Stories from the Ashes Podcast: Recent Episodes

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Our conversation today was withRyan 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

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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

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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!

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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:InstagramWebsiteAnnie’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 Blyby 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 Holeby 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 AdventureAnimal CrossingThe Master’s Pupil

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

Leuchtturm journals

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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 Worldpublished by Vessels of Light

The Day Bringer published by Vessels of Light

Too Often I Forgetpublished 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 ChroniclesThe Kingdom of GallimaufriaChapter One: The Boy from Ravo

From the Desk of Periwinkle Twist- Substack

Instagram:The.Poetess.LifePeriwinkleTwist_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!

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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 Growsby Wilson Rawls

The Outsidersby 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 ChroniclesThe 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 Mittenby Jan Brett (mistakenly referred to as “The Hat” in the episode)

Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems

Guess How Much I Love Youby Sam McBratney

Little Red Hotby Eric A. Kimmel

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

Song and Dance Manby Karen Ackerman

Roxaboxen by Barbara Cooney

The Pumpkin Runnerby Marsha Diane Arnold

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

The Farmer in the Dell by Alexandra Wallner

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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 Hobbesby 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!

Thanks for listening to Stories from the Ashes! This episode is free so please share it and encourage a friend with a new holiday album!

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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!

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 InnElizabeth 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 byAmanda 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

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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

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

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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 Seriesby 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

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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!

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

Rascalby 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 Worldby 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!

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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 Readerwebsite 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

Share this episode or Megan’s book with a friend!

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 byShannon 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

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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

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 Cakeby Virginia Kahl

The Mitten by Jan Brett

The Hat by Jan Brett

The Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librariansby Brandon Sanderson

Henry the Explorerby 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)

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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!

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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)

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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

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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!

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

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

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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

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

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Today’s guest, Carolyn Leiloglou, is the author of the the new The Restorationists series! Book 1, Beneath the Swirling Sky just recently released and has been so well received! Below, check out all her books currently available and maybe find a new favorite!

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:

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis

Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson

Once Upon a Saturday by Edward Fenton: Archive link to read for free.

Katie and the Sunflowers by James Mayhew

Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban

Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

The Bootlace Magician by Cassie Beasley

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Today’s guest, Millie Florence, is a delightful middle grade author. In this episode, she shares her experience as an author who first published at thirteen! Grab your young writers and give her journey a listen.

Millie’s Books (aff link):

The Balter of Ashton Harper

Lydia Greene of Mulberry Glen

Honey Butter

No Snow Yet- Millie’s upcoming picture book!

Other Titles Discussed in this Episode:

Anne of Green Gables

A Little Princess

The Secret Garden

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Hunger Games

Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling

Spilling Ink: a Handbook for Young Writers About Writing by Ellen Potter (Author), Anne Mazer (Author), Matt Phelan (Illustrator)

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

The Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit

The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Three Knocks on the Wallby Evelyn Sibley Lampman

Bargain Bride by Evelyn Sibley Lampman

Ramona by Beverly Cleary

Jane Austen’s books

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Loren G. Warnemuende, the accomplished author behind the 'Daughter of Arden' fairy tale retellings inspired by the classic Maid Maleen story, takes us on her remarkable 25-year journey in crafting these enchanting tales in this episode.

Loren’s books:

Daughter of Arden Trilogy

• Exile

• Wandering

• Promise

All three titles can be ordered from Bandersnatch Books.

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While curious where I could read the original Maid Maleen story I found this lovely illustration is from the 1917 collection of Grimm’s Fairy Tales illustrated by Arthur Rackham. I thought you might enjoy it as well!

Books discussed in this episode:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge

Deerskin by Robin McKinley- This is an adult book with adult content

Beauty by Robin McKinley

Bearskin by Howard Pyle

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

An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo

The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers

Comedy IG channel with literary therapy sessions:

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You read that right: in this episode, I call Jane Austen "Jean Watson". And I don’t even think I caught it as it happened! This episode was recorded nine months ago right after I started addressing the fact that I lost my ability to see inside my head as part of the mental burnout after the house fire trauma/paperwork/etc..

In listening to the playback this week, I caught five absurd slips of the tongue (and I’m open to the possibility of there being more) and I am just so grateful to be able to so clearly see the progress I’ve made on my brain recovery this year. If you want to hear more about my misspeaks and how I’ve been healing my brain, I talk more about it here.

In this rapid fire episode Val, Charlesa, and I delve into a diverse collection of over 100 book suggestions impeccably matched with the RA 2023 12-book reading challenge. These recommendations, primarily designed for challenge takers, offer a literary adventure suitable for every reader.

Quick reminder that we have challenges of many lengths and most could still be finished if you started now!

Books in this episode:

I’m going to be real- listing over 100 books and covers in the show notes wasn’t in the cards this week, but I did add the titles to an episode list on our RA Amazon Storefront so it would populate pretty covers for you because covers are so pretty!

Resources and notes from the episode:

• Our Favorite Small Publishers are all listed here, and the FB RA community have also recommended Voyage Comics, Cluny Media, and YWAM.

• In the episode I mention that Magical Melons is the sequel to Caddie Woodlawn. It’s been published under Magical Melons and Caddie Woodlawn’s Family which is what you will see if you look for it on our Storefront list.

• The Other Half of the Church podcast where they read the whole book aloud and discuss it.

• Charlesa brings up Unbroken because it keeps coming up as a recommendation without content considerations. Please do not pick up this book without checking out content considerations.

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Our Guest:

This week I had the pleasure to talk with my husband, Erik Sautter, about his literary journey and his experience being married to a crazy book lady (me).

We opened the floor to your questions and you didn’t disappoint! Thank you!

Let us know in the comments if you have more questions and we’ll tackle them on IG and FB for you!

Books and resources recommended in this episode (minus Goosebumps, that’s not a recommendation, that one’s just here because… well… you know…):

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Pigman by Paul Zindel

The Boxcar Childrenby Gertrude Chandler Warner

Encyclopedia Brownby Donald J. Sobol

Goosebumps- Erik insisted I include the above meme he made just for this day.

Red Phoenix by Larry Bond

1984 by George Orwell

Animal Farm by George Orwell

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Fox in Soxby Dr. Seuss

Sandra Boynton

Let’s Talk About series by Joy Berry- We have the full set, but I see some individual titles have been reprinted!

Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail by Danica McKellar

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

Scholastic DVD Collections- these can still be found second hand for a steal or at the public library

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

Reading Rainbow Presents: Gregory the Terrible Eater (1992 FHE release)

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

DoesTheDogDie.com- a website with crowdsourced content for books, movies, tv, and more.

Phillis Wheatley by Shirley Graham- Find a complete printable list of The Messner Biographies here.

The Hobbitby J.R.R. Tolkien

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Our Guest:

Elly Swartz is a middle grade author of books with heart. So much heart! Ambre has spent the last year and a half trying to get anyone who will listen to have their older kids read Elly’s book Give and Take. If you haven’t yet, there’s no time like the present! It’s a beautiful book for anyone with anxiety, friends, or a family. (ha!)

