Remember Reading Podcast
39 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 120 ratingsA family podcast about classic children’s books and the impact they have on us long into adulthood. In each episode, we talk about one popular children's book from the past, uncovering the unique story behind the story. While sitting down with famous, award-winning authors, we investigate the timeless themes in kids’ books.
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Episodes
Harold and the Purple Crayon: Exploration and Play are Just a Stroke Away
March 20, 2024 13:29 - 30 minutes - 69.8 MBHarold and the Purple Crayon: Exploration and Play are Just a Stroke Away (ft. Chris Van Allsburg & Brian Pinkney) - Do you remember reading Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon? To his friends and family Crockett was Dave Leisk. You might know him best for the bold purple line that gives shape to the spare illustrations of Harold and Purple Crayon, published in 1955. In this episode, Chris Van Allsburg and Brian Pinkney reflect on the influence Harold and the Purple Crayon had on...
The Polar Express: A Magical Ride of Belief and Reality (ft. Chris Van Allsburg & Leo Landry)
December 15, 2023 14:36 - 35 minutes - 81.7 MBDo you remember reading The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg? As its 40th anniversary approaches, the book is nothing short of a Christmas classic. Before winning the Caldecott Medal in 1986, before the animated movie, and the Polar Express train rides Chris Van Allsburg had already garnered quite a reputation. He’s the author and illustrator behind The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, Jumanji, Zathura, and many others. In this episode, Chris Van Allsburg and Leo Landry discuss the moody illustrat...
Grandfather’s Journey: 30th Anniversary of a Real-Life Folktale (ft. Allen Say & Melissa Iwai)
December 04, 2023 13:24 - 40 minutes - 92.9 MBThere are many ways that we build our histories. Certain particulars might be largely out of our power, our parentage, or parts of our personalities, but how we choose to remember our histories tends to create something real and true, however fictional, like an old folktale. Our histories, whether real or imagined, memory or fiction, give us a greater understanding of who we are and our place in the world. In this episode, Melissa Iwai joins Allen Say to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his...
When Heroines, Not Heroes, Tell the Story (ft. Veronica Roth & Mindy McGinnis)
September 12, 2023 13:09 - 28 minutes - 64.2 MBFictional dystopias don’t create fear as much as they validate it. And isn’t that what we want as young people and even later as adults? To be validated, whether in our fears, our pain, or our happiness? Young Adult books let us explore, without the threat of rejection, what we most wish to understand or even accept, ourselves. In this episode, we explore a new era of female protagonists and the dystopian world in which they exist. Authors Veronica Roth and Mindy McGinnis create stories th...
In The Night Kitchen (ft. Sergio Ruzzier & Antionette Portis)
March 28, 2023 13:20 - 31 minutes - 73.2 MBYou may be familiar with Maurice Sendak’s books like Where the Wild Things Are or Outside Over There, but do you remember reading In the Night Kitchen? Just over 10 years after the prolific author's passing, we are returning to his 1970s dreamscape of a picture book. In the Night Kitchen offers a dazzling portrait of creativity and the expansive imaginations of children contending with an adult world. In this episode, besides stirring about in the needless controversy that often surrounds Ma...
Lessons in Friendship:James Marshall’s George and Martha Series(ft. Raúl the Third & Breanna Carzoo)
December 13, 2022 19:29 - 35 minutes - 80.6 MBPicture books, while they may be sparse in language, can pack in big and complex lessons about friendship, or difficult feelings. Their lessons often follow us into our adulthood. And, as for lessons, here is one for teachers — maybe hold off on telling students they can't draw. They may just grow up and turn you into an iconic mean character. If you’re really lucky though and kind and honest you just might become a superhero wrestler in training or a green light or a hippo with an incredible...
Hauntingly Good Stories: Wait Till Helen Comes(ft. Mary Downing Hahn, Chantel Acevedo, & J.A. White)
September 28, 2022 17:44 - 32 minutes - 74.5 MBThere is much to be learned from stories, whether they feature ghosts, witches, or monsters, even when they scare us. It is the lessons learned in the face of darkness that make supernatural stories important for young readers. And, it is telling, that stories of ghosts and graveyards stay with us. They might cause us a bit of grief, but when we face them, we face ourselves, our fears, and our histories, and in confronting them we learn collaboration, problem-solving, empathy, and companionsh...
