The Children's Hour

The Children's Hour Inc.
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  • EDUCATION FOR KIDS
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The Children's Hour

Eclectic, entertaining, educational public radio for kids of all ages on every topic under and beyond the sun. The Children's Hour radio show includes kids in every production, and our themes focus on civics, STEM, culture and performance. The Children's Hour keeps everyone in the family engrossed, with great music and subjects that teach listeners something new, regardless of your age. Heard on nearly 200 public radio stations worldwide each week, and hosted by Katie Stone with her intrepid Kids Crew who are real kids learning to make radio. Subscribe and learn with us!

  1. 1D AGO

    What is Justice?

    What is justice, and why is it important? In this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew explores what justice means and how the courts help make sure laws are fair for everyone. Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/justice Our first guest, Maria Martinez-Sanchez, is a lawyer from ACLU New Mexico. She teaches us about the three branches of government and how they work together to make and enforce laws. We learn that there are different kinds of courts, from small local courts to the biggest court in the country, the U.S. Supreme Court. Maria explains how courts handle both criminal cases (when someone is accused of breaking the law) and civil cases (when people have a disagreement that needs to be solved). Maria also helps us understand how a trial works. She talks about how juries decide cases, how judges make sure everything is fair, and how people can appeal if they think a court made a mistake. We hear about important court cases in history, like Brown v. Board of Education, which made it illegal to separate students in schools based on their skin color. The Kids Crew asks Maria lots of questions about laws, fairness, and how courts protect our rights. But did you know that the United States actually has two different kinds of justice systems? Native American tribes have their own tribal courts, which work separately from state and federal courts. Our second guest, Chief Justice Rosanna Toya, helps us understand how tribal courts work. She explains that every tribe has its own way of handling justice—some use a system similar to the U.S. government, while others follow traditional laws passed down for generations. Chief Justice Toya tells us how tribal courts handle problems in their communities, like arguments between neighbors or bigger cases that affect the whole tribe. She explains why it’s important for Native American nations to have their own laws and judges, so they can protect their traditions while keeping people safe and treated fairly. This episode of The Children's Hour takes listeners on a journey to understand what justice is, how courts work, and why different justice systems exist in the U.S. This episode was produced by Katie Stone with production help from Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz. Many thanks to the ACLU-NM Legal Director Maria Martinez Sanchez, and to Chief Justice Roshanna Toya for being with us on the show. The Children's Hour is a production of The Children's Hour Inc., a New Mexico-based nonprofit. Our show is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network. © 2025 The Children's Hour Inc., All Rights Reserved.

    59 min

  2. MAR 23

    Sloths

    Learn all about sloths with author Georgeanne Irvine from the San Diego Zoo, and biologist Sam Trull from the Sloth Institute in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica. Find out how we can all help protect sloths. This episode comes with a hands-on Learn-Along guide. Find the full episode page with the learning guide at https://childrenshour.org/sloths Sloths live in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, but Tornero lives in San Diego. A favorite at the San Diego Zoo, Tornero is the subject of Georgeanne Irvine’s book, Teaching Tornero: The True Story of a Sloth Superstar. Georgeanne Irvine works in the publishing office at the San Diego Zoo, and has written more than 50 books about animals, but this is the first one about sloths. The kids talk with her about Tornero’s extraordinary life at the San Diego Zoo, and we learn a bit about the different species of sloths. Then, Jo from our Kids Crew reviews Teaching Tornero. The book is geared toward elementary aged kids, and is full of stunning photos of Tornero at the zoo throughout his lifetime. Then we head down to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica where we meet Sam Trull. She is a founder of the Sloth Institute, a conservation organization dedicated to saving sloths who are orphaned, or injured. Sloths in Costa Rica face numerous challenges, including electrocution from the commonplace, uninsulated electrical wiring used throughout the country. Sloths are also prone to becoming orphans as a result of their mothers being injured, killed, and the ever-shrinking habitat they call home. Even the loss of one tree can be devastating for a sloth population. We learn how we can support sloths no matter where we live, by refusing to participate in invasive, exploitive sloth tourism. Sam Trull explains that anywhere people are allowed to interact up close, or pet sloths, they are actually harming the animals. Sloths are solitary, and the best way to enjoy them in the wild is to quietly observe them in the tree canopy while staying far away from them, or seeing them from the ground. Then meet the Paleolithic Ground Sloth, a mega fauna that thrived on the American continent for millions of years until just 11,000 years ago, when humans made them extinct. You can learn more about ground sloths in our Fossils episode, and hear how they interacted with people in our Brief History of the American Southwest for Kids podcast series. This episode was written and produced by our Senior Producer, Christina Stella and Katie Stone, our Executive Producer. Production help was also provided by Thaniel Lentz. We recorded this show at the Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with help from engineer Chad Scheer. Our Learn-Along guide was written by Lorraine Archibald. © 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    59 min

