11.29.25 - Part 1

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello, and welcome to radio ized charn Story Art. As
a reminder, REALI is a reading service intended for people
who are blinder of other disabilities that make it difficult
to read printing material. Today we will be reading from
various books on Thanksgiving. Your reader today is Diane. Our

(00:23):
first book is titled Thanks for Thanksgiving. It was published
by HarperCollins Publishers and it has a copyright year of
two thousand and four. The author of our book is
Julie Marks. Thanks for Thanksgiving, for turkey and pie. Thank

(00:44):
you for fall and go leaves floating by. Thank you
for school I love to feel smart. Thank you for
music and dancing and arts. Thank you for playdates, for
swings and slides. Thank you for hopscotch and piggy back rides.

(01:07):
Thanks for sweet puppies and soft furry cats. Thank you
for dress up, red shoes and big hats. Thanks for umbrellas,
for rain boots and puddles. Thank you for mommy and
warm cozy cuddles. Thank you for Daddy and rides on
a sled. Thank you for kisses and tucks into bed.

(01:29):
Thanks for the moon and the stars up above, But
most of all, thanks for the family I love. Our
next book is called The Thanksgiving Bow and it was
published by Pelican Publishing Company. It has a copyright ear
of two thousand and seven and the author is for
Guinia Kroll. Thanksgiving Day dawned on a sunny town at

(01:53):
Grandma Grace's big white house. Tommy tempting smells greeted her
family as they came from far away homes. The yellow
plastic Thanksgiving bowl sat on the front hall table beside
a pad and pencil so that they all could jot
down there I am thankful for things. Hours after the

(02:14):
supper of roast turkey, chestnut stuffing, mashed potatoes, brown gravy,
green greens, sweet corn, boiled yams, and cranberry sauce, Grandma
Grace announced it's time. Since the Thanksgiving was unusually warm,
Grandma Grace and the other grown up served pumpkin pie
smothered with a whipped cream outside on the picnic table,

(02:37):
and in their usual tradition, Grandma read each I AM
thankful for aloud while everyone else guests who had written it.
She unfolded the first one and read, I AM thankful
for my cuddly calico Anni Kat, who came to stay
last spring, Sarah. Several folks guests. Sarah smiled, thinking of

(02:59):
any soft and soothing perr. Another one read, I am
thankful for leftover so that the feast doesn't have to
end today. Jeremy. The cousins yelled. The tall teenager bowed
after each I am thankful for baby Josh. He clapped
his chubvvy hands and said me too, which made everyone laugh.

(03:19):
The very last slip of paper said, I am thankful
that everyone I love is thankful. Grandma Grace shouted a
chorus of voices. As the sun went down, the wind
kicked up. Grown ups grab plates, forks and cups, and
everyone rushed inside. The Thanksgiving bow tumbled to the ground
unnoticed across the road to the Rooney's farm. It robed,

(03:42):
bumping through rows of cornstalk, stubble and wilted pumpkin vines. Finally,
it lodged upside down between two low bushes at the
far end of the field. On a chilly December night,
when the field was awash with the light of the
full cold moon, a meadow mouse mpered about, nibbling left
behind seeds. Suddenly she saw a silent winged barn owl

(04:06):
coming toward her. The mouse eked and scurried away as
the barn owl bore down. Oh but what was that
brightly colored object? The mouse squeezed under that yellow plastic
bow just as the barn owl's teylon scraped it. Oooh.
The bow had a comforting smell and a cozy feel

(04:27):
about it, so the mouse hunk her down, wrapped her
tail around herself, and slept until she could safely get away.
When she pushed her way out, the yellow plastic bow
turned right side up and went rolling away in the
wind again. On a blustry, jeanery snow day from school,
Brad and Jeff found the bowl by their garage when

(04:48):
they went out to make a snowman. What a perfect hat,
Jeff said, and plunk it went on the snow man's head.
In February, during unexpected thaw, the the yellow plastic bowl
floated and they used to be snowman puddle till a
breeze scent it rolling to a hill above a rushing stream.

