Just Dads Reading Books

RedCircle VERIFY_TOKEN_c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759 -- Rendered At Thu, 28 May 2026 19:18:15 +0000 Just Dads Reading Books https://redcircle.com/shows/just-dads-reading-books en-US All rights reserved. E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Just Dads Reading Books is about understanding your children based on what they read. E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens investigate children's books and young adult novels so you don't have to. We'll never tell kids they can't read something, but we will try to make them feel cool for reading the good stuff. c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759 Just Dads Reading Books is about understanding your children based on what they read. E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens investigate children's books and young adult novels so you don't have to. We'll never tell kids they can't read something, but we will try to make them feel cool for reading the good stuff.

]]> episodic no E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com no full The Skull Revisted Revisted The Skull Revisted Revisted E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Don't be alarmed. It's just two dads here to engage in their yearly tradition. If you're seeing this, it's because we really love you and miss you. Enjoy!

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Don't be alarmed. It's just two dads here to engage in their yearly tradition. If you're seeing this, it's because we really love you and miss you. Enjoy! </p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> c0cb3a08-a72f-4ab3-82eb-559f90892443 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/860a9d4d-9e1d-464d-a287-f2eb716d91e6 Tue, 23 Sep 2025 20:05:29 +0000 2771 no full A JDRB Update A JDRB Update E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Hey there, it's been a minute. We've been struggling to hit a consistent schedule recently and we wanted to talk to you, our listeners, about this and how we'd like to update the show going forward to better fit in with some of the changing aspects of our lives.

We still love to read and react to these books together, and we want you to be a part of that, but we're going to shift some of our focus away from regular releases, and follow a bit more of our passions, which hopefully will include the ability to do more author interviews, like the one at the end of this episode with Intisar Khanani who we met at GenCon!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Hey there, it's been a minute. We've been struggling to hit a consistent schedule recently and we wanted to talk to you, our listeners, about this and how we'd like to update the show going forward to better fit in with some of the changing aspects of our lives.</p><p>We still love to read and react to these books together, and we want you to be a part of that, but we're going to shift some of our focus away from regular releases, and follow a bit more of our passions, which hopefully will include the ability to do more author interviews, like the one at the end of this episode with Intisar Khanani who we met at GenCon!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 89e30df9-75c0-4040-a323-e8364d497222 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/3149fdc4-bf41-42b4-96f8-22590a95e400 Tue, 01 Oct 2024 18:05:00 +0000 1482 no full Bea-Wolf Bea-Wolf E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Matt lacks the language of classical literature which meant his mind was measured and ripe for Zach Weinersmith's graphic novel depiction of Beowulf. EJ is bringing a bit more book-smarts to this beat, but honestly we're both just relishing in the rhythm of reading a prose as composed as this.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Matt lacks the language of classical literature which meant his mind was measured and ripe for Zach Weinersmith's graphic novel depiction of Beowulf. EJ is bringing a bit more book-smarts to this beat, but honestly we're both just relishing in the rhythm of reading a prose as composed as this.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 4704f96e-f607-47e1-9556-e66578157325 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/aff5c8c7-7ca4-48b7-bfbc-c07b9f8c3b26 Fri, 13 Sep 2024 02:17:35 +0000 1757 no full The Book of Three (w/ Cole Wehrle) The Book of Three (w/ Cole Wehrle) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We finally get to have a very special guest on JDRB! Cole Wehrle is here to join us as a fellow dad with a deep love for Lloyd Alexander. He loves the Chronicles of Prydain so much he made numerous overt references to it in his board game Oath, by Leder Games! But this isn't a board game show! Let's talk about the first book!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We finally get to have a very special guest on JDRB! Cole Wehrle is here to join us as a fellow dad with a deep love for Lloyd Alexander. He loves the Chronicles of Prydain so much he made numerous overt references to it in his board game Oath, by Leder Games! But this isn't a board game show! Let's talk about the first book!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 08a5fa90-9a4c-4804-ae4b-4240d8412d04 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/7746d475-4969-422c-b17a-984a7ca31fc0 Thu, 05 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0000 2273 no full The Skull Revisited The Skull Revisited E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens A year ago we read The Skull by Jon Klassen. And in it, Jon puts forward the idea that stories are interesting to retell in just the way you remember them. So we took that as a challenge and agreed to meet up one year later to see how well we could remember the story of The Skull.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>A year ago we read The Skull by Jon Klassen. And in it, Jon puts forward the idea that stories are interesting to retell in just the way you remember them. So we took that as a challenge and agreed to meet up one year later to see how well we could remember the story of The Skull.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 98708bd0-a70b-4e2e-8035-1593fe6eebab https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/9d9c7946-7617-4f16-bd08-c0e6e345581c Thu, 29 Aug 2024 05:00:00 +0000 1997 no full Carson Ellis Carson Ellis E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Where'd all the picture books go?! Don't worry, we're done with all that heavy TEEN stuff, and we're incredibly ecstatic to talk about Carson Ellis' work. Seriously, this is maybe an all-timer...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Where'd all the picture books go?! Don't worry, we're done with all that heavy TEEN stuff, and we're incredibly ecstatic to talk about Carson Ellis' work. Seriously, this is maybe an all-timer...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> fc9f361b-a5e2-40e7-9016-e2013872aa27 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/0b1a744e-86f3-4753-898d-89bdc0d378a6 Thu, 15 Aug 2024 12:45:00 +0000 2052 no full Blankets Blankets E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Matt read this graphic novel when he was 19 years old and boy I tell ya that's just a real wild time to be reading something like this. He decided he wanted to make his friend EJ sad for a little while, so he made him read it to. But what's it like to read it as an adult? Let's check in...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Matt read this graphic novel when he was 19 years old and boy I tell ya that's just a real wild time to be reading something like this. He decided he wanted to make his friend EJ sad for a little while, so he made him read it to. But what's it like to read it as an adult? Let's check in...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 074ca0c1-819c-4e20-bafe-e3cde70aaf9a https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/23136891-07ec-4f77-b0e8-0c4dcc9ec466 Fri, 09 Aug 2024 13:25:00 +0000 1939 no full A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens This is one of those books that has some delightful merit that we just bounced off of. It's an action-filled romp through an inventive world and maybe you just shouldn't listen to books like that like they're going out business. Either way, let's pick apart what didn't work for us!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>This is one of those books that has some delightful merit that we just bounced off of. It's an action-filled romp through an inventive world and maybe you just shouldn't listen to books like that like they're going out business. Either way, let's pick apart what didn't work for us!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 5ff65c39-e4c7-4f64-b760-bd2ca09bb383 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/30e140b4-d84a-4278-a82f-44081cdca7cc Thu, 18 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +0000 1708 no full Avatar: The Last Airbender - Imbalance Avatar: The Last Airbender - Imbalance E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens It's a big ol' finish line this week at JDRB. With this episode, we will have read all of the "critical path" Avatar books and comics that we intent to read (until these cool new Roku books come out...) So let's celebrate!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>It's a big ol' finish line this week at JDRB. With this episode, we will have read all of the "critical path" Avatar books and comics that we intent to read (until these cool new Roku books come out...) So let's celebrate!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> f5cb9076-bf1f-46d6-b53d-39195c72425b https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/b06b32fd-aed2-4f79-b2bb-8998fd1626f4 Thu, 11 Jul 2024 05:00:00 +0000 2326 no full Iron Widow Iron Widow E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens An episode so nice we recorded it twice! But also, JUST KIDDING, this isn't nice at all. This is possibly the most spiteful, angry book we've ever read and we loved every single page of it. What if Medieval China was just as patriarchal and oppressive, but also had giant mechs that fed off of the energy of the male pilot's female concubine? That one sentence should be enough to get you to read this book, so I don't know what you're still doing here...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>An episode so nice we recorded it twice! But also, JUST KIDDING, this isn't nice at all. This is possibly the most spiteful, angry book we've ever read and we loved every single page of it. What if Medieval China was just as patriarchal and oppressive, but also had giant mechs that fed off of the energy of the male pilot's female concubine? That one sentence should be enough to get you to read this book, so I don't know what you're still doing here...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> feedb542-a91e-4e5b-8698-c9482fa13286 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/77dc4f86-d3f3-4627-be64-3462dd534e1b Wed, 10 Jul 2024 02:05:00 +0000 1731 no full Jack Books by Mac Barnett Jack Books by Mac Barnett E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Early Reader books are a genre Matt and EJ have only lightly tapped into, and so far we're sticking to some reliable author/illustrators. Our most recent foray into this was the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems, and this time we're checking out the Jack Books by Jon Klassen's favorite collaborator Mac Barnett! These have a pretty bold take on kid's lit because they feature a main character who is constantly up to no good! Is that okay?!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Early Reader books are a genre Matt and EJ have only lightly tapped into, and so far we're sticking to some reliable author/illustrators. Our most recent foray into this was the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems, and this time we're checking out the Jack Books by Jon Klassen's favorite collaborator Mac Barnett! These have a pretty bold take on kid's lit because they feature a main character who is constantly up to no good! Is that okay?!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> cf99087f-7814-4ff5-9b14-b949092b97ad https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/b57867c0-0396-4402-92fb-9a0c63461ce7 Thu, 27 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0000 1542 no full What Girls Are Made Of What Girls Are Made Of E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens *CONTENT WARNING*

This is a heavy episode folks. Elana K. Arnold held nothing back in her book What Girls Were Made Of, so much so that Matt even questioned if he was fit to record a podcast about it. But we came out the other side stronger and more aware of how to talk about this kind of stuff so join us on this important journey, won't you?!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>*CONTENT WARNING*</p><p>This is a heavy episode folks. Elana K. Arnold held nothing back in her book What Girls Were Made Of, so much so that Matt even questioned if he was fit to record a podcast about it. But we came out the other side stronger and more aware of how to talk about this kind of stuff so join us on this important journey, won't you?!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> ad9e03cc-6a15-43e8-bcb5-bff37ef656d2 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/84d2ba2b-5e35-4d09-a45f-7a986fe1f6f6 Thu, 20 Jun 2024 05:00:00 +0000 2233 no full Avatar: The Last Airbender - North and South Avatar: The Last Airbender - North and South E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're gonna claim a handful of "endings" to our Avatar journey, and this is one of them! Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru have taken us on some delightful journeys and this is the last comic we get to read from them!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're gonna claim a handful of "endings" to our Avatar journey, and this is one of them! Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru have taken us on some delightful journeys and this is the last comic we get to read from them!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> ca125e15-7514-4397-87b2-a6450cdf3fe4 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/6c2673bc-8a82-49f2-94c1-2b351d20e9b1 Thu, 20 Jun 2024 03:43:48 +0000 2276 no full Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We discovered this hidden gem of an independent writer. He goes by Dr. Seuss and though you may have never heard of him, he wrote a lot of books! We wanted to do our civic duty and shine a light on an unappreciated artist. Thank goodness we won't have to talk about weird race stuff...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We discovered this hidden gem of an independent writer. He goes by Dr. Seuss and though you may have never heard of him, he wrote a lot of books! We wanted to do our civic duty and shine a light on an unappreciated artist. Thank goodness we won't have to talk about weird race stuff...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 64546cac-28d5-4f41-90e9-1fd689510294 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/e61c8438-e34d-4e1b-9ea0-f7c0a8a8240c Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:00:00 +0000 2278 no full Akata Woman Akata Woman E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens It's taken us a while, but we've finally finished our journey with Nnedi Okorafor! The series hasn't been concluded, but the most recent entry in the adventures of Sunny Nwazue, Akata Woman, was released 2022 and we'll wait as long as we must for whatever comes next. And with this entry, there's a lot of growing up to do!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>It's taken us a while, but we've finally finished our journey with Nnedi Okorafor! The series hasn't been concluded, but the most recent entry in the adventures of Sunny Nwazue, Akata Woman, was released 2022 and we'll wait as long as we must for whatever comes next. And with this entry, there's a lot of growing up to do!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> a50ae38c-c51d-4382-b00f-4c05c4ae144b https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/b5dbca80-c054-418e-882a-0fe32726d8c8 Fri, 10 May 2024 02:00:00 +0000 2249 no full Avatar: The Last Airbender - Smoke and Shadow Avatar: The Last Airbender - Smoke and Shadow E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We disappeared there for a little bit, but the Dads are back on track. What better way to bring this show back into the world than with our favorite thing: Avatar! We're nearing the end of our main arc of the Avatar graphic novels, so let's see how our latest entry compares to the rest of the series.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We disappeared there for a little bit, but the Dads are back on track. What better way to bring this show back into the world than with our favorite thing: Avatar! We're nearing the end of our main arc of the Avatar graphic novels, so let's see how our latest entry compares to the rest of the series.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> ce9a0769-e374-4941-a9ca-05620a62564f https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/2ac748d2-4f14-4bba-85b2-1815c2fa76c5 Sat, 27 Apr 2024 02:06:16 +0000 2142 no full Akata Warrior Akata Warrior E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We missed last week due to a horrible move across country for Matt leaving him computerless for more time than he expected! But it was all worth the wait because we finally get to talk about the follow up to Nnedi Okorafor's Akata Witch!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We missed last week due to a horrible move across country for Matt leaving him computerless for more time than he expected! But it was all worth the wait because we finally get to talk about the follow up to Nnedi Okorafor's Akata Witch!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 026a7015-a103-4ceb-b516-dc4ed51b1203 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/51d9abd9-efa6-44f8-bb10-faefdfe03d45 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000 2088 no full Mother Bruce Mother Bruce E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Read books with your kids. It's fun. But boy is it so much easier and more fun when you have books like Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins. Illustrations that evoke so much emotion, humor that actually works for all ages, and stories that are FUN to read. We've got a new favorite author/illustrator, folks...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Read books with your kids. It's fun. But boy is it so much easier and more fun when you have books like Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins. Illustrations that evoke so much emotion, humor that actually works for all ages, and stories that are FUN to read. We've got a new favorite author/illustrator, folks...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> fe2125da-0588-4e6a-b7af-4047061e6355 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/950e2bfa-6f18-438d-881e-c068f11713ad Thu, 14 Mar 2024 05:00:00 +0000 1868 no full Avatar: The Last Airbender - Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy Avatar: The Last Airbender - Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Quick! More Avatar while no one is looking! This is a quick look at a shorter Avatar comic, but also we finally get to start talking about the new live action Avatar series. We've only watched a couple of episodes, and we'll be slowly watching over the next few Avatar comic episodes, so join us for the ride!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Quick! More Avatar while no one is looking! This is a quick look at a shorter Avatar comic, but also we finally get to start talking about the new live action Avatar series. We've only watched a couple of episodes, and we'll be slowly watching over the next few Avatar comic episodes, so join us for the ride!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 9ee18864-454b-495d-ae72-fe2e6cf07154 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/b56f82c0-1d4c-44b3-8b19-493113bbc1ae Thu, 07 Mar 2024 06:00:00 +0000 1983 no full Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Rift Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Rift E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens One more! We're still putting off our Akata Warrior episode but we got our hands on the next set of Avatar graphic novels! This one is perhaps a less impressive entry than the first two, but honestly how is one supposed to compete with those in the first place? If anything, we get a nice filler episode that feels in line with the tone of the show itself!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>One more! We're still putting off our Akata Warrior episode but we got our hands on the next set of Avatar graphic novels! This one is perhaps a less impressive entry than the first two, but honestly how is one supposed to compete with those in the first place? If anything, we get a nice filler episode that feels in line with the tone of the show itself!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 5941dd82-655a-4492-a610-321650b1a2f6 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/79c48029-5861-4c49-8d3b-a2be1a285ed3 Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:10:00 +0000 2120 no full Olivia Olivia E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Picture books! We're delaying out Akata Warrior episode a little bit and in the meantime we read a bunch of Olivia books by Ian Falconer. They're a pleasant little look at a precocious little pig and it's hard to say whether the titles of the books are ever even relevant to the story in the books...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Picture books! We're delaying out Akata Warrior episode a little bit and in the meantime we read a bunch of Olivia books by Ian Falconer. They're a pleasant little look at a precocious little pig and it's hard to say whether the titles of the books are ever even relevant to the story in the books...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 09aaedf9-e376-4d0a-8e32-b192fa85ad85 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/aab302f7-9171-4f6c-936b-6d0790096cd5 Thu, 22 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +0000 1709 no full Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're back on that Avatar grind and galdarnit, they just keep bringing the hits. I'm actually not sure at this point why we didn't just start an Avatar podcast but it's beginning to feel like one!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're back on that Avatar grind and galdarnit, they just keep bringing the hits. I'm actually not sure at this point why we didn't just start an Avatar podcast but it's beginning to feel like one!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 8b575fdc-559f-43ae-9262-3ede69352875 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/86e1c6cc-8642-4ad8-bf14-4d475a827ed0 Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +0000 2073 no full Matthew Cordell Matthew Cordell E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're coming full circle on our list of Caldecott winners of the last decade. Matthew Cordell is one of the last ones on our list and we've been excited to read more by him since we read Wolf in the Snow over the holidays. He's a beautiful illustrator that tells a wide range of stories! Is he our favorite?! I don't know!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're coming full circle on our list of Caldecott winners of the last decade. Matthew Cordell is one of the last ones on our list and we've been excited to read more by him since we read Wolf in the Snow over the holidays. He's a beautiful illustrator that tells a wide range of stories! Is he our favorite?! I don't know!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 7c047594-dd95-430f-9981-2bc618d47eb6 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/20bf962e-7728-4f81-99db-846a1a25b827 Thu, 08 Feb 2024 13:45:00 +0000 2063 no full Akata Witch Akata Witch E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens New series time! We put Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor on our list when we started the show and it took us entirely too long to finally get around to reading it. And spoiler alert, it's so good we're absolutely reading the entire trilogy as fast as possible.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>New series time! We put Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor on our list when we started the show and it took us entirely too long to finally get around to reading it. And spoiler alert, it's so good we're absolutely reading the entire trilogy as fast as possible.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> ec6d0a9e-1660-43c9-b3eb-62a769b83183 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/cf29aab9-daf2-4e39-bae2-f49b067f551c Thu, 01 Feb 2024 06:00:00 +0000 2079 no full Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Promise E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We've watch the show and we've read the novels, but there's a huge swath of Avatar the Last Airbender universe we have left untapped, The Graphic Novels. We definitely didn't know what to expect but we should have higher hopes as Avatar never seems to disappoint. But when we started this series, we both started to wonder if this was the skippable bit of Avatar material and boy were we off base. Some truly stellar work is being done in these comics and we're not putting them down anytime soon.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We've watch the show and we've read the novels, but there's a huge swath of Avatar the Last Airbender universe we have left untapped, The Graphic Novels. We definitely didn't know what to expect but we should have higher hopes as Avatar never seems to disappoint. But when we started this series, we both started to wonder if this was the skippable bit of Avatar material and boy were we off base. Some truly stellar work is being done in these comics and we're not putting them down anytime soon.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 31869f8a-bb9f-4b77-bd64-5406347b43f5 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/33ed60c7-cdd3-47b1-8381-4dd75c41e25e Thu, 25 Jan 2024 20:10:00 +0000 1686 no full Doug Salati Doug Salati E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're catching up on a couple of recent Caldecott stragglers. Doug Salati is an illustrator who has worked with a number of different writers and the picture book he wrote himself, Hot Dog, won the 2023 Caldecott and boy do we agree with the committee on this one. Doug's work transports you to such specific, kind, casual worlds and we'd rather not leave.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're catching up on a couple of recent Caldecott stragglers. Doug Salati is an illustrator who has worked with a number of different writers and the picture book he wrote himself, Hot Dog, won the 2023 Caldecott and boy do we agree with the committee on this one. Doug's work transports you to such specific, kind, casual worlds and we'd rather not leave.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> f05df4dc-a599-4162-8b03-d2d66e2b8b8c https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/dde5f91d-43d4-400f-ae50-9bf120be9d6f Fri, 19 Jan 2024 14:51:49 +0000 2106 no full Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're back in Carlos Hernandez's wonderful Sal and Gabi universe which is actually infinite number of universes with infinite Sals and infinite Gabis and we must assume infinite EJs and Matts as well. The first book was a surprise hit for us and we want to see if the series can keep up the pace!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're back in Carlos Hernandez's wonderful Sal and Gabi universe which is actually infinite number of universes with infinite Sals and infinite Gabis and we must assume infinite EJs and Matts as well. The first book was a surprise hit for us and we want to see if the series can keep up the pace!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 9eff651a-0394-4cbe-9e76-d09d455ff811 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/8876bc1f-4743-4339-adf7-42572d00a208 Thu, 11 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +0000 1607 no full When the World Runs Dry When the World Runs Dry E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens New Year and that means it's time to make a change! And we've got a great idea for everyone: read When the World Runs Dry by Nancy Castaldo and then go get your representatives to take the water crisis more seriously! Thank goodness young adult books like this exist so that hopefully future generations can do a little bit better than the ones before them...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>New Year and that means it's time to make a change! And we've got a great idea for everyone: read When the World Runs Dry by Nancy Castaldo and then go get your representatives to take the water crisis more seriously! Thank goodness young adult books like this exist so that hopefully future generations can do a little bit better than the ones before them...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 87e8b441-58df-40e9-81a1-c63fd98acdba https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/1b1ee565-3966-4f8a-bd2f-2f47dedfb0b4 Thu, 04 Jan 2024 20:11:10 +0000 1859 no full Holiday Books! Holiday Books! E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Today, Matt and EJ are the odd couple. Matt loves holidays, and EJ apparently holds no love in his heart for them. Can Matt convince EJ that this is a fun time of year through the power of picture books?

