RORPodcast - Season Four - Reach Out and Read

“Recent data shows that in school, by almost every metric, boys of all ages are doing worse than girls. How did this happen and how can we thoughtfully approach it and turn the situation around? Ruth Whippman, author of “BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity” joins us to talk about raising boys in the U.S. — how our boys are being shaped by society; how they’re reacting; and how we can help.”

Ruth Whippman

Ruth Whippman is an author, essayist, and cultural critic from London living in the United States. Her writing appears in the New York Times, Time magazine, and The Guardian, amongst other places. Her viral essays include Can we Really Love our Children Unconditionally, and What We are Not Teaching Boys about Being Human. Her most recent book is “BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity.” (source: R. Whippman)

Close window

“The Science Sessions: Cultural Pride and Children’s Health” June 27, 2024

Racism and discrimination affects the health of children, and can have lifelong consequences. Dr. Ashaunta Anderson, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, has been studying this, and in particular the concept of racial socialization. We discuss with her how ‘positive childhood experiences’ – such as embracing and enhancing cultural pride, can help mitigate these challenges.

Dr. Ashuanta Anderson

Dr. Ashuanta Anderson is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Anderson received her bachelor’s degree in Human Biology at Stanford University, and her MD at Harvard Medical School. After her residency at Baylor, she completed additional graduate work at both the Harvard and UCLA Schools of Public Health. Dr. Anderson’s current research explores the origins of health disparities in the social environments of early childhood. Her work is particularly focused on the impact of early school readiness and racial socialization on later academic achievement and related health outcomes. She has conducted a number of qualitative assessments of early childhood educators, pediatricians, and minority parents with the goal of developing a culturally appropriate way to enhance a child’s education, health, and resilience in a multi-ethnic society. (source: Dr. A. Anderson)

Close window

“Squish the Peas: Life Lessons from Toddlers” June 13, 2024

Eat with the funniest person in the office; when you wake up, give yourself a high five; turn off screens one hour before bed, and demand a bedtime story. These are just a few of the secrets to a happier life that our guest, Dr. Hasan Merali, author of “Sleep Well, Take Risks, Squish the Peas: Secrets from the Science of Toddlers for a Happier, More Successful Way of Life”, says we can and should learn from both the young children in our lives…and from our past younger selves.

Hasan Merali, MD, MPH

Hasan Merali, MD, MPH, is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University and a pediatric emergency medicine physician at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on child injury prevention in low- and middle-income countries. He has published more than twenty-five peer-reviewed journal articles, and his writing has been featured in Science, The Boston Globe, NBC, CBC, and Popular Science. Dr. Merali lives in Oakville, Ontario, with his wife and their toddler daughter. (H. Merali)

Close window

“Building Early Relational Health Ecosystems” May 30, 2024

In this special ‘double feature’ podcast recorded in front of a live audience, the Early Relational Health Funders Summit hear from four speakers with different experiences of building and maintaining a robust Early Relational Health ecosystem. We’re looking at the practices, programs, and policies that need to work independently, and also together, to fully benefit families with young children.

Hope Williams-Burt

Hope Williams-Burt is the Family Lead Manager at the University of California San Francisco Center for Child and Community Health, Black Love Opportunity and Outcome Improvement in Medicine (BLOOM) program, and Ready! Resilient! Rising! Network in California. In 2020, Hope formed Residents Supporting Community, a neighborhood action group, and led a team of staff from the San Francisco District 6 Supervisor’s office, DPH, SFFD Emergency Response, housing partners, and SFUSD. Under her leadership, the group created a community-led and budget-controlled COVID Response Action Model for Treasure Island in San Francisco. The model was later adopted across the city and state. She has partnered with over 50 advisory councils nationwide to lead the charge in transformation of care.

Close window
Allison Logan

Allison Logan is the Lead Consultant at CT Data Collaborative and co-founder of CT 359. She received her master’s degree in early childhood development and co-authored a teacher training curriculum (Total Learning) that focused on incorporation of arts strategies into classroom environments to advance literacy and numeracy skills, as well as wrap-around services to support the families of the students. Allison’s work focuses on advancing PN-3 best practices, policies, and supports to other communities, with a keen focus on the transformation of statewide PN-3 systems, through a 3-year Community Systems Grant, funded by The Pritzker Children’s Initiative. Additionally, Alison and her partners created the Bridgeport Baby Bundle – a bundle of both universal and targeted supports, along with authentic community engagement, focused on the pre-natal to three years old age range.

