Nana Reads ...: Recent Episodes
Heather Barfoot
One of the great joys of my life was reading aloud to my two daughters so many years ago. And now, with my precious granddaughter, I have the wonderful privilege to share, once again, the joys of books and reading.
My selections for this podcast will all be classic stories now in the public domain and they will all be stories I love.
I am just starting so please bear with my amateur efforts in this early stage.
We've met Grandfather Frog in some of the earlier books. He sits on his big green lilypad in the Smiling Pool and, with a 'chug-a-rum', often gives very wise advice. But even the very wise can find that the most unexpected things can happen.
This episode ends Buster Bear's story. Both Buster Bear and Farmer Brown's boy learn a thing or two by the time it's all over.
Blacky the Crow doesn't quite believe Farmer Brown's boy is afraid of Buster Bear. Blacky the Crow hatches a plan.
We know Buster Bear loves fish and he is very good at fishing. Little Joe Otter is quite upset about that, isn't he? Let's see what happens next.
Buster Bear has come to live in the Green Forest. I wonder what the Little Forest People will think about that. Let's find out ...
These chapters tell about how Danny looked after his good friend, Peter Rabbit, and helped him, just as Peter had helped Danny. And we also hear another of Danny's adventures about ... well, you'll just have to listen to find out about that!
Oh my! Danny Meadow Mouse has had a scary adventure! But now we find out that he's safe at last with his good friend, Peter Rabbit ... until Peter decides to go on an adventure of his own.
In these exciting chapters, Danny Meadow Mouse plays hide-and-seek again but, this time, it's not fun but frightening! When old Granny Fox comes to play, Danny had better watch out!
For the next few episodes, I'll be reading through this chapter book which was written by Thornton W. Burgess as part of The Bedtime Storybooks series and published in 1943. In these chapters we learn why Danny Meadow Mouse is worried and about how he loves to play hide and seek with ... Reddy Fox! Do you think that's a good idea? Not me!
Happy Jack the Gray Squirrel and Chatterer the Red Squirrel are cousins, but they quarrel. A lot!
Happy Jack the Gray Squirrel thinks he knows all about his family. Do you think he does? When Happy Jack, along with his cousin, Chatterer the Red Squirrel, goes to school with Peter and Jumper, they all get a surprise.
Did you know there were rabbits and hares bigger than Jumper? Peter and Jumper learn all about them from Old Mother Nature.
How would you like to have Old Mother Nature as your teacher? Peter and Jumper do and they have so much to learn.
As you and I both know, Peter Rabbit is curious about all the little meadow and forest folks. But, as it turns out, he has a thing or two to learn about his own family!
We now begin a new series of stories, all from this book. We will encounter old friends and meet many new ones. Along with Burgess himself, I hope these readings will "stimulat[e] a desire to preserve and protect a priceless heritage ... which a heedless present threatens through wanton and reckless waste to deny the future." I feel a bit like a voice crying in the wilderness but if you're listening, that's enough. Thank you.
Jerry Muskrat knows it's going to be a long, cold winter but his friends want him to play.
As you know, Peter Rabbit is a curious fellow. When there's something he doesn't know, he just has to find out. But Striped Chipmunk has a secret and he's not telling.
It's a beautiful sunny day, just perfect for a nap. Grandfather Frog is asleep on his big, green lily-pad when mischievous Billy Mink comes along.
Johnny Chuck wakes up on a fine morning only to find that someone wants to eat him for breakfast! But Johnny's a clever one and, with the help of a little friend, foils their plans.
It's spring in the Green Meadows and Peter Rabbit has a plan but who will help him? And what is an 'egg rolling' anyway? Listen to find out!
A long time ago, Mr. Porcupine, "the grandfather a thousand times removed from Prickly Porky", had a big problem. He had no protection from Mr. Panther or old King Bear! Times were hard and they were hungry. Mr. Porcupine was very afraid so he went to see old Mother Nature and ... listen to the story and you'll find out what happened next.
Someone new has come to the Green Forest! They ignore Reddy Fox, much to his chagrin, and teach poor Bowser the Hound a painful lesson.
Old Mother West Wind's children, the Merry Little Breezes, act quickly to save the little meadow and forest folk from a fire in the Green Meadows.