Real Characters, Helping Kids Engage with Writing

Real Characters (3:33) When children experience difficulty, loss or pain, they often look for help and comfort from someone who understands – someone who has been there. The best books will often bring us characters who have also ‘been there’. Our first guest today on Worlds Awaiting, children’s book author, Kate DiCamillo, talks about the characters she creates – some of them very close to home and with experiences similar to hers. DiCamillo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time winner of the Newbery Award. Titles such as Because of Winn-Dixie and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane have resonated with readers of all ages around the world. Her latest book, Raymie Nightingale, is a National Book Award Finalist. Book Review (7:53) Next, we’ll hear from Erika Adams, a BYU Elementary Education student, who reviews Kate DiCamillo’s book, Flora and Ulysses.    Helping Kids Engage with Writing (10:26) Rachel welcomes Jill Rudy, professional folklorist and scholar, back to Worlds Awaiting. Rudy shares tips on how we as parents and teachers can help our children engage in the many forms of writing. She is a professor in the BYU English Department who researches the history of American folklore scholarship, folk narratives, fairy tales in the media, family folklore, and foodways. Growing Up with Books (22:39) We finish up the show today with Jenna Sawyer, of the BYU Radio Social Media Team, who talks to me about where her love of books came from.