Happy tenth episode! We can’t choose favorite episodes, still being a relatively new podcast, but after recording this latest I can confirm that it is without a doubt the one closest to my heart so far. It is our first series book and our first listener suggestion. It is also the weirdest dang book. I was a little hesitant to give it a try since I remembered reading it years ago and thinking it was advanced in its attitude towards bullying. A bit worried about old me now. But don’t take my word for it. Listen to the podcast. You can download the entire episode on Soundcloud here and, of course, you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

Show Notes:

Sister has no time for your pain. Not her circus. Not her monkeys.

And still they do nothing. Parenting!

• Yeah. I know King Lear doesn’t actually get his eyeballs removed. That was Gloucester. My bad.

Again, “wavelength?” And what’s with his expression? Peace out, man.

Baby bird or not baby bird? The debate continues.

• Recommended: Llama Llama and the Bully Goat by Anna Dewdney

• Different Lllama Llama rapper videos:

• It would be a lot easier to critique these guys if they weren’t both so totally cute.

I mean who wouldn’t want to be buds with them?

• Recommended: The Big Book of Berenstain Bears Beginner Books

Highly recommended, in spite of the fact that Mama is doing that classic sitcom-mom thing with the crossed arms. Also, is she wearing a purple vest over her standard housedress?!?

• Back in 2006 Leila Roy at bookshelves of doom was the first person I knew to encounter this book. At a garage sale, no less. Please read her hilarious post on the matter.

• So to sum up, the Berenstains went from this:

• . . . to this and no one batted an eyeball.

No wonder Tomi Ungerer left us for France! Double standard city.

• Honestly, we sort of lack any kind of decent “stranger danger” videos. This one from the 60s may be the strangest, though. I think Mom is beginning to understand why the housing prices in this town are so doggone low.

• For the record, I remembered that original theme song pretty darn well.

• Two examples from the Zonderkidz line:

• Baby wigs: Would I make this up?

• The Berenstain Bears and Mama’s Affair

• You can read about the alternate reality theory about the Berenstain/stein Bears can be found both here and here.
• By the way, after Kate and I finished recording this episode we consulted with the resident Network Administrator and Cannon Ballast who mentioned something called “The Mandela Effect”. Apparently shared false memories are a known phenomenon. Listen to the podcast Stuff to Blow Your Mind and the episode Shared False Memories and the Mandela Effect to learn more.
• The best picture book that talks about classmates dealing with abuse at home? One of the Problems of Everett Anderson. And, no, it isn’t in print. Someone needs to take ALL the Everett Anderson books and re-illustrate them for the 21st century. Can you imagine this book with the art of Christian Robinson attached?

• How cool is this storytime room? Thanks again to Emmy for passing these along.

• Kate’s recommendation:

• This wasn’t my recommendation but I figured I’d include it here anyway because I love it so much:

• My actual recommendations? Great podcasts! Including:
  • Stuff You Missed in History Class – The Motherhood of Mamie Till Mobley
  • Annotated – The World’s Most Glamorous Librarian
  • You Must Remember This
• The panda title I alluded to:

• And finally, want to read the book yourself but want someone else to do it for you? Maybe the most fascinating video on the subject. Note the Play-doh version of Sister: