Remember Reading Podcast

About Remember Reading Podcast

A family podcast about classic children’s books and the impact they have on us long into adulthood. In each episode, we talk about one popular children's book from the past, uncovering the unique story behind the story. While sitting down with famous, award-winning authors, we investigate the timeless themes in kids’ books.

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Dec 2018

Latest episode

10 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 44 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   10 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Eternal Magic of Howl’s Moving Castle (Megan Whalen Turner, Stefan Bachmann, & Devin Elle Kurtz)

   We use stories to understand and navigate the world. It's stories like Howl’s Moving Castle that give us a lens through which we view the world and ourselves. It is a story rooted in character-driven magic that dares us to find our true identity. In this episode, we explore Diana Wynne Jones’ brilliant Howl’s Moving Castle across all of its forms—including its 2025 collector’s deluxe edition with new illustrations. Authors Megan Whalen Turner, Stefan Bachmann, and Devin Elle Kurtz reveal how Howl’s influence is reflected in their work and their experience contributing to the newest edition. To learn more about Diana Wynne Jones’, Megan Whalen Turner’s, Stefan Bachmann’s, and Devin Elle Kurtz’s books, visit: harpercollins.com/search?q=Diana+Wynne+Jones harpercollins.com/search?q=Megan+Whalen+Turner harpercollins.com/search?q=Stefan+bachmann harpercollins.com/search?q=Devin+elle+kurtz Learn more at rememberreading.com. And, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. [2:44] Published in 1986, Howl’s Moving Castle remains a cornerstone of cozy fantasy, resonating as deeply with readers today as it did forty years ago. [7:29] While a bit of a drama queen, Howl is an eclectic, mysterious, and fun character readers adore. [13:06] Much like Diana Wynne Jones, Megan Whalen Turner created a new mythology when she wrote her Queen’s Thief series. [22:49] When illustrating the deluxe edition of Howl’s Moving Castle, Devin Elle Kurtz’s visual art remained true to the book. [26:46] From books to movies to podcasts, Howl’s Moving Castle is a well-told tale that transcends time and media. Continue Your Journey: Diana Wynne Jones Megan Whalen Turner Stefan Bachmann Devin Elle Kurtz Shareables: “We have a huge trend of cozy fantasy right now, and cottage core and all of these things that focus on small menial tasks, and I think that Howl's Moving Castle was maybe the OG of that.” — Stefan Bachmann, Author of The Peculiar “It feels so magical and mysterious for our world to be the other dimension.” — Devin Kurtz, Author of The Bakery Dragon “He is a total drama queen. I think that Howl has harnessed his deficit to his benefit.” — Megan Whalen Turner, Author of The Queen’s Thief series “[On Diana Wynne Jones] She invented her mythology, but the cloth that she made it out of is woven from everything she knows about history, and language, and storytelling. I wanted that feeling for my own mythology when I sat down to write The Thief.”— Megan Whalen Turner, Author of The Queen’s Thief series “I think it's the mark of a good book if it can be translated into different mediums and the core can really be felt in all of those different mediums. I feel Diana Wynne Jones is especially great at that.” — Stefan Bachmann, Author of The Peculiar “The fundamental message in Diana's work is that we use stories to understand the world.” — Megan Whalen Turner, Author of The Queen’s Thief series “We literally understand our world through story. Think about that being in a book written for kids. It's brilliant. Dian's book is brilliant.” — Megan Whalen Turner, Author of The Queen’s Thief series

2. 

   2 Dec 2025

   Chrysanthemum, The Year of Billy Miller, and Stories that Illustrate the Big Feelings of Small Moments (ft. Kevin Henkes & Lynne Rae Perkins)

   Growing up is an experience of small wonders and worries. It is in the smallest slices of everyday life that we get to encounter the big feelings that hide in quiet moments. Our favorite books are filled with characters that compel us to reflect on our early experiences and recognize the profound influence of the teachers who shaped us. In this episode, we explore the extraordinary aspects of ordinary life through the rhythmic cadence of Kevin Henkes’ The Year of Billy Miller and the illustrated storytelling in Lynne Rae Perkins’ At Home in a Far Away Place. To learn more about Kevin Henkes’ and Lynne Rae Perkins’ books, visit harpercollins.com/search?q=Kevin+Henkes harpercollins.com/search?q=Lynne+Rae+Perkins Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. And, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. [2:24] Readers interpret the characters of The Year of Billy Miller in ways that resonate with their personal experiences. [7:05] Lynne Rae appreciates Kevin’s poetic writing and his expressive, authentic characters. [10:09] Kevin cultivates a distinct rhythm in his writing that operates independently of the words’ literal meaning. [12:34] Lynne Rae’s illustrations connect words to images in a way that goes beyond storytelling. [19:34] In Kevin’s books, teachers are prominent figures — a choice that reflects their profound influence on children’s lives. [25:03] In At Home in a Far Away Place, Lynne Rae explores how teachers can be hidden in even the briefest of relationships. Continue Your Journey: Kevin Henkes Lynne Rae Perkins HarperCollins Remember Reading Podcast @ReadingPod on Twitter Shareables: “If you look at those small domestic details and shed light on them in a particular way, and look at them maybe from a different angle, I think it really is illuminating and it can tell you a lot about life.” — Kevin Henkes, Author of The Year of Billy Miller “To me, the book was loaded with things that were emotional and big and meaningful and dramatic.” — Kevin Henkes, Author of The Year of Billy Miller “I’ll go over a paragraph sometimes for days just trying to get it, what I think, is exactly right.” — Kevin Henkes, Author of The Year of Billy Miller “A teacher is such a huge part of a kid's life.”— Kevin Henkes, Author of The Year of Billy Miller “It’s really a nice thing to know and understand and feel that what one does has an impact in the larger world.” — Kevin Henkes, Author of The Year of Billy Miller “People sometimes describe our books as quiet books. But to us, they seem so jam-packed, full of really big things. They don’t seem quiet to us at all.” — Lynne Rae Perkins, author of At Home in a Far Away Place “I think Kevin writes about feelings and experiences that we all share in one way or another, including hard feelings and experiences.” — Lynne Rae Perkins, author of At Home in a Far Away Place “Part of being an author of picture books is that you are writing for two audiences. You are writing for the children and you are writing for the parents.” — Lynne Rae Perkins, author of At Home in a Far Away Place “I think you can have a little interaction with somebody that takes 30 seconds, but it can be part of the thing that keeps you on board.” — Lynne Rae Perkins, author of At Home in a Far Away Place

3. 

   2 Sept 2025

   The Wisdom of Witches: Finding Ourselves in Fantasies (ft. Rhianna Pratchett, Gabrielle Kent, & Marieke Nijkamp)

   Some stories don't just entertain—they show us how to grow up, challenging the limiting narratives we may have been told. Much like magic, a powerful story can bring us back to our true selves and help us discover who we might choose to be. The best stories become enduring classics, like Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men. In this episode, we explore the world of fantasy novels and what it means to be a witch with Rhianna Pratchett and Gabrielle Kent, co-authors of Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch, and Marieke Nijkamp, author of the popular Splinter and Ash series. To celebrate Pratchett’s beloved novels, we immerse ourselves in worlds brimming with witches, politics, grief, and secrets. To learn more about Terry Pratchett’s, Rhianna Pratchett’s, Gabrielle Kent’s, or Marieke Nijkamp’s books, visit harpercollins.com/search?q=Terry+Pratchett harpercollins.com/search?q=Rhianna+Pratchett harpercollins.com/search?q=Gabrielle+Kent harpercollins.com/search?q=Marieke+Nijkamp Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. And, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. [3:30] The 20th anniversary of Terry Pratchett’s The Wee Free Men was the ideal time for Rhianna Pratchett and Gabrielle Kent to write Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch. [7:52] In The Wee Free Men, the character Tiffany Aching challenges traditions and finds her path as she embraces her power. [14:59] Marieke Nijkamp wrote Splinter and Ash for readers who often struggle to connect with characters in fantasy. [20:06] Terry Pratchett’s novels are admired for tackling complex political themes and refusing to present a simplified view of the world. [24:08] Readers can expect more stories about death and what it means to be a witch from Rhianna and Gabrielle. Continue Your Journey: Rhianna Pratchett Gabrielle Kent Marieke Nijkamp HarperCollins Remember Reading Podcast @ReadingPod on Twitter Shareables: “We started working in video games in the ’90s when it was very rare for there to be women working in games.” — Gabrielle Kent, Co-author of Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch “I have a Witches Abroad quote tattooed on my arm.” — Mareike Nijkamp, author of Splinter and Ash novels “One of the things I love about Pratchett’s books in general, I think, is just that Tiffany discovers that one of the tools she has to deal with the world is stories.” — Mareike Nijkamp, author of Splinter and Ash novels “I love telling stories about people who maybe fall through the cracks a little bit, maybe just exist on the edges, maybe don’t quite feel, quite, feel at home or are seen as fully part of their homes.” — Mareike Nijkamp, author of Splinter and Ash novels “One of the great things about my father’s work for younger readers is it can be enjoyed by anyone, right? He doesn’t pander to younger readers.” — Rhianna Pratchett, Co-author of Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch, and daughter of Terry Pratchett “We were basically reading the whole book to each other, and then we had to have whiskey for the hard chapters, then we were just sobbing at the end.” — Rhianna Pratchett, Co-author of Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch “Reading those books has helped me think very differently about death as well. Sounds so weird, but seeing that kind of positive side of it and that it’s not something to be feared.” — Gabrielle Kent, Co-author of Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch “Everyone should pick up at least one book. And I think Wee Free Men, if you’ve never read any Discworld books, is a great place to start.” — Mareike Nijkamp, author of Splinter and Ash novels

Inside a recent episode

The Eternal Magic of Howl’s Moving Castle (Megan Whalen Turner, Stefan Bachmann, & Devin Elle Kurtz)

Published 10 Feb 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Simple things like chores, gardening, that kind of thing. And I think Howell's moving castle does a great job of showing that in the heroic role because Sophie is the cleaning woman for a wizard's castle, but not in a lowly way. Of course, Sophie is much more than a cleaning lady, whether she knows it or not. She's a hero and her tasks and the work she does really shapes the narrative. It turns out Sophie works her own kind of magic, even in her house cleaning duties. She speaks life into things, into walking sticks and house suits and hats. In spite of all its magic, Diana's fantasy world feels intimate and cozy, just like Stefan says. […]

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Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

123 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

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Guest appearances

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