The Children's Hour

This week on The Children's Hour, it's the season of gratitude, and we're grateful for some of the most important people in our lives: our grandparents. The Kids have messages and stories to share for and about their own grandparents. We'll also hear kids from Jimmy Carter Middle School telling stories about grandparent love and magic in action.

Find the full episode post at https://childrenshour.org/grateful-for-grandparents

The Children's Hour Kids Crew is joined this week by students in Randy Pence's class at Jimmy Carter Middle School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as we celebrate and honor some of our favorite people in the world: our grandparents. 

Throughout the program, you'll hear from our Kids Crew with comments about their own grandparents, and we learn that some of our crew no longer have grandparents. Lucy tells us how that feels, and gives great advice about appreciating your grandparents, because the time with them is precious. 

We also hear a review of the PBS Kids show, Carl the Collector from Kids Crewmember, Thorfin. This show features a lead character who has autism, and Thorfin can relate. Autism is common, and it's important for kids to learn from Carl how his autism shapes how he views the world.

This episode of The Children’s Hour is written and produced by Katie Stone, with production help from the Kids Crew, Randy Pence at Jimmy Carter Middle School, and the kids in his classroom. Thaniel Lentz is our intern.

The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network.

© 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Children's Hour, the Kids Crew explores their favorite things through exciting experiences and interviews. Genevieve visits the Santa Fe Opera to learn about opera behind the scenes, while Kodiak and Corbett take flight with the Young Eagles program, discovering the wonders of aviation. The crew also welcomes special guests from Animal Humane New Mexico, who share insights on caring for pets. With great music and lively conversations, this episode celebrates the joys of favorite activities, animals, and adventures!

Find the episode page at https://childrenshour.org/favorite-things
Do you have a favorite thing? Most of us have a few favorite things, like our favorite foods, or sports, or even songs. Genevieve takes us on a journey to the Santa Fe Opera, where she attends her very first live opera, Tristan und Isolde. She interviews Chelsea Dennis, the production director, who explains the magic of opera, how it's different from plays and musicals, and what it takes to bring a grand production to life.

We also welcome special guests from Animal Humane New Mexico, who share how they care for pets and help find loving homes for animals in need. They explain the importance of adopting pets and what it takes to be a responsible pet owner, with advice for families thinking about adding a furry friend to their home.
Kodiak and Corbit get an unforgettable experience flying in an airplane with the Young Eagles program.

They learn about experimental airplanes, how they're built, and the basics of flight from real pilots. The crew also interviews a retired Air Force instructor pilot and discovers what it's like to see the world from high in the sky.

This episode of The Children’s Hour is written and produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Eli Henley, Genevieve, Corbit and Kodiak. Special thanks to the Santa Fe Opera, Animal Humane New Mexico, and the Experimental Aircraft Association group 179 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network.

© 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Listen to The Children’s Hour anytime at ChildrensHour.org.

In this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew dives into the captivating realm of great apes, featuring orangutans, chimpanzees, and gorillas. Special guest Michelle Desilets from Forests for Orangutans shares insights into the behaviors, lifestyles, and struggles of these remarkable animals. We also visit the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo to get an up-close look at chimpanzees. Join us for an engaging and informative adventure into the world of these extraordinary creatures!

Find the full episode post at https://childrenshour.org/apes

In this exciting episode of The Children's Hour, the Kids Crew is going on an adventure to learn all about some of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom—the great apes! We’re diving into the lives of orangutans, chimpanzees, and gorillas to discover what makes these animals so incredible. Did you know that great apes, like orangutans, share up to 97% of their DNA with humans? That makes them some of the most intelligent animals on the planet!

First, we’ll chat with Michelle Desilets from Forests for Orangutans, who will teach us fascinating facts about these amazing creatures. Orangutans are not just smart, but they have unique skills that help them survive in their rainforest homes. You'll hear about their favorite foods (hint: they love jackfruit!) and how they use their strong jaws to crack open coconuts. You’ll also learn about the serious threats they face from humans, like habitat loss and hunting.

But that’s not all—we’re also taking a field trip to the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo! There, we’ll meet with a zookeeper who cares for chimpanzees and get a behind-the-scenes look at how these amazing animals live in the zoo. Chimpanzees are social animals, much like us, and we’ll discover how they interact with each other and their environment.

Throughout the episode, we’ll explore what makes the great apes, including gorillas, such fascinating creatures. We’ll learn that these animals live in complex societies, use tools, and have strong family bonds. And did you know that orangutans, chimpanzees, and gorillas each have different adaptations to their environments? From the treetops of the rainforest to the forest floor, each species has its own way of thriving in the wild.

Join us for this fun, educational, and music-filled episode as we discover the wonderful world of apes. Whether you’re a budding scientist or just curious about these incredible creatures, there’s something for everyone in this show! Don’t miss the chance to learn, laugh, and explore with The Children’s Hour!

This episode of The Children’s Hour is written and produced by Katie Stone, with help from Senior Producer Christina Stella and intern Thaniel. Special thanks to our guest Michelle Desilets from Forests for Orangutans, and Jonathan Cordova, the chimpanzee keeper at the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo.

You can find this episode, along with all of our other episodes, at ChildrensHour.org.

(c) 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode of The Children’s Hour, we dive deep into how elections work in the United States, and especially focus on the big one: the Presidential election! With a Presidential election coming up, we wanted to make sure everyone understands how voting really works and what makes it so important.

Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/presidential-elections

We had the honor of speaking with New Mexico's Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who gave us an inside look at how elections are managed. Did you know her job is to make sure every vote in New Mexico is counted and that voting is safe and fair? Secretary Toulouse Oliver explained how voting works, what a ballot is, and even answered the Kids Crew’s questions about absentee ballots and how votes are counted.

We also learned about something called the Electoral College, which is how the President of the United States is actually chosen. New Mexico State Representative Pamela Herndon, who was once an elector in the Electoral College, explained this very confusing system and why it’s still used today. The Kids Crew had a lot of questions, like why isn’t the President chosen by just counting the votes of the people? It turns out, the Electoral College has been around since the Constitution was written, and it’s a big topic of discussion today.

Find information to help you understand how the leaders of our country are chosen and why voting matters. Even though kids can’t vote, you can learn so much and help the adults in your life make good decisions!

This episode of The Children’s Hour was written and produced by Katie Stone with help from Thaniel Lentz. Our theme music is by C.K. Barlow. The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network.

© 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All rights reserved.

In this episode of The Children's Hour, we talk about something really hard: death and grief. Hosted by Katie Stone, the Kids Crew helps us understand how kids feel when they lose someone special. This could be a person or even a pet. With holidays like Halloween and Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) happening around this time, we often think about people we’ve loved and lost. In this show, we learn how to cope with those feelings and how to support each other when we feel sad.

