Bright Wings: Children’s Books to Make the Heart Soar

Have you ever wondered if fairy tales have a deeper meaning? Where in the world have they come from? From what countries? From what places in the human heart? Join the conversation with Dr. Marina Warner (author of Once Upon A Time: A Short History of Fairy Tale ) and Charity Hill as they discuss these questions and also why fairy tales are, wonderfully, women's tales! Dr. Warner gives new in...

Do you have a dog? To paraphrase C. S. Lewis, if you love anything--even a dog--there is hope for you! If you love anything, even a dog, you are susceptible to encounters with others and to awareness of your human condition. Charity argues that you are more likely to live with joy, appreciate embodiment, and understand mortality. And, of course, Charity offers us books to celebrate these themes th...

In this quick episode, Charity notices that the start of  new school year is more full of possibility and opportunity for our children than New Year's is for adults. Charity suggests four books to celebrate the return to school, with a title especially for homeschooling families. When you buy a book through my links, 10% of your purchase supports Bright Wings. Thank you! School's First D...

We are delighted to be reading these books with you and your family during the weeks of summer! These books are worth reading and reflecting on, giving us opportunities to have meaningful conversations with our children.  All six of the selected books share two common themes. They all take place around water, either the sea or a river. And, in all six of the books, the characters develop a richer...

Can you mix Shakespeare and kids? When was the last time you read or watched the Bard? Do you have a community of readers to read Shakepeare with? to read Shakespeare for? Can you create a community of Shakespeare appreciators with your children? Charity dives into quality retellings of William Shakespeare which are suitable for children, especially the <13 population. Charity argues that retel...

As part of an on-going initiative, Charity Hill reviews children's books. Here, she reviews The Giver  by Lois Lowry , the Newbery Winner in 1994. Charity traces the plot from its utopian presentation through Jonas' discovery of his community's dystopianism, to Jonas' dramatic escape. Charity proposes that this story can instigate marvelous questions with our children where we...

There is an ethical elephant in the room! There is a lot more to The Keeper series than waht usually gets talked about. Charity offers us Sydney Rosenberger's thoughtful and friendly critique of the Keeper of the Lost Cities  series . Rosenberger, a children's librarian, contacted Charity after Charity reviewed the first book of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series and shows us that ther...

As part of an ongoing initiative, Charity Hill reviews books. In this episode, Charity review's Peter Brown's The Wild Robot . Charity explains what makes this imaginative and creative book so fascinating. She asks us to think about and talk to our children about the larger questions framing the story: What is the difference between living and non-living things? What is the difference be...

As part of an ongoing initiative, Charity Hill reviews children's books. In this episode, Charity reviews Shannon Messenger's Keeper of the Lost Cities, Book 1 . Charity considers what makes this 500-page middle grade novel such a page turner. What drives such a long book forward, in the eyes of the 10-year olds who read it? Does it have valuable language, characterization, and action? L...

Leprechauns are fun, but is there more to Irish literature?! Diving into our Irish inheritance, Charity Hill offers insight into Irish literature. She suggests that what makes Irish literature distinctive is the way it navigates paradoxes. Charity uses Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role   to identify characteristics of Irish litera...

Charity Hill and Amanda Knapp share the joy of winter-themed picture books both classic and new. They wonder why "cosy" goes so well with "cold"? They explore the Danish concept of hygge (HOO-gah) --comfort and coziness, reflection and rest.  Charity and Amanda notice that book-reading in winter becomes a particular pleasure. They swap favorite stories that praise the delights...

As part of an ongoing initiative, Charity Hill reviews children's books. In this episode, Charity reviews two novels by Lesa Cline Ransome: Finding Langston and Leaving Lymon , which concern two different boys whose families move from South to North in the Great Migration. Charity appreciates Cline Ransom's handling of Langston's pivotal questions "Who am I?" and "Whe...

