How to Curate and Create a Legacy with Your Home Library: Stories that stick. Shelves that speak.
🎙 Host: Mandy 🎙 Guest: Sarah @asweetandsimplehome
Episode 004 Summary
In a world full of noise and screens, choosing stories isn’t just a hobby—it’s a rebellion. In this deeply personal Out Loud + On Purpose episode, Mandy shares why books have become one of the most powerful anchors in her family’s life—and welcomes Sarah from A Sweet and Simple Home, to explore how curating a home library is about more than just books... it’s about building a legacy.
In this episode:
00:48 Meet Sarah from A Sweet and Simple Home
02:12 The Power of Books in Family Culture
04:48 Curating a Home Library
12:37 Seasonal Book Rotation
14:24 Tracking and Acquiring Books
19:55 Favorite Authors and Series
24:28 Philosophies and Influences on Home Libraries
27:07 Nostalgic Book Collections
27:22 Passing Down Books to Future Generations
29:13 The Reality of Reading Aloud to Kids
32:43 Using Audiobooks and Yoto Player
34:50 Encouraging Reluctant Readers
38:43 Choosing Stories Over Screens
47:34 Books That Inspire and Change Us
53:08 Resources and Recommendations
Why it matters:
Books aren’t just entertainment. They’re anchors of identity, belonging, and imagination—especially in a world trying to flatten and digitize everything. Building a meaningful home library is an act of legacy-making.
Wildly Recommended:
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – Free books by mail for kids ages 0–5
Read-Aloud Revival – Cozy booklists + read-aloud rhythms
Five in a Row – The curriculum that changed how Mandy curates books
Yoto Player - Screen free device for stories, music, and podcasts
Explore every book mentioned in this episode - Browse both Sarah’s recs and Mandy’s Top Read-Alouds for Kids.
Reflection Question:
What’s one book your family keeps coming back to? Let me know!
Resources + Links:
Library Thing - to inventory your home library
Connect with Sarah:
Sarah is a mom of three, a lover of porch swings and picture books, and a curator of cozy, faith-filled family life. With a heart for motherhood, mental health, and meaningful stories, she helps families build life-giving home libraries rooted in beauty, grace, and wonder.
Instagram: @asweetandsimplehome
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