What is Boomerang?
Boomerang! is an audio program for kids 6-12. In each hour-long episode, the Boomerang! kids present stories about big ideas: science, current events, history, economics, poetry, geography, jokes, mysteries and more.
What are people saying about Boomerang?We Believe
We believe that the curiosity and wonder of a child is a gift to the world. We honor that gift when we empower them to explore and discover.
We believe that storytelling can give kids that power. The best stories not only enrich the inner imaginative life of a child, but also give them a window into worlds outside their own.
And we believe that there are stories everywhere. We hear them in the adventures of fictional heroes and in the courage of real-life ones. We hear them in the life of a platypus and in the machinery of Wall Street. We hear them in the monuments of history and in the struggles and joys of family life.
Most of all, we believe that curiosity is the beginning of compassion. By cultivating it in our children we plant the seeds for a more compassionate world. Our motto -- and inspiration for our name -- reflects these values: "it all comes back."
Why Audio?
Shakespeare is good when you read it - but when you hear Shakespeare, it's downright inspiring. Storytelling - with all of its rich textures - is key to all of our presentations. It adds immediacy and excitement. It stimulates the imagination, and establishes a one-on-one relationship with the listeners.
Parents sometimes wonder: "Shouldn't my kid be reading?" -- as if listening skills were a poor cousin to reading comprehension. Reading and listening are two different - and equally important - forms of cognitive development. And of course, children don't read to improve their skills - children read because they are curious. BOOMERANG! feeds and cultivates that curiosity by introducing them to a vast world of ideas – some of which may be inaccessible at their reading level.
Why do moms and dads love Boomerang?
Our listeners are generous with letters about how Boomerang! is a part of their family. Here are the three refrains we hear most:
- "Now our car time is quality time..."
If your family spends a lot of time in the car, Boomerang! can't be beat. Instead of "are we there yet?" every fifteen minutes, you may have to pause in the driveway when you get there just to finish a story!
- "...every night before I go to sleep."
On our annual questionnaire, we ask families how many times the kids listen to each CD. We were hoping for three or four - but the average is up around sixteen! And you wouldn't believe how many kids respond that they listen to Boomerang! every single night as they fall asleep.
- "We like listening to the CD together."
Though Boomerang! is written for kids, parents and older kids enjoy it (and learn from it!) too. We often hear that it sparks conversations families never would have had, and that it brings families together. We couldn't be more proud.
"It sounds crazy, but the Boomerang! has changed all of our lives, We can recite words to the Dave Schmave stories and they have helped make car rides a fun time for the three of us. In this crazy world, it really helps to come across something like Boomerang! that reaffirms our values and reminds us we are not alone out there. Although we have never "met" you, you are an important part of our family."Read what more parents have to say about Boomerang!Debbie Toth
Hopewell, NJ