8.16.25 - Part 1

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello, and welcome to raze Ji's Story Hour. As a reminder,
RAI is a reading service intended for people who are
blind or of other disabilities that make it difficult to
reprint material. Today we will be reading from various books
on Trees. Your reader today is Diane. We will begin
with the book Trees. It was published by beach Lane

(00:26):
Books and Imprintive Simon and Schuster's Children Publishing Division. It
has a copyright year of twenty nineteen and it was
written by Verley Hutchins. Each tree, all versus story, a clue,
a dance that makes it its very own self. Mapel

(00:48):
scenes to the heavens. Reaching out, she offers her precious
sap to celebrate the return of the light and sweeten
the last days of winter. Aspen, tall and graceful, dance
on her tippy toes, Her gold and leaves like castanets,
shimmer in the breeze. Oak stands strong, rooted deeply in

(01:10):
the earth. His mighty branch is held out just so,
palms up to receive the joy of birds. Silly Palm,
plain and skinny doesn't have one single branch. She saves
all her leaves for her most amazing hat shy pussy
Willow takes in her stage one week in spring, when

(01:32):
kitten velvet buds adorn her. Modest twigs, apple tree wis
and gnarled binslow. His branch is weighed down with round
red fruit and age. Little red bud plays hide and
seek in bare branch woods until pink purple giggles burst

(01:53):
forth and give her hiding place away. Spruce in blue
porcupine armor aims for the sky like an arrow. His
heart sores dogwood bows beside the walk. Welcoming the guests,
he offers treats on silver trays, canopies of sunshine and

(02:16):
pollen sycamore. The fashion queen wears a jigsaw puzzle gown
and big flashy leaves. Fuzzy round bobbles dangle from her ears,
white pine, unruly uncle, large and messy shirt tails, flying buttons,
a kilter, shaggy hair, unkempt, unkempt, he laughs too loud.

(02:39):
Willow dances in her narrow kimono with elegant sweeping sleeves,
wafting in gentle wind birch when other trees were leafless
black struts and royal ermine robes. Sequoia holds memories for
the tribe of trees tilling from another age before the

(03:02):
time of Saals. Our next book is titled The City
Tree and it was published by Clearing Books and Imprint
of Harper Collins Publishers. It has a copyright year of
twenty twenty three and the author is Shira Boss. In
front of Danny's building was a hole, sometimes dusty, sometimes puddly,

(03:27):
and sometimes wild with bits of green. One day, Danny
saw something coming, something different from the bricks and buses,
glass and steel. Its bark was craggy, its limbs were curvy,
leaves slip flat. Danny used to be woken in the
morning by the garbage and recycling trucks rumbling and crunching.

(03:52):
Now at down little birds and the tree chirped and
cheapd The tree was the weather vein. It's leaves fluttering, breezy.
Today it's branches bending, said, bundle up. On wet days,
Danny watched the leaves grow brighter, brighter green, with a
wash of pattering raindrops. The city changed and snorted and roared.

(04:15):
The tree rustled and swished and soothed. Traffic bellowed and belched,
the tree spreading canopy made a cloak that childed Danny
from the noise and grime. Danny watched the branch's weaving
new shapes, the shadows always changing. People hurried and scurried,

(04:36):
rushing right past Danny in the tree. The tree stood steadfast.
Danny poured out stories, wonders, worries. Danny climbed bigger trees
in the park, trees with squirrels and blossoms and apples
to eat, but always came home to this tree, which
was less magnificent but more special. However, not everyone passing

(05:02):
by was kind to the tree, and often it needed
some help. In spring, buds appeared and leaves unfurled. The
tree was a garden. In summer, the leaves shaded the
stoop and sidewalk from the hot sun. The tree was
an oasis, and fall gun leaves floated down one after another.

(05:24):
The tree was a treasure chest, and in winter the
branches rested like paint brushes in a cup. The tree
was the starlight morning, noon and night, through stormy days
and sunshine rays. The tree was a good friends. The
life of a street tree. Why are street trees special?

