Stories Come to Life: Recent Episodes
Kathryn Lopez Luker
Listen to classic and modern stories come to life as librarian Kathryn Lopez Luker takes you on adventures in books.
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Music lessons? Could Cress really want to take music lessons? All her life (so far) Cress has been decidedly AGAINST music lessons because they would be so dull as compared to hiking or swimming or doing anything outside. But that was before Cress met Mrs. Charlesbois. She is wonderful: elegant and artistic and best of all, interested in Cress. Adult friendships and situations, though, have a complexity Cress doesn’t know if she wants to understand.
And then Edwin, brave Edwin! He always impresses Cress. Not only does he recite Virgil like a Roman, but he defends Cress’s honor when a bully tries to use his muscles against Edwin’s brains.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
This is the winter that Cress is thirteen years old. Cress is trying to find out what her “trademark” will be at school. Will she be a serious, sweet, and unknown person, or should she find a way to be known as “that Crazy Cress Delahanty”? Then, later in the season, Cress will be performing in a dance recital. But oh, she is so worried her parents may mispronounce a word or somehow want to participate in the festivities. What would her friend Bernadine (known as Nedra on Fridays) think of her if Mr. and Mrs. Delahanty do something embarrassing?
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Cress Delahanty is thirteen years old in today’s chapters. She has to navigate through the difficult time of her beloved grandmother’s passing, as well as trying to be a comfort to her grandfather. Then in late summer, she goes with her parents to the seaside village of Balboa where she knows Edwin and his family are staying. Will they run into each other on the boardwalk? Cress certainly hopes so, as she has a new and very glorious hat carefully prepared for the meeting.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
This is the first episode of Cress Delahanty, a book I loved when I read it first years and years ago. The author, Jessamyn West, was born in 1902. She moved to Orange County, California in 1908 when there were citrus groves and rural areas filled with birdsong and open spaces. This is the setting of the story we will be listening to for the next while. It begins when Cress, whose full name is Crescent, is twelve years old. She is a thoughtful, dreamy girl who has a rich inner life. Maybe you will see yourself in Cress as she grows from a child to a young woman. Or perhaps, as you watch Cress grow up, you will understand the lives of the people around you a little bit better. I hope you will learn to love this story as much as I do!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Poor Chet and Biff are STILL on the island! But they trust that the Hardy boys will send help to rescue them. What is confusing, is the sound of another motorboat cruising around the island. Could it be additional gangsters coming to rescue the bad guys? Here is the thrilling conclusion of The Hardy Boys in The Missing Chums!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Frank and Joe are able to sneak quietly back into the deep dark of the back cavern where their friends, Chet and Biff, are being held captive. Not only are they relieved to find them safe, but they have the keys to rescue them! But it isn’t easy to escape from the gangsters, as the slightest sound will awaken the thugs and maybe all four boys will be captured. Will the Hardy boys be able to rescue their friends?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Frank and Joe have an idea that their missing chums, Chet Morton and Biff Hooper, may have gone out to Blacksnake Island and run into trouble, so they head out to the island in their boat, Sleuth. Yes, there certainly is trouble on the island, and it doesn’t just come from the venomous blacksnakes that frequent the place. There are dangerous caves and unscrupulous outlaws as well! Can Frank and Joe do anything to save their friends?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Chet and Biff are missing! Can they have perished in the huge storm? Of course, Frank and Joe want to go out on their motorboat, the Sleuth, to try to find some evidence of their missing friends, but when their cantankerous old great-aunt Gertrude comes to visit, those plans might need to be put aside, as Aunt Gertrude highly disapproves of “little boys going out on boats.” How can the Hardy boys just sit back and hope their friends somehow arrive back home?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Here is the first episode in the FOURTH Hardy Boys’ book: The Missing Chums. When Chet Morton and Biff Hooper decide to take Biff’s father’s new motorboat on a trip up the Atlantic coast, the only thing that would make it better would be if Frank and Joe Hardy could join them. But they can’t. They have to stay at home in Bayport while their father is away on an important detective case. There are some strange things going on around town, however. Three suspicious looking men almost make Biff have a serious accident in the new boat, and then the same shifty men are seen at the side of the road by Chet Morton’s house for no good reason. Is there something going on that the boys should investigate?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Not even a threatening note will stop determined young Nancy Drew from keeping her commitment to visit the two maiden ladies who live in the Turnbull Mansion. She wants to help them figure out who is trying to scare them and make them think their house is haunted. Nancy tries and tries, but is there really a secret passage or hidden panel in the house? And where is Carson Drew, Nancy’s father? He said he would telegraph when she should meet him at the railway station, but Nancy hasn’t heard from him yet. Nancy is growing concerned.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Oh, the scrapes Nancy Drew gets herself in! At the beginning of this episode, we find her gagged, and bound hand and foot as a captive of three scoundrels: Tom Tozzle, Bud Mason, and the particularly mean Mary Mason, who seems to have a personal antipathy toward Nancy. How can she ever extricate herself from their clutches? Here is the final, exciting segment of Nancy Drew in The Mystery at Lilac Inn!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Please enjoy Nancy’s story as she anticipates a glimpse of the famous Crandall jewels. Looking forward to this thrilling opportunity helps her endure the stress of interviewing many candidates for the position of housekeeper for the Drew household while faithful Hannah Gruen has gone to help her ailing sister.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
In her attempt to rescue the REAL Jacob Aborn from the dungeon where he has been held captive, Nancy Drew has fallen into the clutches of the notorious Stumpy Dowd! One of her father’s friends told her how a person could free oneself after being tied up. Can she remember how to do it? In the meantime, Laura Pendleton is becoming worried about Nancy. When Carson Drew returns from his trip and finds Laura in his home, they decide to go to Melrose Lake to help Nancy. Oh, if only it’s not too late!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Brave Nancy Drew has a plan to help Laura Pendleton. She tried to confront Jacob Aborn, Laura’s cruel guardian, but she didn’t learn much from him. Nancy still feels there is something she could do. So, with her detective instincts on high alert, she decides to stealthily investigate Jacob Aborn’s bungalow, and while she’s in the vicinity, she wants to do a bit of sleuthing in that old abandoned bungalow down the road. It’s a very risky situation. Will Nancy escape unhurt?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Nancy Drew really owes a large debt of gratitude to Laura Pendleton, who saved her life out on Moon Lake. So, she is happy to do something to help the girl escape from her cruel guardian. Nancy decides to visit Jacob Aborn and see if she can figure out some way to help Laura. Nancy’s resourceful bravery comes in handy as she makes her daring plans!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Poor Laura Pendleton! Her new guardian seems like a terrible person. He’s not very kind to her, and poor Laura has to be uprooted from everything that’s comfortable and go live in the unknown bungalow on Melrose Lake. In the meantime, Nancy and Helen are at the camp and it is with great reluctance that Nancy turns toward home. She can’t stay at the camp all the time. Her vacation is over, and now it’s time for her to go back to River Heights. As she leaves the camp, she notices the big storm clouds overhead. Oh, if only she can make it home before the storm breaks!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. In 1930, the first three books in the Nancy Drew series were published at the same time in order to introduce the world to this brilliant young detective. The Bungalow Mystery is the third of Nancy’s adventures. In this episode, we find Nancy Drew and her chum, Helen Corning, who also appeared in the previous adventures, spending time at a camp on the shores of Moon Lake. Another girl, the brave but dejected Laura Pendleton, soon makes their acquaintance. Laura is very interested in hearing about Nancy’s success in solving mysteries. But Laura has her own troubles and longs very much for Nancy and Helen’s company as she faces her fears.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
If Nancy Drew is anything, she is a good friend to those in need. Emily Crandall certainly needs a good friend to help restore her inheritance and, if possible, clear her guardian, Mrs. Willoughby, from suspicion of the jewel theft. Nancy is doing all she can, even following the tiniest whiff of a clue no matter where it leads. But is Nancy brave, or is she foolhardy when she sneaks into the dilapidated house in Dockville where three hardened criminals are discussing their latest heist?
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Do you remember the sullen and rather rude girl who applied to become the housekeeper for the Drew family? Well, Mary Mason is back in the story! How could this rather shabbily dressed young woman have found enough money to purchase expensive dresses and other clothing items? Nancy has a faint suspicion that there may be some connection between Mary’s extravagant spending and the robbery at Lilac Inn. Now if she can only find some common thread!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Somehow, Nancy Drew just can’t seem to avoid becoming involved in a thrilling mystery. With the puzzling disappearance of the Crandall jewels on her mind, Nancy is determined to help her friend regain her inheritance. But unlike other mysteries, this situation seems to have sprouted into an overabundance of clues, any one of which could lead to some sort of resolution. Finally, in an attempt to give her mind a rest from the confusing situation, Nancy goes shopping, and finds yet another strange piece that may or may not fit into the mysterious events at Lilac Inn.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
What a wonderful surprise! Nancy Drew discovered that the car she flagged down on the lake road contained her father and Laura Pendleton! Now the three of them can put their skills together to try to stop dastardly Stumpy Dowd before he can cross the state line and escape with Laura’s entire fortune! In her blue roadster, Nancy embarks on a high-speed chase!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Nancy Drew can’t seem to help attracting mysterious adventures. When she visits her old friend Abigail Rowen, she learns about a haunted mansion and promises to help the two maiden ladies who live there to figure out what is causing the strange happenings at their home. With permission from her father, Nancy plans to spend about a week with the old ladies trying to figure out if it is something supernatural or a flesh and blood ghost who is frightening the women.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Who hasn’t heard of Nancy Drew, the girl detective? Here is the first volume of her adventures: The Secret of the Old Clock. In chapters one, two, and three, we meet Nancy and her father, and learn of her inquisitive and insightful personality. Old Josiah Crowley has died, and to the surprise of everyone, his will has left all his substantial wealth to the snobbish Topham family. Nancy ponders this and feels sure there must be a second will somewhere, that will allocate the money more fairly to his kinder and more deserving relatives. But where could this second will be, if it even exists?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
As Nancy visits the relatives of Josiah Crowley, she discovers that he has promised each of them that he would leave them some inheritance after his death. But still, no second will can be found! Then old Abigail Rowen remembers something about the Crowley Family clock. Could the will be hidden there? And where could the clock be now?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
After learning from the Tophams where the old Crowley clock has been stored, Nancy tried to figure out a way to visit Moon Lake without causing the Tophams to become suspicious. Then she remembered the invitation from her friend, Helen Corning, to visit a camp right on the lakeshore. Delighted, Nancy drove to Moon Lake where she hoped to visit the Tophams’ bungalow to search for the clock.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Nancy discovered that robbers have ransacked the Topham bungalow and packed all of the household goods into a moving van! Could the old Crowley clock be inside? As Nancy pursues the thieves and informs the police of the robbery, she wants to investigate the van and find the clock before all the stolen goods are confiscated by the police. But what if Nancy’s investigations are discovered?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here is the first part of Nancy Drew’s second mysterious adventure, The Hidden Staircase! When this book was originally published in 1930 it had 25 chapters and included a lot of interesting description and plot details that were later deleted or changed. I prefer the original words, so that is what I’ve recorded for you here.