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Today, Matt and EJ are the odd couple. Matt loves holidays, and EJ apparently holds no love in his heart for them. Can Matt convince EJ that this is a fun time of year through the power of picture books?</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 94e21eb8-9158-47ac-96ec-4f5d7f010ba7 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/93469af2-e20c-47c4-833f-b77be28fe5ec Thu, 28 Dec 2023 17:07:25 +0000 2745 no full More Mo Willems More Mo Willems E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens This guy has a lot of books! We recently discussed his series Elephant and Piggie, and we want to eventually cover the Pigeon books in depth, but today we're going to cover the grab bag of his other works!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>This guy has a lot of books! We recently discussed his series Elephant and Piggie, and we want to eventually cover the Pigeon books in depth, but today we're going to cover the grab bag of his other works!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 557773d0-e0ca-4d58-a4da-46ab9f57dbce https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/2ab55412-8384-426a-954d-59ff0a3a102f Thu, 28 Dec 2023 16:36:20 +0000 2903 no full Calvin and Hobbes Calvin and Hobbes E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're celebrating 50 episodes and taking it as an opportunity to just smile for over 40 minutes. We get to talk about Bill Watterson's legendary run of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. One of the most influential comic strips ever made, Calvin and Hobbes has an evergreen appeal that we just hope new generations aren't going to miss it. Please give your kids Calvin and Hobbes books. You will fundamentally improve their lives...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're celebrating 50 episodes and taking it as an opportunity to just smile for over 40 minutes. We get to talk about Bill Watterson's legendary run of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. One of the most influential comic strips ever made, Calvin and Hobbes has an evergreen appeal that we just hope new generations aren't going to miss it. Please give your kids Calvin and Hobbes books. You will fundamentally improve their lives...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 266130a1-f362-4f32-bfad-060a5da4c270 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/02354945-4f9c-4a39-93db-0f421a2f8950 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +0000 2494 no full Coraline Coraline E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're a bit late to be doing something spooky, but Coraline by Neil Gaiman is an all-timer so it seemed fine to talk about in December! And we didn't just read this book. This time we have fully consumed Coraline in nearly every medium it has ever appeared. Come listen to a discussion about the differences between the book, audiobook, graphic novel, and movie!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're a bit late to be doing something spooky, but Coraline by Neil Gaiman is an all-timer so it seemed fine to talk about in December! And we didn't just read this book. This time we have fully consumed Coraline in nearly every medium it has ever appeared. Come listen to a discussion about the differences between the book, audiobook, graphic novel, and movie!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> da47b8e5-eaf3-4261-8908-da96dffa5c57 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/da2ed46b-a26f-40ce-9fb0-5ccb4a2c0a68 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +0000 2071 no full Elephant and Piggie Elephant and Piggie E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens It's our first foray into Mo Willems! He's won more awards than almost any illustrator and he has multiple best selling series. We'll get to more of them eventually, but we wanted to start with the Elephant and Piggie series because both of our kids immediately gravitated towards these books and we couldn't stop reading them!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>It's our first foray into Mo Willems! He's won more awards than almost any illustrator and he has multiple best selling series. We'll get to more of them eventually, but we wanted to start with the Elephant and Piggie series because both of our kids immediately gravitated towards these books and we couldn't stop reading them!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> f8871b32-ec78-47a1-af8d-838ce1157729 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/6f552475-5ec8-414a-8ffd-47f9811969a8 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000 1720 no full Legacy of Yangchen (Avatar: The Last Airbender 4) Legacy of Yangchen (Avatar: The Last Airbender 4) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We've caught up to the last of F.C. Yee's books set in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe and guess what? We still love it and him. Honestly at this point this books can't really fail either of us, so prepare your ears to listen to two joyful dads.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We've caught up to the last of F.C. Yee's books set in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe and guess what? We still love it and him. Honestly at this point this books can't really fail either of us, so prepare your ears to listen to two joyful dads.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 93c97150-402d-430d-86b4-90a1bee42e18 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/d760fa3d-6836-41e6-ac89-8691937da1a8 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000 2041 no full Caldecott Winners Caldecott Winners E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens It's picture book time! We've dabbled a bit in award winning picture books and along that journey something we've started to wonder is what do these awards really mean? We're learning a lot about this industry and so we wanted to take some time to take a closer look at the Caldecott award for picture book illustrations. We've been able to get a decent look at the last decade of the Caldecott and thought we'd try to put some puzzle pieces together about what kind of books usually earn this prestigious award.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>It's picture book time! We've dabbled a bit in award winning picture books and along that journey something we've started to wonder is what do these awards really mean? We're learning a lot about this industry and so we wanted to take some time to take a closer look at the Caldecott award for picture book illustrations. We've been able to get a decent look at the last decade of the Caldecott and thought we'd try to put some puzzle pieces together about what kind of books usually earn this prestigious award.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 73faa18b-c2fe-4a64-92f8-0b6cc5cb31a8 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/fe8b0080-3749-47d5-b985-62b88f6f9633 Thu, 09 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000 2555 no full Dawn of Yangchen (Avatar: TLA 3) Dawn of Yangchen (Avatar: TLA 3) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens F.C. Yee recently released his final book set in the Avatar universe. This is a crime he has committed. His Avatar books are sublime and today we wanted to continue that series by reading it's third iteration, Dawn of Yangchen. We're introduced to a new Avatar in a different time period and surprise! It's a spy novel!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>F.C. Yee recently released his final book set in the Avatar universe. This is a crime he has committed. His Avatar books are sublime and today we wanted to continue that series by reading it's third iteration, Dawn of Yangchen. We're introduced to a new Avatar in a different time period and surprise! It's a spy novel!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 44aa9c14-a97c-41c3-82a8-7a424428ae52 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/dad0e86e-9919-4287-8388-a11856a841de Thu, 02 Nov 2023 13:42:00 +0000 2207 no full Mulysses Mulysses E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're winding down from our Lemony Snicket adventure and EJ spent some time recently in a friendly local book shop where he was captivated by the cover of today's book, Mulysses. It's a graphic novel from Norwegian artist Øyvind Torseter and it straddles the line of even qualifying as young adult fiction, but it was in a kid's store so it counts!

