All-of-a-Kind Podcast

Merav Hoffman and Batya Wittenberg
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Books
  • Monthly Series

A look back at the beloved books and the family that inspired them.

  1. Episode 1

    The one where Sarah loses her library book.

    The one where Sarah loses her library book! Sarah can't find her library book. She's loaned it to her friend and it's gone. Mama encourages the girls to go to the library and make things right. The girls meet the new librarian, Miss Allen, who comes up with a payment plan, and reassures Sarah that her library privileges won't be revoked. Her four other sisters, Ella, Henny, Charlotte and Gertie pull together and agree to help Sarah pay for the book, which costs a whole dollar!

  2. Episode 2

    Dusting Is Fun

    Mama finds that dusting is one chore that her girls seldom do well or willingly. She comes up with a game to catch their interest: hiding buttons from her sewing box around the front room for her daughters to find as they dust. The reader follows Sarah through the first game, exploring the front room and its furnishings. When each girl has had her turn, Mama changes things up. This formerly hated chore becomes a promise of possible fun.

  3. Episode 3

    Rainy Day Surprise

    The action begins after a brief narrative description of Papa’s junk shop and his work there. Bored because it’s raining, the girls go to visit Papa’s shop and the peddlers there, including the intriguing Charlie. It turns out that the shop has recently taken in a load of books, and the girls spend a happy time looking through them to pick out some to keep. While returning home, they decide to spend the rest of the afternoon playing Library with their new books.

  4. Episode 4

    Who Cares If It's Bedtime?

    Join Merav and Batya as they delve into all things All-of-A-Kind Family.  This episode features a deep dive into candy, cookies and crackers, and the origin of the cracker barrel as a center for gaming! We'll also talk about what the heck a "snap" cookie is.

  5. Episode 5

    The Sabbath - Part 1

    Just this once, Mama takes all the girls to market with her on a Thursday afternoon to shop for the Sabbath. The family stops in the library, then spends a busy time at the market seeing all the offered goods at shops and pushcarts and making their purchases. Then Friday comes, and the family brings in the Sabbath together.

  6. Episode 6

    The Sabbath - Part 2

    Part 2! -- Just this once, Mama takes all the girls to market with her on a Thursday afternoon to shop for the Sabbath. The family stops in the library, then spends a busy time at the market seeing all the offered goods at shops and pushcarts and making their purchases. Then Friday comes, and the family brings in the Sabbath together.

  7. Episode 7

    006 - Papa's Birthday

    Ella calls a secret meeting after bedtime to plot a birthday surprise for Papa. The girls gather and pool their pennies and try to find the perfect birthday present. But will Papa like their gift? They have to wait until dinner to find out.

  8. Episode 8

    Episode 007 - Purim Play + Show notes

    On Purim day the girls accompany Papa to synagogue, and return home for special holiday treats at lunch, like hamantashen and teiglach. Then they dress up in costume to deliver Purim baskets to their relatives and friends and get a chance to show off their costumes. Back at home, the front room is full of many of the same relatives and friends, and the girls get to show off their musical talents in performance, with Ella singing to great acclaim and even praise from Charlie.

  9. Episode 9

    Sarah in Trouble

    Sarah engages in a battle of wills with Mama when she declares that she doesn’t want to eat her soup at the midday meal. Mama insists that Sarah will get nothing else to eat until she eats her soup. Sarah endures family entreaties through dinner, afternoon snack, home and piano lessons, before finally capitulating and eating a few bites of soup at the supper table and being rewarded with a supper that doesn’t consist of soup.

  10. Episode 11

    Episode 009 - Mama Has Her Hands Full + Show Notes

    Episode 009 - Mama Has Her Hands Full + Show Notes

  11. Episode 12

    010 - Fourth of July

    The girls spend a thrilling fourth of July with Charlie and their parents, featuring potato kugel, firetrucks, firecrackers, and even Roman candles. Charlie opens up to the family about his childhood, but while Ella is supposed to be asleep, she overhears the private details of Charlie’s quarrel with his parents and his ongoing search for his sweetheart. Ella’s weeping alerts Mama and Papa and they comfort her. Ella doesn’t confess her secret crush, but goes to bed crying again, heartbroken.

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A look back at the beloved books and the family that inspired them.

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