The Twelve Tortoises (Part II)

Summary

Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest — "The Twelve Tortoises (Part II)"

Host: Adam Gidwitz
Date: October 9, 2025
Episode Level: Grimmer

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Episode Overview

In this thrilling "Grimmer"-level episode, Adam Gidwitz continues his retelling of the obscure fairy tale “The Twelve Tortoises” to a group of insightful and witty kids. The story picks up with Caroline—a resilient young heroine—on the run from the murderous innkeeper's wife, and it quickly escalates through magical dreams, shocking animal transformations, and tests of courage, love, and endurance. The classroom group actively unpacks the twists, injects humor, and digs into the odd logic and deeper meanings behind the classic fairy tale tropes, making for an engaging and unpredictable storytelling session.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Developments

1. Setting Up the Danger

[01:28–04:09]

• Adam reminds listeners that original Grimm tales are “weird and sometimes gross and often scary,” and warns that this episode is “Grimmer.”
• Caroline, the episode’s heroine, is in peril: the innkeeper's wife is plotting to chop her up and cook her into stew for hogs.
• Notable exchange:
  • Caroline (03:26): "Why is this story called the thirteen Tortoises? It says nothing about the tortoises."
  • Adam (03:32): "This story is called the 12 tortoises and we have not met a single tortoise. Not 12, not even 1 yet."

2. The Blue Swan’s Prophecy in a Dream

[04:13–04:39]

• Caroline dreams of a blue swan, who instructs her:
  • Adam quoting the swan (04:39): "...cut off its head, then make your way at once to the top of Glass Mountain. Your brother will be waiting for you there."

3. Escape & Strange Transformations

[05:00–08:14]

• The innkeeper awakens unexpectedly, distracting his wife and giving Caroline the chance to escape out back.
• Caroline finds a massive hog, and following the dream, uses an axe to decapitate it. Shockingly, it’s not the hog but the innkeeper’s wife whose head is cut off!
  • Adam (06:41): “Who can explain what happened?...What is going on?”
  • Caroline (08:08): “I think the innkeeper's wife was the hog.”
  • Adam (08:11): “Somehow the innkeeper's wife was a hog.”

4. Flight to Glass Mountain

[09:23–09:49]

• Fleeing into the night, Caroline persuades a wagon driver to take her to the fabled and dangerous Glass Mountain, the lair of fire-breathing giants.
• Caroline (09:44): “I'll take my chances.”

5. Giants, Fire, and the Mysterious Cave

[12:31–13:28]

• Caroline arrives at Glass Mountain amid trembling ground. Giants threaten her, so she hides in a glass cave.
• Caroline (13:12): “Are coming, and they’re going to see Caroline.”
• Inside the cave is a glowing blue chamber and a gathering of 13 swans.

6. Trials of Courage, Love, and Disgust

[14:15–22:49]

a. Three Deadly Trials

[14:40–17:46]

• The blue swan tells Caroline she must face three deadly trials to find her brother.
• Caroline (14:54, exasperated): "Yes.”
• Caroline’s first trial is to endure the giant’s fire; thinking of her love for her brother, she survives unharmed.
  • Adam (17:46): "So her brother—her love for her brother protects her."

b. The Snake’s Embrace

[17:46–18:24]

• Next, an enormous snake tries to crush her, but Caroline imagines the squeeze as her parents' hug. She survives this, too.

c. The 12 Tortoises Reveal

[19:04–23:04]

• Finally (to everyone’s relief):
  • Caroline (19:04): “Finally.”
• Twelve giant, dirty tortoises lumber in. At first, it's unclear what to do, until Caroline jokes:
  • Caroline (19:54): “A hug? A kiss? Yeah.”
• Hugging and kissing each tortoise transforms them: first her parents, then several strangers, and finally, her brother Elias.
  • Adam (22:31): "She wrapped her arms around the wrinkly neck [...] The creature began to glow [...] and at last, before her stood Elias."
  • Caroline (22:50): "Yay."

