Mike and David read Matilda by Rao—Raold—Roaold—Mr. Dahl. And illustrated illustriously by Quentin Blake. Mike suggested Dahl, and David saw the musical, and the rest is history. Or literature.

And despite the book’s youth, it’s a classic. A fantastic story that has spawned two movies and countless productions of the musical. In fact, it inspired the Dads to come up with a new DoB feature: B v. M or Book versus Movie (or Musical). Who won the first one? Both.

But one thing the Dads couldn’t figure out? How to say Rauold, Raoold, Ruaoulde—Mr. Dahl’s name. Never could figure it out. Auoalt? Aoooout? You get the picture. In any event, the Dads have three words for you: Check it out!

And now a word from our sponsors. (Well, not really sponsors, just places we get books and hope that you'll go to if you need one).

Books in Stock in Wooster, OH

A House with Books in Keller, TX
Talking Animals Books in Grapevine, TX
River Forest Public Library in River Forest, IL
Grapevine Public Library
Keller Public Library

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Have a great library or independent book store you love?

Email us at dadsonbooks@gmail.com

After some forays into classics, very classic classics, historical novels, and other serious books, the Dads return to nutty silliness and qwacky whackiness to lighten it up a little with How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans, a fun and funny book by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mark Fearing.

What did we like about this book? Besides green beans? Oh, let’s see, how about green beans singing off key? Or when the really realistic tomatoes splat against the wall and green beans get catapulted by mysterious vines? And happy lettuce and ominous carrots. Talk about tossed salad! Or as Mike pointed out “There’s nothing bad about a nice, leafy salad.” But you can’t trust radishes. And Mike's made up a whole new word—tomato-pult—don’t you dare close your eyes.

There’s fabric illustration, foreshadowing, and more fore shadowing (AND there are four shadows to boot). It's a fun talk about a fun book. Check it out.

If you liked this episode, you’ll like these:

Dan Yaccarino parte uno and parte due
Pinkalicious!!! by Victoria Kann

Places we love to buy books:
Books in Stock in Wooster, OH

A House with Books in Keller, TX
Talking Animals Books in Grapevine, TX
River Forest Public Library in River Forest, IL
Grapevine Public Library
Keller Public Library

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

Please, please tell us now about a great library or independent book store you love? Let us know!

Email us at dadsonbooks@gmail.com

Alternate episode titles: Marth Vader and the Beans of Destiny

Mike and David turn to a classic, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, an historical novel set in the Oklahoma panhandle during the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression.

David and Mike—well Mike—tells the origin story of how the Dads picked the book, but this is the origin story of all origin stories. It is the origin of the entire original podcast idea.

We also continue our feature “Things We Forgot to Say on our Last Episode.” Or, in this case, “Things that David Forgot that he didn’t Forget and Says Them Thinking it’s the First Time He’s Saying Them To Mike and it’s Not.” (Working title- may need to be lengthened)

David rediscovers it’s the OK Panhandle not the Texas Panhandle. Not the Good Panhandle, not the Bad Panhandle, just the OK Panhandle, because as it says on the license plate, "Oklahoma is OK." Which is good because the Texas panhandle would spill the dust.

Speaking of which, in our new feature, “Do They Say the Title in the Book?” Let’s just say pp. 149, 181, 197, 198, 203, 209, 222. To name a few.

It’s a beautifully written story, and we both very highly recommend it, and staying out of the dust. Especially if you have allergies.

If you liked this episode, you’ll like these:
Other stories about American history:

The Ruby Bridges Story: a story of a the Anerican Civil Rights movement
George Washington’s Teeth: a funny and gripping (and sometimes not so gripping) true tale of, well, our first president’s dental health.

Places we love to buy books:
Books in Stock in Wooster, OH

A House with Books in Keller, TX
Talking Animals Books in Grapevine, TX
River Forest Public Library in River Forest, IL
Grapevine Public Library
Keller Public Library

Questions? Comments? Concerns?

Please, please tell us now about a great library or independent book store you love? Let us know!

Email us at dadsonbooks@gmail.com