Close window
Dr. Corey Williams

Dr. Corey Williams is the Director of Mental Health Service Innovation at the Early Childhood Innovation Network in Washington, DC, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center/MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Williams completed his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. While completing his residency at Yale, he served on the Departmental Diversity & Inclusion Committee and helped develop the health equity & social justice curriculum for the residency. He completed his fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where he served as one of the founding members of the Department’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Close window
Deborah Brown

Deborah Brown is the Senior Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest municipal health care system with 11 acute care hospital sites, 5 post-acute facilities, 30+ community health centers, and a subsidiary non-profit health insurance company. Deb oversees the system’s regulatory affairs; government relations and advocacy at all levels of government; community relations; and communications and marketing. She has also built new initiatives for system fundraising and partnerships with the faith community.

Close window
Ira Hillman

Ira Hillman leads Einhorn Collaborative’s Bonding strategy, supporting collectives of funders and programs that help parents and their babies establish and maintain emotional connection from birth.

Close window

“Introducing 35 for 35” May 16, 2024

Thirty-five years ago, Reach Out and Read was founded in one clinic in Boston as a route to supporting shared reading with young children at home. Today, we’re in all 50 states with 6200 program sites, comprising 8.8 million interactions through 7 million books. Marking that anniversary, and in partnership with Scholastic, we’ve created 35 for 35, a visionary, wide ranging collection of books that reflect our mission and the families and communities we serve. Marty Martinez, CEO of Reach Out and Read, Judy Newman, Chief Impact Officer at Scholastic, and Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney, the award-winning author and illustrator team behind one of the books in the collection, join us to talk about this incredible project.

Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney are a New York Times bestselling couple who have made outstanding contributions to the field of children’s literature, both as individuals and as a team. Between them, they have published more than 70 children’s books, a rich treasury of words and images reflecting a wide range of interests for children – experiences that are both specific and universal. The couple has been recognized among the “25 Most Influential People in Our Children’s Lives” by Children’s Health magazine. Their books have received the highest awards and accolades, including Caldecott Honor Medals, Coretta Scott King Awards, numerous NAACP Image Award nominations, and the Parenting Publications Gold Medal. The Pinkneys are deeply committed to stories that reach children across cultures and experiences. They inspire thousands of kids, educators, and parents each year as they travel the globe providing interactive storytelling programs. (source: A. Pinkney)

Close window

“The Science Sessions: How Parenting Changes the Brain” May 2, 2024

We know that kids’ brains change as they grow, but did you know that their parents’ brains change too? Dr. Darby Saxbe, a clinical psychologist, professor and director of clinical training at the Department of Psychology, and the Principal Investigator of the NEST Lab (NeuroEndocrinology of Social Ties Lab) at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, joins us to talk about emerging research that shows how parenthood changes the brain and how encouraging focused time between parents and children benefits everyone in the relationship.

Dr. Darby Saxbe

Dr. Darby Saxbe is a clinical psychologist and a professor and director of clinical training at the department of psychology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Dr. Saxbe is the Principal Investigator of the NEST Lab (NeuroEndocrinology of Social Ties Lab) at USC.

Close window

“Meg Medina, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature” April 25, 2024

Beloved author Meg Medina, current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and the first of Latina heritage in the program’s history, joins us to talk about ‘mirrors and windows’ in children’s books and why what kids hear coming off the page is just as important as what they see.

Meg Medina

Meg Medina is the current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. She is the author of the Newbery Medal–winning book Merci Suárez Changes Gears, which was also a 2018 Kirkus Prize finalist, and which was followed by two more acclaimed books about the Suárez family: Merci Suárez Can’t Dance and Merci Suárez Plays It Cool. Her young adult novels include Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, which won the 2014 Pura Belpré Author Award, and which will be published in 2023 as a graphic novel illustrated by Mel Valentine Vargas; Burn Baby Burn, which was long-listed for the National Book Award; and The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind. She is also the author of picture books Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez, Jumpstart’s 2020 Read for the Record selection; Mango, Abuela, and Me, illustrated by Angela Dominguez, which was a Pura Belpré Author Award Honor Book; and Tía Isa Wants a Car, illustrated by Claudio Muñoz, which won the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award; and the biography for young readers She Persisted: Sonia Sotomayor. The daughter of Cuban immigrants, she grew up in Queens, New York, and now lives in Richmond, Virginia.

