If you need a boost of sunshine in your week, stop whatever you're doing and listen to this podcast. Why? Because in this episode, Australian icon Mem Fox joins me to talk about the unique gift this specific time can offer us -- the chance to read together, to connect, and to help our kids fall in love with books on a whole new level. Mem Fox is Australia's most celebrated author and the creator of many too many pictures books to count. She's a giant advocate of reading aloud, as you'll hear, and someone I've been dying to talk with. On today's show, we're talking about how and why reading to our kids will change their lives forever. In this podcast episode, you'll hear: * the magic that happens when kids and parents curl up to read together* what reading aloud does for parents too - especially right now!* and of course, Mem's favorite books to read aloud I'm also sharing the most encouraging thing I've read online in a long time (that happens at minute 1:13). Click the play button below to start listening: We talk about... 1:13 An uplifting message (don't we all need one right about now?)4:33Interrupted during reading aloud7:14 On expectations11:27Australia's best-selling writer (yes, the whole continent!) Mem Fox14:04Reading aloud: ' A lifeline of happiness'17:14'Laid-back, hang-loose, let's have fun'20:39The role of accents in phonics24:18Bonding through Peter Pan26:39Like driving a car ...29:11How to raise readers29:50A 'craze about birds'31:32 Mem recommends ...34:48Reading essentials36:24Remembering Tomie39:10Let the Kids Speak More free resources and booklists Get the best episodes and reources from the Read-Aloud Revival Keep an eye on your inbox! We'll keep you posted whenever we have a new podcast episode or a great free booklist or resource for you. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. Email Address I'd like to receive the free email course. Yes! Powered by ConvertKit /* Layout */ .ck_form.ck_minimal { /* divider image */ background: #f9f9f9; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.5em; overflow: hidden; color: #666; font-size: 16px; border: solid 1px #d1d1d1; -webkit-box-shadow: none; -moz-box-shadow: none; box-shadow: none; clear: both; margin: 20px 0px; text-align: center; } .ck_form.ck_minimal h3.ck_form_title { text-align: center; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 28px; } .ck_form.ck_minimal h4 { text-align: center; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; padding-top: 0px; margin-top: 0px; } .ck_form.ck_minimal p { padding: 0px; } .ck_form, .ck_form * { -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; box-sizing: border-box; } .ck_form.ck_minimal .ck_form_fields { width: 100%; float: left; padding: 5%; } /* Form fields */ .ck_errorArea { display: none; /* temporary */ } #ck_success_msg { padding: 10px 10px 0px; border: solid 1px #ddd; background: #eee; } .ck_form.ck_minimal input[type="text"], .ck_form.ck_minimal input[type="email"] { font-size: 18px; padding...