Crossing Cultures: Inside Out and Back Again (ft. Thanhhà Lại, Rajani LaRocca, & Jasmine Warga)
May 26, 2022 19:01 - 22 minutes - 52 MBMiddle grade is a time when readers can be especially moved by the books they pick up. Books can center kids marginalized by conflict, can inspire other readers to decenter themselves, to listen better, and to be more intentional with welcome signs. In one sense, borders are fiction, lines made up by winners of wars. In another sense, borders have a potent impact on the lives of the people who cross them, often as a result of those wars. but the truth of crossing borders is in the smallest de...
The Forbidden Truth: The Giver (ft. Lois Lowry, Karina Yan Glaser, & Anne Ursu)
April 20, 2022 20:43 - 33 minutes - 76.6 MBChildren’s literature offers a rehearsal for the real world. A safe place for young readers to practice seeing beyond the easy narratives that are handed to them by their communities or that they might see in the media or even that they are taught in schools. It is the foundation for critical thinking. Children come to books already having a deep and wide emotional landscape they will use to navigate the world. Books can pull back the curtain on how things work and give kids a head start on m...
Myths, Magic, and Fantasy Worlds (ft. Megan Whalen Turner, Roseanne A. Brown, & Garth Nix)
November 10, 2021 22:00 - 24 minutes - 55.9 MBMagic and fantastical elements can get kids reading. Young adult fantasy novels construct portals readers can get sucked into, and when they emerge, they often have more nuanced and keen insights for making or remaking the world around them. The parallels to contemporary society can even give kids another way to see themselves. In this episode, Megan Whalen Turner, author of the Queen’s Thief series, Roseanne A. Brown, author of A Song of Wraith and Ruin, and Garth Nix, author of the Old King...
Coming-Out Stories (ft. Becky Albertalli, Abdi Nazemian, & Jason June)
October 13, 2021 13:00 - 28 minutes - 64.3 MBBooks help young people wrap their minds around who they are, how they fit into the world and give them the language to demand the world make space for them. Queer Young Adult books can guide young readers through the myriad of experiences of coming out in different contexts and cultures. And, love stories can help young gay kids imagine themselves into meaningful adult lives and into fulfilling relationships that validate, nourish, and sustain them. In this episode, three authors of queer YA...
Tackling Real-life Challenges in Books: Pax (ft. Sara Pennypacker, Colby Sharp, & Philippe Cousteau)
September 15, 2021 20:04 - 31 minutes - 71 MBThere is a magical age, somewhere between eight and twelve, where young people’s wonder at the natural world can be galvanized into meaningful engagement with the threats and challenges that humans bring to bear on nature. It is within this window that the right book at the right time can help a young person make sense of the big feelings that come with adolescence — and with unforeseen hardships, like global pandemics. In this episode, with the help of Sara Pennypacker, author of Pax and Pa...
Behind the Curtain of The Princess Diaries & Happily Ever Afters (ft. Meg Cabot & Elise Bryant)
August 11, 2021 13:00 - 24 minutes - 56.8 MBMeg Cabot’s bestselling series, The Princess Diaries spans almost two decades. The main character of the series, Mia, shares her unfiltered, innermost thoughts as private diary entries. Young adult readers of the books are privy to and captivated by Mia’s internal and external landscape as she morphs from an awkward teen and into a royal princess. Author Elise Bryant was one such reader. In her book, Happily Ever Afters, the main character, Tessa, tackles similar teenage issues and emotions t...
A Deep Dive into Body Positivity with Dumplin’ (ft. Julie Murphy & Angie Manfredi)
July 14, 2021 12:00 - 28 minutes - 66.3 MBThe right book at the right time can provide kids with models of self-love that can guide them through growing pains. Today on Remember Reading, host Katie Dutton unpacks a book that does just that for young readers. Join us as we head to West Texas, where we enter a beauty pageant, do some Dolly Parton fan-folking, and talk drag and self-love through the lens of one of our all-time favorite characters, Ms. Willowdean Dixon, the plus-sized heroine of Julie Murphy's 2015 breakout book, Dumplin...
Representation Matters! (ft. Cynthia Leitich Smith & Ellen Oh)
May 12, 2021 21:15 - 36 minutes - 83.6 MBRepresentation matters, especially in children’s literature and stories that represent Native American people. In this episode, we focus on Heartdrum, an imprint about stories by Native American creators who publish stories with an emphasis on the present and future of Indian Country, and on the strength of young Native American heroes. Author-curator Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Creek), author and co-founder of We Need Diverse Books, Ellen Oh, and HarperCollins editor Rosemary Brosnan dis...
