Shows
Books Are BackThe Phantom TolboothNorton Juster's Phantom Tolbooth is the gateway to a fantastical land filled with strange characters who provide the young hero with food for thought as he tries to rescue the Princesses Rhyme and Reason. 2021-08-0525 min
Books Are BackThe Family From One End StreetEve Garnett's classic stories about The Family from One End Street broke new ground when they were published in 1937. In this episode you can listen to us discuss the strong contrast with modern parenting and hear Catherine's horror as Ursula fantasises about stowing away on a cargo ship. 2021-07-2328 min
Books Are BackMurder Most UnladylikeUrsula and Catherine reverse their usual roles for a discussion of Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens, a stone cold classic in the modern children's murder mystery genre. 2021-07-0830 min
Books Are BackA Necklace of RaindropsJoan Aiken's stories remind Ursula and Catherine of fairy tales, and they also look closely at Jan Pienkowski's incredible illustrations. 2021-06-2421 min
Books Are BackThe Secret of the Old ClockWe compare a Nancy Drew book to modern detective stories and solve the mystery of the identity of Carolyn Keene. 2021-05-2722 min
Books Are BackThe Spy's GuidebookDisguises! Secret messages! Tracking the enemy! Ursula, Catherine and their special guest learnt all these and more from this Usborne favourite. 2021-05-1327 min
Books Are BackThe Sword in the StoneT H White's retelling of the Arthurian Legends began here, in the book from which Catherine learnt more about falconry than she ever knew she knew. 2021-04-3032 min
Books Are BackAuntie RobboAnn Scott-Moncrieff's novel was originally rejected as "too Scottish and too irresponsible." Neither Catherine nor Ursula let this put them off. 2021-04-1529 min
Books Are BackThe Magician's NephewThe first book in C S Lewis's Narnia Chronicles was a better read for Ursula than it was for Catherine. We discuss why, and also whether it is in fact the first book in the series. 2021-04-0125 min
Books Are BackHow to Eat Fried WormsUrsula and Catherine enjoyed different aspects of Thomas Rockwell's story, which is about exactly what it says on the cover. This episode features discussion on censorship and also gastronomy, obviously. 2021-03-1821 min
Books Are BackMrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMHUrsula and Catherine discuss sci-fi classic Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, bemoaning the fact that their copy seems to have the ugliest cover of any edition so far published.2021-03-0423 min
Books Are BackThe Ultimate AlphabetIn episode eight Catherine and Ursula discuss art, anamorphic projection and also The Ultimate Alphabet by Mike Wilks. Check @BooksAreBack1 on Twitter or @booksarebackpod on Instagram for some pictures to help make sense of this astonishing book 2021-02-1823 min
Books Are BackThe Swish of the CurtainCatherine rakes her recollection for details of a beautiful blue dress while Ursula fills her in on every detail but that one of Pamela Brown's classic about a theatre company founded by seven children. 2021-02-0425 min
Books Are BackMy Friend Mr LeakeyIn this episode, Catherine discovers that author J.B.S. Haldane was "astonishingly interesting", but can Ursula say the same about his only creation for children, the magician Mr Leakey? 2021-01-2121 min
Books Are BackLittle House in the Big WoodsJoin Ursula and Catherine as they tackle the episodic style of Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic tales of her childhood, beginning in the Little House in the Big Woods.2021-01-0629 min
Books Are BackA Child's Christmas in WalesNormal service is interrupted when Catherine and Ursula feel the need to get into the festive spirit, hurriedly reading Dylan Thomas's classic in time for Christmas. 2020-12-2324 min
Books Are BackHelp! I am a Prisoner in a Toothpaste Factory.Ursula and Catherine are not the only members of the family to have read Help! I am a Prisoner in a Toothpaste Factory by John Antrobus. So this episode features a special guest appearance. 2020-12-1617 min
Books Are BackOrdinary JackUrsula and Catherine don't both find the humour in Ordinary Jack by Helen Cresswell. But can mother make daughter laugh by throwing in a couple of modest character voices when reading aloud?2020-12-0622 min
Books Are BackThe Voyages of Doctor DolittleIn their first episode, Ursula and Catherine discuss Hugh Lofting's novel, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle. Ursula read it last week. Catherine read it last century. Luckily, they've both seen the film.
2020-12-0621 min