The Raising a Reader & Storyteller Podcast

   

 

About The Podcast 

Book Therapy's Bijal Shah, in collaboration with Sunita Shah of The Jai Jais, brings this 7-episode podcast on raising a reader and developing a storyteller.

Over eight episodes, we share tips and techniques on developing young readers' love for literature through acquiring reading skills, vocabulary, developing their imagination and learning to tell a story. We also discuss the benefits of reading on mental well-being through the practice of children's bibliotherapy. Everything we share is taken from our own personal experiences as a bibliotherapist, speech and language therapist and as authors.

As part of this podcast we'd also like to offer 10% off using discount code TENPERCENT on our Bibliotherapy, Literature & Mental Health course, that guides parents, teachers and mental health professionals on using bibliotherapy tools and techniques with children for mental well-being. You might also find our book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading helpful.

Episodes

Episode 1:  Who are the voices behind this Podcast? Plus tips and techniques for raising a reader!

Episode 2: Parent Child interaction. Benefits of reading toddlerhood, preschool to established reader.

Episode 3: The importance of developing vocabulary.

Episode 4: Building narrative frameworks and storytelling.

Episode 5: The importance of imagination. 

Episode 6: Mental health and children’s bibliotherapy

Episode 7: Reading stages and identifying the right book for the right child

Episode 8: A few words from our little ones on the books they've loved.

Coming soon.

 

About Your Hosts

Bijal Shah 

Bijal Shah is a bibliotherapist, counsellor, author and poet. She is the founder of Book Therapy, which offers individual, couple’s and group bibliotherapy, literary curation and personalised reading services as well as bibliotherapy training. Bijal’s book recommendations have featured in the Guardian, Marie Claire, NBC News, Asian Voice and various other publications. She is a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and the American Library Association. She is also the author of the non-fiction book, "The Happiness Mindset”, which has received more than 50 reviews on Amazon with a 5 star rating. 

Bijal has also completed a post-graduate professional accountancy qualification and a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from the University of Warwick, after attending Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls. She is a mother of two and currently resides in Hampstead, London with her husband

Sunita Shah

Sunita is the creator behind The Jai Jais, a growing collection of books, yoga/mindfulness and educational resources for children centred around Hindu gods and goddesses. Sunita has blended her expertise as a speech and language therapist with her children’s natural curiosity about their faith to produce the collection for children of all ages and backgrounds. Sunita’s spark to create books about Hindu characters was ignited when her eldest son, Syon who began asking questions about the temple in her home. He would talk about the elephant god, the monkey god and the powerful fork ‘trident’ of Lord Shiva which he thought was like King Triton from The Little Mermaid.

While being a mother gave her the thirst to produce the books, her background in speech and language therapy armed her with the essential ingredients to write for children. Sunita is the National Advisor for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy and deliver training to the NHS and educational and private establishments on supporting bilingual children.

Sunita is passionate about children not growing up too fast and enjoying their childhood, creating memories and interactions that will last a lifetime. 

 

Show Notes

Episode 1: Who are the voices behind this Podcast? Plus tips and techniques for raising a reader!