I Can Read! Books (ft. Corey Tabor & Kelly Starling-Lyons)
April 06, 2021 17:14 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBThe treasured I Can Read! collection began with the beloved Little Bear in 1957 and is still going strong today! On the show, we discuss the series’ origins, its stories, and what’s ahead for the books. You’ll hear from Tamar Mays, an editor at HarperCollins, as well as from authors Corey Tabor (Fox the Tiger) and Kelly Starling-Lyons (Ty’s Travels) as they dive into what makes the I Can Read! books so magical for children beginning their journey as readers. To learn more about the I Can Rea...
Recap: Best of 2020!
March 02, 2021 15:14 - 13 minutes - 29.8 MBAfter an incredibly difficult year, we reflect on the number of ways classic children's books can help kids and adults get through tough times. Featured in this episode: -The Secret Garden (Katherine Paterson) -One Crazy Summer (Janae Marks, Lisa Moore Romae, Paula Chase) -The One and Only Ivan (Roseanne Parry) Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at [email protected]. Learn more at rememberreading.com. Until next time!
The Carrot Seed (ft. Tim Miller & Greg Pizzoli)
September 29, 2020 19:45 - 27 minutes - 62.2 MBFirst published in 1945, "The Carrot Seed" is a beloved story about growing a carrot... but more than that, it’s about how far patience and perseverance can get you. In this episode, we're digging into the timeless classic, written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Crockett Johnson, and chatting about the book's simple, direct, yet evocative style that's resonated with readers for over 75 years. We'll also be joined by author and illustrator Tim Miller (Tiny Kitty, Big City) and illustrator G...
One Crazy Summer (ft. Rita Williams-Garcia, Janae Marks, Paula Chase & Lisa Moore Ramée)
August 26, 2020 15:22 - 35 minutes - 81 MBHailed by the New York Times as "witty and original," One Crazy Summer is a moving & funny story about three sisters looking for their mother in 1960s California. It's also a book that brings up issues that almost mirror current events today, tackling problems kids see around themselves. On this episode, we'll talk to acclaimed author Rita Williams-Garcia about what inspired her to write the Newbery Honor and National Book Award winning story - a contemporary classic that deals with everythin...
The One and Only Ivan (ft. Katherine Applegate, Mr. Schu, & Rosanne Parry)
June 10, 2020 20:53 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MBDid you know The One and Only Ivan was based on a real-life gorilla? Ivan lived in a mall in Tacoma, Washington for many years before being transferred to Zoo Atlanta. On this episode, we'll talk to author, Katherine Applegate, on why the circumstances inspired her to write the Newberry Medal winning book that's a soon to be major motion picture. The first time John Schumacher, or Mr. Schu, read this book, it changed his life. Listen to his story and how he, as Ambassador of School Libraries ...
Frog and Toad (ft. Adrianne Lobel, Susan Hirschman, Pete Oswald, & Sergio Ruzzier)
May 13, 2020 20:25 - 37 minutes - 86.9 MBThere's no place like home in this cozy, quirky children's book series about a frog, a toad, and their special friendship, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel. On the show, we catch up with Adrianne Lobel, Arnold's daughter, to learn more about her father and the inspiration behind this classic story. We'll also talk to his longtime editor, Susan Hirschman, as well as some famous illustrators who were inspired by Arnold's work. Pete Oswald, illustrator of The Angry Birds movie and The Foo...
The Secret Garden (ft. Katherine Paterson & Sara Pennypacker)
April 22, 2020 21:25 - 31 minutes - 72.1 MBWe may be former kids, but sometimes, it takes a little imagination to remind us what it was like to be a child. Find yourself a secret place as we discuss the unique power of imagination and The Secret Garden. On the show, we'll talk to Katherine Paterson about how The Secret Garden actually inspired her to write Bridge to Terabithia. We'll also talk to Sara Pennypacker, author of Pax and Here in the Real World, about her own secret places as a child. To learn more about The Secret Garden, ...
Amelia Bedelia (ft. Meg Cabot & Herman Parish)
March 18, 2020 21:20 - 27 minutes - 62.3 MBWhether she's actually "drawing" curtains with marker or literally "dressing" a chicken in clothes, Amelia Bedelia is silly and yet... so very practical. She's a maid who's not so great at, well, being a maid, and we love her for it. On this episode, we talk to Meg Cabot, author of The Princess Diaries, who says the humor in Amelia Bedelia is special and something we need more of in our children's books today. We'll also speak with Herman Parish, Peggy Parish's nephew, who took over writing t...