(source: M. Medina website)

Close window

“Books Make Good Friends” April 11, 2024

“If you love a book, no doubt many other people love it, too. That shared love connects us and sparks that miraculous feeling of not being alone in the world.” Jane Mount’s illustrations of book spines, covers, beloved bookstores, fanciful libraries, and so much more, bring that world vividly to life and illustrate how, indeed, Books Make Good Friends.

Jane Mount

Jane Mount is an illustrator, designer, writer, and maker of things — particularly things for people who love books. She is the creator of Ideal Bookshelf; the author and illustrator of Books Make Good Friends and Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany and the illustrator and co-author of Bibliophile: Diverse Spines and My Ideal Bookshelf. (source: janemount.com)

Close window

“Kate DiCamillo on Reading, Writing, and Reading Aloud” March 28, 2024

Kate DiCamillo knows books. By far one of America’s most successful children’s writers (44 million books in print, translated into 41 languages), Kate joins us to talk about how reading — and reading aloud — has made her into the reader and writer she is today. We also learn, improbably, about how even sardine tins can be speakers of truth.

Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo has been awarded the Newbery Medal (Flora & Ulysses, and The Tale of Despereaux), the Newbery Honor (Because of Winn-Dixie), the Boston Globe Horn Book Award (The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane), and the Theodor Geisel Medal and honor (Bink and Gollie, co-authored with Alison McGhee, Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride). She is a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Emerita, appointed by the Library of Congress. A native of Florida, Kate now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (source: katedicamillo.com)

Close window

“Meeting Reach Out and Read’s ‘Book Czar’” March 14, 2024

Reach Out and Read has been working on a remarkable new strategy around a key element of what we do: books! A strong approach is key to supporting our mission and as a sustainable part of how we work. Angela Cunningham, Reach Out and Read’s National Director of Books Strategy and Partnerships, joins us to talk about how we approach books, and what the future might hold.

Angela Cunningham

Angela Cunningham is Reach Out and Read’s National Director of Books Strategy and Partnerships.

Close window

“The Science Sessions: Lullabies and Language” March 7, 2024

Giovanni Di Liberto, PhD

Giovanni Di Liberto, PhD is an Assistant Professor in Intelligent Systems at the School of Computer Science and Statistics at the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience at The University of Dublin. (source: Di Liberto Lab)

Close window

“Leo Lionni: Storyteller, Artist, Designer” February 29, 2024

Leo Lionni changed the picture book landscape with beloved titles such as Frederick, Swimmy, and A Color of His Own. But those books are just a small window into his extensive career as a graphic designer, painter, and a master of fine art. Annie Lionni, Leo’s granddaughter, and Leonard Marcus, a children’s book historian, join us to talk about the life and art of Leo Lionni as shared in their new book “Leo Lionni: Storyteller, Artist, Designer.”

Annie Lionni

Annie Lionni is Leo Lionni’s granddaughter and works to protect and preserve his legacy as an artist. She has helped to organize international exhibitions of Leo’s art, and established relationships with museums holding his work, including the Eric Carle Museum of Children’s Book Art, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Itabashi Museum in Tokyo. (source: Leo Lionni book)

Close window
Leonard Marcus

Leonard Marcus is one of the world’s foremost authorities on children’s books and the people who create them. He is the author or editor of more than 25 award winning books on children’s literature, a regular contributor to the New York Times Book Review, among many other publications. He teaches at New York University and the School of Visual Arts, and lectures world-wide. (source: Leo Lionni book)

Close window

“Randolph Caldecott: The Artist Behind the Medal” February 15, 2024

You’ve likely heard of the Caldecott Medal. But how much do you know about Caldecott himself and his revolutionary work? Barbara McClintock and Michelle Markel, illustrator and writer, respectively, of Tomfoolery! Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming of Age of Children’s Books, join us to talk about Caldecott’s art as a turning point in the history of children’s books, and the enduring influence he’s had on picture books ever since.

