What If World - Stories for Kids

By Eric O'Keeffe

Kids & Family

What's What If World - Stories for Kids about?

What if a tiny dragon lived in my closet? What if there were a never-ending bowl of ice cream? What if cats ruled the world? Pirates, fairies, wizards, robots and more band together to help Mr. Eric tell wacky stories inspired by kids’ questions.

Mr. Eric believes that curiosity and hope go hand in hand. Children who keep wondering can thrive when faced with new ideas and challenges. What If World’s progressive stories aim to keep kids laughing and learning well into adulthood.

Call-in a what if question to 205-605-WHAT or email an audio recording to [email protected]!

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Bruno asks: What if dinosau...

01.30.2023

The episode is a fun story-telling activity, and there’s even a What If Story tossed in as a demonstration. Lessons include: we are all capable of telling each other fun stories; even the greatest treasure in the world can’t replace ...

What If World - Stories for Kids episodes:

01.30.2023 Bruno asks: What if dinosaurs were alive today? The episode is a fun story-telling activity, and there’s even a What If Story tossed in as a demonstration. Lessons include: we are all capable of telling each other fun stories; even the greatest treasure in the world can’t replace ...
01.23.2023 Alex & Anastasia ask: What if Cthunkle had an identity crisis? (G&G 18) Swansong, Lowlandra, and Sir Loth of Hoth take on the Dessert Desert and the Cinnamon Citadel on their journey to save Zach, Zizi, and Scully the Squid. Lessons include: Grownups can’t protect their kids from everything; creative problem solving is ...
01.16.2023 Porter asks: What if you got trapped in Guilds & Goblins? (G&G 17) Poppa Loo, Mamma Jamma, and Lola Rabbit are on a mission to save their friends and family from a strange game with unfamiliar rules. Can they learn to work together? Lessons include: When playing a new game, try to respect ...
01.09.2023 Cal asks: What if all the dragons, dinosaurs, spiders and snakes had a big party? (w/ Miss Karen) After the Time Vortex, everything was supposed to go back to normal. Or maybe all the monsters were supposed to end up having a party at Mr. Eric and Miss Karen’s house… Lessons include: Having guests and being a guest ...
01.02.2023 Eddie asks: What if you could get your wants before your needs? (w/ Craig Martinston) “With your powers combined… with TIGERS!!!” Craig Martinson, creator of the What If World theme, is our special guest this week, and helps us introduce the Tigermon Universe ;) Lesson: All the awesome adventures in the world won’t be very ...
12.26.2022 Vivian asks: What if Fred rode a unicorn across the world? (Time Vortex Part 2) Fred needs to save the world (from his own actions), but Dracomax has lost his magic! Stay tuned for a surprise ending. We’ll need your What If Questions to find out what happens next. Lessons include: Love, safety, and quality ...
12.19.2022 Arabella asks: What if Fred was in charge? (Time Vortex Part 1) Mr. Eric has left from at home for the holidays (with Ginger and a sitter and a bunch of treats). What choice does Fred have but to create a Time Vortex that swallows up all of What If World? Lessons ...
12.12.2022 Theo asks: What if Cthunkle covered the town in ice cream? (Meditation) Our Freditation was such a hit that we're back this week with a Squiditation led by Cthunkle. We're focusing on gratitude over the holidays... and we will be grateful if we don't all get frozen under Cthunkle's ice cream avalanche! ...
12.05.2022 Cecilia asks: What if cats could knit socks? When Heyna the Hyena tries out to play Pawccer in the Whirling Cup, all the dog and cat players can’t figure out what team to put her on. Will she get to play, or will she use her magical knitting ...
11.28.2022 Margot asks: What if Davey Jones’s Locker held a parrot? (w/ Eddie Gamarra) Eddie joins us as Davey Jones, the Sea Monkey King of the Pirates. He and Petey are on a journey to find Petey’s long lost brother, Jack Parrot. They’ll encounter Scalebeard as well as a dragon’s hoard of magic lunchboxes. ...