(05:47):
Trees Planted long city streets bring the colors, shapes, and
breath of nature. Right to the front doors of people
who don't have yards with trees, come birds, insects, and
signs of the changing seasons. How do street trees help people?
Trees help soften the harsh sounds of a city. They
can absorb as much as half of urban noise that

(06:09):
makes the city more peaceful. Trees clean the air by
absorbing air pollution and trapping dust and grit on their
leaves and bark. A large street tree can absorb ten
pounds of air pollutants every year. Ten pounds is like
two large sacks of flour. That makes the air healthier
for us to breathe. In hot weather, a city gets

(06:30):
even hotter than other areas, becomes a heat island. Buildings,
pavement in other hard surfaces trap and hold heat, then
radiate back like an oven. Trees act like air conditioners.
They shade these surfaces and us and release water vapor
through their leaves. This cools the air around them up

(06:52):
to ten degrees. That makes the city more comfortable and
saves energy. When trees line city streets, traff it moves
more slowly. That keeps us safer. City trees lower our
stress and help us feel happier. Just seeing a tree,
even through a window, actually helps our bodies' bit sickness.

(07:12):
When you live near a tree, you typically miss for
fewer days of score work. The bigger the tree, the
greater it's benefits. That's why it's so important not only
to plant trees, but to help them grow for many,
many years. How can we help street trees this story
Danny helps the tree grow strong by cleaning trash out

(07:34):
of the tree pit, protecting it from dog urine, building
a tree guard, and by treating it like a friend.
We can help street trees by doing these same things.
Trees also need to be watered when they are newly
planted and in dry, hot weather. A new tree needs
twenty gallons of water a week. All street trees will
grow better when water during the summer. Use a hose

(07:57):
or buckets to give your neighborhood tree a drink. Loosen
up the soil. City trees, especially those without tree guards,
get stepped on a lot that pounds down the soil,
so it cannot absorb as much water and tree roots
cannot get the oxygen and water they need. Use a
hand coveater, which looks like a claw to loosen up

(08:19):
the top inch or two of soil in the tree
pit at least twice a year. You'd like to plant
flowers at the base of your city tree. Drought tolerant
plants are a good choice. Can also find suggestions by
checking the local planting guidelines for your city. Spreading some
composts and then mulch in spring and fall helps feed

(08:41):
a tree, protects the soil from compaction and keeps it
from drying out as quickly spread a three inch layer
starting a few inches from the trunk. Don't leave lights
or anything wrapped or tied around the tree trunk or
limbs for longer than a year or two. That would
be like you growing up while wearing the same pair

(09:01):
of pants. When we are friends with trees, we help
each other thrive, even on crowded city streets. Our next
story is called The Shady Tree and it was published
by Henry Holt and Company. It has the copyright year
of twenty sixteen and it was written by Demy. Once

(09:22):
upon the time, in China, there was a very rich
boy named Tan Tan who lived in a very big
house by the side of the road. The house was
shaded by a very big tree where birds and animals
loved to play. Tan Tan also loved to play in
the shade of the tree with its very expensive toys.

(09:44):
One afternoon, a very poor boy named Ping came and
sat down under the tree. Tan Tan did not like
this at all. Get up, get up, get up, he shouted.
You cannot stay here, but it is so nice, Ping said,
Tan Tan protested, this is my tree. I own all
of it, the trunk, the branches, the leaves, and the

(10:06):
shade everything. Pin thought, I couldn't possibly buy all that,
but maybe I could afford to buy the shade, and
that might be even better. Well, you sell me the
shade of the tree, Pin ass Tang Tang. Greedy. Tang
Tan loved money, and so he quickly answered why not,

