PJ Library Presents: Beyond The Bookcase

Jacob and Blue head to the library for help with a school project, Jacob's "About Me" poster. Rather than steer them to the autobiographies, PJ recommends the kids check out a vibrant book about alebrijes and magical and mysterious things start to happen. Join Blue, Jacob, and new friend Luna in an adventure through El Reino de lo Místico. A special Beyond the Bookcase adventure created in partnership with Jewtina y Co. begins now. ¡Dale!

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library

Writers: Jan Schwaid and Jenny Stemple

Production:

Executive Producer: Alli Thresher

Digital Production Coordinator: Megan Bagala

Audio Editing, mixing, mastering and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA

Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore.

Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments)

CAST:

Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella

Jacob: Rebecca Lee

Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle

Mr. Saifair: Gregory David Barnett

Golem: Pat Bordenave

Luna: Belén Moyano

Mami: Jasmine Romero

Papi: LD Castro

Pedro: Luis E. Mora

PJ Library’s award-winning original podcast series Beyond the Bookcase returns to the PJ Library Presents podcast network with new episodes this August. The four-episode special is produced in collaboration with Jewtina y Co., a vibrant global community dedicated to celebrating, elevating, and expanding Latin-Jewish community while strengthening identity, leadership, and connection to Global Jewry.

Listeners will meet new characters such as Luna, an alebrije, who leads fan favorites Blue and Jacob on a tour through El Reino de lo Místico, a new area in the magical realm of Mashal.

One of Marion’s kids is getting ready for her Bat-Mitzvah, but she’s so nervous. The kids are there to help – along with special guests Cinderella and Prince Charming. For more about preparing to have a bar or bat mitzvah, head to pjlibrary.org/blog for expert advice and tips from Rabbi Rebecca Rosenthal. 

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library 

Writers: Jan Schwaid and Petey Gibson 

Production: 

Executive Producer: Alli Thresher 

Digital Production Coordinator: Megan Bagala 

Audio Editing, mixing, mastering and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA 

Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore. 

Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments) 

 

CAST: 

Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella 

Micah: Maxwell Glick 

Miri: Arianna Fox 

Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle 

Evie: Sylvia Beth Schmitz 

Jacob: Rebecca Lee 

Mr. Saifair: Gregory David Barnett 

Marion: Tianna Tagami 

Shoshana: Lori Hoch Stiefel 

Golem: Pat Bordenave 

Cinderella: Gwen D’Angelo 

Charming: Michael D’Angelo 

Blue is feeling a little let down by their friends this week – can a trip to Mashal, and a chat with Queenie and Mr. Saifair help?

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library 

Writers: Jan Schwaid and Petey Gibson 

Production: 

Executive Producer: Alli Thresher 

Digital Production Coordinator: Megan Bagala 

Audio Editing, mixing, mastering and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA 

Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore. 

Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments) 

 

CAST: 

Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle 

Micah: Maxwell Glick 

Jacob: Cara Cabal Coniglio 

Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella 

Mr. Saifair: Gregory David Barnett 

Queenie: Niki Luparelli 

You know her, you love her – she's Marion, the not-so-old woman who used to live in a shoe. Sometimes she still does... mostly she lives in a giant pumpkin with her many MANY children. Season 5 has a special surprise in store for our friend Marion, so let’s take a walk down memory lane through some of her most memorable episodes. Enjoy!  

 

And don’t forget to leave PJ Library Presents: Beyond the Bookcase on your favorite podcast platforms. 

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library. 

Production: Producer, Alli Thresher; Digital Coordinator, Megan Bagala 

Audio editing, mixing, mastering, and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA 

Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore. 

Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments). 

 

Episode credits:  

Goldilocks and the Tzedakah Project: 

Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson 

Cast 

• Micah – Maxwell Glick 

• Miri - Arianna Fox 

• Jacob - Cara Cabal Coniglio 

• Evie - Sylvia Beth Schmitz 

• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle 

• Auntie PJ – Madelaine Ripley 

• Golem - Pat Bordenave 

• Mr. Saifair – Tau Zaman 

• Goldilocks - Maya Aoki Tuttle 

• Baby Bear - Rich Wentworth 

 

Story for Another Time: Passover in Mashal 

Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson 

Cast 

• Miri - Arianna Fox 

• Evie - Samantha Philyaw 

• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle 

• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio 

• Joha - Ryan Abedi 

• Elijah - Nate DuFort 

• Auntie PJ - Laura Rondinella 

• Micah - Maxwell Glick 

• Mr. Saifair - Gregory David Barnett 

• Marion, the Woman in the Shoe - Tianna Tagami 

• Chicken Little - Blair Which 

• Snow White - Laura Schreiber 

• Golem - Pat Bordenave 

• Cinderella - Gwen D'Angelo 

• Humpty Dumpty - John Henry Kurtz 

• Dolores the Donkey - Alli Thresher 

 

Mermaid Murmurs 

Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson 

Cast 

• Elijah – Nate DuFort 

• Rapunzel – Daniella Rabbani 

• Mr. Saifair – Gregory David Barnett 

• Kid/Daughter – Alli Thresher 

• Junie the Mermaid – Yolanda Spearman 

• Prince Charming – Mike D'Angelo 

• Cinderella – Gwen D'Angelo 

• Marion the Not-So-Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe – Tianna Tagami 

 

Golem's Challah 

Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson 

Cast 

• Auntie PJ – Laura Rondinella 

• Elijah – Nate DuFort 

• Marion, the Not-So-Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe – Tianna Tagami 

• Kids 1,2,3 - Alli Thresher 

• Golem – Pat Bordenave 

• Don Swan – LD Castro 

Rules are important – but are they fixed? Are there ever circumstances where a rule can or should be broken? Are there ways to reinterpret rules, even if they’ve been around for a very long time? The kids explore these questions with Queenie, Golem, and… another Golem?!  

