234: A Summer Reading Conversation with Tara Saunders
1Digest
This episode of Minimalish focuses on summer reading with guest Tara Saunders, a mom of two, teacher, and food enthusiast. Tara shares her personal summer reading routine, including her favorite genres and authors, and how she incorporates reading into her family's daily life. The conversation delves into practical tips for simplifying reading, such as utilizing public libraries, little free libraries, and book rotation systems. Tara also discusses how she encourages her kids to read, emphasizing the importance of modeling reading behavior and making books accessible throughout the day. The episode concludes with Tara's biggest tip for making reading a priority, which is to not put pressure on yourself and find those little pockets of time to read. She also shares her current reading list, including the Bridgerton series and the Akatar series by Sarah J. Maas. The episode ends with a reminder about the Minimalish Collective book club, which will be reading "The Happier Hour" in June.
Outlines
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Summer Reading with Tara Saunders
This Chapter begins with Desiree introducing the topic of summer reading and welcoming back Tara Saunders, a previous guest on the show. Tara shares her background as a mom of two, teacher, and food enthusiast, and how she enjoys sharing her love of cooking and recipe ideas on Instagram. Desiree and Tara then dive into a conversation about summer reading, discussing Tara's personal reading habits, favorite genres, and how she makes reading a priority for herself and her kids.
Summer Reading Routine and Favorite Genres
This Chapter focuses on Tara's personal summer reading routine, including her favorite genres and authors. Tara explains how she reads the most during the summer due to her teaching schedule and incorporates reading into various parts of her day, such as during quiet time, while swimming, and while cleaning. She shares her preference for rom-coms during the summer and discusses her favorite authors, Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. Tara also mentions a new book by Emily Henry that she's excited to read.
Simplifying Summer Reading
This Chapter explores ways to simplify summer reading and keep it minimal. Tara emphasizes the importance of utilizing public libraries and little free libraries to access a wide variety of books without having to buy and store them. She also discusses how she rotates books in and out of her home, keeping only those that are favorites or that she knows her kids will enjoy for a long time. Tara shares her experience with little free libraries and how she uses them to declutter books and provide a fun activity for her kids.
Summer Reading for Kids
This Chapter focuses on how Tara incorporates summer reading into her kids' lives. She emphasizes the importance of reading to kids from a young age and how her kids have grown up loving being read to. Tara discusses the different types of books her kids enjoy reading independently and how she encourages them to read by modeling reading behavior and making books accessible throughout the day. She also mentions the app Epic, which provides audiobooks for kids, and how she uses it to supplement her kids' reading time.
Book Decluttering and Storage
This Chapter delves into book decluttering and storage strategies. Tara shares how she manages her family's book collection, explaining that they don't have a huge library of books and rely heavily on public libraries and book rotation systems. She discusses how she keeps track of library books and encourages her kids to declutter their bookshelves by donating them to little free libraries. Tara also shares her approach to acquiring new books, often finding them at thrift stores, garage sales, and consignment sales.
Keywords
Summer Reading
The act of reading books during the summer months, often associated with leisure and relaxation. It can involve reading for pleasure, educational purposes, or simply to unwind and escape from daily routines.
Minimalism
A lifestyle characterized by intentional living and owning only what is essential. Minimalists often focus on decluttering, simplifying, and prioritizing experiences over material possessions. In the context of summer reading, minimalism can involve utilizing libraries, rotating books, and focusing on quality over quantity.
Public Library
A free and publicly funded institution that provides access to books, magazines, newspapers, and other resources. Public libraries play a crucial role in promoting literacy, providing educational opportunities, and fostering community engagement. They offer a wide range of services, including book lending, computer access, and educational programs.
Little Free Library
A small, free-standing structure, often resembling a miniature house, where people can take and leave books. Little free libraries promote literacy, community engagement, and book sharing. They are typically located in public spaces, such as parks, neighborhoods, and schools.
Book Rotation
A system of regularly changing the books available in a home or library. This can involve rotating books between different locations, such as bedrooms, living rooms, and storage spaces. Book rotation helps to keep the collection fresh, encourages exploration of different genres, and prevents books from becoming stagnant.
Epic (App)
A popular app that provides access to a vast library of digital books and audiobooks for children. Epic offers a wide range of titles, from picture books to chapter books, and features interactive elements, such as highlighting words and reading aloud. It is designed to promote literacy and make reading fun and engaging for kids.
GoodReads (App)
A social networking website and app for readers. GoodReads allows users to track their reading progress, discover new books, connect with other readers, and share their thoughts and reviews. It provides a platform for book lovers to engage with the literary world and build a community around their shared passion for reading.
Bridgerton (Series)
A popular historical romance series created by Julia Quinn. The series follows the lives of the eight Bridgerton siblings as they navigate love, marriage, and societal expectations in Regency-era England. The Bridgerton series has been adapted into a successful Netflix show, which has further increased its popularity.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (Series)
A fantasy romance series written by Sarah J. Maas. The series follows Feyre, a young woman who is thrust into the magical world of Prythian after killing a faerie. The series is known for its intricate world-building, complex characters, and romantic elements.
Hoopla (App)
A digital media service that provides access to a wide range of audiobooks, movies, TV shows, music, and more. Hoopla is offered through public libraries and allows users to borrow items for free. It is a convenient and accessible way to enjoy digital content without having to purchase it.
Q&A
What are some ways to simplify summer reading and keep it minimal?
Tara suggests utilizing public libraries and little free libraries to access a wide variety of books without having to buy and store them. She also recommends rotating books in and out of your home, keeping only those that are favorites or that you know your kids will enjoy for a long time.
How can I encourage my kids to read during the summer?
Tara emphasizes the importance of modeling reading behavior and making books accessible throughout the day. She suggests having books readily available in the living room, reading to your kids before nap time or bedtime, and visiting the library regularly.
What is Tara's biggest tip for making reading a priority?
Tara's biggest tip is to not put pressure on yourself and find those little pockets of time to read. She also encourages parents to model reading behavior for their kids, as it can inspire them to read as well.
What are some of Tara's favorite books and authors?
Tara enjoys reading rom-coms during the summer and mentions her favorite authors, Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. She is also excited to read Emily Henry's new book.
What are some apps that can help with summer reading?
Tara recommends GoodReads for tracking reading progress and discovering new books. She also mentions Epic, an app that provides audiobooks for kids, and Hoopla, a digital media service that offers access to audiobooks, movies, and more.
What is Tara currently reading?
Tara is currently reading the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn and the Akatar series by Sarah J. Maas. She is also using Hoopla to listen to audiobooks of the Akatar series while cooking.
What is Tara simplifying right now?
Tara is simplifying dinners, as she and her family are busy with baseball and softball season.
What is Tara loving right now?
Tara is loving her new collapsible pop-up tent, which is perfect for summer sports events in the hot sun.
Show Notes
Today we have special guest Tara Saunders who is a mom of 2, wife, and special education teacher who is now home on summer break. If you’re anything like me, the start of summer (whether I’m teaching or not) gets me excited to have more time + energy to spend reading. As an educator and kids with summer reading assignments, Tara shares her tips for creating daily routines for the whole family to read and discusses all things book decluttering and storage. If you’re also hoping to simplify reading for everyone this summer, then you’ll love this lighthearted and fun conversation!
LINKS
- Tara on Instagram
- Tara’s Minimalism Story Episode on Minimal-ish
- Desirae on Instagram
- Minimal-ish Podcast Website
Pop up tent :)
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