Reach Out and Read

The Magic of Reading Aloud

Can 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

Jason 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.

Nicholas Kristof: Equity in America

Pulitzer 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

We'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

It’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

Early 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...

EdTech and Screen Time During COVID-19

The reality of remote learning is here, and it's led teachers and families to re-evaluate what school means during COVID-19.  Josh Golin and Seth Evans, both of the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, speak to us about their recent policy statement EdTech and Education Policy During the Pandemic and the importance of getting online learning right.

Chelsea Clinton: The Gift of Reading

Chelsea Clinton, author, advocate, and vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, joins us to talk about growing up with books, the role of books in her own children's lives, and the importance of reading programs to support all children and families.

What Meaning Do Children's Books Have in a Time of Crisis?

Children's books can bring much comfort and insight for children and adults alike.  With all that is happening in our world, we figured that now is a good time to ask: What Meaning do Children's Books Have in a Time of Crisis?  We're joined by author Robie Harris, author of award winning and internationally acclaimed books including When Lions Roar, Who? and Crash! Boom!, and Leonard Marcus, historian and leading writer about children's books and the people who create them.

Disparities and Social Determinants of Health

As the Flint water crisis played out within government and the media, it became readily apparent that a major factor in the crisis was that the communities most affected were largely poor, mostly minorities, and without political power.  Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the doctor who uncovered Flint's water crisis and led it's recovery effort, joins us to talk about disparities and social determinants of health.

Diversity in Children's Literature

Books serve as mirrors to children, providing reflections of themselves, as well as windows to let them see others.  We know that a broad, diverse range of depictions helps children see that from a young age, and we also know that the range of diversity in children's books is nowhere near as rich as it could be.    Dr. Monique Jindal, an internal medicine and pediatrics physician at Johns Hopkins, and Meg Medina, author of the Newbery Medal–winning book Merci Suárez Changes Gears, join u...

Crafting Diversity in Children's Literature

We continue our conversation on “Diversity in Children’s Literature” by speaking with Ashley Lukashevsky, an artist and illustrator whose recent book, ANTIRACIST BABY by author Ibram X. Kendi, brings this topic to light directly.

Reach Out and Read Trailer

Reach Out & Read Trailer