"In my home, Charlotte Mason has an afro" - homeschooling mother of four, Amber O'Neal Johnston, talks about how she has adapted the Charlotte Mason philosophy to suit her children. We also talk about books as mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors, questions to ask when you are curating your home library, why we don't need to cancel the classics and so much more.

Books, people, websites mentioned:

• Heritagemom.com
• A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond (2022) by Amber O'Neal Johnston
• Soul School: Taking Kids On a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture (2025) by Amber O'Neal Johnston
• Homegrown: Guidance and Inspiration for Navigating Your Homeschooling Journey (2025) by Amber O'Neal Johnston
• Saint Valentine (1992) by Robert Sabuda
• Charlotte Mason (educator and reformer)
• Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning (1999) by Laurence Anholt, illustrated by Sheila Moxley
• Pride and Prejudice (1813) by Jane Austen
• The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
• Frindle (1996) by Andrew Clement
• Wonder (2012) by R.J Palacio
• The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child's Bookshelf, Grace Lin TEDx Talk
• The Guardian Poll on Australia's best picture book
• The Little House on The Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Birchbark House (1999) by Louise Erdrich
• One Big Open Sky (2024) by Lesa Cline-Ransome
• The Cosby Show
• Pollyanna (1913) by Eleanor H Porter
• Charles Dickens (author)
• Stories of Colour
• Redeemed Reader
• Biblioguides
• Me and Mama (2020) by Cozbi A Cabrera
• Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (1987) by John Steptoe
• A Story About Afiya (2020) by James Berry and Anna Cunha
• Hip Hop Speaks to Children (2008) by Nikki Giovanni

More from Amber:

• Heritagemom.com
• Instagram - @heritagemomblog

From his childhood to school workshops to a particular Fleetwood Mac album cover, award-winning writer/illustrator Dub Leffler talks to the The Read-Aloud Home about the many things that impact his work. Find some of Dub's work on my Instagram @thereadaloudhome

Books and humans mentioned:

• Sally Morgan (author)
• Banksy (artist)
• Coral Vass (author)
• Leah Purcell (actor, playwright, director, novelist)
• Once there was a boy (2011) by Dub Leffler
• Library of Congress
• Sorry Day (2018) by Coral Vass, illustrated by Dub Leffler
• Kevin Rudd (Australian Prime Minister (2007-2010 and briefly in 2013)
• The Drover's Son (2026) by Leah Purcell, illustrated by Dub Leffler.
• Quirindi (regional town in Australia)
• Caroona Aboriginal Mission
• Dick Roughsey (author/artist)
• Cathie Tasker
• The Quinkins (1978) by Dick Roughsey
• Childcraft: The How And Why Library (Stories and Fables) [volume 2] (1976)
• Koori Radio, Sydney
• Margaret Cossey
• Indij Readers
• The Dreaming Series
• Laughing Zebras Animation
• Mark Rothko (artist)
• Henri Rousseau (artist)
• Tango in the Night by Fleetwood Mac
• The Eagles
• Clyfford Still (artist)
• Walking Together (2025) by Coral Vass, illustrated by Dub Leffler
• Shirley Hughes (author/illustrator)
• John J Muth (author/illustrator)
• Trevor Jamieson (stage and film actor)
• Story Box
• Kevin Rudd (Australian Prime Minister 2007-2010, 2013)
• Vik Muniz
• Vik Muniz Ted Talk
• Bruce Pascoe (writer)
• Harlyn Geronimo
• Geronimo
• Buzz Aldrin
• Tony Birch (author/academic/activist)
• Library of Congress, Young Adventurers: 2015 National Book Festival
• Jared Thomas (author)
• Bear and Rat (2021) by Christopher Cheng, illustrated by Stephen Michael King
• Big Nuisance (2001) by Junko Morimoto
• My Hiroshima (1987) by Junko Morimoto
• The Two Bullies (1997) by Junko Morrimotto
• Flotsam (2006) by David Weisner
• Art and Max (2010) by David Weisner
• Each Peach Pear Plum (1987) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• **please note that during this talk we discussed Junko Morimoto and upon researching into Junko after the episode I read that sadly she died in 2017. Junko is one of my favourite author/illustrators and I have no doubt her stories and illustrations will be with my children and many other children for the rest of their lives.

More from Dub:

• "Soar" Dub's (new book that will be out in 2026)
• @DubLeffler
• dublefflerillustrator.com

I sat down with fellow zealot Emily Chang from the online secondhand children's book store Little Modern Reader to talk about running a small business, her "past life" as a Chinese antiques specialist, discovering the joy of picture books as an adult and so much more. This episode is not to be missed as it is bubbling with picture book enthusiasm and love!

This episode was recorded on Gadigal Land.