(10:29):
Thinking Pin was a silly goose. Pin gave Tang Tan
the two coins he had in his pocket, and the
shade was sewed. Every day after that, Pin came to
sit in the shade of the tree wherever it happened
to be, Pin sat in it. When the shade moved
into Tang Tang's big house, salted Pin with his chickens

(10:51):
and his water buffalo. When the shade moved into Tang
Tan's bedroom, solded Pin. He took a nap right on
tang tan spad. Often, Pin invited his many friends and
their animals to sit in the shade too, wherever it
happened to be. A day came when Tang Tang could

(11:12):
stand this no longer. How dare you come into my
big house and even into my bedroom with your animals
and friends. Get out, Get out, Get out, he screamed,
but Pin continued as before before he had bobbed the
shade of the tree. One day, Tang Tang was celebrating
his birthday was his very rich friends. They were all

(11:35):
seated around a big shaded table when Ping suddenly entered
riting his water buffalo and then sat down at the
table too. When the friends learned that Tang Tang had
sold the shade to Pin, they all laughed and said,
Tang Tang is a silly goose. This was too much
for Tang Tang to bear. He moved away to another

(11:57):
house where there were no shade, and there were no trees,
and there were no friends. Meanwhile, Pe knows that the
tree shaded some parts of the house all day and
all night too, and so he moved into the empty house,
bringing his many friends and animals with him. He never
turned away anyone who wanted to rest or to sing

(12:18):
and dance in the beautiful shade of the shady tree.
Non even Tang Tang. Our next set of stories are
about feet, and the first one is titled Sandy Feet
Whose Feet Footprints at the Shore. It was published by

(12:39):
Sleeping Their Press. It has the copy right year of
twenty nineteen and the author is Susan Wood's Sandy Feet
on the beach make prints in the sand, digging feet
very friendly, wet dogs lick your hands, waiting feet as

(13:00):
piper hops, water, curls and sprays, crawling feet, click clack.
Crab scuttles on its way, stamping feet. Seagulls cry snacks
for us to munch. Swimming feet, webbed and strong. Pelican
scoops of lunch. Wriggling feet on five orange legs. Sea

(13:21):
star makes its way feathering feet. Barnacles hide in shells
of white and gray scooping feet. Sea turtle works time
to make her nest. Running feet, children play sand castles
are the best. Buried feet, children laugh, daddy's toes poke

(13:41):
through tired feet. Sun goes down Johns and eyes closed
to sandy Feet on the beach, leaves Prince in the Sand.
Our next book is called good Night Feet, and it
was published by Henry Hote and Company. Has Caught the
Bright Year of nineteen ninety one, and it was written

(14:03):
by Constance Morgan Stern. Good Night feet, you've worked hard today.
I need you feet to run and play. You galloped
and skipped and pedaled about. Thank you feet for not
wearing out. But the sheets are cool and clean in
my bed. Snug in feet rest instead. Good Night head.

(14:25):
I know a spot for heads that get heavy from
holding a lot. My pillow will cradle you safe and
sound until the morning comes around. Good Night hands, you're
really neat. You helped me color, you helped me eat.
You held tight to mom when we were across the street.

(14:45):
I think by now you must be beat. So after
all our prayers, just pull up the sheet. You can
hold my teddy if it's fine with you. But if
you're too tired, that's okay too. Good Night mouth, and
now you must keep quiet so my ear can sleep. No,
we're talking for you today, but I think that yawning's okay,

(15:05):
and kissing good too. When It's time for bed. If
you don't wake up the rest of my head. Good
night ears, My pillows soft. My house is quiet, and
you can turn off just as Mom turns off the light.
But wait till after she says good night. Good night eyes.
The room is great. Everything is tucked away. My feet,

(15:28):
my hands might bare, my head, my mouth, my ears
all gone to bed. So good night eyes. It is
time for you to start to pull your shades down too.
There's nothing else to see. Good night eyes, good night me.
Our next story is titled The Foot Book, and it

