The bookshelf is one part. The internet has many more. Here are the people and places we keep returning to.
These are independent recommendations — we have no affiliation with any of them. We just read them.
Resources
The wider shelf.
People who write about parenting
The voices we read most often.
Janet Lansbury — Elevating Childcare
The clearest writing we've found on respectful parenting (RIE). Her short essays on saying "no" without yelling have saved us countless arguments.
Sarah Mackenzie — Read-Aloud Revival
If reading aloud feels harder than it should, start here. Sarah Mackenzie's booklists and podcast are how we plan our own.
Big Life Journal — Blog
The growth-mindset journal we use ourselves with the kids. Their blog is a steady drip of practical scripts for hard parenting moments.
Aha! Parenting — Dr. Laura Markham
Decades of clinical experience translated into specific, calm guidance. We come here when we need a script for a hard conversation.
Research we trust
Organizations doing the work that makes its way into the books we read.
Greater Good Magazine (UC Berkeley)
Research-grounded writing on gratitude, resilience, and what positive psychology actually says when you read the studies.
Child Mind Institute
Plain-language guides on children's mental health from clinicians who work with families every day. Especially good on anxiety, attention, and behavior questions.
Zero to Three
The reference we send people to when they have a small child and don't know what's normal. Calmly, scientifically reassuring.
Listen while you fold the laundry
Podcasts that pair well with this project.
Hidden Brain
Shankar Vedantam on the patterns underneath human behavior. Often shapes a conversation we have at the dinner table that night.
The Read-Aloud Revival Podcast
Specific, practical episodes about how to actually read with kids — and which books are worth the time.
If there's something missing here that's shaped how you raise your kids, please tell us. This list is meant to grow.