Find the full episode post at https://www.childrenshour.org/death-grief/

Death is a part of life, but talking about it can feel strange or even scary. On this show, we explore why it's important to talk about grief, how kids experience it, and what we can do to feel better. With the help of special guests and stories from our Kids Crew, we learn that even though grief can be really tough, we can get through it together. There are ways to remember the people and pets we love, and it’s okay to feel sad, mad, or even confused. This episode helps kids understand that they’re not alone in feeling these big emotions.

Two of our Kids Crew members, Sage and Skye, share a touching story about their dog, Sumi, who passed away recently. Skye talks about how much she misses Sumi, and Sage shares a memory about how Sumi once saved her from falling and getting hurt. They describe how, after Sumi passed away, it felt like her spirit stayed with them, finding a special resting place in their family’s garden. By having this memory, Sage and Skye can remember Sumi and feel close to her even though she’s no longer here. This story shows how kids can find comfort and peace through memories of their loved ones.

We also talk with Kelly Geib-Eckenroth from the Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico. Kelly explains how grief can look different for kids than it does for grown-ups. At the Grief Center, kids who have lost someone close to them can talk about their feelings and meet other kids who are going through the same thing. Kelly shares how activities like crafts and games help kids express their emotions and feel supported in a safe space. This support helps them understand that it’s okay to feel all kinds of emotions when grieving, and that they don’t have to go through it alone.

Vanessa Vassar, another guest on the show, shares her experience of grief through a special children’s book she wrote called Evan and the Sky Goats. Her book is about a little boy who loses his sister and finds joy again by making friends with magical goats. Vanessa tells us how stories like this can help kids deal with their own sadness and learn to find happiness again, even after a loss.

We also learn about Día de los Muertos, a holiday celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, including New Mexico. It’s a joyful holiday where families honor the spirits of loved ones who have passed away. Families create ofrendas (altars) with photos, favorite foods, and marigold flowers to invite the spirits of their loved ones to visit. Día de los Muertos teaches us that remembering those who have died doesn’t have to be sad—it can be a celebration of their lives and a time to feel connected to them again.

Finally, we talk with Gail Rubin, a death educator, who helps people understand death in a way that feels less scary. She even uses humor to explain why it’s important to plan for things like funerals and wills. Gail reminds us that although talking about death can be difficult, it’s something that everyone will go through, and being prepared can make it easier for families when the time comes.

This episode of The Children’s Hour helps kids understand that it’s okay to feel sad or confused about death, and that talking about grief with others can help us heal. Whether it's remembering a pet like Sumi, or learning about ways to celebrate life through Día de los Muertos,

In this episode of The Children’s Hour, we explore the fascinating world of archaeology. The show was recorded live at the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies during International Archaeology Day. We meet three amazing guests: Dr. Eric Blinman, Mary Weahkee, and Marlon Magdalena, who each help us understand how archaeology uncovers the past. Dr. Blinman talks about how archaeologists carefully collect and study artifacts to learn about history. Mary Weahkee shares her knowledge of stone tools and ancient arrowheads, and Marlon Magdalena introduces us to traditional Native American instruments and their cultural importance. We even hear some of these instruments being played!

Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/archaeology

Our Kids Crew recorded this episode as a live broadcast inside the laboratory at the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies. The interviews with these archaeologists take us deep into their work. Dr. Blinman explains how archaeology is like solving a puzzle, where the clues come from things people left behind, like broken pots or ancient tools. Mary Weahkee talks about how even tiny pieces of stone can tell a story about what life was like long ago. She describes how arrowheads were made and used, and why studying them helps us understand ancient people. Marlon Magdalena shares how the Jemez people still use many of the same instruments and traditions that their ancestors did, showing us how the past is connected to the present.

The Kids Crew asks great questions about how archaeologists know how old things are, what kinds of artifacts they find, and why it’s so important to leave ancient items in place. We also learn about the importance of context in archaeology—where an artifact is found can tell us a lot about its history. Marlon shows us how traditional instruments like turtle shell rattles and flutes are made and used today, helping to keep cultural traditions alive.

Join us as we dig into the past and discover how archaeology helps us understand history. You can find more information and links about this episode at childrenshour.org.

This episode of The Children’s Hour was produced by Katie Stone with help from the Kids Crew. Engineering was provided by Andres Martinez with post production support from Marty Adam Smith. Special thanks to our guests: Dr. Eric Blinman, Mary Weahkee, and Marlon Magdalena.

The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network.

© 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Story Keepers – Celebrating Indigenous Storytellers

This special episode of The Children's Hour honors Indigenous Peoples' Day with Laurel Goodluck, a children's book author. Laurel joins the Kids Crew to share her experiences and stories that uplift Native American culture. Laurel, who is Mandan Hratsa and Tsimshian, draws inspiration from her rich cultural heritage and her large, intertribal family. Her latest book, Too Much, My Great Big Native Family, resonates deeply with many of the Kids Crew members as they reflect on their own families.

Laurel discusses the importance of seeing oneself in stories and why its vital for indigenous children to see their culture reflected in literature. As she reads from her books, she emphasizes themes of resilience, family, and the celebration of one's heritage. From her beloved book Forever Cousins to the inspiring biography She Persisted: Deb Haaland, Laurels stories not only represent indigenous experiences but also resonate with all children, offering lessons of strength and unity.

We also hear a Kids Crew review of Too Much: My Great Big Native Family written by Lucasti and voiced by Caibiya, who both know a thing or two personally about being in great big Native families!

Learn about Indigenous Peoples Day, a US Holiday that honors the first people who lived in the Americas, and celebrates their resilient cultures. Learn more about Indigenous Peoples Day, and the myths around Christopher Columbus at The National Museum of the American Indian website.

This episode is mixed with great indigenous music from around the globe (but mostly in the Americas), and was written and produced by Katie Stone, and recorded at the Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque New Mexico. Our engineer was Chad Scheer. We had production help from Christina Stella and Gus Tafoya, and additional support from our intern, Thaniel Lentz.

The Childrens Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, The Native American Radio Network.

©2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/story-keepers

In this episode of The Children's Hour, we dive into the amazing world of bugs! Entomologist Jason Schaller from Albuquerque Biopark’s Bugarium joins us to teach us all about these fascinating creatures. We learn why bugs are so important to our planet and even how some of them can be a part of our diets! From bug biology to tasty cricket tacos, this episode will leave you buzzing with excitement.

Jason Schaller is the Curator of Entomology at the ABQBioPark and Bugarium. We learn what his role is at the Zoo, and how he became interested in bugs. At the same time, he showed up to our recording session with a gigantic beetle on his shirt! Our Kids Crew had mixed feelings about this! Thorfin, like many people, is afraid of insects, while Amadeus loves bugs.

