Travel Dreams Inspired By What We Read & Watch

As more families start to travel again this spring and summer, we’re chatting about our own wanderlust, and how it relates to the media we consume. We talk about where we’ve been, where we’d like to go, and how the books we read and the shows we watch have inspired our travel goals. Plus we’ve got updates to what we’re reading (and listening to), and what YOU’re reading too. Join us!

Sponsor Spotlight: Ana Luisa

Ana Luisa designs ethically-made jewelry with a conscience, with new styles released every Friday. Allegra loves these Sia earrings and Sarah’s a huge fan of the Mara ringVisit www.analuisa.com/kidlit to shop for timeless, beautiful jewelry pieces.

Links we discussed:

What you’re reading:

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Image by Prawny from Pixabay

Technology That Helps Us Read, Listen & Play

Behind the books we read, the podcasts we love, the movies we watch, and the music we listen to are the methods by which we consume the media. From smart speakers to apps, headphones to charging solutions, today’s episode is all about the tech in our lives that helps us consume the media we love. As always, we finish the episode with what we’re reading and what you’re reading. Join us!

Sponsor Spotlight: Ana Luisa

Ana Luisa designs ethically-made jewelry with a conscience, with new styles released every Friday. Check out the Ana Luisa Mother’s Day sale and get 15% all products (order by May 5 in the US to gift in time for Mother’s Day!). Allegra loves these Sia earrings and Sarah’s a huge fan of the Chloe ring. Visit www.analuisa.com/kidlitmd to shop for timeless, beautiful Mother’s Day gifts.

What you’re reading:

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Image by ar130405 from Pixabay

Favorite Less-Talked-About Books From Our Home Library

It’s easy to get excited about new books at the library or in stores, but sometimes we forget just how many great books we already have at home. In today’s episode Sarah and Allegra each choose four books – across multiple age levels and genres from picture books through YA fiction – to spotlight from our home shelves. We share why we chose them, why we love them, and who else might love them too. As always, we close the show with what we’re reading lately, and welcome two special guest voices to share what THEY’re reading right now too. Enjoy!

What you’re reading:

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Image by Ria Sopala from Pixabay

Educational (And Fun!) Nonfiction Books

From encyclopedias to biographies, nonfiction additions to your home library make for great learning–and fun–at all ages. In Episode 29 we share some of the reasons we love a well-curated nonfiction collection, recommendations for capturing kids’ natural interest through nonfiction books, tips for reluctant readers, and more. Plus, as always, we share what we’re reading and what YOU’re reading. Join us!

What you’re reading:

Helen emailed to share that her 11-year-old just finished the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein. She recently read Charlotte’s Web aloud to her six-year-old, followed by The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. Helen herself recently loved Homegoing (which Sarah misread as Homecoming – oops!) by Yaa Gyasi.

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Cookbooks, Cooking Shows & Apps, And More Food Media

Let’s talk about food and cooking–and the media that helps us make and eat yummy stuff! In Episode 27 we share our favorite ways to get kids inspired in the kitchen, from magazines to cookbooks, TV shows to apps. Allegra talks about a multi-course, internationally-inspired meal she recently made from scratch for a school project, and, as always, we round out the episode with what we’re reading and what YOU’re reading. Join us!

What you’re reading:

Amibeth emailed us a great list of book recommendations based on what she is reading to, and with, her three boys, ages 6 and 3 (twins!):

Connor (Age 6):

Read Alouds to Connor:

Read Alouds with all 3 kids:

I (mom, Amibeth) am reading:

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

Reading Habits (When, Where & How We Read)

If you’re listening, you probably identify as a reader. But do you give much thought to WHERE, WHEN, and HOW you read? Today’s episode is all about our family’s reading habits; with two grownups and three kids, we run the gamut between late-night marathon readers to early birds who read in the morning, and everything in between. In this episode we also chat about electronic vs. paper books, reading in bed vs. outside, and more. Plus we’ll share what we’re reading and what YOU’re reading. Join us!

Want to help us out? Take our short listener survey by clicking here.

