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S2EP45-Christine Devane-Get Lit with Elephants: Storytime Shenanigans
Ready to elevate your story time game? Christine Devane is in the house, and she’s dishing out some golden nuggets on how to make reading time the best time! Christine, an author and former teacher, takes us on a whimsical journey exploring her love for elephants and how her teaching days inspired her to write 'Elephant Beach'. This episode is packed with actionable tips for parents on turning regular reading into an extraordinary adventure! Ever thought about bringing props or costumes into the mix? Christine’s got you covered! We discuss the importance of allowing children to choose their books, the magic of repetition, and how to engage kids with lively storytelling that brings characters to life. Plus, we touch on the sensitive topic of loss in children’s literature, as Christine shares her upcoming book aimed at helping kids navigate grief. So grab your favorite book, a cozy spot, and let’s make story time a memorable experience for your family!
About our guest:
Christine grew up in North Andover, MA with her parents Tony and Joyce and brothers Anthony and Eddie. She was very shy when she was young and spent a lot of time reading. Throughout her childhood Christine loved animals, especially elephants. People started to buy them for her as a collection. Her grandparents, Eddie and Ginger, as well as her parents would bring her back lucky elephants from their trips. Throughout her childhood Christine always enjoyed trips to the beach with her family and grandparents.
In 2006 Christine graduated from Merrimack College with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Elementary Education. In 2008 she received her master’s degree in Elementary Education from Merrimack College. Christine would then go on to teach elementary school for the next 13 years. Her favorite part of the day was reading to her students. It was during reading time that she connected with her students through books. They learned, laughed and felt a range of emotions together. Christine decided that she wanted to write her own book for students to engage with, while learning and laughing. Since elephants have always been her favorite animal, she found it fitting to include them in her story. In 2017 Christine traveled to Africa with her mother and husband where she was able to see elephants living in the wild, which was always a lifelong dream. Many of the elephants were playing in the water and seemed to be having fun as they appear to in her book.
Christine and her husband John have 3 children- Joey, Nick and Adeline and a dog named Sophie with whom she loves to read with. They laugh at her stories and enjoy trips to the beach together as a family.
“Elephant Beach” is her first published work.
@stined13 on Instagram
Christine's Website
Bringing Education Home is an educational podcast brought to you by Kristina and Herb Heagh-Avritt.
If you enjoy the show, we'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app!
Please let your friends know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or their preferred podcast app or online at Bringing Education Home.
Sponsored by Vibrant Family Education - creating Happy, Healthy and Successful kids
Follow us on these socials:
YouTube
Facebook Group - The Family Learning Circle
Facebook Business Page: Vibrant Family Education
Support Bringing Education Home
Copyright 2025 Kristina & Herb Heagh-Avritt
This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.
View all episodes
Ready to elevate your story time game? Christine Devane is in the house, and she’s dishing out some golden nuggets on how to make reading time the best time! Christine, an author and former teacher, takes us on a whimsical journey exploring her love for elephants and how her teaching days inspired her to write 'Elephant Beach'. This episode is packed with actionable tips for parents on turning regular reading into an extraordinary adventure! Ever thought about bringing props or costumes into the mix? Christine’s got you covered! We discuss the importance of allowing children to choose their books, the magic of repetition, and how to engage kids with lively storytelling that brings characters to life. Plus, we touch on the sensitive topic of loss in children’s literature, as Christine shares her upcoming book aimed at helping kids navigate grief. So grab your favorite book, a cozy spot, and let’s make story time a memorable experience for your family!
About our guest:
Christine grew up in North Andover, MA with her parents Tony and Joyce and brothers Anthony and Eddie. She was very shy when she was young and spent a lot of time reading. Throughout her childhood Christine loved animals, especially elephants. People started to buy them for her as a collection. Her grandparents, Eddie and Ginger, as well as her parents would bring her back lucky elephants from their trips. Throughout her childhood Christine always enjoyed trips to the beach with her family and grandparents.
In 2006 Christine graduated from Merrimack College with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Elementary Education. In 2008 she received her master’s degree in Elementary Education from Merrimack College. Christine would then go on to teach elementary school for the next 13 years. Her favorite part of the day was reading to her students. It was during reading time that she connected with her students through books. They learned, laughed and felt a range of emotions together. Christine decided that she wanted to write her own book for students to engage with, while learning and laughing. Since elephants have always been her favorite animal, she found it fitting to include them in her story. In 2017 Christine traveled to Africa with her mother and husband where she was able to see elephants living in the wild, which was always a lifelong dream. Many of the elephants were playing in the water and seemed to be having fun as they appear to in her book.
Christine and her husband John have 3 children- Joey, Nick and Adeline and a dog named Sophie with whom she loves to read with. They laugh at her stories and enjoy trips to the beach together as a family.
“Elephant Beach” is her first published work.
@stined13 on Instagram
Christine's Website
Bringing Education Home is an educational podcast brought to you by Kristina and Herb Heagh-Avritt.
If you enjoy the show, we'd love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast app!
Please let your friends know they can listen for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or their preferred podcast app or online at Bringing Education Home.
Sponsored by Vibrant Family Education - creating Happy, Healthy and Successful kids
Follow us on these socials:
YouTube
Facebook Group - The Family Learning Circle
Facebook Business Page: Vibrant Family Education
Support Bringing Education Home
Copyright 2025 Kristina & Herb Heagh-Avritt
This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free.