Episodes

  • Carl and the Meaning of Life (Deborah Freedman)
    Oct 23 2024

    Another book with an existentialist crisis? We're in! Anna and Lea-Anne investigate work ethic, consumer culture, synonyms for worm poop in this gem.

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    13 mins
  • The Duck Never Blinks (Alex Latimer)
    Jul 1 2024

    Wildlife harassment, psilocybin, and underfunded sociopath librarians take center stage this week in a truly odd selection with literally no plot (which drives Anna to the brink of her sanity)

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    13 mins
  • Amos & Boris (Steig)
    Apr 12 2024

    What should be on the packing list for an existentialist journey through a Russian tragedy? That's the question for this book allegedly suitable for kindergartners. Lea-Anne reflects on the merits of flowery language while Anna gets a bug up her ass about Chekhov's gun.

    Buy here

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    16 mins
  • The Grudge Keeper (Rockliff/Wheeler)
    Mar 8 2024

    Lea-Anne and Anna unpack a few mixed messages in this beautifully told and illustrated tale about friendship and forgiveness. The balancing act required to raise kids with self esteem who are also empathetic is explored among a few other topics.


    Find it here or check your local bookstore!

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    19 mins
  • Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine (Gloria Whelan/Nancy Carpenter)
    Feb 27 2024

    Lea-Anne and Anna have a little fun at the Brits' expense this week with this odd but delightful tale of Victorian modesty gone amuck.

    Check your local library or independent bookstore. You can also order online here.

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    13 mins
  • The Giving Tree/Tree Who Set Healthy Boundaries (Silverstein/Payne)
    Feb 8 2024

    Yes, it's a two-fer! Shel Silverstein's beloved classic gets the Topher Payne treatment. Proving once and for all that you don't have to ban books to discuss your values with your kids!

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    12 mins
  • Where the Sidewalk Ends (Shel Silverstein)
    Jan 13 2024

    Ok, we got a little carried away here. Anna and Lea-Anne read excerpts from their favorite poems in this timeless classic. Think your kids could use a jolt of Gen X impertinence? This is the book for you!

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    19 mins
  • The Missing Piece (Shel Silverstein)
    Nov 18 2023

    Feminist geometry, the playboy mansion, and Kindergartners first lesson in opportunity cost come together in what may be the strangest book in the Shel Silverstein collection. Buckle up. We'll be hitting much of his catalogue and even rebuttal works by others authors in this series!

    Buy the book here

    A Boy Named Sue (Johnny Cash song) here

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    15 mins