Our conversation today was with Ryan J. Southworth, author of
The Treeborn Trilogy:

Other Books Mentioned in Episode:

Chronicles of Narnia

Lord of the Rings

The Oath by Frank Peretti (not written for kids—a SERIOUS books.)

DownBelow Station by C. J. Cherryh

Morgaine Cycle by C. J. Cherryh

Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith by Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen

The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl R. Trueman

The Treeborn Trilogy : Mapaline, Ceylon, The Last Tower

Heartwood Hotel series by Kallie George

The Green Ember series by S. D. Smith

The Conquerors Saga By Timothy Zahn

Games recommended in the episode:

Unmatched

Wingspan

Azul

Terraforming Mars

Blokus

Share

This is a unique episode for us—our very first foray into film as a storytelling medium!

Since recording, we’ve had several filming days under our belt, along with some truly fun behind-the-scenes moments. Below, I’ve shared a few of my favorites:

🎥 A time-lapse of an 18' lofted tent going up in our Jedi camp.

🦸‍♂️ Two amazing actors proving that grown men love wearing capes.

📣 A link to our promo video and the socials where you can follow along: Instagram, YouTube, and our GoFundMe

This whole experience has been such a joy—especially getting to share it with my girls. I can’t wait to see the finished short film once Palmer wraps up filming and postproduction, and I’m looking forward to sharing even more about the journey with all of you! (If you keep scrolling, I’ve included some stills as a bonus at the bottom of the page!)

Also in this episode…
We chat about a few favorites, including:

• a beloved book series that’s will come as no surprise to anyone

• and a random but delightful influencer who just might feed your Jane Austen obsessions- Jake Phillips, theculturedbumpkin
  

Share

You’re still here! Fantastic! Here are some quick shots I took of some of the sets and props- I hope you enjoy!

Inara and me at the end of a 17 hour filming day (it’s hours past midnight at this point).

An 18’ Imperial control console built specifically to cover a low bookshelf at the library.

I’m in love with this accessory for Silas’ character. It’s a battery from the 1950’s.

A jedi master checking out the lofted tent and campsite at large.

Gemma is an expert log keeper for the camera and mics. So proud of her!

We had the honor of filming at Hancher Auditorium. This is the restaurant scene and it was our first long day with a 6 a.m. call time- it went so well but I could barely walk that night!

I love watching Palmer and Rebecca work together. Mothers and sons are such a special relationship!

Annie Parsons is a graduate homeschooler who lives at home, saves her money for family trips to England, and somehow still finds time to read widely, support her friends, teach remotely, and charm preschoolers during storytime at the library. She’s an illustrator and storyteller with a quiet wit, a love of video games, and a deep appreciation for the little things that make life feel magical. Her art reflects all of that—warm, whimsical, and full of heart.

Find her here:
Instagram
Website
Annie’s book: Stone Soup

Stone Soup resources and coloring pages

Skillshare Classes

Substack

Books mentioned/discussed in this episode:

Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Artist Who Painted the Blue Horse by Eric Carle

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Picture This: How Pictures Work Molly Bang

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang

Goose by Molly Bang

The Yellow Ball by Molly Bang

Frost Light by Danielle Bullen

Sparrow in the Sun by Danielle Bullen

17:00

St. Patrick's Day Shamrocks by Mary Berendes

Nellie Bly: America’s Greatest Reporter by Iris Noble; republished by Renewed Books 5/25

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, republished by Renewed Books

Ten Days in a Madhouse: A Story of the Intrepid Reporter Nellie Bly by Nellie Bly

A Race Around the World: The True Story of Nellie Bly & Elizabeth Bisland by Caroline Starr Rose; illustrated by Alexandra Bye

Nellie Vs. Elizabeth: Two Daredevil Journalists’ Breakneck Race around the World by Kate Hannigan; illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen

Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang; illustrated by Hyewon Yum

Umami by Jacob Grant

Saturday by Oge Mora

Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora

This is Worship: art by Anthony Gorola

World Famous Paintings by Rockwell Kent (a book of art)

