Rereading Our Childhood

• Rereading Theater Shoes, with Jean Freedman

  Writer and scholar Jean Freedman joins us to talk about Noel Streatfeild’s 1944 book Theater Shoes (originally published in the UK as Curtain Up), the story of three children who attend a theatrical school. We discuss London during World War II and welcome the (offstage) reappearance of the three sisters in Streatfeild’s beloved Ballet Shoes (1936).Mentioned on this episode:Other books by Jean Freedman: Whistling in the Dark: Memory and Culture in Wartime London and Peggy Seeger: A Life of Music, Love, and PoliticsBooks by Noel Streatfeild: Circus Shoes, Dancing Shoes, Tennis Shoes, Skating ShoesA website on Streatfeild that includes a detailed discussion on Theater Shoes/Curtain UpRecommended by Jean: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett; Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, and Dress Rehearsal by Monica Stirling; fairy tales by Oscar WildeRecommended by Deborah: The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright; Half Magic by Edward EagerRecommended by Mary Grace: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisOther episode: Rereading Ballet Shoes by Noel StreatfeildYou can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com, Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago, and Jean at jeanfreedman.com.This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com

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• Rereading Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

  For this episode, we reread E.B. White’s 1952 classic Charlotte’s Web. Also by White: Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan, The Elements of Style, Is Sex Necessary?, Essays of E.B. White, Letters of E.B. White, "Death of a Pig"Blog post on Henry FussyNew Yorker article on Garth WilliamsThe Story of Charlotte’s Web, Michael SimsEudora Welty’s New York Times reviewRecommended: Anne of Green Gables, Caddie Woodlawn (Mary Grace); Stuart Little, The Trumpet of the Swan, Misty of Chincoteague, The Cricket in Times Square (Deborah)Adaptations: 1973 movie, 2006 movie, 2025 miniseriesYou can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com and Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago.This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com

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• Rereading Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues by Donald J. Sobol

  For our third annual Encyclopedia Brown episode, we matched wits with each other and with Encyclopedia in trying to crack the cases in Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues, which was published in 1966. We included the relevant clues in our discussion, so you can solve along with us. We discussed the origins of Bugs Meany's hat and solved the mystery of what state Idaville is in. Also, Mary Grace mispronounced "divining rod" about 15 times. Mentioned on this episode:Other Encyclopedia Brown books:Encyclopedia Brown, Boy DetectiveEncyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret PitchOther Rereading Our Childhood episodes:Rereading Johnny Tremain by Esther ForbesRereading Henry Reed, Inc. by Keith RobertsonAlso mentioned:Goodreads review of Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues by Chance HansenReddit thread on what state Encyclopedia lives in"Donald Sobol and the Case of the Elusive Mystery Writer," interview with Donald Sobol by Elizabeth Weinstein, Oberlin Alumni Magazine, Fall 2011Clip from a 2024 episode of Futurama featuring Wikipedia BrownYou can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com and Mary Grace’s adventures in the 1920s at My Life 100 Years Ago. This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com

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• Rereading The Long Secret by Louise Fitzhugh

  For this episode, we reread Louise Fitzhugh's 1965 novel The Long Secret, the sequel to Harriet the Spy. We discussed the mystery of who is leaving notes for residents of Water Mill and Fitzhugh's fascinating but tragic life.Mentioned on this episode:Other books by Fitzhugh: Suzuki Bean by Sandra Scoppettone, illustrated by Fitzhugh (1961)Harriet the Spy (1964)Nobody's Family is Going to Change (1974)Sport (1980)Also mentioned:Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Louise Fitzhugh, Renegade Author of Harriet the Spy, by Leslie BrodyDeborah's interview with Leslie BrodyThe Tap Dance Kid, the musical based on Nobody's Family is Going to Change (highlights here)Gloria Vanderbilt's New York Times review of Harriet the SpyGoodreads reviews of The Long SecretRecommended by Deborah: Freaky Friday and A Billion for Boris by Mary Rodgers; Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy BlumeRecommended by Mary Grace: Magic by the Lake by Edward Eager, The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars, All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney TaylorPrevious episode:Rereading Harriet the Spy by Louise FitzhughYou can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com and Mary Grace at My Life 100 Years Ago. This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com

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• Rereading Little Women, with Jamie Stiehm

  On this episode, syndicated columnist Jamie Stiehm joins us to reread Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women, which was published in two parts in 1868 and 1869.Mentioned on this episode:Other books by Alcott: Little Men (1871), Eight Cousins (1874), Rose in Bloom (1876), Jo’s Boys (1886)Also mentioned:Peyton Thomas’s tweet saying Alcott was transPeyton Thomas’s New York Times guest column saying that Alcott was transPeyton Thomas’s podcast Jo’s Boys (on Apple and Spotify)Film adaptations: Little Women (1933), with Katharine Hepburn (trailer here); Little Women (1949), with June Allyson and Elizabeth Taylor (trailer here); Little Women (1994), with Wynona Ryder (trailer here); Little Women (2019), directed by Greta Gerwig (trailer here)Recommended for fans of Little Women:Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Jamie); My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, Men in Trouble by Sarah Payne Stuart, and Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (Mary Grace); Little House on the Prairie (Deborah)Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why it Still Matters, by Anne Boyd Rioux (2018)March by Geraldine Brooks (2006)You can find Deborah at deborahkalb.com and Mary Grace’s adventures in the 1920s on her blog, My Life 100 Years Ago. You can find Jamie at jamiestiehm.com.This episode was edited by Adam Linder of Bespoken Podcasting.Podcast website at rereadingourchildhood.com

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