A Free Family Read-Aloud Experience with Janet and Geoff Benge

This summer, for the first time, we (Janet and Geoff) are inviting families to share six weeks of summer reading with us.

For more than 25 years, families around the world have read our Heroes books aloud together. Countless parents have shared with us that this reading approach has strengthened family relationships, sparked meaningful conversations, inspired their children, and created memories that will last a lifetime.

During the free Family Read-Aloud Experience, families will read one book aloud at home over two weeks and then join Janet and Geoff for a livestream conversation about the story, the history behind it, and interviews with people carrying on the legacy today. We will also share behind-the-scenes insights about writing the book and offer simple cross-generational questions to spark thoughtful family conversations and reflection.

This will be a powerful experience because:

• Generations are listening to the same story together.

• Participants are talking about what stood out to them during the reading.

• Participants are connecting the story to everyday life.

• Participants are interacting with the authors.

Over six weeks—an average of about one chapter a day—participating families will read three books Janet and Geoff have chosen for the Read-Aloud Experience:

1. Lillian Trasher: The Greatest Wonder in Egypt (1887–1961)

2. Louis Zamperini: Redemption (1917–2014)

3. Klaus-Dieter John: Hope in the Land of the Incas (1960–)

The Family Read-Aloud Experience is a free event and runs from Monday, July 13 through Sunday, August 23, 2026.

Livestream sessions will be held each Friday at 1:00 PM EST: July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, and August 21.

You will be able to post questions for Janet and Geoff in the chat during the livestream and will also be provided an email address where you can send questions ahead of time. Those who register for the Read-Aloud Experience will receive an email containing a direct link to the livestream.

For those who cannot attend live, the livestream will be recorded and made available for all to view the following day (Saturday) on our YouTube channel.

How do you join this inspirational family event? Email us at:

inquiry@bengebooks.com

and let us know:

• How many people will be participating in your particular read-aloud group.

• The email address where you would like the livestream link sent.

If you need copies of the books we’ll be reading, you can purchase printed, audio, or eBook versions directly from YWAM Publishing using our affiliate by clicking here.

The books are also available for sale on Amazon.

Once you email us, you will hear from us in early July with more information and a link to an introductory video that will appear on our Benge Books YouTube channel.

In the meantime, for more information you can also email Janet and Geoff at inquiry@bengebooks.com.

We look forward to spending time with you and your family during July and August.

—Janet & Geoff Benge

The BIG Reveal—Introduction to Journal Writing Course

A year ago this month, at the FPEA Convention, we talked with Tricia Goyer who shared she and a friend Angela Love were starting an online platform to host courses for homeschooled high schoolers. Tricia asked if we had a course we would like to have on their new platform. Of course, my mind immediately jumped to something near and dear to my heart—journaling.

Even though I’ve been a writer for forty plus years, each New Year I never got past January 10 in my attempt to develop a journaling practice. Then three years ago I sort of backed into journaling through a side door and fell in love with it. The change came from realizing I had a rigid idea of what a journal was and my mind would rebel at writing down my thoughts and emotions on a daily basis. So, I found other ways to journal. Now it is something I look forward to doing every day, which is still hard for me to believe.

Anyway, when Tricia asked us about any course ideas we had, my mind leapt. And so, it was decided we should put together a course on journaling.

I had no idea it would take eleven months from the time we started developing the course, but it did. There was a learning curve as we put together and videoed each segment, not to mention the worksheets that go with each lesson. And of course, being us, the course covers a brief history of each journal form explored.

I like to think of the course like a sampler, a place where students get to try out nine different forms of journaling and then spend three weeks experimenting and deciding which journaling styles suit them in the hope they develop an ongoing journaling practice.

I’ve found that journaling has improved my creativity and mental health, given me additional joy and clarity, and I hope the course contents will do the same for many high school students around the world.

To learn more, click here.

—Janet Benge