Symbolism, the language of feet and depicting difficult scenes: an interview with Dub Leffler

Ellie Brooks talks us through how she rotates her children's book collection throughout the year. She also shares tips and tricks on how to build up your home library through secondhand shopping and a few thoughts on AI children's books . Ellie is creative, thoughtful and warm and and you'll come away from this episode inspired to find the best new and old books for your children and to find ways to showcase them in your read-aloud home. Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome Books and People Mentioned: Charlotte Mason (British Educator) Waldorf Education The BFG (1982) by Roald Dahl The Mysterious Benedict Society Series by Trenton Lee Stewart The Children's Treasury of 20th Century Literature (1998) selected by Janet Schulman Bedtime for Frances (1995) by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Garth Williams Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert The Stinky Cheeseman by Jon Scieszka Make Believe (2026) by Mac Barnet Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring (2020) by Kenard Pak The Usborne Book of Farmyard Tales (2002) by Heather Amery and Stephen Cartwright Jan Brett (author/illustrator) Arnold Lobel (author/illustrator) Wishy Washy books by Tabitha Page Brambly Hedge books written and illustrated by Jill Barklem Brown Bear Wood books, poems by Rachel Piercey, illustrated by Freya Hartas Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) by A.A Milne, illustrated by E. H. Shepard Winnie-the-Pooh Audiobook read by Alan Bennett The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner I am a Bunny (1963) by Ole Risom and Richard Scarry Sea Story (1990) by Jill Barklem Little House in the Big Woods (1932) by Laura Ingalls Wilder Farmer Boy (1933) by Laura Ingalls Wilder Amber O'Neal Johnston on the Read-Aloud Home Podcast Thunder Cake (1990) by Patrician Polacco Water Is Water (2015) by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Jason Chin Tales from Martha B. Rabbit (1999) by Shirley Barber A Year on our Farm (2002) by Penny Mathews, illustrated by Andrew McLean Snowman - Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations (2019) by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Micha Archer Yucky Worms (2015) by Vivian French, illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest (2021) by Phoebe Wahl How Does my Garden Grow? (2014) by Gerda Muller A Year Around the Great Oak (1991) by Gerda Muller Where Do They Go When It Rains? by Gerda Muller The Story Orchestra: Four Seasons in One Day (2016) by Jessica Courtney-Tickle slow down: Bring Calm To A Busy World with 50 Nature Stories (2020) by Rachel Piercey, illustrated by Freya Hartas @elliebrookscreate

Audiobooks can be so helpful for busy parents. There might even be a few that are better left to the professionals. Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome Audiobooks and podcast episodes mentioned: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, narrated by Tim Curry Friends and collaborators Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell talk creativity, rhyme and the origins of "Alphabetical Sydney" The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, narrated by Kate Winslet Winnie-The-Pooh: The Complete BBC Collection by A. A. Milne and narrated by Alan Bennett

Finding books that are windows for my children has been a priority for me over the past 10 years. In today's episode I share 5 books that are windows in our read-aloud home. Which books are windows for your children and which books are mirrors? Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome Books, people and podcast episodes mentioned: Charlotte Mason, 'living books' and reading the classics responsibly with Amber O'Neal Johnston Amber O'Neal Johnston Charlotte Mason (educator and reformer) Dr Rudine Sims Bishop Grandma's Treasured Shoes by Coral Vass, illustrated by Christina Huynh What Happened To YOU? by James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho, Illustrated by Jess X. Snow John Brown Rose and the Midnight Cat by Jenny Wagner, illustrated by Ron Brooks Ellie's Dragon by Bob Graham

Other than using different voices for book characters what else can we do to make reading aloud a little more fun and theatrical? Here are 4 simple ideas that might work for you! Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome People, books, talks, exhibitions mentioned: Pamela Allen (author/illustrator) The Curious World of Pamela Allen at the State Library of NSW Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever (2008) by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek Mac Barnett (author) Jon Klassen (author/illustrator) Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen, City Arts & Lectures (podcast episode) Dub Leffler (author/illustrator) Bruce Pascoe (author) Dub Leffler at the 2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival Hairy Maclary (1983) by Lynley Dodd Tiddler (2007) by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Sheffler

Too busy to read aloud? This week's episode is for you! Host Laura Cunningham shares a mindset shift as well as some practical solutions to help you find extra time throughout the week to read aloud to your children. Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome Article mentioned: Goodnight to the bedtime story: The reason fewer parents are reading aloud to their children by Lauren Ironmonger