YourClassical Storytime

What happens when a boy named Jack climbs a towering beanstalk into the sky? Hint: It involves a magical harp, a golden goose and an ornery giant named Basil. Go on a wild musical adventure with “Jack and the Beanstalk,” featuring storytelling by Scott Blankenship, with illustrations by Nancy Carlson and music by Leos Janacek.  

Rabbit has a problem. After working hard all year to gather vegetables for the winter, Bear comes along and eats them up! What is Rabbit to do? Find out how Rabbit gets out of this mess in the African-American folktale Why the Bear Sleeps All Winter, the new YourClassical Storytime episode — featuring Jeffrey Yelverton, with music by Scott Joplin and illustrations by Xee Reiter and Al Reiter.

Ada Ríos soñaba con tocar el violín. Sin embargo, ella creció con poco dinero en un pequeño pueblo de Paraguay construido sobre un vertedero. ¿Cómo pudo cumplir su sueño? Disfruta de la historia verdadera de la Orquesta Reciclada de Cateura, Paraguay, una orquesta compuesta por niños que tocan instrumentos construidos con basura reciclada, en el episodio más reciente de YourClassical Storytime, “El Violín de Ada,” narrado por Inés Guanchez en español e inglés.

Ada Ríos dreamed of playing the violin. She grew up with little money in a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. How could Ada fulfill her dream? Enjoy the true story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay, an orchestra made up of children playing instruments built from recycled trash, in the newest YourClassical Storytime episode, Ada's Violin, featuring Ines Guanchez as she shares the story in Spanish and English.

Can you have too many presents, too much holiday food, too much cheer? When little Noelle wishes for Christmas every day, she gets more than she bargained for in the delightful new YourClassical Storytime episode “Christmas Every Day,” featuring traditional music of the holiday season and art by Nancy Carlson.

What happens when a stranger shows up in town with a magical backpack, a small stone and a giant, black pot? It's a lesson in sharing with 'Stone Soup,' the new episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring art by Xee Reiter and music by Francis Poulenc.

What happens when an impatient young apprentice tries to cast his own magic spells for the first time? It's a water catastrophe! Find out how his adventure unfolds in 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice,' the latest installment of YourClassical Storytime, featuring illustrations by acclaimed children's author Nancy Carlson.

Four friends -- a violin, viola, cello and bass -- are nervous about meeting their new owners. Will the young musicians learn to play properly and treat their string instruments with care? Find out in 'KinderLute,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and illustrations by Eusebius Williams.

The first day of school can be overwhelming with new friends, new places and new experiences. Especially, if you are a very special kitty. Enjoy the latest YourClassical Storytime episode 'Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten,' by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata.

Click the player above or YouTube video below to listen, or download the story to your own device for easy playback at any time.

What happens when an old man discovers a love for singing after a magical flying boat takes him on a journey of self-discovery? See what musical surprises await in the latest YourClassical Storytime episode, Old Nasuk and the Flying Song, an Inuit folk tale that features traditional Inuit throat singing and enchanting music by Claude Debussy, with John Nasukaluk Clare as the guest storyteller and original art by Xee Reiter!(See more of her illustrations in the gallery.)

YourClassical Storytime is supported by Minnesota College Savings Plan.

More: Other YourClassical Storytime adventures

Educators: YourClassical Storytime meets Common Core Standards

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Our telling of Old Nasuk and the Flying Song includes excerpts from the following work:

Claude Debussy:

Images for Orchestra: No. 1 Gigues
Jun Markl, conductor
Lyon National Orchestra

Nocturnes (Nuages, Fêtes, Sirenes)
Ernest Ansermet, conductor
Suisse Romande Orchestra

Courtesy of Naxos of America Inc.

Jean Oqhena / Frank Kuptana

‘Three connected songs’

‘The song floats up within me’

Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways

Donald James Ross

Throat Singing

Storyteller: John Nasukaluk Clare

Adaptation: Valerie Kahler

Illustrations: Xee Reiter

Producer: Valerie Kahler

Digital producer: Jeffrey Yelverton

Senior digital producer: Randy Salas

Program director: Julie Amacher