Over the past few months on the podcast, we’ve talked a lot about how reading aloud benefits kids academically, how it develops their resilience, empathy, and virtue, and even reduces physiological stress. Today on the show, we’re diving into the flip side of reading: writing. Without writing, we’d have no stories to read. But creating books to share with others isn’t the only reason why writing is so important. Writing also has tremendous benefits to the person sitting down and putting words on a page.  In this episode, Audrey and I talk about some of the many reasons to invite your kids –– and yourself! –– to write and we’ll share a few of our favorite exercises and tips for getting everyone’s creativity flowing.In this episode, you’ll hear: Why creativity is available to every single one of us, even if we wouldn’t consider ourselves to be artists How writing helps us slow down, notice details, cultivate attention and presence, and uncover what we’re thinking even when life is busy and messyHow writing, like reading, has the power to connect and transform usLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/why-we-write

Books are so much more than just a collection of words. They are lanterns that illuminate our lives in so many incredible ways.Today, I want to share a story with you about a group of women who also believed in the power of books to transform lives. So much so, that they were willing to endure quite a lot of hardship to get books into the hands of people who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to them during a difficult period of American history. In this episode, I’m talking with Caroline Starr Rose, author of our newest Waxwing Books release, Books Up the Mountain: A Packhorse Librarian Story. Caroline is an author and editor of middle grade and picture books, and in our conversation she talks about the real-life program that inspired Books Up the Mountain, the scavenger hunt process of researching historical fiction, and writing stories that honor children and their experiences.In this episode, you’ll hear: About the Great Depression-era librarians whose work and communities inspired Caroline to create The Book WomanWhy Caroline finds writing for children such lifegiving and compelling work The challenges presented by writing historical novels versus picture books, and what makes “picture book alchemy”Learn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/becoming-a-book-woman

How long is your to-do list? What if you added in all the extra shoulds and supposed-tos that you are in your head but you don’t even write down because that would be too overwhelming? How long is it then?It might feel a little cliché to talk about how busy we are. But I think it’s helpful to acknowledge that most of us are at least a little bit (or more) fried. So why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we keep piling things onto our to-do lists?If you take a closer look at your list, I think you’ll find that underneath that busyness, the reason is relationships. Your list is long because you love your kids, and you want them to feel loved and supported by the things you do for them, from teaching to cooking to cleaning to working outside the home. But a hard truth I’ve learned in nearly 25 (!!) years of motherhood is that restless busyness can make it harder to do the things that actually allow us to nurture our kids, develop fruitful relationships with them, and model God’s love.Today on the show, I want to help you find some rest in the mess so you can show up in all of your relationships with more peace and even, dare I say it… joy. To do that, I’m going to let you in on some of our favorite moments from Circle With Sarah over the last year. Circle With Sarah is one of our Read-Aloud Revival Premium members' favorite features. It’s a private podcast, live virtual events, and biannual virtual retreats all designed to support you in the journey you’ve chosen as a mom.In this episode, you’ll hear: Shifting your focus to how far you’ve come from how far you have left to goA simple exercise for getting to the root of worry and learning to trust that what we do is enough Tips for reframing interruptions, prioritizing rest and connectionLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/finding-rest-in-the-mess

Here at the Read-Aloud Revival, we’ve been asked more times than I can count to create virtue-based book lists. And I always say no.Today, our Creative Director (and my eldest daughter) Audrey is back with me to talk about why we don’t make lists of books that specifically set out to teach kids about kindness, honesty, or other virtues. The reality is, all good books have a powerful capacity to inspire us towards virtue, and the ones that are the most effective are the ones that don’t set out to teach. They just set out to tell a good story. Good stories, by their nature, form us in virtue.We’re going to talk about what makes a story formational, and of course, share some of our favorite books that have been formative in our family.In this episode, you’ll hear: Why learning virtue doesn’t need a lesson plan or bullet points, and can even be delightfulHow stories invite us into the experiences of others, with all their human strengths and weaknessesThe guiding question behind every book recommendation we make at RARLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/books-forming-virtue

 When you think about the various work that goes into making a children’s book, research probably isn’t at the top of your list. It might not make it on your list at all!But research is often an essential part of the process. And I can tell you from personal experience that research can be a time-intensive, sometimes overwhelming, but often the most delightful task. Today on the show, we’re hearing from some incredible authors and illustrators about the research that goes into children’s books. Whether you’re an aspiring author or a curious reader, you’re in for some surprises.In this episode, you’ll hear: Two big reasons why authors do research, whether they’re writing a biography, historical fiction, or even fantasy!How every research question can be a doorway, from talking with subject matter experts to primary sources to searching your own heart and mindThe challenges and opportunities in having too little or too much information available about a person or topicLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/sparking-creativity-with-research