  3. MAR 16

    Lucky Diaz

    What makes music so fun? It brings people together. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, we meet Grammy-winning musicians Lucky Diaz and Alicia Gaddis from Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band. They create songs that families love to sing and dance to—sometimes in English, sometimes in Spanish, and always filled with joy and energy. Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/lucky-diaz Lucky and Alicia share their journey as musicians and storytellers. They were the first North American band to ever win a Latin Grammy. They tell us what it was like to receive seven Grammy nominations and finally take home the award for their album ¡Brillo, Brillo! in 2025. Our Kids Crew brings us book reviews of stories written by Lucky and Alicia, including Palitero Man and She Loves Me All the Same. These books celebrate culture, family, and love. Join us and dance to the infectious beats and learn through a lively discussion with the 2025 Best Children’s Release winners, Alicia Gaddis and Lucky Diaz from Lucky Diaz and The Family Jam Band. Credits: The Children's Hour is written and produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Thaniel Lentz. Our show is distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network. ©2025 The Children’s Hour Inc, All Rights Reserved.

    59 min

  4. MAR 9

    Fossils

    Learn about fossils in this action packed episode of The Children's Hour that comes with a Learn-Along guide that meets and cites National (US) Education Standards. Find this episode page at https://childrenshour.org/fossils The Kids Crew took a summer field trip to a secret fossil dig site located in an active mining quarry in the mountains of New Mexico. They spoke with the paleontologists working to extract 350 million year old fossilized marine creatures and plants. Then, Kids Crew member Amadeus Menendez is a longtime volunteer at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. To help us understand how fossils are made, he spoke with NMMNHS educator Mike Sanchez to learn more about how fossils develop, and dispel myths about what constitutes a fossil. We also spoke with Dr. Emily Lindsey, she’s the Assistant Curator and Excavation Site Director at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles, California. The tar pits perfectly preserved animals, plants, people and anything that fell into them over the last 60,000 years. They have found long extinct animals, like giant camels and sloths, as well as humans, insects, and critters who couldn't escape the sticky, oily tar. This episode was recorded at a super secret fossil dig site in the mountains of New Mexico, at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, and the Sunspot Solar Studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Many thanks to Amanda Cantrell and Thomas Suazo from Badlands Scientific Expeditions for taking our Kids Crew on the fossil field trip. We had production help from the Kids Crew & their parents, as well as Amadeus Menendez, Eli Henley, Christina Stella and Thaniel Lentz. Katie Stone is our Executive Producer. Our Learning Guide was written by Jonathan Dunski and Lorraine Archibald. The Children's Hour is distributed on radio stations by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network. © 2025 The Children's Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    59 min

  5. MAR 2

    Dr. Seuss

    On this episode of The Children's Hour, we are going to dive into the life and legacy of Dr. Seuss, exploring how he crafted his beloved stories and why his books continue to captivate young readers today. Through engaging discussions, musical interludes, and fascinating insights, we uncover what makes his work so timeless and impactful. Find full episode details at https://childrenshour.org/dr-seuss We were joined by biographer Brian Jay Jones, who wrote Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination. He shared amazing stories about how Dr. Seuss became an author, where he got his ideas, and how he changed children's books forever. Did you know Dr. Seuss wasnt really a doctor? And that he almost gave up after his first book was rejected many times? Brian Jay Jones told us all about it! Dr. Seuss' books arent just fun"they also carry important messages. The Lorax teaches about protecting the environment, Horton Hears a Who reminds us that every voice matters, and The Butter Battle Book shows how silly arguments can grow into big problems. His playful words make reading fun while helping us learn valuable lessons. Throughout the show, we heard songs inspired by Dr. Seuss, and had a lively discussion with our Kids Crew about their favorite Seuss books. Do you have a favorite? Maybe Oh, the Places You'll Go! or Horton Hears a Who!? Grab your Dr. Seuss books and join us as we learn about his incredible life and legacy. National Dr. Seuss Day is celebrated every year on March 2nd, the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. This special day is part of Read Across America, a nationwide event that encourages children to discover the joy of reading. Schools, libraries, and communities honor Dr. Seuss' legacy by hosting fun literacy activities, reading his beloved books, and dressing up as favorite Seussian characters. Its a day to inspire a love for storytelling, creativity, and imagination in young readers everywhere! This episode was written and produced by The Children's Hour Inc, and executive producer Katie Stone, with production help from Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz. Many thanks to our guest, Brian Jay Jones, for sharing his insights into the world of Dr. Seuss. Our show was recorded at the Outpost Performance Space in Albuquerque, New Mexico by Chad Scheer. The Children's Hour is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network.

