Episode 13—Tickle Your Funny Bone
Humor and joke books provide valuable literacy skill practice, and we’re not foolin’! Emily yucks it up with kids’ humorist Mike Artell and explores three wacky books sure to get your kids reading, speaking, and laughing out loud.
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Published March 31, 2009

Episode 12—Celebrating Women Brave and Strong
Celebrate Women’s History Month by checking out these books about two exceptional but nearly-forgotten women — Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen and Brave Harriet: The First Woman to Fly the English Channel.
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Published February 24, 2009

Episode 11—A Tribute to Abraham Lincoln
In honor of President Lincoln’s bicentennial this year, Emily presents three very different books about Lincoln and hosts a roundtable discussion with the authors of these books to delve deeper into Lincoln's remarkable life.
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Published February 4, 2009

Episode 10—Alphabet Books for All Ages
Alphabet books can be used not just to teach young children their letters, but also as a springboard for older elementary students to learn about specific topics. Find alphabet books to inspire and educate the entire family in this episode.
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Published December 18, 2008

Episode 9—Fractured Fairy Tales
Tired of the same old books? Try on these “fractured” tales for a fun twist on familiar stories. Featured books include Rapunzel’s Revenge, Bubba the Cowboy Prince, and Petite Rouge.
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Published November 25, 2008

Episode 8—Guys Read
Get the guy in your life excited about books with these great suggestions for boy readers.
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Published November 5, 2008

Episode 7—All About Elections
Bring your children together during this fractious election season to learn about the electoral system, a groundbreaking lady way ahead of her time, and some truly wacky presidential behavior.
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Published October 2, 2008

Episode 6—A Peek into Amelia's Notebook
Girls and boys, young and old, will all identify with the spunky heroine of these fictional journals. Emily chats with a couple of sisters about two books in the Amelia’s Notebook series and even the grown-up Amelia herself, author-illustrator Marissa Moss.
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Published September 3, 2008

Episode 5—Back to School
Help prepare your kids for a return to the classroom with these great books and expert kid tips about adjusting to a new school. Suggested books include Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little and Speak to Me (And I Will Listen Between the Lines).
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Published August 7, 2008

Episode 4—Summer Adventures
Summer is here! Emily and guests recommend the perfect books to take along on your vacation. Suggested books include the first installment of The Penderwicks series and A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever.
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Published June 24, 2008

Episode 3—Delicious Summer Treats
Can't take the summer heat? Get into the kitchen! Emily and guests explore a number of ways to get children reading and writing recipes and having fun with food. Suggested books include The Spatulatta Cookbook and Fairy Tale Feasts.
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Published June 5, 2008

Episode 2—Playful Poetry Books to Share
In this episode, Emily and guest Sylvia Vardell explore fun ways to read poetry with children. Suggested books include I'll Read to You, You Read to Me, From the Bellybutton of the Moon, and Love That Dog.
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Published May 2, 2008

Episode 1—Celebrating the Earth
Every day is Earth Day! Emily shares her story of children inspired by The Lorax and how they might take action with 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do To Save the Earth. Emily also explores science and nature activities with guest Sharon Betty and The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming.
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Published April 2, 2008

Episode 14 —Teen Literature and Technology
In this episode, you’ll hear about books that “break the rules of writing” by telling stories in the form of emails, blog entries, and instant messages.  Also featured are books that raise questions about the risks of online interactions and the reasons why teens go public with online writing. 
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Published April 30, 2009

Episode 13 — Gay and Lesbian Characters in YA Literature
Tune in to hear about the many different ways in which contemporary authors are including gay, lesbian, and transgender characters in their novels for teens, and listen for recommendations of new as well as classic gay, lesbian, and transgender titles. 
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Published March 30, 2009

Episode 12 — A Conversation with Laurie Halse Anderson
Over the past ten years, Laurie Halse Anderson has gained the respect and admiration of adults and teens across the country for her moving portrayals of the teenage experience. In this episode, Laurie talks about her newest book, Wintergirls. She also reads a poem she wrote in honor of the tenth anniversary of her award-winning first novel, Speak.
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Published February 26, 2009

Episode 11 — A Guide to Teen Book Awards
Every year at the end of January, the American Library Association announces the winners of its awards for excellence in children’s and young adult literature.  This episode will introduce you to the newest winning titles as well as to ways of thinking about book awards as tools for navigating the world of books for teens.
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Published February 4, 2009

Episode 10 — Celebrating the African American Read-In
Tune in for recommendations of both old and new titles by distinguished African American authors who write for teens.  Featured books range from historical novels to contemporary explorations of African American life in both urban and suburban settings.
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Published December 22, 2008

Episode 9 — A Conversation with John Green
In the three novels he's written so far, John provides readers with smart characters, humorous situations, and deeply philosophical themes.  Tune in to hear John discuss why he writes for teens, what he believes readers can gain from their English classes, and some of the thinking behind his newest book, Paper Towns.
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Published December 3, 2008

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Episode 7 —Making Sense of Series Books
Series books provide a particular kind of reading enjoyment for teens. This episode offers insight into the different kinds of series books out there, followed by recommendations of truly memorable series and companion books that will hook teen readers and stand the test of time.
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Published September 26, 2008

Episode 6 —The Post-9/11 Landscape
Teen readers will encounter page-turning suspense and hard-hitting social commentary in these books exploring the political and cultural landscape of our post-9/11 world. Recommendations include current fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels.
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Published August 27, 2008

Episode 5—Back to School Stories
As teens and preteens prepare to go back to school, recommend a book such as Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl that features the settings and situations of school. Adolescent readers will have plenty to relate to, and these books can spark valuable conversations about their attitudes toward school and important social issues.
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Published July 30, 2008

Episode 4—Amazing Adventures
Adventure stories tend to share common elements such as exotic settings and courageous characters, but each adventure is as unique as the teen and preteen readers who enjoy adventure novels. In this episode, Scott will share a wide range of diverse adventures, including Geraldine McCaughrean's The White Darkness.
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Published June 30, 2008

Episode 3—Life's Journeys: Help along the Way
Adolescent readers may already be familiar with the important roles that mentors play in their lives and in books and movies (such as Surf's Upand Star Wars). Tap into teen and preteen readers' interest in adolescent-mentor relationships with Walter Mosley's 47 and several other engaging books and films.
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Published June 2, 2008

Episode 2—Teen Time Travel
Readers with an interest in science fiction—or those who are simply curious about what the future may hold—will surely find something they like in this episode. Scott discusses Neal Shusterman’s novel Unwind and five other books, all set in the future, that you’ll want to recommend to adolescent readers.
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Published April 25, 2008

Episode 1—Teen Identity and Tough Situations
In this episode, Scott discusses the graphic novel American Born Chinese as well as five other recommended titles by a diverse array of authors. Each book explores characters who struggle to know when to stay true to themselves in the face of a challenging situation—or when to compromise, change, and grow.
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Published April 2, 2008