Podcasts

Check It In, Check It Out!

About the Show

Elgin County Library sponsors a radio show for children that is broadcast on 105.9 DeBrigj FM. DeBrigj is an Aylmer-based radio station that serves the Mennonite communities of the eastern County. The programming on 105.9 FM is mostly delivered in low German, but Check it In, Check it Out will feature stories and interviews with children in English. One of the show’s regular guests will be a familiar face to Aylmer Library users, but can you recognize her voice?

Join host Colleen Devos or retired host Julie Berry on Mondays at 5 pm for stories, community conversation and to learn more about the library. Each episode is replayed the following Wednesday at 5 pm.

Colleen would like to express her sincere thanks to the Elgin County Library and Mennonite Community Services for their generous support.

Most Recent Episodes:

Christmas with the Brays first aired December 19, 2022. The episode features the book: The Gifts of the Animals: a Christmas Tale by Carole Gerber. Meet the Bray family: Norah, Leah, Emily, Daphne, and their parents Chris and Katie as they help out with this show in many ways and tell us what they are looking forward to most this Christmas! Listen to some musical guests this episode! Episode length: 13:39.

Check It In Check It Out: A library podcast for kids - The Bridges Program

The Bridges Program first aired November 28, 2022. The episode is the first one to air with new host, Colleen Devos. It features the books: What Do You Do with a Problem by Kobi Yamada; and Sydney and Norman: a Tale of Two Pigs by Phil Vischer . Meet some of the kids from the Bridges Program at Straffordville Public School as they help out with this show in many ways, including teaching Colleen some new words in Low German! Take a listen to Principal Combs and Mrs. Dyke and learn what the Bridges Program, a Low German and Mennonite focused program, is all about. Episode length: 16:16.

Title card for Check It In Check It Out episode: Lost and Found
Lost & Found first aired December 8, 2021. The episode features the books: Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers; Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown; and Josie’s Lost Tooth by Jennifer K. Mann. Meet Lexie, Camden and Kylee as they help out with this show in many ways, including sharing their stories about losing their first teeth! Find out the difference between lost and lonely, why children do not make good pets for bears, and the trials and tribulations of baby teeth that refuse to fall out. Episode length: 16:31.
title card for Check It In Check It Out episode: The Bear and the Piano

The Bear and the Piano first aired November 1, 2021. The episode features the books: The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield; The What-Ifs by Emily Kilgore. Meet Reid, Violet and Jade who helped out at the Springfield Library! Learn more about a bear who becomes a world-famous concert pianist, and how a little girl learns how to get her “what-ifs” under control. Episode length: 15:18.

Title card for Check It In Check It Out episode: How to be a Hero

How to be a Hero first aired March 1, 2021. The episode features the books: COVID-19 Helpers by Beth Bacon and Kary Lee; Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Melanie Watts. Young guests are not participating in our shows at this time due to COVID-19. The children you hear are recordings taken from previous years. Learn how children can be heroes during a pandemic, and how a germ-free friend is hard to find. Episode length: 15:33.

All Episodes:

 

Episode Guide:

Lost & Found first aired December 8, 2021. The episode features the books: Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers; Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown; and Josie’s Lost Tooth by Jennifer K. Mann. Meet Lexie, Camden and Kylee as they help out with this show in many ways, including sharing their stories about losing their first teeth! Find out the difference between lost and lonely, why children do not make good pets for bears, and the trials and tribulations of baby teeth that refuse to fall out. Episode length: 16:31.

The Bear and the Piano first aired November 1, 2021. The episode features the books: The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield; The What-Ifs by Emily Kilgore. Meet Reid, Violet and Jade who helped out at the Springfield Library! Learn more about a bear who becomes a world-famous concert pianist, and how a little girl learns how to get her “what-ifs” under control. Episode length: 15:18.

