Join us for our silliest conversation yet, goodness knows we needed a good laugh. Today we read and discuss two delightful picture books.

• Ogilvy was written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by T.L. McBeth, and was published in 2019. It received a starred review in Kirkus, and positive reviews in Publishers Weekly, Horn Book, and Booklist.

• Worm Loves Worm, written by J.J. Austrian and illustrated by Mike Curato (who wrote Flamer which this pod covered in Season 2, episodes 25-26). It was published in 2016. It received a starred Review from Publishers Weekly, and positive reviews from School Library Journal, and Horn Book.

As happens during a spontaneous conversation, Dorothy referenced a few things she couldn't remember the names of. Both of those are listed below. .

• Podcast: SciShow Tangents:Gay Animals - with Field Guide to Gay Animals!

• Movie: Trainwreck (2015), starring Amy Schumer

Join us for a fascinating and enlightening conversation with debut author Debby Show as she discusses her book, Paper Roses. The book explores Show’s real history and intimate truths as she grapples with the effects of generational trauma and with her experiences as the sister, and victim, of a rather infamous public figure. That said, this is not a book about her sister’s exploits; instead, it explores their mutual family history – through several viewpoints – and traces how trauma can leave a lasting legacy. The story has been fictionalized, but the emotions it evokes bear the weight of deeper truths.

You can reach Debby Show at t0r0sebud@gmail.com, or through her website at

debbyshow.com

Some of the books we mention on the podcast include:

• The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

• Stone Soup, by Marcia Brown

• The Nancy Drew Series, by Carolyn Keene

• The Bobbsey Twins Series, by Laura Lee Hope

• Maus I and Maus II, by Art Spiegelman (and here is a link to our episodes:Maus Part 1 (Why It’s Banned) and Maus Part 2 (Close Reading).

Today we talked to author and podcast host, Heather Hester. Heather is the host of the podcast More Human. More Kind. and the author of Parenting with Pride: Unlearn Bias and Embrace, Empower and Love Your LGBTQ+ Teen. As a speaker, author, coach, and LGBTQ+ advocate, she helps parents, allies, and organizations move from fear to fierce, informed love with clarity, compassion, and courage. She believes in the magic of connection and that kindness and belonging aren’t just a feeling, they’re a practice. You can find out more about her podcast at morehumanmorekind.com and more about the many ways she advocates for the LGTBQ+ community @ heatherhester.net

Books we discussed on the podcast include:

The Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles, by Julie Andrews Edwards

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, by Robert C. O’Brien

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne

A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness

Anything by the author Emily Henry

I Am Malala, by Malala Yousafzai

"Stories bond us, but so does struggle"

~Sam Helmick

In this episode of Rogue Librarians, we speak with Sam Helmick, President of the American Library Association. This is our third conversation with Sam! This time we are focusing on the upcoming Youth Media Awards and what this event means to children, librarians, and book lovers everywhere. Below are all the pertinent links.

Stream the Youth Media awards at ala.unikron.com and on the ALA Facebook page.

For more information go to the ALA Youth Media Awards information page

Sam Helmick’s contact information:

@geometric rabbit or @shelmick on Instagram

@samhelmick on Bluesky

@samhelmick on Facebook

Some books we talked about during the podcast:

Bluebird, by Sharon Cameron

American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins

The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear, by Walter Moers

Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures, by Walter Moers

Good Spirits, by BK Borison

Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White - special edition

The Poet X, by Elizabeth Acevedo

Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell

The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare

Big, by Vashti Harrison

Hair Love, by Matthew A. Cherry, Illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

A Heart In The Body Of The World, by Deb Caletti

In this episode we do a close reading of the book I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai. As always, we found the conversation enlightening and cathartic. Learning about Pakistan’s history and the Pashtun people was fascinating. We also found that the struggle between religious conservatives and those challenging traditional values is universal, not isolated and far away. Additionally, we tried the sacred reading practice Florilegia, which we learned from the folks over at Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. The result was compelling.

First, we apologize for some sound issues we were having in this episode. We’ve changed a few things and are learning as we go. We hope to solve this problem before our next recording.

In this Part 1 episode we discuss the book I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai. In Part 1 we discuss why the book is banned, share some context to help understand the book, and give our assessment of why it’s worth reading. The book was published in the US and UK on Oct. 8, 2013, exactly one year after the author, Malala Yousafzai, was, as the title implies, shot by the Taliban in a direct assassination attempt. The memoir was co-written by journalist Christina Lamb. The book has been translated into more than 40 languages.

Today’s banned bit was a story published by the ALA entitled, “Court permanently blocks Trump’s executive order to dismantle federal agency for America’s libraries.”

We found information on why the book was challenged in the following articles:

• ‘The Color Purple’ and 30 Other Banned and Challenged Books You Should Be Watching - PEN America

• Report: 1,586 School Book Bans and Restrictions in 86 School Districts Across 26 States - PEN America

• These 176 Books Were Banned in Duval County, Florida - PEN America

• Pakistani private schools ban Malala Yousafzai's book 'I Am Malala', calling teen activist 'a tool of Western powers' | National Post

• The Complexities of I Am Malala Criticism: An Analysis, from Bookeys

• Censoring Malala - Harvard Political Review

Finally, we referenced these episodes of The Rogue Librarians, check them out!

• Episode 52. Fahrenheit 451 (Part 1: Why It's Banned)
• Episode 53. Fahrenheit 451 (Part 2 : Close Reading)
• Episode 63. Sold (Part 1: Why It's Banned)
• Episode 64. Sold (Part 2: Close Reading)

In Part 2 of Cemetery Boys we do a close reading of the book. There are generally a few spoilers, but trust me, there is so much more to discover in the book! Cemetery Boys is a young adult urban fantasy novel written by Latinx American author Aiden Thomas. Published in 2020, this is Thomas’s debut novel. It became the first book by a transgender author featuring a trans character to be on the New York Times Bestseller List. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly, who also named it the best book of the year. As did NPR and Barnes and Noble.

Links mentioned in the podcast:

• “Cemetery Boys: A whimsical celebration of Queer Latinidad,” published in OutWrite Newsmagazine

• Rogue Librarians, Episode 70. Cemetery Boys (Part 1: Why It’s Banned)

• We also found this fun playlist on Spotify called The Cemetery Boys Soundtrack. Enjoy!

In this Part 1 episode we discuss the book Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas. In Part 1 we discuss why the book is banned, share some context to help understand the book, and give our assessment of why it’s worth reading. Cemetery Boys is a young adult urban fantasy novel written by Latinx American author Aiden Thomas. Published in 2020, this is Thomas’s debut novel. It became the first book by a transgender author featuring a trans character to be on the New York Times Bestseller List. It received starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher’s Weekly, who also named it the best book of the year. As did NPR and Barnes and Noble.

Today’s banned bit was about the ALA’s Webinar “How Faith Communities and Librarians Can Advocate for the Freedom to Read.” which took place on November 5, 2025.

We found information on why the book was challenged at the Port City Daily’s article “41 books will come off Pender County Schools shelves while they undergo review”, and on the book resume provided by publisher Swoon Reads.

We found this gem on The U.S. House of Representative’s web site in connection with a meeting, most likely in reference to “House Resolution 733. Expressing concern about the spreading problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.”

If you’d like to read more about Aidan Thomas and the book, we referenced the following interviews:

• 'I’m more interested in what comes next': Aiden Thomas talks 'Cemetery Boys' and writing the trans Latinx identity, by Nivea Serrao on syfy.com

• “Interview: Aiden Thomas, Author of Cemetery Boys,” by Alexx @ Enthralled Bookworm

Finally, we referenced Episode 67 of Rogue Librarians, Interview with Shannon Watters and Branden Boyer White. It’s a great episode, go listen to it!