Elly’s catalogue includes:

• Finding Perfect

• Dear Student

• Give and Take

• Smart Cookie

• Hidden Truths (Release Date of October 31st, 2023- Find it on our “Pre-Orders We’re Excited About It” Amazon Storefront List.

Elly’s three influential books from her own life:

• Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary

• Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret

• Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park

Books we’ve both loved:

• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White- audiobook read by the author

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Elly’s 6” (give or take 6” or so) of favorite books on Emotional Intelligence for Kids:

• Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

• Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

• Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

• Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

• The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

• Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

• The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor

• A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner

• I'm Worried (The I'm Books) by Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi

• When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left by Marc Colagiovanni and Peter H. Reynolds

Other Recommendations from Ambre:

• The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

• Watch Season One of the Wingfeather Saga for FREE here!

“Be Kind to Yourself” by Andrew Peterson (A favorite in our home)

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Our Guest:

Inara Sautter is Ambre’s eldest ( as a Tolkien fan, she prefers Eldar) daughter, a writer, and the lead producer of the Stories from the Ashes podcast.

She joins Ambre in this episode to share her experience growing up with dyslexia, her joy in being a reader, her thoughts on family read alouds, and her journey thus far as a writer (among other things!).

Her delightful short story fan fiction on the characters of The Lord of the Rings taking a day trip to the strip mall can be found here: The Fellowship, a Minivan, a Leaf Blower, and a Few Doughnuts.

If you would like to leave Inara a tip for making these podcasts possible, you may do so here. Just leave a note that it’s for her and she will send you many thanks as she gleefully enlarges her Tolkien shelf. On her behalf- thank you!

Books Recommended in this Episode:

Due to the frequency with which Inara is asked for book recommendations by community members, we have given her her own List on the RA Amazon storefront. All of the following titles can be found there along with other books she loves!

• Book of Dragons by Edith Nesbit, our favorite audiobook reader for Nesbit is Cathy Dobson (it’s the green cover)

• Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit

• Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

• Green Ember series by S.D. Smith

• The Phoenix and the Carpet by Edith Nesbit

• Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter

• Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin

• Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

• Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink

• Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

• The Red Door by Rachel Lulich- Pre-order until September of 2023!

• The Skyward Series by Brandon Sanderson

• Enchantress from the Stars (Published in 1970) by Sylvia Engdahl

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

• Soldier, Statesman and Defendant: Aaron Burr by Jeannette Covert Nolan

• Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr: Their lives, their times, their duel by Anna Erskine Crouse and Russel Crouse

• Thomas Jefferson: His Many Talents by Johanna Johnston

• Benjamin Franklin Scientist-Diplomat by Charles Michael Daugherty

• The Story of Benjamin Franklin by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft

• Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

• Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key by S.D. Smith and J.C. Smith

• The Mystery of the Loch Ness Monster by Jeanne Bendick

• The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

• James Baldwin Fifty Stories Retold by James Baldwin

• Silmarillion by J.R.R Tolkien

Resources Recommended:

• The Young Writers Workshop

• Inara listened extensively to books through our Audible subscription as a pre-reader and has barely slowed down now that she’s a confident reader.

• Audible is currently offering a 3 month free trial for new members. Click here to check it out!

• To discover more books that we’ve read and recommend, check out our free Living Books Literary Catalogue of good, true, and beautiful books for your family.

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Our Guest: Author Rachel Lulich

• The Red Door Coming September 2023 -orders available from Bandersnatch Press:

• Random Walk (Fractured Galaxy Book 1)

• The Ethics of Hope (Fractured Galaxy Book 2)

• Standard Candles (Fractured Galaxy Book 3)

• The Confessing Church (A play)

• To Do This Right: Poems of Faith

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you!

Featured books in this episode:

• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

• Five Little Peppers by Margaret Sidney

• Lord of the Ringsby J.R.R Tolkien

• The Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

• Thoroughbred (72 book series)

• Histories of Earth by Steven J. Carroll Podcast Episode

• Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith

• The Wheels of Time by Robert Jordan

• Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare

• The Ranger’s Apprentice Seriesby John Flanagan

• The Good Master by Kate Seredy

• Jane Austen for comfort reads

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Our Guest: Aaron “Hutch” Hutchings is an incredible adventure guide and real life survival specialist. He’s proudly autistic and a speed talker- depending on the platform you listen through, you may be able to slow the audio down if you find it hard to keep up!

• Hutch’s site: Ready Set Adventure. Be sure to check out all the free activities available including plans to build a kid’s crossbow! You can also purchase adventure kits to complete with your kids!

• Hutch’s most recent book, How To Make and Use Hide Glue: "The Duct Tape of our Ancestors.", is frequently referenced in this episode.

*This episode focuses on all the real life applications of the book, Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk, and we strongly recommend reading it before listening unless you don’t mind spoilers!***

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you!

Featured books in this episode:

These titles can all be found or searched through our Amazon Storefront.

• Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

• My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

• Guts: The True Stories Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books

by Gary Paulsen

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

• Cinderella Man: James J. Braddock, Max Baer, and the Greatest Upset in Boxing History by Jeremy Schaap

• Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

• The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

• The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind (!!!heavy adult content!!!)

• How To Make and Use Hide Glue: "The Duct Tape of our Ancestors." by Aaron "Hutch" Hutchings

• Wolf Hollow and its sequel: My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk

• Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

• Tarzan by Burroughs

• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

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Our Guest: Steven J. Carroll, author and songwriter.

I truly believe that this series, The Histories of Earth, is the best series you and your kids haven’t read yet. The books increase in complexity and length as they go along and as the characters age. If you only take one series recommendation from me this year, let it be this one- and don’t judge it on book one for, while perfectly delightful, it’s setting the stage and the stories mature as you go. The audiobooks are perfection.

age recommendations in the episode by book (as the series scaffolds)- for teens and parents too!

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Histories of Earth (4 book series) by Steven J. Carroll

• In the Window Room

• A Prince of Earth

• All the Worlds of Men

• Worlds Unending

The Road to Jericho by Steven J. Carroll

City of Words by Steven J. Carroll (Dystopian YA to be covered in a separate interview)

• City of Words

• Mountain of Shadows

Life is Beautiful- a movie

The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso

The KJV Bible

Robinson Crusoe

Find more books we recommend in our free searchable literary database!

We are an Amazon Affiliate. Purchases made through our Storefront help us keep the lights on and are much appreciated!

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Our Guest:

Reader and artist Kelly Curtis. A serendipitous meeting through Facebook has lead to this wonderful discussion and her sharing of her alternative book covers from last year’s reading. More of Kelly’s art can be found and purchased on Etsy in her shop EudemoniaArt.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you!

“It all started with Miss Prim.

For many years, I was convinced of a tragic lie: that novels were lesser things than non-fiction. In my youth, a novel was a school assignment to trudge through, because some conclave of intellectuals blessed it with merit. At best, the story within would relate to some "real" thing of interest. This conviction became less of one over time. And it changed completely in January when the ancient widow character in The Awakening of Miss Prim shook my depths. From there I began novel reading for pleasure; to soften all the hardness; to elevate the soul.

