Why do we say this when a secret is revealed?

Sources used:

• Oxford English Dictionary (OED) – historical citations for “let the cat out of the bag” and idiom notes

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary – idiom entry and usage history

• Etymonline (Online Etymology Dictionary) – discussion of proposed origins and early attestations

• The Phrase Finder – idiom background, “pig in a poke” connection

• Smithsonian Magazine (language/etymology features) – context on idioms with uncertain origins

Wren returns to the Hall of Hidden Wonders - a magical place that feels alive, changing each time she visits. The man in the green coat is waiting, and today he has a challenge: find her spark, the gift that proves she belongs here.

There’s a tiny tool in your backpack with a giant history. In this kid-friendly history-sode, Auntie Jo Jo traces the pencil’s journey from a 1500s graphite discovery in England to the first wooden pencils in Germany, the invention of the rubber eraser, and why so many pencils are painted yellow.

We’ll also peek at how pencils helped soldiers, artists, and even early astronauts put ideas on paper—anywhere.

Sources used:

Encyclopaedia Britannica — “Pencil” (history, materials, manufacturing)

Smithsonian Magazine — “Why Are Pencils Yellow?” (branding and 19th-century graphite trade)

Royal Society of Chemistry — Joseph Priestley and the discovery of “rubber” for erasing (1770)

NASA History Office — Early writing tools in space (pencils and later pressurized pens)

Henry Petroski, The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance (Knopf)

Wren Calder has always been good at staying invisible: at home, at school, even in the crowded hallways where louder voices take up all the space. But on a quiet afternoon in the school library, she stumbles upon something she was never meant to see: a brass lantern glowing faintly in the dustiest corner of the shelves.

When she lifts it, the shelves shift to reveal a hidden staircase… and a doorway into a place beyond anything she’s imagined. Talking books, rope bridges of paper cranes, and a man in a green coat who seems to know her name and insists she’s here for a reason.

One question echoes in Wren’s mind: What’s a spark… and could she really have one?

Auntie Jo Jo’s Library opens her library to a very special guest! This episode I sat down with author Christine Devane to talk about her children’s book, Elephant Beach.

Christine shares how she brings her story to life during classroom readings and community events, and we explore the ways introverts and extroverts experience stories differently.

We also talk about the invaluable role of your local public library. From storytime to countless free resources. 

Christine gives us a sneak peek into her next project, a heartfelt book about navigating grief.

Upcoming Children's Author Fair at Hummingbird Books- August 23, 2025.

Learn more about Christine Devane and her work: http://www.christine-devane.com/

Purchase through Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Beach-Christine-Devane/dp/1665765763

Purchase through Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elephant-beach-christine-devane/1147288164

Popcorn and movies go together like peanut butter and jelly but how did this crunchy, buttery snack become a star at the theater?

Sources used:

• National Popcorn Board – History of Popcorn

• Smithsonian Magazine – How Popcorn Became a Movie Theater Staple

• History.com – The History of Popcorn

• Library of Congress – The Great Depression and Popcorn Sales

• The New York Times – Popcorn’s Long and Storied Past

On the first day of seventh grade, Sam expects the usual: new classes, new teachers, and probably a forgotten locker combination.

What he doesn’t expect is for a strange brass key to tumble out of his locker!

Why does school start in late summer and end in late spring?

And who came up with the idea of school in the first place?

Sources used:

• PBS Learning Media – A History of School in America

• National Park Service – Early Public Education in the United States

• National Geographic Kids – History of Schools Around the World

• Smithsonian Magazine – Why Schools Have Summer Vacation

• UNESCO – Global School Year Calendars

Mara’s favorite place is the old oak tree growing right along her backyard fence . It's the one spot where she can think, dream, and just be herself.

At home, it’s easy to feel invisible, especially when her parents don’t seem to hear what she’s really saying. But when a new neighbor named Quinn shows up on the other side of the fence, the tree becomes more than a hiding place.

This heartfelt middle-grade story explores boundaries, feeling understood, and the small moments that help us find our voice.

Irish wakes are unlike any other tradition—where laughter meets loss, and the community gathers to carry grief together.

In this episode, we explore the origins of the Irish wake, its roots in Celtic beliefs, the role of storytelling, and why some wakes felt more like celebrations than funerals.

A beautiful blend of history, heart, and healing.

Sources Used:

• Irish Central: “The History of the Irish Wake”

• National Folklore Collection, University College Dublin

• BBC: Irish Mourning Traditions

• “The Irish Wake: History and Meaning” by Kevin Danaher

• Museum of Country Life, County Mayo