The Children's Literature Podcast

Star Trek is what first introduced me to Shakespeare, and I wanted to visit the most Shakespearean of all Star Trek productions, which is Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. This film is Shakespearean in its structure, characters, plot, and themes, and can be a great way to introduce kids to some truly epic literature. … Continue reading "226 – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a Shakespearean Epic"

If you like Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, that's fine. Just keep it far away from me, because I DON'T BRONTË. If you also don't Brontë, you can get yourself a Wayne's World style wall plaque from my Teespring Store: I also share my latest Fireside Fairy Tale, which is my own contribution to the … Continue reading "225 – I Hate Wuthering Heights"

Join me on a pleasantly mild winter evening to toast a marshmallow and share my translation of “Rödkappchen,” or “Little Red Cap,” the German version of Little Red Riding Hood as collected by the Brothers Grimm and published in Kinder- und Hausmärchen, their 1812 collection of fairy tales. This version is interesting because it has … Continue reading "224 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Grimm's Little Red Riding Hood"

“What does Star Trek have to do with children's literature?” you might be asking. Quite a lot. Star Trek introduced me to Shakespeare, and it's been a franchise that mattered quite a lot to nerdy kids for 60 years now. The new TV series, Starfleet Academy, is aimed at teenagers. It failed to hit the … Continue reading "223 – Starfleet Academy is Anti-Star Trek"

This Fireside Fairy Tale is a double feature where I share my own translation of the very first Little Red Riding Hood story by Egbert of Liège from 1000 years ago as well as the very first English Translation of Little Red Riding Hood as written by Charles Perrault in his Mother Goose Tales. De … Continue reading "222 – Little Red Riding Hood is 1000 Years Old"

In this episode, we start off with a clip from our New Year's Eve livestream in which we highlighted the best book-to-screen adaptaions of 2025. If you want to hear us dunking on the Mid, Meh, and Miserable adaptations of 2025, check that out on our YouTube Channel: Also, I've got some Book Drama for … Continue reading "221 – Decolonizing Santa, Canceling David Walliams"

This was recorded a few days after Bonfire Night, when it's common for massive fireworks to go off in England . . . even right next door! This made for a fun backdrop to one of the darkest stories in Kinder-und Hausmärchen, the collection of tales gathered by the Brothers Grimm and first published in … Continue reading "220 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Hänsel and Gretel"

In this episode, you will find: On the nice list: A reading of the earliest Winnie-the-Pooh story, which turns 100 years old on Christmas Eve 2025 On the naughty list: the worst film adaptations of children's books this year A reading of my new translation of “Die Wichtelmänner,” usually translated in English as “The Elves … Continue reading "219 – A Christmas Stocking for You!"

This episode is taken from my Livestream about the history of Santa Claus. I will be having more Livestreams in the future, so be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel and join in the fun. YouTube: The Children's Literature Podcast You can also follow my storytelling channel, which just has stories, folktales, and poems … Continue reading "218 – Who is Santa Claus, Anyway?"

This episode is excerpted from my first Livestream on YouTube, which was held on Friday, December 5. It was nice to chat with all those who came to participate, and I'll be doing another Livestream on December 12 at 9 pm Greenwich Time to tell the history of Santa Claus. Tune into this episode to … Continue reading "217 – Krampusnacht!"

Friend of the show Ben Dixon is back to talk about his new novel Vengeance and Honour, a sword and sorcery adventure for older teens and up. Fans of Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy RPGs, and Choose Your Own Adventure stories will LOVE this book, as its full of action, adventure, friendship, and just enough immature … Continue reading "216 – Vengeance and Honour by Ben Dixon"

This was a big episode for me to put together, as in I had to limit myself to the amount of time it takes to drink a pot of tea or else I would have talked about Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein FOREVER. How does it compare to Mary Shelley's 1818 novel? How many Snapes do … Continue reading "215 – Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein"

Chloë does a lot for the show, mostly behind the scenes. But a school of literal actual Lilliputians has banned kids from singing songs from Kpop Demon Hunters struck a nerve, and I thought she had some great ideas about grownups freaking out over a great story that only has good things to teach children.

There are two bits of book related silliness to cover this week. A tiny group of outspoken activists are trying to cancel J.K. Rowling — again. And the corporate juggernaut Studio Canal+ has succeeded in canceling the wild-eyed parody of Paddington Bear that was featured on the revived comedy show Spitting Image.

I recently saw a teacher blow his stack in public, and I couldn't help but feel that if he wasn't just a bully, maybe it was time for him to get a different job.

All British kids know the poem “Remember, Remember the Fifth of November” but where did it come from? And how has Bonfire Night evolved from its violent origins to a fun autumn event free of strife?

Please enjoy this Fireside reading of “The Raven.” As always, I have two versions — one with my commentary (and a roasted pumpkin!) as well as the poem on its own with no blah blah blah.  

First, we start off with some MORE tedious Harry Potter book drama. Then you get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into a Fireside Fairy Tale. I always test stories on my kids and their friends, and I don't mind that there are interruptions and a bunch of noise. Asking questions means they are interested, … Continue reading "209 – Reading Rapunzel to Kids: Messy and Fun"

We start off with some book drama about a hilarious, not-safe-for kids parody of Paddington Bear on the comedy show Spitting Image as well as an unneccessary freakout over a url printed on children's books leading to a spicy site. In the main story, the biggest surprise for me this year is the amount of faith-based … Continue reading "208 – Take Me to the Promised Land"

In this Fireside Fairytale, I share the first published version of Rapunzel, which was recorded by the Brothers Grimm for their famous 1812 collection of German folktales, Kinder- und Hausmärchen. Find out why this early version was offensive to 19th Century morality, and also why it really wasn't as racy as pearl-clutching Victorians thought it … Continue reading "207 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Rapunzel (1812)"

In June, the United States Supreme Court ruled on the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor. A group of Maryland parents had sued their local school district, asking for the restoration of their rights to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ curriculum that they felt undermined their First Amendment rights to direct the religious upbringing of … Continue reading "206 – Did Mahmoud V. Taylor Cause CHAOS?"

There are rumors — unproven rumors — going around that HBO is auditioning women for the role of . . . Lord Voldemort? Nobody wants this, and this isn't just a nerd meltdown. The story will actually be broken in pretty significant ways if Lord Voldemort becomes Lady Voldemort. Also, we've been reading The Hobbit … Continue reading "205 – Lady Voldemort? HBO, Say It Ain't So!"

Did I just watch a Bible movie and really, really . . . enjoy it? I guess so, and I'm quite happy about that. I am continuing my roundup of movies that have come out this year which are based on books for children. King of Kings was released in the spring by Angel Studios … Continue reading "204 – King of Kings is a Masterclass in Immersive Storytelling"

I'm starting my roundup of all the summer movies based on books for kids with Fantastic Four: First Steps. Find out how many Snapes I gave this one based on its accuracy to the beloved comic books, and how being a mom affected the way I saw this movie.

I am very nervous about publishing this episode, because it could bring me unwanted attention. But things have changed to the point where I no longer feel that simply doing my best to be decent will protect me. Free speech is precious, and it's a principle we should all stand up for, even when it … Continue reading "202 – Was Graham Linehan's Arrest “Kafkaesque” and “Orwellian”?"

This story comes to you by the fire pit at a family member's house back home in California. The evening is warm, the sea breeze is pleasant, and the bright full moon is shining. So settle in and enjoy my translation of Tommelise by Hans Christian Andersen, which is usually given the title “Thumbelina” in … Continue reading "201 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Tommelise"

This is the 200th audio episode of The Children's Literature Podcast! All we can say is THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Oh, and I suppose we can say a bit in response to your questions.

The first recorded version of The Three Bears was a poem written and illustrated by Eleanor Mure for her little nephew's birthday in 1831. It was never published, but was handed down through the years and now resides in the Toronto Public Library's manuscript collection. This version of the story is hilarious, with a poetic … Continue reading "199 – The Original Three Bears Got Sweet Revenge"

I did not like this film.

My brother, Kyle Mortensen, published a wonderful indie book shortly before he died in an accident. He intended to publish three more books in this exciting historical fiction series set during the Warring States period in Japan, but I try to be glad that we at least have the first book, Mists of Iga, which … Continue reading "197 – Mists of Iga: Teen Ninjas, Cool Swords, and Abiding Friendships"

I am not a fan of The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. It's a book that portrays mooching, bullying, and gaslighting as good things, but lots of people don't notice that because, well, it's really, really pretty.

Middling movies are the hardest to review!

This show starts with some hilariously wholesome news about how Fantastic Mr. Fox broke into the Twickenham Library, and of course Orkney Library had to weigh in. Then it's on to our main segment, which is just a tad heavier what with it being about how the current challenges presented by AI art were forseen … Continue reading "194 – George Orwell Predicted AI Art"

Here's the back story about how Francis Scott Key came to be trapped on a boat in Baltimore harbor for 25 hours, waiting to see if in the morning . . . the star-spangled banner would still be there!

