HOW DOES READING CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF A CHILD'S LIFE?If you've been listening to us for a while, you probably know our very different reading journeys. As a refresher, I've always been an avid reader, while Elayna couldn't stand reading growing up. That all changed when she became an educator, and now she's the aunt who gives books instead of toys, and honestly I knew she was on to something so now I am too! By the end of this conversation, we think you'll be inspired to fall in love with reading, too.Today, we're thrilled to welcome Nina Dilapi to the podcast. Nina works in the Children's Room at our local library and has spent years helping children discover a love of books, learning, and imagination. Her passion and expertise make her the perfect person to help us explore how reading can shape children and ourselves.With a bachelor's degree in English and a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), Nina brings an exceptional breadth of expertise to the conversation. She holds certifications as a PreK teacher, K–6 elementary teacher, middle and high school English teacher, PreK–12 school librarian, and public librarian. Her career has included teaching middle school English, serving as an elementary school librarian for six years, and spending the past 14 years in public libraries, where she's led story times, coordinated summer reading programs, and connected thousands of children and families with resources that inspire lifelong learning.Nina's perspective extends beyond the classroom and library. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she homeschooled her three children—then in fourth grade, second grade, and kindergarten—giving her firsthand experience navigating the challenges of educating and raising children through an unprecedented time.When she's not surrounded by books, Nina enjoys reading, native gardening, sustainability, and crocheting. Her unique combination of professional expertise, educational experience, and real-life parenting makes her an insightful and practical voice on raising humans, fostering a love of learning, and helping families thrive. (Which just happen to be a few of our favorite things!)Whether you're a parent, grandparent, guardian, auntie, educator, or simply someone who wants to better understand how to nurture curious, confident humans who love to read, you won't want to miss this conversation with Nina.#podcast #Reading #RaisingReaders #KidsBooks #ChildrensBooks #Parenting #EarlyLiteracy #LoveOfReading #RaisingKids #ChildDevelopment #raisinghumans #school #prek #kindergarten #elementaryschool #middleschool #highschool #school #reader #readersofinstagram #readaloud #new #learn #learning #teach #teaching #teacher #parent #parents #sisters #fun #library #librarian #libraryscience #trending