Humans love and connect through storytelling, especially kids. In this episode of the Parenting Great Kids podcast, Dr. Meg Meeker sits down with Andrew Peterson, an award-winning singer, songwriter, and the author of the Wing Feather Saga. Andrew shares his journey from aspiring author to accomplished musician, and how reading the Narnia books with his kids inspired him to write his own captivating stories. His intentional approach to leaving room for hope and imagination in his storytelling, drawing from his Christian faith, offers valuable insights for parents who are seeking to cultivate a love for reading and creativity in their own children. TODAY’S GUEST: For more than twenty years now, Andrew Peterson has been about the business of quietly changing lives in four-minute increments. In the city of Nashville where music is an industry in the same way fast food, generic greeting cards, and bumper stickers are industries, Peterson has forged his own path, refusing the artistic compromises that so often come with chasing album sales and radio singles and creating instead a long line of songs that ache with sorrow, joy and integrity, and that are, at the end of the day, part of a real, ongoing, human conversation.  Andrew is also the award-winning author of The Wingfeather Saga, a four-book fantasy adventure series for young people, described as The Princess Bride meets The Lord of the Rings. The books have been re-released as collectible hardcover editions through Penguin Random House in 2020, and production is underway on the first season of the animated series through Angel Studios (The Chosen), set to release in 2022. Andrew and his wife, Jamie, have been married for over 24 years and have three children, Aedan, Asher, and Skye. In his spare time Andrew keeps bees, builds dry stack stone walls, gardens, draws, and sleeps. One of the most important gifts you can give your child is a love for literature. As parents, we play a vital role in fostering a love for stories that can shape our children's outlook on life and inspire them to dream big. Andrew shares how the power of storytelling can ignite your child's imagination and cultivate hope. In this episode, you will learn how to: Explore the transformative power of literature for children. Uncover the joy of bonding through storytelling and reading with kids. Embrace the significance of nurturing hope and imagination in storytelling. OUR SPONSORS Greenchef.com Use code 60drmeg to get 60% off, plus 20% off your next two months. masimostork.com A revolutionary baby monitor is born! Masimo Stork is a new device to monitor your baby’s health. Skylight Digital Picture Frames are the perfect bridge connecting you to the special moments of those you love! It’s private, pre-loadable, and you can personalize it! Visit SkylightFrame.com FROM THE PRODUCER Discover "How to Talk to Your Kids About Puberty & Sex" – a vital resource for parents with children aged 8 to 18. Equip yourself with the knowledge and confidence to have these essential conversations. Visit meekerparenting.com/courses to learn more. Get social with us and take advantage of other resources here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices