This week, we’re thrilled to welcome UK artist Michael J. Tinker to the podcast! Michael is a gifted musician and storyteller whose work blends faith, creativity, and heart in a way that resonates with listeners of all ages. In this episode, we delve into his incredible Christmas album, discussing the inspiration behind the songs and the absolute joy of weaving gospel truths into festive music.

We also explore Michael's broader ministry and the ways he uses his talents to share stories of hope and redemption. Whether you’re already a fan of his music or discovering him for the first time, this conversation will leave you inspired and ready to add some new tunes to your holiday playlist!

Tune in for an episode filled with warmth, humor, and a little Christmas magic!

You can connect with Michael and discover all the creative pies his fingers are in by visiting his website here.

You can support Michael by ordering his music directly through his store here.

The King Has Arrived by Michael J. Tinker (In case you don’t listen-my family absolutely LOVE this Christmas adventure album!)

Michael’s entire music catalogue for streaming is here on Bandcamp.

Adventures of the Juniper tv show, free on YouTube.

YouTube Christmas playlist.

Muppet “Pigs in Space”- YouTube link

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Jungle Jam and Friends the Radio Show

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Commando comic series

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Fantastic Mister Fox by Roald Dahl

Adventures in Odyssey the Radio Show

Morning & Evening by Charles Spurgeon

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

The Jack Reacher Series by Lee Child

The Green Ember Series by S.D. Smith

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

As You Wish by Cary Elwes - Audiobook

Faith, Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave and Seán O’Hagan- Content Consideration: Lots of swearing

Nellie Bly: America’s Greatest Reporter by Iris Noble- Coming in January 2025 from Renewed Books!

Thanks for listening to Stories from the Ashes! This episode is free so please share it and encourage a friend with a new holiday album!

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Today’s episode is extra special for all you classic children’s book lovers! I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Carrie Halim, the Curator of the Robert McCloskey Museum, who (let’s be honest) is basically living the dream. If you’ve ever imagined what it’s like to be surrounded by Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, and all things McCloskey, you’re in for a treat. Carrie shares how she fell in love with McCloskey’s work, the magic of curating such an iconic collection, and some behind-the-scenes stories from the museum. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering McCloskey’s timeless books, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to revisit your favorites.

Celebrate Robert McCloskey’s Ohio Roots: A Day of Donuts, Harmonica, and Kaleidoscopes!

Join us this Saturday, September 14th, for the grand finale of summer at the McCloskey Museum! We're celebrating Robert McCloskey’s Ohio heritage and literary legacy with a day full of fun and creativity. Enjoy donuts, harmonica tunes, and kaleidoscope-making as we honor the beloved author and illustrator. Special tributes from authors Glenn McCarty and Gary D. Schmidt, along with duckling and Lentil sculptor Nancy Schon, will make this event even more memorable.

Catch a performance of Lentil at the Hamilton Flea at 11 AM, and then join us at the museum from 12-4 PM to continue the festivities. It’s all happening on McCloskey’s birthday weekend at 20 High Street, Hamilton, Ohio. For more details, visit our Facebook group at McCloskey Wonder Works!

Books in this episode:

The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne

Frederick by Leo Lionni

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

Pilgrim’s Inn Elizabeth Goudge

Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey (on sale at time of posting!)

Lentil by Robert McCloskey

Homer Price books by Robert McCloskey

Centerburg Tales (also titled More Homer Price) by Robert McCloskey

Henry Reed series by Keith Robertson; illustrated by Robert McCloskey:

Henry Reed, Inc.

Henry Reed's Journey

Henry Reed's Babysitting Service

Henry Reed's Big Show

Henry Reed's Think Tank

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack; illustrated by Kurt Wiese

Robert McCloskey by Gary D. Schmidt

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Doodle’s Mountain by Amanda M. Brindley; illustrated by Sofia Rector

The Misadventured Summer of Tumbleweed Thompson by Glenn McCarty; illustrated by Joe Sutphin

Journey Cake, Ho! by Ruth Sawyer; illustrated by Robert McCloskey

Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man : A Tale of the Sea in Classic Tradition by Robert McCloskey

Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire Amy Guglielmo; illustrated by Jacqueline Tourville

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

John Philip Duck by Patricia Polacco

Once On a Time by A. A. Milne

The Magic Hill by A. A. Milne

The Childcraft books

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In this episode, we sit down with homeschool mom Kirsten Hill to discuss the joys and challenges of reading aloud to a primarily male audience. Kirsten shares her insights on selecting engaging books for boys, keeping their attention, and fostering a love of reading through captivating read-aloud sessions. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or librarian, you'll find valuable tips and recommendations to enhance your read-aloud experiences with boys.

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy

The White Stag by Kate Seredy

A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy

A Tune in the Tree by Maud Hart Lovelace

The Anna Hibiscus books by Atinuke

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

Percy Jackson and the Olympian series by Rick Riordan

Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell

Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

Johnny Tremain: A Story of Boston in Revolt by Esther Forbes

Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat

Rascal by Sterling North

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Landmark books

Guadalcanal Diary (Landmark)

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Never Cry Wolf by Farley Mowat

Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfeld

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers

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Our guest this week is Amanda Cleary Eastep, author of the Christian middle-grade series The Tree Street Kids from Moody Publishers.

Today’s Guest: Author Jamin Still

Tales of Hibaria: The Awakening by Jamin Still

The Master of Tides- Book 1 of The Tales of Hibaria by Jamin Still

Other titles in this episode:

The Green Ember

Skyward Series by Brandon Sanderson

The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers

Sonya’s Chickens by Phoebe Wahl

Even If He Doesn’t… What We Believe About God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense by Kristen LaValley

Get ready to spring into reading with our latest Stories from the Ashes episode, where we're showcasing a delightful lineup of children's books perfect for the season. From charming picture books to beloved read-alouds, we've handpicked a selection of stories that will spark imagination and inspire young readers. Plus, don't miss out on our exclusive Spring Reading Bundle (download below), complete with fun reading challenge bookmarks and book log sheets to keep little bookworms engaged all season long!

Tune in now and let's embark on a springtime literary conversation together!

And don’t miss our newly updated Easter Book List!

Books that came up in this episode:

The Easter Treat by Roger Duvoisin

The Easter Egg Artists (also published as The Paintbrush Bunny) by Adrienne Adams

Hurry, Spring! by Sterling North

Rascal by Sterling North

Sketching Outdoors in Spring by Jim Arnosky

There’s More… Much More by Sue Alexander

Spring is Like the Morning by M. Jean Craig

Hooray for Spring by Iwamuraby

Tiny Perfect Things by M.H. Clark

Spring Things by Maxine W. Kumin and Artur Marokvia

The Story of the Root Children by Sibylle von Offers

The Winter Wren by Brock Cole

Beatrice Potter, Scientist by Lindsay H. Metcalf

Pick, Pull, Snap! Where Once a Flower Bloomed by Lola M. Schaefer

Anywhere Farm by Phyllis Root

The Forever Garden by Laurel Snyder

The Boy Who Didn’t Believe in Spring by Lucille Clifton and Britton Turkle

A New Beginning: Celebrating the Spring Equinox by Wendy Pfeffer

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak

Spring an Alphabet Acrostic by Steven Schnur

Spring Thaw by Steven Schnur

Welcome Back Sun by Michael Emberley

When Spring Comes by Kevin Hanks

Silver by Walter de la Mare

Spring Song by Barbara Seuling

All’s Right with the World by Jennifer Adams

The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night by Peter Spier

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem

Hurray for Spring! by Patricia Hubbell

Miss Jaster’s Garden by N.M. Bodecker

Hanna’s Cold Winter by Trish Mark

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

The Gardener by Sarah Stewart

The Librarian by Sarah Stewart

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

The Narnia books by C.S. Lewis

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Spring Things by Bob Raczka

Hi, Mister Robin! by Alvin Tresselt and Roger Duvoisin

“Sweet Afton” (poem by Robert Burns)

“Pippa’s Song” (poem by Robert Browning)

Thanks for listening! If you’re looking for more seasonal books, be sure to check out our Winter Words Wonderland episode!

Join us in our conversation with Author and trusted Book Reviewer, Megan Saben. And find her book, Something Better Coming at the top of our Easter book list!

* The Redeemed Reader website where Megan shares book reviews.

* A page about Something Better Coming with a video preview.

* If you’re interested in hearing more on our discussion topic of Truth and Story, but specifically as found in picture books, here’s a taste on Redeemed Reader.

* A link to the fine art page for Megan’s illustrator friend, Ryan Flanders.

* Here’s a coupon code good for 10% off PLUS free media mail shipping through 3/31/2024. Good within the U.S. (International orders can contact Megan to see what you might work out.) Code: RESURRECTION24

* Westminster Kids carries Something Better Coming. They’re the only online store that does, besides ordering directly through Megan above. https://westminsterkids.com/products/7533495582920

Share this episode or Megan’s book with a friend!

The following book links are to the RA Amazon Storefront.

Books in this episode:

Something Better Coming by Megan Saben and Ryan Flanders

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss

“More Love to Thee” hymn by Elizabeth Prentiss- hear it here on YouTube

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Feminization of American Culture by Ann Douglas

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney

The Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood

I Spy books

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Mother West Wind stories by Thornton Burgess

A Year in the Big Old Garden by James D. Witmer

Bird Life in Wington by John Calvin Reid

Join Ambre, Charlesa, and Kimberly in this episode as they share their favorite winter books!