I am not a speedy reader, but I managed 13 novels this year. I painted a little painting for each book, which I happily display here.” -Kelly Curtis

Featured books in this episode:

• The Great Divorce CS Lewis

• The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis

• The Awakening of Miss Prim: A Novelby Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

• Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

• Jane Austen’s books

• Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

• Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

• The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge

• The Dean’s Watchby Elizabeth Goudge

• Skyward Novellasby Brandon Sanderson

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

• The Book of Ruth

• Gladys Aylward: The Little Womanby Gladys Aylward with Christine Hunter

• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

• These Are My People: a Biography of Gladys Aylward by Millie Howard

• The Proper Place by O. Douglas

• Thomas Becket: Warrior, Priest, Rebelby John Guy

• The Histories of Earth series by Steven J. Carroll with Joel Froomkin (Narrator) Further information now that I’ve finished the series: book four does have some “religious content” in that they meet a society founded by Ancient Romans and tell them the history that came since Ancient times on Earth including the downfall of their Empire and the influence of Christianity in that time. They are all appalled (lol) to have ever become a monotheistic society. It does not proselytize. I loved this series and cannot recommend it highly enough!

• Enchantress from the Stars by Sylvia Engdahl

• The Confessions, Revised: Saint Augustine (The Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century, Vol. 1) by Augustine and Maria Boulding (Translator)

• The Julian Messner Shelf of Biographies- Link is to our printable series list

• The Story of Clara Barton of the Red Cross by Jeannette Covert Nolan

• Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsk

Kelly’s other covers from last year:

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Welcome back for Season 2 of the Stories from the Ashes podcast!

We’re so glad you’re listening and learning along with us!

Today’s guest is Gloris Young, children’s book illustrator, artist, and one of the most influential people in Ambre’s love of stories and reading. You can see some of her journal pages and read her writings on her blog, Gloriadelia.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you!

Correction: Actress Agnes Moorehead was incorrectly identified as costumer Edith Head.

Featured books in this episode and those illustrated by our guest:

• Marco Polo by Manuel Komroff (Gloris illustrated the gorgeous map)

• John of the Sirius trilogy by Doris Chadwick: John of the Sirius, John of Sydney Cove, John and Nanboree (Gloris illustrated the covers and interior maps)

• Let's Explore… the British Isles A Geography Reader by Caroline Walker (Gloris illustrated the cover, interior illustrations, and maps- Inara modeled for the arm of the Lady of the Lake!)

• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl- as most of you know, I have huge Dahl reservations which doesn’t change the fact that I loved this read aloud experience as a child.

• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson narrated by Greg Wagland

• Muppet Treasure Island (movie)

• Fluffy Goes to Schoolby Kate McMullan

• The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone

• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White narrated by the author

• Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom by Leonard S. Marcus (S1E6, below, is where Ambre reads some of the backstory on the writing of Charlotte’s Web as referenced in this episode.)

• Mr. Bear Squash-You-All-Flat by Morrell Gipson

• Once On A Time by AA Milne

• News of the World by Paulette Jiles narrated by Grover Gardner

• The Cay by Theodore Taylor narrated by LeVar Burton

• The Bomb by Theodore Taylor

• The Nightingaleby Kristin Hannah (one of the books Gloris couldn’t remember the title of during our conversation). She only recommends this book for adults and not teens. Content Considerations: non-erotic sex scene between two unmarried characters, violence at the hands of the Nazis, SA off scene referenced from a Nazi.

• The Four Wings by Kristin Hannah (the other title Gloris was going to look up the title of. Also only recommended for adults) Content Considerations: Non-erotic sex scene

• A Dog Named Christmas series by Greg Kinkade. Content Considerations: main characters with special needs both mental and physical. In book three the protagonist moves in with his girlfriend. All of the books work as stand alone titles and Books one and two have been listened to multiple times by Gloris and are her top recommendations from the series.

• Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien- Ambre prefers narration by Rob Inglis for the first read through and Andy Serkis after for younger children.

• Cider with Rosie, The Autobiographical Trilogy by Laurie Lee

• Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff (we also recommend the movie)

• Q's Legacy: A Delightful Account of a Lifelong Love Affair with Books by Helene Hanff

• A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

• The Bible

• David Copperfieldby Charles Dickens

• Robinson Crusoeby Daniel Defoe

Recommended children’s authors:

• Edith Nesbit

• C.S. Lewis

Ambre’s art that Gloris inquired after:

Jacqueline Biang Art

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In this episode you’ll hear Ambre and Amanda dive into their own self care tips, as well as those from the RA community, and share their plans for the podcast in Season 2.

Correction: in the episode I mentioned that baby Inara only slept for 45 minutes a day. Obviously, I misspoke. What I meant to say was that she only slept in 45 minute increments, all night long, until she was two and a half. That’s much more reasonable sounding.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this community. Thank you for your support!

Featured books in this episode:

• Anne of Green Gables

• Jane Austen

• Clara Barton of the Red Cross (a Julian Messner Biography) by Jeanette Nolan

• The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson

• Wintering by Katherine May

• “Book with the tiger on the cover” is In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness by Peter A. Levine

• The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge

• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

• The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation by James Wilder and Michel Hendricks

• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

Other resources and links shared:

• I can’t seem to find the Oxford University Press study with the “rocket booster” comment, only a million sites quoting it but not giving more specifics. So rude.

• Dessicated Brain. Sounds gross, I know, but after taking it five times I now have two “spotlights” in my brain so don’t knock it till you try it. Erik and I both love Ancestral Supplements for all our organ meat needs. Read the the reviews. Real food=real miracles.

• Hopepunk sweatshirts/t-shirts/stickers, etc. All merch options for all our designs are available here. Here’s a $15 off $50 voucher for new customers if you’re looking at the sweatshirts- or a LOT of stickers!

• The song that goes all around in your head is “Sweet Dreams” and it’s in 8D which is what makes it so funky. You HAVE to use headphones to get the full affect.

Join the conversation!

Tell us what you do for self care! What would you like to share about your experiences with wintering?

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Content Considerations: this episode contains references to childhood abuse and trauma as well as discussing spanking- we didn’t see it coming either :)

Our Guest: AuthorJeri Massi was a childhood favorite of Ambre’s (and Inara’s!) and we’re so grateful to hear what was on her heart while writing these stories.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Links can be found here. Thank you for your support!

Featured books in this episode:

The Bracken Trilogy by Jeri Massi

• The Bridge

• Crown and Jewel

• Two Collars

Peabody Adventure Series by Jeri Massi

• Derwood Inc.

• A Dangerous Game

• Treasure In The Yukon

• Courage By Darkness

• Llamas on the Loose

• Abandoned

Scout by Julie Nye

Every Perfect Gift by Julie Nye

Join the conversation: What’s your take on male and female friendships? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Our Guest: Author Dawn L. Watkins- see our original interview here. Read her thoughts on the need for fantasy here:

This episode is different from our typical as it’s chock full of spoilers. If you have read the books, don’t mind spoilers, or think you’ll likely just give the books to your kids and not read them yourself (please reconsider- read Shield, at minimum, before deciding to pass) then this episode is for you!

