Why Julia Franks Created a (Much-Needed) Children’s Literacy App

Each week on NewberyTart, Jennie and Marcy, two book-loving mamas (and a librarian and a bookseller, respectively), read and drink their way through the entire catalogue of Newbery books, and interview authors and illustrators along the way.

On this episode, Jennie and Marcy talk to Atlanta local Julia Franks, author of Over the Plain Houses and the developer of LooseCanon, a children’s literacy app aimed at fostering online conversation about books.

From the episode:

Julia Franks: You guys probably know this because you have kids, but English class does not look the same as it did when you and I were in school. Everybody’s not always reading the same book. A lot of times kids are on their own independent reading journey or they’re doing book clubs, and then sometimes everyone’s reading the same book. That is a great innovation that started in primary schools and sort of leaked upward, so that’s terrific. But it’s also hard if you’re the teacher. It’s hard to keep track of it all and be the person recommending every book and remembering where every child is. Especially if you’re teaching middle school or high school, when you might have four or five classes, or six classes. So we are a digital tool that helps to organize that.

***

To listen to the rest of the episode, as well as the whole archive of NewberyTart, subscribe and listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever else you find your favorite podcasts.