What's in this episode?

• Lara talks us through her new book 'A Grown Up's Guide to Picture Books'
• What are picture books and why they are important
• How we can extend our picture book reading
• Thinking differently about the role of picture books in society

Books and humans mentioned:

• 'A Grown Up's Guide to Picture Books' (2024) by Lara Cain Gray
• 'Tucking Mummy In' (1987) by Morag Loh, illustrated by Donna Rawlins
• 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wonder' essays (2024) by Katherine Rundell
• 'Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art' (1993) by Scott McCloud
• 'Piano Fingers' by Caroline Magerl
• Briony Stewart (author/illustrator)
• Freya Blackwood (illustrator)
• Maurice Sendack (author/illustrator)
• Shirley Hughes (author/illustrator)
• Lynley Dodd (author/illustrator)
• 'Alfie Gets in First' (1981) by Shirley Hughes
• Julia Donaldson (author)
• Axel Sheffler (illustrator)
• 'Tabby McTat' (2009) by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler
• N.E.A.T Reading
• Tony Flowers (illustrator)
• Antonia Pessenti (illustrator)
• 'The Little Mermaid' (1837) by Hans Christian Andersen
• The "Oi Frog and Friends" series by Kes Gray and Jim Field
• 'Every Night at Midnight' (2023) by Peter Cheong
• 'Accidentally Kelly Street' (2022) by Briony Stewart, Lyrics by Tim O'Connor
• The Biloela Family
• 'Blue Whale Blues' (2015) by Peter Carnavas

Picture book resources:

• Your Kid's Next Read
• storylinks.booklinks.org.au
• National Centre for Australian Children's Literature

More from Lara:

• @lara_cain_gray
• www.laracaingray.com (Educator Toolkit for 'A Grown Up's Guide to Picture Books' available)

What's in this episode?

· Collaborating creatively as longtime friends

· The origins of Alphabetical Sydney

· Children's books that are "the whole package"

· Writing in rhyme

· Appreciating picture books, graphic novels and illustration

· Looking beyond Australia for beautiful picture books

Books and humans mentioned:

· Alphabetical Sydney (2013) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell

· Home (2015) By Carson Ellis

· Cole's Funny Picture Book (1879) By Edward William Cole

· Farmhouse (2022) By Sophie Blackall

· Milkwood: "A creative retreat for the children's book community"

· Julia Donaldson (author)

· Axel Sheffler (illustrator)

· Numerical Street (2015) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell

· Summer Time (2019) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell

· In the Night Kitchen (1970) By Maurice Sendak

· Tintin by Hergé

· George Orwell (2021) by Pierre Christin

· The Dot (2003) By Peter Reynolds

· Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie (1918) By May Gibbs

· What was I scared of? (1961) By Dr Seuss

· A Series of Unfortunate Events By Lemony Snicket (audiobooks narrated by Tim Curry and Lemony Snicket)

· A Lion in Paris (2006) By Beatrice Alemagna

· Planeta Tangerina

· Scribble Publishers

What's in this episode?

· Naz's experience creating a children's book

· Why you should watch films with your children

· What works and what doesn't in film adaptations

· Roald Dahl adaptations

· Films as modern updates on dated texts

· Why the Paddington Bear movies are brilliant

· Naz's Instagram @nazanin_forghani

Books, films and humans mentioned:

· Arm in Arm (1969) By Remy Charlip

· The NeverEnding Story (1984 film)

· EQ (2021) by Vivian Rubin and Nazanin Mondschein

· Roald Dahl (author)

· The Twits (1980) By Roald Dahl

· The Witches (1983) By Roald Dahl

· Matilda (1988) By Roald Dahl

· Matilda (1996 film)

· Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971 film)

· Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (2023 film)

· Fantastic Mr Fox (2009 film)

· Matilda the Musical (2022 film)

· Shirley Hughes (author)

· Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)

· Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) By Lewis Carol

· The Julia Donaldson Magic Light Production films

· The Enchanted World of Brambly Hedge series

· The Harry Potter film series

· Paddington (2014 film)

· Paddington 2 (2017 film)

· The Magic Faraway Tree Series by Enid Blyton

· One Day with Mum (1995) By Helen Oxenbury

· Henry and Amy: Right-way-Round and Upside Down (2000) By Stephen Michael King

What's in this episode?

· Ten tips to make reading-aloud enjoyable and sustainable (+ 1 bonus tip)

Books and humans mentioned:

· The Enchanted Hour (2019) By Megan Cox Gurdon

· Reading Magic (2001) By Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek

· The Book Whisperer (2009) By Donnalyn Miller

· The Read-Aloud Handbook (7th Edition) (2013) By Jim Trelease

What's in this episode?

· What is the Montessori Method?