To learn more about Dad Suggests and check out his blog, go to https://www.dadsuggests.com/

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're winding down from our Lemony Snicket adventure and EJ spent some time recently in a friendly local book shop where he was captivated by the cover of today's book, Mulysses. It's a graphic novel from Norwegian artist Øyvind Torseter and it straddles the line of even qualifying as young adult fiction, but it was in a kid's store so it counts!</p><p>To learn more about Dad Suggests and check out his blog, go to <a href="https://www.dadsuggests.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.dadsuggests.com/</a></p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> c3687920-a7f9-4116-a192-2883610867ea https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/2219ab1f-ed87-4389-abeb-10fb5ecc6f25 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1994 no full Chapter 14 (Series of Unfortunate Events Finale) Chapter 14 (Series of Unfortunate Events Finale) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We finished a major arc of the show by reading all of A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It's been a long journey and we felt like taking time to think on the series as a whole. And you bet your bottom dollar we decided to arbitrarily rank all of the books...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We finished a major arc of the show by reading all of A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. It's been a long journey and we felt like taking time to think on the series as a whole. And you bet your bottom dollar we decided to arbitrarily rank all of the books...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 9130c64f-8231-4498-a101-7fad6368051f https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/5ff27c52-2aa3-47c2-858f-2cfd18a70c0c Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:25:47 +0000 2970 no full The End (Series of Unfortunate Events 13) The End (Series of Unfortunate Events 13) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We've come a long way and yet it feels like we're just lost at sea...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We've come a long way and yet it feels like we're just lost at sea...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 9622a047-a57b-4673-aca3-a71c1c254658 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/16070182-c412-4636-87e8-b06f4a214763 Fri, 13 Oct 2023 14:30:00 +0000 2706 no full The Penultimate Peril (Series of Unfortunate Events 12) The Penultimate Peril (Series of Unfortunate Events 12) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're almost done! Or are we done? So much happens in this book it's honestly hard to talk about. So here, at the 11th hour we're actually going to offer up a bit of a spoiler-free conversation about the Penultimate Peril. That's how bad we want you to just go out and read it for yourself.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're almost done! Or are we done? So much happens in this book it's honestly hard to talk about. So here, at the 11th hour we're actually going to offer up a bit of a spoiler-free conversation about the Penultimate Peril. That's how bad we want you to just go out and read it for yourself.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> c7cb77cc-510c-4891-9ade-f63e456e222a https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/9c8c9885-9382-430d-ac1f-f5d8a8c2bf42 Thu, 05 Oct 2023 05:00:00 +0000 2019 no full JDRB Road Trip JDRB Road Trip E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Here's an odd little episode for you: EJ and Matt took a long road trip in August of 2023 and decided to record their road chat. This isn't a 30 minute episode about a book, it's an hour long conversation with a handful of tangents. Consider it a celebration of 40 JDRB episodes. We talk about growing up, our reading history, disc golf, poker, and being dads. We hope you enjoy it and sorry it sounds like we are in a car. It's only because we were.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Here's an odd little episode for you: EJ and Matt took a long road trip in August of 2023 and decided to record their road chat. This isn't a 30 minute episode about a book, it's an hour long conversation with a handful of tangents. Consider it a celebration of 40 JDRB episodes. We talk about growing up, our reading history, disc golf, poker, and being dads. We hope you enjoy it and sorry it sounds like we are in a car. It's only because we were.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 484971f3-8c24-4f1d-bbb2-0f29c7111cc6 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/f19326e3-d8e1-4349-ab89-e9adba7bec8e Thu, 28 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000 3723 no full The Grim Grotto (Series of Unfortunate Events 11) The Grim Grotto (Series of Unfortunate Events 11) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We've been referencing this book for week's now as a supposed low point in the series, but it's been years since either of us have read it. Is it a boring, bottle episode of a book, or is there more deep its murky depths? Either way, it's uncharted territory for Matt from here on out!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We've been referencing this book for week's now as a supposed low point in the series, but it's been years since either of us have read it. Is it a boring, bottle episode of a book, or is there more deep its murky depths? Either way, it's uncharted territory for Matt from here on out!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> da2b1fd5-1638-4347-8da9-53f83384a011 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/48254de2-595c-4986-8094-816a5498fb97 Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:15:00 +0000 2588 no full The Skull The Skull E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Jon Klassen has a new book out and we're newly inducted Klassenites so we had to check it out. AND BOY WE WEREN'T PREPARED. It is stylistically beautiful, conceptually brilliant, and absolutely hilarious. And critically, we'll be revisiting this book in one year's time...so see you then!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Jon Klassen has a new book out and we're newly inducted Klassenites so we had to check it out. AND BOY WE WEREN'T PREPARED. It is stylistically beautiful, conceptually brilliant, and absolutely hilarious. And critically, we'll be revisiting this book in one year's time...so see you then!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 65259f42-3fe9-458c-b9b5-21f81e69e67f https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/7817d974-dd11-442a-9ce4-d012e098078b Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:15:00 +0000 2131 no full The Slippery Slope (Series of Unfortunate Events 10) The Slippery Slope (Series of Unfortunate Events 10) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens The adventure continues with Baudelaires all doing a bit of growing up! We get some big, heavy new themes in the 10th entry of the Series of Unfortunate Events and we couldn't be more excited to see how the story changes as our three protagonists mature and get a bit wiser.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>The adventure continues with Baudelaires all doing a bit of growing up! We get some big, heavy new themes in the 10th entry of the Series of Unfortunate Events and we couldn't be more excited to see how the story changes as our three protagonists mature and get a bit wiser.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 960c4449-db12-4594-bfd8-323e1b32ae9b https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/aa9226a4-d81d-49ad-afa5-ceeb6071746e Thu, 07 Sep 2023 14:01:41 +0000 2027 no full A Wizard of Earthsea A Wizard of Earthsea E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens This week we unexpectedly returned to our "Road to Pratchett" mini-arc by reading the legendary fantasy novel from Ursula K. LeGuin, A Wizard of Earthsea. The best part is we each had wildly different reactions to the book. One of us listened to it and bounced off it and the other read it with our eyeballs and fell desperately in love...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>This week we unexpectedly returned to our "Road to Pratchett" mini-arc by reading the legendary fantasy novel from Ursula K. LeGuin, A Wizard of Earthsea. The best part is we each had wildly different reactions to the book. One of us listened to it and bounced off it and the other read it with our eyeballs and fell desperately in love...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> e5e6f656-1a2c-4b9e-bfff-ba2ffde3c7d3 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/f0b22d1a-7886-42be-9a87-d8876e2719e1 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000 2126 no full The Carnivorous Carnival (Series of Unfortunate Events 9) The Carnivorous Carnival (Series of Unfortunate Events 9) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We continue our journey through Lemony Snicket's escapades with a sleeper hit! Perhaps the silliest of all of the books is also the one that finally makes the world feel whole and unique and some important ground work is laid for the thickening mystery behind VFD and all it's past and present members.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We continue our journey through Lemony Snicket's escapades with a sleeper hit! Perhaps the silliest of all of the books is also the one that finally makes the world feel whole and unique and some important ground work is laid for the thickening mystery behind VFD and all it's past and present members.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 17551091-f27e-489c-b2d9-110a80b37c70 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/df02a5ab-9cc0-48d4-85c8-a93295eac817 Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1990 no full Flora & Ulysses Flora & Ulysses E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We've been having a categorically dark and/or bad time on the show recently. Not with bad books but with SAD books, so we asked everyone to tell us about a happy, good time book. Well we were recommended Flora & Ulysses and I hate to report we did not have a good time... Let's talk about why this beloved book didn't quite work for us.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We've been having a categorically dark and/or bad time on the show recently. Not with bad books but with SAD books, so we asked everyone to tell us about a happy, good time book. Well we were recommended Flora & Ulysses and I hate to report we did not have a good time... Let's talk about why this beloved book didn't quite work for us.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 36b0d559-a108-46d9-88a7-7a58e03a78f2 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/9c1b3b67-ed94-47a1-bd25-1f0cdebcc808 Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1947 no full The Hostile Hospital (Series of Unfortunate Events 8) The Hostile Hospital (Series of Unfortunate Events 8) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Our Series on a Series of Unfortunate Events continues in one of the perhaps most patently absurd stories in the set. Why are we at a hospital? How does no one know that's just a baby in a doctor's coat? We're really just going to get someone's head open in front of a crowd of people?

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Our Series on a Series of Unfortunate Events continues in one of the perhaps most patently absurd stories in the set. Why are we at a hospital? How does no one know that's just a baby in a doctor's coat? We're really just going to get someone's head open in front of a crowd of people?</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 8f19d2a5-1189-4f0f-bb4f-f87e4896df61 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/d1647aa7-587c-4cb7-a381-c66a6e00da80 Thu, 10 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1929 no full Thornhill Thornhill E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens **THIS EPISODE CONTAINS DISCUSSION ABOUT SUICIDE. PLEASE TAKE CARE WHEN LISTENING, ESPECIALLY AROUND CHILDREN**