7. The Family Reunited—Explanations and Emotional Closure

[23:04–24:54]

• Caroline’s family explains:
  • They were turned into swans and then tortoises by the blue swan after giving her away to keep her safe.
• Caroline confronts her parents for abandoning her.
  • Caroline (24:28): "You said, 'no matter what, we’ll take care of each other.' But you gave us away to the innkeeper’s wife. Why?"
  • Mother (24:44): "We hoped that if we gave you away, you would live. We were taking care of you as best as we could."
• The family acknowledges having all saved and cared for each other.

8. Insightful and Humorous Kid Commentary

Throughout

• The children’s commentary brings levity and modern sensibility to the tale:
  • Caroline (15:13): "Her parents literally sold their children for free. And they're broke, too. So like, I might have had it.”
  • Caroline (22:11): "Please be the brother. I can't handle this kissy stranger thing."
  • Adam (21:03): "I have a question. What is it with the stories so far this year where it's like you just have to keep kissing reptiles and amphibians or something?"

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Adam (01:28): "On a scale of Grim, Grimmer and Grimmest, this episode is Grimmer. Before they get better, things will get worse and bloodier for our brave hero."
• Caroline (03:26): “Why is this story called the thirteen Tortoises? It says nothing about tortoises.”
• Adam (06:41): “What an interesting theory.”
• Caroline (08:28): “I think this is Hoga Yaga.”
• Adam (14:55): "It's like these trials never end, right? Poor Caroline."
• Caroline (19:04): “Finally,” when the tortoises appear—fulfilling the story’s title.
• Caroline (22:50): “Yay,” as her brother finally reappears.
• Caroline (24:28): “You said, 'no matter what, we’ll take care of each other.' But you gave us away to the innkeeper’s wife. Why? Why would you do that?”
• Mother (24:44): “We were taking care of you as best as we could.”
• Adam (25:21): "And they lived happily ever after. The end."

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:28–03:45]: Introduction, episode rating, and setup
• [03:26–04:09]: Kids question the title and lack of tortoises
• [04:13–05:09]: Blue swan’s dream message
• [06:41–08:14]: The innkeeper’s wife’s fate revealed
• [09:23–09:49]: Caroline escapes to Glass Mountain
• [12:31–13:28]: Arrival at Glass Mountain, introduction of giants
• [14:32–17:46]: The first and second trials (fire, snake)
• [19:04–22:49]: The appearance and transformation of the tortoises
• [23:04–24:54]: Family reunion and closure
• [25:21–25:52]: Story wrap-up and children's final reflections

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Tone and Style

• Adam is simultaneously suspenseful, wry, and warm, encouraging questions and modern, critical thinking.
• The children are unfiltered, honest, irreverent, and empathetic, oscillating between humor and outrage at the story’s darkness. Their comments both highlight and poke holes in the logic and emotional arc of the fairy tale.

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Final Thoughts

“The Twelve Tortoises (Part II)” delivers a classic Grimm tale with signature twists, magical transformations, and the raw, relatable reactions of its young audience. The episode stands out for balancing macabre fairy tale elements with insightful commentary and unexpected humor, all capped by an emotionally resonant message of family, endurance, and mutual care.

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For more fairy-tale weirdness, humor, and lively feedback from real kids, keep following Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest!

Transcript

[Caroline]

Pinna.

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[Adam Gidwitz]

Hey everyone, it's Adam Gidwitz from Grim Grimmer grimmest. On Sunday, October 26th, I'm going to be doing a special ticketed event live in Brooklyn. I'll be telling two grim fairy tales and we're going to invite kids to wear costumes. You can even get VIP tickets for an extra special meet and greet and Halloween costume showcase before the stories. Tickets are on [e-mail] a very grim story. That's tinyurl.com a very grimstory. I'll see you there.