Bugs might be small, but they play huge roles in our world. From pollinating plants to breaking down waste, insects are a vital part of life on Earth. Jason Schaller shares his expert knowledge about why bugs are helpful, and even how they help humans in ways we may not expect.

Did you know there are over a million different types of insects? In this episode, we explore the diversity of the bug world—from butterflies to beetles to tarantulas! Insects come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and they live in almost every habitat on Earth. Whether you love them or fear them, these creatures are incredibly diverse and essential for a healthy planet.

In many parts of the world, bugs are a regular part of the menu. Jason Schaller introduces us to the idea of eating insects and how nutritious they can be. One of the most popular edible bugs is the cricket, which is rich in protein. Curious about trying bugs for yourself? You can make your own cricket tacos at home! Check out https://childrenshour.org/get-bugged to find a recipe for cricket tacos and give it a try!

This episode of The Children's Hour is produced by Katie Stone and The Children’s Hour Inc. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to producing high-quality kids' public radio. Production help was provided by Gus Tafoya. Chad Scheer was our engineer at Outpost Performance Space. Thaniel the Intern helps with our playlists and trancripts. 

© 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All rights reserved. Listen to The Children’s Hour anytime at ChildrensHour.org.

Jimmy Carter: Celebrating a Century of Service and Compassion
In this special episode of The Children’s Hour, we celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Jimmy Carter, just in time for his 100th birthday on October 2, 2024. Join us as we explore his journey from a peanut farmer in Georgia to becoming the 39th President of the United States, and beyond, with insights into his lifelong dedication to peace, human rights, and community service. Featuring music, interviews, and stories, this episode honors Carter’s remarkable impact on the world.

Find the episode page at https://childrenshour.org/jimmy-carter

On October 2, 2024, Jimmy Carter will celebrate his 100th birthday. As we reflect on his remarkable life and legacy, it’s impossible not to be inspired by his unwavering commitment to public service, human rights, and peace. From his humble beginnings as a peanut farmer in Plains, Georgia, to becoming the 39th President of the United States, Carter’s life has been a testament to the power of kindness, perseverance, and faith.
During his presidency, Carter was known for his dedication to peace, including his role in negotiating the Camp David Accords and advocating for energy conservation. But his work didn’t end when he left the White House. In fact, Carter may be even better known for his post-presidency efforts, especially through the Carter Center, which has worked in more than 80 countries to advance human rights, combat diseases, and promote fair elections. His dedication earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, one of the many accolades he received throughout his life.
Jimmy Carter also showed us the importance of compassion and community service through his long-time support of Habitat for Humanity. Even into his 90s, he could be seen swinging a hammer, helping to build homes for those in need. His faith, humility, and service have left an indelible mark on the world.
As we honor his incredible contributions, we invite you to listen to our special episode on President Jimmy Carter, where we explore his life, legacy, and the values that continue to shape our world today.

This episode of The Children's Hour was produced by Katie Stone with production help from Addie Arenas, our summer intern through the Albuquerque Mayor's Creative Youth Corps. Additional production assistance was provided by Gus Tafoya, Christina Stella, and Thaniel Lentz. Our theme music is by C.K. Barlow. The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network.

Running is more than just a pass time. It's more than just a form of exercise. For runners, running brings a deeper sense of calm and peace. This time on The Children's Hour we meet with multiple runners whose running influences their physical, spiritual, and social lives, including a blind Olympic champion runner George Mendoza, kids and others from the indigenous club Running Medicine, and Rep. Gabe Vasquez whose running helps him run for Congress. Get running with our Kids Crew, this time on The Children's Hour.

Find the full episode page at https://ChildrensHour.org/running

How can a blind person run and even make it to the Olympics? The Kids Crew meets artist, author, and blind Olympic champion runner, George Mendoza. His running and athleticism inspire amazing art. His paintings illustrate the new book, Colors of the Wind: The Story of Blind Artist and Champion Runner George Mendoza. You'll meet George, and hear his amazing story, and Katie reads his book.

Then, we are joined by kids and adults from Running Medicine, a project of the Native Health Initiative where whole communities run together, no matter age, ability, or skill level. Leanne, Joshua, Payton and Maya from Running Medicine teach us about how running together has helped them in ways beyond just the physical.

When the Kids Crew talk about how they run, and Cade mentioned Parkour as his inspiration, we got to thinking about the science behind why runners feel so good after a run, in spite of the muscle soreness they might experience. Running releases chemicals in our brains that make us happy, and help us cope with stress and anxiety. It also has real physical benefits to our hearts, lungs, bones, and muscles. 

As we learn from the lyrics of one of our songs, kids need 60 minutes a day of movement and activity for their bodies to grow and be healthy. No wonder running feels so good!

Finally we meet Congressman Gabe Vasquez, a runner whose running supports his run for his seat every two years. He is currently running to keep his position as New Mexico's Representative for Congressional District 2, and the Kids Crew wanted to find out more about how his running helps him cope with the stress on the campaign trail and his work. 

This episode is mixed with great music. Find our playlists on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/5zARCKhKZAwNCq1SRVXqWZ

The Children's Hour is written and produced by Katie Stone with help from Senior Producer Christina Stella. Chad Scheer is our engineer at Outpost Performance Space, and Thaniel the Intern helps with transcripts and playlists.

© 2024 The Children's Hour Inc, All Rights Reserved.

This time on The Children's Hour, we're joined by three cave biologists who are researching life underground. Learn the basics of caves, spelunking, and hear about cutting edge research into extremophiles. Plus we explore some of the world's most extraordinary caves. Learn with us!

The Kids Crew and Katie are joined by three cave biologists who are researching life underground. Dr. Diana Northup is a Visiting Associate Professor, BiologyProfessor Emerita, College of University Libraries & Learning Sciences at the University of New Mexico, Jenny Hathaway is the biologist inside Dr. Northup's laboratory, and Ryan Ozatalar is an undergraduate studying biology.

We will learn basic facts about caves, like how they are formed and where we can find them. Plus Dr. Northup and her team are on the cutting edge of biological discoveries inside caves. We find out about microbes and extremophiles which inhabit all caves, even ones with air that is toxic for humans. 

Are there some caves that are particularly amazing? We think so! Hear about the Great Room in Carlsbad Caverns located in New Mexico, the glow worms in Waitomo Caves in New Zealand, and the ecosystems inside Viet Nam’s Son Doong Cave. Back in the United States, we learn why Wind Cave in South Dakota is sacred for the Oglala Lakota Nation.

This episode is mixed with great music, and was written and produced by Katie Stone, with help from Christina Stella and Eli Henley. This episode was recorded at the Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque New Mexico. Our engineer was Chad Scheer. Our intern Thaniel Lentz provided our transcripts and playlists.

