Who are your friends? How do people become friends? Can *we* be friends? On this episode of Ear Snacks, Andrew & Polly and their friends contemplate the nature of friendship. We also squawk on our parrot phone to call children’s author Helena Ku Rhee (The Paper Kingdom) about her experience making friends as she grew up in a multilingual apartment complex in Los Angeles, the basis of her 2022 picture book Rosa’s Song illustrated by Pascal Campion. Many thanks to our friends Harlow,...

Andrew & Polly think about how to stay warm in the winter with some of our favorite family holiday tunes. For more great episodes on the holidays, check out these episodes about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, our most favoritest family holiday music playlist and lights in the ocean! Thanks to Sara Louise Callaway from The Music Box and the one and only Mista Cookie Jar. Thanks to Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights and how their...

Some things crack by design - like eggs! But it can be really surprising for kids when something breaks, especially if that thing can't be repaired. In this episode, we think about what to do about the unpredictable. Everett (from South Africa), Henry & Saul, Jackson & Beanie and Ainsley tell Andrew & Polly about things that break. Elizabeth Cochran (aka Dr. Earthquakes!) from the USGS talks earthquake science (aka seismology) & L.A. Everett shares about how he cracked the...

Andrew & Polly receive an urgent voice message from their friends Kevin & Louise. We learned A LOT about disguises from marine biologist Rebecca Johnson from the California Academy of Sciences and voice actor and composer Greg Chun. Thanks to our pals Sadie A, Sadie E, Grey, Georgia, Zoey, Gavin, Gavin, Devorah, Elliot, Ainsley, Tanner, Luke & Ace for making Ear Snacks so delicious! Ear Snacks is a free interactive experience centered around children’s voices & ideas. To...

Andrew & Polly and their friends think about STEPS - the kinds you take with your feet, like when you go on a walk with mom, or when you have an idea for a sandwich, paper airplane - or amazing art project. We interview an alien, our friends, and art legend John Baldessari who died in January, 2020 at the age of 88. Many thanks to Malcolm, Jonas, Milena, Sady, Ella, and to Patrick Pardo for arranging our interview with Mr. Baldessari. You can learn more about John Baldessari...

It's important to keep your teeth healthy! Andrew & Polly learn what to expect when visiting the dentist and get some official teeth info from one of the friendliest pediatric dentists around, Dr. Jessie Schwarz. Plus, a song about a Saw & Zipper (who both have teeth).

Pop! Welcome to a very floaty episode of Ear Snacks in which Andrew & Polly (literally) get into bubbles. Come ponder the nature of glistening spheres, learn the science of surface tension and explore the wonders of Bubble Planet at Kidspace Children’s Museum, and wax poetic about the joy of sharing bubbles with our effortlessly effervescent pal, Mista Cookie Jar -- who helps us make a brand new song, “Like a Bubble!" Thanks to Kaya, Kali, Kieran, Vada & Shai (who made some bubble art...

Forget weather apps -- by looking and listening outside, how can you tell if it's going to rain? Perfect for staring out of car windows or finding a cozy space to draw, Andrew & Polly ask their friends from New Zealand to Arkansas all about the weather where they live. We learn about how the water cycle works by imagining ourselves as rain drops with Carie Fallwell from the Glazer Children's Museum in Tampa, Florida. We compose a storm of voices by sampling our incredible audience. We...

Kevin & Louise Giraffe attempt to pack for a camping trip while Andrew & Polly ask kids what they know about tents. Miry's List founder Miry Whitehill helps kids and families imagine what makes a home feel safe and cozy and helps us think about ways we can welcome refugee families resettling in our neighborhoods. We're figuring out what to pack for our July mini-tour in Colorado! Visit andrewandpolly.com to find out more or reach out to us directly -- we'd love to connect with you...

In this episode of Ear Snacks we celebrate Juneteenth by sharing songs from "All One Tribe," a compilation celebrating the rich culture and diversity that Black voices bring to family music. All One Tribe / Juneteenth Mixtape For All by The Wise Channel Family Reunion by Fyütch (feat. Divinity Roxx) I Believe by Shine & the Moonbeams Clap Your Hands by The Magic Jones Shine (Melanin Remix) by Alphabet Rockers Nothing Wrong With The Black Crayon by DJ Willy Wow! |  We All...

What is a hat!?!? Andrew & Polly are determined to find out. Thanks for listening! Ear Snacks is centered around children’s voices & ideas. To support the work we’re doing or to be on the show, visit earsnacks.org or become a supporter on Patreon. Need more snacks? Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok! Thanks to NOVO for supporting Ear Snacks. Go to Novo.co/EARSNACKS and get your FREE business banking account

H-E-L-L-O! What's a letter? How old is the invention of type? How does a ballpoint pen work? Andrew & Polly investigate. Ana Gomez-Bernaus explains the art of typography and designing your own letters, and The Pen Addict's Brad Dowdy muses on drawing miniature cities and writing letters to baseball players to get their autographs. We first published this episode in 2017 with an incorrect mention that Gutenberg's printing press was the first development in moveable type in 1400. The...

We are so excited to be back on stage this weekend at the LA Times Festival of Books *and* the grand opening of CAMP West LA! But first we have to get ready. What do *you* do to get ready before you leave home? Hint hint - this episode, full of fun-facts all about teeth, will give you a clue! Join us this weekend in LA! We'll be emceeing the kids stage at the LATimes Festival of Books on Saturday and Sunday 4/23 & 4/24, introducing some of your favorite authors, some friends and even some...

