Welcome back everyone. I've been away. I got to spend an entire month in sunny Mexico

hanging out with my new grandson. My daughter and her husband lived there and I spent each day eating papaya, doing yoga, and holding a baby.

Yeah, I also made meals and washed the floors and took care of their laundry.

It was magical. I look forward to that

experience in your life once your kids are grown. It is so worth all the

investments you're making now so that later you get to enjoy the fruits of all that hard work.

Today's guest on the podcast is someone I'm eager for you to meet.

I found out about her work when I was invited to review her brand new book that comes out on August 2nd.

Maya Payne Smart is a writer, parent educator, and literacy advocate who has served on the boards of numerous

library and literacy organizations. She and her family live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she serves as affiliated faculty in educational policy and leadership in the College of Education at Marquette University.

Her website, Maya Smart.com, provides tips and tools for parents to

nurture, teach, and advocate for kids on the road to reading.

What I loved about Maya's new book called Reading for Our Lives

is that her philosophy dovetails beautifully

with the values and practices

that you already know from Brave Writer.

She and I had such a beautiful conversation and I'm eager for you to tune in.

So, poor a cup of tea, sit back and relax.

Introducing Maya Smart.

Welcome, Maya. I'm so glad you're on the Brave Rider podcast.

Thank you so much for having me thrilled to chat with you today.

I'm thrilled to have you. I think you've written such a powerful book. One of the things that struck me immediately was the title, reading for our lives. It sounds like you see reading as life saving.

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