Season 2 · Episode 27

Books That Spark Joy: A Chat with Sarah Mackenzie

Homeschool Better Together with Pam Barnhill · Emily Brown

December 3, 202447m 8s

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Show Notes

This episode of the Homeschool Better Together Podcast features a delightful conversation with Sarah Mackenzie from the Read Aloud Revival. Sarah and I chat about rekindling the joy of reading for ourselves as moms. We explore the power of quitting books that don’t spark joy, the fun of keeping a reading log, and how to find books that truly resonate with you. Plus, we dive into reading challenges—are they motivating or just another checklist? Spoiler: we both have strong opinions!

We also talk about Sarah’s exciting projects with Waxwing Books, including a middle-grade fantasy novel perfect for family read-alouds. If your reading life needs a little inspiration or you're searching for the perfect book list, this episode is packed with ideas and encouragement to get you turning pages again.

Key Takeaways:

Rekindle your love for reading by giving yourself permission to quit books that don’t excite you.
A simple reading log can help you reflect on and savor what you’ve read.
Waxwing Books’ upcoming middle-grade fantasy, Beyond Mulberry Glen, is an excellent family read-aloud.
Reading challenges can be fun if approached with flexibility—don’t let them feel like a burden.

Key Resources:

For full show notes and a transcript of today’s episode, head to pambarnhill.com/hsbt27

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