The Children's Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, The Native American Radio Network.

©2024 The Children's Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

On this episode of The Children's Hour, we learn all about the Post Office from the American Postal Workers Union Local 380 President, Ken Fajardo, who has worked at the United States Postal Service for over 30 years. We explore stamp collecting, and find out how the postal service makes a big difference in elections. Plus, puzzlemaker Riya Joshi challenges the Kids Crew to a puzzle.

Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/post-office

What happens when we drop an envelope in the mail? Ken Fajardo walks our crew through the many steps a letter takes on its journey through the postal system. From cancelling the stamp with a date and location, to sorting the billions of pieces of mail that come through the USPS annually, Mr. Fajardo explains how each letter goes through a special process to ensure that people get the mail that was sent to them. 

When we send a letter, we are putting that piece of mail into a complex system that is able to route that envelope to the recipient, but only after it goes through getting the stamp cancelled. Then the letter goes through many different sorting machines, to help narrow down exactly where it's supposed to go. Finally the letter ends up in the hands of our mail carriers, who deliver to each home in the United States. Mr. Fajardo helps us understand the job of the people who work at the USPS and he shares why he finds this work so rewarding. 

While it is really cool to learn how letters go through the mail system, the post office has even more treasures inside. Some people take up a hobby called philately, also known as stamp collecting. We also learn about how the post office is critical to fair elections. 

We also get a lesson in Latin with puzzlemaster Riya Joshi. Her site Wordy What (https://wordywhat.org) has puzzles of all kinds for kids of all ages.

This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone, with help from producer Marci Krivonen, Christina Stella, and the Kids Crew. Thaniel the Intern reviews our transcripts. 

©2024 The Children's Hour Inc. All rights reserved.

This week on The Children’s Hour, we’re saying goodbye to summer. The kids crew share our favorite, and not so favorite, memories of summertime, and we’ll set some goals for the start of the school year. With a story by Bill Harley, great music, tips for a great school year, and more. Find the full episode post at https://childrenshour.org/goodbye-summer

How do you say goodbye to summer? On The Children’s Hour, we ask our Kids Crew what experiences they had which are memorable, and why. Did you do something that made you delighted this summer? We want to know! Reach out to us, and leave us a voice message on our SpeakPipe.

Then we hear a story from Bill Harley about the lives of teachers during the summer. It turns out they don’t actually live at school all summer long! Who knew? You can find a full episode of stories and more with Bill Harley in a visit with our Kids Crew.

We learn the science of the seasons, and how this is the end of winter for those living south of the equator. Then, we’ll hear tips about how to make this a great school year, and say goodbye to summer in this episode mixed with great music and full of fun.

This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone, with help from producer Christina Stella and the Kids Crew. Thaniel the Intern reviews our transcripts.

©2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All rights reserved.

Together we can do anything, and this time on The Children's Hour we explore teamwork, improv, and how playing games brings builds community. The Kids Crew gets a workshop in improvisation as a team building exercise. Then, we learn about games kids have played for thousands of years which helped create and sustain strong communities. Learn with us!

Find all the learning materials, links, activities and moare at https://childrenshour.org/together-we-can

We speak with our bodies, and some people speak only with their bodies. Communication Nation Episode 3: Other Voices, Other Sounds explores nonverbal communication, sign language, deaf culture, and assistive technology. Comes with a learning guide. Learn with us!

See the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/other-voices/

Communication Nation Episode 2: Mother Tongues focuses on the incredible diversity of language around us, from appreciation of the way names sound, to the restoration of endangered languages. Learn with us on The Children's Hour!

Communication Nation Episode One: Speaking the Truth: Media Literacy & Misinformation is the first of a four part radio series exploring communication to better understand one another. We can only have effective communication when we can trust our sources. We learn about media literacy and misinformation from Eisha Buch at Common Sense Media.

The word media refers to any television, social media, internet news sites, newspaper, book, magazine, podcast, movie, and other source of information we use to learn about the world around us, and to be entertained. Eisha begins by teaching us what the term media literacy means. 

Media literacy means asking yourself who created this media, why did they create it, do they have a bias toward a specific point of view, is this the full story? As we explore media literacy, we learn about the concept of a media diet. Do you know how much media you are consuming, and which kinds? Track your media diet! 

Everyone has a bias which is our view of the way things are, even if it's not accurate. Favoritism for or against a thing, idea, person, or group, can lead to unfair treatment, and judgments that are not accurate. Our media has biases too. When you hear a story about whether something is good or bad, remember to ask who is telling the story, why are they telling it, and do they have a bias?

We also explore misinformation on this episode with Eisha Buch. Sometimes people might post something online that is false information in order to make a joke. Other times people post information without fully checking the sources, and using their media literacy skills.

But there is also another reason a story in a publication online, in social media, or elsewhere might be written with fake information. Sometimes someone, or groups might try hurt their competition by pushing disinformation. Disinformation is hurtful, and makes people believe things that are not true.

This show was produced by our Executive Producer, Katie Stone, with help from Senior Producer Christina Stella, and producer Eli Henley. Chad Scheer provided live engineering at Outpost Performance Space. Lorraine Archibald wrote our learning guides. We also had support from 2024 Summer Intern Thaniel Lentz.

© 2024 The Children's Hour Inc, All Rights Reserved 

This program is made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the United We Stand Connecting Through Culture Initiative, and by the New Mexico Humanities Council. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Mexico Humanities Council

It’s time for the Olympic games, and our summer intern and longtime Kids Crew member, Thaniel, has written and produced a show for us about the Olympics. Thaniel covers the history of the events all the way back to ancient Greece, and through the modern displays. Get ready for the Olympics!

This time on The Children's Hour, we learn what watersheds are, and how they are impacted by forest fires. All over the world, people rely upon watersheds for drinking water, irrigating farmland, and for ecosystems. We are joined by educators from the New Mexico Watershed and Forest Restoration Institute, Natalia Shaw and Raymundo Melendez, along with educator and ecologist Dr. Krista Bonfantine.

This time on The Children's Hour we get onboard and learn about trains. The Kids Crew went on a field trip to The Wheels Museum of Albuquerque, and discovered the rich history of railroads. Learn with us!

This week on The Children’s Hour, learn about the history of the Southwest United States. Adapted from our educational podcast series: A Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids, join us for a dive into 23,000 years of American history.

This time on The Children's Hour, we go far out into space with Dr. Katie Mack, a theoretical astrophysicist whose current focus is on the timeline of the universe, from its birth through its death, billions of years from now.

This time on The Children’s Hour, our summer interns Julia Wolfe and Sophie Anderson-Haynie have co-written and produced a program about Banned Books. They teach us what that means, the history of banning books, and how it’s even possible in the era of digital reading.

