When Carmen is sent to spend the summer in her mom’s sleepy hometown, she expects boredom, bad Wi-Fi, and endless pine trees. But an old teal bike with a mind of its own has other plans. Each ride takes her closer to forgotten places, unexpected stories—and a side of her mom she’s never known.

A heartwarming tale about memory, family, and how some paths find you.

You can always email me at [email protected] if you have story suggestions or just want to say hi!

Why do we celebrate summer with scoops of mint-chip or swirls of rainbow sherbet? In this breezy “history-side,”

Auntie Jo Jo traces ice cream’s journey from:

• Ancient experiments – snow mixed with milk and rice in China (200 BC) foodunfolded.com and Emperor Nero’s fruity snow cups in Rome (54 AD) frozendessertsupplies.com

• Royal European obsessions – secret gelato recipes guarded by Italian and French courts

• Founding-Father fandom – Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten vanilla recipe and George Washington’s pricey sweet tooth monticello.org

• American innovations – the waffle-cone breakout at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair idfa.org and the very first ice-cream truck jingling down Ohio streets in 1920 magazine.northeast.aaa.com

  
  

Plus rapid-fire fun facts (ever heard of glow-in-the-dark ice cream?) and a reminder that July is National Ice Cream Month.

So grab a spoon—history’s never tasted so sweet!

Sources used:• International Dairy Foods Association, “The History of the Ice Cream Cone” idfa.org
• Monticello.org, “Ice Cream” entry on Thomas Jefferson monticello.org
• Your AAA Network, “The History of Ice Cream Trucks” magazine.northeast.aaa.com
• FoodUnfolded, “The History of Ice Cream: From Milk Ice to Magnums” foodunfolded.com
• Frozen Dessert Supplies Blog, “A Sweet History of Ice Cream” (Emperor Nero) frozendessertsupplies.com

Stuck at her grandma’s quiet beach house with no Wi-Fi, twelve-year-old Delia Martinez expects the slowest summer ever—until a mysterious hand-drawn map falls from a dusty library book.
The X on the map leads her past the moonlit pier to a buried stone “tower” and a hidden door that clicks open at her touch. Inside waits the long-forgotten Sandcastle Society, a secret room filled with seashell mosaics and decades of kid-made journals begging for a new chapter.

Join Delia as she redecorates the hideout, uncovers snapshots of summers past, and writes a riddle that will launch the next explorer’s adventure. It’s a story about finding friendship, chasing curiosity, and learning that even the loneliest vacation can sparkle with magic.

What do ancient emperors, grumpy British men, and Japanese samurai have in common?

Umbrellas! In this 10-minute history-sode, Auntie Jo Jo takes you on a whirlwind tour through 4,000 years of umbrella history—from royal shade in ancient Egypt to being mocked in 1700s London.

Learn how umbrellas became more than just tools for rainy days—and how they once symbolized power, scandal, and rebellion.

Perfect for curious kids and adults around the world—rain or shine!

• British Library: “A Short History of the Umbrella”

• Smithsonian Magazine: “The Surprisingly Scandalous History of the Umbrella”

• National Museum of American History – Umbrella patents and folding innovations

• The Public Domain Review – Images and commentary on umbrella use in ancient art and culture

• BBC Bitesize – Historical uses of umbrellas in British weather and society

• History Today: “Jonas Hanway and the Umbrella Revolution”

• Japan Today / Nippon.com – Traditional wagasa umbrella history

• The Umbrella Shop (Australia & NZ) – Local culture and weather-adapted umbrella design

Summer has started… and Max and Rosie are ready for chaos, cereal, and no bedtime! But their parents? Well, they’re just trying to survive until September. In this funny, feel-good story perfect for kids and grown-ups, Auntie Jo Jo shares a tale that celebrates the messy magic of summer—and pokes just a little fun at what it’s like to parent through it.

(Spoiler: it involves glitter, flip-flops, and cold coffee.)

This story is great for kids around 5th grade and makes a fun listen for the whole family. Want us to return to The Secret Garden? Let me know in the comments!

On a hot summer day, there’s nothing better than a chilly popsicle... but did you know it was invented completely by accident—and by a kid?

In this refreshing history-sode, Auntie Jo Jo shares the story of 11-year-old Frank Epperson, who left his fruit soda mix outside one cold night in 1905 and woke up to find the first-ever frozen treat on a stick. From "Epsicle" to "Popsicle," discover how one happy mistake turned into a summertime favorite for kids everywhere.

• Popsicle® Official Website – History: https://www.popsicle.com

• NPR – "The Popsicle: Born of a Young Boy's Accidental Discovery"
  https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/07/08/199431646/the-popsicle-born-of-a-young-boys-accidental-discovery

• Smithsonian Magazine – "A History of Frozen Treats"
  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-brief-history-of-frozen-treats-1120635/

• Mental Floss – "The Accidental Invention of the Popsicle"
  https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/50106/accidental-invention-popsicle

In this chapter, Mary Lennox continues her exploration of the mysterious Misselthwaite Manor and its secret garden. As winter begins to fade, signs of life return to the moor—and to Mary’s spirit. She spots a curious bird, begins to understand the rhythms of nature, and senses that something magical is waiting just beyond the garden walls.

This is a longer episode, so settle in for a cozy storytime filled with curiosity, fresh air, and a touch of wonder.

✨ Chapter 11 starts at 00:53
🎧 Perfect for bedtime, quiet time, or a peaceful afternoon

Don’t forget to follow Auntie Jo Jo’s Library for weekly classic tales and history-sodes made just for curious young minds!

In the summer of 1518, a woman stepped into the streets of Strasbourg and began to dance. She didn’t stop for hours. Then days. Then weeks. Soon, hundreds had joined her—and some never stopped.

In this episode of our history-sode series, we dive into the mysterious and very real Dancing Plague of 1518. Why did it happen? Could people really dance themselves to death? And how did an entire city respond to the chaos? You’ll find out in this strange but true tale from the past.

• Waller, John. A Time to Dance, A Time to Die: The Extraordinary Story of the Dancing Plague of 1518. Icon Books, 2008.

• The Lancet, “Dancing Plague of 1518” (2004): https://www.thelancet.com

• History.com Editors. “The Dancing Plague of 1518.” History Channel, https://www.history.com/news/what-was-the-dancing-plague-of-1518

• Smithsonian Magazine. “The Dancing Plague of 1518.” https://www.smithsonianmag.com

In this episode, Mary continues to explore the mysteries of Misselthwaite Manor—and finally stumbles upon something magical. Join us for Chapters 9 and 10 of The Secret Garden, featuring a special guest reading of Chapter 10 by Amelia!

🌿 Secrets are beginning to bloom…

Did you know the ice cream cone wasn’t always a thing? In this sweet History-sode, Auntie Jo Jo takes you back to the 1904 World’s Fair, where a happy accident (and a nearby waffle vendor!) changed the dessert game forever. Learn how the cone became a handheld icon, hear about the folks who claimed to invent it, and discover a few fun facts to sprinkle on top of your day.

Perfect for your commute or a cozy moment before bed, this 10-minute treat will leave you hungry for more history.
Let’s scoop into the past—together!

• Smithsonian Magazine: “The Surprisingly Short History of the Ice Cream Cone”
  https://www.smithsonianmag.com

• Library of Congress: “Who Really Invented the Ice Cream Cone?”
  https://www.loc.gov

• National Museum of American History: “A Delicious Invention”
  https://americanhistory.si.edu

• Doumar’s Drive-In (Norfolk, VA) – Historical Background
  https://www.doumars.com

• U.S. Patent No. 746,971: Italo Marchiony’s Mold for Pastry Cup (1903)
  https://patents.google.com/patent/US746971

• Guinness World Records: “Most Ice Cream Scoops on a Single Cone”
  https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com