Nancy Drew recalls with fondness the excitement she had while she was solving her first case and longs for a new adventure. Just as she is resigning herself to a quieter life, a sharp ring at the doorbell reveals a very rude and disconcerting visitor! It is Nathan Gombet, an unpleasant man who insists that Nancy’s father, Carson Drew, owes him a lot of money. Not only that, but this man seems unstable enough to do some desperate act.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Because Nancy Drew is so certain that Nathan Gombit must somehow be involved in the mysterious hauntings at the Turnbull Mansion, she decides she will go to his house to see if she can find a clue that will verify her theory. What she finds is something amazing and even terrifying!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Because Nancy Drew is so certain that Nathan Gombit must somehow be involved in the mysterious hauntings at the Turnbull Mansion, she decides she will go to his house to see if she can find a clue that will verify her theory. What she finds is something amazing and even terrifying!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
While Nancy Drew was sleeping after her trying ordeal at night in the hidden staircase and subterranean passage, Nathan Gombit visited the Turnbull sisters and convinced them to sell The Mansion to him at his price! Before they sign the final papers, it is vital that Nathan Gombit is brought to justice. Nancy Drew has her hands full as she needs to convince the sheriff to make the arrest. Here is the exiting conclusion of this second volume of Nancy Drew’s adventures: The Hidden Staircase.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Nancy Drew is determined to discover the second will Josiah Crowley made… if it still exists! But that Topham family is unscrupulous and conniving. Nancy is sure they will have destroyed the second will if they have found it. And then the deserving sisters, Allie and Grace Horner, won’t receive their lawful inheritance. But clever Nancy has some ideas of how to proceed.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
What was written in the little notebook Nancy found hidden in the old Crowley clock? If she hadn’t been reading very carefully, she may have missed the brief comment about where to find the real will. Josiah Crowley certainly made it difficult for the Tophams to find and destroy his second will. That is good, but it almost made it impossible for the real will to come to light. What a surprise it was for everyone when the will was read out loud! Here is the thrilling finale of The Secret of the Old Clock.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
After a wonderful cousin-filled summer with friendships and adventures and excitement, it is time to close the cover of this lovely book. The Story Girl, the King siblings and cousins, Peter the hired boy, and even the lachrymose Sara Ray must all go on where we leave them. But there is this last episode of celebrations and discoveries before we say goodbye.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
It’s apple picking time up at the Hill Farms, and the whole group of cousins is busy harvesting the ripe beauties and listening to the Story Girl weave tales. Things take a deeply serious turn, though, when one of their number walks precariously close to the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
After a pleasant evening in the orchard when the grown-ups reminisced about their childhoods, the Story Girl had a wonderful idea for a new game the friends and cousins could play. Peter made quite an impression when it was his turn, and he actually sent nervous little Sara Ray into hysterics! These days of early autumn are times the children will recollect for the rest of their lives.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Dream journals, a poisonous cucumber, and a possible bewitchment! These are some of the things you will encounter in today’s episode of The Story Girl, by L. M. Montgomery. I think it would be wonderful to have a group of cousins and close friends to spend time with and have adventures with. What exciting lives these eight young people lead!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us Fan Mail
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Is it a good practice to believe everything you read? When the Charlottetown newspaper prints a paragraph about how the mighty Day of Judgement may come on the twelfth at two in the afternoon, all the cousins and friends don’t know whether to be frightened or not. They all spend a long time searching their souls and making last-minute preparations for that great and dreadful day, whether it comes or not. Maybe we should all prepare--- just in case!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
It’s almost time for the adults to come home from their long trip. But there are still adventures for all the cousins before their aunts, uncles, and parents arrive. A dark orchard can still be a bit frightening after everyone’s imagination is stimulated by the Story Girl. And will the Story Girl’s cooking skills ever come close to Felicity’s? Certainly, she can make a simple cornmeal pudding, or can she? But culinary prowess or not, she sure can tell a great story!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When Uncle Alec, Aunt Janet, and Aunt Olivia leave for a wedding, Uncle Roger is left nominally in charge of the cousins. But it is really Felicity, the wonderful cook, who takes charge. Everything seems just fine, until she becomes too bossy. Dan rebels, and the consequences seem dire. What will happen when Dan decides to defy his sister and eat the bad berries? It is all too easy for a little power to go to one’s head, as Felicity learns.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Poor Sara Ray wants so badly to go to the magic lantern show, but her mother, of course, has forbidden it. But because her mother will be out of town, she succumbs to the temptation the Story Girl proposes to sneak out and go anyway! But that leads to the Story Girl imposing a strict penance on herself. Was the price of urging someone to disobedience worth it? You’ll have to decide.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
It seems that the Story Girl’s voice makes any story more interesting and exciting. When she tells the eighty-year-old chestnut about a girl who won herself a husband, everyone hangs on the Story Girl’s every word. This is a summer of ups and downs for the cousins, as they try to figure out, among other things, what God looks like, how to make sure Uncle Roger won’t tease them, and whether the magic seed they all seem to be using, really works.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
The summer I turned twelve years old, I was so sad when I finished all of the Anne of Green Gables books that were readily available at that time. This was in the 1970s, well before the resurgence of Anne’s popularity. But I LOVED L. M. Montgomery’s writing, and I longed to read other things she had written. So, I looked in the tall card catalog of the Salt Lake City Public Library and found one more book written by L. M. Montgomery. It was called The Story Girl, and the card catalog entry said there was “one copy in Old and Rare.” Several times that summer, I took the city bus by myself across town to the main library and crept down the old cement stairs to the bottom floor of the building where the Old and Rare department was housed. While the temperature soared outside, I spent a couple of hours every day reading The Story Girl in the cool library basement. Since then, I have read many other stories by Ms. Montgomery, but none enchanted me more than that old and rare copy I was so pleased to discover.
Here are chapters 4, 5, and 6, of The Story Girl. In today’s episode, you will hear about Peter’s first time in church and his experiences there, as well as a contest to see who can gather the most money for a most worthy cause: to fund a school library!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Lucy Maud Montgomery, who wrote Anne of Green Gables, also wrote a delightful book about Sara Stanley, better known as the Story Girl. Told from the perspective of Beverley, one of two brothers who have come to stay on a farm with their aunts and uncles and cousins while their father is away, this book takes place on Prince Edward Island in Canada. In this first episode, we meet Felix and Beverley and get to know some of the rest of the characters. Felix and Beverley’s father was raised in this old homestead, and all their lives, the boys have heard stories of the old orchard where they each have a special tree, the deep well with its little blue cup to drink from, and other tales that have become part of their heritage. Even though the boys have heard of these places all their lives, the reality is even better than their imaginations. Best of all are their cousins, including the Story Girl, who promise wonderful adventures and friendships.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
It’s late at night, and Frank and Joe Hardy have decided to see if their suspicions are correct and the counterfeiters’ lair is in the abandoned old Turner mill. Can they sneak across the moonlit grass to reach the mill before the suspicious Markel finds them? And how can they ever catch the gang of crooks? Here is the thrilling conclusion of The Hardy Boys in The Secret of the Old Mill!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
The passing of counterfeit money is continuing to affect people all around Bayport. Fenton Hardy believes the crooks’ headquarters must be somewhere nearby. When the counterfeiters’ actions affect the Hardy boys’ own mother, they decide to go sleuthing to see if they can find out something that will help bring the criminals to light.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When Frank and Joe allow a man to get on their new motorboat, Sleuth, they are in for an adventure. Not only does a storm come up, hiding their destination in a big bank of fog, but their passenger pulls out a revolver and insists that they go with all speed to Bayport to catch a non-existent train! Having a new boat is great, but their first voyage is turning into a dangerous encounter.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
The Hardy boys and their friends are so tired of studying for their exams that they decide to go on a hike through the countryside on Saturday. When they come across the deserted old Turner Mill, they are surprised to see people working there. The mill race is flowing swiftly, and Joe and Frank soon become involved in a rescue mission!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Here is the first episode of the exciting adventure that comes to Frank and Joe Hardy in their third book, The Secret of the Old Mill. Almost from the very first minute, the boys seem to be plunged into the thick of a surprising situation. While they are waiting for their father to return to Bayport on the train, they are preyed upon by a dishonest man who trades their good money for a counterfeit five-dollar bill. Soon, counterfeit money is appearing all over town, targeting people who really can’t afford to be duped. Frank and Joe really want to do something to help out their friends and neighbors!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
How much Polly has experienced with the Shaw family! From her early visit to the big city where she came to realize that her simple ways could calm and entertain and bring peace to her friends, to the chance she has had to live on her own, teaching music and earning her living, Polly has been an influence of good in people’s lives. But will things ever work out for her and bring her the happiness she so desires? Tom has gone way out West where the charms of other young women may be attractive to him. How Polly longs for her own happy ending! Here are the concluding chapters of Polly’s story.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Poor Fanny feels as if she doesn’t have a thing to wear! She can’t afford any new ball gowns, and the ones she saved after the family lost their fortune all seem old, outdated, and shabby. But Polly has the knack of making even an old dress look new and fresh, so Fanny feels a bit of hope that she might be able to look all right after all. Fanny isn’t the only one who needs Polly’s help, and even Tom wants a bit of her grandmotherly advice.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Polly is a young woman of integrity. As such, she knows she can’t follow the modern trend of stringing young men along to flirt and make them fall in love with her, especially when she knows she can’t return the sentiment. So she does a very hard thing, and is then more ready to offer comfort and love to the entire Shaw family when they need it the most.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember that Polly is still just a young woman who wants to have fun and enjoy life. She seems so grown up and responsible! But one night she just wants to enjoy herself. Not surprisingly, she has a wonderful time. But poor Fanny, who has grown up all too quickly, is tired of everything. When Polly takes her to meet some young women who are working hard to achieve something in their lives, it gives Fanny a glimpse of a new and different, and better kind of life!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Will Milton, who is Polly’s younger brother, visits his sister every Sunday. They sing, eat, and have serious discussions together. They also include little Maud, who is rather lonely and appreciates the chance to visit with Polly and Will. Then there is little Jane, who just wants a way to make an honest living. Polly helps Maud feel less lonely, and Jane to have a chance at a new life. And of course she does it in her gentle, quiet, and loving way.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Six years have passed since we last joined Polly on her visit to the Shaw household. Now she is older, wiser, and ready to embark on a new adventure. This time, she is planning to “go around the city, making music all the time.” At least, that is how one young woman puts it. Polly may need to earn her living, but she is always able to spread a little bit of joy and peace to those she meets. I think you’ll like seeing the fine person Polly is becoming.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Here are the two final chapters, or staves, of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, as read by my father, Kenneth Luker. This time as I was listening to this old favorite, I was struck by how Scrooge is already prepared to learn and change from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. That reminded me of how we all need to remain teachable and willing to become better people, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
In A Christmas Carol, the different chapters are referred to as staves because when a piece of music is written, such as a Christmas carol, the paper it is written on is marked with five-lined staves, or staffs (same thing). So, when we refer to the different chapters, I like to think of them as different verses in a beautiful carol. Now here is my father, Kenneth Luker, reading Stave Three of A Christmas Carol, when the second of the three spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Present, comes to visit Scrooge.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Here is Stave Two of A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, as read by my father, Kenneth Luker. In this episode, Scrooge meets the first of the three spirits: The Ghost of Christmas Past, specifically, Scrooge’s past.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Today we have a special treat! My father, Kenneth Luker, has agreed to be a guest host on our podcast for the next five episodes. We have a tradition in our family of reading A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, on the Sunday nights in December. Somehow, it just wouldn’t be the same without that familiar and heartwarming tale. And I can’t think of a better reader than my dad. I am so grateful that he agreed to join me for this story. Here is Stave One, where we meet Scrooge and get to know a little bit about him and his ways.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to my father help this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Soon it will be time for Polly to go back home to her loving family. But before then, she introduces the Shaw family to the joy that comes from listening to Grandma’s stories. There is so much that everyone can learn from that wise old woman! And then there is one last party to attend before Polly leaves: dancing and feasting and just enjoying one another’s company!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
After Tom’s bicycle accident, the young people of the Shaw household are so good and kind to each other that Grandma becomes worried that something bad is going to happen. But, things never run in a smooth course, and this chapter is full of scrapes and mistakes and hurt feelings. It’s only natural, after all. Can Tom, Fanny, Maud, and Polly ever be friends again?
