Logo for Little Voices, Big Ideas

Little Voices, Big Ideas

Little Voices, Big Ideas

Little Voices, Big Ideas, Season 2

Little Voices, Big Ideas explores the rich and often surprising content of children’s books—and ways to have meaningful conversations about big ideas in little books with the children in our lives. Hosted by mother of two young boys and literacy educator, Sarah DeBacher, and with contributions from scholars Thomas Wartenberg, Freddi Evans, Susan Larson, and Kyley Pulphis, each episode offers historical, philosophical, and cultural connections for families to consider as they read, as well as practical advice for parents that will help listeners go beyond the bedtime story.

In season 2 of Little Voices, Big Ideas, the host, panelists, and families, will discuss a range of children’s books that can launch conversations about what it means to live in–and be impacted by–our shared American democracy.

This podcast is produced by Prime Time Family Reading for the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, and made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Community Foundation of Northwest Louisiana in partnership with WWNO New Orleans and Red River Radio.

2023-2026

Little Voices, Big Ideas, Season 2

Little Voices, Big Ideas explores the rich and often surprising content of children’s books—and ways to have meaningful conversations about big ideas in little books with the children in our lives. Hosted by mother of two young boys and literacy educator, Sarah DeBacher, and with contributions from scholars Thomas Wartenberg, Freddi Evans, Susan Larson, and Kyley Pulphis, each episode offers historical, philosophical, and cultural connections for families to consider as they read, as well as practical advice for parents that will help listeners go beyond the bedtime story.

In season 2 of Little Voices, Big Ideas, the host, panelists, and families, will discuss a range of children’s books that can launch conversations about what it means to live in–and be impacted by–our shared American democracy.

This podcast is produced by Prime Time Family Reading for the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, and made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Community Foundation of Northwest Louisiana in partnership with WWNO New Orleans and Red River Radio.

2023-2026
2hr 26min
Thumbnail for "Click, Clack, Moo".
On this episode of ‘Little Voices, Big Ideas’, a moooving discussion about Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin’s Caldecott Award-winning book, ‘Click Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.’
Thumbnail for "Sofia Valdez, Future Prez".
‘Little Voices, Big Ideas’ closes their second season with a look at ‘Sofia Valdez, Future Prez’, the story of what one girl–”just a kid”--can accomplish through summoning the courage to speak up.
Thumbnail for "The Day You Begin".
On this episode of ‘Little Voices, Big Ideas’, a discussion of The Day You Begin, a book that takes on our country’s diversity, including the immigrant experience.
Thumbnail for "We Are Water Protectors".
This week’s episode of ‘Little Voices, Big Ideas’ explores We are Water Protectors, the story of a young Native American girl who exercises her first amendment right to engage in peaceful protest.
Thumbnail for "Grandaddy's Turn ".
The week’s 'Little Voices, Big Ideas' explores how ‘Granddaddy’s Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box’ can shine a light on a turbulent period of American history–and on the promise of one voice, one vote, through the discussion of this book.
Thumbnail for "Big Orange Splot".
Little Voices, Big Ideas, kicks off with a SPLOT. Daniel Manus Pinkwater’s 1977 book, The Big Orange Splot, highlights a key tension encountered by all of us living in a shared democracy: that of individual freedom versus collective responsibility.
Thumbnail for "Coming Soon!".
From WWNO

Click, Clack, Moo

Thumbnail for "Click, Clack, Moo".
January 10, 202424min 3sec

Farmer Brown has a problem. Not only have his cows taken up… typing, but they’ve used their newfound skill to put their hooves down. The barn, they say, in typewritten notes tacked to its door, is cold. And unless Farmer Brown supplies them with some electric blankets to help them brace the herd against the biting chill? Well? No more milk. 

Not one to be cowed by the threats of… cows, Farmer Brown lets the herd know it’s a no-go. But then hens cluck up, too, hatching a plan to join the cows. No blankets? No eggs.

What’s a Farmer Brown to do? 

‘Little Voices, Big Ideas’ organizes itself around the idea that children’s picture books build solidarity–and allow us to have collective conversations–brothers and sisters and grownups, alike–about the big ideas that strike chords in all of our hearts.

This season, the big deal of democracy. Each episode, we explore a story with themes like justice, liberty, and speaking truth to power… or, speaking MOO to power.

On this episode, Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin’s Caldecott Award-winning book, Click Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. Published in 2000, this barn-raiser of a book uses anthropomorphism (that’s when non-human things, like cows, take on human characteristics, like announcing a milk-strike through type-written notes) to help the youngest among us understand labor moooovements. 

Joining the herd on this episode are children’s book author and historian, Freddie Evans, philosophy professor to the youngest among us, Thomas Wartenberg, and literacy scholar and writer, Kyley Pulphus. We will also hear from 7-year-old JoJo and his uncle James, and from some familiar voices from season 1, host Sarah DeBacher’s 9- and 12-year-old sons, Charlie and Robin. 

We hope you’ll join us, too! Find Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type at your local library and go with us… beyond the bedtime story.