What you’re reading:

  • Jaida wrote to share that she’s been listening to audiobooks lately, especially as a way to hear unfamiliar cultures and language pronounced by native speakers. She especially enjoyed Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Image by 愚木混株 Cdd20 from Pixabay

Time Travel Through Books, TV & Movies

Whether it’s through an old attic, a mysterious tree house, or a speeding Delorian, the idea of traveling through time to another era makes for great storytelling. Inspired by a new television series that hooked us recently, we look at time travel as a genre: from why we love it to how different authors handle it. We offer some book, TV and movie suggestions for other fans of time travel and, of course, we also share what we’re reading and what YOU’ve been reading lately. Join us!

Want to help us out? Take our short listener survey by clicking here.

Secrets Of Sulphur Springs

Thanks to Momtourage and the team at @DisneyChannelPR for inviting the Powers family to join the cast of Secrets of Sulphur Springs for a premiere of the brand new time travel mystery series on Disney Channel!

The series follows 12-year-old Griffin Campbell, whose world is upended when his family moves from Chicago to Louisiana to take ownership of an abandoned hotel property. Investigating rumors that the hotel is haunted, Griffin and his new friend Harper discover a secret portal that allows them to travel back in time and uncover clues about the town mystery.

Check out Secrets of Sulphur Springs on Disney Channel, in Disney Now, and on Disney Channel YouTube!

Photo Credit: Disney

Sarah finished 5 Love Languages Of Children: The Secret To Loving Children Effectively, by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell (listen to Episode 196 of The Mom Hour to hear it discussed!), and is now loving The Soul of America: The Battle For Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham

Allegra is reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and is also working her way through Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham

What you’re reading:

Jade, mom to Eva (8) and Anna (10), wrote to say that she’s reading Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow.

Eva is reading Katt vs. Dogg by James Patterson, The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase by Wendy Mass, and If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late by Pseudonymous Bosch.

Anna is reading the Keeper Of The Lost Cities series by Shannon Messenger, and just finished How To Disappear Completely by Ali Standish

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

What YOU’RE Reading (and New Year Reading Goals!)

Ready to read more in 2021? We’ve got you covered with listener-recommended books for everyone in the family, toddler through adult! Join us as we welcome in a new year of reading by sharing what’s new and what’s motivating us in our own reading lives, and then present YOUR book suggestions through emails and voicemails we’ve collected recently. You’ll hear from kids and grownups from around the world as they share what books they’ve been loving lately. Enjoy!

Want to help us out? Take our short listener survey by clicking here.

Looking for book recommendations for babies through early elementary? Go check out friend of the podcast Katie, teacher and mom of three, and the creator of @littleslicesoflit on Instagram. Highly recommend!

What you’re reading:

Here are the books mentioned by listeners, in the order you heard them on the podcast:

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay

Our Family’s Favorites Lately (Books, Audiobooks, Movies, YouTube Channels, Apps & More!)

Today’s episode is a BIG roundup of the books, movies, and other media our family has been loving lately. We cover everything from little kid tablet games to YouTube art tutorials, sci-fi books to documentary series. And, as always, we share what we’ve been reading AND what you’ve been reading. Join us!

StoryWorth

This episode is sponsored by StoryWorth, a perfect gift for grandparents and other loved ones this holiday season. No shipping is required, and you can gift a subscription right up until Christmas (great for last-minute shopping!). Save $10 at storyworth.com/kidlit.

In the order we discussed them…

What you’re reading:

Valerie wrote to say that she and 7-year-old Samantha have been enjoying the Wildwood Chronicles series by Colin Meloy.

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Not-So-Scary Halloween Books, Movies & Games

It’s October, and we’re excited to celebrate Halloween all month long with books, movies, TV series, games, and activities. Join us in our post-hiatus return for an all-Halloween chat to get you inspired for the month ahead. And, as always, we’ll share what we’ve been reading lately. Enjoy!

Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls

This episode is sponsored by Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls, the best-selling book and podcast (now in its fourth season!). Look for the podcast wherever you like to listen, and thanks to Rebel Girls for sponsoring our show!

What you’re reading:

Send us an email (hello@kidliteratepodcast.com) or a voicemail about what YOU are reading these days, and we might feature your family on the podcast! Be sure to tell us kids’ names and ages along with the books they recommend (and we love to hear what parents are reading, too!).

Email us at hello@kidliteratepodcast.com – we’d love to hear from you!

Image by Parker_West from Pixabay