Barbara McClintock

Barbara McClintock has written and illustrated over 40 books for children, including her highly acclaimed Adele & Simon series. Her books have received five New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Awards, three ALA Notable Children’s Book citations, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award honor, and two Golden Kite honors as well as many other accolades, best book selections, and starred review. (source: Tomfoolery! book cover)

Close window
Michelle Markel

Michelle Markel writes informative, enjoyable children’s books at her home in Los Angeles, California. She’s the author of Tyrannosaurus Math (a CCBC Choices Reading List selection), The Fantastic Jungles of Henry Rousseau (a PEN/Steven Kroll Award winner), and Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Maker’s Strike of 1909 (a Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner, among many others). (source: Tomfoolery! book cover)

Close window

“What is the Institute of Museum and Library Services?” February 1, 2024

Crosby Kemper, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, joins us to explain the role of the federal government in the support and empowerment of America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. His careful stewardship and deep thoughts around how we protect and promote these incredible American civic institutions are evident in this far-reaching conversation.

Crosby Kemper

Crosby Kemper is the sixth director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. He was commissioned by the White House on January 24, 2020, following his confirmation by the United States Senate. IMLS, an independent government agency, is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s museums and libraries. Kemper is a dedicated advocate for education and learning for people of all ages and backgrounds. He comes to IMLS from the Kansas City Public Library, where as director, he established the library as one of the city’s leading cultural destinations and a hub of community engagement. Kemper also recently served as chair of the board of directors of the Schools, Health, & Libraries Broadband Coalition, which supports open, affordable broadband connections for local community organizations. His board service has included the Kansas City Symphony, the Black Archives of Mid-America, Union Station Kansas City, the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, the Rabbit hole — a center promoting children’s books — and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which operates Monticello. (source: IMLS.gov)

Close window

“Peter Brown and The Wild Robot” January 18, 2024

Writing for children – especially books that can be emotionally challenging – requires a great deal of insight, honestly, talent, and self reflection; and that’s before you even pick up the pencil! Peter Brown, author of The Wild Robot, a beautifully crafted and deeply moving middle grade novel about technology, nature, and family, joins us to talk about his approach to this work.

Peter Brown

In addition to being the author of The Wild Robot series, he has written and illustrated many books for children and earned numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor, a Horn Book Award, two E.B. White Awards, two E.B. White Honors, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, a Golden Kite Award, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award and multiple New York Times bestsellers. (source: P. Brown website)

Close window

“Early Relational Health: Proven and Simple” January 11, 2024

A new report from Harvard University and the Burke Foundation reinforces what we have long known at Reach Out and Read: simple, well-delivered initiatives to support early relational health have proven and profoundly beneficial results for children and their families. Dr. Junlei Li, lead author of the report and co-chair of the Human Development and Education Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, joins us to discuss how we can understand and support the work of those on the educational and social service front lines who serve children and families — and at home.

Junlei Li

Junlei Li, PhD, is the co-chair of the Human Development and Education Program and the Saul Zaentz senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. His research and practice focuses on understanding and supporting the work of helpers — those who serve children and families on the frontlines of education and social services. Li studied and learned from a wide range of developmental settings with low resources but high-quality practices, including orphanages, childcare, classrooms, and community youth programs. He developed the “Simple Interactions” approach to help identify what ordinary people do extraordinarily well with children in everyday moments and made that the basis for promoting positive system change. (source: Harvard GSE website)

Close window

“The New Brownies’ Book” January 4, 2024

In 1920, as Black art and writing flourished during the Harlem Renaissance, W.E.B. Du Bois created the first magazine aimed specifically at Black youth. Titled “The Brownies’ Book: A Monthly Magazine for Children of the Sun,” the magazine featured celebrated Black creatives of the time. Nearly 100 years later, Dr. Karida Brown and Charly Palmer have revived and expanded upon Du Bois’ work to “showcase new art and writing for children” and created and published “The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families.”