[Caroline]

Pinna.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Hi, my name is Adam Gidwitz. I'm an author. I'm also a storyteller. I like telling all kinds of stories, but I especially like telling grim fairy tales. You may think you know Grimm fairy tales and you may think that they are sweet and boring, but listen, those tales you heard were the cute, happy little kid bedtime versions of the Grimm tales. The original Grimm fairy tales aren't like that at all. They're weird and sometimes gross and often scary. In other words, they're grim. And I'm about to walk into a classroom and tell one of the original grim grim tales to a bunch of kids. Do you want to join me? Do you want to hear a grim fairy tale? Let me help you decide. On a scale of Grim, Grimmer and Grimmest, this episode is Grimmer. Before they get better, things will get worse and bloodier for our brave hero. Caroline, if I get to a part of the story and you start to feel scared or uncomfortable, this is what you could do. You could turn down the volume and count to five. Then turn the volume back up. If it still seems like a part you don't want to hear, just turn the volume down and count to five again. You know how much weird and gross and scary you're ready for? You know what you need? Okay, I'm at the classroom door now. There are kids inside waiting to hear a grim fairy tale. So are you coming in Grim Grimmer Grimace?

[Caroline]

I'm just wondering, like, why is this story called the thirteen Tortoises it says nothing about the tortoises.

[Adam Gidwitz]

This story is called the 12 tortoises and we have not met a single tortoise. Not 12, not even one yet. Great point. The other thing to know about this story is that it is scarier than last time's story.

[Caroline]

What?

[Sponsor/Announcer]

Yes.

[Adam Gidwitz]

This story is a continuation of the 12 tortoises. You'll remember that. It's by Franz Ksava von Schoenvert. So it's weird. As Caroline slept, the innkeeper's wife prepared a special stew. Once it was ready, she would throw Caroline in the stew, cook her until she was soft and tender, and then feed her to the hogs.

[Caroline]

Remember how I said that she was gonna eat her?

[Adam Gidwitz]

I do remember that.

[Caroline]

Our little bass come back to haunt us.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah, totally. Caroline slept. And as she slept, she dreamed. She dreamed of the blue swan. And in that dream, the blue swan spoke to her. When you wake up, you will find a huge hog tied behind the inn.

[Caroline]

Cut off its head, then make your.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Way at once to the top of Glass Mountain. Your brother will be waiting for you there. The innkeeper's wife had finished chopping the herbs and carrots and potatoes for the stew. And it was all simmering on the stove. Now it was time for the most important ingredient.

[Caroline]

Now. Now.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline. The innkeeper's wife turned toward the sleeping Caroline with a butcher's knife in her hand.

[Caroline]

She gonna cut the head off.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Ready to chop her head off like I said, and cut the meat from her bones. Suddenly, a voice came from the staircase. Hello? The innkeeper's wife turned around. The voice roused Caroline from her sleep too. Her eyelids fluttered and opened. Standing on the stairs was the innkeeper who looked like he'd just been woken from a 10 year nap. He had a long gray beard and he was frail and was trying to hide his eyes from the almost non existent light in the cabin. Why do you look so surprised? What are you surprised by?

[Caroline]

Because he woke up? Yeah. I just think that she might have set her husband to sleep too.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The innkeeper's wife hid the knife behind her back and said, oh, you're awake.

[Caroline]

Wonderful. Could I get you some hog's milk?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The innkeeper replied, mmm, yes. I'm very thirsty. I feel like I've been sleeping for 10 years.

[Caroline]

Oh, don't be silly. You've just been napping for a little while.

[Adam Gidwitz]

But Caroline realized that she had never actually seen the innkeeper the whole time she'd lived with the innkeeper's wife.

[Caroline]

Maybe she put him to sleep so he would not see what she was doing.

[Adam Gidwitz]

What an interesting theory. The innkeeper's wife poured some hog's milk in a dirty glass and the innkeeper drank it down. I'm feeling very sleepy again. I think I'll go back upstairs and lie down. Oh, you do that, said the innkeeper's wife. And then she turned back to Caroline and raised the butcher's knife over her head. Except Caroline wasn't there.

[Caroline]

What?

[Adam Gidwitz]

What?

[Caroline]

That's just crazy.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline had snuck out the back of the inn while the innkeeper's wife was distracted with her sleepy husband. Behind the inn, Caroline saw the hogs in their pen. And one hog was about twice as big and fat as the others. And there was an axe for chopping wood wedged into the side of a tree. Caroline got the axe and raised it up over her head and closed her eyes and threw it down on the hog's neck. She heard a big squeal, and when she opened her eyes, she saw lying there headless and bleeding, not the hog, but the innkeeper's wife. Except her head was no longer attached to her body. Who can explain what happened? What was it? What is going on?

