10 episodes

The Children’s Literature Podcast is a grown-up discussion of children’s books, aimed not at kids but at grown-up book lovers, teachers, parents, and maybe even a few savvy teenagers. This podcast looks into the background and cultural context of a story, helping educators and parents to deliver deeper understanding to the kids they teach. With each episode you’ll find lessons, activities, and fun that can bring a story to life whether it’s being read at home or taught in the classroom.

The Children's Literature Podcast T.Q. Townsend

    • Education
    • 4.8 • 12 Ratings

The Children’s Literature Podcast is a grown-up discussion of children’s books, aimed not at kids but at grown-up book lovers, teachers, parents, and maybe even a few savvy teenagers. This podcast looks into the background and cultural context of a story, helping educators and parents to deliver deeper understanding to the kids they teach. With each episode you’ll find lessons, activities, and fun that can bring a story to life whether it’s being read at home or taught in the classroom.

    St. George and the Dragon

    St. George and the Dragon

    We went to the St. George’s Day celebrations in Leicester City to have some fun and learn a little bit about the very ancient story in which St. George slays a dragon to save a city from its really, really bad breath. Hear the original tale and find out why it still has good ideas to teach children today, even if it is very ancient and unfamiliar in some ways.

    Are the parents in the story terrible? Why is St. George so cool? And what does this story have to do with Taylor Swift?

    Translation of Chapter 56, “”De Sancto Gerogio” from the Legenda Aura: Vulgo Historia Lombardica Dicta by Jacobus de Voragine

    by T.Q. Townsend

    George was a Roman soldier originally from Greece, who arrived in a city named Silena, which was in the North African province of Libya. Next to the city there was an enormous lake, and in it lurked a horrible dragon. Anyone who was foolish enough to attack the dragon would just end up running away . . . or being eaten. The dragon’s breath was so foul that whenever it came near the city, anyone who breathed it would be infected and fall down dead.

    To keep the dragon from coming to the city and killing everyone, the people would put two sheep outside the walls every day. But pretty soon, the people of Silena started to run out of sheep. So they started putting out just one sheep, and a child. They drew lots to see which sons and daughters would be given to the dragon, but soon enough only one child was left: the only daughter of the king.

    At first the king refused to give up his beloved daughter, saying, “Take away all my gold and silver, and half my kingdom, but don’t take my little girl!” Well, then the townsfolk were pretty annoyed, and they shouted back:

    “Look, King, why are you offering to give up your gold and silver now, after all of our children are dead? How come you only want to save YOUR daughter? Unless you give your daughter to the dragon like everybody else, we will throw you in your house, lock the door, and set it on fire.”

    The princess then began to weep, and the King turned to his daughter, saying, “Alas, my sweet little daughter, what shall I do? What shall I say? I had hoped to see you grow up and get married one day.”

    Then he turned to the people and said, “Can I have eight days with my daughter to say goodbye?”

    The people said, “Well, all right.”

    After eight days had passed the people came back in great anger, saying, “That dragon’s breath is LITERALLY killing us. Why are you letting us die just to protect your daughter?

    Then the king saw that he could not save the princess. So he gave her fine royal robes to wear. Then he threw his arms around her and with tears running down his face said, “Alas, my sweetest daughter, I thought that one day I would be able to hug your children and help look after them as they grew up, but now you are going to be devoured by a dragon. Alas for me, my sweet darling. I would have invited great princes to your wedding, given you a palace decorated with pearls and filled with the music of drums and organs. But now you go to be devoured by a dragon.”

    The king kissed her one last time and then let her go, saying, “Oh, my daughter, I wish I had died before this day so that I did not have to lose you like this.”

    Then the princess fell at her father’s feet and asked him for a blessing. Her father blessed her with many tears, and then the princess bravely made her way to the lake. Just then George happened to be riding by, and when he saw the weeping girl he asked her what was wrong.

    The princess only answered, “Noble young man, get on your horse quickly and get out of here, or you will die with me.”

    But George answered, “Don’t be afraid, little one, but tell me, what are you doing here with the entire city watching?”

    She replied, “I can see that you are a kind young man...

    • 18 min
    "Lancelot and Elaine" in Anne of Green Gables

    "Lancelot and Elaine" in Anne of Green Gables

    Tennyson’s poem “Lancelot and Elaine” plays a huge part in the plot of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne and her friends decide to act out the scene where the Lady of Shalott dies and floats downriver to Camelot, where the court of King Arthur mourn her. However, Anne learns the hard way that life is more hilariously imperfect than the romanticized fictional world she admires so much.

