Past and Pen Podcast: Episode Eight – Old Fashioned Summer Shenanigans

Rosie Talley
Jun 24
3 min read

A Creative History Podcast for Kids Ages 8–12:

Meet Your Host:

Meet Your Host:

Hosted by: Rosie Talley, Author of Linus the Troll

Produced by: Sweet Meadowlark Stories

🌐 Author Website

📧 Email: pastandpen@gmail.com

🎥 Watch Episode Eight:

👉 Watch the Full Episode Here

Get ready to crank up the nostalgia! In this episode of Past and Pen, we’re diving into the surprising, silly, and sometimes unfair history of summertime fun—back before air conditioning, smartphones, or even modern swimsuits.

From penny ice cream to pie-eating contests that left faces sticky, you’ll discover how kids used to cool off, what made swimming pools a bit controversial, and how summer treats like popsicles and ice cream became part of the season’s magic. It’s history with a scoop of chaos—and maybe a few drips on your shirt.

So grab a towel, maybe a popsicle, and let’s splash into the past!

📚Reading List:

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⁠ Ice Cream: The Full Scoop⁠ by Gail Gibbons

⁠Food Fight! ⁠by Tanya Steel

⁠ The Boy Who Invented the Popsicle⁠ by Anne Renaud

⁠ The Lemonade War⁠ by Jacqueline Davies

⁠444+ Fun Facts for Sports Kids: Swimming Edition⁠ by Dr. Rabea Hadi

⁠Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer⁠ by Megan McDonald

⁠ The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale⁠ by Jeanne Birdsall

⁠Summer of the Monkeys ⁠by Wilson Rawls

✍️ Writing Prompt:

Time to get creative with your own marshmallow magic!

Imagine you’re a kid in the 1920s spending a summer day at the town fair. You kick things off with a messy pie-eating contest, then cool off in a new public pool—wearing a wool swimsuit that feels like a soggy sweater. Write a journal entry or short story from that kid’s point of view. What’s fun? What’s frustrating? What would surprise a kid from today?

Share your stories, drawings, or ideas with me at ⁠pastandpen@gmail.com ⁠ — I’d love to see what you create!

Thanks so much for joining me as we explore the past and let our pens do the talking! New episodes drop every other Tuesday at 4 PM CST—so mark your sundials, set your hourglasses, or just let history repeat itself and tune in!

Patreon Members can answer the Question of the Month for a chance to be featured on the show! This month’s question is:

If you could interview any historical figure or book character, who would you choose, and what would be your first question?

P.S. If you want even more summer reading fun, check out my new summer reading program ⁠Wander and Wonder⁠. It’s a parent/child book club with options for kids ages 4 to 12. You’ll get kitchen classroom recipes inspired by the books we read, a printable PDF journal with drawing or writing prompts, and hands-on activities to bring each story to life.