(05:09):
Too curious Otter saw it and got in wee. They
slid swiftly down the hill in their flying saucer, bumping
against a rock and tumbling out at the shore. The
water carried the Thanksgiving bowl away. It didn't take long
for a pair of Canadian geese to find the bowl

(05:30):
in March. The female piled grasses into it, then cushioned
it with moss and soft down feathers. She kept her
five eggs warm in the bowl while her mates stood guard.
When their fuzzy goslings were two days old, they led
them to the water, and not a second too soon
for a hungry fox came gosling hunting. He flipped the

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empty nest upside down, then hurried off in an angry huff.
Shalen found the Thanksgiving bow as she hunted for fossils
in April. She carried them home in it. Her friend
Alexandra said that boat would be perfect pot from my
plant project, so Shalen gave it to her. Alexandra filled

(06:14):
it with soil, pushed in her striped seeds, and kept
them watered in a sunny window. Happy Mothers Day Mom,
Alexandra said. In May she helped Mom plant four sturdy
sunflower seedlings under their black hall window. The Thanksgiving bow
blew again over the lawn and down the road to

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Pine Tree Pond. In June, Tory squilled tadpost. She spotted
the bow, scooped seven tadpoles into it, and took them
to school. There, she and the other third graders watched
them every day till they turned into full fledged frogs.
Tory brought the frogs back to the pond in the
yellow plastic bow and let them go. The bow found

(07:02):
its way across the highway to an apartment building. Alyssa
used it as a boat to float her doll Denise,
and her waiting pull on a sweltering July afternoon. That evening,
augusty thunderstorm took the bowl across the field next door,
where it tumbled between rows of ripe red tomatoes and

(07:22):
sweet green peppers. In August, the bow wound up in
Christopher's sandbox. He and his best friend Noah used it
as a mow to build a grand castle for their
knights and dragons. In September, Christopher's mom wragged her yard
and added the bow to her bin for recycling plastic.
The bow fell off the recycling truck when mister Bacon,

(07:45):
the trash collector, hit a bump. It rowed all the
way to Tyler's backyard. Are you big enough to fill?
The bird feeder. His grandpa asked him. Tyler still on
tippy toes, but wasn't quite tall enough. Then he turned
over the thanksgin Giving bow, used it as a step stool,
and reached just right looking for food. In late October,

(08:07):
a mother raccoon and her three playful kids discovered the
yellow plastic bow and decided to investigate. They prodded it
and pushed it around past the Rooney's farm and across
the road. When they got hungry, they left it in
a pile of orange leaves in front of a big
white house. On Thanksgiving Day, Grandma Grace's family pulled into

(08:28):
the driveway once again, toddler Josh he spotted something in
the yard and ran to get it. He came back
a second later, wearing a yellow plastic cat. He marched
prowling into the house, declaring, I a builder my helmet mercy.
Grandma Grace exclaimed, I've been looking all over for that.

(08:50):
Wherever did you find my Thanksgiving bow? Right where we
left it last year? Sarah answered, hmm. Grandma Grace looked puzzled,
then she smiled and opened arms for warm tights, sweet
smelling Thanksgiving hugs. Our next book is called The Berensteon
Bears Thanksgiving All Around. It was published by Benstein Publishing Incorporated,

(09:16):
and it has a copyright ear of twenty fourteen. The
author is Mike Berenstein. Thanksgiving is all around, says Papa Bear.
Look at the bright falk colors. The thall is nearly over,
says Mama Bear. The leaves are dropping fast. I see
turkey track, says Sister Bear. Here's a flock of wild turkeys.

(09:40):
If the wild turkeys are out, says Brother Bear. Thanksgiving
must be near. Winter will be here soon, says brother.
The geese are all flying south. Some more turkey tracks
led into this orchard, says sister. But no turkeys, said Brother,
only apples. This is this farmer Ben's farm, says Papa.