(15:48):
was published by random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin.
Random House has a copyright of year of nineteen sixty
eight to nineteen ninety six, and it was written by
doctor Seuss. Left foot, right foot, left foot, right feet
in the morning, feet at night, left foot, left foot,

(16:11):
left foot, right wet foot, dry foot, high foot, low foot,
front feet, back feet, red feet, black feet, left foot,
right foot, feet, feet feet, How many many feet you meet,
slow feet, quick feet, trick feet, sick feet, up feet,

(16:35):
down feet. Here come clown feet, small feet, big feet.
Here come pig feet, his feet, her feet, fuzzy fur
feet in the house and on the street. How many
many feet you meet? Up in the air, feet over
a chair, feet, more and more feet twenty four feet

(16:58):
here come more and more and more feet left, foot,
right foot feet feet, feet, Oh, how many feet you meet?
Our next story is called Look What Feet Can Do
and it was published by a Learner Publications Company, a
division of Learner Public Machine Group, has a copywriter of

(17:22):
two thousand and seven and the author is DMSUSA. Look around,
feeter everywhere, feeder walking, running, skipping, dancing, kicking and climbing.
Acrobats are hanging upside down by their feet. Children with
wheels on their feet are skating. Adults with skis on
their feet are sailing down hillsides. It's awesome what human

(17:45):
feet can do. Feet coming all colors and sizes. They
help people move from one place to another. Other animals
to amazing things with their feet too. And ostrich for example,
is the world's just living dirt. Its feet are powerful.
One quick from an Ostrichus foot can kill a lion.

(18:07):
Some animals use their feet to catch fish, Some climb
glass walls or walk on water. Other animals flirt, send
messages or fight with their feet. We're about to meet
a few of these far out feet digging machine, the
metal is still in quiet. A badger catches the scent
of a gopher. The badger flops on its stomach and

(18:30):
puts its chin on the edge of the gopher's hideout. Next,
the badger's huge front feet scoop of dirt and toss
it under its belly. Its back feet kick everything into
the air. The animal looks as if it's swimming in
clouds of dirt and dust. Minutes the badger will enjoy
a meal. Few prey can escape once this animal starts digging.

(18:53):
When digging, badgers loosen the dirt with their front feet
and push it under their belly. Then they kick it
out of the and with their back feet. The badger
sometimes travels as many as eight miles in one night.
When the animal gets tired, it stops its feet dig
a burrow where the badger can nap. If a bear

(19:15):
or a mountain lion corners it, those same feet work
at top speed. They can dig an escape hole in
less than two minutes. Claws on the badger's front feet
are almost as long as its toes. Skin between the
toes gives them added strength. Hind feet or spoon shaped
to scoop away dirt. Everything about the badger makes it

(19:36):
a perfect digging machine. A badger's front feet each have
five toes with claws up to two inches deadly feet.
A red tail howk looks down from a perch high
in a tree. Its scaly, knobby feet rest on a branch.
Four toes are tipped with long, pointed nails. The bird's

(19:58):
nails are called telm They are as sharp as daggers.
The hawk spots a snake moving in the field below.
Jumping into the wind with outstretched wings, the bird flies up.
It circles the field a few times, and then dives.
A red tailed hawk sits very still up in a tree,

(20:18):
waiting to spot its prey. The eyesight of a hawk
is eight times as powerful as a human's. Just before
reaching the snake, the hawk stretches out its legs and toes.
Feet lock onto the prey. Tealons pierce its flesh until
the snake is lifeless. In minutes, the hawk flies away

(20:39):
with its meal. The red trailed hawk is not the
only bird with daily feet. Other hawks, falcons, vultures, eagles,
and owls have them too. These birds are known as raptures.
Long ago, the word meant to grab by force, and
that's what raptors do with their feet. When getting ready
to a tiger spray, the hawks diffens its legs and

(21:03):
pushes its tail ons forward. It uses its tails and
wings to slow down. Sticky hairs. A gecko climbs a
glass wall and walks across a ceiling. Then it hangs
the place by only one toe. How does it do that?
Beneath each of the gecko's toes are thousands of thin hairs.