Books discussed in this episode:

The Gadallan Trilogy:

• Shield

• Medallion

• Arrow

This series was written so each book could be read as a standalone though they follow the same places and families through time. The above order is chronological, not publication, but they may be read both ways.

If you have read this series, please share your favorite book and any questions you may yet have for the author.

If you plan to order these books and wish to support us with that purchase, affiliate links can be found here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guest: Nancy Kelly of Sage Parnassus- we are so grateful that she was able to have the energy to visit with us while she recovered from a round of the Rona!

Nancy has so generously compiled a list of her family’s favorite Christmas books- over 150 titles, in a free pdf that can be found here: Kelly Family Christmas Book List.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you for your support!

Featured books in this episode:

• The Gospel of John read alongside the Scale How Meditations by Charlotte Mason

• Charlotte Mason Home Education Series (Nancy’s favorite volume is no. 4 Ourselves)

• Sir Gibbie by George MacDonald

• The George MacDonald Christmas Collection selected by David Jack

• Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry

• Zao’s Tales by J. A. Sommer

• The Gift of the Magi a short story by O. Henry

• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

• The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffmann

• The Story of Us by Mitali Perkins

• Mousekins's Christmas Eve by Edna Miller

• Forever Christmas by Harry Davis

• The Tall Book of Christmas by Dorothy Hall Smith

• A Certain Small Shepherd by Rebecca Caudill

• Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

• The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston

• The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter

• Take Joy! The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book by Tasha Tudor

• On That Night by Elizabeth Yates

• A Grandma for Christmas by Alta Halverson Seymour

• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

• Papa Panov's Special Christmas translated into English by Leo Tolstoy

• The Other Wise Man by Henry van Dyke

• The Chimes by Charles Dickens

• The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens

• The Art of Advent: A Painting a Day from Advent to Epiphany by Jane Williams

• The Glorious Impossible by Madeleine L'Engle

• Wounded in Spirit: Advent Art and Meditations by David Bannon

• The Christmas Story from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Christmas Is Coming!: Celebrate the Holiday with Art, Stories, Poems, Songs, and Recipes by The Metropolitan Museum of Art

• The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford

• The Dean’s Watch by Elizabeth Goudge

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

• Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

• Corrie’s Christmas Memories by Corrie ten Boom

• A Christmas Book by Elizabeth Goudge

• Maple & Willow’s Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols

• Maple & Willow Apart by Lori Nichols

• Good King Wenceslas

• Christmas Around the World series by Alta Halverson Seymour

• Turkey for Christmas by Marguerite de Angeli

• The Lion in the Box by Marguerite de Angeli

• The Box of Delights by John Masefield

Christmas audio programs:

• Three Wise Men and a Baby by Jungle Jam and Friends the Radio Show

• The King Has Arrived by Michael J. Tinker

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Belvedere Mansion and Gardens in Galena, Illinois. Houses a beautiful collection of Christian art.

Kelly Family Christmas Book List- free pdf of over 150 Christmas titles

Join the conversation! We would love to hear what your favorite Christmas books and family holiday traditions are!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guest: Aaron “Hutch” Hutchings is an incredible adventure guide and real life survival specialist.

• Hutch’s site: Ready Set Adventure. Be sure to check out all the free activities available including plans to build a kid’s crossbow! You can also purchase adventure kits to complete with your kids!

• One of Hutch’s books: Pocket Field Guide: the QUINZHEE: How to Build a Survival Snow Shelter

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you for your support!

Featured books in this episode (some were not named, only alluded to):

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

• The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

• Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

• Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle

• Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco

• Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit by Creek Stewart

• The Boy Pioneers: Sons of Daniel Boone by Daniel Beard

• The Field and Forest Handy Book: New Ideas for Out of Doors by Daniel Beard

• Mythology by Edith Hamilton

• Myths and Legends by Jake Jackson

• The Myth of Rome’s Fall by Richard Mansfield Haywood

• Bulfinch’s Mythology (Ambre recommends the Book of Mythology selected stories illustrated by Helen Sewell for it’s tasteful illustrations)

• Wildwood Wisdom by Ellsworth Jaeger

• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

• Maybe Tomorrow? (a Story about Loss, Healing, and Friendship) by Charlotte Agell

• My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

• Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

• Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

• Moby Dick by Herman Melville

• The Princess Bride by William Goldman

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our episodes!

To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

Thank you for listening to Stories from the Ashes! This podcast is public so please feel free to share it!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guest: Mary Banducci is an herbalist, forager, and designer of the Foraging Journal.

• Follow her on Instagram at Apothecary Mary

• Check out her post on building A Forager’s Library

• Visit her website for articles, recipes, foraging tips, and more!

• Learn more about her Forager’s Journal here.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you for your support!

Featured books in this episode:

• Chalice by Robin McKinley

• The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman

• A String in the Harp by Nancy Bond

• Galileo and the Stargazers Jim Weiss

• The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis

• Jack Zulu by S.D. and J.C. Smith

• Mismantle Chronicles by M.I. McAllister

• Green Ember series by S.D. Smith

• Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

• Wild Edibles: A Practical Guide to Foraging, with Easy Identification of 60 Edible Plants and 67 Recipes by Sergei Boutenko

• Regional Foraging Series- Workman Publishing

• Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine by Rosalee de la Forêt

• The People’s Home Library by R. C. Barnum

• Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott

• A Weed Is a Flower: The Life of George Washington Carver by Aliki

• George Washington Carver, Scientist by Shirley Graham and George D. Lipscomb

Our conversation gave a great introduction to Hopepunk vs Grimdark: Hope does not disappoint…

Recommended Resources:

• Joette Calabrese- Practical Homeopathy Inc.

• Teach Me Health and Homeopathy Homeschool Curriculum by Paola Brown

• Marshmallow recipe (isn’t Mary’s marshmallow picture mouthwatering?)

• Ambre’s Hummingbird Moth video

• The Next Right Thing podcast

• Purple House Press

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our episodes!

To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guests: S.D. Smith and J.C. Smith, authors (Sam and Josiah).

You can find out more about their new book: Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key, here.

You can learn more about Sam’s Green Ember Series here.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you- we truly appreciate it!

Featured books in this episode:

• Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key by S.D. Smith and J.C. Smith

• The Green Ember series

• Christy by Catherine Marshall

• Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

Thank you for spending time with us! Please join the conversation in the comments below!

• What are some of your favorite books that look at “The way of life vs The way of death”? Or “Greatness vs Goodness”? I’m always looking for more books on those themes for our shelves!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our episodes! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guest: Author/Illustrator Tim Davis. See his portfolio here. Schedule him for a three day school visit here.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you- we truly appreciate it!

