Hey Everybody!

Today's book is Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. Nutkin is a bit of a naughty squirrel who love riddles and hijinks. In this tale, the squirrels need to gather food from Owl Island, which is owned by reclusive owl, Old Brown. Instead of participating, Nutkin tells riddles and finds mischief. Will Nutkin learn the value of working together or will he face great consequences?

🗺️ Episode Roadmap:

• [00:00] I’m Back! Here’s the Squirrel Nutkin Roadmap
• [03:00] UK Squirrel Wars: Reds vs. Greys
• [09:12] Follow Along + A Quick Disclaimer
• [10:01] The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin Reading
• [17:46] Squirrel Diets & Banning Bedtime Stories
• [23:41] Owl Territory: Is Old Brown a Pagan Idol?
• [31:28] Is Nutkin Just Rude, or Is It ADHD & ODD?
• [39:30] Creative Reading, Emerson Quote & Outro

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Sources:

Potter, Beatrix. The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. 1903. Ebook ed., Project Gutenberg. Original Release 2005. Most Recent Update 2020. www.gutenberg.org Accessed 18 Aug. 2026

"Tawny Owl." The Wildlife Trusts. wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/birds-prey/tawny-owl Accessed 17 Sept. 2026

"Tawny Owl Facts." Barn Owl Trust. barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-facts/uk-owl-species/tawny-owl-facts Accessed 17 Sept. 2026

"Red Squirrels." Wildlife Trusts. wildlifetrusts.org/red-squirrels Accessed 20 Sept. 2026

Shoesmith, Ian. "When did grey squirrels start posing a threat to reds?" BBC News. 20 Sept 2026. bbc.com/news/articles/c6wyzglny0xyo Accessed 20 Sept. 2026

"Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: What You Need to Know." National Institute of Mental Health. 2024. nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-what-you-need-to-know Accessed 27 Sept. 2026

"Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)." Mayo Clinic. 04 Jan. 2023. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oppositional-defiant-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-2037583 Accessed 27 Sept. 2026

"Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) in Children." John Hopkins Medicine. hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/oppositional-defiant-disorder

Our story continues in Chapter 32 titled Cetology.

Here we learn more about our narrator Ishmael's sense of humor and his need to share his world of whaling by thus focusing on the categorization and classification of whales.

We learn about how this is considered a snapshot into the 1850s, a time of much interest in science and growing knowledge.

We also discuss a few whales that were listed under the common name, but modern day has discovered their true names.

What a fun little reprieve in our journey!

Next time, we continue our journey in whaling!

📚 Join the Conversation!

I love hearing your thoughts, theories, and book recommendations. Reach out anytime!

🦊 Become a Librarian on Patreon— Unlock exclusive bonus episodes each week!

✉️ Email Me Your Questions

🎧 Don't forget to hit Follow or Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Sources:

Melville, Herman. Moby Dick or The White Whale. 1851. Ebook ed., Project Gutenberg, Original Release 2001. Most Recent Update 2026. www.gutenberg.org

Philbrick, Nathaniel. Why Read Moby-Dick?. Ebook ed., Penguin Group, 2011.

"Herman Melville - Unappreciated and Almost Forgotten - Biography." YouTube, uploaded by Professor Graeme Yorston, 7 Mar. 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYG6u7quOSU

"Blue Whale." Marine Mammal Center. marinemammalcenter.org/animal-care/learn-about-marine-mammals/cetaceans/blue-whale Accessed 16 Aug. 2026

"Humpback Whale, Sulphur Bottom Whale." Cool Antarctica. coolantarctica.com/gallery/whales_whaling/0027.php Accessed 16 Aug. 2026

"Blue Whale." Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. conservewildlifenj.org/?species=balaenoptra-musculus Accessed 16 Aug. 2026

"Fin Whale." International Whaling Commission. iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/fin-whale Accessed 16 Aug. 2026

"Cetology of Moby Dick." Wikipedia. 16 Jun 2026. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cetology_of_Moby-Dick Accessed 16 Aug. 2026

This may be the friendliest ghost story you have ever heard! Mark Twain's A Ghost Story also known as A Ghost's Tale is one of my husband's favorite stories from when he was a child. It tells the tale of a weary traveler who is haunted by a ghost with a minor case of mistaken identity. Filled with fun for the whole family!

Also, learn about the true tale of the Cardiff Giant! One of the most famous hoax's in history. The backstory is almost as fun a story as Twain's!

📚 Join the Conversation!

I love hearing your thoughts, theories, and book recommendations. Reach out anytime!

🦊 Become a Librarian on Patreon— Unlock exclusive bonus episodes each week!

✉️ Email Me Your Questions

🎧 Don't forget to hit Follow or Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Sources:

Twain, Mark. "A Ghost Story." Sketches New and Old. 1875. Ebook ed., Project Gutenberg. Original Release 2004. Most Recent Update 2021. gutenberg.org Accessed 1 Aug. 2026

Andrews, Evan. "The Cardiff Giant Fools the Nation, 145 Years Ago." History. 16 Oct. 2014. history.com/articles/the-cardiff-giant-fools-the-nation-145-years-ago Last Updated 27 May 2025. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026

Dukes, Hunter. "A Very Tall Tale: Photograph of the Cardiff Giant (ca. 1869)." The Public Domain Review. 26 Sept. 2024. publicdomainreview.org/collection/cardiff-giant Accessed 4 Aug. 2026

"Today in History: The Cardiff Giant and CNY's Biggest Hoax." Onondaga Historical Association. cnyhistory.org/cardiff-giant Accessed 5 Aug. 2026

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