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Listen in each week as youth services staffers from the Springfield-Greene County Library District are joined by various guests as they share their latest favorite middle grade and teen books.

Springfield-Greene County Library District


    • Jul 28, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 19m AVG DURATION
    • 52 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Planet Book

    Interview with Author Brandy Colbert

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 32:28


    Jen and former co-host Charity interview author Brandy Colbert. Colbert, a Springfield native discusses her books, and some local history that lent inspiration to her latest book, Black Birds in the Sky: the Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    The Book Was Better, Maybe? Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 24:01


    Jen and Tana talk about their favorite book to streaming series adaptations and some of the upcoming book to series adaptations they are looking forward to seeing. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    The Book Was Better, Maybe? Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2022 25:01


    Jen and Tana talk about their favorite book to movie adaptations and some of the upcoming book to movie adaptations they are looking forward to seeing. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    To Reread or Not to Reread

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 16:22


    On this episode Jen introduces her new co-host, TaƱa. They talk about their favorite books to revisit, and the reasons they enjoy rereading favorites. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    The Best Books No One Has Heard of

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 19:56


    We're talking about the best back-listed middle grade and YA titles you've probably never heard of. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    The King of Middle Grade Thrillers: A Conversation with Alan Gratz

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2022 44:26


    Alan Gratz, best-selling, award winning author, joins the podcast for an in depth conversation about his books, writing, and fandoms. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    From Eco-horror to Historical Fantasy: A Conversation with Rory Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 23:15


    YA author Rory Power joins the podcast to talk about her newest book, In a Garden Burning Gold, and share her recommendation for readers.

    What to Read When You Don't Love Reading

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2022 20:20


    We discuss our favorite titles for reluctant readers and how to find your perfect book match. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Comics and Carol Burnett: a Conversation with Rachel Elliott

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 28:23


    Author-illustrator, Rachel Elliott, joins Charity and Jen to discuss her debut middle grade graphic novel coming out this spring. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Let It Go: The Books We Didn't Finish

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2022 21:10


    Just because we didn't finish these doesn't mean you shouldn't read them. We'll talk about the books that we started but just couldn't finish and how to know when it's time to move on. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Diversity in Children's Literature

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2022 28:40


    We discuss the good and the bad of diversity in books, why representation matters, and the stories we want to see more of. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    It's a Jungle Out There: a Conversation with Stuart Gibbs

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 28:13


    Best-selling author, Stuart Gibbs, talks about his newest book, Once Upon a Tim, and shares his best advice for readers. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Battle of the Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 17:08


    Hosts Charity and Jen share their divergent opinions on the same book, Jasmine Warga's Shape of Thunder. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Middle Grade and YA Crossovers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 23:12


    Good stories are for everyone! We're sharing our takes on some of the best kids and teen books adults will also enjoy. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    The Good, the Bad, and the Average: Starred Book Ratings

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 28:48


    Jen and Charity discuss book ratings, what it takes to get 5 stars, and what it all means. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Behind the Scenes at a Public Library

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 25:53


    Think you know what it's like to be a librarian? We're giving the tea on our years of experience working at a public library. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Best of the Year Roundup

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 26:22


    We're counting down our top 10 books of 2021. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Something Dangerous is Happening: A Conversation with Lemony Snicket

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 27:26


    Best-selling author Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, joins the podcast to talk about danger, bewilderment, and his newest book, Poison for Breakfast. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Book Cliches We Can't Get Enough of

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 18:02


    Tropes, no matter how bad, cheesy, or tired, we're here for it. Tune in for this humorous conversation! Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Reader Habits, a New Co-host, and Happily Ever Afters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 14:32


    A new co-host, Jen, joins Charity to talk about choosing books new books, maxing out your library card and other strange things that readers do. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    If We Were in a Book, We'd Be These People

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 12:04


    Charity and Breea wrap up this season discussing some of their favorite characters from middle grade and teen books. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    Books are For Everyone

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2021 14:30


    In this episode, Charity and Breea talk about their favorite banned middle grade and teen books. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    Who Doesn't Love a Book Quiz

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2021 12:12


    Through book quizzes, Breea and Charity discover what their reader preferences reveal about their lives. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    We Love Books

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2021 12:56


    Charity and Breea chat about the things they love most as readers. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    Battle of the Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2021 16:29


    Breea and Charity share their different opinions on the the same YA novel, One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    Our Biggest Reader Pet Peeves

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 18:08


    On this episode, avid readers will be able to relate as Charity and Breea discuss their biggest pet peeves for books. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    Would You Rather, Reader Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 19:48


    Breea and Charity talk about their reader favorites with a game of would you rather. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    The Books that Surprised Us

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 20:36


    A discussion about books that they expected not to like but turned out to be surprisingly good with Charity and Breea. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    Confessions of a Reader

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 17:12


    In this episode, Charity and Breea reveal their personal reader secrets and habits. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    Reader Opinions

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2021 16:17


    Hosts Breea and Charity share their own views on underrated and overrated kids and teen books. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    Books with Impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 16:40


    Charity and Breea discuss the kids books that influenced them the most as readers. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    The World of Marissa Meyer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2021 14:26


    Youth librarian, Lisa Hellman, joins Charity as they discuss the Wolfner Library and the worlds of Marissa Meyer. Book recommendations for Middle Grade and YA readers.