Featured books in this episode:

The Tim Davis Mice Books

Mice of the Herring Bone by Tim Davis

Mice of the Nine Lives by Tim Davis

Mice of the Seven Seas by Tim Davis

Mice of the Westing Wind, Book One by Tim Davis

Mice of the Westing Wind, Book Two by Tim Davis

The Island Rules trilogy

The Island Rule by Tim Davis

The Island Rules? by Tim Davis

The Island Rules! by Tim Davis (video and song accompaniment)

Mort the Mushroom (trilogy) by Tim Davis

Mort and the Sour Schemeby Tim Davis

Mort Finds His Roots: Mushroom in the Wildby Tim Davis

Mort’s Circleby Tim Davis

Pirate’s Don’t Change Diapers by Melinda Long

Treasure Islandby Robert Louis Stevenson

Muppet Treasure Island (movie)

The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan (watch free on YouTube)

On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Holes by Louis Sachar

Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by Edith Nesbit

Midsummer’s Nights Dreamby William Shakespeare

Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca (correction from the episode- I (Ambre) said the little Indian boy in the book represented Puck when- duh! he obviously is simply the little Indian boy from the play.)

Much Ado About Baseballby Rajani LaRocca

Thank you for spending time with us! Please join the conversation in the comments below!

Did you read the Mice books as a kid too? Did you know there were five in the original series‽

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our episodes! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you- we truly appreciate it!

Featured books in this episode:

The Magical Drawings of Moonie B. Finch by David McPhail

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key by S.D. and J.C. Smith: Pre-orders open October 4th! Watch for our episode with them in two weeks! (Oct. 10th, 2022)

Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John- Archive copy

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Jen Hill

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

Persuasion by Jane Austen

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon

Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price, DDS

Medallion by Dawn L. Watkins

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

The Bridge by Jeri Massi

Runaway Princess by Milly Howard

Give and Take by Elly Swartz

Max Explains Everything: Soccer Expert by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Deborah Hocking

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

Emma by Jane Austen

Thank you for spending time with us! Please join the conversation in the comments below!

Please share a book that has been formative or influential in your life,

or… Share a book where you felt seen. We’d love to get to know you better!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!) If their review is aired we’ll send them a sticker!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our episodes! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guest: Jamin Still is an artist, author, and illustrator. Find his show schedule, books, and art prints on his website JaminStill.com. His The Artists & Podcast.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you!

Jamin Still Art Calendars release this week! Check back for an update!

Featured books in this episode:

Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening by Jamin Still

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi by Chris Van Allsburg

The Silver Crown by Robert C. O’Brien

Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Agatha Christie mysteries

The Wishes of a Fish King by Douglas Kaine McKelvey, illustrated by Jamin Still

The Avion My Uncle Flew by Cyrus Fisher, reprint illustrated by Jamin Still

Ellen and the Winter Wolves by Jamin Still

Beate Not the Poore Desk: A Writer to Young Writers by Walter Wangerin Jr., illustrated by Jamin Still

Everlasting Is the Past by Walter Wangerin Jr., illustrated by Jamin Still

Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning by Sally Clarkson, illustrated by Jamin Still

Skyward Series by Brandon Sanderson

Green Ember Series by S.D. Smith

Websites and Resources mentioned:

Story Warren

Reshelving Alexandria’s Literary Database

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

Thank you for listening to the Stories from the Ashes podcast . If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guest: Amber O’Neal Johnston of Heritage Mom and author of A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond.

Find a free literary database containing books we discuss on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. To find the affiliate links from this episode please click here. you- we truly appreciate it!

Featured books in this episode:

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cryby Mildred D. Taylor

Their Eyes Were Watching Godby Zora Neale Hurston

A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyondby Amber O’Neal Johnston

Gladiola Garden by Effie Lee Newsome

A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learningby Karen Andreola

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford

The Mystery of the Loch Ness Monsterby Jeannie Bendick

A History of African-American Artists from 1792 to the Presentby Romare Bearden

Websites and Resources mentioned:

Stories of Color: Diverse, multicultural living books

Reshelving Alexandria Literary Catalogue

Heritage Packs: Multicultural Lesson Guidesfrom Heritage Mom

Kids Learning Tube

Do you have any questions for Amber?

What is your favorite hymn?

Do you have a personal story about “Amazing Grace”?

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

Thank you for listening to the Stories from the Ashes podcast . If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Find a free literary database containing books we’ve discussed on the podcast here.

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site.

Thank you- we truly appreciate it!

Featured books in this episode:

Hurry, Hurry, Mary Dear by N. M. Bodecker, illustrated by Erik Blegvad

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Ann Radcliffe as a recommended gothic author

The Haunted Lake by P.J Lynch

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Down Buttermilk Lane by Barbara Mitchell, illustrated by John Sandford

Maple by Lori Nichols

Maple & Willow series by Lori Nichols

Maple & Willow Apart by Lori Nichols

Mousekin’s Golden House by Edna Miller

Mr. Hermit Miser and the Neighborly Pumpkin by Christine Noble Govan (Link is to read for free on Archive)

Christopher’s Garden by Elsa Beskow

Survivor Tree by Marcie Colleen

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman

Saved by the Boats: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 by Julie Gassman *clarification from the episode- the 9/11 water evacuation was second only to the evacuation of Dunkirk

A Map Into The World by Kao Kalia Yang

“Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn--that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness--that season which has drawn from every poet worthy of being read some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling.”

― Jane Austen, Persuasion

Thank you for spending time with us! Please click stars or leave a review! We'd really appreciate it!

Do you have any autumn chapter book recommendations for Ambre?

What are your favorite fall picture books?

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!) If their review is aired we’ll send them a sticker!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Episode Content Considerations:

Miscarriage is discussed.

At the end of the episode we dismiss any kids who have been listening along and Ambre recounts a story from a tv episode that includes brief references to murder, overdose, drug addiction, and infant loss, while addressing the dangers of avoiding processing one’s grief

Find a free literary database containing books we’ve discussed on the podcast here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Thank you- we truly appreciate it!

Featured books in this episode:

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Maybe Tomorrow? (a story about loss, healing, and friendship) by Charlotte Agell

Christy by Catherine Marshall

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Anxious Andy by Adam Ciccio

Violet Shrink by Christine Baldacchino

Give and Take by Elly Swartz

My Own Lightening by Lauren Wolk (sequel to Wolf Hollow)

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Media we discussed in this episode at length:

Previous episode with Val that Amanda references throughout our conversation: 014 Night Wakings, Grief, and the Healing Power of Poetry

Elyse Myers “I just do it scared.”

The six minute Grey’s Anatomy scene Ambre narrates at the end of the episode (here in two three minute parts) about moving through grief. (CCs: Talk of drug addiction and infant loss. Shows raw emotions.)

part 1 part 2

Thank you for spending time with us! Please join the conversation in the comments below!

Do you have any favorite books showing anxiety being handled well for adults?

What are your favorite books that model emotional intelligence for youngsters and teens?

What’s a book you’ve loved that reached you when you needed it in an area of emotional or mental health?

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!) If their review is aired we’ll send them a sticker!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guest: Nicole Cottrell

Stories of Color: a curated source for diverse, multicultural living books

Not Only, But Also: a very mature/adult ears only podcast

Stories of Color Instagram

Find a free literary database containing books we’ve discussed here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site.

Thank you- we truly appreciate your support!