Join the conversation with Jenny Richeson, CCC/SLP (see @thespeechpoet ) and discover what a speech-language pathologist does. What is Jenny's connection between her work as a SLP and the poetry she creates? What does reading ability have to do with self-regulation? Consider with us how education is more formation than information . And hear Charity's story of why speech therapy was more...

Join the conversation with author Claire Swinarski as we discuss how it is possible to write realistic, contemporary middle grade fiction--with a mainstream publisher--and still have content that points readers to truth and goodness. Claire shares how important it is to tackle tough topics with middle schoolers in a hopeful, virtuous, and non-boring way. We discuss What Happens Next and The Kate I...

Is there any Season with more marvelous picture books?! Let's discover a few more together! Join the conversation with Amanda Knapp and Charity Hill as they swap Christmas picture book favorites. Do Charity and Amanda feel guilty about the Christmas + presents connection? What does Charity think about the gift-giving and "the true meaning of Christmas"? Find new and meaningful books...

What kind of books are we looking for when our child first learns to read? First, Charity demystifies some of the lingo surrounding early readers. (What are early readers? WHY early readers? What are transitional books? ) Charity will tell you what she really thinks about Junie B. Jones, Ivy + Bean, and the Magic Tree House Series. She shares her recommendations on early chapter books. Charity wil...

Are you ready to have the biggest parent-teacher conference of your life? Listen as Jeremy Adams describes the pandemic of vacuity that is afflicting our young people. A decorated and most-beloved CA teacher, Jeremy Adams is the author of Hollowed Out: A Warning About America's Next Generation . He demonstrates the "uniquely perilous" position of our young people. What is he seeing...

At listener request, Charity answers some of your most practical and theoretical questions about going to the library.  Should you go to the library? What should you do about story time? Can going to the library with toddlers be fun? How do you navigate that situation? How do you choose what books to bring home? What are your parameters for decision-making? How do I find a book that isn't in...

As part of an ongoing initiative, Charity Hill reviews children's books. In this episode, Charity reviews two novels by Sara Pennypacker: Pax and Here In The Real World . In Pax , we find a deep relationship between a boy (Peter) and his partially domesticated fox (Pax), a search for a moral identity, and a quest to make peace. Finally, Charity wonders if the end is satisfying to a readership...

Marcie Stokman, founder and president of Well-Read Mom , joins Charity for a conversation. Marcie tells of the need she saw that motivated her to found Well-Read Mom. Marcie and Charity share how deep reading, in a community of women, has impacted them. They talk about the "moral imagination" and how fiction shapes a sense of truth and goodness. Charity and Marcie urge you to "take...

Stories of strong girls and women show us that there  is something distinctive about being a girl, about being a woman. Good literature, with strong female characters, has so much to offer! We wonder what is distinctive about being a girl? What is the feminine genius? Does my daughter have a heroic role to play? Where is the literature that supports my daughter in developing her identity as a part...

Finish the conversation between Julian Peters, comic artist of Poems to See By  and Charity Hill.  We reflect on Julian's visual interpretation of "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden  from Poems To See By , the role of beauty in comics, and the suitability or unsuitability of adapting certain works of literature to comics. Please refer to this link to see Julian Peters' ima...

Join the first part of the conversation with Julian Peters, comic artist of Poems to See By as he teaches Charity the differences between comics and illustrations. They reflect on two of Julian's visually interpreted poems from Poems To See By and consider international comic traditions, and the role of beauty in comics. Please refer to this link to see Julian Peters ' images of "Mu...

As part of an ongoing initiative, Charity Hill reviews children's books. In this episode, Charity reviews Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The War That Saved My Life . In the book review series, Charity offers praise, summary, and analysis of the text so that parents can decide which books are worth reading. Charity praises the quality writing and the powerful proposal within the narrative th...

Join Charity Hill's glee as she explores tall tales. She distinguishes what makes tall tales a distinct kind of story from fairy tales. Then, she explores why tall tales are fun--and funny! She wonders if its possible to love truth and still "play with it." She shows how delightful the disparity between reality and hyperbole can be. Then, Charity shares with us some of the best tall...