To find out, just sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Polly is still visiting the Shaw family, and sometimes she feels homesick for her own family. You see, her own home is filled with love, and to her surprise, the Shaw home is not. Polly can’t understand why, but she sets to work to do the small and simple things that bring peace and affection to a household. Even incorrigible Tom is touched by her kindly ways!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Here is the first episode of Louisa May Alcott’s delightful book, An Old-Fashioned Girl. Here we meet Polly Milton as she leaves her home in the country to go visit Fanny Shaw, who lives in town and is already quite a young lady. Polly, who is nearly the same age as Fanny, still considers herself a young girl. She doesn’t have the fancy clothes and big city sensibilities Fanny does, but somehow her kind and friendly manners and her old-fashioned courtesy endear her to everyone, even Tom, who plays a mean trick on his sister while the group is making molasses candy.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When we last left Frank and Joe and their father, they had been tied up by the smugglers and were awaiting being forced into Li Chang’s boat, bound for China! Things look very grim for our heroes. How can they possibly escape and see the smugglers come to justice? Here is the thrilling conclusion of The Hardy Boys in The House on the Cliff.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Send us a text
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Brave Frank and Joe Hardy start exploring the hidden cove under the cliff at Barmet Bay. Not only do they find a secret channel where boats can come in and out of the area unseen, but they find the smugglers’ lair, and a weak and frail prisoner who has been held captive until he will sign a certain document. Can the boys rescue this prisoner from the clutches of the smugglers?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Where could Fenton Hardy, Frank and Joe’s father, have gone? He was last seen in the vicinity of the deserted old Polucca place. So Frank and Joe and several of their chums decide to go explore the whole house, just in case he may be there. What a surprise they have when they find the old house tidied up and seemingly inhabited by some renters. And not only that, but they find a clue that makes them suspect Fenton Hardy may have been hurt!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
After rescuing the young man from the water after his almost fatal encounter in the bay, Frank and Joe Hardy are understandably concerned about him. Their father thinks the young man, who seems to be using an assumed name, may be in the secret service, trying to discover secrets about Ganny Snackley and his smuggler’s ring. But the Hardy boys aren’t so sure. They want to try to solve the mystery themselves. When their father disappears unexpectedly, they decide to do a little exploring on their own.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Here is the second exciting volume of The Hardy Boys Mysteries. In The House on the Cliff, Frank and Joe Hardy stumble on a mystery as they and their friends Biff, Chet, and Jerry, are riding their motorcycles around Barmet Bay one Saturday in early June. When they decide to explore an old deserted house, none of the boys is frightened or concerned until a bloodcurdling scream emanates from the empty dwelling. Could the house be haunted, or is someone trying to scare them away from the area for some nefarious purpose? Here is the first episode in this second Hardy Boys adventure.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Poor Peter has been so lonely and disgruntled and, most of all, jealous this whole summer. Instead of having Heidi to himself up on the mountain pasture, she has been spending all her time with Clara. And even when she decides to come up to the high meadows with him, she will be bringing her friend! When Peter sees an opportunity to force Clara to go home immediately, he takes it. But the action brings unexpected consequences for everyone! Here is the thrilling conclusion of the wonderful story of Heidi.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When I was a little girl, I remember begging and pleading with my parents to let my dear cousin, Susan, spend the night. Almost always my parents were happy to let her stay and we would stay up late and tell stories and talk about how we hoped our lives would go. Something similar happens to Heidi when Clara and Grandmama finally come to the mountain meadow to visit.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Winter has come to the mountain once again. But instead of being snowed in on the mountain pasture and unable to go anywhere, Heidi and Grandfather have moved to the Hamlet. In the little town of Dörfli, Heidi goes to school, teaches the reluctant Peter how to read, and enjoys the snow-filled winter. Every day continues to bring something new and wonderful to her life.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Who is Heidi waiting for? Goat Peter wants Heidi to come with him to the high pastures, but she is waiting for some special, long-awaited visitors. She is so happy when the doctor arrives to stay for a while. He is sad and despondent, but just being around Heidi helps him regain some joy in living. Heidi seems to have that effect on everyone!
All too soon, the doctor’s visit must come to an end, but in the spring, perhaps he will return, and bring Clara and even Grandmama with him. In the meantime, Heidi is just so happy to be home with Grandfather in their cozy mountain hut.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Finally back in her mountain home so dear, Heidi has to visit Grandmother, and go out to the pasture with the goats, and listen to the music of the wind in the fir trees. But most of all, she enjoys spending time with Grandfather, who has also been deeply affected by all that Heidi has learned in Frankfort. The lessons Heidi teaches him will change their lives for the better.
Meanwhile, back in Frankfort, the Sesemann household is preparing for a journey, not for Clara, as she is not strong enough yet, but for the doctor, who is to visit Heidi and take love, greetings, and many packages for the residents of the little mountain meadow.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
The mystery of the Sesemann ghost has been solved, and without delay, in order to save her life, Heidi is allowed to go back up to her beloved mountain meadow with Grandfather and the goats, and Grandmother, and Goat Peter! When has a homecoming ever been so joyful, and the sounds of home so welcome? Rejoice with Heidi in her return to the place she has so longed to be!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
After a wonderful, long visit, Grandmama Sesemann has to go back to her own house. Heidi and Clara miss her, but soon there is something to distract everyone from her departure. The Sesemann house is haunted! Every morning the front door is found to stand open, even though it has been double-locked every night! It takes Mr. Sesemann hurrying home from his business trip to solve the mystery.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When Mr. Sesemann returned from his trip to Paris, he discovered how much his little daughter, Clara, was devoted to her young companion. Heidi may have caused a bit of upheaval in the household, but she is full of kindness and consideration as well. And she found another loving grandma in Clara’s grandmama! What is more, Heidi learned from her that reading is a joy and delight. But oh, how much she still longs for her grandfather and the high mountain pastures, and the sound of the wind in the fir trees!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Poor Miss Rottenmeier! She thought her idea of bringing a companion for Clara Sesemann would give her some relief from the hard work of caring for the girl. But now that Heidi has arrived, life is more surprising and disorganized that she ever would have believed. Heidi, on the other hand, is trying to find something in this new life that will bring her some happiness. She has already made a great friend and ally in Sebastian, and after an episode with some kittens, she knows she can rely on him to help her. But oh, how she longs for her high mountain pasture, and the fir trees, and the long view from her Alpine home!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When the village schoolmaster sends word that he expects Meadow Nuncle to send Heidi down to school, Nuncle has other ideas. Even the pastor comes to reason with him, but Nuncle is obstinate. Heidi will stay as free and happy as the little birds and the goats. But then Aunt Dete comes back to the high meadow and takes Heidi away with her to live as the companion to Clara Sesemann in Frankfurt. Heidi doesn’t want to leave, but she is consoled by the hope that she can return again soon to her grandfather and all she has learned to love so much.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Let’s go with Heidi as she accompanies Goat Peter to the high mountain pastures with the herd of jumping, bleating, engaging animals. Heidi soon learns each goat’s name and little characteristics. She has never been so happy in her life, and when the sun begins to go down and colors the mountains in a rosy glow, Heidi feels that she is in the most beautiful spot in the world. All summer long she enjoys the mountains, and when winter comes, not only is the snow a different kind of beauty, but Heidi goes on a fast sled ride down to visit Goat Peter’s grandmother and finds in her another person to love.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Here are the first two chapters of the enchanting story of Heidi, the little Swiss girl who is taken to live with her grandfather in a tiny cottage in the Alps. In these chapters you will hear how Heidi is taken up to Meadow Nuncle’s house by her Auntie Dete—and left there with him! She meets Goat Peter, makes a bed of sweet-smelling hay, and becomes acquainted with the two goats that will soon become such a big part of her life.
I remember reading an old blue-bound copy of this story when I was a little girl. Certainly, this book was one of the reasons I learned to love mountains and high Alpine meadows. Even now, I still find myself wishing for a fresh bowl of bread and goat’s milk. I hope you enjoy getting to know Heidi over the next few weeks!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Now we are reaching the end of the tales of King Arthur and his Knights. But even though today’s selections end with the passing of King Arthur, you can find many more tales of chivalry and bravery and even other legends of King Arthur in the public library. Today we will hear about the beautiful and loving maiden of Astolat, and what she does for Sir Lancelot. Then, in the final tale, King Arthur is getting very old and tired. But he has one final thing to do, involving the sword Excalibur!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Finally, the time has arrived for the Seat Perilous to be filled! Sir Bors, who is a very valiant and virtuous knight, is granted a special vision in which he sees the knight who will fill the seat, although when Sir Bors sees him, he is still a tiny baby. King Arthur also has some wonderful adventures when he is taken to a hidden and dangerous castle. And do you remember King Pellinore? His youngest son, Perceval, has one great desire: to join the Knights of the Round Table. His coming coincides with a marvelous miracle, and it is all in preparation for the arrival of the long-awaited knight: Sir Galahad!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Lynette, a beautiful but very proud and haughty maiden, begs for King Arthur to send his very best knight to rescue her sister from the clutches of four evil knights. She insists that Sir Lancelot be the one to help. King Arthur, however, has another idea as a different, but still fine and worthy knight, is available. Maybe enduring the mocking maiden is one of the things Sir Gareth needs to face as he goes on this valiant quest.
