The Children's Literature Podcast
Episodes
232 – Let’s Play Skyrim and Talk About Mythology
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a long time since I took any time for myself to play video games, and I randomly had the idea that if I can drag myself out of bed early e...
231 – Pinocchio Unstrung and THE BRIDE!
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There have recently been a bunch of ultraviolent makeovers of classic children’s stories. Some are schlocky horror fun. And some are just dreadful. ...
230 – Every Literary Reference in Star Trek VI
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Star Trek VI is *so* loaded with literary references that I had to divide my thoughts into two parts. I previously talked about the Shakespeare refere...
229 – Let’s Read Inappropriate Nursery Rhymes
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When researching the first published books of nursery rhymes, I found some hilariously inappropriate entries. Well, by modern standards, anyway. Pleas...
228 – Star Trek VI is a Shakespeare Play!
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode comes from my recent livestream about Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and its Shakespearean influences. The plot is a real-time me...
227 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Vaselesa the Beautiful
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Join me by the fireside to hear the story known as the “Russian Cinderella,” which is funny and strange . . . and has the most unusual fairy godmo...
226 – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a Shakespearean Epic
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Star Trek is what first introduced me to Shakespeare, and I wanted to visit the most Shakespearean of all Star Trek productions, which is Star Trek I...
225 – I Hate Wuthering Heights
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you like Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, that’s fine. Just keep it far away from me, because I DON’T BRONTË. If you also don’t Brontë, ...
224 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Grimm’s Little Red Riding Hood
24 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Join me on a pleasantly mild winter evening to toast a marshmallow and share my translation of “Rödkappchen,” or “Little Red Cap,” the German...
223 – Starfleet Academy is Anti-Star Trek
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
“What does Star Trek have to do with children’s literature?” you might be asking. Quite a lot. Star Trek introduced me to Shakespeare, and it’...
222 – Little Red Riding Hood is 1000 Years Old
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This Fireside Fairy Tale is a double feature where I share my own translation of the very first Little Red Riding Hood story by Egbert of Liège from ...
221 – Decolonizing Santa, Canceling David Walliams
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we start off with a clip from our New Year’s Eve livestream in which we highlighted the best book-to-screen adaptaions of 2025. If ...
220 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Hänsel and Gretel
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This was recorded a few days after Bonfire Night, when it’s common for massive fireworks to go off in England . . . even right next door! This made ...
219 – A Christmas Stocking for You!
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, you will find: On the nice list: A reading of the earliest Winnie-the-Pooh story, which turns 100 years old on Christmas Eve 2025 On ...
218 – Who is Santa Claus, Anyway?
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is taken from my Livestream about the history of Santa Claus. I will be having more Livestreams in the future, so be sure to subscribe to...
217 – Krampusnacht!
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is excerpted from my first Livestream on YouTube, which was held on Friday, December 5. It was nice to chat with all those who came to pa...
216 – Vengeance and Honour by Ben Dixon
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Friend of the show Ben Dixon is back to talk about his new novel Vengeance and Honour, a sword and sorcery adventure for older teens and up. Fans of D...
215 – Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This was a big episode for me to put together, as in I had to limit myself to the amount of time it takes to drink a pot of tea or else I would have t...
214 – My Tween Has THOUGHTS About Banning Kpop Demon Hunters
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chloë does a lot for the show, mostly behind the scenes. But a school of literal actual Lilliputians has banned kids from singing songs from Kpop Dem...
213 – Book Drama: Insane Paddington Bear Is Canceled
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are two bits of book related silliness to cover this week. A tiny group of outspoken activists are trying to cancel J.K. Rowling — again. And ...
212 – Some Teachers Don’t Know When to Quit
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I recently saw a teacher blow his stack in public, and I couldn’t help but feel that if he wasn’t just a bully, maybe it was time for him to get a...
211 – A Mouthy Yank Explains “Remember, Remember the Fifth of November”
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
All British kids know the poem “Remember, Remember the Fifth of November” but where did it come from? And how has Bonfire Night evolved from its v...
210 – Fireside Poetry: “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Please enjoy this Fireside reading of “The Raven.” As always, I have two versions — one with my commentary (and a roasted pumpkin!) as well as t...
209 – Reading Rapunzel to Kids: Messy and Fun
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
First, we start off with some MORE tedious Harry Potter book drama. Then you get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into a Fireside Fairy Tale. I a...
208 – Take Me to the Promised Land
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We start off with some book drama about a hilarious, not-safe-for kids parody of Paddington Bear on the comedy show Spitting Image as well as an unne...
207 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Rapunzel (1812)
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this Fireside Fairytale, I share the first published version of Rapunzel, which was recorded by the Brothers Grimm for their famous 1812 collection...
206 – Did Mahmoud V. Taylor Cause CHAOS?
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In June, the United States Supreme Court ruled on the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor. A group of Maryland parents had sued their local school district, ask...
203 – A Tired Mom Review of Fantastic Four: First Steps
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m starting my roundup of all the summer movies based on books for kids with Fantastic Four: First Steps. Find out how many Snapes I gave this one ...
202 – Was Graham Linehan’s Arrest “Kafkaesque” and “Orwellian”?
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I am very nervous about publishing this episode, because it could bring me unwanted attention. But things have changed to the point where I no longer ...
201 – Fireside Fairy Tale: Tommelise
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This story comes to you by the fire pit at a family member’s house back home in California. The evening is warm, the sea breeze is pleasant, and the...
200 EPISODES!
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is the 200th audio episode of The Children’s Literature Podcast! All we can say is THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Oh, and I suppose we can say ...
199 – The Original Three Bears Got Sweet Revenge
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The first recorded version of The Three Bears was a poem written and illustrated by Eleanor Mure for her little nephew’s birthday in 1831. It was ne...
198 – Amazon’s War of the Worlds Is a Waste of Ice
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I did not like this film.
197 – Mists of Iga: Teen Ninjas, Cool Swords, and Abiding Friendships
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My brother, Kyle Mortensen, published a wonderful indie book shortly before he died in an accident. He intended to publish three more books in this ex...
196 – The Rainbow Fish is Dystopian Horror
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I am not a fan of The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. It’s a book that portrays mooching, bullying, and gaslighting as good things, but lots of peop...
195 – James Gunn’s Superman is . . .
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Middling movies are the hardest to review!
194 – George Orwell Predicted AI Art
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This show starts with some hilariously wholesome news about how Fantastic Mr. Fox broke into the Twickenham Library, and of course Orkney Library had ...