Dr. Karida Brown

Dr. Karida Brown is a professor, oral historian, and writer whose research centers on the race, historical transformations, and the fullness of black life. Dr. Brown previously served as the Diane Nash Descendants of Emancipation Chair at Fisk University’s John Lewis Center for Social Justice, and the inaugural Director of Racial Equity & Action for the Los Angeles Lakers. She’s currently a professor of sociology at Emory University.

Close window
Charly Palmer

Charly Palmer is an award-winning fine artist and illustrator. His artwork bears witness to African ancestry and contemporary experiences, from his paintings to his illustrated children’s books, which include The Teachers March! How Selma’s Teachers Changed History, The Legend of Gravity, and Keep Your Head Up. Palmer’s paintings can be found in major museums, sports stadiums, and private personal and corporate collections.

Close window

“Children’s Books for Times of Crisis” December 21, 2023

A core role of parents and caregivers is to help children make sense of an often-challenging world around them. Miriam Udel, professor of German and Jewish Studies at Emory University, joins us to talk about how children’s books can help parents and children alike when their world is “on fire.”

Miriam Udel

Miriam Udel is associate professor of German Studies and Judith London Evans Director of the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies at Emory University, where her teaching focuses on Yiddish language, literature, and culture. She holds an AB in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and a PhD in Comparative Literature, both from Harvard University. She was ordained in 2019 as part of the first cohort of the Executive Ordination Track at Yeshivat Maharat, a program designed to bring qualified mid-career women into the Orthodox Jewish rabbinate. (source: M. Udel)

Close window

“Untangling the Thread of Racism” December 7, 2023

The American Academy of Pediatrics has long recognized that the world outside the walls of hospitals and clinics has a major impact on the health of children. A new book from the Academy, “Untangling the Thread of Racism”, aims to be a thoughtful, practical, and hands-on resource that addresses many aspects of this important but challenging topic. Dr. Jacqueline Dougé, a general pediatrician, public health practitioner, and one of the editors of the book, joins us to talk about how health professionals can address racism and race-related issues in their practices.

Dr. Jacqueline Dougé

Dr. Jacqueline Dougé is a general pediatrician and public health practitioner, an Assistant Professor of Public Health at Hood College’s Department of Nursing, and has held numerous roles in the health sector. She has served on the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Community Pediatrics Prevention and Public Health Special Interest Group as co-chair, as a member of the Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, a member of the AAP News Editorial Board, and as a co-author of the transformative policy statement, “The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health.” Dr. Dougé is an editor of the AAP’s recently published book “Untangling the Thread of Racism”. (AAP)

Close window

“Stories of Gratitude” November 22, 2023

We’re thankful to every person who reads aloud to a child. To mark this holiday devoted to giving thanks, we’re bringing back an episode we recorded during the pandemic. We asked three children’s authors — Traci Sorell, Ann Clare LeZotte, and Dr Sayantani DasGupta — to read aloud their own stories of gratitude, and we’re grateful to share those stories with you again. Click h ere for complete show transcripts.

Traci Sorell

Cherokee Nation citizen and award-winning Traci Sorell writes fiction and nonfiction books, short stories and poems for young people. A former federal Indian law attorney and advocate, she lives with her family within her tribe’s reservation in northeastern Oklahoma. You can find out more about her work online at www.tracisorell.com and @tracisorell via Twitter and Instagram.

Close window
Ann Clare LeZotte

Ann Clare LeZotte is the author of Show Me a Sign (a 2020 School Library Journal Book of the Year, four starred reviews) and a forthcoming companion novel. A long-time youth services librarian who focused on underserved populations and inclusion, Ann is Deaf, bi-lingual, and bi-cultural. “I never had a romance about being ‘special’ or ‘different,’” she says. “I wished long and hard to be normal, a waste of time and a heartbreak I don’t want other young people to experience.” In her free time, Ann enjoys swimming and walking her dog, Perkins. She lives with her family in Gainesville, Florida.

Close window
Sayantani DasGupta

Sayantani DasGupta is the New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed, Bengali folktale and string theory-inspired Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond books, the first of which—The Serpent’s Secret—was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Booklist Best Middle Grade Novel of the 21st Century, and an EB White Read Aloud Honor Book. Sayantani is a pediatrician by training, but now teaches at Columbia University. When she’s not writing or reading, Sayantani spends time watching cooking shows with her trilingual children and protecting her black Labrador retriever Khushi from the many things that scare him, including plastic bags. She is a team member of We Need Diverse Books, and can be found online at sayantanidasgupta.com and on Twitter at @sayantani16.

