Worlds Awaiting

Curiosity (3:42)

How curious are you about the world around us? Perhaps you’re mostly interested in learning about other people. What’s life like for them? How do they accomplish what they do? Or, maybe your inquisitive nature is about plants, animals, minerals, dinosaurs, medicine, language... Our guest today on Worlds Awaiting, Elizabeth MacLeod has a deeply curious nature which, she says, has propelled her to write non-fiction books for kids of all ages on any number of subjects – from biographies to cookbooks, from science to the animal kingdom. Even though she never took a writing course during her four years at the University of Toronto, she loves to write and is successful doing it. MacLeod’s background is primarily in science – and her training has come in handy for researching and writing children's information books, including Why Do Horses Have Manes? And What Did Dinosaurs Eat?  MacLeod has also created books to fascinate and involve kids including the series Kids Can Do It and Snapshots: Images of People and Places in History. She lives and works in Toronto, Ontario.

Design Thinking (13:54)

Up next, Rachel visits with Dr. Richard West, professor in the BYU Instructional Psychology and Technology Department. He talks about Design Thinking – a process of creating a product or service that begins with trying to understand the people you want to serve. “Walking in their shoes,” so to speak, so that the final product will meet their needs. Dr. Richard West researches how to teach group creativity and design thinking, and is co-chair of the BYU Creativity, Innovation, and Design group (see http://innovation.byu.edu). In his personal life, he’s an avid reader across multiple genres, with a compelling desire to use literature to help his children become awesome adults. 

Kids on Books (25:22)

Finally let’s hear about kids books from the kids themselves. Cole Wissinger of the Worlds Awaiting team asked a group about their interactions with reading, starting with their all-time favorite books

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:42 - Curiosity

00:13:54 - Design Thinking

00:25:22 - Kids on Books

Authors and Fans (3:21)

If you’re a teacher, you get to look your audience in the eye. If you’re a stand-up comedian, you play to a visible crowd. If you’re an athlete, the bleachers hold fans and spectators. When does a children’s book author ever get to see her readers? Today Rachel welcomes author Julie Berry, who answers this question for us. Spoiler alert: She’s pleased to know that she makes a difference. Berry is the author of The Emperor’s Ostrich, as well as the 2017 Printz Honor novel The Passion of Dolssa, the Carnegie and Edgar shortlisted All the Truth That’s in Me, and multiple other well-known titles. She holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College.

Texting Books (15:00)

In our next segment, Rachel follows up on a previous episode of Worlds Awaiting, when she interviewed Esha Gupta about the popular mobile app, Hooked. E sha is one of the founders of Hooked. You may recall that Hooked uses text messaging as a way to deliver YA Fiction in serialized form. Today’s conversation leads into another innovative function devised by the creators of Hooked: the app has now become a place where readers can come together to create a story. 

Book Review (24:54)

We finish up the show with a book review from Greg Fahey at the Springville Library in Utah. He introduces The Adventures of Superhero Girl a graphic novel by cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks.

Authors and Fans (3:21)

If you’re a teacher, you get to look your audience in the eye. If you’re a stand-up comedian, you play to a visible crowd. If you’re an athlete, the bleachers hold fans and spectators. When does a children’s book author ever get to see her readers? Today Rachel welcomes author Julie Berry, who answers this question for us. Spoiler alert: She’s pleased to know that she makes a difference. Berry is the author of The Emperor’s Ostrich, as well as the 2017 Printz Honor novel The Passion of Dolssa, the Carnegie and Edgar shortlisted All the Truth That’s in Me, and multiple other well-known titles. She holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College.

Texting Books (15:00)

In our next segment, Rachel follows up on a previous episode of Worlds Awaiting, when she interviewed Esha Gupta about the popular mobile app, Hooked. E sha is one of the founders of Hooked. You may recall that Hooked uses text messaging as a way to deliver YA Fiction in serialized form. Today’s conversation leads into another innovative function devised by the creators of Hooked: the app has now become a place where readers can come together to create a story. 

Book Review (24:54)

We finish up the show with a book review from Greg Fahey at the Springville Library in Utah. He introduces The Adventures of Superhero Girl a graphic novel by cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:21 - Authors and Fans

00:15:00 - Texting Books

00:24:54 - Book Review

Victorian Children’s Lit (3:23)

Today’s children’s and young adult literature ranges from tales of knights, dragons and wizards, to dystopian societies, mystery, humor, and the like. Children’s lit in the 1700’s and earlier was more focused on moralizing. Stories simply had to teach a lesson! Today on Worlds Awaiting Rachel Wadham welcomes Jamie Horrocks, BYU English Professor and an expert in Victorian literature and culture. Horrocks talks about the Golden age of Children’s literature that dawned in Victorian Great Britain. Society had begun to realize that children have a sense of wonder and imagination. Children were more than little people in need of preaching. Jamie Horrocks researches Victorian aesthetics and the intersection of literature and art, especially in the late nineteenth century. She has published on Oscar Wilde, Vernon Lee, Virginia Woolf, and the Aesthetic Movement.  