We’re celebrating dads for Father’s Day with a musical special. As we think about our fathers, we remember the important role they play in our families, and our lives with their nurturing, love, and care. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads from all of us on The Children’s Hour.

In our musical special for Father’s Day, we hear some of our favorite Kindie artists with their tributes to Dad, plus we have music from Ghanaian rapper, Jayso, and we hear a love song to Dad sung in Cree by Adrian Sutherland. There are songs for weird dads, songs for quiet moments, and silly songs too.

This episode was produced by Katie Stone, with help from our Senior Producer Christina Stella. We had additional assistance from our summer intern, Thaniel. Many thanks to the independent children’s musicians who make every show better with their great tunes.

© 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This time on The Children's Hour, we learn about one of the planet's most ancient species that's still around today: lungfish. Dr. Irene Salinas is a immunologist who is unlocking the secrets to these creatures' incredible ability to survive in the most unlikely of circumstances. Learn with us!

This time on The Children’s Hour, we immerse ourselves in good vibes with a summer fun soundtrack. We've got brand new Kindie music and a classic Bill Harley story about the terror of the high dive and power of unrequited love. Be uplifted with us!

This week on The Children’s Hour, where does our tap water come from, and where does it end up when we flush or wash it down the drain? Our water system is circular, from the Rio Grande and back again. In the meantime, it goes through pipes to homes, and down the drains when it's dirty. How do they clean it for drinking, and then clean it again after it's gross? And what role do tardigrades play? We learn about Water Treatment with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority's education director, Erin Keck.

This time on The Children's Hour, we learn strategies to keep our cool with Michelle Renee Pelletier, who teaches kids how to meditate using guided imagery.  Then we'll meet Evan, a 10 year old who was taught mindfulness at school with Families 4 Peace's instructor, Scott Cameron. We also have a review of The Boy, The Fox, The Mole and The Horse from our Kids Crewmember, Evan Daitz.

Celebrate Mother's Day with a musical Children's Hour, featuring some of our favorite "Kindie" musicians honoring mothers through shoutouts and songs. We even hear from Katie Stone's mom!

Kid Pan Alley is an organization that empowers kids around the United States to write their own songs. We’re joined this time on The Children’s Hour by Paul and Cheryl Reisler who have written more than 2,500 songs with more than 70,000 children over the last 30 years.

Paul and Cheryl Reisler spend the hour with our Kids Crew sharing songs, and giving us a mini demonstration of how they work inside schools. We learn about rhythm and exploration of our ideas.

We hear dozens of examples of Kid Pan Alley songs from a handful of the many schools the organization has worked with over their many decades.

This episode was produced by Executive Producer Katie Stone with help from Senior Producer Christina Stella and Education Director Lorraine Archibald. Recorded in 2022 at the Sunspot Solar Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

© 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc, All Rights Reserved

Get out of this world this week with The Children's Hour! We're going to The Moon with Commander Reid Wiseman from NASA’s Artemis 2 mission. The Bad Astronomer, Dr. Phil Plait teaches us how the moon was formed, and we learn what happens to the lunar rocks back on Earth from Dr. Chip Sharer. Comes with a learning guide - and mixed with great music.

It's Earth Day on The Children's Hour, and we meet Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM) who explains how National Parks and National Wilderness areas are created. Kids can play a big part! Then, Evan tells us about the Junior Ranger program. Biologists and authors Lily and Barbara Kingsolver share about their new book, Coyote's Wild Home. Learn with us!

What’s wild about your backyard? This time on The Children’s Hour we explore creating a backyard or balcony to attract wildlife, in a visit with a “more than human geographer” Laurel Ladwig. She’s part of a movement of reconciliation ecologists who are encouraging people to increase habitats around our homes to help critters who need more nectar, pollen, shade and food to survive in our artificial urban environments.

As we increase the native plants in our yards, or even on our urban balconies in containers, you may see beautiful birds and bugs in need of nectar.

Some wildlife are animals we would rather not encourage, like the rattlesnakes our Kids Crew member Cade sees in his moutain backyard. Other critters look scary but are harmless to humans, and essential members of the food chain to keep the delicate balance of nature in harmony. One such bug is the vinegaroon, which looks like a scorpion but is actually a gentle giant.

We learn about why it's so important to seek out plants which are native to where we live.We learn about why it's so important to seek out plants which are native to where we live.

Here's an online site where you can learn more about what species can thrive around you

As we plant our habitats, we want to help tend our plants to survive the effects of climate change.

The kids also meet Jim Battaglia from Wildlife Rescue of New Mexico, to learn what to do when we find injured wild animals in our yards, parks and playgrounds.

This show is mixed with excellent music to encourage everyone to get outside, and plant something.

Don't forget the City Nature Challenge happening worldwide April 29 - May 2, 2022. Find out more!

This time on The Children’s Hour, New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp inspires us to find our poet within, putting our feelings, thoughts, stories and ideas into words to create our own poetry. Featuring poems read by Bob Odenkirk, Joy Harjo, and others, we celebrate poetry and explore our own poet within each one of us.

Find this episode post with all the links at https://childrenshour.org/the-poet-within

What makes a poem, and how do we find the poet within? New Mexico Poet Laureate, Lauren Camp walks us through how poetry comes to life from our thoughts, sensations, and to describe the world around us. Hear how her poem Forest Man makes us feel like we are inside the trees with us.  

New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp has written more than 10 books of poetry, and has contributed to a coloring book showcasing how amazing New Mexico is, with line art drawings from many talented New Mexican artists. Produced by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, the coloring book is free and you can download and print it no matter where you live!

We hear poetry from former United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. She was the 23rd United States Poet Laureate, and the first Native American to hold the honor. Joy Harjo is from the Mvskoke Nation. She is only the sec­ond poet to be appoint­ed a third term as U.S. Poet Laureate.  The Current United States Poet Laureate is Ada Limón. We also hear from Shel Silverstein, Bob Odenkirk, and others.

Write your own poem answering the prompt provided by our guest Lauren Camp: What does zero feel like?  Submit your poem to us in your own voice or using our contact form. We would love to hear from you. Hear what our Kids Crew came up with as we were interviewing Lauren Camp.

This episode of The Children’s Hour was produced by Executive Producer, Katie Stone, with help from Senior Producer Christina Stella. Our Education Director, Lorraine Archibald also contributed.

© 2024 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved 

This time on The Children's Hour we learn about the concept of querencia: the feeling of "home" in a place, and with our communities. Using poetry, imagery, history, music and sharing, we explore the elements of home.

This week on The Children’s Hour we’ll explore New Zealand through stories and songs, and in conversation with our friends, Kiwi musicians Lucy Hiku from Itty Bitty Beats, and Claudia Robin Gunn. One lives on the north island, and the other on the South Island!

