Stories are often filled with well-known figures, be it the beautiful princess, the strong prince, the foolish king, or the wise old witch. Have you ever thought what would happen if one of those characters entered the modern world and our real lives? In today’s story by Bill Harley, we’ll hear about what happens when a young boy helps a little old lady and receives a peculiar reward that leads to disastrous consequences at his school. But the magic doesn’t end there, we’ll also hear equally enchanting fiction from Charlotte Blake-Alston and Priscilla Howe. 

 

On today’s episode, enjoy the following:

 “Why Dogs Chase Cats” by Charlotte Blake-Alston from Hole in the Sea (9:50)

Charlotte Blake-Alston frequently infuses music into her stories to elevate the telling with an extra sense of theatre, emotion, and humor. We’ll see that today in her story, “Why Dogs Chase Cats” that takes us all the way back in time to when cats and dogs used to be friends but had a big fight over a piece of cheese. 

 

“The Best Candy in the Whole World” by Bill Harley from The Best Candy in the Whole World (20:40)

Bill Harley is best known for his ability to capture the essence of what it’s like to be a child. We’ll see that today in one of Bill Harley’s most well-known and well-loved stories “The Best Candy in the Whole World”. In this adventure, fourth-grader Barney’s kindness earns him the reward of a mysterious candy that gets him into quite a bit of trouble. 

 

“Unanana” by Priscilla Howe from The Ghost With the One Black Eye and Other Stories (14:38)

Priscilla Howe says that when she’s telling stories, she becomes a tour guide for her own mind. Think about the kinds of stories you’d like to tell to represent your mind as we listen to “Unanana”. In this story, Unanana has a gorgeous baby that many animals think would be beautiful, not only to look at, but to have for lunch.