How to be a Hero first aired March 1, 2021. The episode features the books: COVID-19 Helpers by Beth Bacon and Kary Lee; Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Melanie Watts Young guests are not participating in our shows at this time due to COVID-19. The children you hear are recordings taken from previous years.Learn how children can be heroes during a pandemic, and how a germ-free friend is hard to find. Episode length: 15:33.

Episode description coming soon. 

A School Bus Like No Other! first aired October 21, 2019. The episode features the books: The Earth Gives More by Sue Fliess, and The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. Meet Magnus, a happy patron of the Springfield Library. Find out about Ms. Frizzle’s magic school bus, and how we can all work together to make a difference. Episode length: 16:52.

TERRIFIC! first aired April 29, 2019. The episode features the books: Terrific by Jon Agee and Peterrific by Victoria Kann. Meet Dakota, and Magnus, a boy with a terrific point of view! Find out how Eugene finds a terrific friend, and how a little boy named Peter earns his new name: Peterrific. Episode length: 16:16.

The Spider’s Gift first aired December 10, 2021. The episode features the books: The Spider’s Gift: A Ukrainian Christmas Tale retold by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Katya Krenina. Meet Lucas, Rae Ann, Stephan, Cohen & Vincent, co-hosts for this show. Find out the magical things that come from kindness & compassion. Episode length: 17:16.

The Lonely Show first aired November 19, 2018. The episode features the books: Imaginary Fred by Eoin Colfer & Oliver Jeffers. Meet Lily, the co-host for this show. Find out about the trials and tribulations of being lonely, and some of the hardships experienced by imaginary friends. Episode length: 18:36.

Buzzzz first aired October 22, 2018. The episode features the books: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. Meet Anika, the co-host for this show. Find out what mosquitoes are good for, and why they buzz in your ear,
according to an African folk tale. Episode length: 15:27.

Dear Duncan first aired March 5, 2018. The episode features the books: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, and Crybaby by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin. Meet Cameron, a little boy with a big heart! Find out what life is like as a crayon, and one way to comfort a crying baby. Episode length: 16:03.

Little Geniuises first aired October 9, 2017. The episode features the books: Big Words for Little Geniuses by Susan Patterson & James Patterson, illustrated by Hsinping Pan, and “The Four Wise People” retold by Gail Neary Herman can be found in Spinning Tales, Weaving Hope, edited by Ed Brody. Meet Lily and Charlotte, back by popular demand, are sisters who already know lots of big words! And now they know even more! Find out challenging and unusual words like rapscallion and bibliomania, and also find out why it’s not a good idea to breathe life into a wild animal! Episode length: 15:31.

Who Doesn’t Love Horses?! first aired Augst 14, 2016. The episode featured the books: Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman; illustrations by Betsy Lewin, and Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, adapted by Cathy Dubowski. Meet Annie who introduces the show and does the credits, and Alana who knows about horse’s hooves and horseshoeing. Find out how to convince a horse to get horseshoes, and the thoughts of a horse who lived 150 years ago. Episode length: 16:14

How Do You Eat Your Peas? first aired May 29, 2017. The episode featured the books: Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Scott Magoon and Eat Your Peas by Kes Gray, illustrations by Nick Sharratt. Meet Joshua and Shalem, brothers who have been on the show before, and Dakota, who helps out with all parts of this show! Find out just how much Daisy doesn’t like her peas, and the ups and downs of being a spoon. Episode length: 14:28.

The Sister Show first aired March 6, 2017. The episode features the books: Zoe’s Room (No Sisters Allowed) by Bethanie Deeney Murguia and No Fighting, No Biting! By Else Holmelund Minarik. Meet Lily and Charlotte, a couple of sisters who love the library, and Liam and Emilie, who helped out with the intro. Find out how to be a good big sister, and why fighting with your sister can be dangerous! Episode length: 16:56.

Elgin County Library Holiday Hours

Saturday, December 23 at 1pm, all ECL branches are closed

December 24 – January 1, all ECL branches closed

Tuesday, January 2, all ECL branches open for regular hours

Our digital library is open all day every day!