[Caroline]

I think the innkeeper's wife was the hog.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Somehow the innkeeper's wife was a hog.

[Caroline]

And that also explains why she cares about the hogs so much and she feeds them. Because if she feeds the hog, she's also like feeding herself.

[Adam Gidwitz]

I think that that's right.

[Caroline]

I think this is Hoga Yaga.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Instead of Baba Yaga. She's Hoga Yaga. I love that. It's so good. Inside the inn, the innkeeper woke from his nap with a start. He came outside to see what was going on. My wife. He shouted. But he didn't look so sleepy anymore. He looked angry. He started for Caroline, but she raised the bloody axe and he backed away. Caroline threw down the axe and ran. She ran through the darkest woods until she came across a man driving a horse drawn wagon. Please, Caroline begged the man, take me to Glass Mountain. The man hesitated. I never go to Glass Mountain. That's where the giants live.

[Caroline]

Please, I need to find my brother.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The man said, those giants are fierce, you know. They breathe fire and can roast a man quicker than you can say Franz Xava von Schoenvert. Caroline thought of her brother. If he was up there, she would go get him.

[Caroline]

She said, I'll take my chances.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And the man, for no reason I can understand, except maybe the determination and desperation shining in Caroline's face, gave a nod, lifted Caroline into his wagon and urged his horse to gallop at double speed, dragging the wagon up the treacherous road to the Glass Mountain.

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[Adam Gidwitz]

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[Adam Gidwitz]

Soon trees and stones gave way to glassy ice and then just to glass. They rode on a slick glass road and the ground beneath their feet was transparent, just cloudy and glassy all the way down. They arrived at the peak of the mountain just before sundown. Caroline hopped off the wagon and began to thank the man, but he had already turned his horse around and was high, tailing it back down the glass road as fast as he could.

[Caroline]

Thank you.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline called after him. The ground shook I think the monsters.

[Caroline]

Are coming, and they're going to see Caroline.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It shook again.

[Caroline]

Maybe she could just be a little quiet. Because what if she wakes up the giants and they come after us?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline ran behind a large glass rock to hide. A giant was lumbering straight toward her. And a glass rock does not hide you very well. She looked around, desperate for a better place to hide. There in the side, the glass mountain was a small cave. She ran for it. The giant blew fire from his mouth, but she dove inside the cave just as the giant's fiery breath roared by. Caroline crawled deeper into the cave and deeper. It glowed a glassy blue, and after a little while, she didn't have to crawl anymore. The space became large enough that she could walk again.

[Caroline]

I think it's the swan that's in there. Because it's blue.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Interesting. Caroline walked into a large chamber, and there, waiting for her, were the 13 swans, and their wings fluttered softly when they saw her.

[Caroline]

Where is my brother?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline demanded of the tall blue swan.

[Caroline]

You told me he'd be here.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The blue swan spoke solemnly. If you wish to see your brother again, you must face three trials.

[Caroline]

Haven't I done enough?

[Adam Gidwitz]

What do you guys think? Has she done enough?

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It's like these trials never end, right? Poor Caroline.

[Caroline]

She had to kill someone.

[Adam Gidwitz]

She had to kill someone. Now she's got three trials. She had to work for a king. She had to sell a rose.

[Caroline]

She had to drink hog's milk.

[Adam Gidwitz]

She had to drink hog's milk.

[Caroline]

All I was thinking in my head, this whole story was a bro.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Like, bro, it's enough.

[Caroline]

Her parents literally sold their children for free. And they're broke, too. So, like, I might have had it.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Worse than any of our fairy tale heroes. So far. She just has got thing after thing after thing.

[Caroline]

Haven't I done enough?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline shouted. And the swan said, nearly so. Caroline said, fine.

[Caroline]

Bring it on. That's a big one.

