Want to broaden your reading horizons this year? Librarian extraordinaire Meredith Mann joins Frank and Gwen to debate the pros and cons of annual reading challenges. Plus: secret database magic, sci-fi written by robots, and our favorite British bakers.

Pam Nogales, a Ph.D. candidate at New York University, joins Gwen and Frank to talk about her newest class for Jefferson Market University—the free classes at Jefferson Market that are taught by college professors and open to everyone. They talk the his

Gwen and Frank take on “Cat Person,” the New Yorker story that turned the Internet upside down, and make some book recs based on its tone and subject. Get a full rundown of episodes and links to the books discussed at www.nypl.org/podcast.

Frank didn’t feel well this week, but he’s figuring out to be happy anyway while Gwen dives into cozy Chanukah romance and Kwanzaa picture books. And did we mention Frank didn’t feel well?

Spoiler alert: They barely exist! Frank and Gwen talk to librarian and advocate Angie Manfredi about the missing fat kids (and adults) in literature, the importance of body diversity in books, and the danger of creating a monolith of marginalized voices.

Gwen goes nuts for an alt-history about hippo ranching (IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL THING!), and Frank goes nuts for a memoir by incomparable actor and role model Gabourey Sidibe.

Settle in with your turducken and check out our 2017 Best Books for Kids and Teens! Take a deep dive into NYPL’s annual lists, with committee members Grace Yamada and Grace Dwyer debating their favorites and recommending titles.

Frank has a creepy middle-grade/YA novel that’s great for adults, and Gwen has a not-at-all-creepy chapter book for preschoolers and early readers that’s sure to also delight parents. 

Gwen and Frank are both struggling to find the perfect book this week — and coming up with some ideas about how to do it. Plus: the glory that is Ilana Glazer.