In this episode, brought to you from studio 203 in Madison, Wisconsin, we interview Jennifer Robinson, co-founder of a high-tech software company who writes a blog about children’s books. We also talk about the Cat in the Hat, how to balance the responsibilities of adulthood with the fun of childhood, and share the latest progress of Escape Plan TV.

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Show Notes:

• New Book Takes Us Closer to Seuss (story)
• For the Fun of It (article)
• Jen Robinson’s blog is a can’t miss destination for children’s book fans!
• Jen’s all-time favorite children’s books (as of this second): Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, and The Giver by Lois Lowry.
• The three books that Jen enjoyed the most that she read in the past year are: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller, and Heat by Mike Lupica.
• Read Jen’s list of Cool Girls from Kid Lit.
• Watch the Escape Plan TV trailer.
• Feeling Lucky? Find out how you can win your wishlist, as well as other cool prizes.
• Check out the cool book, Living Out Loud by Keri Smith.

Win Stuff: Win a $20 gift certificate to the Lemonade Stand by letting us know, “What is YOUR favorite children’s book?” E-mail us or leave us a message at 608-554-0803.

Vote For Us: We’d really really appreciate it if you took a few moments to vote for us over at Podcast Alley. Thanks!

Show Music: Coyote Sleeps by Ethan Elkind

Show Length: 47 minutes, 5 seconds

Shout Outs: Thanks to Ian for the voicemail and Jen for the great interview!

Feedback: We’d love to hear your thoughts! Add a comment below, e-mail us, or give us a jingle at 608-554-0803.

Technorati Tags: podcast, stress, escape adulthood, Adultitis, Ethan Elkind, Jen Robinson, children’s books, children’s literature, life balance, escape plan tv

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When British physician Thomas Wedgwood was 31, he produced the first photograph. At the age of 31, French Egyptologist Jean Francois Champollion deciphered the Rosetta stone. And Eli Terry introduced the free-trial, no-money-down sales method.

A few weeks ago, I also turned 31.

I wonder if something I’ll do this year will be important enough for historians to make note of. (You too can find out what great things people accomplished when they were your age.)

I’m pretty happy with how my life has turned out so far, although it’s almost nothing like I imagined when I was growing up. When I was much younger, I was very shy, and pretty much afraid of absolutely everything. I wondered how I’d ever make it in the real world, and sort of worried that I might end up as one of those weird mysterious guys who never leaves his apartment and smells like cheese.

As I got a little older, those fears faded away. I imagined that by the age of 31, I’d be married to a brunette, have at least two kids, own a home, and be working as a very successful freelance sports illustrator. If you would have given me that as an option when I was 18, I would have taken it and never looked back.

My life is nothing like the one I once pined for, but somehow I’m quite happy with how things are going. I’m still living in an apartment that is crammed with more products than a flea market, no one is paying me to draw pictures of Peyton Manning, and although a godfather four times, no one calls me Dad — yet. Oh yeah, and a certain blonde snuck under my brunettes-only radar.

Things may not be how I imagined they’d be, but I’m sure thankful for where God has led me.

After one of my speaking engagements in Atlanta a few weeks ago — the day after I tuned 31 — a man came up to me. He was an older guy, overflowing with wisdom. He was one of those strangers that when he talks to you, you automatically get a sixth sense that you better darn well stop what you’re doing and pay attention.

He was very complimentary about my program, and he began to tell me that I would soon find myself in a place where I’d have to start making decisions about where to focus my time. He spoke not of potential, but of an assured reality. "You’ll need to switch your thinking from local to global," he said. "There’s a tsunami coming, and it’s about to hit your shores."

I felt like I was having an Obi Wan Kenobi moment. I looked around to see if Yoda was standing nearby. Nope. It was just me and this guy named Don.

As I unplugged my laptop’s power cord and began to roll it up, Don kept talking. I wish I could have taped our conversation. I remember the part about the tsunami. And I remember him talking about people that I’d have an opportunity to impact.

"I’m sure you already get a lot of compliments now," he remarked. "But you have no idea how many people you will impact. Someday, you’ll receive a letter from someone you don’t remember telling you how much you helped them. You’ll have people coming up to saying that their grandma saw you years ago, and she always reminded them about something you said."

