{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Dr. Matthew Mehan on Compiling an American Book of Fables","description":"\u201cSomething old, something new, something red white and blue.\u201d The American Book of Fables is Dr. Matthew Mehan and artist John Folley\u2019s latest children\u2019s book\u2014or, rather, family book\u2014presented for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It offers a delightful education in civics, geography, history, and love of country by combining the American founding documents, short poetry, new and ancient fables, and whimsical oil paintings all mapped to the American landscape. This week on HeightsCast, Dr. Mehan shares the ideas behind the book\u2019s creation and what he hopes \u201clittles, middles, and bigs\u201d can all come to appreciate through a layered work like this. Chapters: 3:01 Picture books and the role of the poet 8:21 A family book for littles, middles, and bigs 13:18 What\u2019s in the book 18:19 Fables: training your \u201cgood mother wit\u201d 23:46 Hugh Manatee and humanity 28:33 John Folley\u2019s illustrations 30:55 The American city 34:49 The current discourse on duty 36:47 Presenting founding documents to kids 41:37 Celebrate America250 as a family 48:26 Despair and hope 56:00 Book launch events 58:45 Excerpt: \u201cAmerican Morning\u201d Links: The American Book of Fables by Matthew Mehan The Handsome Little Cygnet by Matthew Mehan Mr. Mehan\u2019s Mildly Amusing Mythical Mammals by Matthew Mehan National WWI Memorial, sculpture by Sabin Howard, installed 2024 Catholic Information Center Event with the Author, Washington, DC \/ livestream available \u2013 June 30, 2026 The American Book of Fables Website \u2013 Sophia Institute Press, for future book launch events Also on the Forum: Patriotism and Piety: Honoring Founders and Fathers featuring Dr. Matthew Mehan Teaching the American Founding after 250 Years featuring Dr. Matthew Spalding Children\u2019s Literature and Human Flourishing: The Handsome Little Cygnet featuring Dr. Matthew Mehan Why Our Politics Need Poetry: Mr. Mehan\u2019s Mythical Mammals featuring Dr. Matthew Mehan Imagination: The Raw Material for Thinking featuring Dr. Matthew Mehan ","author_name":"HeightsCast: Forming Men Fully Alive","author_url":"https:\/\/heights.edu\/heightscast\/","html":"