Common Sense Media Review
By Diana Baron-Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Themed adventure stories with some problematic content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
What's It About?
Written and produced by the team of a family-owned, independent bookstore, READING BUG ADVENTURES is part storytelling show, part topical book recommendation list. Featuring the voices and writing of several members of the Savage family, who own The Reading Bug bookstore, episodes are built around a list of fiction and nonfiction titles for kids about a variety of fun and interesting topics. Stories bring together elements from the book list, which protagonists Laurie Savage and the Reading Bug encounter as they travel through time and space with the help of their magical book bag. Most episodes include movement prompts at the beginning and characters speak directly to kid listeners -- or "readers" -- so kids feel they're being brought along on the show's adventures. Songs written and performed by the Savage family are sprinkled throughout the story and each episode ends with five minutes of instrumental music for kids to draw what they imagined while listening.
Is It Any Good?
While the idea for this show -- to offer kids an introduction to a topic paired with a list of book recommendations -- is exciting, in execution, it often feels like the podcast is juggling too much. Many episodes of Reading Bug Adventures stretch over 45 minutes long to incorporate ideas from each of the books on the reading list. The show seems to have multiple, conflicting audiences it's trying to address at once. On the one hand, episodes heavily feature sweet, acoustic songs that wouldn't be out of place in a toddler music class. On the other hand, the adventures include elements that are more appropriate for upper elementary school kids, such as detailed discussions of bullying and casual teasing between secondary characters. Blindspots in the writing around race and culture result in some serious missteps in episodes that discuss history and identity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the perspective of the writers comes across in the characters and plots of each episode of Reading Bug Adventures. Whose point of view is missing? What assumptions about the place or topic does the story have?
Some of the stories feature characters who bully and say hurtful things to others, with no consequences. Why can this be problematic for young listeners?
How did you feel about the characters Lauren and the Reading Bug met? What did you notice about the ways that they spoke to each other? What would you say to them if you could meet them?
Podcast Details
- Release date : February 6, 2018
- Genre : Storytelling
- Run time : 45 minutes
- Website : https://www.thereadingbug.com/adventures
- Host : Lauren Savage
- Production Company and Network : Independent
- Pricing structure : Free
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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