The Jesus Storybook Bible narrated by David Suchet- the story of Leah

Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono

Video Games We Love:

Hello Kitty: Island Adventure
Animal Crossing
The Master’s Pupil

Ambre’s kids favorite Poirot episode: “The Veiled Lady”

Leuchtturm journals

Our guest this week is Ali Noël. Ali lives with her three young children in the rainy shadow of Mount Rainier. When she isn't spear-heading her first year of homeschooling or chasing her stubborn bulldog around the yard, you can find Ali whittling poetry and chipping away at her biblical fiction novel. Ali had a B.S. in Biblical Studies from Indiana Wesleyan University and is currently a poetry intern for Twenty Hills Publishing.

Some of Ali’s most recent poetry publications and other places to find her:

Light of the World published by Vessels of Light

The Day Bringer published by Vessels of Light

Too Often I Forget published by Calla Press Publishing, Spring Literary Journal

Tenderly, He, published by Calla Press Publishing, Spring Literary Journal

Watch As It Wakes published by Storyboard Community Spring Journal

Book 1 in The Ratcatcher Chronicles
The Kingdom of Gallimaufria
Chapter One: The Boy from Ravo

From the Desk of Periwinkle Twist- Substack

Instagram: The.Poetess.Life
PeriwinkleTwist_Writes

Books referenced and discussed in this episode:

Redeeming Love (please read reviews when deciding if this is a good read for You)

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Little House on the Prairie series (specifically Farmer Boy)

The Joy Luck Club

Harry Potter

To Kill a Mockingbird

Emma

Wingfeather Saga

Shel Silverstein’s poems

The Brontë Sisters books

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Mary Oliver (her complete works)

Favorite Poems, Old and New
“The Wreck of the Hesperus” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Anne of Green Gables

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

The Princess and the Goblin

Give and Take

Hidden Truths

The Awakening of Miss Prim

The Lord of the Rings

Resource:

House of Humane Letters: How to Read Fairy Tales class with Angelina Stanford.

A Year with Mary Oliver free guide from Amy Parilee Rickards of @livingwellread.

📢 Shoutout to Bandersnatch! They’re in the final week of their Kickstarter for a fantastic new book—a collection of children’s poetry from living poets! If you love sharing fun, playful poetry with your kids, now’s the time to support this project. Check it out before the campaign ends next week!

Welcome back to Season 4! In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Rebecca LeVake about how to make picture books even more fun by acting them out with your kids. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just looking for new ways to engage little (and big!) readers, Rebecca’s got some great ideas to bring stories to life in an interactive and playful way. Grab your kids, a favorite picture book, and let’s dive in!

To learn more about Rebecca’s reading adventures and the educational journey of her family, be sure to check out her website!

Books shared in this episode:

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Bodie and Brock Thoene book series for older teens and adults 16+
The Zion Chronicles, The Zion Covenant, Shiloh Legacy, The Jerusalem Chronicles
The Zion Legacy- they’ve written more, but these are the ones we’ve read.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Song of the Trees by Mildred D. Taylor

Once on a Time by A.A. Milne

-Picture Books That Are Perfect for Beginning: Simple, Engaging, and Fun!-

One-Dog Canoe by Mary Casanova and Ard Hoyt

The Mitten by Jan Brett (mistakenly referred to as “The Hat” in the episode)

Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Little Red Hot by Eric A. Kimmel

Armadilly Chili by Helen Ketteman (a Little Red Hen story)

Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman

Roxaboxen by Barbara Cooney

The Pumpkin Runner by Marsha Diane Arnold

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

The Farmer in the Dell by Alexandra Wallner

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome UK artist Michael J. Tinker to the podcast! Michael is a gifted musician and storyteller whose work blends faith, creativity, and heart in a way that resonates with listeners of all ages. In this episode, we delve into his incredible Christmas album, discussing the inspiration behind the songs and the absolute joy of weaving gospel truths into festive music.

