The Reading To Connect Show

Announcing the first-ever Reading To Connect Day™

I didn’t plan to create a holiday.

I just wanted families to feel safe again—to pause, not perform. To read like it mattered beyond the reading. And when I started sharing our story, something happened.

Parents from everywhere started joining in. Not for a program. Not for a prize.

For a moment.

In this episode, I’m announcing something we’ve been building toward all along—Reading To Con...

For Some, It’s Deeper Than Being TiredWhy one wrong math answer made her stop reading to her son.

She helped him with his math.She got it wrong.It became his lowest grade of the year.So she stopped reading with him.

It wasn’t even a reading moment. But it made her feel like her voice didn’t matter—and that maybe she was holding him back.

This episode isn’t about math. It’s about what we’ve done to reading.And why tired is often just c...

What My Son—and One Surprising Conversation—Reminded Me About This Movement

When my 11-year-old said "I love it because it just feels good...brings us closer" about our reading time, it reminded me why I started all of this. Then a friend shared how my private podcast shifted her from rushed, tense reading to creating intentional moments with her kids.

That's when I realized: Most families read together, but they're using the wrong m...

Join me in this episode of Reading To Connect as I sit down with Hope Larson, New York Times bestselling and multi-Eisner award-winning cartoonist, to talk about her new middle-grade graphic novel, Very Bad at Math.

We dive into the power of shared reading experiences, the impact of learning differences like dyscalculia, and how books can help kids feel seen. Hope opens up about her personal struggles with math, the pressure of perf...

Join me in this episode of Reading To Connect as I sit down with Cheryl Willis Hudson, author of When I Hear Spirituals and co-founder of Just Us Books, to explore how music, storytelling, and Black history come together in children’s books.

We dive into the rich legacy of spirituals, how they carry the voices of our ancestors, and why these songs continue to resonate across generations. Cheryl shares her journey in children's publi...

Can Stories Build a More Just World for Our Children?

In this heartfelt episode, I share a powerful conversation with my 10-year-old son, Aidyn, sparked during our morning drive to school. His reflection on Donald Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Education stopped me in my tracks:

“What does he think America is? His playbox? All he’s doing is building up sandcastles.”

To Aidyn, sandcastles are fleeting—ego-driven creati...

Join me in this episode of Reading To Connect as I sit down with Rio Cortez, author of The ABCs of Black History and The ABCs of Women’s History, to explore how children’s books can resist erasure and bring diverse voices to the forefront of history.

We dive into the power of representation in children’s literature, the thought process behind selecting historical figures, and the ways parents can use books to spark meaningful conver...

Join Our 28-Day Read Black Voices for BHM Reading Challenge! 📚✨

It’s here! Our 28-Day Read Black Voices for BHM Reading Challenge invites you to read books featuring Black main characters or written by Black authors—one intentional moment of reading at a time.

But don’t worry—it’s not about finishing the book. The goal is simple: start reading, connect with your child, and spark meaningful conversations.

Here’s what to expect:

- Daily...

Join me in this episode of Reading To Connect as I chat with Deepa Iyer, author of We Are The Builders!, about introducing kids to social change in a way they can understand and act on. Deepa’s book inspires children to see themselves as active change makers in their communities, whether through roles like "experimenter" or "caregiver."

We dive into how parents can use the book to reflect on their own roles in the community and star...

In this episode, Quinn Cummings dives into the heart of family reading. If you’ve ever felt guilty about not reading enough with your kids, you’re not alone—and this episode is for you. Quinn challenges the idea that literacy alone is enough to motivate busy parents, especially when kids are surrounded by books and reading in school. Instead, she shares how books are powerful tools for creating connection, fostering meaningful conv...

In this heartfelt episode, host Quinn shares a touching story about a quiet Saturday spent with her son, Aidyn. While engrossed in Ta-Nehisi Coates' "A Beautiful Struggle," Quinn is drawn into an unexpected and profound conversation initiated by Aidyn's curiosity about the Bible and the wildfires in LA. This moment of connection reveals the incredible insights children can offer when we take the time to listen.

Quinn reflects on the...

Welcome to 2025! In this episode, I’m reflecting on the journey of rebuilding Reading to Connect, sharing exciting updates, and revealing what’s next for the mission.

Learn how The ENGAGE Method™ transforms books into tools for deeper family connections and why we’ve shifted focus to prioritize impact. Whether you’re here to listen, learn, or take the next step in your family’s reading journey, this episode is for you.

Want to connec...

In this short and lively episode, we’re joined by bestselling author Aaron Blabey, the creator of The Bad Guys series. Aidyn and I dive into the inspiring story of how Aaron’s desire to help his son fall in love with reading sparked a global phenomenon.

Aaron shares insights on the persistence it took to bring The Bad Guys to life, the deeper themes of empathy and redemption woven into the series, and how his stories connect with ki...

In this week’s episode of Reading to Connect, we’re joined by Christy Mandin, the creative mind behind Millie Fleur's Poison Garden. Christy shares how her picture books inspire children to embrace their unique selves, helping parents foster resilience and self-acceptance in their kids. We discuss how simple affirmations and gentle encouragement can empower children to stand strong in a world that often pushes for conformity.

Curiou...

In this week’s episode of Reading to Connect, we’re joined by Christy Mandin, the creative mind behind Millie Fleur's Poison Garden. Christy shares how her picture books inspire children to embrace their unique selves, helping parents foster resilience and self-acceptance in their kids. We discuss how simple affirmations and gentle encouragement can empower children to stand strong in a world that often pushes for conformity.

Curiou...

In this episode of the Reading To Connect Show, host Quinn Cummings sits down with Dork Diaries creator Rachel Renee Russell and her daughter, Nikki Russell, to discuss the 16th book in the beloved series. Together, they explore the magic of chapter books, the transition from picture books to longer stories, and how parents can bond with their children through shared reading experiences. The conversation touches on personal family ...

This episode is our favorite annual Thanksgiving special and we are excited to dive into it with our special guest, Winsome Bingham. A US Army veteran and educator, Winsome is the author of the delightful children's book "Soul Food Sunday".

In the first segment of the episode, Winsome shares about her creative process, passion for cooking, and love for capturing the beauty of submarines in photographs. She a...

Have you ever been captivated by a child's expansive imagination? Have you wondered at the transformative power of books in a child's life? We've been exploring these themes with Courtney B Dunlap, author of The Rumble Hunters and a dedicated home educator. Courtney, a former mental health professional and now a mother of four, took us on an inspiring journey from her initial hesitation about homeschooling to her eve...

Welcome to a journey of independence, resilience, and family bonding in this episode of Parenting & Bonding w/ children's Books, as we sit down with author Steph Katzovi. Discover her inspiring chapter book, 'Hurricamp,' where childhood memories of summer camp blend into a tale of growth and self-discovery. Steph's story dives into the heart of a young girl's quest for autonomy, spiced with humor and th...