Merlin, by now, is very old and very tired. He longs for rest and knows he doesn’t need to watch all the adventures of King Arthur and his knights unfold. Lovely Nimue, who is a magical fairy herself, asks Merlin to come to Broceliande where the green tree and the white marble stone and the gentle fountain are waiting for him.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When another white stag appears, the court of King Arthur again sets off in pursuit of high adventure. This time, the quest comes to Sir Geraint, who defends the honor of the queen. Then we learn about Sir Lancelot of the Lake, who lived an idyllic childhood in Fairyland before becoming a Knight of the Round Table.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Here are the adventures of two noble knights and one of King Arthur’s young cousins: a foundling prince. Sir Gawain and Sir Tristram both find the lady of their dreams, and oh, the amazing, magical, and astounding adventures that King Arthur and his knights undertake in order to help the Foundling Prince find and win the hand of the lovely Princess Olwen! King Arthur really will do whatever he needs to do to keep his word to the people!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
King Arthur and Queen Guinevere are radiantly happy at their castle in Camelot. Almost every seat is filled at the Round Table, and very soon after the knights have made their solemn vows, their words are put to the test when a lovely maiden in distress appears in the great hall. Helping her may be the first quest for the knights of the Round Table, but it certainly isn’t the last.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
In these selections of King Arthur and His Knights, you will learn about how Merlin built the Round Table, where King Arthur received the amazing sword, Excalibur, and how he met and fell in love with the beautiful and charming Guinevere.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. There are many, many versions of the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Some of these legends were written down more than 500 years ago in about the year 1470 by Sir Thomas Malory, who put them into a book he called Le Morte D’Arthur, or The Death of Arthur. His words were not the actual legends, though, but his retelling of even more ancient stories. Many of the words he used aren’t in our normal vocabularies anymore, so in order to tell the story in a way that we can all understand, I turned to a version that I read first many, many years ago.
When my dad was a little boy, he had a book called King Arthur and His Knights. By the time I had a chance to read it, the cover had been worn off from many years of hard usage. But the words were still there, and I was caught up in the exciting tales of knights and ladies and their amazing and sometimes magical adventures. The version I’ll be reading here is as close as I could find to that old version from my, and my dad’s, childhood. But even though these stories are so old, I think you will find them to be as fresh and exciting as they were when other generations of interested readers were enchanted by King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
In this first selection, we meet Merlin the renowned magician, King Uther Pendragon, Arthur’s father, and of course, young King Arthur himself!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. When Jimmy Bean plucks the first spring weeds from the flower bed under an open window at John Pendleton’s house, he overhears some information that may make all the difference for Pollyanna and her future. But can other people overcome their pride and stubbornness to allow the possibility to happen?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. It is easy to play the Just Be Glad Game when everything is going well. It’s a little harder, but, according to Pollyanna, even more fun when it’s hard to think of something to be glad about. But what happens when the most terrible thing of all comes to pass and an exuberant and active girl is confronted with the news that she may never walk again? When Pollyanna reaches the depths of her despair, the loving townsfolk of Beldingsville rally together to bring cheering words to their little angel. Could their words possibly be enough to help Pollyanna play the game again?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Could Aunt Polly really be softening toward her loving niece, Pollyanna? Nancy thinks so, because Aunt Polly sent her out with an umbrella because she was afraid Pollyanna would be caught by a thunderstorm. And now Pollyanna is beginning to see the tenderness with her own eyes! Somehow, Pollyanna’s exuberant and loving spirit seems to be rubbing off on all the people around her!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Do you remember that old Tom the gardener once mentioned to Nancy that long years ago Aunt Polly had quarreled with a lover? From watching the way Mr. Pendleton has softened under Pollyanna’s sweet friendship, Nancy has decided that the old lover was Mr. Pendleton! She tells Pollyanna, and of course the tenderhearted girl wants to do whatever she can to reconcile the lovers so they will both be less lonely and more able to find gladness in the world. But no one could be more surprised about this perfectly logical supposition than Mr. Pendleton himself!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When Pollyanna walks back home after her unsuccessful meeting with the Beldingsville Ladies Aid, she takes a path through Pendleton Woods. Here she finds Mr. Pendleton who has fallen and broken his leg! Her resourcefulness brings him relief, and soon Pollyanna becomes acquainted with kindly Dr. Chilton, who claims that Pollyanna herself is a tonic of good health he wishes he could prescribe to all his patients! Of all the people in town, only Aunt Polly doesn’t seem to be softening under Pollyanna’s benign influence.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Pollyanna has a big heart. She finds something about just about everything in her world to love, from a scraggly kitten to a stray dog, and even to a little homeless boy. And she is already winning the hearts of those around her, including Mrs. Snow and, of course, dear Nancy. The only problem is that not everyone appreciates her open heart, not always Aunt Polly, and certainly not the Ladies Aid!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. What an extraordinary child! That is the reaction Aunt Polly, and in fact, many of the residents of Beldingsville seem to exclaim when they make Pollyanna’s acquaintance. Not only does Pollyanna not realize when she is being punished, for example, but she takes the punishment as a special reward, planned to make her happy. You see, Pollyanna has been playing a game ever since she was a very little, little girl, in which she tries to find something about every situation that can make her glad. Yes indeed, what an extraordinary girl!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. In 1913, American author Eleanor H. Porter’s most famous book, Pollyanna, was published. Here is the delightful story of eleven-year-old Pollyanna (named after her mother’s two sisters). When Pollyanna’s beloved father dies, Pollyanna is sent to the town of Beldingsville, Vermont, to live with her austere and coldly dutiful Aunt Polly. Nancy, the young hired girl, is appalled at the less than warm welcome shown to the sweet young orphan, and is determined to be a friend and a rock of refuge to the young girl.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. How discouraging it is for the Hardy boys. They really want to locate the stolen loot and clear the good name of Mr. Robinson, but where could it be? Like the active boys they are, they decide to take a ride along the railway on their motorcycles, just to take a break from the whole situation. It’s a good thing for everyone involved that they took that ride!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!Let me know what you think! Please send an email to me at kluker@marshallpl.org. I'd love to hear from you!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. It seems the Tower Mansion theft will soon be wrapped up! The boys’ clever strategy to foil the incompetent Chief Collig and Inspector Smuff’s plan to question Jackley gave Mr. Hardy the chance he needed to hear Jackley’s dying confession. The criminal’s last whispered words directed Mr. Hardy to look in the old tower for the loot. Now the only thing the Hardy boys need to do is to go to the Tower Mansion and retrieve the goods. Simple! Or is it?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Having found the red wig hidden in the bushes, Frank and Joe are sure the identity of the car thief will soon be discovered. They have a hunch that perhaps that criminal is the same one who perpetrated the Tower Mansion robbery, and if it is, then Slim Robinson will be able to come back to school instead of leaving to help support his family by working as a grocery deliveryman. But even with Mr. Hardy’s help, it is harder to find the thief than the boys had anticipated. Here is the next, exciting episode of The Hardy Boys in The Tower Treasure.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. The Hardy boys, Joe and Frank, are very busy in today’s episode. They are determined to learn the skills of detective work that their father uses every day, so they begin by trying to observe the things around them very carefully, including some peculiar tire tracks Joe notices in the woods. His determined observation helps Chet find his missing roadster! But when the boys get back to town to share the good news, they find that everyone’s attention has been riveted by the terrible news that Tower Mansion has been burglarized! Can the boys help eccentric Hurd Anderson recover his stolen valuables?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here is the first of the many adventures of the Hardy boys, a series of books that is, in many ways, a companion series to the Nancy Drew books! For one thing, both series of books were produced by the same book packaging company, the Stratemeyer Syndicate. Here we meet Frank and Joe Hardy, the sons of the famous detective, Fenton Hardy. The boys want very much to become well-known and accomplished detectives just like their father. Surprisingly, a mystery seems to fall right in their laps as they are first almost hit by a speeding car, and then they discover that their friend’s automobile has been stolen by the same fanatic driver. Here is the first episode of The Tower Treasure, featuring the Hardy Boys!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. I am so happy today to introduce to you one of our fine library specialists, Jake. He has been interested for awhile in recording a story for our podcast, and he chose a very interesting story indeed. Here is Jake, reading a story called The Fifty-Seventh Cat, by Sheela Chari. The book this selection was taken from, Super Puzzletastic Mysteries, edited by Chris Grabenstein, was published by HarperCollins publishing company, which has graciously extended permission for us to read this book out loud and share it with others on this podcast until December 31, 2023. At that time, it will be taken down in accordance with the copyright requirements, so listen now, while it’s available. And now, here is Jake who will introduce himself and say a few words before jumping into his story.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here is the thrilling final episode of Dandelion Cottage, written way back in 1904 by Carroll Watson Rankin. Even though this book is more than a hundred years old, so many of the experiences seem to be right up to date: the anxiety that comes in preparation for a dinner party, for example, or the happiness we feel when everything turns out just right. These feelings are universal, and I think that is what makes Dandelion Cottage a book to love and remember.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life! I would love to hear from you, so please send me an email at kluker@marshallpl.org. It would make me so happy!
