Rachel & Sam Read A Story

Special guest Jessica Verdi (@jessicaverdi ) helps us read "I'm not Santa!" Why is that book title in quotes? You'll just have to listen and find out! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy! Follow Sam (@SamGasch) or follow Rachel (@Sknowite). Either way, please subscribe!

It's a legitimate question. Given the wide range of religious affiliations commonly associated with the dinosaurs, how do those that identify as Jewish, or perhaps those that simply wish to be inclusive, say "Happy Chanukah?" I've often wondered. Now, I have my answer. Turns out it's "GRAAAAAR!" (Spoiler warning) Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy! Follow Sam (@SamGasch) or follow Rachel (@Sknowite). Either way, please subscribe!

Guess what? It's another one of Sam's favorite books from his childhood! Balloon Farm by Jerdine Nolan and Mark Buehner is a beautiful story about a guy that grows balloons. Out of the ground. On a farm.......so it's a little weird! I still like it. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy! Follow Sam (@SamGasch) or follow Rachel (@Sknowite). Either way, please subscribe!

Phoebe Gilman is a wonderful children's book author. She wrote and illustrated one of my (Sam) favorite books from growing up. Now, you all know that I love balloons. And I love books ABOUT balloons! This is a book about a tree that can GROW balloons! I KNOW! It's awesome. Well...maybe not awesome so much as pretty and fun. We enjoyed it! You will too. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy! Follow Sam (@SamGasch) or follow Rachel (@Sknowite). Either way, please subscribe!

David Slonim wrote an adorable story about a Daddy Monster and child monster called I Loathe You. Rachel and I read it and make fun of it! But mostly we go "awwwwww"! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy! Follow Sam (@SamGasch) or follow Rachel (@Sknowite). Either way, please subscribe!

One of those classic books that everyone thinks of when talking about kids' literature is Clifford the Big Red Dog, by Norman Bridwell. An absolute classic! (It is from 1963 afterall) Rachel and I CERTAINLY couldn't have handled this on our own. Luckily, we were joined by Bridget Renshaw (@BridgetRenshaw). It was a tough job, but we got through it together! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy! Follow Sam (@SamGasch) or follow Rachel (@Sknowite). Either way, please subscribe!

We are joined this week by the lovely Jessica Kochu! You can keep track of her here: @JessicaKochu. That's the twitter one! She probably has other things too. Listen and find out! Our book this week is 13 Days of Halloween by Carol Greene and Illustrated by Tim Raglin. Excited to find out more? Just listen till the end! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

The Experiments of Doctor Vermin discusses the sad truth. Tim Egan tells it like it is: there are sceitists out there turning pigs into giant pigs. It's a problem. Thus, our Halloween series continues. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

Space Case was an extremely fun book to read! Plus, Rachel and Sam got some help this week in the form of Zach Luna (@ZacharyJLuna). It's the silly story of an alien that happens to find Earth, right when all the kids are Trick-or-Treating! And oh what fun they have! Aliens! Halloween! What delight! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

In this week's book of silliness is a tiny little vampire trying to go around and bite people. Seems like fun! This is the first of our October HALLOWEEN podcasts! Last week we had giant robots, this week vampires, and next? WHo knows! But we can bet it'll be scaaaaary (for kids maybe... probably not!) Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

Sitting right next to Margaret Wise Brown on the library shelf is Sam Brown who wrote a book with an AWESOME title. It's Sometimes I Forget You're a Robot. A little boy plays with a robot toy and is gifted with a new GIGANTIC ROBOT FRIEND. And he dreams of what he can do with his giant robot friend. Give it a listen and a read! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

Goodnight Moon is one of those books that everyone has read. Often it's the very first book someone's read. It's Sam's first book anyway. It's a beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written story about a little bunny going to bed. Written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd, Goodnight Moon is an absolute classic. Now let's tell jokes. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

This book consists of paper pages and plastic pages so that color can be laid over color. It presents a cool story about combining colors and hidden shapes. Kids'll love it! We thought it was okay. Well, Sam thought it was okay. It's one of Rachel's favorites. It's by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor. Colors! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

Rachel and I had so much fun reading Neil Gaiman's Chu's Day last week that we decided to read another of his books this week! We bring you Blueberry Girl, a beautiful prayer for Neil's own daughter. Illustrated by Charles Vess, this wonderful story is just very nice and very pretty. Read it! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

You know who writes good stories? Neil Gaiman writes good stories. Both Sam and Rachel love his books and the Sandman comics, but did you know he ALSO has written some children's books? Well... we've GOT to read that! Chu's Day is a fun story about a panda bear. HA! Panda BEAR! I got the last word Rachel! Also it's illustrated by Adam Rex. A Tucson guy! Man, I like this book. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

We get a little multi-cultural this week as we read a book that seems to be inspired by old morality tales. Oh No! is a fun story about falling in a hole, by Candace Fleming  (Author), Eric Rohmann (Illustrator) Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

Last week we read The Cat in the Hat. That was so much fun that we had to do another Dr. Suess. Allow us to present: Fox in Socks! As easy as last week's was to read, this book is absolute disaster of a tongue twister. WHEEE!! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Suess is on the greatest juggernauts of the children's literature world. It redefined what makes a "Learn to Read" book and has been consistently read by basically everyone everywhere forever. We read it, you've read it. It's a fun book that helped us each figure out basic rhyme scheme. Also reading. BUT that doesn't mean it isn't without it's flaws... Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

FIRST THINGS FIRST! Rachel made a mistake! Their Eyes Were Watching God is NOT by Toni Morrison. It was written by Zora Neale Hurston. She is sorry and you all deserve to know the TRUTH! Anyway, we read this book. It was cute. Sure, I'd appreciate it if Louise thought of the outside world as a pleasant thing, but I can't blame her for enjoying reading. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!

I Want My Hat Back and This Is Not My Hat, both by Jon Klassen, are an amazing pair of books. Completely different characters, both dealing with the harrowing issue of a stolen hat. These books are silly and amazing. We read them BOTH! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them while we do. Enjoy!