Bill Spence worked as a primary school teacher for 20 years and then as a university lecturer and literacy consultant, he is also a father and a grandfather. Bill is passionate about reading aloud, he read aloud to his own children and to his students (both kids and adults). In this episode, Bill talks us through the general principles of reading aloud and how reading can improve literacy but he also reminds us that connection and fun should be at the heart of reading aloud in the home. Bill brought along some spectacular picture books which he read aloud. This is a not to be missed episode!

Follow along for updates: @thereadaloudhome

Show notes:

• Anthony Browne (author/illustrator)
• In Just (1923) by E.E Cummings
• One Winter's Night (1991) by Primrose Lockwood, illustrated by Elaine Mills
• Drummer Hoff (1967) by Barbara Emberley, illustrated by Ed Emberley
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969) by Eric Carle
• Peepo (1981) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Spot (1980) by Eric Hill
• Christopher Cheng (author/illusrtrator)
• Jeannie Baker (author/illustrator)
• The Duck and the Darklings (2014) by Glenda Millard, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
• Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type (2000) by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
• Lara Cain Gray (picture book activist)
• Little Modern Reader by Emily Chan
• Interview with the Founder of Little Modern Reader, Emily Chan
• Storybox
• Zeno Sworder
• Antonia Pesenti (author/illustrator)
• Hello Cocky (2025) by Hilary Bell and Antonia Pesenti
• The Children's Book Council of Australia
• The Jolly Postman (1986) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• The Jolly Pocket Postman (1995) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• The Jolly Christmas Postman (1991) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Babette's Beastly Birthday Book (1990) by Babette Cole
• John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat (1977) by Jenny Wagner, illustrated by Ron Brooks
• Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge (1984) by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas
• Waves by Donna Rawlins, Heather Potter and Mark Jackson

Mother of 3 Jenny McCann worked as a high school English teacher for 15 years, she then started Bear Bookshop in Birmingham. Jenny came onto The Read-Aloud Home Podcast to talk about creating a home where kids read for pleasure, leaning into what your children enjoy and the value of libraries. Jenny now creates beautiful Literature based learning resources that you can find online @childhoodbychapter

Follow along for updates:

@thereadaloudhome

Booksellers, books and people mentioned:

• Bear Bookshop
• James Daunt (Managing Director of Waterstones)
• Waterstones
• A Kind of Spark Series by Elle McNicoll
• The Pond (2017) by Nicola Davies
• Anne of Green Gables (1908) by Lucy Maud Montgomery
• The Beast Quest Series by Adam Blade
• The Great Gatsby (1925) by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Pamela Butchart (author)
• Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling
• Lord of the Rings (1954) by J.R.R Tolkein
• The Dark (2013) by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Jon Klassen
• The Jolly Postman (1986) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Where's Wally (1987) by Martin Handford
• The Hilda Series by Luke Pearson
• @childhoodbychapter

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