Reach Out and Read Reach Out and Read

Beloved author Meg Medina, current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and the first of Latina heritage in the program’s history, joins us to talk about 'mirrors and windows' in children's books and why what kids hear coming off the page is just as important as what they see.

"If you love a book, no doubt many other people love it, too. That shared love connects us and sparks that miraculous feeling of not being alone in the world." Jane Mount's illustrations of book spines, covers, beloved bookstores, fanciful libraries, and so much more, bring that world vividly to life and illustrate how, indeed, Books Make Good Friends.

Kate DiCamillo knows books. By far one of America's most successful children's writers (44 million books in print, translated into 41 languages), Kate joins us to talk about how reading – and reading aloud – has made her into the reader —and writer— she is today.  We also learn — improbably — about how even sardine tins can be speakers of truth.

Reach Out and Read has been working on a remarkable new strategy around a key element of what we do: books!  A strong approach is key to supporting our mission and as a sustainable part of how we work.  Angela Cunningham, Reach Out and Read's National Director of Books Strategy and Partnerships, joins us to talk about how we approach books, and what the future might hold.

Lullabies can not only help soothe a sleepy baby, they may also help them learn language.  Dr. Giovanni Di Liberto of the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience at The University of Dublin, joins us to talk about his new study that challenges conventional understanding of early language acquisition in the infant brain.

Leo Lionni changed the picture book landscape with beloved titles such as Frederick, Swimmy, and A Color of His Own. But those books are just a small window into his extensive career as a graphic designer, painter, and a master of fine art.  Annie Lionni, Leo's granddaughter, and Leonard Marcus, a children's book historian, join us to talk about the life and art of Leo Lionni as shared in their new book "Leo Lionni: Storyteller, Artist, Designer."