Tag Archives: picture books

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 91: Love for Libraries

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The Mamas are headed to the library to kick off summer right with books set in their favorite public space. After fangirling over cherished library memories, the Mamas chat about Middle Grade books (for ages 8-12) where, in one school library, fictional villains jump out of books and, in another school library, books are banned until a secret library is created by kid heroes. Then Heather shares new picture books that will get little ones excited for summer library programs. And, of course, Margie has a grown up book set in a small town library where a serial killer is hiding out. It’s always murder with her (insert eye roll – wait, maybe don’t roll your eyes at Margie, might not be safe).

If you’re a fan of libraries and librarians, check out this episode!
(pun intended)

Book Chat:

Picture Books

Middle Grade Books

Grown Up Book

Episode 83: Hot Off the Presses

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The Mamas have burned their little mom fingers to bring you the hottest new books for 2024. From grown up books in the book chat to picture books in the Pick 6, the Mamas are sharing the latest books that grabbed them in a world with so many books and too little time. What do you think of their tastes? Too weird? According to Margie, that’s what the Mamas are here for! Heather can’t disagree. 

Book Chat: New Releases for Grown Ups

The Fetishist by Katherine Min

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins


Pick 6: New Picture Books

Treehouse Town by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Charlie Mylie

Not a Monster by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez illustrated by Laura Gonzalez

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by by David LaRochelle illustrated by Lian Cho

Today is For You by Sally Lloyd-Jones illustrated by Kevin W’aldron

Habitats: a Journey with Nature by Hannah Pang, illustrated by Izobel Lundie 

Teeny-Weeny Unicorn by Shawn Harris 



Show links:

Nowhere Bookshop

Episode 57: Holiday Gift Guide, Part 1

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Giftmas and the Mamas are here for it with board book, picture book, chapter book, and activity book recommendations. Grab a hot toddy and fill your shopping cart while sharing a few laughs with your two BFFs.

Board Books

  1. Oink I’m a Pig and Roar I’m a Dinosaur by Merril Rainey
  2. This is a Book of Shapes by Kenneth Kraegel
  3. Rainy Days by Deborah Kerbel and Miki Sato
  4. Moon: A Peek-Through Board Book by Britta Teckentrup
  5. Odd Birds, Meet Nature’s Weirdest Flock by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Gareth Lucas

Activity Books

  1. The Highlights Books of Things to…
  2. Life Skills for Kids: How to Cook, Clean, Make Friends, Handle Emergencies, Set Goals, Make Good Decisions, and Everything in Between by  Karen Harris
  3. Edible Craft Kids’ Cookbook Ages 4-8 by Charity Mathews
  4. Upcycle It Crafts for Kids ages 8-12: Fun and Useful Projects to Recycle and Reimagine by Jennifer Perkins
  5. Brain Games Science books: Kitchen Science Experiments, Outdoor Science Experiments, Engineering Science Experiments

Picture Books

  1. Sunday Pancakes by Maya Tatsukawa
  2. The Path by Bob Staake
  3. Alphabedtime by Susanna Leonard Hill and Betsy Snyder
  4. Here We Come by Janna Matthies and Christine Davenier
  5. Three Little Vikings by Bethan Woollvin

Chapter Books

  1. Grumpy Monkey Freshly Squeezed by Suzanne Lang
  2. The Investigators series by John Patrick Green
  3. Max Meow series by John Gallagher
  4. The Agent Moose Series by Mo O’Hara and Jess Bradley
  5. Waffles and Pancake and the Castronauts by Drew Brockington

Join us next episode for Holiday Gift Guide Part 2: book recs for Middle Graders and Teens. 

Episode 12: Gift Guide Part 1, Picture & Chapter Books

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Happy Holidays! The mamas flipped the script this episode to bring you their Pick 6 gift guides upfront. Not surprisingly, the opinionated broads have gobs of recommendations for their favorite 2020 picture books and chapter books so, get out your quills and parchment paper and let the mamas help kickstart your holiday shopping.

Heather’s 2020 Picture Book Faves

1. Over and Under the Rainforest by Kate Messner, art by Christopher Silas Neal

2. Vote for our Future by Margaret McNamara, art by Micah Player

3. On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex

4. The Keeper of Wild Words by Brooke Smith, by Madeline Kloepper

5. Soaked by Abi Cushman

6. We Walk Through the Forest by Lisa Ferland, art by Yana Popova

Heather’s Fave Diverse Picture Books

1. Blue Cat by Charlie Eve Ryan

2. What I Like Most by Mary Murphy, art by Zhu Cheng-Liang

3. Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, art by Juana Martinez-Neal

4. La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya, art by Juana Martinez-Neal

5. Crown, an Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, art by Gordon C. James

6. Mae Among the Starts by Roda Ahmed, art by Stasia Burrington

Margie’s Fave Chapter Book Series

1. Mac B Kid Spy Series by Mac Barnett, art by Mike Lowery

2. Mia Mayhem Series by Kara West, art by Leeza Hernandez

3. Big Foot and Little Foot Series by Ellen Potter, art by Felicita Sala

4. Pocket Pirates by Chris Mould

5. Sam Wu is Not Afraid Of Series by Kate and Kevin Tsang 

6. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Chapter Book Series 

Other resources for book recommendations:

Imagination Soup

Afoma Umesi All My Beautiful Things

Colby Sharp

Avery & Augustine

From the Mixed-Up Files

Kidlit411