Seasons’ Greetings
During this unique holiday season, here’s to a joyful present and a well-remembered past. May the warmth of friends and the comforts of home renew everyone’s spirits. Many holiday selections are offered in December.
Radio Talking Book offers its traditional Holiday Programming broadcasts, beginning at 8 p.m. Thu, Dec. 24, with regular programming resuming at 6 a.m. on Sat, Dec. 26.
Learn more about Radio Talking Book
Learn more about broadcasts on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network available through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault and online. Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available for loan.
Call the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library at 800-722-0550, Monday-Friday, 9 am – 4 pm CST, or send email to mn.btbl@state.mn.us for details. Persons living outside of Minnesota may obtain copies of books via an inter-library loan by contacting their home state’s Network Library for the National Library Service.
To find more information, go to the Facebook site, Minnesota Radio Talking Book. Audio information about the daily book listings is also on the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) Newsline. Register for the NFB Newsline by calling 651-539-1424.
The NFB-NEWSLINE service provides access to more than 500 magazines and newspapers, plus information on COVID-19 in the “Breaking News” section.
The sampling published monthly in Access Press doesn’t represent the full array of programming. Many more programs and books are available.
Donate to the State Services for the Blind online.
You can listen to RTB’s live or archived programs online.
Chautauqua*
Monday – Friday 6 a.m.
Hanukkah in America, nonfiction by Dianne Ashton, 2013. Publisher and scholar presents a guide to the evolution of the Festival of Lights in America. Read by Pat Kovel-Jarboe. 13 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 7.
Kicks: The Great American Story of Sneakers, nonfiction by Nicholas Smith, 2018. The story of athletic shoes from their invention to their enduring popularity. Read by Scott McKinney. 10 broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 24. – L
Past is Prologue*
Monday – Friday 11 a.m.
A Hanukkah Present, nonfiction by Mark Binder, 2008. Storyteller Mark Binder tells of the Festival of Lights in the village of Chelm, Poland. Read by Carol McPherson. Five broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 14.
The Return of the Light, fiction by Carolyn McVickar Edwards, 2000. Storyteller Carol McVickar Edwards collects folk tales about the winter solstice. Read by Dan Sadoff. Three broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 17.
Bookworm*
Monday – Friday noon
Beware of Cat, nonfiction by Vincent Wyckoff, 2007. Minneapolis letter carrier provides a common thread that connects neighbors with one another. Read by Isla Hejny. Five broadcasts; begins Mon Dec. 7.
The Gift Counselor, fiction by Sheila M. Cronin, 2014. Though Jonquil Bloom advises holiday shoppers, she is unable to give her son the gift he wants most. Read by Marylynn Burridge. Eight broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 14.
The Christmas Pact, fiction by Sheila M. Cronin, 2014. Though coworkers Riley and Kennedy dislike one other, they concoct a plan to be each other’s holiday date. What could possibly go wrong? Read by Michelle Juntunen. Six broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 24.
The Writer’s Voice*
Monday – Friday 1 p.m.
The 13th Gift, nonfiction by Joann Huist Smith. 2014. A family dealing with an unexpected death reclaims the holidays with traditions of kindness. Read by Pat Muir. Six broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 16.
His Truth Is Marching On, nonfiction by Jon Meacham, 2020. Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Jon Meacham narrates the inspiring life of prominent civil-rights leader Rep. John Lewis. Read by Michelle Juntunen. 11 broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 24.
Choice Reading*
Monday – Friday 2 p.m.
How to Spell Chanukah, and Other Holiday Dilemmas, nonfiction by Emily Franklin, 2007. Writers share tales about Chanukah and American Jewish life. Read by Michele Potts. 6 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec 7. – L
Doc Christmas and the Magic of Trains, fiction by Neil Enock, 2015. An illness at the North Pole endangers Christmas. Doc Stevens must find a cure – once he finds his holiday spirit. Read by John Mandeville. Six broadcasts; begins Tue, Dec. 15.
Afternoon Report*
Monday – Friday 4 p.m.
Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition, nonfiction by Keith A. Mayes, 2009. Since 1966 Kwanzaa has been a holiday tradition, and an expression of cultural pride. Read by Stevie Ray. 13 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 14.
Barack and Joe, nonfiction by Steven Levingson, 2019. While Joe Biden and Barack Obama had distinct styles, they formed an effective partnership and a close personal relationship. Read by Stevie Ray. 12 broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec. 31.
Night Journey*
Monday – Friday 7 p.m.
The Noel Diary, fiction by Richard Paul Evans, 2017. A man returns to his late mother’s home at Christmastime, to find a mysterious diary and a woman seeking her own mother. Read by John Holden. Six broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 14.
Merry Christmas, Alex Cross, fiction by James Patterson, 2012. On Christmas Eve, Alex Cross takes on hostages. Read by Robb Empson. Six broadcasts; begins Tue, Dec. 22. – V, L
Off the Shelf*
Monday – Friday 8 p.m.
Jubal’s Christmas Gift, fiction by Dennis D. Skirvin, 2019. Jubal Flowers sets out to repay a holiday good deed from long ago. Read by John Beal. Four broadcasts; begins Tue, Dec. 15.
The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog, fiction by Dave Barry, 2006. Doug plays a shepherd in the holiday pageant. But the director is crabby, Doug’s crush shares the spotlight with a smooth guy, and the family dog isn’t doing well. Read by Holly Sylvester. Two broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 21.
Potpourri*
Monday – Friday 9 p.m.
Dreidels on the Brain, fiction by Joel ben Izzy, 2016. As he endures Hanukkah 1971 in Los Angeles, 12-year-old Joel learns to appreciate small miracles. Read by Eileen Barratt. Six broadcasts; begins Wed, Dec. 9.
Good Night Owl*
Monday – Friday 10 p.m.
A Redbird Christmas, fiction by Fannie Flagg, 2004. Oswald Campbell moves to a small Alabama town, expecting to die there. Instead, the holidays give him a new lease on life. Read by Pat Muir. Six broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 21.
The Wedding Party, fiction by Katie Jasmine Guillory, 2019. Maddie thinks Theo is an irksome jerk. Theo thinks Maddie is a snobbish party girl. Both are in their friend’s wedding party. What could possibly go wrong? Read by Brenda Powell. 10 broadcasts; begins Tue, Dec. 29. – L, S
RTB After Hours*
Monday – Friday 11 p.m.
In Grace’s Time, fiction by Kathie Giorgio, 2019. After Grace loses her son Paul in an accident, she sets out on a road trip and learns to cope with pain and grief. Read by Pat Muir. 16 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec. 7. – L
Weekend Program Books
Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat, presents There I Am by Ruthie Lindsey (L), read by Beverly Burchett.
Rated R , 11 p.m. Sat, presents The Kids Are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony (L), read by Scott McKinney.
For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents The Nowhere Emporium by Ross Mackenzie, read by Mike Piscitelli.
Poetic Reflections, noon Sun, presents Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver, read by Myrna Smith; followed by The Road By Heart by Greg Watson and Richard Broderick, read by Dan Sadoff.
The Great North 4 p.m. Sun, presents Secret Partners by Tim Mahoney, read by Jim Gregorich.
All times listed are Central Standard Time.
Abbreviations: V – violent content, R – racial epithets, L – strong language, G – gory descriptions, S – sexual situation
