Every Book Is a Mental Health Book with Jessica Jones White

The Early Childhood Promise with Dr. Aimee Ketchum & Dr. Crystal Loose

In this episode, host Dr. Erin Bailey welcomes Dr. Aimee Ketchum, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Aimee's Babies, and Dr. Crystal Loose, a former teacher, reading specialist, and professor of early learning at West Chester University. Together, they co-host the Plant the Seed of Learning podcast and co-authored The Early Childhood Promise: Sparking Change for Parents, Early Childhood Professionals, and Policy Makers. The conversation dives into what it truly means to be kindergarten-ready — spoiler: it's less about knowing the alphabet and more about self-regulation, fine motor skills, and the ability to function in a group. Dr. Ketchum and Dr. Loose emphasize that language and literacy development begins at birth through talking, narrating, and reading aloud, and that play is not separate from learning — it is learning, building everything from executive function to memory retention. The guests also address the growing concern around screen time, sharing research on developmental delays linked to early and excessive use, while offering practical, judgment-free guidance for busy families. The episode wraps with a call for systemic change, including paid parental leave, childcare subsidies, and universal pre-K, as essential investments in America's youngest learners. About Dr. Aimee Ketchum: Founder of Aimee’s Babies, LLC,  Dr. Aimee Ketchum is a newborn massage instructor, mom, yoga instructor, and doctor of pediatric occupational therapy with over 25 years experience working with children from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) through high school. Aimee's Babies [https://www.aimeesbabies.com/] About Dr. Crystal Loose: Prior to joining the faculty at West Chester University, Dr. Crystal Loose spent 22 years in public education as an elementary teacher, reading specialist, instructional coach, administrator, and curriculum director. Her research interests include teacher professional development, relational leadership, and early learning practices that support school readiness for children and their parents. She currently teaches child development and graduate courses in leadership, educational change theory, play, and curriculum implementation.  Dr. Loose enjoys supporting area elementary schools on early learning transition practices that educate parents on brain development and developmental milestones prior to the start of school. Crystal Loose - WCU of PA [https://www.wcupa.edu/education-socialWork/earlyMiddleGrades/CLoose.aspx]  Links: The Early Childhood Promise [https://www.amazon.com/Early-Childhood-Promise-Professionals-Policymakers/dp/1964657016] book https://www.amazon.com/Early-Childhood-Promise-Professionals-Policymakers/dp/1964657016Plant the Seed of Learning podcast: Plant the Seed of Learning - Podcast - Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-the-seed-of-learning/id1865029869]

Helping Every Child Feel Seen with Maya Lê

In this episode, host Dr. Erin Bailey welcomes Maya Lê, creator of MaiStoryBook, in celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Maya shares her personal journey as a half-Vietnamese, half-Filipino creator who grew up with little cultural representation in children's books, and how that experience shaped her mission to ensure every child can see themselves — and others — in the stories they read. About Maya Lê: Maya Lê is the Creator of MaiStoryBook, a platform dedicated to sharing diverse and inclusive educational resources with families and educators.  Passionate about equality and diversity in children’s literature, she inspires a new generation of readers through her interactive read aloud YouTube videos, reviews of children’s books on Instagram, book-inspired crafts, and curated book lists.  Episode Links: Instagram: @maistorybooklibrary [https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmaistorybooklibrary%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cebailey%40rif.org%7C28829f44be524a1de45508deb05e7b4a%7C79cc5db611f04c498a9761cd2bccb095%7C0%7C0%7C639142117024836605%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IQvfX0iTAB1A2e4iuFq5pPR9PeZva%2FTYsOLZTGIt3Mg%3D&reserved=0] Substack: MaiStoryBook [https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmaistorybook.substack.com%2Fsubscribe&data=05%7C02%7Cebailey%40rif.org%7C28829f44be524a1de45508deb05e7b4a%7C79cc5db611f04c498a9761cd2bccb095%7C0%7C0%7C639142117024864503%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cAc2VuELXhoVZAVUSzHVru%2Fighx9qC4zr%2BpD7YKcefM%3D&reserved=0] YouTube: MaiStoryBook [https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fchannel%2FUCxuIqVlUEG8vXWRKoXX-rTw&data=05%7C02%7Cebailey%40rif.org%7C28829f44be524a1de45508deb05e7b4a%7C79cc5db611f04c498a9761cd2bccb095%7C0%7C0%7C639142117024884987%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=g6GB9Pj7njCoh%2FYpF8mmd5XJ1XYg61fGoW6aEcEWq%2Fc%3D&reserved=0] TpT Craft Templates: MaiStoryBook [https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.teacherspayteachers.com%2Fstore%2Fmaistorybook&data=05%7C02%7Cebailey%40rif.org%7C28829f44be524a1de45508deb05e7b4a%7C79cc5db611f04c498a9761cd2bccb095%7C0%7C0%7C639142117024905216%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Pws8vwqPg%2BPBfT9BScBOOVJ%2FQDBORxk55NVgbSHAp8U%3D&reserved=0] Reading Is Fundamental's AAPI Calendar: Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Calendar | RIF.org [https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/calendars/asian-american-pacific-islander-aapi-heritage-month-calendar] RIF's AAPI Collection: May is Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Collection | RIF.org [https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/collections/asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-month-collection] How We Say I Love You: How We Say I Love You | RIF.org [https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/book/how-we-say-i-love-you]

