This week is Thanksgiving in the United States! A wonderful holiday where we all go home and argue with our families! No wait, it's the holiday where express joy over our annihilation of the native populace! OOOO absolutely not that, no. We are... thankful? Yeah! And this week we are VERY thankful for a Pirate Ship full of dinosaurs. Because there is no part of that sentence that I don't like! What a time to be alive! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's...

And now it's time to get silly. And nothing is sillier than a duck on a tractor! Well, maybe not as silly as a duck and cow on a tractor. And even THAT isn't quite as silly as a duck and a cow and a goat on a tractor. And beyond THAT- Okay, some silliness is occurring and I don't want to get in its way. I'm just going to say, give this episode a listen, and make sure you're ready to speak your mind. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and...

Tomorrow is Super Tuesday. In the United States that means that we are VOTING tomorrow. And in this particular year, it is INCREDIBLY important that we all vote. I mean, it's important every year, but I mean, 2016 is just sort of a, wow, QUITE an outlier. Rachel suggested, and I agreed, that this would be a good week to read a kid's book about voting, to make sure everyone has a sense of the importance of voting tomorrow. Because it IS really important. So vote! Because not every always...

Space. The final... book-tier. (That's a thing right? "Book-tier?" ... NO?? Fine. Whatever.) These are the stories of a young man, his dog, and robot co-pilot as they face off against Space's scariest nemesis. The....... SPACE PIRATE!! OOOoooooOOOOoooOOOOO!!! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make fun of them as we go....

You guys, Rachel did it! She found this book from my childhood! It's is the tale of a magical world populated only by a WONDERFUL selection of capybaras. Can you think of a more ideal planet? No. And neither can I. Especially if that planet also has internet. But no really, you know how some books just stay with you from childhood, no matter what and you still think about them from time to time? The Wump World is that book for me. I hope you like it because I sure do! Rachel & Sam...

Because crying "wolf" is SO last millenium. Ben is a little boy who likes to tell stories. Or as we, adults, like to call them: LIES. Horrible, Horrible lies. Made up by communists. Unless those lies are true. And ESPECIALLY if those lies lead to the creation of a completely ridiculous reality show. But I digress. Here's a podcast: Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20...

The Bear ate it. We saw, or rather read about, the whole thing! And man, that bear sure had an amazing day! Just picture this bear on his FIRST day in the big city! Oh boy! He's gonna get an ice cream cone, take a picture at the top of the Empire State Building, through his lovely hat into the air while spinning around and arou- Hmmm... I might be thinking of something different. Anyway, this book is great! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new...

Quackers is a duck. Oh sure, Quackers may look like a cat, and SOUND like a cat. But I tell you true! Quackers is a duck. Mittens, on the other hand (Ha HA! Puns!), is the weirdest duck that Quackers has ever met and Quackers is excited to find out more. And also, at the end, an argument about Vegan life-choices. (Sam is definitely right!) Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and also about how little sense these books make when you read...

Rachel and Sam may be tired, but Bear is not. No sir. Bear will be hanging out ALL winter with his little ducky friends. But friends, Winter is Coming. And Bear must prepare. For the Night is dark and full of terrors. And Ducks. The night is dark and full of terror and ducks. I think that's about right. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the...

Be warned! The contents of this book have been known to be volatile and try to escape! Be secondarily warned! Sam's is having to skype in this episode and it's a little fuzzy. But most importantly, no matter WHAT you do, DO. NOT. OPEN. THIS. BOOK. But I mean... now we kinda gotta! Right? Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and also about how little sense these books make when you read them 20 years later. We read the books aloud and make...

  I've never had a pen pal before. It always seemed like a cool thing to have. When my friend Payim moved away when I was a kid, I suggested we be pen pals, but it never happened. Now this kid, George, he DOES get to have a pen pal. And it's a DRAGON! How AWESOME is that?? And this guy, Blaise, gets to have a pen pal and it's a HUMAN?? WHOA!! So basically, George gets to have the childhood I wished I had. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and...

How many haircuts does a person need at a time? ONE! Ah-ah-ah! Alright, you may now commence boo-ing. Y'know, like a ghost! Oh man, I can't stop myself. Anyway, this is a cute little book about a little girl who's afraid of getting haircuts, and what better what to get over one fear than having it presented to you by a BLOOD-SUCKING VAMPIRE????? I honestly can't think of a better way. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and also about...

You have to admire a bear that knows what he wants. And Bruce wants eggs, so he goes out and GETS them. Of course, eggs always have a different maturation time and if Bruce get's the timing SLIGHTY wrong, then- Well now we've got ourselves a Mother Goose Bruce. Rachel thought this book was absolutely adorable and I have to agree. Poor Bruce. It's not easy being a bear. Who's hungry. Grrrrrrrrrr Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and...

