The Read-Aloud Home

Ellie Brooks talks us through how she rotates her children's book collection throughout the year. She also shares tips and tricks on how to build up your home library through secondhand shopping and a few thoughts on AI children's books . Ellie is creative, thoughtful and warm and and you'll come away from this episode inspired to find the best new and old books for your children and to find ways to showcase them in your read-aloud home.

Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome

Books and People Mentioned:

• Charlotte Mason (British Educator)
• Waldorf Education
• The BFG (1982) by Roald Dahl
• The Mysterious Benedict Society Series by Trenton Lee Stewart
• The Children's Treasury of 20th Century Literature (1998) selected by Janet Schulman
• Bedtime for Frances (1995) by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Garth Williams
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
• The Stinky Cheeseman by Jon Scieszka
• Make Believe (2026) by Mac Barnet
• Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring (2020) by Kenard Pak
• The Usborne Book of Farmyard Tales (2002) by Heather Amery and Stephen Cartwright
• Jan Brett (author/illustrator)
• Arnold Lobel (author/illustrator)
• Wishy Washy books by Tabitha Page
• Brambly Hedge books written and illustrated by Jill Barklem
• Brown Bear Wood books, poems by Rachel Piercey, illustrated by Freya Hartas
• Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) by A.A Milne, illustrated by E. H. Shepard
• Winnie-the-Pooh Audiobook read by Alan Bennett
• The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• I am a Bunny (1963) by Ole Risom and Richard Scarry
• Sea Story (1990) by Jill Barklem
• Little House in the Big Woods (1932) by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Farmer Boy (1933) by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Amber O'Neal Johnston on the Read-Aloud Home Podcast
• Thunder Cake (1990) by Patrician Polacco
• Water Is Water (2015) by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Jason Chin
• Tales from Martha B. Rabbit (1999) by Shirley Barber
• A Year on our Farm (2002) by Penny Mathews, illustrated by Andrew McLean
• Snowman - Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations (2019) by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Micha Archer
• Yucky Worms (2015) by Vivian French, illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg
• Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest (2021) by Phoebe Wahl
• How Does my Garden Grow? (2014) by Gerda Muller
• A Year Around the Great Oak (1991) by Gerda Muller
• Where Do They Go When It Rains? by Gerda Muller
• The Story Orchestra: Four Seasons in One Day (2016) by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
• slow down: Bring Calm To A Busy World with 50 Nature Stories (2020) by Rachel Piercey, illustrated by Freya Hartas
• @elliebrookscreate

Audiobooks can be so helpful for busy parents. There might even be a few that are better left to the professionals.

Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome

Audiobooks and podcast episodes mentioned:

• A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, narrated by Tim Curry
• Friends and collaborators Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell talk creativity, rhyme and the origins of "Alphabetical Sydney"
• The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, narrated by Kate Winslet

• Winnie-The-Pooh: The Complete BBC Collection by A. A. Milne and narrated by Alan Bennett

Finding books that are windows for my children has been a priority for me over the past 10 years. In today's episode I share 5 books that are windows in our read-aloud home. Which books are windows for your children and which books are mirrors?

Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome

Books, people and podcast episodes mentioned:

• Charlotte Mason, 'living books' and reading the classics responsibly with Amber O'Neal Johnston
• Amber O'Neal Johnston
• Charlotte Mason (educator and reformer)
• Dr Rudine Sims Bishop
• Grandma's Treasured Shoes by Coral Vass, illustrated by Christina Huynh
• What Happened To YOU? by James Catchpole, illustrated by Karen George
• The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho, Illustrated by Jess X. Snow
• John Brown Rose and the Midnight Cat by Jenny Wagner, illustrated by Ron Brooks
• Ellie's Dragon by Bob Graham

Other than using different voices for book characters what else can we do to make reading aloud a little more fun and theatrical? Here are 4 simple ideas that might work for you!

Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome

People, books, talks, exhibitions mentioned:

• Pamela Allen (author/illustrator)
• The Curious World of Pamela Allen at the State Library of NSW
• Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever (2008) by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek
• Mac Barnett (author)
• Jon Klassen (author/illustrator)
• Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen, City Arts & Lectures (podcast episode)
• Dub Leffler (author/illustrator)
• Bruce Pascoe (author)
• Dub Leffler at the 2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival
• Hairy Maclary (1983) by Lynley Dodd
• Tiddler (2007) by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Sheffler

Too busy to read aloud? This week's episode is for you! Host Laura Cunningham shares a mindset shift as well as some practical solutions to help you find extra time throughout the week to read aloud to your children.

Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome

Article mentioned:

• Goodnight to the bedtime story: The reason fewer parents are reading aloud to their children by Lauren Ironmonger

Even if your school doesn't have a librarian you can arrange author/illustrator visits. These visits are a wonderful way to inspire children to read and be creative. In this episode, we share a few very simple ways to help you arrange an author/illustrator visit and to help the kids at your school get the most out of it.

Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome

Books, people, websites mentioned:

• Raising Readers: How to nurture a child's love of books by Megan Daley
• Australia Reads
• Booked Out
• Where is the Green Sheep? (2004) by Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horace

You want to read to your baby/toddler but they have other ideas. They are on the move, they don't want to listen so you need to get creative! Here are three super simple ideas to help you find the ease and joy in reading to a wriggly child.

Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome

Books, exhibitions and humans mentioned:

• Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever (2008) by Mem Fox
• Hairy Maclary (1983) by Lynley Dodd
• Hands Can (2003) by Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrated by John-Francis Bourke
• Pamela Allen (author/illustrator)
• The Curious World of Pamela Allen (Exhibition at the NSW State Library)
• Julia Donaldson (author)
• Axel Sheffler (illustrator)

"In my home, Charlotte Mason has an afro" - homeschooling mother of four, Amber O'Neal Johnston, talks about how she has adapted the Charlotte Mason philosophy to suit her children. We also talk about books as mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors, questions to ask when you are curating your home library, why we don't need to cancel the classics and so much more.

Books, people, websites mentioned:

• Heritagemom.com
• A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond (2022) by Amber O'Neal Johnston
• Soul School: Taking Kids On a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture (2025) by Amber O'Neal Johnston
• Homegrown: Guidance and Inspiration for Navigating Your Homeschooling Journey (2025) by Amber O'Neal Johnston
• Saint Valentine (1992) by Robert Sabuda
• Charlotte Mason (educator and reformer)
• Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning (1999) by Laurence Anholt, illustrated by Sheila Moxley
• Pride and Prejudice (1813) by Jane Austen
• The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
• Frindle (1996) by Andrew Clement
• Wonder (2012) by R.J Palacio
• The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child's Bookshelf, Grace Lin TEDx Talk
• The Guardian Poll on Australia's best picture book
• The Little House on The Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Birchbark House (1999) by Louise Erdrich
• One Big Open Sky (2024) by Lesa Cline-Ransome
• The Cosby Show
• Pollyanna (1913) by Eleanor H Porter
• Charles Dickens (author)
• Stories of Colour
• Redeemed Reader
• Biblioguides
• Me and Mama (2020) by Cozbi A Cabrera
• Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (1987) by John Steptoe
• A Story About Afiya (2020) by James Berry and Anna Cunha
• Hip Hop Speaks to Children (2008) by Nikki Giovanni

More from Amber:

• Heritagemom.com
• Instagram - @heritagemomblog

From his childhood to school workshops to a particular Fleetwood Mac album cover, award-winning writer/illustrator Dub Leffler talks to us about what impacts his work.