Matt found a book at the library with a fascinating structure and then it ruined his whole day. Thornhill is a horror in the truest sense of the word and analyzing what that means for children might take a bit of work...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS DISCUSSION ABOUT SUICIDE. PLEASE TAKE CARE WHEN LISTENING, ESPECIALLY AROUND CHILDREN**</p><p>Matt found a book at the library with a fascinating structure and then it ruined his whole day. Thornhill is a horror in the truest sense of the word and analyzing what that means for children might take a bit of work...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 4dd048f5-9da8-46a0-9850-ba556e9ef97b https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/7ce1867b-9403-4bef-b1f8-54387f324427 Thu, 03 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1885 no full The Vile Village (Series of Unfortunate Events 7) The Vile Village (Series of Unfortunate Events 7) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens It's an exciting week because we start to really slow down with Lemony Snicket's sad adventure. We've been burning through the early books in the series mostly out of sheer excitement to get to this arc of it. Vile Village kicks off much bigger mysteries being established and the questions surrounding the VFD become the forefront of each book. So join us as we explore the rest of one of our favorite childhood series!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>It's an exciting week because we start to really slow down with Lemony Snicket's sad adventure. We've been burning through the early books in the series mostly out of sheer excitement to get to this arc of it. Vile Village kicks off much bigger mysteries being established and the questions surrounding the VFD become the forefront of each book. So join us as we explore the rest of one of our favorite childhood series!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 66238b87-86b7-42bc-95e2-463bba46bcef https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/261af644-0d16-4576-80aa-51d81908a5b6 Thu, 27 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1968 no full Watership Down Watership Down E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We've had this book on our list for a long time and we're finally ready to tackle the behemoth that is Watership Down. Or at least one of us is. Maybe Matt is a coward, or maybe it's just a very big book that Matt didn't appropriately make time for. Either way, EJ is here with all the love in the world for the biggest bunny book there is.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We've had this book on our list for a long time and we're finally ready to tackle the behemoth that is Watership Down. Or at least one of us is. Maybe Matt is a coward, or maybe it's just a very big book that Matt didn't appropriately make time for. Either way, EJ is here with all the love in the world for the biggest bunny book there is.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 4c1f5cc9-f3a1-4ab6-b677-32291e226ed0 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/8dc5cf48-85c8-48a4-85a9-3657958bf0f3 Thu, 20 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1898 no full Yuyi Morales Yuyi Morales E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Yuyi Morales is one of those picture book author/illustrators that truly feels like an artist first. Her books are stunning to behold and that's before you even get into the stories and messages. She also tells captivating tales about love, family, immigration, the environment, and art itself. And sometimes, it's just a perfect book about a toddler luchador...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Yuyi Morales is one of those picture book author/illustrators that truly feels like an artist first. Her books are stunning to behold and that's before you even get into the stories and messages. She also tells captivating tales about love, family, immigration, the environment, and art itself. And sometimes, it's just a perfect book about a toddler luchador...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> e305ff00-758e-4ccb-a167-08719d7287bd https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/3c766f34-ea98-4575-a74a-66fc7cff9230 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1732 no full Sal and Gabi Break the Universe Sal and Gabi Break the Universe E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens EJ has had his heart ripped through a portal and smashed wide open. This book is a magical tale of empathy and care and go read it right now and what are you still doing here and sure listen to our show but just go read this book, okay?!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>EJ has had his heart ripped through a portal and smashed wide open. This book is a magical tale of empathy and care and go read it right now and what are you still doing here and sure listen to our show but just go read this book, okay?!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 9f241752-3c0f-4793-afe4-8c6092216fdc https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/dfd3bfcc-0d64-4067-bbb4-26e8a332fdb0 Thu, 06 Jul 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1877 no full A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 4-6 A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 4-6 E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Our ongoing big project on JDRB is Matt and E.J's obsession with reliving Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. Today we barrel through the end of the "Guardian Arc" meaning it's time to talk about 3 young adult novels very quickly!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Our ongoing big project on JDRB is Matt and E.J's obsession with reliving Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. Today we barrel through the end of the "Guardian Arc" meaning it's time to talk about 3 young adult novels very quickly!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 9dceb6e4-b425-4c14-94c9-be6a672f8296 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/45cfb0e3-ce10-4cbe-a078-f2b5f4fade43 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000 2497 no full Jon Scieszka Jon Scieszka E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Our first attempt to cover picture books was Jon Scieszka's Cowboy and Octopus. Since then, we've learned we can squeeze a lot more books into a single episode, so it was high time we came back around to cover more works by this hilarious author!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Our first attempt to cover picture books was Jon Scieszka's Cowboy and Octopus. Since then, we've learned we can squeeze a lot more books into a single episode, so it was high time we came back around to cover more works by this hilarious author!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 19f5a97f-1f7d-478a-b749-c1e5d363046b https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/1639573e-f6a1-44a4-a313-ba5f270ea4b5 Thu, 22 Jun 2023 12:55:00 +0000 1787 no full Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson Book 2) Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson Book 2) E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We made a solemn vow last week. After getting excited for mediocre young adult fiction, we though it would be a good idea to return to where Just Dads Reading Books all began. I am sad to report this was not our best decision and for all of you Percy Jackson fans out there, I'm sorry. This guy just can't seem to win us over...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We made a solemn vow last week. After getting excited for mediocre young adult fiction, we though it would be a good idea to return to where Just Dads Reading Books all began. I am sad to report this was not our best decision and for all of you Percy Jackson fans out there, I'm sorry. This guy just can't seem to win us over...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 0eff988a-4b1f-41bf-8f25-2503ba9f7585 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/8209de5e-a613-4c5f-b6f5-e74368d3511e Thu, 15 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1861 no full Seance Tea Party Seance Tea Party E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Matt and EJ went on a trip to beautiful Portland, Oregon and made sure to stop by the massive Powell's Books. While there, they encountered a shelf of books recommended BY CHILDREN and decided to pick the book with the best pitch. Seance Tea Party, recommended by Avi, is that book and it means we get our first excuse to check out a graphic novel for the show!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Matt and EJ went on a trip to beautiful Portland, Oregon and made sure to stop by the massive Powell's Books. While there, they encountered a shelf of books recommended BY CHILDREN and decided to pick the book with the best pitch. Seance Tea Party, recommended by Avi, is that book and it means we get our first excuse to check out a graphic novel for the show!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> e2a86383-f040-490d-aa04-e9e1f809bee1 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/f396df7b-23a5-4aad-af90-98e29e00278a Thu, 08 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1962 no full The Woman I Kept to Myself The Woman I Kept to Myself E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens It's time for a first for JDRB. We haven't properly tackled poetry yet, despite a phase of trying to read poems at the end of episodes. But we stumbled upon an absolute must read by Julia Alvarez and we can't stop talking about it...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>It's time for a first for JDRB. We haven't properly tackled poetry yet, despite a phase of trying to read poems at the end of episodes. But we stumbled upon an absolute must read by Julia Alvarez and we can't stop talking about it...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 3e3c8eee-01ac-4028-87b2-b8387d7aea8d https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/5adb6d94-c5b9-4edf-ab4e-55caab0ddc1d Thu, 01 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0000 2617 no full Holes Holes E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We decided this week to read a stone cold classic and the book was so nice we recorded it twice. There's a first pass at this episode we recording that will now be lost to time, but never you worry because EJ and Matt are DADS which means we're used to telling the same jokes more than once. And besides, Holes rules and everyone knows it. You don't need us to tell you twice.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We decided this week to read a stone cold classic and the book was so nice we recorded it twice. There's a first pass at this episode we recording that will now be lost to time, but never you worry because EJ and Matt are DADS which means we're used to telling the same jokes more than once. And besides, Holes rules and everyone knows it. You don't need us to tell you twice.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> b20aa850-b7f4-4635-bf31-015fa3d8d4c9 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/c27e1696-b351-4051-b9ba-e463ca21e708 Thu, 25 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000 2647 no full Mort Mort E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Terry Pratchett is back! And this time we're reading his Masterpiece, according to Neil Gaiman. This is the first book in the "Death" based Discworld series and it absolutely earned it's legendary status. We reckon with it brilliant pacing, hilarious wordplay, and come to some conclusion about our ongoing "Road to Pratchett" arc.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Terry Pratchett is back! And this time we're reading his Masterpiece, according to Neil Gaiman. This is the first book in the "Death" based Discworld series and it absolutely earned it's legendary status. We reckon with it brilliant pacing, hilarious wordplay, and come to some conclusion about our ongoing "Road to Pratchett" arc.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> d71c5e6a-0849-40c5-8367-70ec41ac2dec https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/53b4c324-6320-4f83-b86e-f858b547bda4 Thu, 11 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000 2040 no full Peter H. Reynolds Peter H. Reynolds E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens It's a picture book episode! This time we're tackling Writer/Illustrator Peter H. Reynolds who has a sharp focus on artist expression and trying to encourage and uplift kids. Some of it reads like motivational speaking, but when it works it works exceptionally well!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>It's a picture book episode! This time we're tackling Writer/Illustrator Peter H. Reynolds who has a sharp focus on artist expression and trying to encourage and uplift kids. Some of it reads like motivational speaking, but when it works it works exceptionally well!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> a3ee733d-1ec2-4cf9-bcd3-c5b4610f9fc3 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/c9befa0f-353e-40e1-b031-1354f7096027 Thu, 04 May 2023 13:10:00 +0000 2137 no full Kira-Kira Kira-Kira E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens On this special presentation of Just Sads Reading Books, Matt and EJ grapple with how to get your kids to read important books. Do our children care about Newberry medal winners, or is that just for us? Or is it all Captain Underpants?

