The Read-Aloud Home: create an inviting space where you can enjoy the best books with your children
How can we create homes where reading with children happens with ease and enjoyment? How do we know which children's books are good quality? How do we maintain enthusiasm for reading aloud during the early years and beyond? Welcome! It is so great to have you here to join me for this read-aloud revolution. Modern parents are faced with unprecedented levels of technological distractions and endless to-do lists. It is easy to let, days, weeks, months go by without reading to our children. This podcast will give you ideas and inspiration for creating the best possible read-aloud environment in a modern world. You will find tips, tricks and beautiful booklists as well as interviews with literacy experts, authors, illustrators and more to help you cultivate your read-aloud home. Learn how to create a literary feast for the children in your care that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Whether you are a stay-at-home carer, a working parent or an early childhood worker this podcast has something for you!
Episodes
"In my home, Charlotte Mason has an afro" - homeschooling mother of four, Amber O'Neal Johnston, talks about how she has adapted the Charlotte Mason philosophy to suit her children. We also talk about books as mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors, questions to ask when you are curating your home library, why we don't need to cancel the classics and so much more.
Books, people, websites mentioned:
- Heritagemom.com
- A Place to Bel...
From his childhood to school workshops to a particular Fleetwood Mac album cover, award-winning writer/illustrator Dub Leffler talks to the The Read-Aloud Home about the many things that impact his work. Find some of Dub's work on my Instagram @thereadaloudhome
Books and humans mentioned:
- Sally Morgan (author)
- Banksy (artist)
- Coral Vass (author)
- Leah Purcell (actor, playwright, director, novelist)
- Once there was a boy (2011) by Dub L...
I sat down with fellow zealot Emily Chang from the online secondhand children's book store Little Modern Reader to talk about running a small business, her "past life" as a Chinese antiques specialist, discovering the joy of picture books as an adult and so much more. This episode is not to be missed as it is bubbling with picture book enthusiasm and love!
This episode was recorded on Gadigal Land.
Books, humans and websites mentione...
Deep dive into the stories behind the picture books with award-winning Australian author/illustrator Zeno Sworder.
In this conversation with Zeno I do not talk about the experiences of neurodivergent children or their parents. I am currently researching and learning more about neurodivergence but the stories and advice in this podcast episode may not be relevant to families navigating neurodiversity.
This episode was recorded on Gadi...
What's in this episode?
In this week's episode, Australian author/illustrator Max Hamilton takes us through what a typical day of work looks like when she is creating a children's picture book. We also talk about her past career, how she tackles a new project, how she organises her picture books and the importance of community for children's book creators.
This episode was recorded on the land of the Gadigal and Dharawal People.
Book...
Unschooling, illustration and capturing difficult emotions with children’s book creator Phoebe Wahl.
In this week's episode Phoebe Wahl talks about her unschooled and free-spirited childhood, her studies at Rhode Island School of Design, her picture book creation process and so much more.
Books and people mentioned:
- Sonya's Chickens (2015) by Phoebe Wahl
- Backyard Fairies (2018) by Phoebe Wahl
- The Blue House (2020) by Phoebe Wahl
- Little Witch Hazel (2021) by Phoebe Wahl
- Phoebe's Diary (2023) by Phoebe Wahl
- Rhode Island School of Desig...
In this week's episode Courtney Adamo talks to the Read-Aloud Home about her new book The Family Home, which explores how your home can help elevate family life and help you spend more quality time as a family including reading together.
Books and humans mentioned
- The Family Home: Inspiring Ideas for a Home Filled with Joy (2025) by Courtney and Michael Adamo
- And the Train Goes (2007) by William Bee
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010)...
Lara talks us through her new book 'A Grown Up's Guide to Picture Books'. We also talk about picture books and why they are important, how we can extend our picture book reading and thinking differently about the role of picture books in society
Books and humans mentioned:
- A Grown Up's Guide to Picture Books (2024) by Lara Cain Gray
- Tucking Mummy In'(1987) by Morag Loh, illustrated by Donna Rawlins
- The Lion, the Witch and the Won...
For many of us, getting through Shakespeare at school was difficult and tedious. Turns out, it doesn't need to be that way. In this episode, actor Isabel Burton shares lots of different ways to make Shakespeare fun and engaging for young children.
I have included some of my favourite children's books of Shakespearen plays and his life.
Books, plays and humans mentioned:
- Macbeth (1605) by William Shakespeare
- William Shakespeare (pla...
Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell talk about collaborating creatively as longtime friends, We also discuss children's books that are "the whole package", writing in rhyme, appreciating picture books, graphic novels and illustration as well as looking beyond Australia for beautiful picture books.
Books and humans mentioned:
· Alphabetical Sydney (2013) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell
· Home (2015) By Carson Ellis
· Cole's Funny Picture...
Enjoying the film adaptations of children's books with your kids: an Interview with Nazanin Forghani
Naz talks about her experience creating a children's book, why you should watch films with your children, what works and what doesn't in film adaptations, Roald Dahl adaptations, films as modern updates on dated texts and why the Paddington Bear movies are brilliant.
Books, films and humans mentioned:
· Arm in Arm (1969) By Remy Charlip
· The NeverEnding Story (1984 film)
· EQ (2021) by Vivian Rubin
· Roald Dahl (author)
· The Twits (198...
Host, Laura Cunningham, shares ten tips to make reading-aloud enjoyable and sustainable (+ 1 bonus tip)
Books and humans mentioned:
· The Enchanted Hour (2019) By Megan Cox Gurdon
· Reading Magic (2001) By Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek
· The Book Whisperer (2009) By Donnalyn Miller
· The Read-Aloud Handbook (7th Edition) (2013) By Jim Trelease
Sarah Breckenridge explains the Montessori Method and approach to literacy in the early years. We also talk about how to ensure that we use rich language with children, how to display and organise books and how we can talk with, read with and raise children respectfully
Books and humans mentioned:
· Why You Should Read Children's Books Even Though You Are So Old and Wise (2019) By Katherine Rundell
· Martin Amis (author)
· John Locke ...
Host, Laura Cunningham, talks about why we should read with babies, why we should give books as presents to new babies/parents and offers five quick baby book recommendations.
Books and humans mentioned:
· Babies Need Books: Sharing the Joy of Books with Children from Birth to Six (1982) By Dorothy Butler
· The Read-Aloud Handbook (7th Edition) (2013) By Jim Trelease
· Who Sank the Boat (1983) By Pamela Allen
· Each Peach Pear Plum (197...
Rachel Robson discusses her work as the children's book buyer for an independent bookshop, wow to access out-of-print books, how to continue reading aloud when your kids are teens and tweens, book clubs for teenagers and supporting independent book shops without "breaking the bank".
Books and humans mentioned:
· Meet the Lithographer (2023) by Gabby Bazin
· Shirley Hughes (author)
· David McKee (author)
· Frindle (1998) by Andrew Cleme...
Host, Laura Cunningham, introduces listeners to the Read-Aloud Home and explains how she became a read aloud zealot. She also explains what to expect from this podcast and discusses the research on the benefits of reading aloud.
Books and humans mentioned:
· Reading Magic (2001) By Mem Fox
· The Read-Aloud Handbook (7th Edition) (2013) By Jim Trelease
· Time for Bed (1993) By Mem Fox
· J.R.R Tolkein (author)
· Philip Pullman (author)
· C....
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