I get excited by the thoughts of some sort of "tsunami of success" washing over our little endeavor, but I get even more excited imagining that when I die, I’ll get to see what kind of impact this life of mine had. I guess it’s no surprise to say I’m a fan of movies like Mr. Holland’s Opus and the book, The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

It was a very encouraging and uplifting conversation, to say the least. I don’t know if this tsunami Don spoke of will make an appearance this year or not. But I feel like a lot of what Don said is true. I guess that’s why I am so excited by how my life has developed, even though it’s nothing like the life I dreamed of thirteen years ago. If you would have told me then that at age 31, I’d be childless, wouldn’t own a home, and most of my job would involves something other than drawing, I would have been pretty disappointed. But that was before I learned that success has very little to do with how much money you make, how big a house you have, or what you do for a living. It’s about the positive impact you make in the people that cross your path.

None of us know the total effect we’ll have on the lives around us. You may never see the impact your smile, your kindness, your words of encouragement will have on strangers, friends, or family. It may not even be noticed by historians who chart the great accomplishments of mankind.

But every single positive impression you make in another person’s existence is a jewel in the crown of a successful life.

Technorati Tags: tsunami, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Five People You Meet in Heaven, Peyton Manning, successful life, make a difference, great accomplishments

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I meant to post this photo from a speaking engagement in Champaign, IL weeks ago, but then February happened. I was reminded of it when Kim and I were in Tampa last week. Our hotel was a few blocks away from the New York Yankees spring training facility; yes, baseball season is almost here.

Baseball players get to autograph baseballs. Rock stars get to sign bare, um… chestal regions. And cartoonists get to sign… pink shoes.

Technorati Tags: autographs, pink shoes, New York Yankees, rock stars, baseball

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It’s snowing in Madison. Lots. We have a chance to break the all-time snowfall record this weekend. We could get close to two feet of snow, and even got some thunder and lightning last night! It seems as if everything is closed and canceled, and today’s speaking engagement in Cambridge, WI has been postponed for a few weeks.

So, what does one do when one is snowed in for a weekend? Maybe that’s the wrong question. An opportunity like this, after almost three straight weeks on the road, is a perfect opportunity to not really DO anything, but to delight in the little things. Kim spent some time enjoying the company of two little friends. We got a chance to catch up on some of our favorite shows (like Heroes, The Office, Scrubs, and NUMB3RS.) I’ve been listening to some of my favorite tunes as I read and surf the net, indulging in some of the fun stuff I don’t often have the chance to do (like get updated on the latest Apple rumors.) Later tonight, I’ll be commandeering the kitchen to make my famous cheesy beer and brat soup (only in Wisconsin!)

When I was a kid, I prayed for snow days. They were few and far between, but when one did come along, it was worth more than a Willy Wonka golden ticket. Ah, the sweet taste of freedom!

When we get older, and days like these come along, it’s easy to get sucked into a project from work, or get consumed by household chores. While it’s nice to have some extra time to catch up on these things, it’s also important to just "be." We as a culture don’t do that enough. We spend so much time rushing around that when we get an unexpected free day or two, we get antsy. Instead of seeing this free time as a chance to get MORE done, we should use it to rest, relax, and just "be."

And act more like human BEings, rather than human DOings.

Technorati Tags: Madison, snow, blizzard, snowstorm, relaxation

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What’s the best part of making a snowman?

Rolling and shaping the first ball of snow?
The contagious excitement of others who happen to see what you’re up to?
The crinkling sound of the snow packing together?
Putting on the face?
Or the mug of hot chocolate you have afterwards to warm up?

I love it all!

I got to experience all of these things today as I snuck out to play in the snow before the next foot of white stuff soon dumps on us. As I knelt in the snow and tried not to pay attention to the cold snow creeping in on my wrists, I heard knocking on a window. I looked up at our neighbor’s place across the way and saw a little sherpa smiling and waving, oozing glee. He was very excited about my new friends. He proceeded to knock and wave about every 45 seconds until I went inside. I wondered why he wasn’t out there also putting some of that enthusiasm into practice. He was having fun cheering me on, though.

There is something very exhilarating about creating something out of nothing. Whether you’re using snow, paint and canvas, yarn and needles, flour and eggs, or even sand.