When I mention Shakespeare, a lot of people immediately conjure up visions of high school English class, struggling through Julius Caesar line by line.Which is an absolute shame, because Shakespeare’s plays are meant to be experienced–performed, seen, heard, felt. And experiencing Shakespeare with your kids is truly one of the most joyful things you can do together.Today, I’m returning to my conversation with one of my favorite Shakespeare lovers, Ken Ludwig.Ken is the author of How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare and one of our most celebrated, widely-performed playwrights. His plays are performed every single night of the year, and his enthusiasm for Shakespeare is utterly contagious and in this episode, we not only nerd out about our favorite plays, but share how to make teaching Shakespeare a true delight for you and your children.In this episode, you’ll hear: Easy tips for breaking down passages for young kids to make them fun and memorableWhy Shakespeare is the best way to introduce children to complex, inventive, and beautiful language  How Shakespeare’s work informs all of the English literature (and plays and TV and movies!) that followed itLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/joy-of-shakespeare

How do we homeschool high school? It’s *the* question, isn’t it?A lot of us go into homeschooling ready and excited for the younger years. Then as high school approaches, things start to feel… a little more complicated. To say the least. Navigating difficult subjects, transcripts, college applications, and alternatives to college if that isn’t a good fit for your child can be intimidating.It’s no wonder that homeschooling high school is one of the most-asked topics here at RAR.As many of you know, I have three kids who I homeschooled through high school who are now in college and beyond. My guest today is also an experienced homeschool mom who’s had two of her six children graduate high school and move on to college. Rachel Kovac is a speaker, educator, and the author of the new book, Their Future is Shining Bright: A Guide to Homeschooling High School. I invited her to talk with me about the nitty gritty details of getting your kids through high school, as well as to share some big-picture encouragement as you face the challenges of the high school years.In this episode, you’ll hear: Why the high school years feel so intimidating and what you can do to support a growth mindset for your teenHow your role shifts as your kids enter high school (and why it’s something to look forward to!)Balancing doing less in your homeschool with keeping doors and paths open for your kidsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/rachel-kovac

One of the very best ways to travel with your children is through books.Physically travelling as a family isn’t always possible for a variety of reasons, but by reading with our kids, we give them the gift of windows into unfamiliar worlds. Stories develop empathy and invite us to engage with another’s experiences in ways that can even go deeper than visiting a place in real life. Today, RAR’s Creative Director (and my eldest daughter) Audrey is with me to talk about the power of books to take us places, even when we’re not able to go far from home ourselves. In this episode, you’ll hear: How stories help us engage with creativity, community, and our CreatorHow books can give us deeper connections to the places we do travelHow reading–and especially reading aloud!–cultivates curiosity and wonderLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/books-take-us-places

 What would happen if you decided to be your child's mentor rather than their teacher? What if you awakened their wonder and curiosity so that they became the kind of people who thirst for knowledge and understanding?Today, I’m revisiting a conversation about those very questions that I had a few years ago with Sally Clarkson. I’m lucky to count Sally as a dear friend and I know that her work has been transformational for me and for so many of you.In this episode, Sally shares how we can inspire our kids to become lifelong readers and learners right in our own homes.In this episode, you’ll hear: How to make your homeschool a place of resources for your unique childrenWhat is different about being your child’s mentor, rather than their teacherWhy modeling curiosity and excitement about learning in your homeschool matters more than any curriculumLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/becoming-your-childs-mentor

What is your calling in life? For poet, songwriter, and academic, Malcolm Guite, it’s unequivocally clear–to be a storyteller. Today on the podcast Audrey and I chat with Malcolm about the first volume in his new retelling of the classic King Arthur stories, Galahad and the Grail, illustrated by the incredible Stephen Crotts and published by our friends over at Rabbit Room Press. Not only is Malcolm adapting the legends of King Arthur, he’s doing it in poetic ballad form, which means they are basically designed to be read aloud. In our conversation, he tells us about the epic journey he and his publisher and illustrator undertook to visit sites connected to the Arthurian legends, how a childhood surrounded by books and stories led him to his lifelong love and study of literature and poetry, and the impact his own mother had on his journey to becoming a poet and storyteller. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why Malcolm chose to write this story in ballad form How woodland walks inspire Malcolm’s writing and why he knew it was time to “take up the tale”What elements and parallels of Biblical stories Malcolm wanted to restore that have often been left out of modern Arthurian retellingsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read-Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/malcolm-guite