Close window

“Talk Baby Talk!” November 9, 2023

Reach Out and Read has commissioned and published its first children’s book, Talk Baby Talk! In an effort to increase access to books that are representative of families from all races, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds, this book is reflective of Reach Out and Read’s mission, which focuses on the parent/caregiver-child relationship through daily reading. We discuss with Alex Chu, Executive Director for Reach Out and Read Northeast, author Tricia Elam Walker, and illustrator Cbabi Bayoc, about where the idea for the book came from, how the book was crafted, and how it can help families in ways that other books may not.

Tricia Elam Walker

Tricia Elam Walker is an award-winning author, attorney, and educator. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, Essence and many other publications, and she is the author of the award winning books “Nana Akua Goes to School” and “Dream Street”. Her latest book is Talk Baby Talk.

Close window
Cbabi Bayoc

Cbabi Bayoc is an internationally known artist whose work has appeared in New York Times bestsellers, magazines, on a record album, and in the pages of Ibram X. Kendi’s children’s book Goodnight Racism. His recent book is Talk Baby Talk.

Close window
Alex Chu

Alex Chu is the Executive Director for Reach Out and Read Northeast.

Close window

“The Science Sessions: Research through Learning Networks” November 2, 2023

Reach Out and Read, in partnership with Columbia University, the Center for the Study of Social Policy, and the Institute for Child Success, is proudly embarking on the first national longitudinal study of early relational health. Tyson Barker, Chief Science & Innovation Officer at ICS joins us to talk about how the study will incorporate end-user design to learn best how to promote nurturing early relationships between young children and their caregivers.

Tyson Barker

Tyson Barker directs ICS’s science and innovation strategy by developing innovative tools and strategic initiatives that scale the impact of early childhood programs and policies. He also consults with government, nonprofits, and foundations around measurement and evaluation. Tyson received his PhD in Human Development from the University of Maryland, MA in Special Education and Risk Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and BA in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. (source: ICS)

Close window

“Reading Sad Books Is Good for Your Kids” October 26, 2023

Children’s books should not only offer “windows and mirrors” into other cultures, races, and religions, but into a range of feelings and emotions. Craig Fehrman, author of a recent essay in The New York Times titled “Reading Sad Books Is Good for Your Kids”, joins us to talk about the importance of creating, sharing, and discussing children’s books that mix the “tragedy and joy that define great art and also real life.

Craig Fehrman

Craig Fehrman is a writer and historian who, in addition to his new book Authors in Chief: The Untold Story of Our Presidents and the Books They Wrote, has written several pieces for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. His essay, “Reading Sad Books Is Good for Your Kids”, was recently published in The New York Times.

Close window

“Gibberish”, October 12, 2023

Moving to a new country is a challenge for everyone, but especially so for children. New immigrants often face pressure to assimilate quickly — to ‘dress like us’ and talk ‘like us’ — and stop speaking the languages that ‘don’t make sense’ to our ears. Young Vo, author of the new children’s picture book “Gibberish” joins us to discuss these common tropes and says it’s not the newcomer that’s speaking “gibberish”; it’s us.

Young Vo

Young Vo is an artist who learned to draw before he could write. He drew a lot of characters, then began to write stories for them. There were not many job choices that he could make, so he decided to be an animator and an award-winning author and illustrator. Now he writes and draws his stories before the sun rises, then during the day, he animates. His most recent book, “Gibberish”, is a widely acclaimed children’s picture book about a young immigrant struggling to connect in a new language. (Source: youngvoart.com)

Close window

“Thinking Sideways to Solve Problems”, September 28, 2023

“Think sideways” isn’t just a catch phrase – applied thoughtfully, small changes in mindset and approach can have a big impact. Anthony Barrows, Managing Partner and Founder at the Center for Behavioral Design and Social Justice at Project Evident, joins us to share his research—informed often by his own life story—into how applied behavioral science can help us successfully solve big problems.