11.21.2022 Silas asks: What if people sneezed pickles? Alabaster Zero has his very first day off. Can he solve the mystery of R&R;? Lessons: We all need a balance of work and leisure in our lives; Try not to confuse EASY with FUN, there are many different ways ...
11.14.2022 Teddy asks & answers: What if there was a wizard city? (G&G 16) Glurmph the Inventor (played by Teddy) gets a visit from Zachimedes, who is on a quest to find a hidden city. Watch out for magic sheep, giant dragonflies, and unpredictable inventions on this new G&G; adventure. Lessons include: Sharing knowledge ...
11.07.2022 Olivia asks: What if princesses slept in the air? (Meditation) What a joyous day! Fred the Dog has had puppies… don’t ask us how. Fred guides us through a relaxing Freditation, meant to help us (and his flying puppies) get to sleep or take on the rest of the day ...
10.31.2022 Lydia asks & answers: What if you had to drive to Hallowfornia? Shoebert the Tree needs help getting to Karate class, but she gets distracted by a big Halloween party. Can Fred the Dog, Fair Elise, and Sprite Alright help her when none of them have their flying powers? Lessons include: Quitting ...
10.24.2022 Dacey asks: What if cats lived in outer space Mike Rylander joins us, playing a whole slew of characters in a space odyssey you won’t soon forget… and keep an eye out for FREDZORB THE DESTROYER. Lessons: All people deserve to be treated equally; dogs and cats CAN get ...
10.17.2022 Adrian asks: What if someone had every superhero power? The Mazked Azenger arrives, and she’s ready to solve all of What If World’s problems in a flash… but why does it seem like What If World is having more problems than usual? Lessons include: Solving small problems is important, ...
10.10.2022 Elliana asks: What if bananas take over the world? (w/ Elise Parisian) Ghostly bananas are littered across What If World, and no one can get anywhere without slipping over and over and over! Our guest, Elise Parisian, plays paranormal detective Incognita, and must help Fair Elise solve the mystery… Lessons include: Experts ...
10.03.2022 Griffin asks: What if a mouse ate a very very very spicy donut? (Story Search Part 2) The storybooks are missing, but JFKat and Poppa Loo still have their stories to tell. Can they bring back imagination, or will they get distracted by pranks? Lessons include: Think carefully before playing tricks on your friends; even grownups having ...
09.26.2022 Madi asks: What if we didn’t have any good storybooks? (Story Search Part 1) The Jammaloo family wants to play G&G;, but somebody has laminated all of their storybooks shut and they can’t come up with any adventure ideas! Can they figure out what happened to the books or come up with new stories ...
09.19.2022 McKenna asks: What if pianos could move and talk? Zizi is back to school, and has officially achieved the status of “Big Kid.” Will she and Benocerous be able to handle Music class? Hopefully one of them knows how to speak piano… Lessons include: it may be hard to ...
09.12.2022 Isadora asks: What if stores could get up and walk around? (w/ Kevin Swanstrom) Our guest, actor, writer, and improviser Kevin Swanstrom helps Mr. Eric tell a totally improvised story. Will Buckaroo’s Everything Store have a successful first day, or will they have to literally chase down customers on their extra long legs? Lessons ...
09.05.2022 Kate asks: What if it rained music and butterflies? Scully the Squid and Rola Rabbit get invited to a Back-to-School Dance! Can an underwater creature enjoy a land-lubber dance? Maybe if DJ Abacus picks out the right tunes… Lessons include: Dances and loud music can make some people uncomfortable; ...
08.29.2022 Pearson asks: What if a ferret ate a cookie in an orchestra? Obsidian the Cat and Ferrivarius the Ferret are musicians who can’t get along. Maybe it’s because they both have such villainous voices. Can a shared love of cookies finally get these two rascals to see eye-to-eye? This episode originally aired ...
08.22.2022 Rose asks: What if Mr. Eric got eaten by a Venus Fly Trap? (w/ Kesler Talbot from "Lost Ollie") Our young guest this week is Kesler Talbot, one of the stars of the new Netflix series, Lost Ollie. Can he help Fred narrate this story, or will he have to intervene in order to save Mr. Eric? Lessons include: ...
08.15.2022 Alex asks: What if a dog tooth became a house? Make way for a true Monarch among butterflies as she tries to find a home for her great big family to live in the city. Can Peter the Realtor help? Lessons include: getting older means new freedoms and new responsibilities; ...
08.08.2022 Seif asks: What if cat hairballs turned into lion monsters? How does JFKat end up leading a team of giant hairballs to the Little League championships? Presumably, it involves lots of naps… Lessons include: winning without work doesn’t help us grow; healthy competition can teach resilience and cooperation This episode ...
08.01.2022 Mary Had a Little Yes And (Dorktales Storytime #51) We're so happy to be bringing you a story that Mr. Eric told along with our friend Jonathan Cormur on his podcast, Dorktales Storytime. Normally, we replay an old favorite once a month, so I hope you all enjoy this ...
07.25.2022 Abacus’s Day Off With the Observatorium closed for the summer, Abacus wants nothing more than to get out into his garden. Of course, sugar rain, cake clouds, and time traveling heroes aren’t going to make it easy on him. Lessons include: We all ...
07.18.2022 Brie, Kyla, & Hayden ask: What if cats sneezed out bunny rabbits? (w/ Porter Mason) JFKat wants to make a comic strip, so naturally he goes to the home of comic artist Porter Mason. Porter is a wonderful artist, improviser, and parent, but will he be able to handle JFKat’s bunny-branded allergies? Lessons include: creativity ...
07.11.2022 Maya asks: What if dogs lived in hairbrush trees? Zach and Zizi find a rare hair brush pine, and they set out to find the fabled cloud dogs who are said to live at the top. Will they make it to the top? Can they stay safe climbing one ...
07.04.2022 Carter asks: What if people lived on the sun? Have you ever wanted to know what the “P” in Abacus P. Grumbler stands for? You can finally find out in this week’s magical outer-space adventure! Lessons include: It’s okay for boys to be pretty and like pretty things; your ...
06.27.2022 Elijah asks: What if “The Beatles” were actual beetles? Pixicato sneaks out to a concert using a newly discovered magic, but then everything starts going wrong. Can she get her magic under control, or will she put her new bug friends in danger? Lessons include: Your grownups always want ...
06.20.2022 An Interview with Pipey-O What happens when your favorite sewer wizard gets his magic wrench wand chewed on by Fred the Dog? Why don’t we ask him! Wizards, pirates, and dragon-turtle-dogs come along for the ride in this story told through your interview questions. ...
06.13.2022 Elliot asks: What if flowers grew in play-dough? Fred the Dog is shooting his new reality show, “inFredible!”, and special guest Chamomile, the famous giant sculptor, is the show’s first guest. Will fanboy Abacus P. Grumbler let her focus on her art, or will his magic make more ...
06.06.2022 Stacey asks: What if tigers lost their stripes? We’re sure as sherbert that you’ll love this fairy-TAIL, involving a tricky fox, a grumpy tiger, and Zach and Zizi trying out a few fledgling spells. Lessons include: Some people are creatures of habits, but that doesn’t mean you have ...
05.30.2022 G&G 15: Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Space Chicken? It’s the final challenge of our latest adventure, and the team must face a magical maze, a giant space chicken, and an uppity cupcake at the same time! Can they save the Big Bad Wolf, or will they be too ...
05.23.2022 Guilds & Goblins 14: What if cupcakes were alive? The team finds itself in the clutches of the Big Bad Wolf, but there is more to them than meets the eye. Is the Wolf as bad as the cupcake people say? The team will have to investigate a magical ...
