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.

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.

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.