    59 min

  6. FEB 23

    Sleep

    Why do we spend so much of our lives sleeping? Is anything happening in our brains while we sleep? Do animals sleep the same way we do? On this episode of The Children's Hour, we explore the science of sleep with expert guests and our Kids Crew. Learn more about sleep, see photos, and explore activities at https://childrenshour.org/sleep We spend about a third of our lives sleeping, but it's far from wasted time! Our brains and bodies work hard while we rest. Neuroscientist Vishal Sumra joins us to explain how sleep helps our brains clean up, repair, and store memories. We also talk about dreaming and why some people remember their dreams while others forget them completely. Did you know we dream for about two hours every night? Sleep doesn’t just help our brains—it’s important for our bodies, too! We learn how sleep helps muscles grow and keeps us feeling strong and healthy. But what happens when we don’t get enough sleep? We find out how lack of sleep can make us feel cranky, forgetful, and even sick. Have you ever wondered how animals sleep? Do sharks really sleep with their eyes open? Author Stephen J. Simmons shares stories from his book Where Do Ocean Creatures Sleep at Night? and tells us about the different ways animals sleep underwater. Plus, our Kids Crew shares their own sleep stories and questions, and we have a book review from Max! And, of course, we’ve got great music to dream to. This episode was written and produced by Katie Stone with help from Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz. Chad Scheer is our recording engineer at Outpost Performance Space. The learning tools were created by Ronnie Reynolds. The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One, the Native American Radio Network. © 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    59 min

  7. FEB 16

    Ella Jenkins

    Join us on The Children's Hour as we celebrate the life and legacy of Ella Jenkins, the First Lady of Children's Music. Ella introduced kids everywhere to the joy of singing, rhythm, and music from different cultures. Her songs, filled with call-and-response, clapping, and playful melodies, have been teaching and inspiring young people for decades. Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/ella-jenkins Ella believed that everyone can make music. Her songs often included call-and-response, where one person sings and others echo back. She encouraged kids to find rhythms in everyday life—clapping, stomping, and even knocking on doors! Her music was also about learning. She taught kids words in Spanish, Swahili, Hebrew, and many other languages. She wanted young people to know that music connects all of us, no matter where we come from. Many people were influenced by Ella’s work, including our guests Dan and Claudia Zanes, Jason McInnis and Maria Martinez, storyteller Bill Harley, and documentarian Tim Ferrin. This episode was produced by Katie Stone with help from Sarah Gabrielli, Jackie Fulton, and Thaneal Lentz. Thanks to Tim Ferrin for clips from his documentary Sing a Song Together. Special support for this show came from Bomi Parakh and Linda Blanchard. The Children's Hour is a production of The Children's Hour Inc., a New Mexico-based nonprofit. Our show is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network. © 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc, All Rights Reserved.

    59 min

  8. FEB 9

    Black History is American History

    Black history is an important part of everyone’s history in this episode of The Children's Hour. We explore the stories of Black inventors, heroes, and pioneers who helped shape America. Plus, we dive into the human heart to learn about congenital heart defects and how people born with them can live strong, happy lives. Find the full episode page at https://childrenshour.org/black-history American history is full of stories of influential, resilient, powerful black people doing amazing things. With some of the most common inventions we use every day coming from black Americans, we have a lot to learn! Dr. Marsha Hardeman from the University of New Mexico shares stories about Black Americans who were trailblazers and pioneers in the American Southwest and beyond. Did you know that Black inventors gave us things like the traffic signal, folding chairs, and even part of the light bulb? We’ll also talk about the first Juneteenth and the Buffalo Soldiers, who created new paths and opportunities for generations to come. Black history is filled with stories of courage, creativity, and resilience! February 7 to 14 is Congenital Heart Disease Awareness week. We learn about the amazing human heart with Dubra Karnes-Padilla, a lecturer in the fitness and wellness education center at the University of New Mexico Valencia campus. Did you know your heart pumps oxygen to almost every part of your body? Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defect in America, but many kids born with CHD grow up strong and healthy. We’ll talk about what makes the heart special and how to care for it. You can learn more about Congenital Heart Defects at https://www.achaheart.org/ This episode of The Children's Hour was written and produced by Katie Stone, with production help from Sarah Gabrielli and Thaniel Lentz. Special thanks to Dr. Marsha Hardeman from the University of New Mexico Department of Africana Studies, and to Dubra Karnes-Padilla from the Adult Congenital Heart Association, for sharing their expertise with us. The Children’s Hour is distributed by Native Voice One: The Native American Radio Network. © 2025 The Children’s Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    59 min
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    4.3
    out of 5
    66 Ratings

    About

    Eclectic, entertaining, educational public radio for kids of all ages on every topic under and beyond the sun. The Children's Hour radio show includes kids in every production, and our themes focus on civics, STEM, culture and performance. The Children's Hour keeps everyone in the family engrossed, with great music and subjects that teach listeners something new, regardless of your age. Heard on nearly 200 public radio stations worldwide each week, and hosted by Katie Stone with her intrepid Kids Crew who are real kids learning to make radio. Subscribe and learn with us!

    Information

    • Creator
      The Children's Hour Inc.
    • Years Active
      2018 - 2025
    • Episodes
      274
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © The Children's Hour Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • Show Website
      The Children's Hour

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