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

Poetry? Really? Do we have to?! This episode proposes that poetry will surprise you with joy. We discuss how poetry changes our experience of time, deepens our experience of meaning, and sparks joy. Charity discusses two Greek words used regarding time: chronos and kairos . Poetry is an instantiation of kairos time, time-as-meaningful. Discover new poetry and rediscover familiar poetry. Enjoy new...

As part of an emerging initiative, Charity Hill reviews children's books. In this episode, Charity reviews Karen Cushman's Newberry Winner (1996) The Midwife's Apprentice . In the book review series, Charity offers praise, summary, and analysis of the text so that parents can decide which books are worth reading. We wonder if The Midwife's Apprentice really delivers the empower...

In this interview with Katherine Leaño, you'll be encouraged to embrace the paradox of your humanity. You'll hear how gardening can help you and your children become more human, rested, integrated, and creative. You'll be challenged to make your backyard a different kind of "oasis." Find rest and inspiration with this episode's booklist ! It's stunning. Enjoy bei...

Is the Fancy Nancy series a series worth reading? We wonder "How can glitter be compatible with depth, with meaning?" What is a parent to do with an intelligent little girl's need for sparkle? We review the Fancy Nancy series to help you discern the best way to fill that glitter-shaped hole in every little girl's heart.   Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on...

After reviewing Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen, I was more aware of the miracles of in our every day circumstances. I share with you an encounter between my family and our orthodontist which shows how miracles are part of the (extra)ordinary.  Listen to hear how fiction can shape what we see and how we receive it. Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram. Enjo...

As part of a new initiative, Charity Hill reviews specific children's books. In this episode, Charity reviews Virginia Sorensen's 1956 Newberry winner Miracle on Maple Hill.  In the book review series, Charity offers praise, summary, and analysis of the text so that mothers and fathers know enough to decide which books are worth reading. Find quick book recommendations by following Chari...

Charity Hill interviews Margaret Bereit regarding how fiction can shape family spirituality. What do you value that is real but "invisible"? How can fiction help to make what is unseen more tangible to your children? Enjoy some of Margareit Bereit's favorite books. Think further with Amanda Knapp's essay. Connect for more conversation . Find quick book recommendations by follow...

Charity Hill interviews Trisha Galvan LPC and LCPC on the beautifully human word "resilience," a word worth exploring. Trisha defines what resilience looks like and discusses the importance of community to framing a resilient response to difficulty. Trisha also suggests a return to attachment for older children, to ground them for resilient behaviors as teens and young adults. To promote...

Charity Hill begins a new initiative within Bright Wings to help mothers and fathers identify whether specific books are worth reading. She begins with Avi's Newberry winner (2003) Crispin: The Cross of Lead . In the book review series, Charity Hill offers praise, summary, and analysis of the text. Check out essays and other episodes at our website ! Join the conversation on Instagram. Find q...

Charity Hill reflects on why fairy tales are worth reading and confronts some of the unworthy reasons they are frowned upon.  She suggests that fairy tales affirm that good triumphs over evil, how cleverness counts to overcoming adversity, that companionship matters to adventure, that self-awareness can begin with types, and that these factors give children the power of resilience. Read a reflecti...

Charity Hill and Emily Sullivan discuss how fiction shapes our children's moral imagination, allowing them to explore moral choices and possibilities. Through empathy and imagination, a child can expand their moral experience. Good fictional characters make for better--more virtuous--real character! See more and read more at the website ! Join the conversation on Instagram . Find quick book r...

Charity Hill interviews Carla Galdo where they wonder about the importance that place/setting has on human character. Carla shares about the decision to move her family to a farm. They discuss picture books and novels where setting/place shapes character. Click here for the booklist for Episode 6. Check out the reflection by Katherine Leaño on our blog . Join the conversation of Bright Wings at In...

Charity Hill reads Katherine Leaño's essay "Bloom Where You're Planted" to frame an understanding of the effect of place on character. They propose that certain things give our children the roots to grow character: geographic specificity, cultivating gratitude, familial love, and doing together the work the place "demands." Katherine draws upon Abuela by Arthur Dorros...

Charity Hill discusses how The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom inspired her to consider the role that limits have on shaping heroic character. Can we possibly find limits liberating? How do rules help our children to identify what will make them happy? What kind of stability do limits offer? She shares some of the goals and principles of her own family life and how those priorities structure the d...

Just how important are great book illustrations? How much do they really matter? What effect do beautiful illustrations have on my child? Enjoy the conversation between Charity Hill and Amanda Knapp as they discuss how beautiful illustrations stir imagination, desire and motivation. Notice with Charity and Amanda what makes illustrations powerful and fascinating and how to recognize such books you...

Together with Jaclyn Ruli, Montessori educator and homeschooling supermom of six (or is it seven?!), I reflect on being a new mom and learning to choose worthwhile board books. We review some Montessorian principles about early childhood development and how they can help us think about what sort of books our children need. Jaclyn gives us encouragement to slow down and become more awake to our chi...

Welcome to Bright Wings: Children’s Books to Make the Heart Soar! Have you ever wondered what makes a book worth reading? What are some reliable criteria? We all want to give our children the best. How do we identify “best”? Books that are worth reading propose a vision of reality that corresponds to the ultimate goal of my parenting. Discover the three questions that books worth reading help to a...

The adventure of reading begins with board books! When we begin reading to our littles, we begin to help them answer the questions "What IS?" and "Who am I?" These are the very deep questions that board books help our child to answer. Let's consider what gives our children a good grasp of what reality and who they are in it. We discuss what kind of illustrations and langua...