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. In the last episode, Mr. Downing, the church warden, told his wife he intended to listen with the strictest impartiality to the girls’ side of the story concerning those terrible Milligans. But does he listen? Not at all! He is more concerned with noticing all the little homey details the girls have added to the cottage and how the housekeeping is done than in truly hearing what the girls have to say. And then . . . ! But I won’t give anything else away. About the only bright spot in today’s story is that Mabel discovers the missing lemonade money in the old cracked pitcher.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. When dear Grandma Pike moved away, the girls wondered and wondered who their new neighbors would be. Finally, they arrived: a man and his wife, a boy, a girl (about the age of the four cottagers), a baby, and a dog! How wonderful it would be to have a new friend, and a new baby to play with! But oh, those Milligans! They are certainly not the kindly neighbors the girls hoped to have.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. This is an episode of departures. First there is lovely Miss Blossom, the three-week lodger in Dandelion Cottage. But alas, three weeks passes so quickly and before the girls know it, Miss Blossom has to leave. Then Grandma Pike, who lives next door, moves away to live with her married daughter. Then Mr. Brown is called away to Washington for business for at least a month. So, his dinner must be postponed until he returns. At least kindly Mrs. Crane won’t be leaving. She always has a place for the girls, and they become better friends than ever!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Can you imagine furnishing a whole house, well, a cottage, with old, cast-off furniture and cracked dishes and a couch that is really just burlap spread over boxes? That is what Bettie, Mabel, Jean, and Marjory are doing, and they are having the time of their lives! If only they had a little bit of money so they could buy the ingredients for M.B.D (Mister Brown’s Dinner). Here is the next episode of Dandelion Cottage.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. When I was a little girl, my dad built a playhouse under a big blue spruce tree for my sisters and me. I spent hours and hours playing in it. I swept the floor and decorated it with pictures I drew and flowers I picked in the alley. What wonderful memories I have of that little playhouse! In this book, four girls set their hearts on using an old vacant and very rundown cottage as their special place to play. They certainly have to work hard to make it theirs! Here is the first part of Bettie, Mabel, Jean, and Marjory’s delightful adventure in Dandelion Cottage.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2023. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Oh, the scrapes Nancy Drew gets herself in! At the beginning of this episode, we find her gagged, and bound hand and foot as a captive of three scoundrels: Tom Tozzle, Bud Mason, and the particularly mean Mary Mason, who seems to have a personal antipathy toward Nancy. How can she ever extricate herself from their clutches? Here is the final, exciting segment of Nancy Drew in The Mystery at Lilac Inn! Remember, this book can only remain on the podcast until June 30, 2023. But never fear, we can bring it back again on January 1, 2026, when it enters the public domain!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2023. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
If Nancy Drew is anything, she is a good friend to those in need. Emily Crandall certainly needs a good friend to help restore her inheritance and, if possible, clear her guardian, Mrs. Willoughby, from suspicion of the jewel theft. Nancy is doing all she can, even following the tiniest whiff of a clue no matter where it leads. But is Nancy brave, or is she foolhardy when she sneaks into the dilapidated house in Dockville where three hardened criminals are discussing their latest heist?
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2023. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Do you remember the sullen and rather rude girl who applied to become the housekeeper for the Drew family? Well, Mary Mason is back in the story! How could this rather shabbily dressed young woman have found enough money to purchase expensive dresses and other clothing items? Nancy has a faint suspicion that there may be some connection between Mary’s extravagant spending and the robbery at Lilac Inn. Now if she can only find some common thread!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2023. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Somehow, Nancy Drew just can’t seem to avoid becoming involved in a thrilling mystery. With the puzzling disappearance of the Crandall jewels on her mind, Nancy is determined to help her friend regain her inheritance. But unlike other mysteries, this situation seems to have sprouted into an overabundance of clues, any one of which could lead to some sort of resolution. Finally, in an attempt to give her mind a rest from the confusing situation, Nancy goes shopping, and finds yet another strange piece that may or may not fit into the mysterious events at Lilac Inn.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
So many people have enjoyed listening to Nancy Drew’s adventures that I decided to record the fourth book in the series: The Mystery at Lilac Inn, which, like the other three I already recorded, was also published first in 1930. As I stated earlier, this recording, for copyright reasons, can only stay on the podcast until June 30, 2023. But on January 1, 2026, the story will be in the public domain, so I’ll be able to reinstate them fairly soon! In the meantime, please enjoy Nancy’s story as she anticipates a glimpse of the famous Crandall jewels. Looking forward to this thrilling opportunity helps her endure the stress of interviewing many candidates for the position of housekeeper for the Drew household while faithful Hannah Gruen has gone to help her ailing sister.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Ben Mason has faced so many obstacles as he has tried to make his place at Clearview Academy. He was assigned extra work so he would appear to be out of condition, he was able to save the life of a teammate and fainted from the loss of blood as a result, and now he is enduring a punishment after being falsely suspected of stealing money. How can he ever rise above this cloud of suspicion and unfair treatment to reach his true potential? It seems that it will take a miracle, or at least a change of heart from one of his teammates. Here is the thrilling conclusion of The Winning Basket!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. When I was visiting my parents a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I was reading The Winning Basket on this podcast. Pleased, Dad shared with me this poem that seems very fitting for Ben’s tale. It is one of the poems in a book called Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle, which is an anthology of poetry edited by Stephen Dunning, Edward Lueders, and Hugh Smith. The poem, Foul Shot, was written by Edwin A. Hoey and here it is:
Foul Shot
With two 60s stuck on the scoreboard
And two seconds hanging on the clock,
The solemn boy in the center of eyes,
Squeezed by silence,
Seeks out the line with his feet,
Soothes his hands along his uniform,
Gently drums the ball against the floor,
Then measures the waiting net,
Raises the ball on his right hand,
Balances it with his left,
Calms it with fingertips,
Breathes,
Crouches,
Waits,
And then through a stretching of stillness,
Nudges it upwards.
The ball
Slides up and out,
Lands,
Leans,
Wobbles,
Wavers,
Hesitates,
Plays it coy
Until every face begs with unsounding screams--
And then
And then
And then,
Right before ROAR-UP,
Drives down and through.
What do you think? Does that fit this story? I think so.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here is some amazing basketball! With Ben on the team, the Clearview Academy cadets have the opportunity to win and win and win. But tensions inside of the team seem to be pulling the squad apart. What in the world can Ben do to make the team start to click again? As always, Ben seems to be at the right place at the right time to make a big difference, and perhaps even save a life.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Now as a member of the Clearview Academy basketball squad, Ben Mason knows this gives him a chance to prove to the rest of the school that he is worthy to be one of them. He plays with all his heart and tries to motivate his teammates to play their best as well. When they face their first contest, with Corona School, Ben has the opportunity to show what he can do!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Now Ben has to work for his living, in order to have enough money to live until Clearview Academy returns his tuition and he can decide what else he can do to make his start in life. Because he is a good mechanic with a level head, he thinks of some ways to speed up the production in the valve assembly part of the automobile plant. His clever innovations bring him to the attention of the owner, John Harrigan, and once again Ben’s future takes a decided new turn!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. When I was growing up, I would often go down the basement where my dad had set up bookshelves that he made into a library. I would scan the shelves, searching for something interesting to read. Over the years, I read many, many of those books, some of them several times. Two books I remember that were always shelved right next to each other came from my dad’s childhood collection. One of them was about hockey, and the second was The Winning Basket, by Duane Yarnell. I think I only read the hockey book once, but the story of Ben Mason in The Winning Basket was so exciting and engaging that I read it again and again. I hope you’ll enjoy it as well.
Ben Mason is an orphan who, after his parents died in a flood, ran away from an orphanage and was taken in by a kindly older couple who gave him a home filled with love and support. Now Ben is seventeen, and he has applied to and been accepted at the prestigious Clearview Military Academy! On his train ride to Clearview, he happens to meet Rod King, the captain of the school’s basketball team, who invites Ben to try out for a spot on the team. After a rather lonely childhood, maybe Ben has found a place to fit in and find some real friends!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here is the thrilling conclusion of The Enchanted Barn, by Grace Livingston Hill. Somehow that old stone barn must actually have some magical enchantment to it because none of the Hollisters or the Grahams will ever be the same again after falling under its influence. But is it actually the barn that caused the life-changing circumstances or the benevolent effect of trusting in something beyond themselves and being willing to step out bravely into the unknown, trusting in that benevolence? Shirley and her mother would certainly advocate for the latter!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. What is happening to Shirley? In this episode, brave Shirley Hollister shows the ingenuity of Nancy Drew and the courage of a valiant knight as she does her best to protect her top-secret shorthand notes from being taken by a gang of ruthless criminals. Her quick-witted strategies soon involve Sidney Graham as well as her little sister, Carol. In the middle of this very trying situation, Shirley relies on her one sure source of comfort to help her through.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. It’s time for Shirley Hollister’s two-week vacation, and what an amazing opportunity is coming to their family! Mr. and Mrs. Graham have invited the Hollisters to take their daughter, Elizabeth, to their shore-house for the month of September while Mr. and Mrs. Graham visit out West. It will be the first time Shirley and the rest have seen the ocean, and wouldn’t it be lovely for Doris to play in the sand? Now if only Mr. Barnard could let Shirley vacation in peace! But, of course, his assignment will only take a few hours. Shirley can’t pass up the opportunity to help her boss.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. At the ending of the last episode, Sidney Graham has gone out West to conduct some business for his father. He went to investigate some mines. The Hollisters weren’t neglected, though, and each member of the family living in the barn received some token that he had been thinking of them. Surprisingly, this is where the story takes an interesting turn when upon Sidney Graham’s return, the already resourceful and clever Shirley is thrust into the role of a daring detective!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. What a wonderful life it is for the Hollister family! They wake up to the birds’ vibrant dawn chorus, enjoy the fresh country air, and can watch the sunset at night, all from the comfortable, homey stone barn! Sidney Graham and his sister are frequent guests at the barn, and even the fashionable Mrs. Graham is charmed by the intrepid little family. Shirley gives herself a good talking to in order to make sure she doesn’t read anything but kindliness in her growing friendship with her handsome landlord. This is a beautiful and peaceful time for the Hollisters.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. The furniture is in place, an old denim cloth that used to be a floor covering has been patched and cleaned and hung up as a curtain, the piano is in the corner of the new living room in the barn, and everything is ready for the Hollisters to move in. Kind Elizabeth Graham has one more welcoming surprise for the family and she works behind the scenes to prepare the barn to be as beautiful and comfortable as she can make it. Yes, everyone is ready . . . but Shirley is still worried. What will Mother think of their audacious plan to live in a barn?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Not only are Shirley, Carol, and George Hollister charmed by the big old barn, but Sidney and Elizabeth Graham can see the possibilities too. The elegant Graham siblings are also charmed by the humble and steadfast Hollisters, too, and they are determined to make the barn as welcoming and comfortable as possible, while trying at the same time to respect Shirley and her family’s pride and their determination not to take advantage of their new landlord. What fun it is to find ways to stealthily improve the place! It is an exciting time for everyone!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. What about that big, beautiful barn? First Shirley, and then Sidney Graham have explored it and found it to be a charming, peaceful place. Shirley would really like her brother George and sister Carol to see the place before she makes any firm decisions about whether to move their little family there to live. Can such an opportunity be arranged? Isn’t it wonderful that there are such kind and open-hearted people in the world like the Grahams! It almost seems like there is some good providence working behind the scenes on behalf of the little Hollister family!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. In 1918, as World War I was raging in Europe and the tragedy of the Spanish Flu epidemic was beginning to sweep across the world, the writer Grace Livingston Hill published her thirty-third book. The Enchanted Barn is a story about a charming, courageous, and forthright girl named Shirley Hollister. Brave and resourceful Shirley reminds me a little bit of Nancy Drew, even though Nancy wouldn’t appear on the literary scene for another twelve years. When we meet Shirley, she is dreadfully worried about where her family will live. The small, dark, rented rooms they now occupy will shortly be torn down to make room for a large apartment building, and it is absolutely necessary that they find somewhere else to rent. Shirley is the oldest of five children, and with her father recently deceased and her mother too sick to get out of bed, the burden of finding a new place to live has fallen squarely on her shoulders. But they are so poor that even with all her efforts, they can’t afford more than fifteen dollars a month for rent. Then an unexpected half-holiday gives Shirley a chance to gather her thoughts together and think about a possible solution to their dilemma.