Emily Carter

When I asked our team to settle the audiobooks debate once and for all, I expected a simple yes or no. What we found was more interesting. More than 40% of Americans believe audiobooks don’t really count as reading. Cognitive neuroscientists at Harvard disagree, and so do most librarians and reading specialists. Yes, audiobooks count … Read more

Every fall, teachers see the same pattern play out in their classrooms. Students who were reading confidently in June come back in August stumbling over words they used to know. This phenomenon, known as the summer slide or summer learning loss, is one of the most well-documented challenges in education. Understanding why children lose reading … Read more

Reading just 4 to 6 books over the summer can prevent the slide that pulls many children backward in reading skills. Researchers have found this modest number is enough to keep kids from losing ground during the long break. The key is consistency, not volume. If you have ever watched your child return to school … Read more

Every fall, teachers see the same pattern play out in classrooms across the country. Some students walk back in September reading at or above where they left off in June. Others have slipped backward, sometimes by an entire grade level. The difference is not random. It is predictable, measurable, and deeply unfair. The phenomenon is … Read more

Every January, librarians and book lovers across the country tune in for one of the biggest events in children’s publishing: the announcement of the Newbery and Caldecott Medals. These two awards are widely considered the most prestigious honors in American children’s literature. But despite being administered by the same organization and announced on the same … Read more

Yes, a picture book can win the Newbery Medal, and it has happened multiple times since the award began in 1922. The misconception that picture books cannot win comes from the fact that most winners are novels, not from any rule against illustrated books. If you’ve ever wondered why a picture book can win the … Read more

I want to start with the most important thing I can say to you right now. If your second grader reverses b and d, they are almost certainly going to be just fine. I know that doesn’t match the knot in your stomach. I know you came here worried, probably after watching your child write … Read more

You’ve sat beside your child through a chapter book. They read smoothly, with good expression, hardly a stumble. Then you walk away for ten minutes and find them staring out the window, four pages behind where they should be. When a child reads aloud fine but drifts while reading silently, the gap can feel confusing … Read more

I’ve sat across from many parents who quietly confess the same worry: their child reads constantly, but only one series. The Harry Potter stack by the bed. The Dog Man collection on the shelf. The same Junie B. Jones book reread for the seventh time this month. Here’s what I want you to know right … Read more

When a teacher and a tutor disagree about your child’s reading level, it can feel like two trusted adults are sending you completely different signals about the same kid. You might be sitting at the kitchen table watching your child zoom through a chapter book while the school’s last report card sat at a level … Read more