We’ll learn about New Zealand’s unique geography, climate, landscape, wildlife, and culture. Expect to hear all New Zealander music, in both English and Maori.

Celebrate the unique culture, landscape, flora and fauna of New Zealand with us. From kiwi birds to Kākāpō, there’s a lot to learn.

You can learn a lot more about New Zealand in our Learn-Along Guide that’s posted above. This guide meets and cites US National Education Standards, and will expand on what we explored today on the show.

This episode was produced by Katie Stone, our Executive Producer, with help from our Senior Producer, Christina Stella. Producer Diana Baron Moore contributed to this episode. Our Learn-Along Guides are written by Lorraine Archibald, with help from Jonathan Dunski. Many thanks to Claudia Robin Gunn and Itty Bitty Beats for being with us on the show.

©2024 The Children’s Hour Inc.

Imagine a world where kindness is a habit. The Kids Crew explore kindness, as a practice, science and feeling on this edition of The Children's Hour.

We're joined by Lindsay Munroe, a singer-songwriter who specializes in music to build caring communities of children.

Acts of kindness are more than just beneficial for the recipient, givers are also rewarded. We discover the science of kindness, and how it's a gift that keeps on giving.

We've created a free, downloadable learning guide on Kindness, which meets national education standards. Find it at https://ChildrensHour.org/kindness/
Download it for free, grab some crayons, pens, markers, and pencils and come along with us as we cultivate kindness.

This show is mixed with inspiring, joyful music that promotes kindness.

Produced by The Children's Hour Inc. Katie Stone is the Executive Producer, Christina Stella is our Senior Producer, Lorraine Archibald is our educator, and Alexander Jacobson writes our transcripts.

2024 The Children's Hour Inc.

This time on The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew does a deep dive to learn about birthday traditions from around the world. Here in the United States, many kids can expect a birthday cake, candles, presents, and maybe even a party. But in some regions, like where The Children’s Hour is in the Southwest, we have even more to add to a birthday celebration.

Mega Ran is one of the most prolific hip hop artists you have heard, but likely have not heard of. His music is featured in hundreds of video games, earning him an award from the Guinness Book of World Records. Now he’s a children’s musician with a beat and a message. Get inspired by his amazing journey in an engaging conversation with our Kids Crew.

Who’s hooting? On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we learn all about owls! 

More than 200 species of owls live around the world. Maybe you have had the experience like some of our Kids Crew, of seeing owls in the wild? If you want to learn more about these interesting creatures, this episode is for you!

This time on The Children's Hour we learn about our Black American history, this time exploring the Negro Baseball Leagues. These were professional teams made up of Black and other non-white players, and the only way Black athletes could play professional baseball while the Major Leagues remained segregated. Our guest is Byron Motley, author of Negro Baseball Leagues - A Memoir which chronicles the story of these leagues.

Byron's own father was an umpire for the Negro Baseball Leagues. His father's love of the game was passed along to Byron, who only understood as an adult what challenges his dad had to overcome to be included in the world of baseball.

Many legends of baseball come from the NBL, including Jackie Robinson, the first Black player to integrate the Major Leagues. We learn about the oldest player to ever rookie for Major League Baseball at the age of 42, Satchel Paige, along with NBL players Larry Doby, and Josh Gibson.

We've also got a poem from E. Ethelbert Miller's book "If God Invented Baseball" and we hear some classic comedy by Abbot & Costello.

This episode is mixed with great music, and comes with a Learn-Along Guide that meets and cites National education standards. Find it at https://ChildrensHour.org/Negro-Baseball-Leagues

Negro Baseball Leagues was written and produced by Executive Producer, Katie Stone, with help from Senior Producer, Christina Stella, and producer Eli Henley. Chad Scheer was our engineer at Outpost. Lorraine Archibald authors our Learning Guides, and Alexander Jacobson writes our Transcripts.

© The Children’s Hour Inc. 2024

This time on The Children’s Hour, we’re joined by Sesame Street’s first Black woman puppeteer, Megan Piphus. Portraying six year old Muppet Gabrielle, Megan is living her dream life on the street she came to know as a tiny child. Megan is a self trained ventriloquist and she shares some of her secrets with the Kids Crew. Find the episode page at https://childrenshour.org/living-the-dream

Megan has just released her first children’s album called Spaceships & Dreams. The hip hop and soulful release was a collaboration with Bootsy Collins of Parliament fame. Megan learned to sing at church, where her dad was the pastor.

Hear tracks from her new album, and get captivated and inspired by Megan Piphus’s incredible success and achievements to make Sesame Street more diverse.

This episode was produced by Katie Stone, our Executive Producer, our Senior Producer, Christina Stella, post production from Ann Marie Awad, and transcription by Alexander Jacobson.

©2024 The Children’s Hour Inc.

This time on The Children's Hour, we meet Ms. Caitlin Gooch from Saddle Up And Read, an organization that motivates kids to read with horses. Evan Daitz reviews My Life In The Fish Tank, and Maya Falcon gives us her review of PANDEMIC 2020: A 9 Year Old's Perspective by Prisha Hedau. The kids in the Extinction Diaries teach us about why some zebras are being born with bizarre stripe patterns, and what that means. We've got great music on this show, too.

Find the full episode information at https://childrenshour.org/Read-Ride

Learn with us!

What makes a good meal great? It’s when it tastes delicious and is nutritious, all at the same time. This time on The Children’s Hour we get in the kitchen with Kids Cook’s Sara Robbins in a demonstration kitchen, as we explore healthy foods for kids of all ages. We talk with pediatric dietician, Jill Castle about making healthy choices for our meals. She explains how parents can help kids establish good habits when it comes to food, exercise, and being healthy. Get cooking with The Children’s Hour, and learn with us about Eating Well.

Eating well begins at home, and parents play a critical role in establishing healthy food habits with children that can last a lifetime. This time on The Children's Hour, the Kids Crew is at 3 Sisters Kitchen, an industrial food preparation location, in order for us to cook something with Sara Robbins from Kids Cook. Sara teaches students across New Mexico about our bodies, and what they need from our meals in order to thrive. Today she has the Kids Crew cooking homemade tortillas to make burritos, and we are discovering that food preparation includes using our math skills.

Jill Castle has been described as America’s Child Nutritionist, and she is the author of numerous books, including her acclaimed The Nourished Child.
In a conversation with Executive Producer, Katie Stone, Jill explains the five food groups: protein, grains, dairy, fruit and vegetables. These are grouped by their nutritional value, and are familiar to families. Every day, we should have foods from each one of these groups to meet our bodies' nutritional needs.

Jill has her own system for talking with families about diet, too. She categorizes food into three categories: highly nutritious - like the foods in the five food groups, decently nutritious, like boxed cereal, and minimally nutritious, like candy and other sweet treats. She explains how families can help kids practice habits to balance these foods.

