Best of 2025 – Part Two celebrates the joy of stories that bring families closer, spotlighting creative voices and practical wisdom in a warm, listener-friendly mix. We open with a quick tour of themes—creativity, confidence, and connection—before diving into highlights that parents and young readers can use right away. Our first guest is Hayley Chewin who celebrated her YA title The Swarm. Hayley's episode was the most downloaded episode of RWYK in all of 2025. Hayley shows how curiosity powers great plots, turning everyday "what-ifs" into page-turning adventures. We then welcome Angie Kang, author and illustrator of Our Lake, an absolutely beautiful picture book. Angie centers representation and community, underscoring how books serve as mirrors and windows—building belonging while expanding horizons. Kate Messner then joins us to celebrate The Trouble With Heroes. Abigail Hing Wen reminds us that unforgettable children's stories start with honest, empathetic characters and the rhythm of read-alouds.
We also revisit a powerful conversation with Dr. Lynette Fraga about early literacy as a relationship, not a task: reading starts with snuggles, talk, and shared attention—even before the first word is decoded. She highlights how pediatric partnerships and culturally relevant, multilingual books foster equity and support millions of families, offering practical encouragement for any household to begin tonight
Throughout the episode, listeners get simple, actionable ideas: try a family bookshelf "audit," play a bedtime "what-if" story game, and build a 10-minute nightly read-aloud habit. We close by inviting families to share their favorite 2025 read-aloud moments, celebrating the small rituals that grow confidence, curiosity, and connection—one page at a time.
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