(21:23):
They are ten times thinner than a single hair on
your head. A million gecko hairs could easily fit on
the top of a penny. Gecko hairs may be thin,
but they are strong. A single one could hold an ant.
Several thousand can easily hold the gecko as it hangs
by one toe. A gecko can walk up glass and

(21:44):
across ceilings because of its amazing feet. When the gecko
takes a step, its hairs row onto the surface until
they stick. As the animal moves along, it peels the
hairs away like tape. Stick peels, stick peel. Gecko never
slips or falls. Scientists are trying to make hairs like

(22:04):
those on the gecko's feet. They hope someday to attach
them to material humans can wear. Then maybe we will
be able to walk up glass walls and across ceilings
like the get Go Stick Peels Stick Peel. The undersides
of the gecko's feet have sole and toe pads. These
pads are covered with around five hundred thousand sticky hairs.

(22:29):
Water skis a lizard suns itself next to a stream
in Central America. The creature belongs to a group of
lizards in the iguana family known as basel licks. Like dinosaurs,
basel licks can run on two feet. The lizard's large,
bulging eyes look nervously around. The creature senses that something

(22:50):
is coming. It may be time to run. The snake
crawls into the open quickly. The lizard stands up on
its hind legs. It's large web feet race over the ground.
Sharp claws barely touch the earth. The basil licks have
long legs and long toes with sharp claws. This helps

(23:12):
them run fast. The lizard reaches the stream's edge, but
it does not stop. It runs across the water and
does not sink. The lizard's feet are so big it's
as though it's wearing water skis. The basalisk can run
about seven miles an ire. As long as it moves quickly,

(23:32):
it will not sink in the water. If it slows down,
it will go under. Even if the lizard sinks, it
still has a chance to escape. Its web feet helped
it swim below the surface. Predators look around, but they
cannot find the water skin lizard. Now you see it,
Now you don't. The lizard is running fast across the water.

(23:55):
If it slows down, it will drop into the water
and swim the rest of its way cozy feet. In March,
cold winter winds flow across Antarctica, the sun never shines,
and the seas or ice. It is so cold that
human skin can freeze in seconds. During this time of year,

(24:15):
most animals leave Antarctica for warmer places, but thousands of
imperior penguins arrive to find mates. They are the only
birds to breed or have their young during winter. After
a penguin pair mates, the female weighs a single egg.
The male wriggles the egg onto his feet, then he
covers it with a warm layer of his belly skin.

(24:39):
A male emperor penguin looks at the egg he is
keeping warm on his feet. A few days later, the
female penguins leave. They will spend almost two months at
sea searching for food. The meantime, their mates will keep
the eggs warm. Males do nothing but huddle together. They
eat nothing and can and lose almost half their weight,

(25:01):
but the eggs remain warm and safe on their feet.
After the young hatch, the females return and cough up
food for their young. Chicks move into their mother's feet,
and hungry males leave on their own fishing trips. For
two more months, the chicks remain cozy and warm on
their mother's feet. A chick is keeping warm on its

(25:24):
mother's feet. When it becomes older, it will wander out
on its own fishing feet. The large pond is dark
and still. Suddenly, tiny splashing sounds break the silent. The
noises are repeated again and again. Fishing bats are at work.
These unusual bats live near water in Central and South America.

(25:46):
They have long hind legs and feet much bigger than
those of other bats. Their wings are huge. During the day,
the bats sleep in caves, hollow trees, or rock piles.
A few even rest under large empty turtle shells. All
their hideout smell fishy. Fishing bats have long hind legs

(26:08):
and huge hind feet. Their feet are two to four
times longer than those of other bats. This concludes the
children's story I are for today. Please join us next
time as we will read more stories, fables and fairy tales.
Thank you for listening, and please stay tuned for the
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