We return to the kids at 3 Sisters Kitchen cooking with Sara Robbins from Kids Cook to hear how the meal preparation is going. The recipes the Kids Crew used were for corn tortillas, black beans, and salsa fresca. You'll hear the kids talk about green chile in this episode, and that is because where we live in New Mexico, green chile is our State Vegetable, and true Hatch green chile can only be grown in New Mexico. Sometimes green chile is spicy, but kids here learn to eat spicy foods at a younger age than in other parts of the United States.

This episode of The Children's Hour was produced by our Executive Producer, Katie Stone, with help from Senior Producer Christina Stella, and producer, Ann Marie Awad. Chad Scheer provided our live engineering at 3 Sisters Kitchen. Our transcripts were written by Alexander Jacobson.

© 2024 The Children's Hour Inc.

Our planet is alive, and not just because it enables life to live here, but also the land on Earth is constantly shifting and moving. This time on The Children's Hour we learn about our earthquakes from science communicator and geologist, Dr. Wendy Rocks. Then we hear about volcanoes from Dr. Mousumi Roy. We explore what causes earthquakes and volcanoes, and how scientists can (or cannot) predict them. Plus hear a Kids Crew review of a new book about epic mythology: Greeking Out. Let's get shaking with The Children's Hour!

This time on The Children's Hour we visit with the inspiring and talented children's musician, author, motivational speaker and change-maker SaulPaul, a musician with a message. The Kids Crew learn about his triumph over adversity, and challenge him to compose a freestyle rap while on the air with us!

Learning from adversity, and inspiring with positivity are the messages behind SaulPauls music for kids. An author, motivational speaker and change-maker, SaulPaul is changing the sound of children's music, while being a force for good in his community. We spend the whole hour learning about his life, work, motivation and hear some of his incredible music.

As the Kids Crew learn about his triumph over adversity, we challenge him to compose a freestyle rap while on the air with us!

Then Kids Crew member Evan Daitz reviews the book A Whale of the Wild by Roseanne Parry. His Kids Crew review ranks the book on our green chili rating system: 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. Evan loves to read books critically, and we find out if Roseanne Parry's book makes the grade for Evan.

We've got an hour of excellent music in a show that will inspire you to Be The Change!

Be The Change was produced by executive producer Katie Stone with help from senior producer Christina Stella.

We learn all about skunks with world renown mephitologist, Dr. Jerry Dragoo. Mixed with great music sure to captivate kids of all ages. Comes with a Learn-Along Guide!

We showcase some of the best of 2023 for kids music. The Kids Crew is joined by guests Bob Odenkirk and his daughter Erin Odenkirk. Their book Zilot & Other Important Rhymes is our pick for the best book of 2023 for children. Celebrate the best of 2023 with The Children's Hour.

Celebrate the holidays with The Children's Hour in a holiday musical special. We will play some of the latest and greatest in Kindie releases, and with many of our classic favorites. Get your family singing and dancing and fill your hearts with joy. Happy Holidays from all of us at The Children's Hour!

Astronomy begins at home, just looking up and seeing what we see. The Kids Crew meet with Professor Raman Prinja, Head of Astronomy and Physics at University College in London. Professor Prinja’s new book Wonders of the Night Sky details the many celestial sights we can see just by looking up at the sky in our own backyards. Get out of this world with us in a conversation on astrophysics with the Kids Crew.

Join The Children's Hour Kids Crew in a field trip to the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, the largest in the world! Learn what makes something "Folk Art" in conversations with artists from dozens of countries. This episode comes with a Learn-Along guide for use in classrooms.

This time on The Children's Hour, we learn about a canine that is thriving across North America: coyotes. They may look like wild dogs, but we learn from biologist Zoe Rossman that they are quite different from our friendly house pets.

ICKY: A Radio Musical is a pandemic inspired theatrical performance with a Learn-Along guide.

Way back in the days before the end of The Big Sick, students everywhere were forced to stare at computer screens featuring live video feeds of their classmates. This was happening in bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens across the country and the world ...

This time on The Children’s Hour, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving in a musical special dedicated to gratitude, family, and appreciation of each another and the Earth. We’re finding the joy in every moment, in this Thanksgiving musical Children’s Hour.

Trees have birthdays too, and scientists find out when they are by studying tree rings. This episode comes with a Learn-Along guide that meets and cites US educational standards.

Join our Kids Crew in a conversation with the beloved children's authors, Goosebump's author RL Stine and Marc Brown, the author and illustrator of the Arthur books and TV show. We discover their secrets to creating some of the most widely read kids' books of all time. Get reading with The Children's Hour!

This time on The Children's Hour, the winner of the 2022 Grammy for Best Children's Release, Falu is our guest for the whole hour.

This Halloween special explores the traditions of Halloween, from carving pumpkins to costumes, and what the history is to explain trick-or-treating. Visit ChildrensHour.org/Pumpkin-spice for a digital Learn-Along guide that meets & cites content standards for using our podcast in schools. Mixed with great music. Happy Halloween!

Learn all about sloths with author Georgeanne Irvine from the San Diego Zoo, and biologist Sam Trull from the Sloth Institute in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica. Find out how we can all help protect sloths. This episode comes with a digital Learn Along guide that meets and cites US national education standards.

Get into the world groove with The Children’s Hour as we explore global music for kids. We hear some radio debuts of songs that teach, inspire, and entertain, performed by musicians from around the world. Join us for a musical exploration of world music for kids!

Because kids are seeing guns in so many places, The Children's Hour has tips on gun safety that hunting families have taught their kids for generations. We learn from kids who are hunters themselves on what hunting means to them, and we explore gun laws in the US and the world. Gun violence prevention begins with a conversation at home. Join us for this lifesaving episode of The Children's Hour.

This time on Children’s Hour get blown away with us as we learn all about balloons. We begin with the history of hot air balloons, and we end up in the air on a real balloon. Then we explore latex balloon art and clothing with the team at Airigami. Plus, find out what happens when helium balloons get released into nature. And, that mysterious object you might see floating around in the middle of the day in the skies above you? That might be a weather balloon! All of this is mixed with great music!

Learn about fossils in this action packed episode of The Children's Hour that comes with a Learn-Along guide that meets and cites National (US) Education Standards. The Kids Crew took a summer field trip to a secret fossil dig site located in an active mining quarry in the mountains of New Mexico. They spoke with the paleontologists working to extract 350 million year old fossilized marine creatures and plants.  Hear from science educators, and working paleontologists at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, CA to learn even more. Find the Learn-Along guide at ChildrensHour.org/fossils

This time on The Children's Hour we are falling into autumn in the northern hemisphere. We learn about equinox, and hear from 5th graders on learning different perspectives about Labor Day, Mexican Independence Day, and Columbus Day.