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. “The Celestial Omnibus,” by E. M. Forster is one story in a larger collection published in 1911, and therefore happily in the public domain. Oh, how I love this short story! I think some of the things I like about it is that it reassures me that we don’t have to know all the details and obscure meanings of a poem or a book to find pleasure in reading it, and also that it lets me know that it’s not silly to look for secret paths and hidden byways into a new and wonderous place. I think I’ve been looking for another bus stop for the celestial omnibus all my life! But before I give away too much, I’ll let you decide for yourself.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. When Betsy’s kitten, Eleanor, starts avoiding the house and spending most all of her time in the barn, Betsy follows her one day and finds Eleanor’s wonderful surprise, nestled into the hay up in the loft! At this same time a letter arrives from Aunt Frances that seems it will change, once again, the course of Betsy’s life. October in Vermont has never seemed so beautiful and precious before, and Betsy finds that her heart is inextricably woven into the lives of the dear people on the Putney Farm.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. If Aunt Frances could see Betsy now, she probably wouldn’t recognize her! Betsy is becoming a compassionate, kind, and very clever young girl. She is developing a real friendship with Ralph, whom she used to be frightened even to be near, and she is like a little mother to sweet young Molly. She is also very brave and resourceful, as her adventure on her birthday at the county fair demonstrates!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Betsy is learning so much at the Putney farm! In addition to helping out around the kitchen and learning to sew, Betsy is also learning compassion and how to care for others. She even has to figure out how to save little Molly when she falls into the Wolf Pit! How can she still be the same timid little girl who was so fearful of going to stay with the Putney cousins!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
One thing I enjoy about Understood Betsy is how the author makes comments to us as Betsy’s story unfolds. For example, in today’s episode, Betsy is so confused about which grade she is supposed to be in in school. She is a wonderful reader, but not so good at arithmetic. She has had a long practice of guessing the answer to a multiplication problem instead of actually learning the tables. After explaining Betsy’s technique, the author quietly asks, “You never heard of any other child who did that, did you?” Because yes, I have heard of other children doing that. I think I even did it myself, before I memorized the multiplication tables! For me, that little question from the author helps me to relate even more to Betsy and her new experiences in Vermont. She is learning so much: how to cook, how to set aside her old fears, and most important, how to think for herself!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. What a strange new life it is for young Elizabeth Ann when she wakes up in the first morning of her time in Vermont. She does so many things for the very first time today: she gets herself up and dressed, fixes her own hair, and even learns how butter is made. But how can the Putney people expect her to go to school all by herself on this very first day? It is just too much! Elizabeth Ann, or Betsy, as everyone here calls her, is completely unprepared for all these new experiences!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Listening to audiobooks really does count as reading, and there's no better way to relax than to hear Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. One of the reasons I love creating this podcast is that I can revisit some of the books I have loved all my life. Understood Betsy is one of these. Written in 1917 by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, this book is now in the public domain, which means it can stay available on this podcast forever!
Here we meet little Elizabeth Ann, a nine-year-old orphan who has lived a very sheltered life with her great aunt Harriet and Aunt Frances. They have been so careful with her, and have taken such pains to analyze all of Elizabeth Ann’s thoughts and emotions, that she has never actually had to think of anything her own self. They have carefully raised her to be very delicate and sensitive and timid. But now the worst thing she can think of is happening! Elizabeth Ann is being sent to live with the Putney family in Vermont. How can she bear being apart from Aunt Frances, who understands her so well? How can she ever make a new life on this farm in Hillsboro?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Do you have suggestions for other books or stories you'd like to hear? I'd love to communicate with you. Please email me at kluker@marshallpl.org and let me know what you think!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
What a wonderful surprise! Nancy Drew discovered that the car she flagged down on the lake road contained her father and Laura Pendleton! Now the three of them can put their skills together to try to stop dastardly Stumpy Dowd before he can cross the state line and escape with Laura’s entire fortune! In her blue roadster, Nancy embarks on a high-speed chase!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Do you have suggestions for other books or stories you'd like to hear? I'd love to communicate with you. Please email me at kluker@marshallpl.org and let me know what you think!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
In her attempt to rescue the REAL Jacob Aborn from the dungeon where he has been held captive, Nancy Drew has fallen into the clutches of the notorious Stumpy Dowd! One of her father’s friends told her how a person could free oneself after being tied up. Can she remember how to do it? In the meantime, Laura Pendleton is becoming worried about Nancy. When Carson Drew returns from his trip and finds Laura in his home, they decide to go to Melrose Lake to help Nancy. Oh, if only it’s not too late!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Do you have suggestions for other books or stories you'd like to hear? I'd love to communicate with you. Please email me at kluker@marshallpl.org and let me know what you think!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Brave Nancy Drew has a plan to help Laura Pendleton. She tried to confront Jacob Aborn, Laura’s cruel guardian, but she didn’t learn much from him. Nancy still feels there is something she could do. So, with her detective instincts on high alert, she decides to stealthily investigate Jacob Aborn’s bungalow, and while she’s in the vicinity, she wants to do a bit of sleuthing in that old abandoned bungalow down the road. It’s a very risky situation. Will Nancy escape unhurt?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Do you have suggestions for other books or stories you'd like to hear? I'd love to communicate with you. Please email me at kluker@marshallpl.org and let me know what you think!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Nancy Drew really owes a large debt of gratitude to Laura Pendleton, who saved her life out on Moon Lake. So, she is happy to do something to help the girl escape from her cruel guardian. Nancy decides to visit Jacob Aborn and see if she can figure out some way to help Laura. Nancy’s resourceful bravery comes in handy as she makes her daring plans!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Do you have suggestions for other books or stories you'd like to hear? I'd love to communicate with you. Please email me at kluker@marshallpl.org and let me know what you think!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Poor Laura Pendleton! Her new guardian seems like a terrible person. He’s not very kind to her, and poor Laura has to be uprooted from everything that’s comfortable and go live in the unknown bungalow on Melrose Lake. In the meantime, Nancy and Helen are at the camp and it is with great reluctance that Nancy turns toward home. She can’t stay at the camp all the time. Her vacation is over, and now it’s time for her to go back to River Heights. As she leaves the camp, she notices the big storm clouds overhead. Oh, if only she can make it home before the storm breaks!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Do you have suggestions for other books or stories you'd like to hear? I'd love to communicate with you. Please email me at kluker@marshallpl.org and let me know what you think!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
As I just mentioned, the time is fast approaching when all the books whose copyright restrictions have been temporarily lifted must be taken down from this podcast. But there are so many other books to share with you! In 2023, any book whose copyright date is 1928 or earlier is in the public domain and is available to be shared without worries of copyright infringement! If you have a suggestion of a book you’d like to hear, please send me an email message so I can consider your choice. I’d love to hear from you! My email is kluker@marshallpl.org.
In 1930, the first three books in the Nancy Drew series were published at the same time in order to introduce the world to this brilliant young detective. The Bungalow Mystery is the third of Nancy’s adventures. In this episode, we find Nancy Drew and her chum, Helen Corning, who also appeared in the previous adventures, spending time at a camp on the shores of Moon Lake. Another girl, the brave but dejected Laura Pendleton, soon makes their acquaintance. Laura is very interested in hearing about Nancy’s success in solving mysteries. But Laura has her own troubles and longs very much for Nancy and Helen’s company as she faces her fears.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Do you have suggestions for other books or stories you'd like to hear? I'd love to communicate with you. Please email me at kluker@marshallpl.org and let me know what you think!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
The money in the buckskin bag is running low, and the Larkin family must move on from the little shack while they still have enough to buy gasoline and other necessities as Dad looks for work someplace else. Janey decides she just has to see the willow plate once more. So she slips out and makes her way to the Anderson ranch to say goodbye before they leave.
To find out what happens next, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Janey Larkin and her family have traveled from place to place for a very long time. But every year, no matter where Janey finds herself, wild ducks have flown overhead when the weather turns colder. This year is no different. Janey decides to go to the slough where she can see the ducks feeding among the tules. When she is there, she runs into heartless Bounce Reyburn who always means trouble. And even worse, Mom catches a bad cold that worsens into pneumonia. Janey hopes she has courage enough to face whatever might happen!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Now Janey is going to the Camp Miller school, in the cotton camp. She wishes she could go to the regular school, to belong to the regular school, but one consolation is that Miss Peterson, the teacher at the camp school, must certainly be the most wonderful teacher in the world! And then there is the county cotton picking contest. Janey hopes and hopes that Dad will win!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
For a long time, Janey Larkin has traveled with her family from place to place, and that has been a good life. Her precious Blue Willow plate has taken the place of brothers and sisters, friends, dolls, and even pets for Janey. But here in this new place, Janey has found a real friend in sweet Lupe Romero, and she wants more than anything to be able to stay in the little shack as long as possible. Now that the ranch foreman, the shifty Bounce Reyburn, has collected rent from the Larkins, perhaps they can stay as long as they continue to have money to pay. Janey certainly hopes so!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Blue Willow was written by Doris Gates in 1940, and it won a Newbery Honor award. Ever since the drought and the dust storm drove Janey Larkin and her family out of northern Texas, they have been traveling around so that Dad can find work planting and harvesting crops in California. The small family found an abandoned shack to stay in for awhile while Dad works in the cotton fields. If only they could find somewhere to stay as long as they want to! But even in this hard life, Janey has one beautiful treasure: a blue willow plate that is both a family heirloom and a consolation to her. And now, across the road there is a girl who may well become a friend!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
While Nancy Drew was sleeping after her trying ordeal at night in the hidden staircase and subterranean passage, Nathan Gombit visited the Turnbull sisters and convinced them to sell The Mansion to him at his price! Before they sign the final papers, it is vital that Nathan Gombit is brought to justice. Nancy Drew has her hands full as she needs to convince the sheriff to make the arrest. Here is the exiting conclusion of this second volume of Nancy Drew’s adventures: The Hidden Staircase.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Because Nancy Drew is so certain that Nathan Gombit must somehow be involved in the mysterious hauntings at the Turnbull Mansion, she decides she will go to his house to see if she can find a clue that will verify her theory. What she finds is something amazing and even terrifying!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Nancy Drew and her father, the lawyer Carson Drew, are very close. So Nancy is extremely worried when he hasn’t returned when he promised he would. It is so distracting to Nancy that she can hardly keep her mind on the case of the haunted house. Then some new information gives her the first clue in the case. Somehow, she is sure, that despicable miser, Nathan Gombit, is involved in the situation!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Not even a threatening note will stop determined young Nancy Drew from keeping her commitment to visit the two maiden ladies who live in the Turnbull Mansion. She wants to help them figure out who is trying to scare them and make them think their house is haunted. Nancy tries and tries, but is there really a secret passage or hidden panel in the house? And where is Carson Drew, Nancy’s father? He said he would telegraph when she should meet him at the railway station, but Nancy hasn’t heard from him yet. Nancy is growing concerned.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Nancy Drew can’t seem to help attracting mysterious adventures. When she visits her old friend Abigail Rowen, she learns about a haunted mansion and promises to help the two maiden ladies who live there to figure out what is causing the strange happenings at their home. With permission from her father, Nancy plans to spend about a week with the old ladies trying to figure out if it is something supernatural or a flesh and blood ghost who is frightening the women.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31st, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Here is the first part of Nancy Drew’s second mysterious adventure, The Hidden Staircase! When this book was originally published in 1930 it had 25 chapters and included a lot of interesting description and plot details that were later deleted or changed. I prefer the original words, so that is what I’ve recorded for you here.