Every Book Is a Mental Health Book with Jessica Jones White

In this episode, host Dr. Erin Bailey sits down with Jessica Jones White — assistant principal, licensed counselor, and literacy advocate — to explore the powerful intersection of reading and mental health. Jessica shares her personal journey as a student with a 504 plan who found solace in books, and explains why every book is, at its core, a mental health book. The conversation covers bibliotherapy (using books intentionally to support social-emotional learning), how to prepare students and families for emotionally heavy texts using co-regulation and content previews, and practical strategies for educators to weave literacy into any subject. Jessica and Erin also tackle the growing challenge of screen time and its impact on reading stamina, offering compassionate, realistic advice for both families and teachers. The episode closes with Jessica's belief that reading inspires change — and that teaching a child to research is teaching them to teach themselves. About Jessica Jones White: Jessica Jones White joined RIF Middle School Literacy Advisory Board in the spring of 2022. Jessica is the Middle School Assistant Principal at Inspired Teaching Demonstration School and an Education Consultant for The Creation Gym. She has been in the field of education for over a decade, servicing children in grades PreK-12 as an educator and athletic coach. Her teaching skills include project-based learning, arts integration, 21st century skill development, digital and blended learning curriculums, and educational technology. Jessica is also a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor. She uses her unique skill set to create experiences for students that address all forms of intelligence. Links: Every Book is a Mental Health Book Webinar Recording: Webinar: Every Book is a Mental Health Book | RIF.org [https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/webinar/every-book-counts/mental-health-book] RIF’s Well-being Collection: Well-Being Center | RIF.org [https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/well-being]

The Science & Art of Effective Read-Alouds with Dr. Jill Pentimonti

In this episode, Dr. Erin Bailey sits down with Dr. Jill Pentimonti, a member of Reading is Fundamental's Early Childhood Literacy Advisory Board, to explore the science and art of effective preschool read-alouds. Jill shares her journey from finance major to early childhood educator to researcher, driven by her passion for understanding how young brains develop language and literacy skills. She breaks down the "secret sauce" of impactful read-alouds into three essential buckets: building listening comprehension through rich questions, developing print knowledge by pointing out letters and how books work, and fostering awareness of language sounds through rhyming and alliteration. Jill emphasizes that simply reading words off a page isn't enough—it's the human interaction, the back-and-forth conversation, and the intentional questions that transform story time into powerful learning experiences. The conversation offers practical, research-backed strategies for both teachers and families, including the importance of a "balanced diet" of books (narrative stories, information texts, alphabet books, and rhyming books), the power of rereading to deepen learning, and effective scaffolding techniques to support and challenge young readers.  About Dr. Jill Pentimonti: Dr. Jill Pentimonti is an Associate Research Professor in the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Executive Director of Research Advancement in the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Notre Dame, where she also leads the Early Learning Foundations (ELF) Lab. Her work focuses on language, literacy, and learning in the preschool and early elementary years.  Dr. Pentimonti’s research centers on supporting young children’s language and literacy development, particularly for those at risk for reading difficulties. She has led multiple large-scale, federally funded studies examining classroom practices, instructional supports, and interventions that foster children’s early learning. Her work has also advanced the use of innovative tools and methods—including AI-powered assessments—to better understand and improve early learning experiences for children, families, and teachers.

Memorable Lessons from Ordinary Moments with Matt Eicheldinger

In this Teacher Appreciation Week episode, host Erin Bailey chats with New York Times bestselling author and educator Matt Eicheldinger about his journey from reluctant reader to published author, how a classroom "story jar" sparked his writing career, and practical strategies for reaching kids who don't love reading — from short chapters and cliffhangers to finding the one book that hooks them. Matt also previews his fast-paced dystopian YA series When the Rain Came and teases a brand-new graphic novel format dropping in 2029. About Matt Eicheldinger: Matt Eicheldinger is an American author, former middle school teacher, and social media personality. He is best known for his Matt Sprouts series of middle-grade novels and his memoir Sticky Notes: Memorable Lessons from Ordinary Moments. His debut novel became a The New York Times and USA Today bestseller in its first week of publication. Matt Eicheldinger [https://matteicheldinger.com/] Instagram and tiktok @matteicheldinger Facebook: @Matt Eicheldinger - Author