Featured books in this episode:

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by CS Lewis

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants- this young adult version has become available since our conversation, written for ages 12+

The Nickel Boys (Winner 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction): A Novelby Colson Whitehead

The First Blade of Sweetgrass by Suzanne Greenlaw and Gabriel Frey

Books As Windows by May Lamberton Becker

Give and Takeby Elly Swartz

Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinsonby Bette Bao Lord and Marc Simont

Tristan Strong Novelsby Kwame Mbalia

If you enjoy the Stories of Color site, be sure to check out the Reshelving Alexandria Catalogue as well!

Are you reading diverse books?

Do you have a favorite book with diverse characters?

We’d love to hear what you’ve read! Please share some book reviews in the comments!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guest: Valerie Brandt.

Find a free literary database containing books we’ve discussed here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. To find the affiliate links from this episode please click here. Thank you- we truly appreciate it!

Featured books in this episode:

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James (Amanda’s beach read)

Beach Read by Emily Henry- (aVal’s bawdy rom-com beach read)

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

Grown and Flown by Lisa Heffernan Mary Dell Harrington

Adulting: How to Become a Grown-up in 535 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown (Content Considerations: Language)

Sweet People are Everywhere by Alice Walker

The Bargain Bride by Evelyn Sibley Lampman (Ambre also referred to Three Knocks on the Wall and Princess of Fort Vancouver, thoughnot by name)

The Memory Box: A Book About Griefby Joanna Rowland and Thea Baker

The Treasure Box by Dave Keane, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell.

All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living by Morgan Harper Nichols

Life by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel

They All Saw A Cat by Brendan Wenzel

Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

Unbetrothed by Candice Pedraza Yamnitz

Monster in the Hollows (Wingfeather Saga book 3) by Andrew Peterson

Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr: Their lives, their times, their duel by Anna Erskine Crouse and Russell Crouse (a Landmark book)

Thomas Jefferson, His Many Talents by Johanna Johnston

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Almost Nothing, yet Everything: A Book about Waterby Hiroshi Osada, illustrated by Ryoji Arai

A Drop Of Water: A Book of Science and Wonderby Walter Wick

13 Ways to Kill Your Communityby Doug Griffiths (Val mentioned this one in passing but we didn’t get around to discussing it)

Here’s a link to the article Ambre still wants to finish reading on Motherhood as a Hero’s Journey.

We’d love to hear what you’re been reading this summer!

Have any books especially touched you on the topics of grief or mental health? We’d love to hear about them!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Our Guest: Jan McGrath

www.meimeimandarin.weebly.com

www.TellMeAStoryAgain.weebly.com

Find a free literary database containing the books we’ve discussed here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the costs of running this site. Find the affiliate links from this episode please click here. Thank you!

Featured books in this episode:

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

Silas Marner by George Eliot

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

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

Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop, illustrated by Kurt Wiese

The Seven Chinese Brothers by Margaret Mahy

Gai See: What You Can See in Chinatown by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by Yangsook Choi

Little Pear by Eleanor Frances Lattimore and illustrated by Lattimore

Fish in the Air by Kurt Wise

Kite Flying by Grace Lin

Dim Sum for Everyone by Grace Lin

The Legend of the Willow Plate by Alvin R. Tresselt

Empty Pot by Demi

The Greatest Treasure by Demi

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel, illustrated by Blair Lent

To Grandmother's House: A Visit to Old-Town Beijing (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition) by Douglas Keister

Thank You, Meiling (A Manners Children's Book) by Linda Talley, illustrated by Itoko Maeno

Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons In Life, Love, And Language by Deborah Fallows

Here are some other images related to the episode:

Calamityware (Ambre’s red mug)

“The Jasmine Song” a Chinese folk song traditionally known as “Mo Li Hua”

Are you doing a Heritage Thread with your family?

For which country?

We’d love to hear what you’re reading!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Find a free literary database containing the books we’ve discussed here:

Links on our website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the cost of running this site. Thank you for using them and supporting us!

Resources referenced:

HearthRoom Press

Ambleside Online

Living Book Press

Purple House Press

Smidgen Press

Wingspan Board Game

Wild + Free (find a group near you!)

Hamilton the Broadway Musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Naturalists, authors, illustrators and other nature study and agriculturalist influencers from the turn of the century that Kelly covered in her fascinating history lesson:

Anna Botsford Comstock

Liberty Hyde Bailey

John Spenser

Louis Agassiz Fuertes

Books reviewed in this episode:

Featured books:

Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock

The Nature Notebook Series by Anna Comstock

The Comstocks of Cornell―The Definitive Autobiography by Comstock edited by Karen Penders St. Clair

Creating New and Better Plants: Luther Burbank by Paul Bacon

Book on the Inklings still in process by John Hendrix of The Faithful Spy

Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola

Trees At Leisure by Anna Comstock

Jim Arnosky’s books- Secrets of a Wildlife Watcher, Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-watching, Shore Walking, Sketching Outdoors in Autumn, Drawing Life in Motion

We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines

Insects in their World by Su Zan N. Swain

The Story of Spiders by Dorothy Shuttlesworth Illustrated by Su Zan Noguchi Swain

Peterson Guides- the vintage illustrated copies

Creekfinding: A True Story by Jacqueline Briggs Martin illustrated by Claudia McGehee

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran illustrated by Barbara Cooney

The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown

Thank you so much for joining us today! Please, be sure to visit Kelly’s website to find all the wonderful books and Nature Study helps she offers!

We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

What’s your favorite part of nature study?

Any books on the topic you love or recommend?

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Episode Content Consideration:

Ambre uses the word “crap” to mean “stuff” once.

BigThink article: “A home library can have a powerful effect on children”

Study: “Scholarly culture: How books in adolescence enhance adult literacy, numeracy and technology skills in 31 societies”

Rabbit Room Press

Dolly Parton Imagination Library

PJ Library for Jewish Kids

Books reviewed and mentioned in this episode:

Links on the website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the cost of running this site. Thank you!

Featured and Mentioned Books:

Sesame Street Dictionary- 1980

Mr. Men and Little Miss Picture Dictionary

Calvin and Hobbes

Andrew Lang Fairy Tales

Illustrated Junior Library (I think Ambre referred to this as the Junior Illustrated Classics in the episode)

I Touch by Rachel Isadora

Green Ember series by SD Smith

“It will not be so in the Mended Wood”

(coloring page Ambre shared about in her story)

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

My Bookhouse

Childcraft

Young Folks Library

Collier’s Junior Library

Through Golden Windows

Mathematics Illustrated Dictionary by Jeanne Bendick- Ambre much prefers the vintage over the more modern reprint due to the lovely illustrations

How Much and How Many The Story of Weights and Measures by Jeanne Bendick- Ambre much prefers the vintage over the more modern reprint due to the lovely illustrations

Shepp’s Giant Library

The Delphian Course

Beatrix Potter treasury

Thomas the Tank Engine Story Collection by Reverend W. Awdry (red cover)

The Glorious Impossible by Madeleine L'Engle

We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

What is your best tip to starting a home library?

How did you begin?