We also explore Michael's broader ministry and the ways he uses his talents to share stories of hope and redemption. Whether you’re already a fan of his music or discovering him for the first time, this conversation will leave you inspired and ready to add some new tunes to your holiday playlist!

Tune in for an episode filled with warmth, humor, and a little Christmas magic!

You can connect with Michael and discover all the creative pies his fingers are in by visiting his website here.

You can support Michael by ordering his music directly through his store here.

The King Has Arrived by Michael J. Tinker
(In case you don’t listen-my family absolutely LOVE this Christmas adventure album!)

Michael’s entire music catalogue for streaming is here on Bandcamp.

Adventures of the Juniper tv show, free on YouTube.

YouTube Christmas playlist.

Muppet “Pigs in Space”- YouTube link

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Jungle Jam and Friends the Radio Show

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Commando comic series

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Fantastic Mister Fox by Roald Dahl

Adventures in Odyssey the Radio Show

Morning & Evening by Charles Spurgeon

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

The Jack Reacher Series by Lee Child

The Green Ember Series by S.D. Smith

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

As You Wish by Cary Elwes - Audiobook

Faith, Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave and Seán O’Hagan-
Content Consideration: Lots of swearing

Nellie Bly: America’s Greatest Reporter by Iris Noble- Coming in January 2025 from Renewed Books!

Today’s episode is extra special for all you classic children’s book lovers! I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Carrie Halim, the Curator of the Robert McCloskey Museum, who (let’s be honest) is basically living the dream. If you’ve ever imagined what it’s like to be surrounded by Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, and all things McCloskey, you’re in for a treat. Carrie shares how she fell in love with McCloskey’s work, the magic of curating such an iconic collection, and some behind-the-scenes stories from the museum. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering McCloskey’s timeless books, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to revisit your favorites.

Celebrate Robert McCloskey’s Ohio Roots: A Day of Donuts, Harmonica, and Kaleidoscopes!

Join us this Saturday, September 14th, for the grand finale of summer at the McCloskey Museum! We're celebrating Robert McCloskey’s Ohio heritage and literary legacy with a day full of fun and creativity. Enjoy donuts, harmonica tunes, and kaleidoscope-making as we honor the beloved author and illustrator. Special tributes from authors Glenn McCarty and Gary D. Schmidt, along with duckling and Lentil sculptor Nancy Schon, will make this event even more memorable.

Catch a performance of Lentil at the Hamilton Flea at 11 AM, and then join us at the museum from 12-4 PM to continue the festivities. It’s all happening on McCloskey’s birthday weekend at 20 High Street, Hamilton, Ohio. For more details, visit our Facebook group at McCloskey Wonder Works!

Share

Books in this episode:

The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne

Frederick by Leo Lionni

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

Pilgrim’s Inn Elizabeth Goudge

Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey (on sale at time of posting!)

Lentil by Robert McCloskey

Homer Price books by Robert McCloskey

Centerburg Tales (also titled More Homer Price) by Robert McCloskey

Henry Reed series by Keith Robertson; illustrated by Robert McCloskey:

Henry Reed, Inc.

Henry Reed's Journey

Henry Reed's Babysitting Service

Henry Reed's Big Show

Henry Reed's Think Tank

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack; illustrated by Kurt Wiese

Robert McCloskey by Gary D. Schmidt

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Doodle’s Mountain by Amanda M. Brindley; illustrated by Sofia Rector

The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson by Glenn McCarty; illustrated by Joe Sutphin

Journey Cake, Ho! by Ruth Sawyer; illustrated by Robert McCloskey

Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man : A Tale of the Sea in Classic Tradition by Robert McCloskey

Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire Amy Guglielmo; illustrated by Jacqueline Tourville

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

John Philip Duck by Patricia Polacco

Once On a Time by A. A. Milne

The Magic Hill by A. A. Milne

The Childcraft books

In this episode, we sit down with homeschool mom Kirsten Hill to discuss the joys and challenges of reading aloud to a primarily male audience. Kirsten shares her insights on selecting engaging books for boys, keeping their attention, and fostering a love of reading through captivating read-aloud sessions. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or librarian, you'll find valuable tips and recommendations to enhance your read-aloud experiences with boys.

