Books, Bonds, and Beyond with Kindred Obas

In this special live episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie sits down with colleague and friend Kindred Obas for a conversation about joyful reading culture, complex texts, identity, and the kinds of classroom experiences that help children see themselves as readers.Together, Katie and Kindred discuss:how to build a classroom culture where reading feels joyful, social, and meaningfulwhy classroom libraries should include both mirrors and windowswhat Kindred learned from watching students move from books like Dog Man to much more complex texts over timehow her sixth grade Jane Austen book club is helping students grow as readers, thinkers, and community memberswhy exposure to complex text, paired with support and belonging, can strengthen comprehension and confidencehow families can talk with children about harder histories with honesty, empathy, and carewhy it matters to offer books about children of color that are not only rooted in struggle, but also in joy, curiosity, and possibilityKindred’s next chapter at Stanford, where she will study curriculum, teaching, race, language, and healing-centered approaches to teaching hard historyThis episode is a beautiful reminder that reading growth is not just about skill. It is also about identity, access, belonging, and the communities we build around books.Katie Megrian | 10:15 AM (0 minutes ago) | | to meFundraiser by Kindred Obas : Fund Our Journey to Jane Austen's England https://www.gofundme.com/f/fund-our-journey-to-jane-austens-england https://www.gofundme.com/f/fund-our-journey-to-jane-austens-england?attribution_id=sl:e9fcfcf6-52f6-4666-8406-5c5cc968e35a&lang=en_US&ts=1773612248&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_tb-amp20_t2&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_linkBooks and Texts Kindred DiscussesKindred by Octavia ButlerEmma by Jane AustenA Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’EngleA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’EnglePersuasion by Jane AustenNorthanger Abbey by Jane AustenOne Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-GarciaAda Twist, Scientist by Andrea BeatyThe Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson and Vanessa Brantley-NewtonLove Is by Diane AdamsThe Great Cake Mystery by Alexander McCall SmithThe Breakfast Club Adventures series by Marcus RashfordThe Joy Luck Club by Amy TanMillicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa YeeStanford Wong Flunks Big-Time by Lisa Yee