What does a seed need to grow? A kid? An idea? Andrew & Polly ask many different people about growing many different things. How does bird poop bring the world together? With peppers, of course! Uncle Fred tells us about germination, the first World's Hottest Pepper (Bhut Jolokia), and... BIRD POOP. If you aren't a dragon and like spicy stuff, you can check out the Sparkling River Pepper Company's smoke dried peppers, sauces and spice blends at sparking-river.com Our neighbor Miriam takes...

What's a prank? What makes a *good* prank? And how do you know when you're over The Line? Andrew & his kids contemplate the nature of surprises, the intention behind jokes, and scheme up some wholesome pranks on their walk to school. Thanks to musical guests Story Pirates for their song “Cat Sit on You” & New Zealand’s Captain Fectus McBoyle for his new single “Just Breathe” – and “Mom’s Name” by us and the hilarious and gregarious Mike Phirman (performing a rare live show in...

When we see someone new in our neighborhood, how can we make them feel safe and loved and important? We visit again with Miry’s List founder Miry Whitehill and co-author Jennifer Jackson about their new book Our World is a Family. We learn new words of welcome, think about ways to talk to children about migration and refugees, and even inspire Louise Giraffe to undertake a creative welcoming project. With so much in the news about war and migration, this episode and amazing book can be a...

Do you wish you could wake up on a bed of delicious toast? Do restaurants in your neighborhood sound like song lyrics? Our friend Katara from Brooklyn, NY, shares two ways our episode about Pajamas (with Wow in the World’s Mindy Thomas!) connects with her life. Let’s get cozy! In Pajamas II, we explore: Pajama Day! The Science of Sleep (why our bodies need rest) The idea of the “Sleepunder” (instead of sleepover) Trippy Dreams How different families say goodnight Thanks to Shopify for...

Our friend Monk from Oakland, CA loves when Andrew tries to scare Polly in our episode about Bad Guys! So we’re replaying it here – play along with us! We explore: What are the parts of a story? How can you play “bad guys” and keep everyone safe? How to sound “like a bad guy” with voice actress Morla Gorondona! To Play or Not To Play: Making Agreements! Wondering why we don't have any pretend jails in this episode (or our house)? Check out and donate to the non-profit The Sentencing...

If you haven’t heard the very first episode of Ear Snacks, our friend Maeve from Madison, WI super-duper loves it. So she's sharing about it here – AND we're talking about one of Polly’s favorite fruit books: Grapefruit by Yoko Ono. In this episode, you'll hear Polly read: PAINTING FOR THE WIND (1961, summer) PAINTING TO SEE THE ROOM (1961, autumn) PAINTING TO ENLARGE AND SEE (1961, summer) TUNAFISH SANDWICH PIECE (1964, spring) So - what's your kiddo's favorite episode of Ear Snacks?...

What is the smallest thing you can think of? What’s smaller than that? For World Quark Day, experimental physicist Dr. Martin Breidenbach takes Andrew & Polly on a trip through the 70’s into subatomic space to recount his use of a gigantic device to discover how small the universe can get.  Innovations such as radiation oncology and the World Wide Web can trace their origins to the pioneering experiments of physicists like Marty asking the same questions we ask on Ear Snacks – What’s that...

New Year, New Tunes! Feast your ears on 5 delicious tracks representing the work of 30+ incredible family music artists nominated for Best Children’s Album in the 64th GRAMMY Awards! Ven Conmigo a Jugar from Actívate by 123 Andrés feat. Juan Miguel and YoelKeys Rainbow from A Colorful World by Falu Another Day from Crayon Kids by Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band Family Reunion from All One Tribe by Fyütch feat. Divinity Roxx Attitude of Gratitude from Black to the Future by...

An interview with a mermaid scientist!!! This episode of Ear Snacks features the bright light of science communicator and mermaid, Danni Washington. Check out her amazing book, Bold Women in Science, and her podcast for kids, Genius Generation. Thanks again to our friends Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights! And thank you to all our listeners for your beautiful inner lights and for using them to help others see something...

Happy Happy Holidays! Let these completely original family-music tunes light up your holidays and upcoming home days. Thanks to these incredibly talented and generous musicians who fill our ears and hearts all year long - a great way to support their work is by sharing their music, adding their songs to your playlists and following them on social media! Happy Happy Holidays by Aaron Nigel Smith All I Want for Christmas is Used by Formidable Vegetable Coniferous Trees by Molly Ledford...

What do the bright lights of Time Square, the dancing lights of Nashville’s Opryland Hotel, and the seven candles of Kwanzaa have in common? Ask social justice artist Fyütch!  This episode of Ear Snacks features Fyütch’s love of various lights, his family’s new tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa, and his song This Kwanzaa (feat. Pierce Freelon) from his album Family Tree (Songs about Black history, culture & love). We encourage families to do the work of learning about Kwanzaa and talking...

Sundown, lights up! Andrew & Polly ask their friends about sources of illumination, human-made and natural. Lori Hoch Stiefel from PJ Library shares her Hanukkah story and we begin to wonder...why do candlelight and winter celebrations go hand-in-hand?  Thanks to Arlo, Molly, Poppy, Opal, Sam, and Thiri (and their parents) for sharing what they know about lights and how their families use lights to celebrate. As the nights get longer, we’ll dive deeper into how lights work,...