Latest Grades 4-8 Podcast Episodes
Episode 62: Important Stories of Adversity
Two Lit Mamas - February 16, 2023 01:00 - 41 minutesEpisode 62 of the Two Lit Mamas podcast hits all the feels, including the good, the sad and the funny, with a book chat about two important diverse stories for middle grade (ages 8-12) that plumb the depths of tragedy and adversity through the agony of racism and classism. The Mamas hope you wi...
Episode 61: Censored Books in Middle Grade
Two Lit Mamas - January 26, 2023 04:00 - 46 minutesThe Mamas fight censorship and much more with the help of special guest, Staci Schwarz, who dazzles the Mamas with her witty book critique and the scrumptious details of her new Middle Grade Book subscription box. Listen in to get the deets. (Please ignore Margie’s violent tendencies, we’re bla...
Episode 60: New Year, New Book Series
Two Lit Mamas - January 12, 2023 02:00 - 53 minutesThe Mamas started the New Year on the right foot with middle grade book series about gothic water parks, bubble aliens, and fart jokes! 2023 may or may not be a good year – the Mamas are sneaking in quietly so as not to provoke it – but, whatever the next 12 months bring, you can count on the Ma...
Episode 59: Parenting with an Accent
Two Lit Mamas - December 08, 2022 03:00 - 1 hourHappy Holidays! For the last episode of 2022, the Mamas are leaving listeners with a special gift – a visit from journalist Masha Rumor, the author of the new nonfiction book for adults titled, Parenting with an Accent, How Immigrants Honor Their Heritage, Navigate Setbacks, and Chart New Paths ...
Episode 58: Holiday Gift Guide Part 2
Two Lit Mamas - November 24, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourThe Mamas are shopping again, and the books are piling up. This episode, our two favorite surly elves offer up gift buying guides for the Middle Grade (ages 8-12) and Young Adult (ages 13-18) readers in your life. So, eat until your fat pants are tight and then take advantage of Black Friday and...
Episode 57: Holiday Gift Guide, Part 1
Two Lit Mamas - November 10, 2022 04:00 - 59 minutesIt’s beginning to look a lot like Giftmas and the Mamas are here for it with board book, picture book, chapter book and activity book recommendations. Grab a hot toddy and fill your shopping cart while sharing a few laughs with your two BFFs. Book Recs: Board Books 1. Oink I’m a Pig and R...
Episode 56: MG Books to Read in the Dark
Two Lit Mamas - October 27, 2022 03:00 - 56 minutesThe Mamas celebrate spooky season with three books perfect for middle graders (ages 8-12) to read in the dark even if the two middle-aged Mamas read them in bright daylight (insert chicken noises here). The Mamas chat about witches, night beasts and ghosts. Oh my! And, debate if its okay to kill...
Episode 54: Who Knew The End Times Could Be Fun
Two Lit Mamas - October 13, 2022 01:00 - 45 minutesThe end is near unless a few resourceful and persistent middle grade heroes can stop the apocalypse in three fun books for 8–12-year-olds. For this episode, The Mamas have jumped into a big pile of raked up spooky season, careful not to spill their pumpkin spice lattes, to bring you their opinio...
Episode 54: Delightfully Dark Sci-Fi for Middle Grade
Two Lit Mamas - September 29, 2022 03:00 - 55 minutesThe Mamas are ready for the spooky season after reading two Sci-Fi novels for Middle Graders (ages 8-12). The MC of one has an experimental brain implant and the other is a human/cockroach hybrid. What more could you want? Oh, and both heroes are battling evil corporations. So deliciously dark –...
Episode 53: Historical Hayride
Two Lit Mamas - September 15, 2022 03:00 - 57 minutesThe Mamas are dreaming of hot cider, apple pie and cool nights so join them on an historical hayride as they travel back in time to the not-so distant past (Can the 70s really be considered historical fiction?!?) and fall in love with fantastic, new historical fiction for Middle Graders (ages 8-...