[Adam Gidwitz]

It is a big word. The swan warned Caroline. These trials are no simple feat. They may seem deadly, but remember why you are here. And trust that no matter what, you'll be taken care of. The swans vanished. But the blue swan's final words echoed in Caroline's head. They reminded her of something.

[Caroline]

That's what the mom and dad said. I think the mom and dad are the swans.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline waited alone in the glassy blue darkness. Before long, the first of the challenges arrived. The ground trembled as the giant's face appeared at the mouth of the cave, his fiery breath heating the air. I know you're in There, little human. The giant roared, his hot breath burning the rocks and plants outside. Caroline's heart pounded, but she held her ground. If you won't come out, I'll just.

[Caroline]

Roost you in there.

[Adam Gidwitz]

The giant blew fire straight into the cave. The flames rushed toward Caroline, and she didn't move. She let the flames engulf her, and somehow she did not die.

[Caroline]

What?

[Adam Gidwitz]

The giant breathed his fire again and again, and each time the flames engulfed Caroline, but they did not harm her.

[Caroline]

Because everything was else magic. And now she is magic. Maybe like was connected to, like you always be taken care of. Maybe it's like how she thinks of her brother and how she loves her brother and wants to get her back.

[Adam Gidwitz]

So her brother, her love for her brother protects her. Yeah. Finally exhausted, the giant stomped off, and Caroline realized that, miraculously, she had survived the first trial. But just as she had begun to relax, a massive snake slithered into the cave, its emerald eyes gleaming at her. Again, Caroline stayed calm. The snake coiled its muscular, rippling body around Caroline. It squeezed tighter and tighter, but Caroline.

[Caroline]

Just thought, no matter what, we'll take.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Care of each other. The snake's grip constricted, but Caroline imagined that it was her parents wrapping their arms around her. But the snake squeezed harder and harder, and Caroline felt certain that her body could take no more and that in a moment, she would be crushed to death. And then the large snake loosened its hold, slid away, and disappeared into the shadows. No sooner had the snake vanished than the ground trembled once more. This time, 12 enormous tortoises, each the size of a bathtub tub, lumbered into the cave.

[Caroline]

Finally.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Finally, the tortoises showed up. The tortoises, filthy, cracked shells, were covered in mud, trailing a sour, swampy stench that filled the air. Caroline wrinkled her nose, recoiling from the sight. She waited for them to trample her or snap at her or something. They did nothing. She stood up.

[Caroline]

What on earth am I supposed to do with you?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline circled them. They were revolting. She tried shooing them out of the cave, but they stubbornly refused to budge. She lay down, trying to encourage them to trample her. They didn't even flinch. Frustrated, she muttered, what do you want?

[Caroline]

A hug? A kiss? Yeah.

[Adam Gidwitz]

As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she had to try. With determination outweighing her disgust, she stood and walked to the first tortoise, wrapped her arms around its filthy, muck covered neck and kissed the top of its head.

[Caroline]

Ew.

[Adam Gidwitz]

And just as she did, the tortoise shimmered and its swamp covered skin and shell transformed until before her stood her own mother.

[Caroline]

Then her dad, then her brother.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline's arms closed around her, but Caroline pulled away and ran to the next tortoise and squeezed its neck and kissed its stinking head. And instantly it transformed into her father, gazing down at her with pride.

[Caroline]

I think the last Hortex is gonna be the boy. The second is her father.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Very interesting. I have a question. What is it with the stories so far this year where it's like you just have to keep kissing reptiles and amphibians or something?

[Caroline]

How is this possible?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline asked, breathless. But then Caroline looked at the 10 other tortoises.

[Caroline]

Who are you?

[Adam Gidwitz]

She ran to the next tortoise and threw her arms around it and, well, she kissed its head too. It shimmered and expanded and transformed not into her brother, but into a regal woman.

[Caroline]

Ooh, okay, I guess I just kissed a stranger.