Anthony Barrows

Anthony Barrows, Managing Partner and Founder, Center for Behavioral Design and Social Justice, is a jack of all trades and a master of some, with a background in behavioral design, child welfare, public policy, and fine arts. As someone with personal experience of foster care, public housing, juvenile justice, and safety net programs, Anthony brings lived expertise to his systems change work in the nonprofit and public sectors. He spent almost 9 years at the applied behavioral science firm ideas42, where he led the economic-justice portfolio, and over 10 years in child welfare, spanning positions from direct service to system improvement. Anthony is a 2018 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow, and holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, where he was a Gleitsman Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership, an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, and a BA from UMass Boston. (source: Project Evident)

Close window

“Translating Children’s Books”, September 14, 2023

How hard could it be to translate a children’s book — they are mostly pictures and so few words, after all? It’s not so simple, it turns out. Daniel Hahn, a writer, editor, and literary translator who has translated hundreds of adult and children’s books alike joins us to break down the artistry and nuance that goes into successfully translating children’s picture books.

Daniel Hahn

Daniel Hahn is a writer, editor, literary translator, and the author of “Catching Fire: A Translation Diary.”

Close window

“The Science Sessions: Reach Out and Read Impact Study”, September 7, 2023

The Science Sessions, a new feature from the Reach Out and Read Podcast, examines and explains important research on early relational health, early literacy, and more. In this inaugural episode, Dr. Marny Dunlap and Callee Boulware join us to discuss how a new study shows exposure to Reach Out and Read increases caregiver reading frequency and improves behaviors.

Dr. Marny Dunlap

Dr. Marny Dunlap is a Professor of Pediatrics and section chief for the Section of General and Community Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and the medical director for Reach Out and Read Oklahoma. (source: Dr. Dunlap)

Close window
Callee Boulware

Callee Boulware has been the Regional Director of Reach Out and Read in NC, SC, VA, and DC since 2001. Over the past 22 years, the Reach Out and Read regional team has expanded its reach to more than 750 clinical locations across NC, SC, VA, and DC serving more than 500,000 children birth-5 years old each year. Callee leads a staff of 20 committed Reach Out and Read regional team members, and works with their Reach Out and Read Advisory Board and local, state, regional, and national partners. (source: C. Boulware)

Close window

“Once Upon a Time …”, August 31, 2023

“The literary tradition of the fairy tale has long endured as the vehicle by which we interrogate the laws of reality.” Sabrina Orah Mark, author of the new book “Happily” and an award-winning writer and columnist for The Paris Review, joins the podcast to talk about how fairy tales shape — and reflect — our world, in childhood and beyond.

Sabrina Orah Mark

Sabrina Orah Mark is an award-winning fiction writer and poet who has written the column “Happily” for The Paris Review since 2018. She is the author of Wild Milk, a collection of fiction, as well as two collections of poetry, The Babies and Tsim Tsim. (source: “Happily” book jacket)

Close window

“Pictured Worlds”, August 17, 2023

Illustrated children’s books capture the imagination of children and adults alike like no other art form. Leonard Marcus, one of the world’s preeminent authorities on children’s books and their creators, joins us to talk about “the special nature of the illustrated children’s book as a cultural enterprise that is at once rewarding art form, a bridge across cultures, and a ladder between generations.

Leonard Marcus

Leonard Marcus’s pathfinding writings and exhibitions have earned him acclaim as one of the world’s preeminent authorities on children’s books and the people who create them. He is the author of more than 25 award-winning biographies, histories, interview collections, and inside looks at the making of children’s literature’s enduring classics. His reviews and commentary have been featured in the New York Times Book Review, Washington Post, The Horn Book, and on numerous radio and television programs including Good Morning America, All Things Considered, PBS NewsHour, BBC Radio 4, CBC As It Happens, Beijing Television, and Radio New Zealand, among others. His latest book is Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children’s Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World. (source: L. Marcus website)

Close window

Research shows reading physical books together brings the strongest benefits to children. That’s why we’re happy to have Boise Paper – a responsible paper manufacturer – sponsor this podcast. Through their Paper with Purpose promise, Boise Paper looks for ways to make a difference in local communities. Thank you to Boise Paper for investing in our Reach Out and Read community.

Back to podcast home page

Subscribe Today