Episode 52: Back to School with Middle Graders
Two Lit Mamas - August 24, 2022 23:00 - 48 minutesThe summer flew by and sadly it's time to get back in school mode. The Mamas are here to help with a back to school book chat about The School For Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix (or MPH if you gangsta). Listen to the Mamas fangirl about their author idol and goddess of kid robots. Book C...
Episode 51: End of Summer Fun
Two Lit Mamas - August 10, 2022 18:00 - 56 minutesIn episode 51, the Mamas cling to the last days of summer as tightly as they would an only son going off to college. If you can relate, join the Mamas’ book chat about risky midnight meetings at camp and unattended problem children who use their summertime freedom to find treasure in 2 fantasy ...
Episode 51: End of Summer Fun
Two Lit Mamas - August 10, 2022 18:00 - 56 minutesIn episode 51, the Mamas cling to the last days of summer as tightly as they would an only son going off to college. If you can relate, join the Mamas’ book chat about risky midnight meetings at camp and unattended problem children who use their summertime freedom to find treasure in 2 fantasy ...
Episode 50: Summer Stories for Budding Environmentalists
Two Lit Mamas - July 27, 2022 15:00 - 49 minutesThe Mamas go all Eco Warrior this month with Middle Grade fiction (for 8-12 years olds) that is destined to inspire next gen environmental scientists and animal lovers. They get a little weepy discussing manatee injuries, great white shark invasions, themes of loss, and fantastic debut fiction a...
Episode 49: Adventure on the High Seas
Two Lit Mamas - July 13, 2022 17:00 - 45 minutesListen in, as the Mamas dive into the big blue sea with Middle Grade (ages 8-12) seafaring fiction. Margie chases down her white whale while Heather dives for train treasure. That's right, we’re in vacay mode over at the Two Lit Mamas podcast. Grab your snorkel and join the fun! Book Chat: Ar...
Episode 48: Book vs. Movie – Better Nate Than Ever
Two Lit Mamas - June 22, 2022 01:00 - 54 minutesIn episode 48, the Mamas are joined by everyone's favorite uncle to celebrate Pride month and chat about Tim Federle's middle grade character, Nate Foster, a theater lover who stars in a book series and a new Disney musical. The trio follows up the book vs.movie discussion with 6-ish adult and k...
Episode 47: Diverse Realistic Fic for Middle Grade
Two Lit Mamas - June 08, 2022 13:00 - 58 minutesThe Mamas may not sound like themselves in this episode but they’re serving up great diverse reads for 8 to 12 year olds just like normal. Heather even discovers a way to love Realistic Fiction while Margie's just hoping to survive the Great Pollening. Join the Mamas for a fun chat and be gratef...
Diverse Fantasy Books for Middle Grade
Two Lit Mamas - May 18, 2022 19:00 - 45 minutesThe Mamas are split over their MG Fantasy Reads (for ages 8-12) but it’s not surprising since Heather loves flying horses and all things magical while Margie would rather read true crime stories unless a Sasquatch is involved. Find out where your loyalties lie by joining the debate. Plus, you ca...
Episode 45: Pack Your Bags, We’re Going to Mars
Two Lit Mamas - May 04, 2022 17:00 - 53 minutesOn the eve of Mother’s Day, the Mamas are packing their bags for Mars. They’ve got their motion sickness cures and their poopoo spray tucked in travel bags; and they’re looking forward to a few days of weightlessness in the silence of space. Join the club so the Mamas aren’t left angry walking (...
Episode 44: Spin-Offs for Adults & Kids
Two Lit Mamas - April 20, 2022 15:00 - 50 minutesAfter a break, the Mamas are back with a fun way to boost your summer reading: pairing a gown-up book series with a Middle Grade book series that share the same world and characters in the spirit of Spin-Offs that only kids of the 80's and 90's could love! Inspired by their cold beach walks, the...