This time on The Children’s Hour, it’s a full hour of stories and story-songs with authors Todd Parr and Michelle Adam, and many more. We hear stories from Bill Harley, Joanne Shenandoah, and song stories throughout the program. This episode takes us on adventures to new worlds and ideas. Join us while we tell you stories, this time on The Children’s Hour.

The Kids Crew learn the science, history, and current schedule of vaccination from Newberry Honor author Dr. Rajani Larocca, and from the Center for Disease Control's Dr. Georgina Peacock. Plus we meet Dr. Richard Corsi, a pioneer of the cheap D-I-Y air purifier.

Celebrate The Children's Hour's fifth birthday in a show full of memorable moments from our last five years, and mixed with some of our favorite tunes.

This time on The Children's Hour we learn about the largest animal to ever live on Earth, which still roams the oceans today: whales.

This week we explore a creature that used to live throughout the mountain west United States, the elusive black footed ferret. Once declared extinct, the highly endangered specialist predator may make a comeback in the North American prairie thanks in part to our guest, Paul Marinari, Senior Curator at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute at the National Zoo.

This time on The Children's Hour, we learn about parasites. Parasitologists Dr. Matt Bolek and Dr. Sarah Bush join our Kids Crew for a lively discussion.

The Kids Crew is joined by Charles Bergman who is a writer, photographer, and speaker and longtime professor at Pacific Lutheran University. He also wrote Every Penguin in the World: A Quest to See Them All.

This time on The Children’s Hour, we learn about Manatees, the gentle giants of the sea. In a visit with Andrea Hermann from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the Kids Crew and Katie discuss the current ecological status of manatees, plus we find out all about their lives in the seas around Florida and elsewhere in the world.

This week on The Children's Hour we honor fathers in a musical special for the dads, stepdads, granddads, papas, and fellas in our lives who help us grow. Featuring some of the best in Kindie musicians, plus old favorites.

The Kids Crew visit with producers and a young voice actor from PBS Kids Work It Out Wombats, which teaches kids about computational thinking, and problem solving in systematic, organized ways.

This time on The Children's Hour we explore the most inexpensive energy source in the world: solar power, in a show recorded live at the Solar Fiesta in Albuquerque New Mexico. Comes with a signature Learn-Along Guide!

This time on The Children's Hour we learn how everyone can contribute to active scientific research by participating in Community Science with groups like BEMP: the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program. This episode comes with a free Learn-Along Guide!

This time on The Children's Hour we explore what sounds classic. First we learn about classical music with prodigy pianist Kayden Kelly. Then we play with sound effects with Kip Allen and Crawford MacCallum.

Celebrate Mom with The Children's Hour in a musical Mother's Day special. We feature some of the latest tunes from Kindie musicians honoring mothers, and we hear poetry about the special bond between kids and our moms. Happy Mother's Day to all who celebrate from The Children's Hour.

We take a step back in time, to over 80 years ago to World War II, one of the biggest conflicts in human history, which changed modern humanity forever. Learn from Ms. Teresa Rand Bridges' bilingual 5th grade class at Alvarado Elementary, a public school in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/world-war-2

This time on The Children's Hour we explore how reading to dogs can help kids feeling confident and excited about reading. Read To The Dogs programs can be found in many libraries, and sometimes they come to schools.

We celebrate Earth Day on The Children’s Hour with students working to save the environment around them. RiverXchange is a program that partners with schools on the Rio Grande to create projects that protect our precious environment. We also learn about the founder of Earth Day, Gaylord Nelson.

The Kids Crew learn about autism from the authors of A Kids Book About Autism, David and Justin Flood. We also hear from scientist Dr. Temple Grandin about what she thinks kids with autism need to know. Finally, we learn about a teenager with autism who's superpower is to impersonate Michael Jackson. Mixed with great music!

It's National Poetry Month in the USA, and we are celebrating with a Poetry Palooza on The Children's Hour! We're joined by author, poet and educator Allan Wolf for an hour of poetry in verse, song and craft.

This time on The Children’s Hour we are joined by the Epic Voice Guy himself, Jon Bailey. Maybe his name isn’t familiar but his voice has been heard in thousands of commercials, TV shows, video games, animations, toys, movies, and more.

This time on The Children's Hour, we're joined by 5 time Grammy nominee, 9 time Parents Choice Gold winner Justin Roberts. Plus, Rebel Girls teach us about kid superstar drummer, Nandi Bushell.

This time on The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew get aboard the JOIDES Resolution, virtually, while the ship is at sea off the coast of Portugal. We meet Amy Mayer, the Onboard Outreach Officer for the JOIDES Expedition 397, and research fellow Saray Sanchez.

This time on The Children's Hour we visit with the bilingual, Grammy winning duo, Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis from the Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band.

This time on The Children's Hour we explore black history through music. We've put together a special playlist of songs to educate about a few of the people who made significant contributions to technology, culture, and the quest for justice and equality.

This time on The Children’s Hour, we learn about a profession with the task of informing the public of the truth: Journalism. We will learn from journalists themselves, including two from New Mexico Press Women who let us know what journalists do, and how they are different from paid advertisers. Find out what we can look for to verify the truth of a story. Then we meet Maria Hinojosa, a groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist with a new children’s book about her life.

2022 Grammy nominee for Best Children’s, Divinity Roxx is a superstar bassist, and longtime member of Beyoncé’s touring band. This time on The Children’s Hour, she guest deejays the show, and answers all of our many questions about life as a rockstar.

This week on The Children's Hour, we explore the best musical releases for kids in 2022, including the five nominees for the Best Children's Grammy.

This time on The Children's Hour we explore black history through music. We've put together a special playlist of songs to educate about a few of the people who made significant contributions to technology, culture, and the quest for justice and equality.

How do we stay calm and centered during times of anxiety, and how do we practice being peaceful? The Children's Hour Kids Crew explore strategies together, and with Andy Mason, a singer songwriter from Santa Fe New Mexico who helps kids find their inner strength through music.

What could be more spooky than a pandemic Halloween? The Kids Crew are joined by Drs. Bop 'n Pop, who are on a mission to help normalize lifesaving public health behaviors for children and families through their songs and videos. We get an update from the doctors about how Covid can be contained and we find out how to have a safe Halloween, in spite of the pandemic.

This week on The Children’s Hour, we learn about Indigenous Peoples Day. Plus we are treated to live music from an all women mariachi band, Mariachi Flor del Alma, we’ve got a book review of Under The Cottonwood Tree, a new graphic novel for kids based on an ancient New Mexican folk tale, and the Extinction Diaries cover the bird die-off that happened late this summer in the southwestern United States.