Here's a reading of the moderately racy, earliest printed version of Jack and the Beanstalk. There's nothing really dirty in here, but please listen to it on your own before deciding to share it with kids. This story, first printed in 1734 in a wild collection of funny stories called “Round About Our Coal Fire, … Continue reading "192 – Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean"

Taking Shakespeare's most famous tragedy and turning it into a Gen Z musical was . . . a mistake. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's best known plays and a rite of passage for high school students. Shakespeare is always up for reinterpretation, but sometimes moviemakers get a little carried away. Find out why … Continue reading "191 – Juliet and Romeo is Truly Tragic"

Enough of you expressed interest in a sing along, so let's do it! Here's how you can participate: And here is the backing track video to help you sing along: Downloads: Lead sheet for “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” MP3 download of the backing track

A fight over picture books happened in the highest court of the United States. Government run schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, made nine LGBTQ+ picture books a mandatory part of the English curriculum for preschoolers and elementary aged children. Hundreds of parents objected, as they previously had the right to be notified about these books … Continue reading "189 – The LGBTQ+ Books Before the Supreme Court"

HBO has announced the actors playing the three leads of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger in its new adaptation of the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. I had big problems with their casting choice for Snape, as it deviates too far from the text, changing the character and introducing themes to … Continue reading "188 – Be Nice to Hermione"

Not all picture books are for children. Joke books for grownups are a lot of fun, but some authors use “children's books” to fight political and cultural battles. While I support the rights of authors to publish anything they like so long as no laws are broken, I don't approve of using children or children's … Continue reading "187 – Matt Walsh's Children's Book Has Sparked a Lawsuit"

I asked you to share what it was like for you when you found out that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father, and you did NOT disappoint! The fact that so many strangers were able to share similar experiences is proof of the staying power of Star Wars as a great story — mediocre modern … Continue reading "186 – Your Adorable Star Wars Stories"

Double feature! In this fireside fairy tale, I share the (relatively) modern first printed versions of The Three Little Pigs, which started out as a tale about Pixies. Later on, it's a wolf who goes after the pigs, but the cleverest of the three definitely comes off better in the end.

Writer Jenna Schroeder and illustrator Yamerpro (aka Mandy Ecenbarger) were given the task of transforming the popular card game Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. Their collaboration has resulted in the first book in a series of graphic novels — The Case of the Missing Hat! This book is colorful, fun, and accessible. Fans of the … Continue reading "184 – Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza and the Case of the Missing Hat"

Here's a cranky mommy rant about how standardized testing can stress out kids for no good reason. I KNOW teachers and schools are under a lot of pressure, but adults should never dump their anxieties onto children. Especially when the cause of so much worry is so unimportant compared to the big picture of life.

“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by Albert von Tilzer and Jack Norworth is America's second national anthem. Many Americans don't even remember learning it because it is such a natural part of childhood. But worldwide it's not known very well, and even the biggest baseball fans may not know that this song has … Continue reading "182 – Take Me Out to the Ball Game . . . has verses?"

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman perfectly expresses how little children feel sometimes — I want my mom, and I want to go home. But it also has a sweet and subtle message about how the modern world can exist with nature if only we remember to show a little compassion to the little … Continue reading "181 – Are You My Mother?"

I watched both of the Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey movies. They are NOT for kids. But they do take ideas from Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne with illustrations by E.H. Shepard and use them in some creative, interesting, and icky ways. Again, don't show these movies to your … Continue reading "180 – Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey Is . . . Lore Accurate?"

“Die zertanzten Schuhe,” or “The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces” was first published in 1815 in the second volume of tales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. It's usually translated into English as “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” In this one I DO NOT burn my marshmallow (YAY!) and celebrate by making a Thin Mint … Continue reading "The Shoes that Were Danced to Pieces"

Six actors have been confirmed for the new Harry Potter series on HBO. But are all of them good choices? When a book is adapted to the screen, how can casting choices be creative without breaking the story, distorting the characters, or introducing themes that simply don't belong?

Come join me by the fire while I read “Cenerentola,” which was written in the 17th century by Giambattista Basile. It's the oldest recorded European version of a Cinderella story, and I think it's a lot wilder and funnier than the better known one by Charles Perrault. In this reading you'll get some commentary to … Continue reading "177 – A Fireside Reading of Cenerentola"

Big things have happened to the show in the last week. I have pleased the Algorithm Gods and my YouTube channel is getting a lot of attention. My inbox is overflowing with emails and I have had a few offers from sponsors, but I won't change anything for now. I want to take some time … Continue reading "176 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Ye Xian"