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>On this special presentation of Just Sads Reading Books, Matt and EJ grapple with how to get your kids to read important books. Do our children care about Newberry medal winners, or is that just for us? Or is it all Captain Underpants?</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 894670c0-9117-4a1e-aead-1b831a2b12aa https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/3e79611f-78cb-4fcc-b1dc-4db9a1817a16 Thu, 27 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1810 no full Howl's Moving Castle Howl's Moving Castle E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens What an exciting week for everyone. EJ read AND watched, for the first time in his life, one of Matt's favorite movies, Howl's Moving Castle. Matt had never read the book, so they're both entitled to a bit of whimsy, charm, and magic and it'd be great if you joined in!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>What an exciting week for everyone. EJ read AND watched, for the first time in his life, one of Matt's favorite movies, Howl's Moving Castle. Matt had never read the book, so they're both entitled to a bit of whimsy, charm, and magic and it'd be great if you joined in!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 3c271b17-cbf9-413c-b591-022dfa02e768 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/a375eff6-cdf5-4e53-a782-ace431cc49e2 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:50:00 +0000 2105 no full A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-3 A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-3 E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens So today begins a project we've wanted to do for a long time. EJ and Matt both grew up on A Series of Unfortunate Events, and it's high time we relived it! We're starting really fast by burning through the first 3 books, The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window, but we promise not every Lemony Snicket episode will be so many books at once. But let's see how the memory of these books, the Jim Carrey movie, and the recent Neil Patrick Harris series live up to a modern reread.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>So today begins a project we've wanted to do for a long time. EJ and Matt both grew up on A Series of Unfortunate Events, and it's high time we relived it! We're starting really fast by burning through the first 3 books, The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window, but we promise not every Lemony Snicket episode will be so many books at once. But let's see how the memory of these books, the Jim Carrey movie, and the recent Neil Patrick Harris series live up to a modern reread.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 61fdd4f9-f38b-4e7d-b8a8-798ee2818103 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/aea91462-48c0-480d-9a76-6177c4ef53c2 Thu, 13 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000 2113 no full Now Look What You've Done - Timmy Failure Book 2 Now Look What You've Done - Timmy Failure Book 2 E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We missed our best friend in the whole world. We haven't seen what Timmy Failure is up to since episode 2 of the show and it was time to check in on our favorite Failure. This time: more plot, less polar bear...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We missed our best friend in the whole world. We haven't seen what Timmy Failure is up to since episode 2 of the show and it was time to check in on our favorite Failure. This time: more plot, less polar bear...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> c3d8fc18-dd55-4435-b11e-f1ce89e27e00 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/721de8fa-539e-4d66-8fac-8f9e4f254d9c Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:45:00 +0000 1679 no full Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're following up last week's heavy teen novel with a much lighter teen novel. IEitLoaC is a book about a girl with no arms. But more than that, it's like if Freaks and Geeks took place in an old western theme park.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're following up last week's heavy teen novel with a much lighter teen novel. IEitLoaC is a book about a girl with no arms. But more than that, it's like if Freaks and Geeks took place in an old western theme park.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> d6b08766-0723-40a9-bb5e-118166cdc886 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/6ce6e430-13c1-4bab-a4c3-13c1d3bf7a03 Thu, 30 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000 1840 no full The Last Cuentista The Last Cuentista E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We found one! Today's book is a recent Science Fiction entry in the Young Adult category and I'll tell ya this: It does not hold back. We wondered aloud before whether sci-fi was at times too cerebral of a genre to be a mainstay in the world of young fiction, but The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera didn't get that memo. It visceral, authentic, and emotionally told and gets top marks from this show.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We found one! Today's book is a recent Science Fiction entry in the Young Adult category and I'll tell ya this: It does not hold back. We wondered aloud before whether sci-fi was at times too cerebral of a genre to be a mainstay in the world of young fiction, but The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera didn't get that memo. It visceral, authentic, and emotionally told and gets top marks from this show.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 340c6cb2-79e1-4b15-8c13-e62d61cd434d https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/a821cc53-86e1-42e9-b958-8494aa02b53c Thu, 23 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000 2256 no full Eragon Eragon E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens It's time to dive into the deep end on our journey through children's fantasy books with Christopher Paolini's Eragon. It's a thick book about a fantasy word with magic and dragons, what more could you ask for?

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>It's time to dive into the deep end on our journey through children's fantasy books with Christopher Paolini's Eragon. It's a thick book about a fantasy word with magic and dragons, what more could you ask for?</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 769d1c93-b4e5-4b70-aea7-4782c5e1d955 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/d8144937-9fc3-436e-bb73-03868b1d07e1 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:35:00 +0000 1882 no full Sophie Blackall Sophie Blackall E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We've got another week of PICTURE BOOKS! Last week was the patently fiction surrealism of David Wiesner and this week is a 180 degree turn into the non-fiction of Sophie Blackall. She covers a very broad range in the books she's written herself or illustrated for and we want to get a sense of what it's like to do heavy research for a children's book.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We've got another week of PICTURE BOOKS! Last week was the patently fiction surrealism of David Wiesner and this week is a 180 degree turn into the non-fiction of Sophie Blackall. She covers a very broad range in the books she's written herself or illustrated for and we want to get a sense of what it's like to do heavy research for a children's book.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> c561815d-60d3-4751-a2df-0574b3437431 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/efd1f7a3-585c-49b7-8baf-8e77b772ccf6 Thu, 09 Mar 2023 13:55:00 +0000 1545 no full David Wiesner David Wiesner E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens It's picture book time! David Wiesner is a THREE TIME Caldecott winner and felt deeply nostalgic for these two millennials. Come exam wordless children's fiction with us and what it means to engage in books WITH your kid.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>It's picture book time! David Wiesner is a THREE TIME Caldecott winner and felt deeply nostalgic for these two millennials. Come exam wordless children's fiction with us and what it means to engage in books WITH your kid.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 2b298baa-14ae-40ab-9ab0-2ffaaa3f3877 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/d3af763b-105a-4b2a-a143-9ec027b6a7d6 Thu, 02 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000 2115 no full Root Magic Root Magic E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens This week we grabbed a book off the shelf with no research ahead of time. Root Magic is a recent release and the cover looked cool and lemme tell ya we lucked out. An amazing story about American history, family, and the horror of authority and difficulty in trusting others. Please check out Root Magic with us.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>This week we grabbed a book off the shelf with no research ahead of time. Root Magic is a recent release and the cover looked cool and lemme tell ya we lucked out. An amazing story about American history, family, and the horror of authority and difficulty in trusting others. Please check out Root Magic with us.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> b38da376-993c-40e4-879c-343df70f4925 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/3226822e-0b5c-4727-b3f9-0538167b5b21 Thu, 23 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000 2012 no full Tale of Despereaux Tale of Despereaux E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We have a new quest on the show following our episode on Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett. We loved the humor of Pratchett's fantasy setting but we felt like a young reader would need more a baseline to enjoy the parody. So now we begin our quest for good, simplistic and impactful fantasy books for kids so that by the time they're 12 or so they are fully Primed for Pratchett.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We have a new quest on the show following our episode on Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett. We loved the humor of Pratchett's fantasy setting but we felt like a young reader would need more a baseline to enjoy the parody. So now we begin our quest for good, simplistic and impactful fantasy books for kids so that by the time they're 12 or so they are fully Primed for Pratchett.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> c27cb248-7434-4763-a553-84291d6b366b https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/4dab3155-5086-4cf7-b2c7-7d84ef0d300d Thu, 16 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000 1832 no full Jon Klassen Jon Klassen E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Last week we checked out a single picture book. This week, we're attempting to evolve our format for picture books by evaluating the work of a single Author or Illustrator. In this case, BOTH! Jon Klassen is an award winning children's book creator whose works evoke wholly unique and specific humor and setting that we can't get enough of!

