Picture Books for All with Charlotte Offsay

In today's episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Dr. Carla Marie Manly is going to talk to Charlotte Offsay. She will be talking about her work with Instagram and her literacy platform.

 

Episode Highlights

• 1.33: Instagram is a wonderful space and community where people share the books that they are interested in, the books that they are reading, and she makes recommendations based on the books that her children and she loves.
• 2.05: Books are a fabulous way to enter a conversation with a child and discuss what's going on in their minds and enter naturally into a conversation.
• 4.35: As per Carla, we still have picture books as adults, and we just call them photography books and images share so much.
• 5.19: Carla explains as an Instagram influencer why does she think it's important to read together for family happiness?
• 6.30: On emotional level, reading together brings calmness and tranquility to the end of our day. It can definitely lead to lots of giggles and fun and silliness too, says Charlotte.
• 8.16: Being immersed in the kid-lit world, Charlotte gets to see so many of the new books coming out and it gets to meet the wonderful authors that she works and writes and interacts with.
• 9.47: Through the picture books Charlotte got a window into what else is going on around the world like traditions or cultures she and her children both got to experience that together.
• 10.43: Reading and interacting and looking at a book offers a way to explore curiosity and see it in a different light and slow down.
• 12.44: When you find a piece in a book that you can identify with and say that person is like me, it's one of the most precious parts of reading, says Carla.
• 14.08: Charlotte is lucky to get books sent to her by fabulous publishers, and she just absolutely loves getting a stack of new picture books and pouring over them and getting excited to share them with her kids and with people who she has gotten to know online.
• 16.02: There are the small everyday moments that also need to be celebrated and recognized, says Charlotte.
• 18.15: There are so many different types of books out there and there is something for everyone and that can be a such a wonderful experience for everyone, says Charlotte.

3 Key Points

1. Picture books are meant to be read a loud and meant to be shared in a special way and they offer a unique connection, says Charlotte.
2. Every child wants and needs to see and deserves to see themselves reflected in the pages of a book, says Charlotte.
3. Charlotte's next book A Grandma's Magic is a lyrical ode to the magic of the relationship and all that a grandma brings into our lives through the small moments.

Tweetable Quotes

• "Young children need literacy and books, and books offer windows and mirrors and discussion points."- Charlotte
• "The more that you read, the more you're going to teach and share and open up a young child's world." – Charlotte
• "From skin color to eye color to body size to pets, it's so wonderful to see someone who's life mirrors yours." – Carla
• "I tend to write about the things in my life that consume me, whether that's my children or me and what's going on with them." - – Charlotte

Resources Mentioned

• Helping Families be Happy Podcast Apple
• http://charlotteoffsay.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/picturebookrecommendations/?hl=en
• Podcast Editing