In march, “PJ library presents” achieved the one million download milestone. The award-winning podcast network for kids – with a Jewish twist – launched three years ago as an audio extension of the family-oriented Jewish nonprofit; PJ Library is one of the largest free book programs in the world.
“We first started talking about podcasts and audio content for kids in 2018,” Alli Thresher, PJ Library’s director of digital content, told the Journal. Thresher heads the PJ Library creative team that produces the shows.
“We did some experimenting, tried a few pilots and launched our very first show, ‘Have I Got a Story For You!’ in June 2019,” they said. “We did a lot of learning, data gathering and planning, and in 2021 we launched two more shows, officially becoming a network featuring stories for kids of various ages.”
In the preschool-focused “Afternoons with Mimi,” a wise and beloved grandmother bakes special treats and snuggles up with her young grandchildren to share fairy tales and the sacred stories of Judaism in her warm and kid-friendly way. For older kids, ages 6 to 12, “Beyond the Bookcase” features a pair of intrepid siblings named Micah and Miri, who spirit off on magical and often mysterious adventures. Both series, winners of prestigious Parents’ Choice and NAPPA Awards, have just wrapped their 10-episode third seasons.
“Many parents and grandparents have told us that the moments that Mimi and Kiddo share in ‘Afternoons With Mimi’ feel so much like memories pulled from their own lives,” Thresher said.
“‘Beyond the Bookcase’ is an exciting adventure narrative that features familiar fairytale characters and also stories and folklore from the diversity of the Jewish experience and people.”
To celebrate the audio milestone, PJ Library Presents is launching Passover episodes of “Afternoons with Mimi” and “Beyond the Bookcase.”
In “Beyond the Bookcase”’s “Chasing Joha Through Passover” kids will learn about Passover traditions from around the world, while “Story for Another Time Passover in Mashal” follows Auntie PJ and Elijah as they seder-hop through the enchanting and fictional land of Mashal. “Afternoons with Mimi” will launch a Passover-themed playlist full of stories for young children, including a re-airing of the original “The Passover Pirate.”
PJ Library Presents recently launched “Radio Chitaika,” which features classic Jewish stories presented in Russian (with bonus episodes in Ukrainian). With more than one million people in the US speaking Russian and Ukrainian, this program seeks to serve families speaking their native languages at home. Stories include the picture book-based “The Suitcase,” “The Fabulous Tale of Fish and Chips,” “The Sabbath Lion” and “Until the Blueberries Grow,” adapted and translated folk tales “The Miracle Bread” and “The Lost Chickens” and more.
“‘Radio Chitaika’ offers a special listening experience for Russian and Ukrainian speaking families in the Jewish Diaspora,” Thresher said. “And ‘Have I Got a Story For You!’s’ archive still holds our original episodes reimagining Jewish folk tales as well as a special mini-series for kids getting ready for a b-mitzvah experience.”
They add, “We’re so excited to keep doing the work to bring more and more stories to families all over the world.”
Thresher hopes kids and their families feel joy from these shows.
“For Jewish kids listening, we love knowing that they might see themselves in the characters,” they said. “For non-Jewish families enjoying the stories, we hope the episodes inspire them to learn more about Jewish culture, values and holidays.”
Over 18 years PJ Library has provided Jewish families with free high-quality children’s books and other resources that foster a deeper connection with Jewish life.
Over 18 years PJ Library has provided Jewish families with free high-quality children’s books and other resources that foster a deeper connection with Jewish life. This global program, available in 40 countries, has provided 50 million books to kids ages 0-12.
“We’re thrilled to cross this incredible podcast benchmark with PJ Library Presents,” Alex Zablotsky, executive director of PJ Library, said. “We hear over and over how families love complementing their treasured print books with audio stories, and the PJ Library Presents podcasts give us another creative, screen-free way of connecting with kids and sharing stories that celebrate Jewish values and culture.”
For more information, and tons of free activities, go to PJLibrary.org.
