PJ Library Presents: Afternoons With Mimi

Latest Episodes:

Kiddo Practices Spanish, Yiddish, and Other World Languages Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Kiddo is thrilled to be learning a new language - and he wonders, do the people in his family and community speak multiple languages? Mimi reminds Kiddo that, yes, the Jewish community is full of diversity and together they read a sweet story, ¿Dónde está Shmata? written by Tana Ross and illustrated by Elisa Kleven. You can even follow along with Mimi and Kiddo by looking at the video book on the PJ Library YouTube channel.

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher

Writer: Emma Carlson Berne

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

Opening Theme Song: Lyrics by Alli Thresher, composed and arranged by Hovav Paller
Performed by Deirdre Wade

Cast:

Kiddo: Percy Blythe

Mimi: Deirdre Wade

Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings part 2 featuring Mimi and Kiddo Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups on Feelings is a 7-part podcast series created by the Kids Listen community to help kids (and their grownups) explore the wide world of feelings. Each episode pairs two emotions that are often connected, offering original stories, clips, and reflections from across Kids Listen shows.
We're thrilled that PJ Library Presents: Afternoons With Mimi is featured in part 2 of the first mashup about fear and bravery.
Looking for hands-on ways to explore this theme? Download the Kids Listen Fear & Bravery Activity Guide created by Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore.

Kiddo's Kindness to Animals Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Today’s episode features the story, The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street, written by Ann Redisch Stampler, illustrated by Francesca Carabelli, and published by Kar-Ben. Read with permission from Kar-Ben Publishing, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher

Writer: Emma Carlson Berne

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

Opening Theme Song: Lyrics by Alli Thresher, composed and arranged by Hovav Paller
Performed by Deirdre Wade

Cast:

Kiddo: Percy Blythe

Mimi: Deirdre Wade

Playlist: National Storytelling Month May 01, 2025

Show notes

Did you know that May is Jewish American Heritage Month, National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and National Storytelling Month?

Our team has put together a playlist featuring three original Mimi and Kiddo stories to share this special month. And if you're looking for fabulous books to keep your celebrations and learning going, head to our website, pjlibrary.org to find reading lists and more.

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library.

Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher

Writer: Alli Thresher

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

Opening Theme Song: Lyrics by Alli Thresher, composed and arranged by Hovav Paller
Performed by Deirdre Wade

Cast:

Kiddo: Percy Blythe

Mimi: Deirdre Wade

Kiddo Learns about A Special Jewish Community (Featuring Ciara from The Mizrahi Story) Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

Today Kiddo is getting a special treat: a video call from Mimi's friend Ciara. Listen in as our special guest, Ciara, teaches Kiddo all about the history and traditions of the Baghdadi Jewish community of India. Want to learn more? Visit Ciara at The Mizrahi Story on Instagram for all sorts of wonderful interviews, archival video footage, and more.
Episode Cast and Credits:

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library.
Executive Producer: Alli Thresher
Associate Producer: Elizabeth Korelitz
Writers and Story Editor: Ciara Shalome and Alli Thresher
Audio editing, mixing, mastering, and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA
Opening Theme Song: Lyrics by Alli Thresher, composed and arranged by Hovav Paller Performed by Deirdre Wade Cast:
Kiddo: Percy Blythe
Mimi: Deirdre Wade
Ciara: Ciara Shalome

Kiddo Shares His Hanukkah Traditions - Special Episode with Koala Moon Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is a special collaboration between Afternoons With Mimi and Koala Moon, a cozy bedtime stories and sleep meditations show for children from the team at Sleepiest.
Koko chats with Mimi and Kiddo to learn all about Hanukkah before sharing a very cozy Hanukkah celebration with his good friend Prickles.
To learn more about Hanukkah, please visit pjlibrary.org/hanukkah

Narrator 🎙 Abbe Opher

Author ✍️ Suzanna Mcloughlin & Alli Thresher
Mimi: Deirdre Wade
Kiddo: Percy Blythe
Kiddo and Mimi's lines edited by Peter Moore at Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA

Kiddo Learns About Collaboration Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

A challenging project has Kiddo and his friends frustrated. They need to construct something that can protect an egg for their school’s Egg Drop event, but each friend has tried their own ideas without success. Mimi reads the book Five Brave Knights vs. the Dreadful Dragon, a storyabout kids facing similar, though fire-breathing, frustration. What can we do when our individual efforts aren’t enough?In Hebrew, the word for “together” (yachad) shares the same root as the word for “individual” (yachid), illustrating how every group is made up of individuals. Your uniqueness is a superpower, but it can be combined with others’ to achieve big shared goals.
The book Mimi reads in this episode, Five Brave Knights vs. the Dreadful Dragon, was written by Netalie Gvirtz and illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt, and published by PJ Publishing. Episode Cast and Credits: Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library.
Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher, Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz
Writers and Story Editor: Alli Thresher
Audio editing, mixing, mastering, and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA
Opening Theme Song: Lyrics by Alli Thresher, composed and arranged by Hovav Paller Performed by Deirdre Wade Cast:
Kiddo: Percy Blythe
Mimi: Deirdre Wade

Kiddo Has a Laugh Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

While searching for a game in Mimi’s closet, he finds a trunk full of funny costumes, plus flyers and other memorabilia from old comedy shows. Mimi explains that his great uncle Levi used to be a comedy performer, part of a long line of laughter in the Jewish tradition of finding happiness even in hard times. She shares a few famous names, telling Kiddo about Jewish comedians she’s enjoyed, like Gilda Radner, Mel Brooks, and others. Episode Cast and Credits: Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library. Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher, Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz Writer: Emma Carlson Berne Story Editor: Alli Thresher Audio editing, mixing, mastering, and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA Opening Theme Song: Lyrics by Alli Thresher, composed and arranged by Hovav Paller Performed by Deirdre Wade Jewish Comedy Historian: Brently Heilbron Cast: Kiddo: Percy Blythe Mimi: Deirdre Wade

Kiddo Learns About the Importance of Names Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

Sure, Kiddo calls his little brother “Zee,” but what is his full name and where does it come from? What makes names so important anyway? Kiddo learns about the Jewish value of Lekol ish yesh shem, the significance of names. Episode Cast and Credits

Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library

The book My Name is Aviva was written by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Ag Jatkowska, and is used with permission from Kar-Ben Publishing, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

Production

Executive Producer: Alli Thresher
Associate Producer: Elizabeth Korelitz
Writer: Emma Carlson Berne
Story Editor: Alli Thresher
Audio editing, mixing, mastering, and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA
Opening theme song: lyrics by Alli Thresher, composed and arranged by Hovav Paller, performed by Deirdre Wade

Cast

Kiddo: Percy Blythe
Mimi: Deirdre Wade

Kiddo Decides Between Party Time and Helping Family Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Kiddo wants to go to his friend Noam’s birthday party at the trampoline park, but it’s at the same time as his cousins’ play, and cousin Emilia could really use Kiddo there to calm her nerves. Mimi reads the book Rosie Saves the World which highlights the Jewish value of mutual responsibility. Kiddo knows the trampolines would be a blast, but can he find a bounce in his step from the mitzvah of helping family first? The book Rosie Saves the World was written by Debbie Herman, illustrated by Tammie Lyon, and is used with permission from Kar-Ben Publishing, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Episode Cast and Credits: Afternoons With Mimi is a production of PJ Library. Production: Executive Producer, Alli Thresher, Associate Producer, Elizabeth Korelitz Writers and Story Editor: Alli Thresher Audio editing, mixing, mastering, and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA Opening Theme Song: Lyrics by Alli Thresher, composed and arranged by Hovav Paller Performed by Deirdre Wade Cast: Kiddo: Percy Blythe Mimi: Deirdre Wade