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Find a free literary database containing the books we’ve discussed here:

Taleah told us all about her free bookstore: Embrace Books. You can follow them on FB here.

Links on the website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they help offset the costs of running this podcast. Thank you!

Books mentioned in this episode:

Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle

Lord of the Rings by Tolkien

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

CS Lewis Space Trilogy

Storm: The SYLO Chronicles #2 by D. J. MacHale

Vasilisa by M.L. Farb

Taleah reads Ambleside Online books aloud on The Enchanted Library Podcast. Please check out what she’s read!

We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Do you give books away? What does that look like for you? Share your experiences below!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews (ending 07/01/2022) we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts.

To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Find a free literary database containing the books we’ve discussed here:

Books reviewed in this episode:

Links on the website are often affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the cost of running this site. Thank you!

Featured books:

Zao’s Tales by J.A. Sommer illustrated by John D. Neiner

The Blue Book of Tales by J.A. Sommer illustrated by John D. Neiner

*Both books release on July 19th and can be pre-ordered today at the links above and below.*

(In this episode Ambre mistakenly uses the word “cliché” while describing the quotability of the text of Zao’s Tales when “maxim” would have been more accurate.)

A book John can’t recall the title of- can you help him out? He recalls it was a kids spy book with possibly a decoder ring on the kid’s hi-top shoes. If you know the book please share it in the comments!

The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I Call it Heresy! by A.W. Tozer

Imagination Redeemed by Gene Veith Jr. and Matthew Ristuccia

Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke

Charlotte Mason's Home Education Series

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (a love or hate series according to John)

Lord of the Rings trilogy

Edith Nesbit books

A few favorite authors of theology: A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, Oswald Chambers

Ambre’s favorite Edith Nesbit reader on Audible is Cathy Dobson- give your ear a few minutes to adjust to her cadence when listening to a sample.

Books and stories mentioned:

Robinson Crusoe (link is to a side by side comparison from Exodus Books)

Gulliver’s Travels

Brer Rabbit stories

Anansi stories

Men of Iron by Howard Pyle

Chronicles of Narnia

Harry Potter

Thank you for joining us today! Don’t forget to pre-order Zao’s Tales!

We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Have you read any of the books we discussed today? Share your reviews below!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews (ending 07/01/2022) we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts.

To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Episode Content Consideration:

Ambre uses the word “sex” in this sentence:“I don’t know of… any YA books that have kids that are 17 and up that don't have sex.” (29:30-30:10)

Listen to the audio only here or on your favorite podcast player!

In this episode Ambre had quickly relocated to the furthest corner of the house to be as far from the unexpected chainsawing outside her house as possible. Her mic didn’t handle the change, or the echochamber of the room, gracefully. Everyone else sounds great but she sounds like she’s in a tin can. On the (understandable) chance you opt out of sitting through her parts, she and Charlesa put together a quick and dirty transcript as an alternative to be read through.

We feel what Val and Charlesa had to share really challenged our thinking in some areas and gave us a great window into the inner workings of small town libraries and transforming a private library into a public library. We really don’t want you to miss this conversation in one form or another!

Find a free literary database containing the books we’ve discussed here:

Books reviewed and mentioned in this episode:

Links on the website are affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the cost of running this site. Thank you!

Fifteen Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids by Rebecca Cohen

Beowulf

Carry a Big Stick: The Uncommon Heroism of Theodore Roosevelt by George Grant

Strenuous American by Alvin F. Harlow

Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agnell

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address by James Daugherty

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner - “I enjoyed this but it wasn’t my favorite. It has some swearing and some lack of sympathy that bothered me. I recommend The False Prince as an alternative.” -Amanda

Program Charlesa recommended: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

Thank you for joining us today! We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Have you read any of the books we discussed today? Leave your review!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews left, we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts! To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Find a free literary database containing the books we’ve discussed here:

Time Sensitive Announcement!

We talk about this at the very end of the episode, but Charlotte Mason's Home Education Series audiobooks are still available to support through Kickstarter! If the goal pre-sells are not reached then the project will not proceed which will be such a loss for the world (I don’t just say that dramatically, I truly believe it).

Please check out the campaign now and pre-order if you can! I’m so looking forward to my dyslexic teen being able to listen to Ourselves when we start reading it this fall and the riches being so much more accessible for her. At the time of this episode airing there are three days left in the campaign.

Anthony is currently running a giveaway on his site to win a hardcover set of books as well as an audiobook set and the giveaway’s open to everyone! So generous! Be sure to enter!

Books reviewed in this episode:

Links on the website are affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the cost of running this site. Thank you!

Charlotte Mason's Home Education Series

The Digging-est Dog by Al Perkins

Lawrence Block crime books (Anthony’s favorites)

Maus by Art Spiegelman

Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust by Loïc Dauvillier (Ambre wasn’t imaging the title after all!)

C. K. Thompson Books

Marco Polo by Manuel Komroff

Book of Marvels by Richard Halliburton

How the Heather Looks: A Joyous Journey to the British Sources of Children's Books by Joan Bodger

Books Mentioned:

Parables from Nature by Mrs. Margaret Gatty

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor by R.D. Blackmore

Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat

Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall

Pharaoh's Boat by David Weitzman

Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

Thank you for joining us today! We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Have you read any of the books we discussed today? Leave your review!

-If your kid/teen has a book they would like to recommend to our community, please submit their brief review to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!) If we share their review we will contact you so you know which episode to find it on.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews (ending 09/01/2022) we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts.

To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Find a free literary database containing the books we’ve discussed here:

Books reviewed in this episode:

Links on the website are affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they greatly help support the cost of running this site. Thank you!

Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom by Ursula Nordstrom,

Leonard S. Marcus (Editor), Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White illustrated by Garth Williams

Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott

The Romance of the Forest by Ann Radcliffe

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe

Eliott Family Trilogyby Elizabeth Goudge

The Bird in the Tree

The Herb of Grace/Pilgrim’s Inn in the USA

The Heart of the Family

The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl

Be Kind by Pat Z. Miller

Nature All Around: Plants by Pamela Hickman illus. by Carolyn Gavin

Nature All Around: Trees by Pamela Hickman illus. by Carolyn Gavin

A Year in Our New Garden by Gerda Muller- since recording we’ve found this title has been republished by a Canadian publisher and is now available on Amazon!

Irena’s Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughn

Edith Cavell by Adèle de Leeuw (Spies of the World series)

The Ark by Margot Benary-Isbert

Rowan Farm by Margot Benary-Isbert

Drawn Together by Minh Le illustrated by Dan Santat

The Thiefby Megan Whalen Turner

More Stories from Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson

A Green and Ancient Light by Frederic S. Durbin

Books mentioned

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder- Correction-Garth Williams illustrated the Little House books, not the Little Women books. Ambre got the “Little” right! ha!

Sonja’s Chickens by Phoebe Wahl

A Year Around the Great Oak by Gerda Muller

Where Do They Go When It Rains?by Gerda Muller

A Circle of Seasons by Gerda Muller

Linnea Books by Lena Anderson

Green Dolphin Street by Elizabeth Goudge

Belinda by Maria Edgeworth

Little Menby Louisa May Alcott

Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

Thank you for joining us today! We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Have you read any of the books we discussed today? Leave your review!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews (ending 07/01/2022) we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts.