This past week Jason and I spent the day at Clearwater Beach in Florida, taping an episode of Escape Plan TV. When you go to the beach your Adultitis gets left in the car. It’s an unwritten rule! There is something about the wonder of the ocean that makes the beach a natural Adultitis Hospital. When you’re at an Adultitis Hospital you instantly know it because inevitably everyone you see is in some form or another being childlike and proactively treating their Adultitis. Their faces are usually smiling or filled with a peaceful contentment. We saw folks young and old alike basking in the sun, searching for sea creatures and shells on the shore, flying kites, parasailing, playing tag with the tide, building in the sand, reading books, playing volleyball, throwing frisbees, and walking along the shore barefoot. You never see anyone who looks stressed at the beach.

Jason and I picked our spot to lay our Comfort Inn towels in the sand and little did we know it was only a few feet away from some sand friends. They were decked out with seaweed hair and the “female” even had a shell bikini top. They stand proudly on the shore as evidence of the successful work of an effective Adultitis Hospital.

What a week! Whether you’re 1300 miles from home or in your own backyard Adultitis is fun to treat.

Technorati Tags: snow, Clearwater Beach, Adultitis, Escape Plan TV, Comfort Inn, snowman, parasailing, flying a kite, ocean

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Every month, one Club K&J subscriber is drawn as the winner in the Supremely Wonderful & Exciting Loot Lottery. This month’s lucky recipient is Helen Aylor! She wins a Love Stamp Kit and some Love Magic Beans! Congrats, Helen!

Join Club K&J for your chance to win this month’s prize Loot Lottery!

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We will be releasing the first ever episode of Escape Plan TV, shot on location in San Francisco, California in a few weeks. Based on the Escape Plan, it chronicles our adventures in escaping adulthood and fighting Adultitis. You may have already seen the trailer, which can be viewed here.

BUT…if you happen to be an official Club K&J subscriber, you can watch the whole thing, right now, today!

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Gotta love this picture. It’s an aerial view of thousands of people — almost 9,000, to be exact — in North Dakota trying to break a world record… for the most snow angels ever made.

Awesome. Looks like the city of Bismarck has a pretty good handle on Adultitis.

One of the snow angel makers was Pauline Jaeger, who on her 99th birthday, according to the AP story by James MacPherson, was making her very first snow angel.

"It’s fun," Jaeger said. "I feel just like a kid."

When a 99-year-old lady says something like that, you KNOW it’s never too late to have a second childhood.

(Thanks for the link, Marci!)

Technorati Tags: snow angels, Guinness, Bismarck, North Dakota, Adultitis, world record

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Twelve years ago Jason broke my heart(s)…five to be exact. We had just met about two months earlier (while Christmas caroling..that’s an interesting story). The week before Valentine’s Day he mailed me five individual envelopes, each with a special word inside.

#1- Will

#2- You

#3- Be

#4- My

#5- Valentine?

He also decided it would be creative to include in each of the envelopes some of those candy conversation hearts. He tells me that he spent a long time picking out the exact messages to send…ones to tell me that he didn’t just "like me," he "liked me - liked me!"….messages that I would never read because the candy hearts were broken into many little pieces during their 15 mile trek to my house by the good ‘ol Post Office. We think they ran through some sort of machine a.k.a. heart crusher. We still laugh about it. He’s always been a romantic guy, and his method of asking me out on our very first date stands forever as exhibit A.

It’s funny to think about how conversation hearts have come back around full circle in our lives. For those who made purchases from our Lemonade Stand this past month, you most certainly received one of our famous "free prizes." The last few weeks it was, you guessed it, a small bag of those chalky conversation hearts. If someone would’ve told us that Feb. 14th night in 1995 at Monical’s Pizza that we would someday be using those pastel hearts to help put a smile on the faces of our customers and remind them of the best parts of childhood, we would’ve been very confused. What customers? It’s amazing how a dream grows and takes a life of it’s own.

So, yes, my husband Jason is a heartbreaker.

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It’s almost here…

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When you’re scheduled to speak to a group of people on two consecutive nights, you pray that the ones who attend the first night will come back for the second night. If the majority of them do, that’s a victory.

