Together: A First Conversation About Love

Megan Madison · Jessica Ralli

Dec 2022 · Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Jen Zhao

About this audiobook

An audiobook edition of the board book about love, relationships, and families, offering adults the opportunity to begin important conversations with young children in an informed, safe, and supported way.

Now in audio! Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion.
 
While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it's hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like love, relationships, and families from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.
 
This fourth book in the series begins the conversation on love with a supportive approach that considers both the child and the adult. With a simple and interactive style, this audiobook also includes additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion.

Ratings and reviews

Incredible book and the voice actor is so warm, bubbly and articulate. This is such a beautiful way to share words that involve love with children! I LOVE IT!

About the author

Dr. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison is a political educator and a lifelong student of radical Black feminism. She earned her PhD in Social Policy from Brandeis University. As a scholar-activist, her approach to research and practice is guided by the Sociopolitical Ecology of Development, a theoretical framework that she developed as a part of her dissertation. Megan has served on the boards of the National Association for the Education for Young Children and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. With Jessica Ralli, she co-authors First Conversations–an award-winning series of anti-bias books for young children and their grown-ups.

Jessica Ralli is the Early Literacy Programs Coordinator at Brooklyn Public Library where she develops & manages grant-funded programming including Books Unbanned Storytimes. She has an M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and has taught in museums, schools, and libraries. Jessica is a contributor to School Library Journal, and in 2020, she received the Library Journal Movers and Shakers Award for her advocacy work in libraries. Jessica is currently co-authoring the award-winning First Conversations series with Megan Madison, published by RISE X Penguin Workshop.