89 episodes
Two Lit Mamas First Circle Press
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- Arts
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5.0 • 14 Ratings
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A KidLit Podcast for Parents, Teachers and Writers created by two mommy blogger friends who discuss upper and lower middle grade books, children's books, chapter books, and picture books, as well as, topics such as parenting, homeschool, writing, teaching, cooking, holidays, and more.
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Episode 88: YA Short Stories
The Mamas get dark, emotional, and angst-y with a collection of short stories for Young Adults (ages 14-18) that they may be too old to fully understand but fully enjoyed anyway. Join the Mamas as they discuss the significance of collections, the struggles facing modern teens, and the power of weirdos.
Book Chat:
The Collectors, edited by A.S. King (winner of 2024 Printz Medal Award)
Other books the Mamas are currently reading:
The Funeral Ladies of Elerie County by Claire Swinarski (for grown-ups)
Lightlark by Alex Aster (young adult)
www.twolitmamas.com -
Episode 87: New MG Fantasy
The total eclipse (of the sun not the heart) inspired the Mamas to explore gilded worlds and travel through time (and party like it’s 1999) with new Middle Grade fantasy books for ages 8-12. As you may have suspected, the Mamas were once just two farm girls waiting to be picked from obscurity for a special quest like all the best main characters of their favorite fantasies, towel capes and all.
Book Chat:
No Ordinary Thing by G.Z. Schmidt
Sona and the Golden Beasts by Rajani LaRocca
Show Links:
www.twolitmamas.com -
Episode 86: March Mysteries
In episode 86, the Mamas party like it’s 1999 with their favorite genre, mysteries. Heather brings you a new Middle Grade mystery and rebel Mama, Margie, shares one of her favorite newer grown up series. The Mamas also explore the mystery of the Middle Grade slump and follow up the book chat with a list of new Middle Grade books with boy main characters that will hopefully put an end to Margie’s whining.
Book Chat:
The World-Famous Nine by Ben Guterson (MG)
Suburban Dicks and Self-Made Widow by Fabian Nicieza (Grown Up)
Pick 6: New MG books with boy MCs
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
Walkin’ the Dog by Chris Lynch
Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz
Olivetti by Allie Millington
Race to the Truth series
Show Links:
Middle Grade Slump post on fromthemixedupfiles.com
https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/the-middle-grade-slump/
www.twolitmamas.com -
Episode 85: Middle Grade March
Happy Middle Grade March! The Mamas are in their element, celebrating new Middle Grade book releases that cover a roller coaster of categories from Emily Post’s etiquette tips and environmental activism to Dungeons & Dragons style quests and cryptid monsters from other dimensions. Margie follows up the MG book chat with six grown up March releases you won’t want to miss.
Book Chat: MG New Releases
Emily Posts by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
The Doomsday Archives - the Wandering Hour by Zack Loran Clark and Nick Eliopulos
Pick 6: Grown Up New Releases
Finlay Donavan Rolls the Dice by Elle CosimanoAmerican Spirits by Russell BanksThe Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County by Claire SwinarskiHow to Solve Your Own Murder by Krisitn PerrinHags: The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women by Victoria SmithThe Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan
www.twolitmamas.com
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Episode 84: Spies & Heists
In episode 84, the Mamas go full fangirl swooning over beloved spymaster James Ponti, author of the bestselling City Spies series and Crime Fighters series for middle grade (ages 8-12). The Mamas fell for Ponti back in 2020 with the first City Spies book and wanted to catch up with the series, chatting about the newest release while also checking out Ponti’s backlist. Grab your grappling hooks, brush up on your Russian, and synchronize your watches, because the Mamas are going spying.
Book Chat: James Ponti
City Spies: Mission ManhattanCrime Fighting Series: Framed, Vanished, and Trapped
www.twolitmamas.com -
Episode 83: Hot off the Presses
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
www.twolitmamas.com
Customer Reviews
Love this pod
I want to be on the Franzia list. I’m a middle school (public school) librarian that teaches a ton and always needs a way to keep up with the books that a “real” and good for kids…which are NOT always the award winners. I so look forward to Two Lit Mamas each month. And, I’m diggin’ the review of a grown up book now too. I read ‘Excuse Me While I Disappear’ on plane and disturbed fellow passengers with my laugh/snort. Now I’m on to Finley. Thanks, you two.
Are you there Margie and Heather, it’s me Kendra.
Not only are these ladies so entertaining and wonderful, but they recommend AWESOME books. I’ve been bingeing this podcast and staying up way too late reading these middle grade books! Song for a Whale is my new favorite middle grade book and I’ve just starting reading Stand up, Yumi Chung to my first and third grader. Please never stop recording your podcast, drinking boxed wine and extolling the importance of diverse literary voices (and Angela Lansbury). Cheers to you both!
The heart!
Thank you Margie and Heather for keeping it real! I love your straight talk and warmth and true love for reading and children’s books. This author thanks you for sharing your viewpoints. Makes me smile!