What If World - Stories for Kids

By Eric O'Keeffe

Kids & Family

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

What if a dragon lived in my closet? What if there were a never-ending bowl of ice cream? Pirates, fairies, wizards, robots and many more friends help Mr. Eric tell stories inspired by kids’ questions. What If World’s progressive stories will keep kids laughing while fostering curiosity, imagination, and resilience.

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

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Sonny asks: What if snakes ...

06.05.2023

Abacus’s new snake friend teaches him how to be more decisive. But can Abacus teach the snake the power of doubt? Lessons: Finding joy can take a lot of trial and error; practice being decisive when the stakes are low; ...

What If World - Stories for Kids episodes:

06.05.2023 Sonny asks: What if snakes and wizards were friends? Abacus’s new snake friend teaches him how to be more decisive. But can Abacus teach the snake the power of doubt? Lessons: Finding joy can take a lot of trial and error; practice being decisive when the stakes are low; ...
05.29.2023 Olivia asks: What if Alabaster Zero got sent to What Is World? When a stray spell from a frustrated fairy flings Alabaster into the real world, he’ll have to finally take responsibility for his own actions! Will he learn to take his job seriously, or will he be stuck at Mr. Eric’s ...
05.22.2023 Zila asks: What if your dance teacher was a dog? JFKat wants to take a Yoga class but ends up in a dance class taught by Fred the Dog. Can he overcome his embarrassment and learn to love dancing? Lessons include: As a wise woman named Amy Poehler once said, ...
05.15.2023 Sazzy asks: What if kittens played the glockenspiel? (Lost Lynn Part 2) When super fans Mamma Jamma and Glockenspiel meet Miss Lynn, their favorite musical artist, work slows to a halt at the Bakeroofactory. And strange things happen each time they play her songs… Lessons include: Helping others sometimes means letting them ...
05.08.2023 Stump Miss Lynn! (Lost Lynn Part 1) Miss Lynn gets trapped in What If World and has to answer Cthunkles’ trivia questions to escape. Of course, being Cthunkle, some questions are nearly impossible to answer! Lessons include: Good trivia should feel like a challenge but not an ...
05.01.2023 Jack asks: What if all of What If World had identical twins? When Fred catches a “glowed” (think an especially shiny cold), he starts duplicating everyone in What If World with his magical sneezes! Lessons include: helping others out can leave them with more time and energy to play with you; taking ...
04.24.2023 Levi asks: What if stovepipe hats had stoves on top? Can the wizard, Professor Abacus P. Grumbler, really go a whole day without using magic? Maybe, if he goes shopping at the Monster Market! Lessons include: You can always find a way to help, though it might involve stepping outside ...
04.17.2023 Elsa asks: What if it got so cold that everything grew fur? Pixicato is bored of studying magic, so she takes a break with her friend Snurtle, the snow turtle. But when they get trapped in a Minotaur’s Labyrinth, will her magic be enough to save them? Lessons include: Every new skill ...
04.10.2023 Desmond asks: What if a cat and a dog started a cooking show? Welcome to another episode of inFredible! This time, Fred joins JFKat to cook all your favorite foods that start with P! Unless, of course, they come alive… Lessons include: Taking a break from plans and worries may help you discover ...
04.03.2023 Tallulah asks: What if cats could turn into vampires? Have you ever heard the tale of the “Guy Who Cried Vampire”? Well, neither has hard-nosed detective Alabaster Zero. Can he and Fair Elise get to the bottom of this vampire mystery? And what's the deal with that cat? Lessons ...
03.27.2023 The Way Home (Guilds & Goblins #22) Zach and Zizi finally find the portal home, but first, they have to get passed the Underlows. Can Scully and Cthunkle arrive in time to help? Lessons include: grownups make mistakes, too; you don’t have to wait until you’re a ...
03.20.2023 Elliot asks: What if poodles sat on noodles and flies sat on pies? (G&G 21) After a What-If Question mishap, Zach and Zizi decide to take matters into their own hands and save themselves from the world of Guilds & Goblins. Lessons include: The difference between confidence and entitlement is how we face failure; caution ...
03.13.2023 Carly asks: What if rabbits flew in the sky with rattlesnakes? (G&G 20) Lowlandra is searching for Skullen Bones, Zachimedes, and Turtock, when she is set upon by the devious Tattlesnakes. Can she satisfy the secret-spreading snakes in time to save her friends? Lessons include: Sharing truthful news and information is a vital ...
03.06.2023 Joseph asks: What if you found a red crystal with mysterious powers? (G&G 19) Zachimedes, Turtock, and Skullen Bones are on the search for Lowlandra, when they find a mysterious crystal that could be a major threat to the land of Berend. Their journey leads them to a mystical volcano and some incredible discoveries. ...
02.27.2023 Winnie asks: What if board games could play themselves? Winnie Winnie Worm Worm and Leo Riggelo go all the way to Lost Wegas in search of a place where they can play games without being judged. Lessons include: toys and games don’t have to be designated for girls and ...
02.20.2023 Adella asks: What if Fred went to Iceland and his tongue kept getting stuck on the ice? Fred the Dog is on a mission to find everyone who got lost on What Is World after the Time Vortex. Can he learn to accept the help he needs, or will he just keep licking ice and getting stuck? ...
02.13.2023 David asks: What if Candy the Kid and his Butterscotch Boots were trapped on Mars? When Candy the Kid’s parents ask him to stop his wandering ways and work for them, he runs away, but he ends up trapped on Mars! Lessons include: It can be hard to say how we feel, but your loved ...
02.06.2023 Peter asks: What if grownups wore diapers and kids wore underwear? (w/ Mick Sullivan) Mick Sullivan visits What If World—or should we say, Cthunkle Land? Can Mick endure the many strange rides of the cephalopod-themed amusement park, all while wearing a diaper… Lessons include: Originality isn’t about doing something entirely new, it’s about working ...
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 ...

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