For updates and to Dub's work: @thereadaloudhome

Books and humans mentioned:

• Sally Morgan (author)
• Coral Vass (author)
• Leah Purcell (actor, playwright, director, novelist)
• Once there was a boy (2011) by Dub Leffler
• Library of Congress
• Sorry Day (2018) by Coral Vass, illustrated by Dub Leffler
• Kevin Rudd (Australian Prime Minister (2007-2010 and briefly in 2013)
• The Drover's Son (2026) by Leah Purcell, illustrated by Dub Leffler.
• Quirindi (regional town in Australia)
• Caroona Aboriginal Mission
• Dick Roughsey (author/artist)
• Cathie Tasker
• The Quinkins (1978) by Dick Roughsey
• Childcraft: The How And Why Library (Stories and Fables) [volume 2] (1976)
• Koori Radio, Sydney
• Margaret Cossey
• Indij Readers
• The Dreaming Series
• Laughing Zebras Animation
• Mark Rothko (artist)
• Henri Rousseau (artist)
• Tango in the Night by Fleetwood Mac
• The Eagles
• Clyfford Still (artist)
• Walking Together (2025) by Coral Vass, illustrated by Dub Leffler
• Shirley Hughes (author/illustrator)
• John J Muth (author/illustrator)
• Trevor Jamieson (stage and film actor)
• Story Box
• Kevin Rudd (Australian Prime Minister 2007-2010, 2013)
• Vik Muniz
• Vik Muniz Ted Talk
• Bruce Pascoe (writer)
• Harlyn Geronimo
• Geronimo
• Buzz Aldrin
• Tony Birch (author/academic/activist)
• Library of Congress, Young Adventurers: 2015 National Book Festival
• Jared Thomas (author)
• Bear and Rat (2021) by Christopher Cheng, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
• Big Nuisance (2001) by Junko Morimoto
• My Hiroshima (1987) by Junko Morimoto
• The Two Bullies (1997) by Junko Morrimotto
• Flotsam (2006) by David Weisner
• Art and Max (2010) by David Weisner
• Each Peach Pear Plum (1987) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• **during this talk we discussed Junko Morimoto and after recording I read that sadly she died in 2017. Junko is one of my favourite author/illustrators and I have no doubt her work will be with my children and many others for the rest of their lives.

More from Dub:

• "Soar" Dub's (new book that will be out in 2026)
• @DubLeffler
• dublefflerillustrator.com

I sat down with fellow zealot Emily Chang from the online secondhand children's book store Little Modern Reader to talk about running a small business, her "past life" as a Chinese antiques specialist, discovering the joy of picture books as an adult and so much more. This episode is not to be missed as it is bubbling with picture book enthusiasm and love!

This episode was recorded on Gadigal Land.

Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome

Books, humans and websites mentioned:

• www.littlemodernreader.com.au
• Magic Beach (1990) by Alison Lester
• Window (1991) by Jeannie Baker
• Enjoying the Film Adaptations of Children's Books With Your Kids, an Interview with Nazanin Forghani
• Australian Refugee Volunteers
• The Pyjama Foundation
• Oi Frog (2014) by Kes Gray and Jim Field.
• Heywood Hill in Mayfair
• Pokko and the Drum (2019) by Matthew Forsythe
• Meg and Mog (1972) by Helen Nicoll and illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski
• Waiting (2015) by Kevin Henkes
• The Worrysaurus (2000) by Rachel Bright
• Little Modern Reader's Donations Guidelines
• Each Peach Pear Plum (1978) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• The Very Cranky Bear (2008) by Nick Bland
• Henri's Walk to Paris (2012) Saul Bass (illustrator) and Leonore Klein (contributor)
• Step into the world of award-winning illustrator Max Hamilton.
• Antonia Pesenti (author)
• Hilary Bell (illustrator)
• Bruno Munari's ABC (2003)
• Miffy by Dick Bruna
• Leo Lionni
• Little Blue and Little Yellow (2009) by Leo Lionni
• The Little House (1942) by Virginia Lee Burton
• This Small Blue Dot (2021) by Zeno Sworder.
• Jon Klassen (author/illustrator)
• Interview with Picture Book Activist Lara Cain Gray

More from Emily:

• To the Moon Kids
• www.littlemodernreader.com.au
• @littlemodernreader
• Sign up for bookish news here