Author Archives: heatherkauffmanpeters

Episode 112: Summer Vacation Books

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The Mamas are here to help you pack for vacation with books for little ones, middle graders, young adults, grown ups and weirdos. They’ve got books about canoeing goats, Hawaiian folklore, mind-controlling orchids, sirens, witches and more—perfect for reading on the beach, in your backyard or in Bigfoot’s hut in the Pacific Northwest. Grab one of the Mamas recommendations and escape reality for the summer. Margie and Heather will be right there with you.

Book Chat

Picture Book: 

Goats Afloat by Lezlie Evans and illustrated by Julia Patton 

Middle Grade Books:

How to Tell a True Story by Tricia Springstubb

The Invisible Wild by Nikki Van de Car

Young Adult Books:

Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer

When the Bones Sing by Ginny Meyers Sain

Grown Up Books:

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Eat the ones you love by Sarah Maria Griffin

The Sirens and Weyward by Emilia Hart

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man by Jess Squanto

Culture Creep: Notes on the Pop Apocalypse by Alice Bolin

Episode 111: Staying Active with Activity Books

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The Mamas get cooking in episode 111, serving up fun ideas to keep you and your kiddos active over summer break. From gluing 3-D toys to grilling up your veggies, the book chat is filled with a variety of resources to help prevent brain drain while you’re on vacay.

Book Chat:

  • My First Town, a Building Block Book by Merrill Rainey
  • Tasting History by Max Miller
  • Dear Writer, Pep Talks and Practical Advice for the Creative Life by Maggie Smith
  • The Essential Cottage Cookbook: Simply Delicious Recipes for Cottages, Cabins, and Wherever Your Travels Take You by Andrea Buckett
  • The Dessert Course, the Hows and Whys of Baking by Benjamin Delwiche, aka Benjamin the Baker
  • Sebze: Vegetarian Recipes from My Turkish Kitchen by Ozlem Warren
  • Crocheting the National Parks: 20 Patterns for Accessories, Home Décor, Plushies, and More Inspired by Natural Wonders by Krista Ann
  • Cozy Crime Scene Coloring book by Mira Luna and Jojo Weirdo
  • Canton Cover-up Coloring Book 

Episode 110: Welcome to the Wilderness

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Episode 110: Welcome to the Wilderness

Fan-girling over a debut Young Adult novel, the Mamas eagerly get lost in the wilderness with a sisterhood of feral girls during the latest book chat. The Mamas are swept away by the twisty, slippery, primeval magic of the life-wrecking (in a good way) book. Is it fantasy or tragedy? The Mamas can’t agree but they are here for it.

Book Chat:

The Wilderness of Girls by Madeline Claire Franklin

Episode 109: Graphic Novels 4 Kids

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The Mamas are once again surprised by the awesomeness of graphic novels, geeking out over middle grade (ages 8-12) and YA (ages 13-17) books that are so engaging they can’t stop gushing about them. If you’re looking for great fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fiction, informational text, and memoir graphic novels that make perfect gifts or additions to the classroom, the Mamas have several to add to your lists.   

Book Chat:

The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

K is in trouble by Gary Clement

Visitations by Corey Egbert

Coven by Soman Chainani and Joel Gennari

Episode 108: Happy Poetry Month

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The Mamas celebrate National Poetry Month on the 108th episode. They aren’t happy about it but they do it, that’s now much they love literature and their listeners. Join the Mamas as they offer questionable reviews of middle grade (ages 8-12) books in verse. At the end, Heather embarrasses herself by geeking out over a picture book. Feel free to make fun of her, Margie certainly does. 

Book Chat:

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu

Unsinkable Cayenne by Jessica Vitalis

And Then, Boom by Lisa Fipps

Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees by Michelle Schaub and illustrator Anne Lambelet

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Episode 107: YA, YA, YA, for Y.A.

Y.A. all day with the Two Lit Mamas! In this episode, they’ve got four new books for teens and young adults, including a novella, an historical fiction novel, and two mysteries. But first, the Mamas reminisce about YA in the 80s, sharing books they thought were gnarly and grody. Be there or be square. 

Book Chat:     

Errant Roots (novella) by Sondra Taylor

Truth, Lies and the Questions in Between by L.M. Elliott

Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine

Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch by Codie Crowley 

Links:

10 Cult Books that Defined Teen Girlhood in the ‘80s by Heather Pierce

10 Cult Books That Defined Teen Girlhood in the ’80s

Episode 106: Margie March

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For Margie March, the Mamas feed their inner witchy women with fictional books for grown ups centered around witches, cozy horror, and retired assassins, inspired by real women’s stories – a tribute to Women’s History Month.   

Book Chat:

The Book of Witching by CJ Cooke

In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn 

Episode 105: Celebrate Middle Grade

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In this episode, the Mamas are in their happy place with a celebration of Middle Grade books. Middle Grade March has become a staple on the Two Lit Mamas podcast and the Mamas bring it once again with Middle Grade books (ages 8-12) set in other countries and ones that explore difficult times in our history as well as ones that honor our beloved National Parks. They even have a Middle Grade book for middle aged ladies! The 80s vibes are undeniable.

Book Chat:

Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi 

We Built this City by Cat PatrickA Brush with Magic by Flora Ahn 

National Park Mystery Series by Aaron Johnson (book 2) 

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook for Kids by David Borgenicht and Justin Heimberg

Kid Musicians True Tales of Childhood from Entertainers, Songwriters, and Stars by Robin Stevenson, illustrations by Allison Steinfeld

Book Update:

The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie

City Spies, London Calling by James Ponti

Moonleapers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Episode 104: Black Authors Rising

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The Mamas have consulted their star charts and found black authors rising! In celebration of black history month, Margie and Heather fangirl over three rollicking Middle Grade adventure books (for ages 8-12), one historical fiction and two fantasy novels that highlight the black experience while entertaining readers of all ages. Then Margie sets the Handmaids Tale aside to make room for another dystopian story that hits a little too close to home, The Parable of the Sower by the queen of sci-fi, Octavia Butler.

Book Chat:

Kwame Crushes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes

The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon

Episode 103: Escape into Books!

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The Mamas are encouraging everyone to show themselves some love this Valentine’s Day by escaping into books. Heather offers up two middle grade (ages 8-12) mystery books, one silly and one scary. While Margie highlights three grown up books for weirdos (her words) that examine motherhood from the bog to the grave and beyond. 

Book Chat :

Death! By Narhwal! By Alex T. Smith (Middle Grade)

It’s Watching by Lindsay Currie (Middle Grade)

The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister (Grown Up Book)

The Forbidden Territory of a Terrifying Woman by Molly Lynch (Grown Up Book)

My Murder by Katie Williams (Grown Up Book)