Monster (ft. Tiffany Jackson & Phoebe Yeh)
February 12, 2020 21:15 - 30 minutes - 69.6 MBWe’re sitting in on the trial of Steve Harmon, the protagonist of Walter Dean Myers’ groundbreaking novel Monster. Though first published in 1999, Monster remains as topical and unsettling now as ever before. Join us as we talk with two people whose lives were changed by Myers’ work—his long-time editor, Phoebe Yeh, and bestselling YA author Tiffany D. Jackson—and work through the questions that made Monster shine. What makes a monster? Who decides? And what happens to kids trapped in a syste...
The Chronicles of Narnia (ft. Douglas Gresham & Eoin Colfer)
January 22, 2020 17:47 - 26 minutes - 61.3 MBOpen the wardrobe door and climb into the magical world of Narnia! Join us as we discuss one of the most famous children's book series of all time, The Chronicles of Narnia as well as C.S. Lewis, the brilliant man behind the beloved books. On the show, we talk with C.S. Lewis' stepson, Douglas Gresham about his experience with the late writer. Gresham shares anecdotes about his parents—how their love, romance, and kindness changed his life forever. We also talk with Eoin Colfer, author of the...
Recap: Best of 2019!
January 03, 2020 21:54 - 12 minutes - 29.4 MBLooking back on some memorable moments of 2019. Which was your favorite? Tweet us @readingpod! Featured in this episode: -Stuart Little (Katherine Applegate) -Charlotte's Web (Jodi Kendall) -Bridge to Terabithia (Katherine Paterson) -Wayside School (Erin Entrada Kelly)
Shel Silverstein (ft. Beth Ferry & Rachel Eisler)
December 04, 2019 12:00 - 29 minutes - 67.7 MBMost of us know Shel Silverstein as a prolific poet, but did you know he was also a songwriter? Among Shel's many talents, his ridiculous and profound wordplay amazes his readers from childhood long into adulthood. Today, he's known for his unique way of writing and displaying poems and as one of the most famous classic children's book authors of all time. On the show today, we're going to focus mostly on Where the Sidewalk Ends. We speak with Beth Ferry, author of acclaimed picture book, The...
Goodnight Moon (ft. Mac Barnett, Sarah Jacoby, & Loren Long)
November 06, 2019 21:29 - 26 minutes - 61.5 MBHave you ever really thought about just how *weird* going to sleep is? On today's show, we're talking about one of the most famous children's books of all time: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown! The bedtime story's hypnotic rhythm stays with its readers from infancy long into adulthood. HarperCollins recently published The Important Thing about Margaret Wise Brown. It's a 42 page long picture book that celebrates the late author's legacy, as well as her 42 years of life, and it's written...
Where the Wild Things Are (ft. Julie Murphy,Toni Markiet, & Rebecca Sheir)
October 02, 2019 11:00 - 26 minutes - 59.9 MBThis week, we’re tilting our paper crowns and gnashing our terrible teeth for Where the Wild Things by Maurice Sendak! Joining us in the wild rumpus is Dear Sweet Pea author Julie Murphy, podcast host Rebecca Sheir of Circle Round, and Sendak’s own editor and friend, Toni Markiet. In addition to firsthand accounts of Maurice, we’ll discuss the importance of accessing your emotions as well as the wildness of childhood, the power of imagination, and the comfort of home.
Ramona Quimby (ft. Julie Murphy, Rita Williams-Garcia, & Dan Yaccarino)
September 04, 2019 21:23 - 40 minutes - 92.6 MBRamona Quimby is a pest. So... why do we *love* her? Ramona is an icon who helps kids understand the things we can't control like family dynamics and classroom rules. She also teaches us to speak up and question everything—even grownups. In this episode, we'll talk about the Ramona Quimby series and its legendary author, Beverly Cleary, who herself once struggled with reading. Guests Julie Murphy (Dumplin', Dear Sweet Pea), Rita Williams-Garcia (One Crazy Summer, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground...
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (ft. J.A. White & Betsy Bird)
August 07, 2019 14:21 - 27 minutes - 62.6 MBOne of the most banned books in history, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is still being checked out in libraries by kids (and adults!) today. On the show, we talk about why this book, despite its gruesome tales, is so important for childhood development. We sat down with bestselling, award-winning author J.A. (Jerry) White to talk about how Scary Stories helped him write the book, Nightbooks—it's about a boy who's kidnapped by a witch and must tell her scary stories every night. We’ll also ...