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Last week we checked out a single picture book. This week, we're attempting to evolve our format for picture books by evaluating the work of a single Author or Illustrator. In this case, BOTH! Jon Klassen is an award winning children's book creator whose works evoke wholly unique and specific humor and setting that we can't get enough of!</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> cb7a7ba5-2019-4e03-ac9d-0b0fa801d4cf https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/26cb3cf5-e84d-4a2c-93ce-a8cb3b4583f6 Thu, 09 Feb 2023 16:45:00 +0000 1979 no full Cowboy and Octopus Cowboy and Octopus E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens That's enough of that sophisticated Young Adult stuff. It's time to get into the REAL LITERATURE. That's right, this is a show about children's books and it's high time we actually talked about a picture book. We start with one of the most abstract, bizarre picture books either of us have ever encountered, Cowboy and Octopus. From the creator of The Stinky Cheese Man comes this fascinating lucid dream about friendship and acceptance? This one is a trip, y'all.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>That's enough of that sophisticated Young Adult stuff. It's time to get into the REAL LITERATURE. That's right, this is a show about children's books and it's high time we actually talked about a picture book. We start with one of the most abstract, bizarre picture books either of us have ever encountered, Cowboy and Octopus. From the creator of The Stinky Cheese Man comes this fascinating lucid dream about friendship and acceptance? This one is a trip, y'all.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 94367056-f82a-41f7-b78e-37c4826d054a https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/34c502b9-cf12-4a68-87f4-eeb3ffbc4817 Thu, 02 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000 1725 no full Guards! Guards! Guards! Guards! E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Your dads have never ventured into the Discworld of Terry Pratchett, and that's a real shame. So, for their first dive, they're going with book 1 of the City Watch series. It's a hilarious book that bring about some bigger questions about fantasy tropes and fantasy written for young people.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Your dads have never ventured into the Discworld of Terry Pratchett, and that's a real shame. So, for their first dive, they're going with book 1 of the City Watch series. It's a hilarious book that bring about some bigger questions about fantasy tropes and fantasy written for young people.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> ce4d8569-0306-4c69-bbbe-0eb25f648922 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/c5987633-f5fe-4ce0-ac0f-9affda0fc2b5 Thu, 26 Jan 2023 20:41:12 +0000 1819 no full The Shadow of Kyoshi - Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 2 The Shadow of Kyoshi - Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 2 E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens We're back with more fawning over the world of Avatar and the words of F.C. Yee. This book is the conclusion (for now?) of Kyoshi's arc and builds a lot off of the first entry in this series. It is violent and complex and tough to say this even qualifies as a kids book. But it's set in a universe that was supposed to be for a kid's TV show, so I don't know what to tell you. We make the rules around here, okay?

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>We're back with more fawning over the world of Avatar and the words of F.C. Yee. This book is the conclusion (for now?) of Kyoshi's arc and builds a lot off of the first entry in this series. It is violent and complex and tough to say this even qualifies as a kids book. But it's set in a universe that was supposed to be for a kid's TV show, so I don't know what to tell you. We make the rules around here, okay?</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 0c976677-57d6-48ad-940f-539ab4bf83f9 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/3ec16028-329b-4491-843a-1b7f2e8cc391 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 06:05:00 +0000 2020 no full The 1619 Project: Born on the Water The 1619 Project: Born on the Water E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Things get a bit heavier today because we're talking about race, American history, slavery, and American education. We're a couple of dumb white dads that had the opportunity to read something that taught us something we probably should have learned more about 20 years ago. Hopefully our own stupidity is something we can help our daughters to avoid...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Things get a bit heavier today because we're talking about race, American history, slavery, and American education. We're a couple of dumb white dads that had the opportunity to read something that taught us something we probably should have learned more about 20 years ago. Hopefully our own stupidity is something we can help our daughters to avoid...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 65899811-cd8e-44b6-895f-ff47e3355de8 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/ff55efae-09f8-49bd-8b63-fe12b8a6519e Thu, 19 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000 2003 no full Rise of Kyoshi - Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1 Rise of Kyoshi - Avatar: The Last Airbender Book 1 E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Okay, for this final part of our podcast launch we cheated a little bit. We both read the first Avatar novel a year or so ago but it's so good we wanted to check it out again in the context of this show. And it did not disappoint the second time. If you don't know much about the Avatar universe, hopefully this episode still serves as rationale for why all the cool kids are out there reading about the Earth Nation.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Okay, for this final part of our podcast launch we cheated a little bit. We both read the first Avatar novel a year or so ago but it's so good we wanted to check it out again in the context of this show. And it did not disappoint the second time. If you don't know much about the Avatar universe, hopefully this episode still serves as rationale for why all the cool kids are out there reading about the Earth Nation.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 7c7021c5-4935-4bd8-a243-9231eedeb29f https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/a824cccf-e467-4027-9da8-1cb64f7ccffb Fri, 13 Jan 2023 22:05:02 +0000 1813 no full Mistakes Were Made - Timmy Failure Book 1 Mistakes Were Made - Timmy Failure Book 1 E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens Part two of our podcast launch is a total surprise to us! Neither of us had really heard of Timmy Failure (oh except for the part where Matt worked on the Disney adaptation of it for like a day) and it's humor and heart completely took us by surprise. Hopefully your kid likes references to Bob Dylan as much as you do...

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>Part two of our podcast launch is a total surprise to us! Neither of us had really heard of Timmy Failure (oh except for the part where Matt worked on the Disney adaptation of it for like a day) and it's humor and heart completely took us by surprise. Hopefully your kid likes references to Bob Dylan as much as you do...</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> 568184ff-be9b-43a2-ae0e-f0dfa59fd6f0 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/b4fcb437-396c-491e-b7ef-1f6bdd17367b Fri, 13 Jan 2023 22:00:48 +0000 1922 no full The Lightning Thief - Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 1 The Lightning Thief - Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book 1 E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens This series premiere features E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens grappling with the first entry in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books. What began as an intent to possibly check out the whole series instantly changes the scope of this podcast as they realize maybe they don't think the PJ books are that cool?

This isn't a show about being negative, but we are looking for the books we want to read with our kids, so join us as we track down all the stories that will make our kids look smart and cool and fun.

If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com

Music by Russian Baths: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ

]]> <p>This series premiere features E.J. Sanders and Matt Martens grappling with the first entry in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books. What began as an intent to possibly check out the whole series instantly changes the scope of this podcast as they realize maybe they don't think the PJ books are that cool?</p><p>This isn't a show about being negative, but we are looking for the books we want to read with our kids, so join us as we track down all the stories that will make our kids look smart and cool and fun.</p><p>If you want to chat with us and recommend books or tell us your reaction to book we've covered on the show, please email us at justdadsreadingbooks@gmail.com</p><p>Music by Russian Baths: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ" rel="nofollow">https://open.spotify.com/artist/07N9Lr8AIzUbDzjPXUXTLr?si=vegRwDLXSF-IpupxjuEPJQ</a></p> ec86c170-9297-4a34-a432-6d358c4d08f0 https://redcircle.com/shows/c9a89ab2-0f6c-4812-892b-86feb0b24759/episodes/3ea211a3-db1f-496e-89b7-57b76ca7069d Fri, 13 Jan 2023 21:23:12 +0000 1767 no