PJ Library Presents: Beyond The Bookcase

Marion is hosting a gathering for Chag Habanot, the North African Hanukkah festival of daughters. But all the pressure has her being a bit unkind to her friends. Learn all about this holiday plus a valuable lesson about respect and friendship.

 

Credits

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher; Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz

Story Editor: Alli Thresher

Writers: Jan Schwaid and Rinat Hadad Siegel
Consultant: Rinat Hadad Siegel

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
• 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

What do BFFs Goldilocks and Baby Bear make for their Shabbat lunch? Why, harissa of course! But what happens when everyone brings the same pot to the kusha (community oven)? A tasting, of course.

 

Credits

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher; Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz

Story Editor: Alli Thresher

Writer: 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

• 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

Snow White just wants to host a delightful Rosh Hashanah get together, but the three little kittens and the three little pigs are having one big disagreement. Will they ever forgive each other?

 

Credits

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher; Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz

Story Editor: Alli Thresher

Writers: 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).

 

Cast

• Snow White – Laura
• Golem – Pat Bordenave
• Mr. Saifair - Gregory David Barnett
• PJ - Laura Rondinella
• Elijah – Nate DuFort
• Kitten 1 - Malcolm Villaverde
• Kitten 2 - Molly Villaverde
• Kitten 3 - Blair Which
• Pigs 1, 2, 3 – Rich Wentworth

Purim is a holiday that feels like it's made for families. Traditions include dressing up, sharing gift baskets or mishloach manot with friends, making noise by shaking groggers, and staying up late with your friends and community. People do tzedakah and also read the Book of Esther, or megillah, which shares the story of how the Jews of Persia were saved from annihilation. Experience Purim with the characters of Beyond the Bookcase in this special playlist episode. 

Sorry, but we’re not gonna spoil the season finale right here, so don’t expect this to tell you if the kids catch elusive Joha, save Sofer Shalom, or finally get to hear PJ and Elijah’s long-held secret story. You’ll just have to listen.

 

Credits

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher; Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz

Story Editor: Petey Gibson

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).

 

Cast

•  
• Elijah - Nate DuFort
• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Auntie PJ - Laura Rondinella
• Miri - Arianna Fox
• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Troll - Peter Moore
• Joha - Ryan Abedi

The kids want Auntie PJ and Elijah to finally tell all about their legendary treasure hunt, but the grownups try to skirt the subject with “A Story For Another Time.” This one delves into lovable Zev’s first holiday in Mashal.

 

Credits

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher; Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz

Story Editor: Petey Gibson

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).

 

Cast

• Elijah - Nate DuFort
• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Auntie PJ - Laura Rondinella
• Miri - Arianna Fox
• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Golem - Pat Bordenave
• Pig 1 - James Gracik
• Pig 2 - James Gracik
• Pig 3 - James Gracik
• Zev - Walter Alice Sickert
• Joha - Ryan Abedi

The kids are playing an epic game of pretend in the woods when they’re interrupted by none other than Joha! What’s he up to now?

 

Credits

 

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher; Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz

Story Editor: Petey Gibson

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).

 

Cast

• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Miri - Arianna Fox
• Joha - Ryan Abedi
• Auntie PJ - Laura Rondinella

 

 

Passover in Mashal is as enchanting as you’d expect. But who hosts the best seder, Cinderella or Snow White? Follow Auntie PJ and Elijah as they seder-hop through Mashal in this “Story For Another Time.”

 

Credits

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher; Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz

Story Editor: Petey Gibson

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).

 

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 Woman in 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

It’s the Passover episode! Learn about Passover traditions from around the world as the kids continue their globe-trotting search for Joha.

 

Credits

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher; Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz

Story Editor: Petey Gibson

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).

 

Cast

• 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

Each Friday evening, families around the world begin the celebration of Shabbat. For many, the evening includes favorite foods, company for dinner, special songs, and blessings. This week, we have a playlist featuring stories all about Shabbat. 

If you like what you hear, be sure to visit our other shows, just search PJ Library to find more Shabbat stories and much more.