Get cozy with their top recommendations and don't miss out on our special winter bundle, featuring handy reading trackers and exciting short reading challenge bookmarks. Embrace the magic of winter reading with this delightful episode!

Winter Bundle PDF printable

In this episode, Kimberly reminisces about printing coloring sheets from Jan Brett’s website years ago, wondering if they are still available. Guess what? They are! Explore a plethora of options right here—so many delightful choices await!

Books shared in this episode:

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner

Bargain Bride by Evelyn Sibley Lampman

Hanna’s Cold Winter by Trish Marx

A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story for Knitting and Love by Michelle Edwards

The Fellowship of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

An Elephant in the Garden: Inspired by a True Story by Michael Morpurgo

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Cold Snap by Eileen Spinelli

Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John

Ellen and the Winter Wolves by Jamin Still

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

Derwood Inc. by Jeri Massi- Book 1 of The Peabody Series

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Jack and Jill: A Village Story by Louisa May Alcott

Brave Irene by William Steig

The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant

Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing & Lots More Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi and Ron Barrett

Miss Jaster’s Garden by N. M. Bodecker

The Duchess Bakes a Cake by Virginia Kahl

The Mitten by Jan Brett

The Hat by Jan Brett

The Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Henry the Explorer by Mark Taylor

The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc

“Winter” by Walter de la Mare (a Poem)- we also recommend de la Mare’s Snow.

The two books for Kimberly’s request for Russian fiction that I couldn’t recall in the moment were both by Theodore Acland Harper:

* His Excellency and Peter

* Siberian Gold

Kimberly’s song recommendation:

Relient K - In Like a Lion (always winter)

Thank you for joining us this week! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

Don't miss out on our complimentary literary catalogue, showcasing books our team has read and highly recommends!

Subscribe now for upcoming episodes filled with bookish delights and curated book lists. Elevate your reading journey with our recommendations and stay tuned for more literary adventures!

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Book links in this episode are to the Reshelving Alexandria Amazon storefront and using them supports our efforts to keep this podcast ad free.

With many in our community already elbow deep in our 2024 Reading Challenges, we thought it was a good time to listen in to Ambre and (RA Moderator) Kimberly Schluterman discuss how Kimberly approached the 2023 Reading Challenge.

Kimberly’s three most influential books:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Rocket Boys (The Coalwood Series #1), also published as October Sky by Homer H. Hickam Jr.

Kristy’s Great Idea (Baby-Sitter’s Club) by Ann M. Martin (Kimberly’s breakthrough into love of reading title)

Share this episode with a friend!

Books and resources discussed in the episode:

Feel free to order any titles through our storefront.

Love & Friendship movie (based on Lady Susan)

A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich

Dave Barry’s books

Elephant & Piggie Books

There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Goodnight Already! by Jory John & Benji Davies

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

The Complete Peanuts by Shulz

Poultrygeist by Eric Geron

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Garfield comics by Jim Davis

All Cats Are on the Autism Spectrum by Kathy Hoopmann (updated edition of All Cats Have Aspergers Syndrome)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

All of Jane Austen’s books

Baby Lit books

The Childhood of Famous Americans series

Keeper of the Bees by Gene Stratton Porter

Bargain Bride by Evelyn Sibley Lampman

Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Thanks for spending time with us! Subscribe for future episodes and free booklists!

Our guest this week is Anna Rose Johnson, author of the award winning The Star That Always Stays and the forthcoming The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry (pre-orders are open!).

Check out Anna Rose’s Instagram page for more genealogy information from The Star That Always Stays.

The Star That Always Stays

The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry

Books recommended in this episode by the host and guest:

Jane of Lantern Hill by L. M. Montgomery

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Emily of Deep Valley by Maud Hart Lovelace

The Betsy Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace- this is a graded series where the reading level and maturity of the content rises with eac book as the cast ages and matures. Content Considerations are available in our free literary catalogue.

The Shoe books by Noel Streatfeild- a ten book series

Melendy Quartet- four book series (The Saturdays, Then There Were Five, The Four-story Mistake, Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze)

Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright (two book series with Return to Gone-Away Lake)

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter (sequel to Pollyanna, for teens)

Maggie Rose, Her Birthday Christmas by Ruth Sawyer

The Mitchells series by Hilda Van Stockum (three book series: Five for Victory, Canadian Summer, Friendly Gables)

From Anna by Jean Little

Mine for Keeps by Jean Little

The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall

Vanderbeekers series by Karina Yan Glaser

Rosetown by Cynthia Rylant

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary (eight book series)

Thank you for joining us this week! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!

Be sure to check out our free literary catalogue of books our team has read and recommends! And subscribe for future episodes and book lists!

Book links in this episode are to the Reshelving Alexandria Amazon storefront.