· A Montessori approach to literacy in the early years

· How to ensure that we use rich language with children

· How to display and organise books

· How we can talk with, read with and raise children respectfully

Books and humans mentioned:

· Why You Should Read Children's Books Even Though You Are So Old and Wise (2019) By Katherine Rundell

· Martin Amis (author)

· John Locke (philosopher)

· John Newberry (children's book publisher)

· Beatrix Potter (author, illustrator, natural scientist)

· Julia Donaldson (author)

· Oh Kipper (1992) By Janet and Andrew McLean

· Something Wonderful (2016) By Raewyn Caisley, illustrated by Karen Blair

· Oi Dog (2016) By Kes and Clare Gray, illustrated by Tim Field

· Dr Maria Montessori

· Oh the Places You'll Go (1990) By Dr Seuss

· Revolting Rhymes (1982) By Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake

· The Captain Underpants Series By Dav Pilkey

· BBC Books and Authors Interview with author Katherine Rundell

· Julia Donaldson (author)

· Paddington Bear (children's book character)

· Winnie the Pooh (children's book character)

· Clifford, the Big Red Dog (1963) By Normal Bridwell

· The Little Prince/Le Petit Prince (1943) By Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

· The Very Hungry Caterpiller (1969) By Eric Carle

· The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch (1977) By Ronda and David Armitage

· We're Going on a Bear Hunt (1989) Retold by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

· Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends series

· William's Wish Wellingtons, BBC Children's Book, illustrated by Atholl McDonald

· Mr Gumpy's Outing (1970) By John Burningham

· The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling

· Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy (1983) By Lynley Dodd

· Bronwyn Bancroft (author)

· Alfie Gets in First (2009) By Shirley Hughes

· Alfie's Feet (2009) By Shirley Hughes

· Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) By Roald Dahl

· Simplicity Parenting (2009) By Kim Jon Payne with Lisa M Ross

· The Aldi padded book series

· The Indestructible book series

What's in this episode?

· Why we should read with babies

· Why we should give books as presents to new babies/parents

· Five quick baby book recommendations

Books and humans mentioned:

· Babies Need Books: Sharing the Joy of Books with Children from Birth to Six (1982) By Dorothy Butler

· The Read-Aloud Handbook (7th Edition) (2013) By Jim Trelease

· Who Sank the Boat (1983) By Pamela Allen

· Each Peach Pear Plum (1978) By Janet and Allan Ahlberg

· Where is the Green Sheep? (2004) By Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek

· Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy (1983) By Lynley Dodd

· We're Going on a Bear Hunt By (1989) By Michael Rosen

RAH #2: Interview with the 2023 Children's Bookseller of the Year, Rachel Robson

What's in this episode?

· What is involved in being the children's book buyer for an independent bookshop

· How to access out-of-print books

· How to continue reading aloud when your kids are teens and tweens

· Book clubs for teenagers

· Supporting independent book shops without "breaking the bank"

· An inspiring list of book recommendations

Books and humans mentioned:

· Meet the Lithographer (2023) by Gabby Bazin

· Shirley Hughes (author)

· David McKee (author)

· Frindle (1998) by Andrew Clements, illustrated by Brian Selznic

· The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007) by Brian Selznic

· A poem for every day of the year (2017) by Allie Esiri

· Our Home (2024) by Catherine Meatheringham, illustrated by Max Hamilton

· Julia Donaldson (author)

· Would You Rather? (1994) By John Burningham

· Bamboozled (1994) By David Legge

· The Jill Barklem series (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Story)

· Jeannie Baker (author)

· Dr Seuss (author)

· Roald Dahl (author)

· Zaza's Baby Brother (2012) By Lucy Cousins

· Need a House Call Ms Mouse (2022) By George Mendoza, illustrated by Doris Susan Smith

· Alfie's Feet (2009) By Shirley Hughes

· Alfie Gets in First (2009) By Shirley Hughes

· Goodnight Moon (1947) By Margaret Wise Brown

· Where is the Green Sheep? (2004) by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

· Each, Peach, Pear Plum (1978) By Janet and Allan Ahlberg

· The Noisy Book By Soledad Bravi

· Monkey and Me By Emily Gravett

· The Peekaboo Series By Grace Habib

· You Choose (2003) By Pippa Goodhart

· When Frank was Four (2006) by Alison Lester

· Rose Meets Mr. Wintergarten (1992) By Bob Graham

· Dinosaur in my Pocket (2024) By Ashleigh Barton, Illustrated by Blithe Fielden

· Listen Hippo (2024) By Gabriel Evans

What's in this episode?

• For many of us, getting through Shakespeare at school was difficult and tedious. Turns out, it doesn't need to be that way.
• In this episode, actor Isabel Burton shares lots of different ways to make Shakespeare fun and engaging for young children.
• I have included some of my favourite children's books of Shakespearen plays or his life.

Books, plays and humans mentioned:

• 'Macbeth' (1605) by William Shakespeare
• William Shakespeare (playwright)
• The Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company
• 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (1595) by William Shakespeare
• The Bell Shakespeare Players
• 'Romeo and Juliet' (1968 film by Zeffirelli)
• Elizabethan (1558-1603) and Jacobean (1603-1625) London
• Queen Elizabeth I
• King James I
• 'Sam Stars at Shakespeare's Globe' (2006) by Pauline Francis, illustrated by Jane Tattersfield
• 'As You Like It' (1599) by William Shakespeare
• 'The Lion King' (1994) (Disney)
• 'The Lion King II: Simba's Pride" (1998) (Disney)
• 'Othello' (1604) by William Shakespeare
• 'Just Macbeth' (2009) by Andy Griffiths
• Puck's final speech in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (Act V, Scene 1)
• 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (2021) by William Shakespeare, illustrated by Jane Ray

Recommended books for primary school-aged children:

• 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (2021) by William Shakespeare, illustrated by Jane Ray
• 'Sam Stars at Shakespeare's Globe' (2006) by Pauline Francis, illustrated by Jane Tattersfield
• 'The Story Orchestra: A Midsummer Night's Dream' (2024) by Jessica Courtney-Tickle, Music by Felix Mendelssohn
• 'The Shakespeare Stories' (2014) by Andrew Matthews and Tony Ross