Common Sense Media Review
By Lauri C. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Joyful read-alouds, author interviews, and positive lessons.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
JULIE'S LIBRARY is a free podcast hosted by Julie Andrews, of The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins fame. In each episode, she discusses one or two great books with her daughter and granddaughter, and interviews related authors and famous figures to deepen their discussions of the stories and the life lessons they teach. Many of the featured books have positive moral lessons about bravery, integrity, and perseverance.
Is It Any Good?
As you might expect from Dame Julie Andrews, this podcast is nothing short of enchanting. Julie's Library is an undeniably excellent celebration of how reading and storytelling can build a sense of unity and camaraderie. The interviews with impressive figures like Jacqueline Woodson, Tan France, and Temple Grandin deepen the discussions of life lessons. The only downside is that there's only a handful of episodes to listen to. Even so, the quality production, positive content, fantastic books, lovely vocals, and timeless life lessons make each episode worthy of repetition.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about their favorite part of the books shared on an episode of Julie's Library. Was there a character or moment in the story that you connected with or especially enjoyed?
What did Julie and Emma learn from the book(s) in this episode? Did you pick up on any life lessons about curiosity, perseverance, or courage?
If you could interview the author of one of your favorite books, what would you ask them? What made you most curious when you read their book?
This podcast centers around the curiosity of books and storytelling. Why is curiosity an important character strength?
Talking about books is a great way to connect with others and learn about life. Invite a friend or family member to read and talk about a story with you.
Podcast Details
- Release date : April 29, 2020
- Genre : Storytelling
- Run time : 25 minutes
- Website : https://www.julieslibraryshow.org/
- Hosts : Julie Andrews , Emma Walton Hamilton
- Production Company and Network : American Public Media
- Pricing structure : Free
- Topics : Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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