PJ Library Presents: Beyond The Bookcase

Latest Episodes:

Alebrijes, Quetzals, and Coquis, Oh My! (Playlist) Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Join PJ Library and Jewtina y Co for a special adventure through El Reino de lo Mistico - a magical new realm in Mashal teeming with Latin culture, music, and art. Learn about special Rosh Hashanah customs, dance through musical rain, and help Luna earn her stripes as an alebrije in this four episode special. Listen to the full story in one episode.

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library
Episodes:
Time To Explore El Reino De Lo Místico
A Great, Great, Great Adventure
La Sala De Orgullo (Hall of Cultural Pride)
The Coquí Who Lost His Chirp
Writers: Jan Schwaid and Jennifer Stempel
Production:
Executive Producer: Alli Thresher
Digital Production Coordinator: Megan Bagala
Audio Editing, mixing, mastering and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA
Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore.
Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments)

Cultural Consulting: Sofía Friedman and Violeta Castro Stolpen on behalf of Jewtina y Co.
CAST:
Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella
Jacob: Rebecca Lee
Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle
Luna: Belén Moyano
Mr. Saifair: Gregory Barnett
Golem: Pat Bordenave
Mami: Jasmine Romero
Papi: LD Castro
Pedro: Luis E. Mora
Mariposa: Amanda D'archangelis
Announcer: LD Castro
Raul: Elvis Di Marcantonio
Alma: Sofia Zita

The Coquí Who Lost His Chirp Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Our adventure is almost done - but there's still more of El Reino de lo Místico to explore. Our adventurers meet Raul, a sad little coqui who has lost his chirp. Blue and Jacob know just how to help Raoul get his groove back, in time for a dance party in the musical rain!

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library
Writers: Jan Schwaid and Jennifer Stempel
Production:
Executive Producer: Alli Thresher
Digital Production Coordinator: Megan Bagala
Audio Editing, mixing, mastering and score: Peter Moore, Palace of Purpose Studios in Malden, MA
Opening Theme Song: Written by Peter Moore and Alli Thresher. Arranged by Peter Moore.
Performed by Mister G (vocals) and Peter Moore (instruments)

Cultural Consulting: Sofía Friedman and Violeta Castro Stolpen on behalf of Jewtina y Co.
CAST:
Jacob: Rebecca Lee
Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle
Luna: Belén Moyano
Raul: Elvis Di Marcantonio
Alma: Sofia Zita
Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella

La Sala de Orgullo (Hall of Cultural Pride) Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

While Jacob loves exploring this new area of Mashal, he's still pretty stressed about his school project. What should he write? What details are most important? A lively quetzal may have some answers...

Cultural Consulting: Sofía Friedman and Violeta Castro Stolpen on behalf of Jewtina y Co.
CAST:
Jacob: Rebecca Lee
Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle
Luna: Belén Moyano
Kiki: Robb Moreira

A Great, Great, Great Adventure Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Supplies in hand and bellies full, Jacob and Blue follow Luna out into El Reino de lo Místico in search of a lost grape. It's part of a very important Rosh Hashanah tradition. Suddenly our crew finds themselves right in the middle of a monarch butterfly migration. Mari Posa and family help the kids take flight.

Cultural Consulting: Sofía Friedman and Violeta Castro Stolpen on behalf of Jewtina y Co.
CAST:
Jacob: Rebecca Lee
Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle
Luna: Belén Moyano
Mariposa: Amanda D'archangelis
Announcer: LD Castro

Time to Explore El Reino de lo Místico! Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

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

Cultural Consulting: Sofía Friedman and Violeta Castro Stolpen on behalf of Jewtina y Co.
CAST:
Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella
Jacob: Rebecca Lee
Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle
Mr. Saifair: Gregory David Barnett
Golem: Pat Bordenave
Luna: Belén Moyano
Mami: Jasmine Romero
Papi: LD Castro
Pedro: Luis E. Mora

Beyond the Bookcase Season 6 Trailer Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

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

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

A Very Mashal Bat Mitzvah Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

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

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library

Writers: Jan Schwaid and Petey Gibson

Production:

Executive Producer: Alli Thresher

Digital Production Coordinator: Megan Bagala

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

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

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

CAST:

Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella

Micah: Maxwell Glick

Miri: Arianna Fox

Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle

Evie: Samantha Philyaw

Jacob: Rebecca Lee

Mr. Saifair: Gregory David Barnett

Marion: Tianna Tagami

Shoshana: Lori Hoch Stiefel

Golem: Pat Bordenave

Cinderella: Gwen D’Angelo

Charming: Michael D’Angelo

To Bee or Not to Bee: A Shavuot Story Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

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

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library

Writers: Jan Schwaid and Petey Gibson

Production:

Executive Producer: Alli Thresher

Digital Production Coordinator: Megan Bagala

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

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

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

CAST:

Blue: Maya Aoki Tuttle

Micah: Maxwell Glick

Jacob: Cara Cabal Coniglio

Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella

Mr. Saifair: Gregory David Barnett

Queenie: Niki Luparelli

Marion’s Mashal Adventures Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

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

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

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library.

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

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

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

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

Episode credits:

Goldilocks and the Tzedakah Project:

Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson

Cast

Micah – Maxwell Glick

Miri - Arianna Fox

Jacob - Cara Cabal Coniglio

Evie - Sylvia Beth Schmitz

Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle

Auntie PJ – Madelaine Ripley

Golem - Pat Bordenave

Mr. Saifair – Tau Zaman

Goldilocks - Maya Aoki Tuttle

Baby Bear - Rich Wentworth

Story for Another Time: Passover in Mashal

Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson

Cast

Miri - Arianna Fox

Evie - Samantha Philyaw

Blue - Maya Aoki Tuttle

Jacob - Caro Cabal Coniglio

Joha - Ryan Abedi

Elijah - Nate DuFort

Auntie PJ - Laura Rondinella

Micah - Maxwell Glick

Mr. Saifair - Gregory David Barnett

Marion, the Woman in the Shoe - Tianna Tagami

Chicken Little - Blair Which

Snow White - Laura Schreiber

Golem - Pat Bordenave

Cinderella - Gwen D'Angelo

Humpty Dumpty - John Henry Kurtz

Dolores the Donkey - Alli Thresher

Mermaid Murmurs

Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson

Cast

Elijah – Nate DuFort

Rapunzel – Daniella Rabbani

Mr. Saifair – Gregory David Barnett

Kid/Daughter – Alli Thresher

Junie the Mermaid – Yolanda Spearman

Prince Charming – Mike D'Angelo

Cinderella – Gwen D'Angelo

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

Golem's Challah

Writers: Jan Schwaid, Petey Gibson

Cast

Auntie PJ – Laura Rondinella

Elijah – Nate DuFort

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

Kids 1,2,3 - Alli Thresher

Golem – Pat Bordenave

Don Swan – LD Castro

Mr. Saifair’s New Golem Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

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

Beyond the Bookcase is a production of PJ Library

Writers: Jan Schwaid and Petey Gibson

Production:

Executive Producer: Alli Thresher

Digital Production Coordinator: Megan Bagala

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

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

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

CAST:

Evie: Samantha Philyaw

Micah: Maxwell Glick

Auntie PJ: Laura Rondinella

Golem: Pat Bordenave

Golem 2.0: Pat Bordenave

Queenie: Niki Luparelli

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