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy

The White Stag by Kate Seredy

A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy

A Tune in the Tree by Maud Hart Lovelace

The Anna Hibiscus books by Atinuke

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

Percy Jackson and the Olympian series by Rick Riordan

Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

Johnny Tremain: A Story of Boston in Revolt by Esther Forbes

Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat

Rascal by Sterling North

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Landmark books

Guadalcanal Diary (Landmark)

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfeld

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers

Subscribe now

Our guest this week is Amanda Cleary Eastep, author of the Christian middle-grade series The Tree Street Kids from Moody Publishers.

Jack Vs. the Tornado, The Hunt for Fang, Lions to the Rescue!, Mystery in Crooked Creek Woods, The Beastie of Brambly Bald (pre-orders)

Books can be purchased through our Amazon Storefront. We appreciate your support!

Other books that came up in our discussion:

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle 

Madeleine L'Engle Herself: Reflections on a Writing Life

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 

The Complete Stories of Flannery O’Connor 

Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination by Vigen Guroian

Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke 

Felicia Cartwright by Bernard Palmer 

First Nations Bible

Zao’s Tales by J.A. Sommer

Christy by Catherine Marshall

Charlotte Mason’s series

Thanks for listening! Please share this episode with a friend!

Share

Subscribe now

Today’s Guest: Author Jamin Still

Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening by Jamin Still

The Master of Tides- Book 1 of The Tales of Hibaria by Jamin Still

Other titles in this episode:

The Green Ember

Skyward Series by Brandon Sanderson

The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers

Sonya’s Chickens by Phoebe Wahl

Even If He Doesn’t… What We Believe About God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense by Kristen LaValley

Share

Subscribe now

Get ready to spring into reading with our latest Stories from the Ashes episode, where we're showcasing a delightful lineup of children's books perfect for the season. From charming picture books to beloved read-alouds, we've handpicked a selection of stories that will spark imagination and inspire young readers. Plus, don't miss out on our exclusive Spring Reading Bundle (download below), complete with fun reading challenge bookmarks and book log sheets to keep little bookworms engaged all season long!

Tune in now and let's embark on a springtime literary conversation together!

Spring Reading Bundle

1.29MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

And don’t miss our newly updated Easter Book List!

Books that came up in this episode:

The Easter Treat by Roger Duvoisin

The Easter Egg Artists (also published as The Paintbrush Bunny) by Adrienne Adams

Hurry, Spring! by Sterling North

Rascal by Sterling North

Sketching Outdoors in Spring by Jim Arnosky

There’s More… Much More by Sue Alexander

Spring is Like the Morning by M. Jean Craig

Hooray for Spring by Iwamuraby

Tiny Perfect Things by M.H. Clark

Spring Things by Maxine W. Kumin and Artur Marokvia

The Story of the Root Children by Sibylle von Offers

The Winter Wren by Brock Cole

Beatrice Potter, Scientist by Lindsay H. Metcalf

Pick, Pull, Snap! Where Once a Flower Bloomed by Lola M. Schaefer

Anywhere Farm by Phyllis Root

The Forever Garden by Laurel Snyder

The Boy Who Didn’t Believe in Spring by Lucille Clifton and Britton Turkle

A New Beginning: Celebrating the Spring Equinox by Wendy Pfeffer

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak

Spring an Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur

Spring Thaw by Steven Schnur

Welcome Back Sun by Michael Emberley

When Spring Comes by Kevin Hanks

Silver by Walter de la Mare

Spring Song by Barbara Seuling

All’s Right with the World by Jennifer Adams

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night by Peter Spier

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem

Hurray for Spring! by Patricia Hubbell

Miss Jaster’s Garden by N.M. Bodecker

Hanna’s Cold Winter by Trish Mark

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

The Gardener by Sarah Stewart

The Librarian by Sarah Stewart

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

The Narnia books by C.S. Lewis

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Spring Things by Bob Raczka

Hi, Mister Robin! by Alvin Tresselt and Roger Duvoisin

“Sweet Afton” (poem by Robert Burns)

“Pippa’s Song” (poem by Robert Browning)

Thanks for listening! If you’re looking for more seasonal books, be sure to check out our Winter Words Wonderland episode!

