Reading Inspires by Reading Is Fundamental

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

Leveled Reading, Leveled Minds with Dr. Tim Shanahan

In this episode, host Erin Bailey sits down with Dr. Timothy Shanahan — professor emeritus, former president of the International Literacy Association, and Reading Hall of Fame inductee — to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives. Dr. Shanahan challenges one of education's most deeply held assumptions: that students should be matched to texts at their individual reading level. Drawing on decades of research, he explains why this practice may actually be holding kids back — and what teachers should be doing instead. About Dr. Tim Shanahan: Timothy Shanahan is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chi­cago where he was Founding Di­rector of the UIC Center for Literacy. Previously, he was director of reading for the Chicago Public Schools. He is author/editor of more than 300 publications on literacy education. His research emphasizes the improvement of reading achievement, teaching reading with challenging text, reading-writing relationships, the and disciplinary literacy. Tim is past president of the International Literacy Association. He served as a member of the Advisory Board of the National Institute for Literacy under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and he helped lead the National Reading Panel, convened at the request of Congress to evaluate research on the teaching reading, a major influence on reading education. He chaired two other federal research review panels: the National Literacy Panel for Language Minority Children and Youth, and the National Early Literacy Panel, and helped write the Common Core State Standards. He was inducted to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2007, and is a former first-grade teacher. Dr. Shanahan's Blog: Literacy Blogs | Shanahan on Literacy [https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/blog] Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives: Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives [https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9798895570036/leveled-reading-leveled-lives/]