To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Watch the episode on YouTube or here on the website:

Find a free literary database containing the books we’ve discussed here:

Books reviewed in this episode:

Links on the website are affiliate links- they don’t cost you any extra to use but they help support the cost of running this site. Thank you!

Fairy Tales collected by Hans Christian Andersen

Jenny Wrenby Dawn L. Watkins

Medallion by Dawn L. Watkins

Arrow by Dawn L. Watkins

Shield by Dawn L. Watkins

Emma by Jane Austen

Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott

Tending the Heart of Virtue by Vigen Guroian

Enchantress from the Stars by Sylvia Engdahl (Surprise! She’s not actually an enchantress- an fyi for those who would otherwise skip this title due to avoiding sorcery.)

Books Mentioned:

Aesop’s Fables by Aesop

Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

No Pets Allowed by Morgan Reed Persun (one of Dawn’s pseudonyms)

A King For Brass Cobweb by Dawn L. Watkins

Very Like A Starby Dawn L. Watkins

Zoli’s Legacy by Dawn L. Watkins

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Bracken Trilogy by Jeri Massi

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

Thank you for joining us today! We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews (ending 07/01/2022) we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts.

To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews (ending 07/01/2022) we will give away a book recommended on one of our podcasts. To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice or in the comments here and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com (please put GIVEAWAY in the subject line)!

-Find a free literary database containing all the books we’ve discussed here:

Books reviewed in this episode:

Links are affiliate links they don’t cost you any extra to use but they help support the cost of running this site-thank you!

Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Julie Morstad (hear how this book was formative for Ambre’s eldest’s world view on personal limitations due to not being “typical”)

The Backyard Goat: An Introductory Guide to Keeping and Enjoying Pet Goats by Sue Weaver

Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats by Jerry Belanger and Sara Thomson Bredesen (Listen to hear which goat book Amanda prefered)

At Our House by Isabel Minhós Martins, illustrated by Madalena Matoso

Grow Kind by Jon Lasser, illustrated by Sage Foster-Lasser

In Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson, illustrated by Patrice Barton

More Stories from Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson, illustrated by Patrice Barton

Ernestine’s Milky Way by Kerry Madden-Lunsford, illustrated by Emily Sutton

-Kid’s Review: Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards (in the episode, Ambre incorrectly identified the author as just “Julie Andrews”)

The Big Bath House by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey Zhang

Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias, illustrated by Tracy Subisak

Dolch Readers such as Dog Pals by Edward W. Dolch and Marguerite P. Dolch, illustrated by Fran Matera

A Year Around the Great Oak or Around the Oak by Gerda Muller

Where Do They Go When it Rains? by Gerda Muller

The Keeper of Wild Words by Brooke Smith, illustrated by Madeline Kloepper

Sonya’s Chickens by Phoebe Wahl

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Chewy Louie by Howie Schneider (and an update on Amanda’s Great Pyrenees puppy)

Zhang Heng and the Incredible Earthquake Detector by Randel McGee

The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Photographs by Fiona Robinson

The Emperor’s Riddle by Kat Zhang

The Memory of Forgotten Things by Kat Zhang

Books Mentioned:

Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin

Dandelion Cottage by Carroll Watson Rankin

Thank you for joining us today! We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

-If your kids/teens have a book they would like to pitch to our community, please submit their brief reviews to StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com. Include their first name, last initial, and age. Thank you! (It’s absolutely fine to submit a review for a book we reviewed already in an episode- we want to hear their voices!)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Wherein we discuss the benefits of doing a reading challenge, why you should not bite off more than you can chew, and how to find joy, not limitations in a reading challenge.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 5 reviews (ending 07/01/2022) we will give away a book recommended in one of our podcasts. To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com (please put GIVEAWAY in the subject line)!

Find a free literary database containing all the books we’ve discussed here:

Books reviewed in this episode:

Links are affiliate links they don’t cost you any extra to use but they help support the cost of running this site-thank you!

The Awakening of Miss Prim by Natalia Sanmartín Fenollera

Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson (not set in South America, Ambre!)

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout (Ambre’s light read for summer)

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca

Adventures With Waffles by Maria Parr

The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore

Medallion by Dawn L. Watkins

Shield: A Prequel to Medallion by Dawn L. Watkins

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Other reading challenges we’ve used/recommend and mentioned in this episode:

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

Literary Life “2 for ‘22” Reading Challenge

Goodreads 2022 Challenge

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Join us as we speak with author M.L. Farb as she shares her life experiences and writing processes that went into the creation of her fantastic Historical High Fantasy and Fairy Tales. In our spoiler free episode we will discuss our personal favorites (so far!) and will hear which series Maria is currently writing a new book for. Join us!

She’s one of our top “Authors you should be reading and probably aren’t yet”.

Find a free literary database containing all the books we discuss here:

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: For every 10 reviews we will give away a book recommended in one of our podcasts. To enter, leave a review on your podcast player of choice and email StoriesFromTheAshesPodcast@gmail.com (please put GIVEAWAY in the subject line)!

Books reviewed in this episode:

Links are affiliate links they don’t cost you any extra to use but they help support the cost of running this site-thank you!

The King's Trial: The King Trials Book One by M.L. Farb

Fourth Sister: Hearth and Bard Tales by M.L. Farb

“The Princess Who Never Laughed” -The Princess Who Never Smiled, The Unsmiling Tsarevna or The Tsarevna who Would not Laugh is a Russian folk fairy tale collected by Alexander Afanasyev in Narodnye russkie skazki, as tale number 297 (thank you, Wikipedia)

Heartless Hette: Hearth and Bard Tales by M.L. Farb

Vasilisa: Hearth and Bard Tales by M.L. Farb

The King's Shadow: The King Trials Book Two by M.L. Farb

Books and Authors mentioned or briefly covered:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl

Grass Beyond the Mountains by Richmond P. Hobson Jr.

Corrie TenBoom's books

The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop

Jerry Spinelli

Victor Hugo

Ralph Moody

CS Lewis

JRR Tolkien

John Flanagan

Linda Sue Park

Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Calvin and Hobbes book by Bill Watterson

Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat: A Calvin and Hobbes Collectionby Bill Watterson

Shakespeare’s plays

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

When I was a Pie by M.L. Farb

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com

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Ambre is the caretaker of the Reshelving Alexandria Community on Facebook. Amanda is Ambre’s real life friend and together we are lead reviewers and curators of the RA Literary Database.  We love discussing books and life together. We love to share stories in all their forms because stories have the power to form and change hearts and minds.

Find a literary database of all the books we discuss here at www.ReshelvingAlexandria.com

Watch the video version of the podcast on the Stories from the Ashes YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP5Vi22aJGI

Books discussed:

Rectangle Time by Pamela Paul, illustrated by Becky Cameron

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Give and Take by Elly Swartz

The King’s Trial by M. L. Farb

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.reshelvingalexandria.com