Toddling the Stacks

Sean Gill
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Featuring adult-level analysis of children's literature, with a twist of humor, Toddling the Stacks is the passion project of award-winning educator and Princeton English PhD Sean Gill. We believe that picture books are the perfect foil for understanding and appreciating the craft of literature in a world where attention spans are depleted and time is at an absurd premium. Join us every Monday for new reviews!

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Death, Be Not Mop-Headed: HUBERT AND THE APPLE TREE, S1E10

    We all dread teaching our children about death—probably because of the way death figures into our own lives. If we could forestall death's terror by refiguring it as a natural part of lived experience, would it help our children (and us?) to live more purposeful and holistic lives? In this episode, we look at a codex that presents such a life. Tinted with a bittersweet melancholy, this beautiful picture book has a lot to offer for both children and adults. It recasts the entire category of "children's book about grief." Join us for some close reading and pondering, and as always, subscribe and review if you like what you hear! Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    23 min

  2. Jun 29

    The World's Tallest Hobbit: ABRAHAM LINCOLN, S1E9

    Happy 250th Birthday, USA!Shall we try for a few more, do you think? What do Abe Lincoln and Hobbits have in common? How do biographers decide what information to include in biographies? Just as importantly, how do they decide what to exclude? And what has our walk down Caldecott Lane started to tell us about the values of the Caldecott Award? All of these questions and more--somehow in less than fifteen minutes!--as we look at Edgar and Ingri D'Aulaires' 1939 text Abraham Lincoln, which won the third-ever Caldecott Award in 1940. More like a middle-grade biography than a true picture book, this text was redone by the D'Aulaires' in 1957 to include color illustrations. Should it have won the Caldecott? Should you consider it for your little? Only one way to find out!  Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    15 min

  3. Jun 24

    Might as well ban reading—A Pride Special S1E8

    Happy Pride!  People—and by that we mean corporations—often start Pride off strong and end with a whimper. But we recognize that while Pride is about pride, it's also about resistance. And resistance is a very, very long-form game. Today's episode looks at four picture book iterations of a classic Russian folktale, The Gigantic Turnip: One from the USSR; one from modern Russia; one from Britain in the 90s; and one from the US a few years back. How do these various versions of the story change its meaning? Does the central core of the story itself contain its own meaning that resists translation and adaptation? Most importantly this month, how does literature's ability to be interpreted, to gain meaning from the very act of reading, consternate the job of government censors? It's the episode where we modestly propose that if you want to ban books, you might as well ban them all!  Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    20 min

  4. Jun 15

    THE GATHERING TABLE S1E7

    We wanted to find a Juneteenth book for our little that would address the holiday without requiring a lot of context she just isn't equipped to understand yet. The Gathering Table did just that, showing us a world where Juneteenth is every day that we're able to love and honor our families and community without fear.  Join us for our discussion on this lovingly illustrated ode to family and tradition, which features some framing from the great James Baldwin. Juneteenth is a reason for all of us to celebrate, and we hope you'll join with us in celebrating this accessible and endearing picture book!  (NOTE: No oranges were used in the making of lemonade for this podcast). Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    17 min

  5. Jun 8

    THE KITTEN STORY S1E6

    How does a story's point-of-view change our understanding of it? ...in a children's book?  Join us for 2023's THE KITTEN STORY: A MOSTLY TRUE TALE. It's a fantastically illustrated story that teaches kids about the inevitability of disappointment on big days; the importance of adopting pets rather than buying them; and, apparently, the need to question power structures!  Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    19 min

  6. May 28

    THE GIFT OF RAMADAN S1E5

    How can children's literature teach lessons, provide representation for marginalized groups, and provide insight into different ways of living--all without being preachy or pedantic?  Join us for our discussion on 2019's THE GIFT OF RAMADAN, a picture book that manages to do all these things beautifully. We'll address the recent Mac Barnett scandal, then do a bit of analysis to understand where this book succeeds. We're experimenting with a new format this time, so let us know what you think! Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    29 min

  7. May 20

    MEI LI S1E4

    The second entry in our fortnightly Caldecott series focuses on Thomas Handforth's 1938 Mei Li. Books naturally fall in and out of the publication cycle: some get found and republished, others remain dead. Despite having won one of the most prestigious awards in children's literature, Thomas Handforth's stunningly illustrated picture book debut is today out of print and can be quite pricey on the used market. Fingers crossed that your library has it! Join us for a quick lesson on lithography and printing, with some thoughts on how Handforth's background as a printer helped him to bring this tale to life in new and innovative ways!  Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    12 min

  8. May 13

    PAPER CHASE S1E3

    Julia Donaldson is one of the biggest names in children's literature, but her work with illustrator Victoria Sandøy--shall we call it The Tree Trilogy?--has gone largely unnoticed in the U.S. But who doesn't want a children's book filled with specialist knowledge about industrial paper making practices of the 20 and 21C? Adalyn is all about it! Join us for our discussion on PAPER CHASE. I'll bring to bear some of the frankly frightening amount of knowledge I have around the history of paper and its ability to form discourse networks. And just like a real college English class, you can show up in your pajamas!  Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    12 min

  9. May 6

    ANIMALS OF THE BIBLE S1E2

    Every other week, we'll be reviewing Caldecott winners--so we decided to start in the beginning, a very good place to start! The internet is replete with blogs, podcasts, and social media projects undertaking precisely this challenge. ANIMALS OF THE BIBLE, the first "children's book" to win the Caldecott, marks the beginning and end for those projects more often than not.   Join us for our discussion on this divisive text, as we try to figure out exactly for whom it's written. With gorgeous Illustrations by Dorothy Lathrope, and compelling selections from the KJV made by Helen Dean Fish, ANIMALS OF THE BIBLE sought to engage children in biblical texts by leveraging what the authors saw as children's innate interests in animals. Its publishers say the appropriate age is 4-8. Do we agree? Tune in to find out! Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and our socials! If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code. Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    10 min

  10. May 1

    FOOD TRUCK FEST! S1E1

    Join us for a thoughtful discussion on a fantastic picture book for children who enjoy learning about food! It's a wonderful read that's become one of my toddler's favorites. In our inaugural episode, we take a look at FOOD TRUCK FEST! written by Alexandra Penfold and illustrated by Mike Dutton. It tells the story of a young family attending the titular food truck festival, using a surprisingly advanced literary technique to craft a vast and vibrant world for you and your little to explore.  Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and our socials!  Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code. Visit us at http://www.toddlingthestacks.com for previous episodes, info on the show, and what Adalyn is reading now!  If you like the episode, please subscribe and share with friends! YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddlingTheStacks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/toddlingthestacks/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/toddlingthestacks.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588725012180 Show graphics by Emily Tetrault. Theme and interstitials excerpted from Erik Satie's Gnossienne #1. All book images used under the Fair Use exceptions to exclusive copyright as defined under Title 17, subsection 107,  of US Code.

    15 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Featuring adult-level analysis of children's literature, with a twist of humor, Toddling the Stacks is the passion project of award-winning educator and Princeton English PhD Sean Gill. We believe that picture books are the perfect foil for understanding and appreciating the craft of literature in a world where attention spans are depleted and time is at an absurd premium. Join us every Monday for new reviews!

Information

  • Creator
    Sean Gill
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Toddling the Stacks
  • Show Website
    Toddling the Stacks