    The Teen Book You Should Be Reading Now

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2021 18:25


    Charity welcomes Heather to discuss one of the hottest YA titles to come out in 2020. Book Recommendations for Tween and Teen Readers.

    Based on a True Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2021 13:17


    Travel from India to Alaska as Charity welcomes Kaitlyn to discuss two middle grade novels based on real life events. Book Recommendations for Tween and Teen Readers.

    Battle of the Book

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2021 22:13


    Two librarians debate their opposing views on the same teen book, Elizabeth Acevedo's "Clap When You Land." Book Recommendations for Tween and Teen Readers.

    Girl Power and Big Adventures

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 12:16


    Charity is joined by Amanda and Breea who share stories featuring strong female characters starting new chapters in their lives and having adventures along the way. Book Recommendations for Tween and Teen Readers.

    Connecting to Ourselves and the World Around Us

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 11:08


    On this episode we discuss middle grade and teen stories that explore the power of the human spirit and the importance of connecting to the natural world. Book Recommendations for Tween and Teen Readers.

    The Magic and Fire Within

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2021 16:16


    Charity and Jen discuss graphic novels with an LGBTQ focus for middle grade and young adult readers. Book Recommendations for Tween and Teen Readers.

    Books We Can't Forget or the Kids' Classics We Still Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2021 12:37


    In this episode, we talk about the middle grade books we love just as much now as we did when we were kids, with guest Dionne. Book Recommendations for Tween and Teen Readers.

    Escape to Other Worlds

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 10:06


    Charity is joined by high school librarian, Kristan, to discuss the sometimes dark and mysterious but always adventurous world of teen fantasy.Ā  Book Recommendations for YA Readers.

    The Wonderful World of Comics

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2021 12:50


    Comic enthusiast, Taryn, joins Charity to share their favorite comic books and discuss why reading comics can be so important for kids. Book Recommendations for Tween and Teen Readers.Ā Ā 

    Teen and Tween Audiobooks - The Stories We Loved in 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2021 21:22


    Charity welcomes back Emily to discuss three timely stories that feature characters who aren't afraid to stand out and use their voice to make a difference. Book Recommendations for Tween and Teen Readers.

    Quirky Characters: Finger Puppets and Crazy Eyes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 17:18


    On this episode of the Planet Book Podcast we dive into the world of Origami Yoda as well as exploring an Argentine folktale about werewolves in a new Own Voices series with guests Heather and Joe.Ā  Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Epistolary novels (stories told through letters) and Postive Stories featuring LGBTQ+ Themes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 18:53


    Emily welcomes guests Iggi and Jeannine to talk about books with LGBTQ+ positive characters. Join in this discussion of friendship, found families and what exactly an epistolary book is! Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Illustrated Middle Grade and a YA Series 24 years in the Making

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 18:20


    Guests Jen and Sarah join in this episode as we talk about the Newbery and Caldecott book awards as well as book-to-movie adaptations.

    Family Read-Alouds and Family Feuds: A Study in Contrasts

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2021 15:16


    This episode of the Planet Book Podcast features book recommendations that are totally opposite! Guests Charity and Adrienne recommend middle books that are great for sharing with the whole family as read-alouds, and teen titles that are all about families in conflict. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Other Cultures, Other Homes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2021 12:55


    In this episode of the Planet Book Podcast, Emily welcomes guests Julia and Sarah, who talk about stories featuring different cultures, found families, and finding your place in the world. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Masterminds and a Space Boy!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 16:18


    This episode of the Planet Book Podcast is all about mystery! Guests Gwyneth and Breea share a middle grade adventure trilogy with some shocking twists, and a futuristic graphic novel about outer space and a mysterious boy who might have been lost in space. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    West African Gods and D&D Graphic Novels

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2021 16:47


    On this episode, Emily talks about stories with lore and epic world building, with guest Phyllis and Paige. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Historical Fiction, First Loves and Political Canvassing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2021 10:45


    Historical fiction and politics meet in this episode of the Planet Book Podcast with guests Charity and Lindsey. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

    Moon Murder Investigations and Fiery Food Stuffs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 17:35


    On this episode, Emily welcomes guests Heather and Jeannine as they recommend books about a mystery on a lunar colony and a teen mother with a passion for cooking. Book recommendations for young adult and middle grade readers.

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