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Dads on Books

Dads on Books

By: Michael Walker & David Patrick
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Dads on Books is a podcast hosted by David Patrick and Mike Walker. The 2 dads discuss books, focusing on those read by their children and sometimes revisiting titles from their own childhoods. The podcast showcases their personal connections to the books and how their perspectives have changed as parents.© 2026 Michael Walker & David Patrick Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • Out of the Dust, another episode, another classic, another opening, another show
    May 25 2026

    Mike and David turn to a classic, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, an historical novel set in the Oklahoma panhandle during the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression.

    David and Mike—well Mike—tells the origin story of how the Dads picked the book, but this is the origin story of all origin stories. It is the origin of the entire original podcast idea.

    We also continue our feature “Things We Forgot to Say on our Last Episode.” Or, in this case, “Things that David Forgot that he didn’t Forget and Says Them Thinking it’s the First Time He’s Saying Them To Mike and it’s Not.” (Working title- may need to be lengthened)

    David rediscovers it’s the OK Panhandle not the Texas Panhandle. Not the Good Panhandle, not the Bad Panhandle, just the OK Panhandle, because as it says on the license plate, "Oklahoma is OK." Which is good because the Texas panhandle would spill the dust.

    Speaking of which, in our new feature, “Do They Say the Title in the Book?” Let’s just say pp. 149, 181, 197, 198, 203, 209, 222. To name a few.

    It’s a beautifully written story, and we both very highly recommend it, and staying out of the dust. Especially if you have allergies.

    If you liked this episode, you’ll like these:
    Other stories about American history:

    The Ruby Bridges Story: a story of a the Anerican Civil Rights movement
    George Washington’s Teeth: a funny and gripping (and sometimes not so gripping) true tale of, well, our first president’s dental health.

    Places we love to buy books:
    Books in Stock in Wooster, OH

    A House with Books in Keller, TX
    Talking Animals Books in Grapevine, TX
    River Forest Public Library in River Forest, IL
    Grapevine Public Library
    Keller Public Library

    Questions? Comments? Concerns?

    Please, please tell us now about a great library or independent book store you love? Let us know!

    Email us at dadsonbooks@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • Rip Van Winkler, or the one where Fonzie takes a quick nap
    May 18 2026

    Our very first episode of our very second season!!!

    There's so much in this episode, that we don't know where to begin. The beginning? Why not? David discovers that the tale of Rip Van Winkle is about the tale Rip Van Winkle. We know. He’s a late bloomer. Mike shows us his xylophone thing. He, too, blooms late. And Clean Slate David discovers—SPOILER ALERT— “This IS the guy who falls asleep!!”!!! And there are words that we have never seen, heard, read before. And since.

    A true American classic—one of the first!—with some archetypal characters: there’s Kate from The Taming of the Shrew--or was it Kate and Allie?--aka Dame Van Winkle and her dame punishments! Mentions of the Georges: Washington and the III, and so amny more!

    The Dads have been on books, classics, and now, they dig deep and delve into, dare we say, literature? Indeed we dare. You should delve, too.

    If you liked this episode, you’ll love these classics:
    The Giving Tree: Our first classic, our first book, our first episode!
    Some of our favorite classic (I'm not) board books: Guess How Much I love You, Each Peach Pear Plum, Goodnight Moon, and so many more!!

    AND Check out all of our author episodes:
    Dan Gutman. Part One and Part Two
    Dan Yaccarino: Part Uno, Part Due
    Chris Grabenstein: Stinky Stories #6: Stinking Beauty
    Part One, Part Two.
    Alan Katz: Part One, Part Two
    Linda Harkey:
    The Case of the Missing Pink Piggy

    With a special guest appearance:
    The Twig Bookshop San Antonio,TX
    Books in Stock in Wooster, OH

    A House with Books in Keller, TX
    Talking Animals Books in Grapevine, TX
    River Forest Public Library in River Forest, IL
    Grapevine Public Library
    Keller Public Library

    Questions? Comments? Concerns? Have a great library or independent book store you love? Let us know!

    Email us at dadsonbooks@gmail.com

    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • Pimples of the Goosiest Kind, or Goosebumps & Monster Blood by R'L Stine
    May 11 2026

    How do we start the last episode of our first season? With our first RL Stein book: Goosebumps: Monster Blood!

    Is it the first or the third or the 30th of the Goosebumps series? Mike tells us, David doesn’t listen and tries to figure it out, and then David figures it out!

    Speaking of first or third, in this last episode of season one, there are many firsts! First R. L. "Jovial Bob" Stine Book. First podcast episode recorded entirely in Texas, but without the Dads being together. First time David records away from home—shout out to the Grapevine (Texas) Public Library. Do Mike and David like the book? Here’s a hint: they can’t wait to meet RL “Bob“ Stine to tell him how much they—

    Aaaaaaaand back to the book. The Dads had really, really—while we're on adverbs, Stine skillfully and deftly uses awesomely, cooly placed adverbs like "thoughtfully" and "uncertainly". OK, the book. We really, really liked the names, yes great names like Evan, Aunt Kathryn, and Aaaaaaaaandreaaaaaa or is it AnDREaaaaaaaaaaa or ANDReeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaa? Listen—and read—to find out. So did we like it? Like we typed, listen, watch, learn.

    If you liked this episode, you’ll love this one:
    Stink and the Attack of the Slime Mold you had us at Slime!

    AND Check out all of our author episodes:
    Dan Gutman. Part One and Part Two
    Dan Yaccarino: Part Uno, Part Due
    Chris Grabenstein: Stinky Stories #6: Stinking Beauty
    Part One, Part Two.
    Alan Katz: Part One, Part Two
    Linda Harkey:
    The Case of the Missing Pink Piggy

    And now a word from our sponsors. (Well, not really sponsors, just places we love get books from and hope that you'll go to if you need one).

    Books in Stock in Wooster, OH

    A House with Books in Keller, TX
    Talking Animals Books in Grapevine, TX
    River Forest Public Library in River Forest, IL
    Grapevine Public Library
    Keller Public Library

    Questions? Comments? Concerns? Have a great library or independent book store you love? Let us know!

    Email us at dadsonbooks@gmail.com


    You might wanna check this out while watching the episode. Listeners beware: it's a visual thing. You wouldn't understand.
    When you need it while watching.

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
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