This week's featured story comes from the Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Pirates."   “Yo ho ho” and “Shiver me timbers!” are not what is usually heard on Town Lake during Lake Days, but this year Pirates have invaded the event, complete with head scarves, gnarly beards, and thick pirate accents. Could that be Martin in the black pirate’s hat? Could that be Sylvia at the helm of the pirate canoe? Could that be Daddy leading them to invade a friend’s sailboat and attempt to steal some "booty"? Listen and find out.   If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like.   Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions?  Ideas?  Requests? Email us!  [email protected] Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "The Cabin."   Martin and Sylvia’s friends have a mountain cabin in the woods. The whole family is invited to join them for a weekend of blackberry picking! Everyone is excited to hike the many trails to the lake and waterfall, except Sylvia. Sylvia is tired. Sylvia’s feet hurt. Sylvia would rather stay at the cabin and play games. When Momma teaches her how to have ‘fox feet’ and ‘deer ears’ Sylvia suddenly finds the woods full of possibilities and indeed, animals.   If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like.   Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions?  Ideas?  Requests? Email us!  [email protected] Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Junkyard Tales collection. It's called "The Guardian of the Junkyard."   Ben knows all about knights: they are brave, they protect the weak, they have swords and shields, and they ride horses. But what he doesn’t know is that two of his junkyard friends are also knights! Junkyard knights! Once a year they “battle” it out to decide who shall be the next “Guardian of the Junkyard.”   If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like.   Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series!   For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions?  Ideas?  Requests? Email us!  [email protected] Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Helping Out."   Martin and Sylvia wake to a snowstorm and the promise of sledding on the neighbor's horse pasture hill. When the hill turns out to be occupied and they return to see that Momma has taken a sick day from her work, the children recognize the value and delight of letting go of plans and helping out at home.   If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like.   Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series!   For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions?  Ideas?  Requests? Email us!  [email protected] Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Junkyard Tales: All Together Now collection. It's called "Funny How Things Work Out."   When Spiro and Zippy's ductwork home is suddenly taken away by a flatbed truck, the Junkyard animals rally to find them a new home. The two friends trust that things will work out, but the options aren't great. Finally they are delighted to see that indeed things do work out - just not in the way you might expect it.   If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like.   Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions?  Ideas?  Requests? Email us!  [email protected] Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia's Twelve Days of Christmas collection. It's called "Day One: The Christmas Drum."   This story is Day One: The Christmas Drum It's Christmas morning. All of the presents have been opened. "Is all of the fun over?" the children wonder. Then they notice something in golden wrapping paper hiding behind the tree. It is a record album called Twelve Tales of Tullyport Christmas; an album from Daddy's childhood. When their neighbors, the Browns, join them for Christmas breakfast, Daddy pulls out his old record player, and they listen to the first story together. All are delighted in the possibilities of a new Christmas tradition.   From "Twelve Tales of a Tullyport Christmas: The Christmas Drum". In the story, Francis Tully and his family leave Ballyclare, Northern Ireland and arrive in colonial Maine in 1760 to see rocky shores, white pines and great possibility. They bring some clothes, some tools and an Irish frame drum that Francis insists will bring others together to live, work and celebrate together. This story honors the community impulse that is central to Christmastide.   If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like.   Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions?  Ideas?  Requests? Email us!  [email protected] Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Libby & Dish's Good-Deed-A-Day Club collection. It's called "The First Good Deed (Libby's Mother)"

In this first episode of Libby & Dish's month-long adventure, Libby finds herself at odds with her mother over a challenging task. Can Dish help them out of their difficulties?

If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. 

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions?  Ideas?  Requests? Email us!  [email protected] Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the At Home with Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Holiday Delight"   Between all the decorating, baking, crafting and celebrating, this year’s holiday season has been a very busy one for Martin and Sylvia. When they are suddenly faced with a day with no plans, however, brother and sister don’t know what to do with themselves.   “Look for the delight,” suggests Momma, and as soon as they do, the magic begins.   If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like.   Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions?  Ideas?  Requests? Email us!  [email protected] Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia's Giving Thanks collection. It's called "Part One: Two Magic Words."   This story is a part of Martin & Sylvia's Giving Thanks Story Collection — three stories that explore the magical power of two important words: "thank you". The children learn that feeling a 'thank you' with their whole body can change how they feel — and change how other people feel! This lesson sets the whole family into a Thanksgiving holiday filled with appreciation, joy and family adventure.   Part One: "Two Magic Words" is about how brother and sister turn a long drive to Grandma's into a magical quest to bring gratitude into every part of the trip.     If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like.   Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions?  Ideas?  Requests? Email us!  [email protected] Enjoy!