(10:02):
The turkey must belong here here. Turkey turkey, turkey turkey,
calls sister. Who's a turkey, says missus Ben. I'm pilling
corn on the cob. No turkey here, either, says farm
or Ben. I'm stuffing a Thanksgiving scarecrow. I don't see
turkeys in the pumpkin patch, says brother. But I do

(10:23):
see mister woodchuck. Missus Ben's pumpkin pie will make a
good dessert, says sister. Here's the farmyard, says Papa. Did
the turkey go into the barn with the cows? Is
mister turkey visiting friends in the chicken coop? Asks Mama.
There are lots of eggs, but no mister turkey, says brother. Hmm,

(10:46):
says brother. There are turkey feathers down by the pond
with the duckskiese and swans. That turkey must be very close,
says Sister. Why here's mister turkey himself, says Papa. What
a fine proud fellow. Look at him spread his colorful tale,
says Mama. Now we really know that Turkey Day is

(11:07):
on the way, says the whole Bear family. A happy
Thanksgiving to all. Our next book is titled How to
Catch a Turkey and it was published by Source Books,
which is affiliated with Scholastic Incorporated. It has a copyright

(11:30):
year of twenty eighteen and it was written by Adam Wallace.
Here we are on Thanksgiving Day. It's that special time
of the year. Yes, I know I am a turkey.
That much should be clear. So gather around. I have
a tale, and it's really quite a story. What I
tell you now is not a joke. It is my

(11:52):
crowning glory. It all begin one year ago. I was
at school. You see, play preparations were underway, but that
didn't matter to me. Some kids walked by in silly
clothes talking about the play. Well, even have a turkey
on stage. It's perfect for Thanksgiving Day. Turkey stage. No way, Nohow?

(12:15):
Had I really heard that right? I broke out of
my pen and ran away with a case of bad
stage fright. I burst into the science room, knocked over
flask and beakers, and the cry of catch that turkey
boomed over the loud speakers. So now more children join
the chase with catapults and food, but their goofy mashed

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potatoes weren't enough to keep me glued up. Next, there
was a maze of books that stretched from wall to wall.
But with a big hop and a mighty flap, I
managed to escape at all. I duck past chairs and
bags and desks. Now that was quite the trick. The
kids thought they could stop me here, but I was

(12:58):
much too quick. I ran outside to the jungle gym,
thinking I could hide, but the recess yard was all
tricked out. I'd have better luck inside. Finally the kids
gave up, but the principal gave Chase. My only hope
of escaping her was keeping up my pace. I slid

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into the coach's room and crashed into a chair. I
got tangled up in jerseys, but I won't get stuck
in there. I ran into a curtain. There was nowhere
else to go. I couldn't get past the principal, but
the curtain led to the show. My heart was racing.
I started to sweat. I couldn't squawk or run. I

(13:40):
took a deep breath. I can do this. Who knows
this might be fun? A kid stood up and pointed,
Oh my gosh, he's so cute. He really is a
parent agree in his little mascot suit. I started to
smile and even dance while the crowd continued to cheer.
I was filled with joy that I took the chance,

(14:01):
and that's what started my mascot career. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Our next story is called Pete the Cat The First Thanksgiving,
and it was published by Harper Festival, an imprint of
Harper Collins Chuner's books as a copyright eyear of twenty thirteen,

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and the story was written by Kimberly and James Steen.
Pete was nervous about being a pilgrim in his class's
Thanksgiving play the first Thanksgiving. Just do your best, his
best friend, Kelly said. Pete said he would try. He
was ready. His mom had even made him a pilgrim hat,
which was really cool. Pete took his place at the

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front of the giant ship that his class had made
out of cardboard. Pete was a pilgrim on the Mayflower.
In sixteen twenty, a group of Pilgrims decided to leave
England for the New World to build a new life.
It was a long, long trip on a big, big ship.
All the Pilgrims sang, this sea was rough and very dangerous.

