Actress Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton launched their new American Public Media ... [+]
Actress Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, have launched a new weekly children’s book podcast Julie’s Library, presented by American Public Media, to help keep kids entertained while staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, Andrews wrote, “At this extraordinary time, with families confined to their homes and in need of creative content and learning support, we have accelerated the show’s launch in order to bring it to audiences as soon as possible…It is our hope that the stories and ideas we share on Julie’s Library will provide family listening pleasure, inspire meaningful conversations, and be a trusted resource for literary enjoyment and learning.”
Andrews told CBS News she hopes the podcast will “encourage reading and literacy and, I mean, all those subliminal things that go along with enjoying a good book." The mother/daughter team are the co-authors of over 30 books, including The Very Fairy Princess and numerous sequels. Their writing collaboration began after Andrews lost her voice in 1997 following vocal cord surgery. She recalled of that time, “I knew I was gonna go crazy unless I did something that felt creative and that I enjoyed. And the timing of it was exactly right, because Emma and I began to write together our children books. And it became the thing that I embraced when my voice had gone.” Andrews is also the author of two of her own titles, Home: A Memoir of My Early Years and Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years (both Hachette Book Group).
“We discuss the thoughts and meanings behind the stories. We discuss words. I hope that at this time in everyone’s life it’s something that will get children thinking. You can listen to it with parents and grandchildren and friends,” The Sound of Music star told Today. Of making the picture book selections, Andrews said she’s had to find titles that she can bring to life verbally, since kids won’t have the artwork in front of them. The Los Angeles Times reports that the podcast had been in the works prior to the pandemic, with the pair recording at a studio, but has been fast-tracked, with episodes recorded at Andrews home.
American Public Media said in a statement that the podcast is suited for children ages 4 through 10, as well as “aimed at multi-generational family audiences.” In addition to reading books, each episode will include music, sound design and guest appearances. “Listeners will also hear directly from other kids, who share their imaginative ideas and favorite new vocabulary words.”
The podcast’s first episode, posted today, runs just over 18 minutes and features Andrews reading the children’s book Marilyn’s Monster by Michelle Knudson, illustrated by Matt Phelan (Candlewick Press). Andrews tells listeners, “In my mind the most wonderful place to be is one where books are nearby…Each unopened book holds a promise, a promise to take us on a journey, introduce us to new friends, make us laugh and wonder and dream.” Andrews asks, “Can you imagine a world where a monster was your friend? What would you do together?” Hamilton and Andrews answer the question, as do various children. The podcast’s site also offers additional resources for kids, including a look at Phelan’s approach to drawing art, a request for kids to send in their own artwork, and recommendations of other books about monsters.