05.16.2022 Guilds & Goblins 13: What if there was a giant space chicken? The G&G; crew is back! This time, Mr. Eric is acting as GM and Zizi is playing a new character, Turtock the Turtle Timekeeper! Will our adventurers finally meet the mysterious Underlows? Or will they be distracted by a giant ...
05.09.2022 The Pirate, the Penguin, and the Pickle Bob the Pickle Penguin has one every pickle-eating contest What If World has ever had. Can Potty the Pirate defeat the bobbing inflatable pickle-absorbing balloon penguin in a pickle-eating contest? Lessons include: Enjoying what you do is more important than ...
05.02.2022 Ezra asks: What if you took a vacation in a sandcastle with a crab? Fred the Dog, JFKat, and Abacus P. Grumbler fly to Why-Why-E to enjoy a vacation. But there own crabbiness gets in the way of them having fun. Lessons include: sometimes we need to endure something unpleasant to get to do ...
04.25.2022 Joss asks: What if all my friends teamed up to save the sun? Our Earth Day special is tying up some loose ends from a story long ago, which ended with the sun getting stolen! Too bad most of What If World is SOLAR POWERED… but maybe that’s the least of their troubles. ...
04.18.2022 Seth asks: What if there were 54 JFKats? Harrigo’s singing gets the attention of some of What If World’s more musical characters, but working (or singing) together in harmony is harder than it looks (or sounds)! Lessons include: Group activities can be fun and inclusive if we’re not ...
04.11.2022 Surya asks: What if coffee made you tired instead of awake? Professor Xiao, a powerful panda wizard, has come to teach a class on undoing magical mistakes… so of course, a few mistakes have to happen first! Lessons include: not even adults are immune to the effects of peer pressure; people ...
04.04.2022 Anti-Fools’ Ray! When Alabaster Zero and all of What If World get struck by the Anti-Fool’s Ray, things start to get very… normal… It might be the detectives only chance to accomplish an otherwise impossible mission. Lessons include: families take many shapes, ...
03.28.2022 Harper asks: What if houses were made of blueberry muffins? A story for the origins! Go back to a time before Zack was even born, when Mamma Jamma, Papa Loo, and Zizi rented their first house. Sure the house is a blueberry muffin, but surely no one will try to ...
03.21.2022 Malcolm asks: What if my cat, Dr. Jack Murphy PhD, had to tell the story? Mr. Eric succumbs to Ghostcatsination! Fortunately, Jojo Fluffy Cat, Fred the Dog, and Dr. Jack Murphy PhD, cat therapist, are there to help! Lessons include: Taking a break from screens and devices is important for kids and grown-ups alike; we ...
03.14.2022 Caler asks: What if Cthunkle teamed up with a psychic cobra? When Cthunkle and Fred are searching for the perfect Ain’t Bad Tricks Day gift, magical snakes start appearing and making it much more difficult. Lessons include: Gifts should reflect your friend’s interests and passions, not just your own; give gifts ...
03.07.2022 Parker asks: What if you got captured by Ninja Trolls? It’s the 605th annual Troll Roll Troll Bowl, and non-trolls are being allowed to play for the first time! And by allowed, we mean forced… Lessons include: With a little creativity, we can modify a game or sport so that ...
02.28.2022 Teddy asks: What if robots could turn into dragons? (Remastered) Let’s take a trip back in time to the origins of Randall Radbot and Dracomax as we answer the age old question: "What if robots could turn into dragons?" Lessons include: It’s important to ask for help when you need ...
02.21.2022 Jackson asks: What if Mr. Eric interviewed Harrigo the Tree? This interview has everything: a Grandma full of caramel, a litigious spider, a ska band made of wind, and the chocolate-loving tree who brings them all together. Lessons include: The forest, and all communities, are happiest and healthiest when we ...

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