[Adam Gidwitz]

But that didn't stop her. Caroline wrapped her arms around tortoise after tortoise, each time hoping the next would be her brother. But with each transformation, she found only another random person. Doubt crept in. What if none of these tortoises were Elias? Finally, she reached the last tortoise. Caroline's heart pounded against her ribs. Would this be her brother? She had kissed a lot of strangers now, albeit in the form of very dirty tortoises. Which maybe made it better. Or maybe didn't. Anyway, she really hoped this was her brother.

[Caroline]

Please be the brother. I can't handle this kissy stranger thing. It's disgusting. I think it's gonna be her brother. Cause who else would it be? Another stranger?

[Adam Gidwitz]

She wrapped her arms around the wrinkly neck and as she did, she kissed the top of the tortoise's muck covered head. The creature began to glow. Just as before it transformed. And at last, before her stood Elias.

[Caroline]

Yay.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Finally, as they embraced, tears of joy streamed down their cheeks. Finally, Caroline turned to her parents and demanded an explanation.

[Caroline]

How did all of this happen?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Her father said. When we left you at the inn, your mother and I were on the brink of freezing to death. Suddenly the blue swan appeared and in a flash we were swans too. Her brother Elias added. The blue swan took me from the inn because otherwise the. The innkeeper's wife was going to feed.

[Caroline]

Me to the hogs.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Because you lost the game, said Caroline. And Elias said, right.

[Caroline]

And soon I became a swan also. And then after you were swans, you became tortoises.

[Adam Gidwitz]

She brought us here and yes, we turned into tortoises. Caroline said, that's weird. Elias agreed super weird. Then Caroline asked, but who was this blue swan?

[Caroline]

And where is it now?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Caroline's parents looked at each other, and then they looked at the other people who had first been swans and then tortoises. And everyone shrugged. No one had any idea. Caroline had one more question. She marched up to her parents and stuck a finger in their faces.

[Caroline]

You said, no matter what, we'll take care of each other. But you gave us away to the innkeeper's wife. Why? Why would you do that?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Her mother said, isn't it obvious? We didn't want you to starve.

[Caroline]

We would never sell you to anyone. But we hoped that if we gave you away, you would live. We were taking care of you as best as we could.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Elias walked up to Caroline and took her hand. But you took even better care of us. You saved us. Caroline replied, you saved me, too. A couple of times that was true. They had all taken care of each other, no matter what. And they lived happily ever after. The end.

[Caroline]

That's a good story, Lily.

[Adam Gidwitz]

You want more?

[Caroline]

Yes.

[Adam Gidwitz]

As Caroline slept, the innkeeper's wife prepared a special stew.

[Caroline]

No. What's a soup?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yes, a soup. Did you predict that there would be a soup?

[Caroline]

Never.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Yeah, you totally did. You said that there was gonna be a soup.

[Caroline]

Why? The beginning of the story, like the lay was gonna treat them like soup.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Oh, she was gonna treat them like soup.

[Caroline]

Yeah. Like eating. Yeah, because technically, killing soup gets dead because people eat the soup. There's soup in my belly. Right.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Well, she might treat Caroline very much like soup right now.

[Caroline]

Yeah, like not nice.

[Adam Gidwitz]

You know what I mean?

[Caroline]

Maybe the soup is very poisonous or might give you a heart attack.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Or maybe kill. Or maybe Caroline is gonna go in the soup.

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[Caroline]

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[Adam Gidwitz]

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Everything from science to history, nature, emotions, and sometimes even the weird why are.

[Caroline]

Jellyfishes made of jelly? Or are they made out of jelly?

[Adam Gidwitz]

Find but why?

[Sponsor/Announcer]

Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Grim Grimmer Grimmest is a Penna original production created, written and narrated by me, Adam Gidwitz, author of A Tale Dark and Grim, co written by Ali Horne produced and edited by Kaelin west associate producer Rebecca Cunningham field recording by Julia Martin casting and voice direction by Rebecca Cunningham sound design and mixing by Kalyn west executive produced by Carly Milori production support by Devin shepherd characters voiced by Tria Leong, Laith walshlager, Rob Moreta, Tyler Keys, and Charlotte Wilson Langley. Special thanks to all the kids who joined us in Staten island and Brooklyn for our storytelling sessions. You guys are awesome.