Nancy Drew recalls with fondness the excitement she had while she was solving her first case and longs for a new adventure. Just as she is resigning herself to a quieter life, a sharp ring at the doorbell reveals a very rude and disconcerting visitor! It is Nathan Gombet, an unpleasant man who insists that Nancy’s father, Carson Drew, owes him a lot of money. Not only that, but this man seems unstable enough to do some desperate act.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
While the Hollis doll goes to school, ballet class, piano lessons, and Girl Scouts, the real Hollis spends the day with her cousin Addison and their new friends, Sharon and Robert. But after having all the sweet things she could possibly eat, Hollis finds herself longing for real, nutritious food. And as the doll takes on more and more of Hollis’s daily responsibilities, Hollis finds herself growing uncomfortable at the doll shop. How can things go on like they are?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
For the first time in her life, Hollis is enjoying the freedom to do whatever she wants, to eat whatever she wants, and not have to endure the drudgery of school and ballet lessons, piano lessons, and other time structures. How long can this idyllic life continue?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Poor Hollis, just when she thinks her life couldn’t get much worse, her show-off cousin Addison moves into the house next door---and he is assigned to her own classroom! Even from the first day, Hollis is so embarrassed by all he does. It seems like visiting the doll shop is her only comfort in life. Then Hollis has a wonderful idea that might make everything better!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until December 31, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
When I was a little girl, I often read and reread the books we had in our home library, because we could never go to the library often enough to keep me supplied with new books. One I read over and over again was the fascinating story of Hollis, who discovers a curious shop that has moved into the new industrial park around the corner from her house. This shop sells dolls, but they are unlike any other dolls Hollis has ever seen. They seem almost alive! Here are the first three chapters of Is There Life on a Plastic Planet? written in 1975 by Mildred Ames. I hope you enjoy this thought-provoking book!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. All summer long the four children have been living at the edge of the woods in their boxcar. Everything is going well. They have plenty to eat, Henry works hard every day for the kind doctor, and Benny is even learning a bit of math. But then Violet becomes gravely ill and they need to turn to others for help. They are very frightened that their grandfather, who was opposed to their parents’ marriage, will find them and treat them roughly. While Violet recovers, Henry, Jess, and Benny meet a kind older gentleman who is also visiting the doctor. Life is about to change again for the four adventurous children.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Picking fruit in the orchard, eating cherry slump and roasted potatoes, running a big race, and not only teaching Benny to read but making him a new stuffed bear: these are just a few of the memorable and charming events in today’s installment of The Boxcar Children. Living in a freight car at the edge of the woods is a wonderful adventure for Henry, Jess, Violet, and Benny!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Henry, Jess, Violet, and Benny are now living in the cozy boxcar they found in the woods. Henry has good luck when he goes into town to see if he can find some work. Young Doctor McAllister is impressed with the way Henry works, and invites him to come back every day to do odd jobs around the place. Maybe Jess, Violet, and Benny have the best time, though, searching for old dishes, building a fireplace, and discovering all kinds of interesting treasures in the forest. And Watch, the loyal dog, takes good care of everyone in this second installment of The Boxcar Children.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Back in 1924, Gertrude Chandler Warner’s book The Boxcar Children was published. Eighteen years later, in 1942, the book was condensed and revised to make it simpler for young readers. But I find the original version to have a lot more detail and charm. So, this is the version I’ll be recording. Plus, because this earlier version is now in the public domain, it will stay available on Stories Come to Life forever, so you can listen to it often.
The four Boxcar children, Henry, Jess, Violet, and Benny are orphans. What will happen if their grandfather, whom they have never met, finds out where they are? The children are afraid he will treat them cruelly, so instead of being sent to live with him, they run away and find an abandoned boxcar at the edge of a forest by a rushing stream. In these first chapters, they decide to make this chance discovery into a charming home.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Today’s story is one of my childhood favorites, The Light Princess, written by George MacDonald and published in 1864.
Everyone knows that sometimes a wicked witch may come uninvited to a royal christening, and the results can be quite frightening. A princess may sleep for a hundred years, or might turn into an apple, or some other such curse. But what would it be like if the bewitched princess simply didn’t weigh anything? Here is the delightful story of a princess who didn’t make much impression on the earth with her footsteps, but will certainly make an impression on your heart.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
What was written in the little notebook Nancy found hidden in the old Crowley clock? If she hadn’t been reading very carefully, she may have missed the brief comment about where to find the real will. Josiah Crowley certainly made it difficult for the Tophams to find and destroy his second will. That is good, but it almost made it impossible for the real will to come to light. What a surprise it was for everyone when the will was read out loud! Here is the thrilling finale of The Secret of the Old Clock.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Nancy discovered that robbers have ransacked the Topham bungalow and packed all of the household goods into a moving van! Could the old Crowley clock be inside? As Nancy pursues the thieves and informs the police of the robbery, she wants to investigate the van and find the clock before all the stolen goods are confiscated by the police. But what if Nancy’s investigations are discovered?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
After learning from the Tophams where the old Crowley clock has been stored, Nancy tried to figure out a way to visit Moon Lake without causing the Tophams to become suspicious. Then she remembered the invitation from her friend, Helen Corning, to visit a camp right on the lakeshore. Delighted, Nancy drove to Moon Lake where she hoped to visit the Tophams’ bungalow to search for the clock.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
As Nancy visits the relatives of Josiah Crowley, she discovers that he has promised each of them that he would leave them some inheritance after his death. But still, no second will can be found! Then old Abigail Rowen remembers something about the Crowley Family clock. Could the will be hidden there? And where could the clock be now?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Nancy Drew is determined to discover the second will Josiah Crowley made… if it still exists! But that Topham family is unscrupulous and conniving. Nancy is sure they will have destroyed the second will if they have found it. And then the deserving sisters, Allie and Grace Horner, won’t receive their lawful inheritance. But clever Nancy has some ideas of how to proceed.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30th, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Who hasn’t heard of Nancy Drew, the girl detective? Here is the first volume of her adventures: The Secret of the Old Clock. In chapters one, two, and three, we meet Nancy and her father, and learn of her inquisitive and insightful personality. Old Josiah Crowley has died, and to the surprise of everyone, his will has left all his substantial wealth to the snobbish Topham family. Nancy ponders this and feels sure there must be a second will somewhere, that will allocate the money more fairly to his kinder and more deserving relatives. But where could this second will be, if it even exists?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Here are the last three chapters of The Summer Sleigh Ride, by Betty K. Erwin. The girls, Margaret, Polly, Emilie, and Belle come to realize that they have been transported ahead in time. In fact, they are in the year 2322, and they have been brought to be part of The Museum of the Twentieth Century! Three hundred years from now, explains Jeems, all disease, war, and poverty have been eliminated. It would be an ideal life, but the girls long for home, and even Clara is beginning to remember snatches of her past life back in 1933. Using her ingenuity, Margaret hatches a brilliant plan.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
In chapters nine and ten of The Summer Sleigh Ride, Margaret, Polly, Emilie, and Belle find themselves in an amazing place. It is like a replica of their own small town, complete with similar buildings and a farm, almost like Emilie’s farm back home. And there is another little girl there, a girl named Clara who can’t remember where she’s come from. All the people in this new place live a very long time, perhaps forever, so they don’t really need any children. The four girls were brought here to be companions to Clara. But if they came in a time machine, as they are beginning to suspect, at least they know it can go both ways!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Here are chapters five, six, seven, and eight of The Summer Sleigh Ride. One day, Emilie doesn’t come to school. The other girls, Margaret, Polly, and Belle, all think she must be sick. Her mother, though, says she left home at the regular time, but she never arrived to class! It is starting to snow, so the girls all go out into the storm to look for their friend. To their surprise, a man in a sleigh offers to take them to where Emilie is. When they arrive, they can’t believe their eyes. They have arrived in a summertime meadow!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
In The Summer Sleigh Ride, written by Betty K. Erwin and published in 1966, Margaret, Polly, Emilie, and Belle are four friends who live in a small Wisconsin town. Every day they try to do a Good Deed, and then they watch the town to see what they can learn. But recently the girls have noticed something strange. There seems to be someone watching them! As they go about their regular activities, they can’t help but realize that something is afoot!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Today we will listen to “The Ransom of Red Chief,” a short story written by William Sydney Porter, who used the pseudonym O. Henry. Even though this story was published more than 100 years ago (in 1910), mischievous and imaginative children are still the same! Sam and Bill think they have figured out the perfect plan to come up with an easy two thousand dollars: they will kidnap a little boy and force his parents to pay a lot of money to get him back. But when they lure little Johnny Dorset into their buggy with the promise of a bagful of candy, they soon find out they’ve taken on a lot more than they can handle. If you’ve ever had to take care of a wild and rambunctious child, this story will certainly make you laugh!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Today we will hear the exciting last four chapters of Treasure Island. After Jim gives his word to Long John Silver that he won’t run away and go back to the doctor, the squire, and the captain, he and the mutineers set off to find the treasure, as indicated on the chart that Jim first acquired from the old sea chest of Billy Bones. As they trek across the island, they see a fearsome skeleton and hear the last words of old Captain Flint ringing out over the island. Could the place be haunted? The pirates are all afraid, but their hunger for the treasure makes them continue on. Here is the thrilling conclusion of Treasure Island!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here are chapters 28, 29, and 30 of Treasure Island. Poor Jim Hawkins climbed over the stockade only to find himself in the middle of the pirates’ den! The pirates weren’t very happy to see Jim, and what with one thing and another, most of the men were ready to do away with him. But Long John Silver came to the rescue and had an interesting proposal for him: if Long John would save Jim’s life now, Jim would do what he could to keep the pirate captain from hanging. And what about the treasure?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Chapters 25, 26, and 27 of Treasure Island are some ofthe most exciting of the adventure! Jim Hawkins clambers aboard the Hispaniola and finds her empty---except for the dead body of the seaman O’Brien and the living but wounded coxswain, Israel Hands. Jim and Israel Hands reach an uneasy truce as they work together to maneuver the ship into a safe harbor. But then Jim discovers that the deceitful Hands has a plan to do away with him! But the schemes of the despicable pirate go astray when he throws a knife at Jim. Eventually Jim leaves the grounded ship and sneaks through the darkening island to find his friends. He carefully climbs into the stockade and realizes that he has gone from one tense situation into something even worse!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here are chapters 22, 23, and 24 of Treasure Island. After the doctor patches up the injured captain, and does what he can for the other wounded men, he leaves the stockade to go and meet with Ben Gunn. Jim, left behind in the sweltering heat, decides to leave the safety of the stockade also and search for Ben Gunn’s boat. Soon he is floating in the little hard-to-steer coracle and thinks he will probably die on the breakers pounded by the surf when he sees the Hispaniola and has a daring but perhaps foolhardy idea!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Jim is back to narrating the exciting events unfolding on Treasure Island. In chapters 19, 20, and 21, we find Jim, the doctor, the squire, Captain Smollett, and several other good men defending the log-house and stockade against the mutineers. Long John Silver, who has proclaimed himself captain of the pirates, comes to the stockade for a parley. But his terms are ridiculous! He leaves in anger and soon the pirates attack the few brave defenders. Musket shots ring through the island!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Today’s chapters, 16, 17, and 18, of Treasure Island are narrated by Doctor Livsey because Jim Hawkins, our hero, is having his own adventures on the island. The doctor, the captain, the squire, and the other faithful crew members decide to leave the Hispaniola and find the stockade and log house on Treasure Island. As they leave the ship, one of the mutineers decides to abandon the pirates and fight on the side of good! Now if only Jim Hawkins were safe!
