Episode 27 - The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame

We're celebrating the glorious arrival of spring with a look back at the The Wind in the Willows! Hop into your tiny canoe and watch Toad be a complete sociopath, revel in the many miniature English teas, and wonder where the heck the female inhabitants of the river and wood have disappeared to. Plus: how Beatrix Potter, A.A. Milne and Kenneth Grahame created the anthropomorphism mold; Disney's take on Toad, Mole and Rat and how it scarred us; celebrating Ernest H. Shepard's perfection. This episode was a listener request - thanks, Joe!

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The Ichabod Crane song Madeleine can't get out of her head, even 20 years later (warning: extremely catchy)

Mr. Toad sees a car for the first time

Two intriguing takes on Wind in the Willows:

Wild Wood by Jan Needle - Class flip

The River Bank: A sequel to Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows by Kij Johnson - Gender flip

MINI EPISODE - Seeing A Wrinkle in Time

This is an ultimately-not-so-miniature MINI EPISODE about A Wrinkle in Time (2018)! We may not be the intended audience for this film, but we are still going to talk about it! Spoilers ahead, so please listen after seeing the film if you're interested in checking it out for yourself (we do recommend it to any fan of the book. And if you're here, on dragonbabiespodcast.com, reading this, let's be real - you're a fan of the book).

Episode 26 - First Test, by Tamora Pierce

We're completing the Tamora Pierce *Holy Trinity* by following up our episodes on Alanna & Daine with the stoic Keladry of Mindelan! Discover why Grace and Madeleine think Kel is the most relatable of Tortall's warriors, and fall in love with this wise-beyond-her-ten-years hero all over again. This book is surprisingly prescient, and Kel's personal war against hazing, misogyny and outdated values within the knighthood is sure to resonate.

PLUS: Our greatest battle-based fears; favorite medieval combat weapons; not nearly enough Pretend Food; could spidrens be any grosser?

As always, please get in touch with recommendations, corrections, your favorite Numair fan art and more at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com!

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A modern-day replica of a naginata, the samurai weapon on which Kel's glaive is based -

Source: Reliks.com

Episode 25 - The Two Princesses of Bamarre, by Gail Carson Levine

Are Madeleine and Grace the two princesses? Definitely not - but we are still honoring them with one of our most tangent-heavy episodes yet. We are thrilled to discuss our favorite Gail Caron Levine book, The Two Princesses of Bamarre. Find out why we prefer this book to Ella Enchanted, listen to us argue over whether Vollys is a great dragon or a terrible dragon, and learn even more about how spiders ruin lives. Whether you're a cowardly princess or a courageous princess (or even a bishonen sorcerer), there's something to appreciate.

Episode 24 - A Tale of Time City, by Diana Wynne Jones

A book so perfect for our podcast mission that it has actually been requested by multiple listeners, A Tale of Time City burst into our lives with all the force of a butter-pie being poked into your eye. Listen in to hear us gush over Diana Wynne Jones' fascinating sci-fi/fantasy time travel extravaganza, and then argue over what a butter-pie might be like in real life for far too long. As inhabitants of an unstable era, we can all benefit from a different perspective. Big thanks to Kate and Madeline for their requests!

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An untested butter-pie recipe - if anyone tries this, please send photos, a sample, and your PayPal information so that we can immediately send you one million fantasy dollars.

Tartquest, a butter tart review Instagram created by Michael DeForge and Jillian Tamaki

The Adventure Time Tart Toter soliloquy, from Season 2, Episode 9, "The Other Tarts"