Books, humans and websites mentioned:

• www.littlemodernreader.com.au
• Magic Beach (1990) by Alison Lester
• Window (1991) by Jeannie Baker
• Enjoying the Film Adaptations of Children's Books With Your Kids, an Interview with Nazanin Forghani
• Australian Refugee Volunteers
• The Pyjama Foundation
• Oi Frog (2014) by Kes Gray and Jim Field.
• Heywood Hill in Mayfair
• Pokko and the Drum (2019) by Matthew Forsythe
• Meg and Mog (1972) by Helen Nicoll and illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski
• Waiting (2015) by Kevin Henkes
• The Worrysaurus (2000) by Rachel Bright
• Little Modern Reader's Donations Guidelines
• Each Peach Pear Plum (1978) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• The Very Cranky Bear (2008) by Nick Bland
• Henri's Walk to Paris (2012) Saul Bass (illustrator) and Leonore Klein (contributor)
• Step into the world of award-winning illustrator Max Hamilton.
• Antonia Pesenti (author)
• Hilary Bell (illustrator)
• Bruno Munari's ABC (2003)
• Miffy by Dick Bruna
• Leo Lionni
• Little Blue and Little Yellow (2009) by Leo Lionni
• The Little House (1942) by Virginia Lee Burton
• This Small Blue Dot (2021) by Zeno Sworder.
• Jon Klassen (author/illustrator)
• Interview with Picture Book Activist Lara Cain Gray

More from Emily:

• To the Moon Kids
• www.littlemodernreader.com.au
• @littlemodernreader
• Sign up for bookish news here

Deep dive into the stories behind the picture books with award-winning Australian author/illustrator Zeno Sworder.

In this conversation with Zeno I do not talk about the experiences of neurodivergent children or their parents. I am currently researching and learning more about neurodivergence but the stories and advice in this podcast episode may not be relevant to families navigating neurodiversity.

This episode was recorded on Gadigal and Wurundjeri Lands.

Books, films and humans mentioned

• Once I was a Giant (2025) by Zeno Sworder This Small Blue Dot (2021) by Zeno Sworder
• My Strange Shrinking Parents (2023) by Zeno Sworder
• The Red Tree (2001) by Shaun Tan
• The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• The Maze Runner (2009) by James Kushner
• Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth
• Ready Player One (2011) by Ernest Cline
• The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
• Terminator books
• Waterworld (1995) (film)
• The Day After Tomorrow (1994) by Allan Folsom
• NBC News
• Little People, BIG Dreams series
• Michelangelo (sculptor and painter)
• Dr Seuss (author/illustrator)
• The Happy Prince (1888) by Oscar Wilde
• Need a House Call Ms Mouse (2022) By George Mendoza, illustrated by Doris Susan Smith
• Du Iz Taz (2016) by Carson Ellis
• The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau (1988) by Jon Agee
• I Can Explain (2022) by Shinsuke Yoshitake

More from Zeno:

• zenosworder.com
• @zenosworder

What's in this episode?

In this week's episode, Australian author/illustrator Max Hamilton takes us through what a typical day of work looks like when she is creating a children's picture book. We also talk about her past career, how she tackles a new project, how she organises her picture books and the importance of community for children's book creators.

This episode was recorded on the land of the Gadigal and Dharawal People.

Books, humans (and other interesting things) mentioned:

• My Possum Plays the Drums (2020) written by Catherine Meatheringham, illustrated by Max Hamilton
• When the Waterhole Dries Up (2021) written by Kaye Baillie, illustrated by Max Hamilton
• Tasmanian Devil (2022) written by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Max Hamilton
• Where the Lyrebird Lives (2022) written by Vicki Conley, illustrated by Max Hamilton
• The Beehive (2024) written by Megan Daley, illustrated by Max Hamilton
• Our Home (2024) written by Catherine Meatheringham, illustrated by Max Hamilton
• Cockatoo (2024) written by Kaye Baillie, illustrated by Max Hamilton
• Dogs with Jobs (2025) written and illustrated by Max Hamilton
• The Wilder Zoo Trilogy by Tina Strachan, illustrated by Max Hamilton
• Australian Society of Authors [ASA]
• Erica Wagner (artist and editor)
• Shirley Hughes (author/illustrator)
• Maurice Sendak (author/illustrator)
• Bob Graham (author/illustrator)
• Jeannie Baker (author/illustrator)
• Anna Pignataro (author/illustrator)
• Rachel Robson (children's book buyer for Gleebooks in Australia)
• Gleebooks
• @gleebooks_kids
• The Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators [SCBWI]
• Margaret Hamilton (author and publisher)
• Margaret Hamilton Books
• Pinerolo - The Children's Book Cottage
• Antonia Pesenti (illustrator)
• Hilary Bell (author)
• Alphabetical Sydney (2013) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell
• Numerical Street (2015) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell
• Summer Time (2019) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell
• The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc
• Gnomes by Wil Huygen and Rein Poortvliet
• Richard Scarry's Best Story Book Ever
• Phoebe Wahl (author/illustrator)
• Little Golden books
• Beatrix Potter (author/illustrator)
• May Gibbs (author/illustrator)
• The Brambly Hedge Series by Jill Barkley
• Windy Hollow Books

More from Max:

@mhdesignillustration

maxhamiltonillustration.com.au

In this week's episode Phoebe Wahl talks about her unschooled and free-spirited childhood, her studies at Rhode Island School of Design, her picture book creation process and so much more.

