Books That Spark Joy: A Chat with Sarah Mackenzie

Homeschool Better Together with Pam Barnhill

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:

• Homeschool Better Together Podcast
• ReadAloudRevival.com
• Read-Aloud Revival Podcast
• Waxwing Books
• "Dear Duck, Please Come" by Sarah Mackenzie
• "Beyond Mulberry Glen" by Millie Florence
• "The Myth Makers, The Remarkable Fellowship of CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien" by John Hendricks
• "The Lively Art of Writing" by Lucille Van Paine
• "84 Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff
• "West with Giraffes" by Lynda Rutledge
• "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown
• "The Women" by Kristin Hannah
• "4:50 from Paddington: A Miss Marple Mystery" by Agatha Christie
• "The Wishing Game" by Meg Shaffer
• "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundle
• "Only the Beautiful" by Susan Meissner
• "All It Takes is a Goal" by John Acuff

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

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