Contemporary Kids Mysteries (15:39)

Up next, Rachel chats with children’s and young adult literature expert, Karen Coats about contemporary mysteries for children. What’s really in this genre for kids? What speaks to young minds the most? Karen Coats is a professor of English at Illinois State University. She publishes widely on the many ways youth literature both responds to and shapes contemporary culture. She’s also author of multiple books on children’s literature including The Bloomsbury Introduction to Children’s and Young Adult Literature.

Hetty Feather (26:01)

Finally, on today’s installment of Worlds Awaiting, an introduction to the television series, Hetty Feather adapted from Jacqueline Wilson’s books, by the Children’s BBC. It will be airing on our sister station, BYU-TV on March 18, 6pm Mountain Time. Now, we’d like to introduce you to “Hetty” through some sounds and music from the actual TV series.

Victorian Children’s Lit (3:23)

Today’s children’s and young adult literature ranges from tales of knights, dragons and wizards, to dystopian societies, mystery, humor, and the like. Children’s lit in the 1700’s and earlier was more focused on moralizing. Stories simply had to teach a lesson! Today on Worlds Awaiting Rachel Wadham welcomes Jamie Horrocks, BYU English Professor and an expert in Victorian literature and culture. Horrocks talks about the Golden age of Children’s literature that dawned in Victorian Great Britain. Society had begun to realize that children have a sense of wonder and imagination. Children were more than little people in need of preaching. Jamie Horrocks researches Victorian aesthetics and the intersection of literature and art, especially in the late nineteenth century. She has published on Oscar Wilde, Vernon Lee, Virginia Woolf, and the Aesthetic Movement.  

Contemporary Kids Mysteries (15:39)

Up next, Rachel chats with children’s and young adult literature expert, Karen Coats about contemporary mysteries for children. What’s really in this genre for kids? What speaks to young minds the most? Karen Coats is a professor of English at Illinois State University. She publishes widely on the many ways youth literature both responds to and shapes contemporary culture. She’s also author of multiple books on children’s literature including The Bloomsbury Introduction to Children’s and Young Adult Literature.

Hetty Feather (26:01)

Finally, on today’s installment of Worlds Awaiting, an introduction to the television series, Hetty Feather adapted from Jacqueline Wilson’s books, by the Children’s BBC. It will be airing on our sister station, BYU-TV on March 18, 6pm Mountain Time. Now, we’d like to introduce you to “Hetty” through some sounds and music from the actual TV series.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:23 - Victorian Children's Lit

00:15:39 - Contemporary Kids Mysteries

00:26:01 - Hetty Feather

The Wonderling (3:59)

We use the phrase “Achilles Heel” to describe a vulnerability. But what if that supposed weakness isn’t a weakness at all, but the key to a person’s success. For example, Richard Branson, self-made billionaire and founder of multiple companies, used his own weakness – dyslexia – to develop one of his greatest strengths – communication and delegation. Author and Illustrator Mira Bartók talks to Rachel today on Worlds Awaiting about The Wonderling, her first novel for young readers, that focuses on Arthur, a shy, fox-like foundling with only one ear who recognizes he has incredible hearing which leads to his having amazing music abilities. Mira Bartók is author of the award-winning The Memory Place: A Memoir, which won the 2011 National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography. She’s written and illustrated numerous non-fiction titles for children and has also edited and translated several picture books in Italian, Norwegian, and Sámi (Lapp). The Wonderling is her first novel for young readers, which will be turned into a film by 20th Century Fox.

Growing Up Reading (21:33)

Finally, Cole Wissinger of the Worlds Awaiting team, chats with BYU Radio Sound Engineer, Alex Heiden. He begins the interview by asking Alex about some of his earliest memories of reading.

The Wonderling (3:59)

We use the phrase “Achilles Heel” to describe a vulnerability. But what if that supposed weakness isn’t a weakness at all, but the key to a person’s success. For example, Richard Branson, self-made billionaire and founder of multiple companies, used his own weakness – dyslexia – to develop one of his greatest strengths – communication and delegation. Author and Illustrator Mira Bartók talks to Rachel today on Worlds Awaiting about The Wonderling, her first novel for young readers, that focuses on Arthur, a shy, fox-like foundling with only one ear who recognizes he has incredible hearing which leads to his having amazing music abilities. Mira Bartók is author of the award-winning The Memory Place: A Memoir, which won the 2011 National Book Critics Circle Award for Autobiography. She’s written and illustrated numerous non-fiction titles for children and has also edited and translated several picture books in Italian, Norwegian, and Sámi (Lapp). The Wonderling is her first novel for young readers, which will be turned into a film by 20th Century Fox.