(15:09):
Many pilgrims got very, very sick. The dream of a
new start in a new world made the hard trip
all worth it. For more than two months the Pilgrims sailed,
they wondered if they would ever get there. After sixty
five days on the ship, the New World finally came
into view Land ho Pete cried. All the Pilgrims did

(15:30):
a happy dance. The Pilgrims arrived in the New World
at Plymouth Rock in what is now Massachusetts. Everyone had
many chores to do, like growing food, finding water, and
building shelters. The first winter in the new world was
long and hard. In the spring, the Pilgrims had to
decide whether to give up and go back to England

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or keep trying. The Pilgrims had heard about the Native Americans,
and many worried that they would not be friendly. Pete
had never met a kid he did not like, so
he thought they would be kind. Pete was right. He
made a new friend in Squanto. Squanto and the other
Native Americans showed the Pilgrims how to grow crops like corn, beans,

(16:13):
and squash. By summer, the Pilgrims had learned how to
farm the new land. By fall harvest, the Pilgrims had
plenty of food. To thank Squanta on the other Native Americans,
the Pilgrims invited them to share the harvest. This celebration
became known as the First Thanksgiving. Pete was relieved when

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the play was over. He had remembered all his lines. Wow,
I never thought about how hard it was back then,
said Pete. You did great, CALLI said. Later, at Thanksgiving
dinner with his family, Pete said, let's all go around
the table and say something we are thankful for. I'm
thankful for my family, said Pete's mom. I'm thankful for

(16:57):
my skateboards, said Bob. I'm thankful for the brave pilgrims
that started this new free world, said Pete. What are
you thankful for? Our next story is called Happy Thanksgiving Tiny,
and it was published by Penguin Young Readers, an imprint
of Penguin Random House. It has a copyright year of

(17:18):
twenty eighteen and the author is carry Meister look Tiny
at Thanksgiving. Play, I sing, I dance, I get a part.
I am an ear of corn. Tiny wants apart two. Sorry, Tiny,
there are no parts for dogs. I know Tiny is big.

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He can help. Tiny helps with the set. Oh no stop, Tiny,
Tiny helps with the props. Oh no crash, Sorry Tiny,
you need to stay out. I work on my lines,
Tiny weights. Today is the show? Oh no, the turkey

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is sick? Who will be the turkey? Tiny will? The
play is fun? Tiny is a good turkey. Happy Thanksgiving, Tiny.
Our next book is called Just a Special Thanksgiving And
it was published by Harper Festival, an imprint of Harper
Collins Publishers. It has a copyright year of twenty fifteen,

(18:27):
and the author of our book is Mercer Mayer. It
was the last day of school before the Thanksgiving holiday.
My class was making projects to take home. Tiger said,
my turkey looked like a pumpkin. I said, Tiger's pilgrim
looked like a fence post with scribbles. Everyone laughed. Miss

(18:47):
Kitty said, time to clean up. Don't forget the school
play tonight. The bell rang and it was time to
go home. That evening, I got ready for the play.
Mom helped me put on my costume. I was a turkey.
We drove to school and I went backstage to wait.
I looked out at the audience. There were so many critters.
I got butterflies in my tummy. The curtain went up

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and the play began. When it was my turn to
say something, I forgot my lines. I was just so nervous,
so I surprised everyone insane is son instead. I think
they liked it, because they all clapped. The play was
finally over, and I was happy to go home. I
was so tired I fell asleep without a story for
the first time ever. The next morning, I got up early.

(19:32):
It was the big Thanksgiving day parade. The Critter Scout
troop and I were marching in our costumes from the play.
After a while, I was tired. I climbed up on
a float. I could see everything. Hi Mom, Hi Dad,
I called. They didn't look too happy. Mister policeman helped
me down. He took me to the Lost and Found

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and I found my mom, my dad, and little sister.
We went home. After all that, Mom was very mad,
Dad was too, and my little sister couldn't stop laughing.
After dinner, we went shopping for the turkey and stuff.
See how strong I am? I said, Oops, I dropped
the turkey. Don't worry, Mom, I can brush it off.