Episode 44: Spin-Offs for Adults & Kids
Two Lit Mamas - April 20, 2022 15:00 - 50 minutesAfter a break, the Mamas are back with a fun way to boost your summer reading: pairing a gown-up book series with a Middle Grade book series that share the same world and characters in the spirit of Spin-Offs that only kids of the 80's and 90's could love! Inspired by their cold beach walks, the...
Episode 43: Middle Grade Biographies
Two Lit Mamas - March 23, 2022 22:00 - 45 minutesThe Mamas celebrate Women’s History Month in Episode 43, by sharing new middle grade biographies about fierce women: one covers an early 1800s highflyer and the other a 1960s Sci-Fi writer. Both books include detailed info of the dramatic times that influenced the women’s childhoods, making them...
Episode 42: Happy Middle Grade March!
Two Lit Mamas - March 08, 2022 17:00 - 55 minutesThe Two Lit Mamas celebrate Middle Grade March with random selections from their TBR piles before they collapse and crush them. Margie went for funny superheroes, of course, while Heather dug into a survival story that was a little too real. Listen in as the Mamas gush over poetry (shocker, righ...
Episode 41: Celebrating Black Authors in Kidlit
Two Lit Mamas - February 22, 2022 23:00 - 48 minutesIn this episode, The Mamas celebrate Black Authors in Middle Grade Lit. (Really it’s more like worshipping, bordering on stalking, you know how they can get, but anyway…) The Mamas showcase some of their favorite writers across diverse genres including, fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fic...
Episode 40: Time Traveling Middle Graders
Two Lit Mamas - February 08, 2022 20:00 - 45 minutesIn todays book chat, the SciFi loving Mamas are giddy about two new time travel Middle Grade books (for 8-12 year olds) that take them back 5 years and 500 years. But, before they get started the Mamas share their fantasy time travel vacays, including sipping tea with Abigail Adams and throwing ...
Episode 39: Pirates in Middle Grade Books
Two Lit Mamas - January 26, 2022 19:00 - 59 minutesArrrrr, the Mamas uncover buried treasure with three pirate-themed books for Middle Grade readers (aged 8-13) in the 39th episode of Two Lit Mamas Podcast. Their high seas discussions quickly freeze over with six tips for beating the winter blahs that don't include walking the plank. Join them i...
Episode 38: Twisted Fairy Tales for Modern Middle Graders
Two Lit Mamas - January 12, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourFor the first episode of the new year, the Mamas are kicking it at the back of the class, reading twisted fairy tales, passing notes about their latest obsessions (we’re looking at you Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum); while keeping their heads down and hoping to stay under the radar of Mrs. 2022’s...
Episode 37: Holiday Gift Guide for Ages 0-9
Two Lit Mamas - November 24, 2021 03:00 - 54 minutesNeed gift suggestions for your kiddos this holiday? The Mamas have your back with board book, picture book, and chapter book recommendations. And, if book recommendations from Two Mamas isn’t enough for you, we’ve invited a Third Mama, author Rebecca Mullin, to help us get this holiday party sta...
Episode 37: Holiday Gift Guide for Ages 0-9
Two Lit Mamas - November 24, 2021 03:00 - 54 minutesNeed gift suggestions for your kiddos this holiday? The Mamas have your back with board book, picture book, and chapter book recommendations. And, if book recommendations from Two Mamas isn’t enough for you, we’ve invited a Third Mama, author Rebecca Mullin, to help us get this holiday party sta...
Episode 36: Holiday Gift Guide for Middle Graders
Two Lit Mamas - November 10, 2021 20:00 - 47 minutesThe Mamas are ready for the holidays (or at least ready for soccer season to be over). To get you in the mood for gift giving, the Mamas recap the best books in some of their favorite categories: Top Faves from 2021: Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos (Episode 15) City Spies Series by...
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