Growing Up Reading (21:33)

Finally, Cole Wissinger of the Worlds Awaiting team, chats with BYU Radio Sound Engineer, Alex Heiden. He begins the interview by asking Alex about some of his earliest memories of reading.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:59 - The Wonderling

00:21:33 - Growing Up Reading

Chip Camp (3:33)

There’s the saying: “Work’s more fun when it’s done with more than one!” This insight just happens to be a fundamental premise for most any learning camp devised for children. Today Rachel introduces us to Dr. Aaron Hawkins, professor in the BYU Electrical Engineering Department, who directs one such learning camp. He’s the founder/director of the BYU Chip Camp, offered to students in the 7th and 8th grades. Kids at Chip Camp dive into the field of Engineering, Electronics, and Circuitry participating in a special project done in teams. Sometimes their experience at Chip Camp inspires future career choices.

Help Kids Enjoy Reading (14:02) 

Next, Rachel talks to literacy/reading expert, Melanie Kuhn. When does reading begin? How early in life? And what works best for adults really wanting to make a big difference? Melanie R. Kuhn is The Jean Adamson Stanley Professor in Literacy at Purdue University.  She received her Ph.D. in Reading Education from the University of Georgia and has written two books on fluency, along with numerous scholarly articles and chapters. Her most recent book is Developing Fluent Readers: Teaching Fluency as a Foundational Skill co-authored with Lorell Levy. Her research also includes literacy instruction for struggling readers.

 

Art Museum (25:45)

We finish up the show today with Rita Wright, Director of the Springville Museum of Art in Utah. I began the conversation by asking her what the museum offers to the families that visit.

Chip Camp (3:33)

There’s the saying: “Work’s more fun when it’s done with more than one!” This insight just happens to be a fundamental premise for most any learning camp devised for children. Today Rachel introduces us to Dr. Aaron Hawkins, professor in the BYU Electrical Engineering Department, who directs one such learning camp. He’s the founder/director of the BYU Chip Camp, offered to students in the 7th and 8th grades. Kids at Chip Camp dive into the field of Engineering, Electronics, and Circuitry participating in a special project done in teams. Sometimes their experience at Chip Camp inspires future career choices.

Help Kids Enjoy Reading (14:02) 

Next, Rachel talks to literacy/reading expert, Melanie Kuhn. When does reading begin? How early in life? And what works best for adults really wanting to make a big difference? Melanie R. Kuhn is The Jean Adamson Stanley Professor in Literacy at Purdue University.  She received her Ph.D. in Reading Education from the University of Georgia and has written two books on fluency, along with numerous scholarly articles and chapters. Her most recent book is Developing Fluent Readers: Teaching Fluency as a Foundational Skill co-authored with Lorell Levy. Her research also includes literacy instruction for struggling readers.

Art Museum (25:45)

We finish up the show today with Rita Wright, Director of the Springville Museum of Art in Utah. I began the conversation by asking her what the museum offers to the families that visit.

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:03:33 - ChipCamp

00:14:02 - Help Kids Enjoy Reading (14:02)

00:25:45 - Art Museum

Better Writers (3:22)

Reading and writing go hand in hand. Practicing one improves the other. Today on Worlds Awaiting Steve Graham, a professor at Arizona State University’s Teacher College, talks with Rachel about how parents can help their children become better writers. He also emphasizes that writing is a powerful tool that helps them acquire info at school and better-equips them for future jobs. For over 30 years Graham has been researching how to teach young people to write effectively, and, how writing can be used to support reading and learning. He’s author of numerous reports and books on writing instruction including Powerful Writing Strategies for All Students. 

Katherine Paterson (14:00)

Katherine Paterson is the Newbery Medal-winning author of Bridge to Terabithia. Patterson talks with Jessica Verzello of the Worlds Awaiting team about her newest book, My Brigadista Year. This historical novel follows a young Cuban teenager as she volunteers for Fidel Castro’s national literacy campaign and travels into the impoverished countryside to teach others how to read. Katherine Paterson has written more than thirty books and is recipient of many of the highest accolades awarded in children’s literature.

Author Advice (22:16)

We finish up the show today with children’s book author David John Butler, who offer some tips for youth and adults who want to enter the world of writing.