Bright Wings: Children’s Books to Make the Heart Soar

Poetry? Really? Do we have to?! This episode proposes that poetry will surprise you with joy. We discuss how poetry changes our experience of time, deepens our experience of meaning, and sparks joy. Charity discusses two Greek words used regarding time: chronos and kairos. Poetry is an instantiation of kairos time, time-as-meaningful. Discover new poetry and rediscover familiar poetry.

Enjoy new poetry selections from our booklist!

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

As part of an emerging initiative, Charity Hill reviews children's books. In this episode, Charity reviews Karen Cushman's Newberry Winner (1996) The Midwife's Apprentice. In the book review series, Charity offers praise, summary, and analysis of the text so that parents can decide which books are worth reading. We wonder if The Midwife's Apprentice really delivers the empowering message it intends to bring to birth. 

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

In this interview with Katherine Leaño, you'll be encouraged to embrace the paradox of your humanity. You'll hear how gardening can help you and your children become more human, rested, integrated, and creative. You'll be challenged to make your backyard a different kind of "oasis."

Find rest and inspiration with this episode's booklist! It's stunning.
Enjoy being connecting with Bright Wings Children's Books on Instagram.

Katherine wants you to have access to some of her supporting information as you think about gardening and being outside:

Free play, NPR Article

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514

Gardening

https://www.urbanharvest.org/gardens/

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

https://www.southernexposure.com/growing-guides/

Art

The Prairie is My Garden by Harvey Dunn (art)

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

Is the Fancy Nancy series a series worth reading? We wonder "How can glitter be compatible with depth, with meaning?" What is a parent to do with an intelligent little girl's need for sparkle? We review the Fancy Nancy series to help you discern the best way to fill that glitter-shaped hole in every little girl's heart.  

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

After reviewing Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen, I was more aware of the miracles of in our every day circumstances. I share with you an encounter between my family and our orthodontist which shows how miracles are part of the (extra)ordinary.  Listen to hear how fiction can shape what we see and how we receive it.

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

As part of a new initiative, Charity Hill reviews specific children's books. In this episode, Charity reviews Virginia Sorensen's 1956 Newberry winner Miracle on Maple Hill.  In the book review series, Charity offers praise, summary, and analysis of the text so that mothers and fathers know enough to decide which books are worth reading.

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

Charity Hill interviews Margaret Bereit regarding how fiction can shape family spirituality. What do you value that is real but "invisible"? How can fiction help to make what is unseen more tangible to your children?

Enjoy some of Margareit Bereit's favorite books.

Think further with Amanda Knapp's essay.

Connect for more conversation.

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

Charity Hill interviews Trisha Galvan LPC and LCPC on the beautifully human word "resilience," a word worth exploring. Trisha defines what resilience looks like and discusses the importance of community to framing a resilient response to difficulty. Trisha also suggests a return to attachment for older children, to ground them for resilient behaviors as teens and young adults.

To promote resilience in your family, Charity shares several fictional works, both picture books and middle grade fiction: It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach, The Cow in the House by Harriet Ziefert, A Chair For My Mother by Vera Williams, The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills, The Fire Cat by Esther Averill, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and Dr. DeSoto by William Steig, Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry, and Little Britches by Ralph Moody. Charity also encourages you to set aside time to tell your own stories of resilience to your children.

Please enjoy essays at our blog.

Enjoy book reviews and reflections at Instagram.

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

Charity Hill begins a new initiative within Bright Wings to help mothers and fathers identify whether specific books are worth reading. She begins with Avi's Newberry winner (2003) Crispin: The Cross of Lead. In the book review series, Charity Hill offers praise, summary, and analysis of the text.

Check out essays and other episodes at our website!
Join the conversation on Instagram.

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!

Charity Hill reflects on why fairy tales are worth reading and confronts some of the unworthy reasons they are frowned upon.  She suggests that fairy tales affirm that good triumphs over evil, how cleverness counts to overcoming adversity, that companionship matters to adventure, that self-awareness can begin with types, and that these factors give children the power of resilience.

Read a reflection on this theme by Amanda Knapp.

Find quick book recommendations by following Charity on Instagram.

Enjoy essays on the Bright Wings' blog OR find great book lists personally crafted with you in mind!