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  • 193 – The Star Spangled Banner Explains Why Americans Love Big Flags

    193 – The Star Spangled Banner Explains Why Americans Love Big Flags
    2025/07/04
    Here’s the back story about how Francis Scott Key came to be trapped on a boat in Baltimore harbor for 25 hours, waiting to see if in the morning . . . the star-spangled banner would still be there!
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    9 分
  • 192 – Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean

    192 – Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean
    2025/07/03
    Here’s a reading of the moderately racy, earliest printed version of Jack and the Beanstalk. There’s nothing really dirty in here, but please listen to it on your own before deciding to share it with kids. This story, first printed in 1734 in a wild collection of funny stories called “Round About Our Coal Fire, … Continue reading "192 – Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean"
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    34 分
  • 191 – Juliet and Romeo is Truly Tragic

    191 – Juliet and Romeo is Truly Tragic
    2025/07/02
    Taking Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy and turning it into a Gen Z musical was . . . a mistake. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s best known plays and a rite of passage for high school students. Shakespeare is always up for reinterpretation, but sometimes moviemakers get a little carried away. Find out why … Continue reading "191 – Juliet and Romeo is Truly Tragic"
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    11 分
  • 190 – Take Me Out to the Ball Game Sing Along

    190 – Take Me Out to the Ball Game Sing Along
    2025/06/16
    Enough of you expressed interest in a sing along, so let’s do it! Here’s how you can participate: And here is the backing track video to help you sing along: Downloads: Lead sheet for “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” MP3 download of the backing track
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    8 分
  • 189 – The LGBTQ+ Books Before the Supreme Court

    189 – The LGBTQ+ Books Before the Supreme Court
    2025/06/16
    A fight over picture books happened in the highest court of the United States. Government run schools in Montgomery County, Maryland, made nine LGBTQ+ picture books a mandatory part of the English curriculum for preschoolers and elementary aged children. Hundreds of parents objected, as they previously had the right to be notified about these books … Continue reading "189 – The LGBTQ+ Books Before the Supreme Court"
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    36 分
  • 188 – Be Nice to Hermione

    188 – Be Nice to Hermione
    2025/06/03
    HBO has announced the actors playing the three leads of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger in its new adaptation of the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling. I had big problems with their casting choice for Snape, as it deviates too far from the text, changing the character and introducing themes to … Continue reading "188 – Be Nice to Hermione"
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    10 分
  • 187 – Matt Walsh’s Children’s Book Has Sparked a Lawsuit

    187 – Matt Walsh’s Children’s Book Has Sparked a Lawsuit
    2025/05/28
    Not all picture books are for children. Joke books for grownups are a lot of fun, but some authors use “children’s books” to fight political and cultural battles. While I support the rights of authors to publish anything they like so long as no laws are broken, I don’t approve of using children or children’s … Continue reading "187 – Matt Walsh’s Children’s Book Has Sparked a Lawsuit"
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    12 分
  • 186 – Your Adorable Star Wars Stories

    186 – Your Adorable Star Wars Stories
    2025/05/27
    I asked you to share what it was like for you when you found out that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker’s father, and you did NOT disappoint! The fact that so many strangers were able to share similar experiences is proof of the staying power of Star Wars as a great story — mediocre modern … Continue reading "186 – Your Adorable Star Wars Stories"
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    15 分