But when someone not only shows up for the second night, but shows up wearing your t-shirt… that sort of feels like winning the Super Bowl. (Although I’ve never actually won a Super Bowl.)

Kim and I returned from Atlanta today. By bus.

We were greeted at the airport this morning by the news that our flight had been canceled — enough with the snow already! — and had been re-booked on a flight scheduled for tomorrow. Considering that we only have one full day in the office before we fly down to Florida on Friday, that option didn’t sound too appealing. So we were able to get on a plane that would at least take us to Chicago, where we hopped on a bus that took us the rest of the way home to Madison. A series of near-miracles got us home only an hour after our original (canceled) flight was scheduled to arrive. Hooray!

The time in Atlanta was awesome. It was mostly a speaking and working trip, but we did squeeze in some time to finally check out the Georgia Aquarium and grab some Southern cookin’ at Mary Mac’s Tea Room. I love the people in Atlanta. That old Southern hospitality is still alive and well, at least in my experience.

Thanks to all of the folks at St. Thomas More and St. Jude — you guys rock! And thank you to Paul for proudly wearing your Adulthood Stinks shirt! (The check is in the mail.)

Technorati Tags: Atlanta, Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Georgia Aquarium, southern hospitality

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As Kim and I travel around the country, I see a lot of busy families. Busy parents. Busy kids. Busy pets.

I believe part of the job of parents is to help their children to appreciate childhood. It goes by so fast — especially these days — and kids just don’t have the perspective to realize what a special time of life it can be. It’s hard to avoid the gripping — and sometimes grim — responsibilities of adulthood, but having a pleasant childhood to look back on can have the same effect as some hot chocolate and warm cookies after a long day of playing in the snow. Every child deserves a great childhood, and those who go without are robbed of something precious.

Kids take cues from their parents, and if children see their parents handling life in an uptight, overly serious manner, chances are they’ll handle life in much the same way. But if they see their parents with an optimistc outlook and a propensity for a little spontaneous fun from time to time, those children will approach life with a similar attitude. (Which one do you think is healthier?)

So as I encounter these busy families in my travels, championing the need to become more childlike, I can’t help but wonder if the children in my audience even have any clue as to what I’m talking about. Many of them are little machines, on a never-ending conveyor belt that cycles them from school to day care to soccer games to music practice to (insert additional extra-curricular activity here). A heavy emphasis is placed on winning and over-achieving, and very little time is allowed to just be a kid. Sometimes, the only difference between the kids and the adults in my audience is their height.

Of course, it’s the grown-ups who’ve made a mess of things, for a variety of reasons too numerous to mention here. My simple plea is this: can we just let kids be kids?

Today, I was happy to read about somebody who gets it. My friend Marilyn sent me a link to a story that ran in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (thanks, Marilyn!). New Berlin alderman John Hopkins helped push through a local law saying it’s OK to ride your bicycle no-handed. The old language in the city’s bike law said: “No rider shall take both hands off the handles or ride recklessly in any other manner.”

Here’s an excerpt from the story, written by Jim Stingl:

The kid inside Hopkins re-emerged when he got into Harley-Davidson motorcycle riding at age 55 along with his wife. He’s retired from Northwestern Mutual, an august company he admits would probably just as soon that people keep their hands firmly on the handlebars.

Hopkins has tapped into this suspicion that just maybe we overprotect our kids these days.

The pendulum has swung a long way since kids were born to smoking and drinking moms, and wearing flammable pajamas and gnawing the lead paint off their cribs, riding around in cars without seat belts let alone safety seats, biking with no helmets until they were old enough to hitchhike, helping themselves to toxic cleaning products from unlocked cabinets, and running outside with scissors but with no sunscreen on.

And surviving it all.

A father and grandfather, Hopkins isn’t saying we should go back to those days. We just need to know when we’re being ridiculous in our level of protection.

About a year and a half ago I wrote a post about how adults are ruining everything. Sadly, things don’t seem much better today. I pray that parents will come to see how strongly their own approach to life affects the development of their children. I hope that grown-ups can get a little perspective and focus on the things that really matter.

And I couldn’t agree more with Alderman Hopkins, who said, “It’s time to let kids be kids.”

Technorati Tags: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jim Stingl, John Hopkins, New Berlin, bicycle safety, idiot parents, childhood

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