It's time for the next installment in The Reading Like Kathleen Kelly series. Today I'm sharing about Ballet Shoes and Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild. Two delightful books from the Shoes Books canon, famously mentioned in You've Got Mail. They are the perfect books to cozy up with this season. Enjoy!

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Ballet Shoes

Theater Shoes

Dancing Shoes

Skating Shoes

It was a delight to chat with Anna Rose Johnson about her new middle-grade novel, The Star That Always Stays. I read this book at the beginning of the summer, and it has remained a favorite read of the season. We talk about Anna Rose's inspiration for the book, a bit of the behind-the-scenes process, and many book recommendations. If you're a fan of Maude Hart Lovelace's writing, you will want to get your hands on a copy of The Star That Always Stays. 

Anna Rose Johnson's website

The Star That Always Stays

Book recommendations from the episode (some titles include my affiliate link to bookshop.org):

Treasure for Debby

Emily of Deep Valley

Jane of Lantern Hill

Heidi

Whose Waves These Are

Up From the Sea

Rosetown

Just Jenifer by Janet Lambert

From Anna Jean Little

Today we continue the series on Reading Like Kathleen Kelly. Up first, I'm featuring Maude Hart Lovelace's delightful series, The Betsy-Tacy books. It was my first time reading the semi-autobiographical stories of the world of Deep Valley and these dear best friends, and I hope you will be as enchanted by them as I was.

Affiliate link to the first four books on Bookshop.org:

The Betsy-Tacy Treasury

We start a new series on the podcast today---Reading Like Kathleen Kelly. Think favorite girlhood classics inspired by You've Got Mail and its iconic character bookseller extraordinaire, Kathleen Kelly. Throughout the series, I'll search for the elusive qualities that make up good children's literature, share why they should be read by all ages, and share a couple of debut writers. I hope you'll join me on a topic dear to my heart.

Today I am thrilled to welcome Katie Marquette of the Born of Wonder podcast to the show. Katie is a delight to talk to, and I had the best time chatting about motherhood and reading. We share some of our favorite books, shifting perspectives on re-reads, and books we can't wait to share with our daughters. I hope you enjoy our conversation too!

Born of Wonder

The Genesis of Gender

Bookshop.org affiliate link to books mentioned in the episode:

The Betsy-Tacy Treasury

The Screwtape Letters

In This House of Brede

The Life You Save May be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage

Dr. Zhivago

The Lost Words

The Awakening of Miss Prim

The Scent of Water

It's the last episode in The Yearling series today. I hope you have enjoyed your reading journey with this well-loved classic.

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The Yearling

How can The Yearling inspire us to long for the new heavens and earth? Find out in today's episode.

Affiliate link to Bookshop.org:

The Yearling

Cross Creek

I'm back after my months-long hiatus. Today I'm excited to share the first episode in a series about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' classic, The Yearling. It's a moving story of the year in the life of one family and their farm in rural North Florida in the 1870s. If you haven't read it yet, grab a copy, and join me in reading it this July.

Affiliate link to Bookshop.org:

The Yearling

The Life She Wished to Live

I'll be taking a short break from the podcast during May, but before I do, I wanted to share the books I'll be reading this spring. I hope you'll join me in reading some of these delightful books!

Books mentioned this episode with affiliate links to Bookshop.org:

The Miracles of Jesus

Heidi

Henrietta's House

Vows

Til We Have Faces

The Hidden Art of Homemaking

After Prayer

George Herbert

On February 25 of this year, Shirley Hughes, the incomparable illustrator, passed away at 94. Her illustrations are a delight and joy to behold, and her passing leaves a hole in the picture book world. Today I'm sharing a brief tribute to the irreplaceable Shirley Hughes.

Shirley Hughes- What Do Artists Do All Day? Pt. 1

Shirley Hughes- What Do Artists Do All Day? Pt. 2