PJ Library Presents: Beyond The Bookcase – Details, episodes & analysis

Mysterious things are happening in Auntie PJ's library! Join siblings Miri and Micah as they journey to the land of Mashal, a magical place where stories come to life (with a Jewish twist).  Subscribe to Beyond the Bookcase to listen to new episodes each month. pjlibrary.org/podcast

Welcome to Beyond the Bookcase - a new series from PJ Library! Siblings Miri and Micah are visiting the eccentric synagogue librarian, Auntie PJ, when they are suddenly whisked away to a magical world full of fairytale characters. What does the old story of the tortoise and the hare have to do with Shabbat? Are Golems made to announce sporting matches? Will anyone help Chicken Little with her socks? Find out during the premiere episode of Beyond the Bookcase. New episodes drop every month--subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to follow the story.

• Micah – Maxwell Glick
• Miri – Arianna Fox
• Auntie PJ – Madelaine Ripley
• Golem - Pat Bordenave
• Mr. Saifair – Tau Zaman
• Humpty Dumpty – John Henry Kurtz
• Hare – Daniel Amerman
• Snow White – Laura Schreiber
• Chicken Little – Blair Which
• Peter Pumpkin Eater - Mike Ciporkin
• Jack - Richard Wentworth

The kids and Mr. Saifair come up with a plan to save Mashal and rescue Golem from his destructive path. On that path, our friends find three particularly posh kittens whose unprotected paws have left them stranded in the woods. Learn all about the Jewish value of returning lost objects in the season 2 premiere episode of Beyond the Bookcase.

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
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Kitten 1 - Malcolm Villaverde
• Kitten 2 - Molly Villaverde
• Kitten 3 - Blair Which
• Peter Rabbit - Zad Gravebone
• Bo Peep - Laura Schreiber
• Chester the Cat - Alli Thresher
• Mr. Saifair - Tau Zaman
• Golem - Pat Bordenave
• Rabbit - Alli Thresher

Cinderella and Rapunzel welcome the kids to stay for the night in their tiny cabin. Cinderella clears the air about her bonus mom, Rapunzel gets a new ’do, and everyone learns about the Jewish value of Hakarat Hatov – recognizing the good.

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
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Cinderella - Gwen D'Angelo
• Rapunzel - Daniella Rabbani

A very handsome swan is in distress - and who is nearby? Why it's Golem! Can the kids help their friend return to his lovely clay self?

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

• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Miri - Arianna Fox
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Golem - Pat Bordenave
• Swan - LD Castro

The kids discover Chelm, a very grey part of Mashal that’s both confusing and confused, if that makes any sense, which it wouldn’t in Chelm. And … Mr. Saifair has a brother?!?

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

• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Dafi - Tau Zaman
• Miri - Arianna Fox
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Golem - Pat Bordenave
• Yankel -Zad Gravebone

The shul doors are, once again, broken. And the kids are ready to fix more of Chelm. And by “fix,” we mean totally mess everything up. Put on your unicycle helmet and enjoy.

Chelm seems to be returning to not-normal, which is great. The kids just need to help one wanderer home from a long trip to nowhere. And, there's one thing missing: Dafi Saifair's brilliant Mumu!

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

• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Dafi - Tau Zaman
• Miri - Arianna Fox
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Golem - Pat Bordenave
• Man at Wit's End - Zad Gravebone
• Ms. Meyer - Gwen D'Angelo
• Mrs. Lam - Alli Thresher
• Narrator - Alli Thresher

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.

Episode Credits

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

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

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).

Chelm seems to be returning to not-normal, which is great. The kids just need to help one wanderer home from a long trip to nowhere. And, there's one thing missing: Dafi Saifair's brilliant Mumu!

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
• Dafi - Tau Zaman
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Golem - Pat Bordenave
• Frank - Zad Gravebone
• Sacha - Kristopher Jenson

The kids find someone they’ve been searching for. But there’s no time to sit and swap travel tales – something is still not right in Mashal. Does the mysterious Serach know what's up?

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
• Dafi - Tau Zaman
• Micah - Maxwell Glick
• Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle
• Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio
• Evie - Samantha Philyaw
• Golem - Pat Bordenave
• Jack - Rich Wentworth
• Farmer Serach - Daniella Rabbani
• Mr. Saifair - Tau Zaman
• Marion Woman in Shoe - Tianna Tagami
• Peter Pumpkin Eater - Mike Ciporkin
• Humpty Dumpty - John Henry Kurtz