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library 

Writers: Jan Schwaid and Petey Gibson 

Production: 

Executive Producer: Alli Thresher 

Digital Production Coordinator: Megan Bagala 

Audio Editing, mixing, mastering and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA 

Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore. 

Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments) 

 

CAST: 

Evie: Samantha Philyaw 

Micah: Maxwell Glick 

Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella 

Golem: Pat Bordenave 

Golem 2.0: Pat Bordenave 

Queenie: Niki Luparelli 

Chag Sameach! Enjoy a Hanukkah gift from PJ Library: a curated playlist of stories just for you. Whether you enjoy these on the way to a gathering with friends or snuggled up enjoying the light of the candles, we wish all of our listeners a wonderful Hanukkah.

For more Hanukkah fun, download our free guide, A Time to Hope or visit pjlibrary.org/hanukkah.

Episode Credits

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Producer: Alli Thresher

Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson

Audio editing, mixing, mastering, and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA

Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore.

Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments).

November is Mizrahi Heritage Month - celebrating the culture and customs of Mizrahi Jews - those with heritage from around the Middle East, Southwest Asia and North Africa. In this playlist, listeners will attend a Persian Passover, celebrate Chag Habanot with the mermaids of Mashal, and prepare a special dish for Shabbat. To learn more and to find books featuring Mizrahi characters and stories, visit pjlibrary.org.

The background music in the intro is licensed through Epidemic Sound.

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher

Audio editing, mixing, mastering, and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA

Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore.

Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments).

Episode Credits:
Chasing Joha Through Passover
Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson

• Auntie PJ - Madelaine Ripley
• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Elijah - Nate DuFort
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Ms. Shouhed - Daniella Rabbani
• Farrah - Daniella Rabbani
• Joha - Ryan Abedi
• Mr. Fodor - Les Horovitz
• Catriella - Alli Thresher

It's Chag Habanot
Writers: Jan Schwaid and Rinat Hadad Siegel
Cultural Consultant: Rinat Hadad Siegel

• Auntie PJ – Laura Rondinella
• Rapunzel – Daniella Rabbani
• Snow White – Laura Schreiber
• Marion, the not-so-old woman who lives in a shoe - Tianna Tagami
• Cinderella – Gwen D’Angelo
• Prince Charming – Mike D’Angelo
• Mr. Saifair – Gregory David Barnett
• Queenie (Queen Bee) – Niki Luparelli
• Mama Bear – Yolanda Spearman
• Mary Quite Contrary – Journee LaFond
• Mermaid – Yolanda Spearman
• Mermaid (last line) – Tianna Tagami

Spice Up Your Life
Writer: Jan Schwaid
Cultural Consultant: Rinat Hadad Siegel

• Auntie PJ – Laura Rondinella
• Elijah – Nate DuFort
• Goldilocks: Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Baby Bear – Rich Wentworth
• Mr. Saifair – Gregory David Barnett
• Mary Quite Contrary – Journee La Fond

Hi listeners! While the Beyond the Bookcase team works on the second half of Season 5, we have a very special bonus episode: a chat with a real-life monster expert! Join Golem and producer Alli as they sit down with Jack Zaientz from JewishMonsterHunting.com. 

 

If your children are into monsters, magic, and folklore, this episode features a creative look into the background of some of the creatures and characters living in the magical land of Mashal. 

 

This episode was written by Alli Thresher and Jack Zaientz. You can check out Jack and John Baltisberger's podcast for grown-ups at https://waywardchildren.buzzsprout.com

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library

Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore.

Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments)

More for kids who love monsters and folklore: 

Jewish Picture Books for Kids Who Love Monsters
Og Goes Rogue: A Modern Folktale About Og the Giant (mentioned in the show)
Meet the Land of Mashal's Farmer Serach in the Season 2 finale

It's Sukkot in Mashal - what could be more fun? Join Miri and Micah as they are welcomed into the community sukkah by Zev, Farmer Serach, and some very boisterous little piggies.

To learn all about sukkot - and figure out how to build your very own teeny tiny sukkah like Miri and Micah, head to pjlibrary.org/sukkot.

Credits: 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher

Writers: Petey Gibson and Jan Schwaid

Audio editing, mixing, mastering, and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA

Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore.

Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments)

Cast

• Micah – Maxwell Glick
• Miri – Arianna Fox
• PJ - Laura Rondinella
• Famer Serach -- Daniella Rabbani
• Various little pigs -- Alli Thresher