Bringing Authors to Life: Dr. Karen Huff and the Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference EP 83

Sharing History with Younger Generations: Writing Nonfiction with Barbara Carroll Roberts EP 89

The United States is celebrating a big milestone--a 250th Birthday! And, to help younger generations learn about our history, Barbara Carroll Roberts has a book about George Washington coming out in August. In this conversation, Barbara talks about the tremendous amount of research that she did in order to write this book (check out her website to see a picture of a very thick book she read!). She also shares the story behind what led her to do this research and write this book (you won't want to miss this story). And, Barbara shares some advice for parents and teachers about how this book can spark discussions with younger children who are just beginning to learn about the history of the United States. Check out Barbara Carroll Roberts's website and preorder her book here: https://barbaracarrollroberts.com/ [https://barbaracarrollroberts.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Have You Ever…

It's summer! And, that means that it's time for summer reading! If you want to encourage your kids to keep reading over the summer, talk to them about the books that they are reading. Discussing books with kids helps them think through what the book is all about. After speaking with Shifa Saltagi Safadi, the author of the Amina Banana about writing bravely, Elizabeth has been thinking about how we can help kids think more deeply about the characters. This episode shares general questions that you can ask about the characters in the book as well as questions that connect to your child's life. And, Elizabeth introduces the Have You Ever type of question you can ask your kids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Staying True to Yourself & Combatting Stereotypes with Shifa Saltagi Safadi EP 88

It's finally summer! To kick off summer reading, Elizabeth is speaking with authors about their books. In this episode, Elizabeth speaks with Shifa Saltagi Safadi, the author of the Amina Banana series and Kareem Between. They begin by talking all about the Amina Banana series--where she got the idea for the series and how she decided to tackle tough topics in the books. Elizabeth and Shifa discuss writing authentically and how Shifa represents the culture authentically so that her character's backgrounds are truly seen. The conversation ends with ideas for kids about how to write bravely--and how parents and teachers can encourage this. Check out Shifa's work: https://shifasafadi.com/ [https://shifasafadi.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Libraries Offer Kids Access to All Levels of Books

The American Library Association is hosting its Annual Conference this month--and to gear up for the conference, this episode is about the library! Should your child only read books on their level? The short answer is no! So, to look for books that your child will enjoy on a variety of levels, hit the library! And, now is a great time--to get your summer reading stack! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Changes, Challenges, and Core Values: Talking about the Role of Libraries with Dan Montgomery EP 87

The American Library Association is gearing up for its Annual Conference (June 25-29, 2026)--and joining Elizabeth is Dan Montgomery, who is the Executive Director of the ALA. In our conversation, Dan talks about the importance of celebrating 150 years of the ALA, what to expect at the Annual Conference (and why you should go!), and what the ALA is facing today. Libraries are facing challenges in these changing times, but there are core values that they are upholding. To learn more about the ALA's Annual Conference, check out their website: https://2026.alaannual.org/ [https://2026.alaannual.org/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]