Bellevue’s Reach Out and Read Program, join us to talk abou...