Share

Subscribe now

Join us in our conversation with Author and trusted Book Reviewer, Megan Saben. And find her book, Something Better Coming at the top of our Easter book list!

• The Redeemed Reader website where Megan shares book reviews.

• A page about Something Better Coming with a video preview.

• If you’re interested in hearing more on our discussion topic of Truth and Story, but specifically as found in picture books, here’s a taste on Redeemed Reader.

• A link to the fine art page for Megan’s illustrator friend, Ryan Flanders.

• Here’s a coupon code good for 10% off PLUS free media mail shipping through 3/31/2024. Good within the U.S. (International orders can contact Megan to see what you might work out.) Code: RESURRECTION24

• Westminster Kids carries Something Better Coming. They’re the only online store that does, besides ordering directly through Megan above. https://westminsterkids.com/products/7533495582920

The following book links are to the RA Amazon Storefront.

Books in this episode:

Something Better Coming by Megan Saben and Ryan Flanders

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss

“More Love to Thee” hymn by Elizabeth Prentiss- hear it here on YouTube

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Feminization of American Culture by Ann Douglas

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney

The Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood

I Spy books

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Mother West Wind stories by Thornton Burgess

A Year in the Big Old Garden by James D. Witmer

Bird Life in Wington by John Calvin Reid

Subscribe now

Join Ambre, Charlesa, and Kimberly in this episode as they share their favorite winter books!

Get cozy with their top recommendations and don't miss out on our special winter bundle, featuring handy reading trackers and exciting short reading challenge bookmarks. Embrace the magic of winter reading with this delightful episode!

Winter Bundle PDF printable

Winter Reading Bundle Printables

3.01MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

In this episode, Kimberly reminisces about printing coloring sheets from Jan Brett’s website years ago, wondering if they are still available. Guess what? They are! Explore a plethora of options right here—so many delightful choices await!

Books shared in this episode:

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

Bargain Bride by Evelyn Sibley Lampman

Hanna’s Cold Winter by Trish Marx

A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story for Knitting and Love by Michelle Edwards

The Fellowship of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

An Elephant in the Garden: Inspired by a True Story by Michael Morpurgo

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Cold Snap by Eileen Spinelli

Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John

Ellen and the Winter Wolves by Jamin Still

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

Derwood Inc. by Jeri Massi- Book 1 of The Peabody Series

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Jack and Jill: A Village Story by Louisa May Alcott

Brave Irene by William Steig

The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant

Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing & Lots More Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi and Ron Barrett

Miss Jaster’s Garden by N. M. Bodecker

The Duchess Bakes a Cake by Virginia Kahl

The Mitten by Jan Brett

The Hat by Jan Brett

The Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Henry the Explorer by Mark Taylor

The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc

“Winter” by Walter de la Mare (a Poem)- we also recommend de la Mare’s Snow.

The two books for Kimberly’s request for Russian fiction that I couldn’t recall in the moment were both by Theodore Acland Harper:

• His Excellency and Peter

• Siberian Gold

Kimberly’s song recommendation:

Relient K - In Like a Lion (always winter)

Thank you for joining us this week! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

Share

Don't miss out on our complimentary literary catalogue, showcasing books our team has read and highly recommends!

Subscribe now for upcoming episodes filled with bookish delights and curated book lists. Elevate your reading journey with our recommendations and stay tuned for more literary adventures!

Subscribe now

PIN ME!

Book links in this episode are to the Reshelving Alexandria Amazon storefront and using them supports our efforts to keep this podcast ad free.