Stuart Little (ft. Katherine Applegate & Kathryn Lasky)
July 03, 2019 10:59 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBStuart Little is a famous mouse (or...is he?) best known for his small but mighty reputation. On this episode, we're talking about imagination, growing up, and the wonder that nature inspires as we discover Stuart Little "the story"—a beloved and at one time *banned* book—as well as Stuart Little, "the character"—a mouse who is also a human. We'll also talk about E.B. White's creative process and hear some of his real letters read aloud throughout the episode. Our guests include acclaimed aut...
Bridge to Terabithia (ft. Katherine Paterson, Laurel Snyder, & Margaret Peterson Haddix)
June 05, 2019 16:14 - 37 minutes - 85.8 MBLife is unpredictable, and if you've ever read Katherine Paterson's popular children's book, Bridge to Terabithia, you may still feel a lingering grief from this tragically beautiful tale. On today's show, Lindsay talks to Katherine Paterson about the book's creation and its lasting effect on readers. Katherine walks us through the shockingly true and emotional story behind this story. Authors Laurel Snyder (Orphan Island) and Margaret Peterson Haddix (The Greystone Secrets) will discuss what...
Wayside School (ft. Louis Sachar, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Dan Gutman)
May 01, 2019 21:06 - 23 minutes - 53.6 MB"Wayside School is a really warm happy place where everyone accepts everyone..." This week, we’re in conversation with bestselling, award-winning author of the Wayside School series, Louis Sachar (also author of Holes) to talk about the origins of Sideways Stories from Wayside School and its zany staff, including his own literary cameo. We’ll also sit with special guests Erin Entrada Kelly, Hello, Universe and Dan Gutman, My Weird School series, to talk about diversity in kidlit, allowing chi...
The Mouse and the Motorcycle (ft. Leslie Connor)
April 03, 2019 17:03 - 32 minutes - 75.1 MBBeverly Cleary is a living legend and one of the most beloved children's book authors of our time. She's the prolific writer of The Mouse and the Motorcycle, The Ramona Quimby series, and many other famous children's books, but did you know that, when she was younger, she *hated* reading? In today's episode, we talk about Beverly Cleary's resistance to reading and how The Mouse and the Motorcycle was created for reluctant readers like her former self. Tune in as we talk with Leslie Connor, au...
A Series of Unfortunate Events (ft. Daniel Handler aka "Lemony Snicket" & Soman Chainani)
March 06, 2019 20:56 - 24 minutes - 56.5 MBA Series of Unfortunate Events begins with a warning... that this story is NOT for the faint of heart. Readers are determined to go on and prove their bravery. Listen as we talk to Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, on how he developed SUE and how fans have expressed deep connections with the harrowing circumstances of which its characters, The Baudelaire Siblings, are dealt. Soman Chainani, author of The School for Good and Evil series, joins us to talk about the kindred voice he felt for L...
Ella Enchanted (ft. Gail Carson Levine)
February 06, 2019 17:27 - 25 minutes - 58.8 MBElla Enchanted is a modern day fairytale that has captured the hearts of many—so many, in fact, that it has legions of loyal fans! The story is celebrated for its feminist undertones and romance #goals. In this episode, author Gail Carson Levine shares the story behind the Ella Enchanted book as well as some touching fan mail. You'll also hear from Huffington Post culture writer and Ella super-fan, Claire Fallon, and other fans like Lorraine Boissoneault, Charlotte Stauffer, and Laura Hankin....
Charlotte's Web (ft. Jodi Kendall & Lisa Greenwald)
January 08, 2019 17:12 - 26 minutes - 61.2 MBDo you remember reading Charlotte's Web? In this episode, Lindsay uncovers the famous children's book about a pig and a spider and discovers author EB White's story behind this Newbery award-winning book. Authors Jodi Kendall (The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City) and Lisa Greenwald (TBH: This is So Awkward) reflect on themes of loss and friendship and how a tough topic like grief, handled with care, makes Charlotte's Web a special book for kids. Do you have a story about how a classic boo...
Remember Reading | Podcast Trailer
December 18, 2018 22:46 - 40 seconds - 636 KBIntroducing Remember Reading, a podcast about classic children's books coming January 2019. In the show, host Lindsay Jacobsen searches to discover the meaning of a classic book. You'll hear from readers, the authors themselves—from archived interviews or in person with us in the studio—as well as contemporary, award winning authors as they reflect on the famous children's books that inspired them. Subscribe and be the first to know when our pilot episode airs. And hey, we want to hear what Y...