    Find out more about this poem and why it was such a big deal in the 19th century, inspiring painters to revisit the subject of Elaine of Astolat over and over again. You’ll also learn that, although fads themselves change, teenagers really don’t. Anne and her friends would have had feelings about this poem that are very similar to how teens today feel about their own popular culture.

    • 13 min
    "Bingen on the Rhine" in Anne of Green Gables

    "Bingen on the Rhine" in Anne of Green Gables

    Anne of Green Gables features a LOT of poetry. The book is set in the 1880’s, and back then teenagers would carefully select poems to recite to one another in the way that teenagers a few decades ago used to select songs to include in a mix tape.

    “Bingen on the Rhine” is a beautiful poem by Caroline Norton, a writer and women’s rights campaigner who is so fascinating in her own right that her story could fill a hundred books. Gilbert Blythe chose to recite her poem in front of Anne Shirley – and every other kid at school – because it was one of the only ways he had to express to her his deep regret at having offended her, and his deep hope that she might one day forgive him.

    Activity: Caroline Norton

    Caroline Norton was a very important figure in the early battle for women’s legal rights. She was trapped in an unhappy marriage to a cruel and controlling man, who confiscated the money she earned from her writing and kept her own children away from her. She worked hard to raise this issue with the British parliament, which eventually passed laws that granted women the same legal rights as men when it came to property ownership, divorce, and child custody.

    Students can research Caroline Norton’s life and the important social and legal reforms she worked so hard to achieve. It’s especially important for them to understand how these early efforts made the later campaign for women’s suffrage possible.

    Activity: Memorize and Recite a Poem

    Students can select a poem to research, memorize, and perform for others. The poem could be serious or humorous. It could tell a story or be more abstract. Poems should be selected to convey a special meaning to the audience. After the performance, have students ask audience members if they can guess the reason the poem was selected.

    • 19 min
    Sold a Story is BACK!

    Sold a Story is BACK!

    BOOK DRAMA ALERT! The podcast Sold a Story is back after more than a year. This show did some great reporting on just why so many American kids aren’t learning to read – and which literacy gurus and for-profit publishers are behind the problem.

    I had to put out a quick response to this episode because I truly believe this show is that important. This is journalism at its finest – investigating real problems that affect ordinary people. Find out what I noticed in this episode, especially why this whole thing looks more like a religious scandal than an ordinary education debate.

    I’ll keep reviewing future installations of Sold a Story, letting listeners know what I think about how parents and teachers can advocate for better literacy education for children.

    • 5 min
    THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PODCAST

    THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PODCAST

    THIS IS NO LONGER THE CHILDREN’S LITERATURE PODCAST!! BECAUSE READING IS FOR LOSERS!!!! THIS IS NOW THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PODCAST!!! LISTEN HERE OR WATCH ON YOUTUBE. OR DON’T. WE DON’T CARE!!!

    IN THIS EPISODE, FIND OUT THE BEST WAYS TO KICK PEOPLE, HOW TO CRIME BETTER, AND WHY BEING RUDE IS THE BEST!!!!!!!

    • 3 min
    Music in Anne of Green Gables

    Music in Anne of Green Gables

    Lucy Maud Montgomery carefully reconstructed the pop culture of the 1880’s when she wrote Anne of Green Gables including the music that teenagers were wild about. While singing is referenced dozens of times in the book, just three songs are actually named, and they were all real songs!



    Activity: Learn one of Anne’s Favorite Songs

    Three songs are named in Anne of Green Gables, and they were all popular sentimental ballads. You can find the sheet music for these songs online in the following archives:

    “Nelly in the Hazel Dell” by George Root (using the pseudonym Wurzel)

    “Far Above the Daisies” by George Cooper and Harrison Millard

    “My Home on the Hill” by W.C. Baker

    Learn one or more of these songs and have a performance! You could try to re-create the song as it is performed in Anne of Green Gables, or you could reinterpret it in your own style.

    • 14 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
12 Ratings

12 Ratings

Jharer ,

Enjoyable for adults and kids

I’ve enjoyed listening to this podcast with. D without my children. It’s great for book referrals and to learn more about books I’ve enjoyed previously. My kids especially enjoy cohost Chloë and her insights!

Natural Beauty Fitness ,

BTS for Books

This podcast is so wonderful! Each podcast is wonderfully researched so you can get the full context of each book discussed.

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