Books and people mentioned:

• Sonya's Chickens (2015) by Phoebe Wahl
• Backyard Fairies (2018) by Phoebe Wahl
• The Blue House (2020) by Phoebe Wahl
• Little Witch Hazel (2021) by Phoebe Wahl
• Phoebe's Diary (2023) by Phoebe Wahl
• Rhode Island School of Design
• Western Washington University
• Eloise Rickman @mightymother
• Paper Mice (2019) by Megan Wagner LLoyd and illustrated by Phoebe Wahl
• Sophie Blackall (author/illustrator)
• carlemuseum.org

Recommendations from Phoebe:

• Our Animal Friends At Maple Hill Farm (1974) by Alice and Martin Provensen
• An Owl and Three Pussy Cats (1994) by Alice and Martin Provensen
• Shaker Lane (1987) by Alice Provensen
• Janet and Allan Ahlberg (authors)
• The Jolly Postman or Other People's Letters (1986) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Each Peach Pear Plum (1989) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• The Baby's Catalogue (1982) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Peekaboo/Peepo (1981) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
• Abuela (1997) by Arthur Dorros, illustrated Elisa Kleven
• Vera B Williams (author/illustrator)
• Faith Ringgold (author/illustrator)
• Aliki (author/illustrator)
• Tove Jansson (author/illustrator)
• Gracey Zhang (illustrator)
• The Big Bath House (2021) by Kyo Maclear
• One More Jar of Jam (2023) by Michelle Sumovich
• Beatrice Alegmana (author/illustrator)
• Chirri and Chirra (2016) by Kya Doi (translated from Japanese by Yuki Kaneko)
• Possum's Harvest Moon (1998) by Anne Hunter
• Alison Lester (author/illustrator)
• Rosie Sips Spiders (1988) by Alison Lester

More from Phoebe

@phoebewahl

phoebewahl.com

In this week's episode Courtney Adamo talks to the Read-Aloud Home about her new book The Family Home, which explores how your home can help elevate family life and help you spend more quality time as a family including reading together.

Books and humans mentioned

• The Family Home: Inspiring Ideas for a Home Filled with Joy (2025) by Courtney and Michael Adamo
• And the Train Goes (2007) by William Bee
• A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010) by Phillip Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead
• Ira Sleeps Over (1972) by Bernard Waber
• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good Very Bad Day (1972) by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz
• The Tiger who Came to Tea (1968) by Judith Kerr
• The Bog Baby (2008) by Jeanne Willis and Gwen Millward
• Make Way for Ducklings (1941) by Robert McCloskey
• The Little House (1942) by Virginia Lee Burton
• We're Going on a Bear Hunt (1989) by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
• The National Geographic Series
• Charlotte's Web (1952) by E.B White, illustrated by Garth Williams
• Julian is a Mermaid (2018) by Jessica Love
• Blueberries for Sal (1948) by Robert McCloskey
• The Paper Dolls (2012) by Julia Donaldson
• Who Sank the Boat (1982) by Pamela Allen
• Simplicity Parenting (2009) by Kim John Payne
• The Olivia Series by Ian Falconer
• Ira Says Goodbye (1988) by Bernard Waber
• Mem Fox (Author)
• Julia Donaldson (Author)
• Oliver Jeffers (Author/Illustrator)
• The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
• The Wings of Fire Series by Tui T Sutherland
• Beware of the Frog (2008) by William Bee

More from Courtney

Instagram - @courtneyadamo

Substack -courtneyadamo.substack.com/

Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell talk about collaborating creatively as longtime friends, We also discuss children's books that are "the whole package", writing in rhyme, appreciating picture books, graphic novels and illustration as well as looking beyond Australia for beautiful picture books.

Books and humans mentioned:

· Alphabetical Sydney (2013) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell

· Home (2015) By Carson Ellis

· Cole's Funny Picture Book (1879) By Edward William Cole

· Farmhouse (2022) By Sophie Blackall

· Milkwood: "A creative retreat for the children's book community"

· Julia Donaldson (author)

· Axel Sheffler (illustrator)

· Numerical Street (2015) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell

· Summer Time (2019) By Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell

· In the Night Kitchen (1970) By Maurice Sendak

· Tintin by Hergé

· George Orwell (2021) by Pierre Christin

· The Dot (2003) By Peter Reynolds

· Snuggle Pot and Cuddle Pie (1918) By May Gibbs

· What was I scared of? (1961) By Dr Seuss

· A Series of Unfortunate Events By Lemony Snicket (audiobooks narrated by Tim Curry and Lemony Snicket)

· A Lion in Paris (2006) By Beatrice Alemagna

· Planeta Tangerina

· Scribble Publishers