(20:15):
We eat Cranberry's stead. I called. I grabbed them up,
and little sister held the bag. I missed the bag.
I called, how about some help? Huh Dad. The next
day we were up early. Everybody helped prepare the feast.
Finally the turkey was ready. Dad said we were having
a surprise dinner. We cleaned up and took the turkey

(20:35):
to the car. We drove to the community center. Everyone
from town was there. Mom told us that the town
decided to have a big community Thanksgiving dinner. They invited
all the critters who couldn't have a nice dinner. This
way everyone could enjoy it together. Little sister and I
helped serve the food. It was fun, the food was yummy. Wow,

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I said, this was a really special Thanksgiving. Our next
story is titled Fans Nancy Our Thanksgiving Banquet, and it
was published by Harper Festival, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
It has a copyright year of twenty eleven and it
was written by Jane O'Connor. Ooh la la. Grandma and

(21:22):
Grandpa are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year. After driving for hours,
we have finally reached our destination. That's fancy for the
place we want to be. Grandpa opens the door and
gives me a giant bear hug. Well, sure, we both say.
My grandfather and I love to speak French to each other.
What a celebration this will be. There's a gigantic turkey,

(21:46):
Grandma's secret stuffing, green beans and authentic cranberry sauce that
didn't come out of a can. And desserts there are
almost too many to count. This is not just a
Thanksgiving dinner. This is way fancier. This is a Thanksgiving banquet.
When it's time to eat, I head for the big table.

(22:07):
My mom tells me to go sit at the kid's
table again. But I'm so much more mature than Jojo
and my cousins. I say, mature is a fancy way
for grown up. I know, but there aren't enough chairs
at our table. Mom says, I take the place at
the kid's table. There are paper plates, paper napkins, and

(22:29):
a paper tablecloth. The glasses are plastic. It's not nearly
as fancy as the big table, but the food is
simply delicious. I am careful to eat with my pinky up,
and after each bite, I dab my lips with my napkin.
That means I wipe my mouth very gently. Jojo is
not using her party manners. She puts her napkin on

(22:52):
her head and makes silly faces. My cousin Arthur laugh
so hearty spits out some cranberry juice. My uncle has
to intervene, which means he makes everyone stop acting so immature.
Would it be all right to switch seats with you,
he asked me, Ma Oi moe, yes, yes, I tell him,
of course. Grandma hands me a fresh napkin with a

(23:15):
pretty holder around it. You can wear it like a bracelet.
Tree chic. You say it like this tree chic. It
means very fancy. And the gravy has passed around in
a special little boat. This is more like it. I
am ready for second helping. I asked politely for the
gravy boat. Oh no, I spill a little by accident,

(23:39):
my grandma says, I just spilled some cranberry sauce. Don't
feel bad. That's what the table coth is for. What
a charming host, this, grandma is. I finish eating way
before anybody else. Have you noticed how long it takes
gramps to eat and how they only talk about stuff
in the news. I can spell long words on my aunt,

(24:01):
like dazl d a z z ellie. That's wonderful, my
aunt says, But I can tell she is not really
interested in spelling. Oh, Jojo, and my cousin's already starting
on dessert. My sister's having apple pie a la mode
that's French and fancy for with ice cream. Jojo waves

(24:22):
to me and takes another bite of pie. Yummy, she says.
Now everyone at the kids table is coloring with the
new crowns and pass the paper Grandma bought for us.
Not to brag, but I am a very talented artist.
May I be excused, I asked Mom. I point to
the kids table. I'm going to help them draw stuff.

(24:44):
First I get a plate and sample the desserts. Then
I show everyone how to make butterflies. It's easy. You
just make a big bee together with another big bee
that's backwards. Because it's Thanksgiving. I also teach them something
I learned in school. You trace your hand and vla la.
Soon you have a turkey. When we are done, we

(25:06):
bring our turkeys over to the adult's table. How to
make a paper turkey. One trace your hand, two ed feathers,
three at eyes and a beak. Four. Then fancy it up,
Vlala a turkey. They are wonderful, Grandma and Grandpa tells us.
They put the turkeys in the middle of the table
like a centerpiece. Then Grandpa stands up and says, how

(25:29):
grateful that's fancy for being happy and thankful he is
to have the whole family together. Me too, I am
so thankful for Thanksgiving. This concludes the children's story our
for today. Please join us next time as we will
read more stories, fables and fairy tales. Thank you for

(25:49):
listening and please stay tuned for the Lex and Harel
leader on Radio I