  We are just on a 4th wall breaking kick! Frankencrayon promised to be an amazing book. Unfortunately though, it was CANCELLED. So what's a cast of crayons to do? Well I mean they HAVE to explain what happened. A book doesn't just get cancelled for no reason... right?? Frankencrayon is a fun little book and it's interesting to step inside the thought process of a crayon. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and also about how little...

Times when you would be surprised to find the library open: Midnight. Times when THIS library IS open: Midnight (until Dawn). Patrons of previously mentioned Midnight Library: Aminals. All SORTS of aminals! We gots squirrels. A lady wolf. And a TURTLE! I like turtles. And you will like this book! Plus, it's art is made from Prints. And that is just crazy! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and also about how little sense these books...

You guys. Did you know that there is a skeleton INSIDE YOUR BODY, like, ALL the time?? Because I sure didn't know. Neither did Samira. It's sure weird and gross. Who'd even WANT a skeleton in your body? It would go wherever you go and see whatever you do! How weird is that?? All the weird. So this book is fun little exploration in how we're all the same inside. It's the outside of is that's about to get murdered by mothers. Particularly THIS mother. But I don't want to spoil anything, give...

It's simple. If you stop listening, we slowly fade away. The attentive ears of a grateful audience are all that breathed life into us in the first place, and now, you're thinking about NOT listening? .....oh no! This book, Please Open this Book, is similar. These poor adorable animals only exist within the pages of this book. But you MONSTERS callously insist on closing the cover. Why? WHY? WHYYYYYYYY?? Would a banana make it better? Good. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun...

Poor Mr. Pip. If only people understood him more! Or if he were named after one of the less... thrown-away-y parts of a fruit! But I guess it's not all bad. He is owned by THE famous actor. So that's nice. Then he gets put on loan to what has to be the most well-funded science institute OF ALL TIME. Seriously, robots, rockets to the moon, and MORE robots. It's crazy! And all just to make Mr. Pip happy! Hmmm... I guess like isn't so bad for this monkey! Rachel & Sam Read a Story is...

I have been requesting this book for some time. It is good book. Or rather, I should say it is a good part of an otherwise ALSO good book! The Stinky Cheese Man is one of those play-on fairy tales that so accurately captures the spirit of the original while simultaneously parodying it, that I just think we should just have this and move on with our lives. Rachel was convinced. And I will just say, for the record, that Blue Cheese is delicious. Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the...

We did not see this book coming. Seriously, out of left field it was. Anyway, there's this kid that comes to town. Mighty fine sheriff this youngin' turns out to be. Now, sure, you might be athinkin' that ain't no kid should be policin' the streets of such a rough a tumble town. Well, you'd be wrong. Addendum: WHO kisses a COW? Since when is that a THING?? Rachel & Sam Read a Story is about the fun of reading children's books new and old, and also about how little sense these books...

I mean, sure, a lot of kids would want a puppy. Or a cat of some variety. They're quite popular after all. But, if your world is populated by baby monsters, then wouldn't you just want one of those adorable little fuzzballs for your very own? I dunno, probably! I Want a MONSTER! Is a super fun look at a kid who just wants a pet, but sometimes the pet you want is a little more than you can handle. The important thing is we all learned a valuable lesson about... wait... what was that? ... We...

Man, if there's one thing I've always hated... it's bedtime. Sure, there all fun during the day. And it's so cute when they try and get there work done or ask for help, but the end of the day... UGG. I really don't like having to put my parents to bed. Luckily there's a book with some helpful suggestions about how to make the process a whole lot smoother. Because let me tell ya, I'm never upset to get those "putting parents to bed life hacks" on my facebook page. Give it a listen and maybe...

MuAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!! Oh, ahem, excuse me! I didn't see you sitting there. I was practicing my evil laugh. The teacher says that if I don't get it just right by next Tuesday, then I may have to stay back a grade. I wish I were a natural super-villain. Man, if this stuff came more easily, this'd be great! Like that Dylan kid. Now THERE is a kids who's going places in villainy. I can only dream of being that good. Now, if you'll excuse me. Erhmm. Ah ha ha ha! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!! Rachel...

You ever wonder what your food does as soon as you close the refrigerator door? Well, worry no more because Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast is here to answer that question using delightful rhyme-scheme. So sit back and enjoy this world full of horrible mutilations and presumed cannibalism! At least, that was out take. But the real issue here, is one that I just thought of. If this is the world on the other side of the refrigerator door... how are any of the characters able to see? I'm...

Jungle Book is all sorts of popular right now. And it should be. It's great! But what if the kid raised by wolves actually lived with the rest of humanity? How endearing would it be then? Still quite endearing, it turns out! Steve, Raised by Wolves is about alternate universe Calvin, or rather what Calvin WISHES his life were like, but I might just be projecting. Or maybe I'm not. WHO KNOWS?? It's a book about a kid with odd parents, but at the end of the day, isn't every book about that? ...