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The morning goes sideways fast: a quick hello turns into an awkward bathroom-adjacent “book review” ambush, and suddenly we’re knee-deep in the most requested titles on potty training. It’s absurd, a little cringe, and somehow perfect for exploring how families use stories, songs, and pictures to make a tricky milestone feel normal.

We trade notes on the heavy hitters parents reach for when diapers make their exit. Potty by Leslie Patricelli brings simple words and big feelings; Miss Rachel’s Potty Time With Bean offers warm, upbeat encouragement; Everybody Poops by Taro Gomi normalizes the universal with calm humor. We dig into Little Critter’s The New Potty by Gina and Mercer Mayer for sibling dynamics, Let’s Go to the Potty by Allison Jandu for clear steps, and the playful lift-the-flap cues in Potty Time With Pete the Kitty that turn practice into participation. There’s even a debate on gag titles like Poop There It Is—where levity can help a hesitant toddler, and where it can tip into distraction. Along the way, we flag how to vet author credits and editions, especially when AI muddles attribution, so listeners can trust what they bring home.

Under the jokes sits a real take: potty talk needs empathy, structure, and consent. We tease apart where humor lowers stress and where boundaries need a firm line, then map out easy routines that pair books with moments kids remember—after meals, before bath, and right before bedtime. Whether you want a calm explainer, an interactive flap book, or a quick laugh to break the tension, you’ll leave with a focused shortlist and a plan to keep the vibe supportive. If this made you smile or gave you a new title to try, hit follow, share it with a tired parent who needs a win, and leave a quick review so more families can find the show.

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Some days your voice is shot, your mood is worse, and the show must go on anyway. We hit record feeling rough and found our way back to calm with a pocket-sized classic from Maurice Sendak and a steaming lineup of plant-based soups that actually help. This is a cozy, slightly chaotic ride from grumbles to comfort, and it might be exactly what your next sick day needs.

We start with the tiny treasure Chicken Soup With Rice from Sendak’s 1962 Nutshell Library and unpack why a rhythmic, low-lift read can reset a frazzled brain. The magic isn’t nostalgia alone; it’s structure. Gentle rhyme, seasonal anchors, and sensory imagery create a metronome for the mind, easing the effort of focus when you’re tired or under the weather. Along the way, we touch on Sendak’s timeline relative to Where the Wild Things Are, and why these small-format books still sell and still soothe.

From there, we pivot to practical comfort: vegetarian soup swaps that offer warmth without compromise. Spring minestrone for brightness and fiber, butternut squash with turmeric for silky ease, ginger noodle for heat and aroma, and green pea with carrots and a potato boost for a thick, satisfying spoonful. We break down why warm broth feels so good when you’re sick: hydration, easy digestion, mucus flow, and the role of salt for those who can tolerate it. It’s comfort food backed by simple physiology, not just folklore.

Things get delightfully weird with an experimental lullaby and a mad dash toward the studio commissary’s couch, but the takeaway lands clean: build a reset stack for tough days. One short, soothing read. One warm bowl tailored to your needs. One honest nap. If you’ve ever tried to push through when your body said stop, this conversation offers tools and permission to ease up. If it brings you a small moment of relief, share it with a friend who needs one too. Subscribe, leave a quick review, and tell us your go-to comfort read or soup—we’re collecting favorites for a listener guide.

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Glucksey reviews (and updates) Wheels On The Bus by Raffi.

A dead car, a long bus ride, and no coffee set the stage for a delightfully unhinged dive into one of the most familiar children’s songs on earth. We take Wheels on the Bus from singalong comfort to cultural artifact, tracing how folk melodies migrate, mutate, and land inside picture books that feel brand new and oddly timeless. Along the way, we compare conflicting attributions, unpack why Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush often supplies the tune, and ask what happens when creators bend a nursery rhyme to fit modern life.

Then we stress-test the form with a cheeky “wheels on the truck” parody that swerves from lullaby cadence to satire. That bit opens a real conversation about fair use, public domain melodies, and what “transformative” actually means for book reviewers, teachers, and creators who riff on classics. We walk through the four factors in plain language, share how we approach quotes and references, and talk candidly about audience trust: just because you can, should you? It’s a practical guide wrapped in laughs.

The heart of the episode is a debate on kids and darker themes. We look back to Mother Goose and Grimm, arguing that rhyme and repetition help children process the world’s rough edges without feeling overwhelmed. Tone and intent matter. Humor can soften hard topics; cynicism can sour them. By the end, we land on a middle path—respect children’s intelligence, keep the craft clear, and let the chorus carry meaning without dumping adult baggage.

If you care about children’s literature, folk songs, and the craft of ethical parody, you’ll find fresh insight, a few belly laughs, and a useful toolkit for navigating classics in modern contexts. Listen, share with a friend who loves picture books, and leave a review to tell us where you draw the line.