With many in our community already elbow deep in our 2024 Reading Challenges, we thought it was a good time to listen in to Ambre and (RA Moderator) Kimberly Schluterman discuss how Kimberly approached the 2023 Reading Challenge.

Kimberly’s three most influential books:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Rocket Boys (The Coalwood Series #1), also published as October Sky by Homer H. Hickam Jr.

Kristy’s Great Idea (Baby-Sitter’s Club) by Ann M. Martin (Kimberly’s breakthrough into love of reading title)

Books and resources discussed in the episode:

Feel free to order any titles through our storefront.

Love & Friendship movie (based on Lady Susan)

A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich

Dave Barry’s books

Elephant & Piggie Books

There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Goodnight Already! by Jory John & Benji Davies

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

The Complete Peanuts by Shulz

Poultrygeist by Eric Geron

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Garfield comics by Jim Davis

All Cats Are on the Autism Spectrum by Kathy Hoopmann (updated edition of All Cats Have Aspergers Syndrome)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

All of Jane Austen’s books

Baby Lit books

The Childhood of Famous Americans series

Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton Porter

Bargain Bride by Evelyn Sibley Lampman

Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Our guest this week is Anna Rose Johnson, author of the award winning The Star That Always Stays and the forthcoming The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry (pre-orders are open!).

Check out Anna Rose’s Instagram page for more genealogy information from The Star That Always Stays.

The Star That Always Stays

The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry

Books recommended in this episode by the host and guest:

Jane of Lantern Hill by L. M. Montgomery

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace

The Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace- this is a graded series where the reading level and maturity of the content rises with eac book as the cast ages and matures. Content Considerations are available in our free literary catalogue.

The Shoe books by Noel Streatfeild- a ten book series

Melendy Quartet- four book series (The Saturdays, Then There Were Five, The Four-story Mistake, Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze)

Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright (two book series with Return to Gone-Away Lake)

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter (sequel to Pollyanna, for teens)

Maggie Rose, Her Birthday Christmas by Ruth Sawyer

The Mitchells series by Hilda Van Stockum (three book series: Five for Victory, Canadian Summer, Friendly Gables)

From Anna by Jean Little

Mine for Keeps by Jean Little

The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall

Vanderbeekers series by Karina Yan Glaser

Rosetown by Cynthia Rylant

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary (eight book series)

Thank you for joining us this week! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

Share

Be sure to check out our free literary catalogue of books our team has read and recommends! And subscribe for future episodes and book lists!

Subscribe now

Book links in this episode are to the Reshelving Alexandria Amazon storefront.

In this exciting episode, we welcome back the talented author Steven J. Carroll. Steve has just wrapped up his compelling teen dystopian trilogy, "The City of Words," and graciously joins Ambre and Charlesa for an engaging conversation about this thought-provoking series. Tune in as we delve in and unravel the layers of depth in Steve’s spellbinding storytelling.

Episode correction: Steve references a Bible passage as being in The Book of John, when it’s actually in The Book of Revelations.

Steve’s Books:

City of Words by Steven J. Carroll (Dystopian-Teen)

• City of Words (Book 1)

• Mountain of Shadows (Book 2)

• Island of Man (Book 3)

The Histories of Earth (4 book series) by Steven J. Carroll (Middle Grade Fantasy/Teen)

• In the Window Room

• A Prince of Earth

• All the Worlds of Men

• Worlds Unending

The Road to Jericho by Steven J. Carroll (A standalone)

Other books discussed in this episode:

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

The List + The Last Lie by Patricia Forde

Words on Fire by Jennifer Neilsen

Shield by Dawn L. Watkins

Share

Interested in our last interview with Steve? Check it out here:

Carolyn’s books:

Beneath the Swirling Sky (The Restorationists)

Library’s Most Wanted

Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children (anthology)

Noah Green: Junior Zookeeper and the Garage Sale Pet (OOP)

Please support our podcast by making recommended book purchases through our storefront!

Books recommended in this episode: