PJ Library Presents: Afternoons With Mimi

Did you know that May is Jewish American Heritage Month, National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and National Storytelling Month? 

Our team has put together a playlist featuring three original Mimi and Kiddo stories to share this special month. And if you're looking for fabulous books to keep your celebrations and learning going, head to our website, pjlibrary.org to find reading lists and more. 

Afternoons Wi...

Today Kiddo is getting a special treat: a video call from Mimi's friend Ciara. Listen in as our special guest, Ciara, teaches Kiddo all about the history and traditions of the Baghdadi Jewish community of India. Want to learn more? Visit Ciara at The Mizrahi Story on Instagram for all sorts of wonderful interviews, archival video footage, and more.  Episode Cast and Credits:

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library. Exec...

Today's episode is a special collaboration between Afternoons With Mimi and Koala Moon, a cozy bedtime stories and sleep meditations show for children from the team at Sleepiest. Koko chats with Mimi and Kiddo to learn all about Hanukkah before sharing a very cozy Hanukkah celebration with his good friend Prickles.  To learn more about Hanukkah, please visit pjlibrary.org/hanukkah

Narrator 🎙 Abbe Opher

Author ✍️ Suzanna Mcloug...

A challenging project has Kiddo and his friends frustrated. They need to construct something that can protect an egg for their school’s Egg Drop event, but each friend has tried their own ideas without success. Mimi reads the book Five Brave Knights vs. the Dreadful Dragon, a story about kids facing similar, though fire-breathing, frustration. What can we do when our individual efforts aren’t enough?In Hebrew, the word for “togethe...

While searching for a game in Mimi’s closet, he finds a trunk full of funny costumes, plus flyers and other memorabilia from old comedy shows. Mimi explains that his great uncle Levi used to be a comedy performer, part of a long line of laughter in the Jewish tradition of finding happiness even in hard times. She shares a few famous names, telling Kiddo about Jewish comedians she’s enjoyed, like Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, and others...

Sure, Kiddo calls his little brother “Zee,” but what is his full name and where does it come from? What makes names so important anyway? Kiddo learns about the Jewish value of Lekol ish yesh shem, the significance of names.   Episode Cast and Credits

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library

The book My Name is Aviva was written by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Ag Jatkowska, and is used with permission from Kar-Ben Publish...

  Kiddo wants to go to his friend Noam’s birthday party at the trampoline park, but it’s at the same time as his cousins’ play, and cousin Emilia could really use Kiddo there to calm her nerves. Mimi reads the book Rosie Saves the World which highlights the Jewish value of mutual responsibility. Kiddo knows the trampolines would be a blast, but can he find a bounce in his step from the mitzvah of helping family first?   The book Ro...

Kiddo arrives to find Mimi sewing. She explains that Ms. Jenn left her coat behind when visiting, so Mimi’s giving it some needed repairs. Kiddo is eager to start playing and wants to know why they don’t just bring the coat to Ms. Jenn. Mimi shares a modern version of a classic Jewish story about the importance of not only returning lost items, but caring for them too.   Episode Cast and Credits:   Note: The version of The Lost Chi...

It’s challah-baking time, but when Kiddo tries to braid the dough, it keeps ending up in a big tangled blob. Mimi knows the power of a good story, so she reads the book An Egg for Shabbat. It’s about a young boy trying to go fetch an egg for his mother. He keeps accidentally breaking egg after egg in different ways, but eventually shows us all that these aren’t failures, just learning steps on the way to success.   The book An Egg ...

Kiddo needs more space to race!! He really REALLY wants a huge playroom so he can build a giant racetrack for his toy cars. He’ll never be satisfied trying to fit a track on Mimi’s kitchen table. Mimi recounts a Jewish folk tale about a man who really REALLY wishes he had as big a home as his neighbor. A rabbi gives advice that seems totally unhelpful at first, but surprisingly helps the man move to a happier space – without even c...

This episode features the book, The Rabbi Slurps Spaghetti, written by Leslie Kimmelman and illustrated by Sharon Davey. It is used with permission from Behrman House, Inc.   Kiddo is pretending to be a grownup, doing what he thinks adults do at work. Inspired by Mimi’s reading of The Rabbi Slurps Spaghetti, Kiddo learns that curiosity is an important Jewish value.   Episode Cast and Credits: Afternoons With Mimi is a production of...

Kiddo tells Mimi of a rumor that the creepy old house in their neighborhood is occupied by a wizard who has his whole yard booby-trapped! Mimi decides to dispel the myth by bringing Kiddo to the house to meet its owner, her friend, Mr. Johansen. The man is very kind and very much not a wizard. In fact, the only magic comes from Mimi, who transports us all with a new spin on a traditional Jewish folktale about the dangers of lashon ...

Kiddo balks at the idea of brushing his teeth, but Mimi cleverly explains that it's a mitzvah, -- commandment or good deed -- which is something he loves. In this episode, she reads, Hillel Takes a Bath, written by Vicki L. Weber and illustrated by John Joven, and used with permission from Behrman House.

 

Episode Cast and Credits:

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher, As...

Earlier today, some friends wouldn’t stop arguing on a bumpy bus ride, and Kiddo is feeling so frustrated about it that his tummy hurts. At Mimi's, Kiddo calms down enough to talk about it, and of course Mimi has the perfect story to share, Aaron the Peacemaker. Mimi always finds a way to give Kiddo the tools to get through rough times.   Episode Credits:   Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library.   Production: Executive...

Happy World Read Aloud Day from all of us here at PJ Library and Afternoons With Mimi. We hope you'll enjoy this lovely, nice and long playlist of Mimi reading your favorite PJ Library storybooks.   The Candlewick Written by Jennifer Rosner Illustrated by Kristina Swarner Published by PJ Publishing   The Chocolate King Written by Michael Leventhal Illustrated by Laura Catalaan Published by Green Bean Books   Benjy's Blanket Written...

On the way to get ice cream, Mimi gives money to someone in need. Kiddo wonders why and worries that now they won’t have enough to buy ice cream. Mimi explains the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, and the small ways we can find and spread kindness and light.

 

Episode Credits:

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher; Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz

Wr...

Kiddo wants to do so many things on his to-do list! But Mimi knows best and reminds Kiddo that it's Shabbat. Time to rest and snuggle up and read their latest PJ Library delivery: Saturdays are Special, written by Chris Barash, illustrated by Abigail Marble, and published by PJ Publishing.  

 

Episode Credits:

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher

Writer: Alli Thresher

Aud...