Innovative Ways to Get Kids Psyched to Read

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How do we unlock a young person's intrinsic motivation to read? Today we're spotlighting Tracey Hecht of Fabled Films and The Book Truck charity founder Elizabeth Dragga, two women on opposite coasts who are taking creative approaches to getting kids psyched about the written word. The Nocturnals creator Tracey Hecht uses dialogue-driven storytelling, short films, author visits via Skype, a New York Public Library Read-Aloud Initiative, and even face-painting to get kids invested in reading. And Atomic Moms listener Eleanor Burkett shares a conversation with Elizabeth Dragga, who drives hundreds of "high interest" titles in "The Book Truck" to underserved neighborhoods and thoughtfully trains teen volunteers to help spread literacy. Hear all about this 'non-profit helping teens find books they can't put down.' Listen up! love, Ellie Knaus


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Tracey Hecht, founder of Fabled Films, is a writer and entrepreneur who has written, directed, and produced for film. Fabled Films brings together her passions and interests: writing, creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurship. Tracey has developed a 15-book series, The Nocturnals, and has created a Read Aloud Writing Program workshop which is being incorporated into the education/library systems in over 50 districts and other charitable organizations around the country. In June 2017, she launched a partnership with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation to bring The Nocturnals program to the broadcast media centers within pediatric hospitals.

 
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A former bookseller, librarian, and education advocate, Elizabeth Dragga founded The Book Truck in 2011 in response to a lack of literacy outreach programming for teenagers. She joined forces with renowned author Cornelia Funke in 2012. Since its inception, The Book Truck has given away thousands of books to youth and young adults.

 

Special Thanks to:

Eleanor Burkett for her heartfelt interview Owen O’Neill: sound engineer Jeremy Turner: original theme composition