Come sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here are chapters 13, 14, and 15 of Treasure Island. The Hispaniola has finally reached Treasure Island, and the crew members are so anxious to go find the gold that they are belligerent and refuse to do anything they are ordered. Long John Silver leads a shore party with the intent to convince the men to be patient just a little longer. Jim also goes to the island and once again overhears and witnesses dreadful things! After what he has seen and heard, Jim is afraid to go back to the ship, until he meets a long-marooned sailor who may be able to help him.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Now we have chapters 10, 11 and 12 of Treasure Island. What an exciting thing it is for Jim to be on board the Hispaniola, immersed in the life of the sea! He watches the men march around the capstan bars, hears the boatswain pipe the hands on board, and enjoys the new experiences. Then one day as he has clambered into the open apple barrel that stands in the waist of the ship, he overhears a conversation that makes his blood run cold, and gives him a completely different view of the entire voyage!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here are chapters 7, 8, and 9 of Treasure Island. The squire, Mr. Trelawney, has purchased a lovely schooner, the Hispaniola, to take Jim and Dr. Livesey to the island on the treasure map. He’s also hired a captain, a cook, and enough men to crew the ship. Jim is so excited to go to sea that he can hardly think of anything else! Already he feels very comfortable and friendly with Long John Silver, the one-legged sailor who is to be the ship’s cook. But he doesn’t feel so kindly toward Captain Smollett, who Jim feels scolds him needlessly and is rather unkind. But for better or worse, they’re all setting sail!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here are chapters 4, 5, and 6 of Treasure Island. The old sea dog, Billy Bones, died of shock, surprise, and an excess of rum in the Admiral Benbow Inn. He left a debt behind that Jim Hawkins and his mother could certainly use. He also left behind a lot of enemies. When no one will help protect Jim and his mother as they look through Billy Bones’s sea chest, they decide to do it by themselves and take only what is due to them for the months and months of past room and board they are owed. Because the money is all jumbled together in a variety of currencies, and Jim’s mother is too honest to take more than what is due to them, they have a hard time figuring it all out. As they are contemplating what to do, they hear the ominous tap-tap-tapping of the horrible old blind man coming back to the inn! Jim stuffs an old oilskin covered bundle into his coat and tells his mother that that will have to suffice to cover the rest of the balance they are owed. Then they flee the inn, leaving the rest of the money behind. When the ruffians come to harass old Billy Bones, they find he is dead, and they cause a huge ruckus. Will Jim and his mother find their way to safety? And what is in the bundle Jim is carrying?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. When I was young, I played the game of Authors for hours on end. At some point I formed the goal of reading all the books represented in that old card game. Treasure Island was one of the books highlighted by Robert Louis Stevenson. Here is the first installment of that book, the three chapters that introduce our hero, Jim Hawkins, his dear mother and short-lived father, the Admiral Benbow Inn, and of course the old sea salt, Billy Bones, who hires Jim to keep a “weather eye out for a seafaring man with one leg.” This is just the beginning of the tremendous adventure of Treasure Island, written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson in 1883, but still as exciting and hair-raising as ever.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Kindness and beauty are both wonderful qualities to be blessed with. But where beauty is often out of our control, kindness is something people can develop and add to their characters, no matter what their outward appearance may be like. Today’s stories are two traditional African folktales, Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, retold by John Steptoe, and Chinye, retold by Obi Onyefulu. In these tales, kindness is discovered to be of far greater worth than just outward beauty. And sometimes, unkindness carries terrible penalties.
These two stories seem to me to represent the principles of Collective Work and Responsibility and Faith. There may be other principles they represent as well. What can you find in these tales?
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Today’s stories are two African folk tales retold by Baba Wague Diakite that represent some of the principles celebrated during the holiday of Kwanzaa. In both The Magic Gourd and The Hunterman and the Crocodile, Baba Wague shares the principles of Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Faith, and Creativity. At least I can identify those ideas in these wonderful tales. But you might find other principles as well. Baba Wague came to Pocatello as an honored visiting author several years ago. He is a delightful person and a talented artist. It is with pleasure that I share two of his stories today.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to these stories come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Just in time, a mysterious horseman rides up to help James and the girls hoist the melodeon into the church. The cavalryman makes a Christmas surprise happen, but he has a strange request. Can James possibly convince his grandfather to play the melodeon again after sixty some years?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
James and his grandpa, Will Chubb, are taking their family’s heirloom melodeon to the newly built church in time for the Christmas morning service. But there is a huge blizzard blowing, and the night is very, very cold. Will and James stop at two farmhouses to warm up, and at the second one, Grandpa falls asleep. James has to continue on, this time with four troublesome girls to help him hoist the organ off the stoneboat and into the church. Can they do it?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Some of the happiest years of my life were when I lived in Michigan, especially the time I spent in the vicinity of Howell, in Livingston County. In some ways, I feel as if part of me will always be there, walking along the country roads, exploring along the banks of ponds and lakes, and even shivering during the cold but beautiful winters. I was so happy to discover this book by Glendon Swarthout, The Melodeon, that takes place just a few miles south of Howell!
In this story, James is spending the year with his grandparents, Will and Ella Chubb, on their farm. Along with learning how to do farm chores and gather eggs, James also learns about his family history, including the story of how his great-grandmother Sarah received a beautiful melodeon from her husband as he left to fight in the Civil War. During a tremendous blizzard, James’s grandmother, Ella, decides she wants to give that precious melodeon to the church for their Christmas Day services. How can Grandpa Will and James help this come to pass?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Today’s story is One Candle, by Eve Bunting. This is a more modern and realistic Hanukkah story, that I think you’ll enjoy. It always brings a tear to my eye. Maybe it will for you, too.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Miss Minchin is surprised to hear that Sara has crept over to the Indian Gentleman’s house with something wrapped up in her coat. That will never do! She storms over to confront Sara and demand that she return to the school at once! Sara, however, is now under the protection of the Indian Gentleman, who has been searching and searching for her for two years. She never has to return to the school again.
What a warm and comfortable life Sara will have now that she has been found! The Large Family are so happy to listen over and over again to her stories, and she has a true friend in the Indian Gentleman. She also has an idea that will help other poor, hungry children. Her idea shows her to be, yet again, a little princess.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. The Magic has actually come to Sara’s cold little attic room. She and Becky have never been so well fed, so warm in their cold garret, or so happily calm in the face of Miss Minchin’s scoldings. Miss Minchin doesn’t know what to think. It’s almost as if Sara is a little princess after all!
One night the little monkey from the Indian Gentleman’s house creeps to the attic window. Sara lets the creature inside to protect him from the cold, and the next day she goes next door to return him. Just wait until you find out what happens next!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. At the end of a very cold, very hungry day, Sara returns to her room to find sweet Ermengarde waiting for her. After the girls hear Miss Minchin scolding poor, hungry Becky for something Becky had not done, Ermengarde remembers she has a hamper full of tasty things to eat in her room, and she creeps down to fetch it. Sara invites Becky to her room and together they imagine a festive table to await the feast. But Miss Minchin discovers the impromptu party and angrily punishes Sara by withholding all her meals for the second day in a row, and threatening to turn Becky out into the street! The brokenhearted little girls cry themselves to sleep. But the Magic that never quite allows the worst thing to happen steps in and changes Sara’s world!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Interesting things are happening on both sides of the wall that Miss Minchin’s Select Seminary shares with the Indian Gentleman’s house. Sara is imagining with Becky that they are visiting the tropical jungle where the monkey next door must have lived once. And the Indian Gentleman is despairing about ever finding the little daughter of his good friend who died before he could tell him where she was to be found.
The winter grows harsher, and Sara grows hungrier and colder. Still, she does her best to imagine that she is a princess, and to act like one, even when she is most miserable. It is hard, but Sara shows her true nobility during those hungry days.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Most of Sara’s life is filled with drudgery and loneliness, hunger and cold. But every now and then she is able to look out at the beautiful sunsets visible from her attic window and immerse herself in their splendid beauty. One day, after the house next door is finally inhabited, she meets a new friend, and his pet monkey, who have come up to the attic window just opposite hers to also enjoy the beauty of the sunset. Life is still very hard, but that small bit of beauty helps Sara endure and continue to practice being a princess in disguise.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Now that Sara lives in a cold little room with a rusted grate and no fire, she has a very different life than she used to live. But three people make this difficult time more endurable: Becky, the “prisoner in the next cell,” faithful Ermengarde, and little Lottie. Sara also wins over the confidence of one of the animal friends who share her attic with her: the young father rat she has named Melchisedec.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Sara Crewe, the little heiress to the fabulous diamond mines that have caught the imagination of the entire seminary, is turning eleven years old. Miss Minchin has prepared a fantastic party for her, complete with presents and a feast. But as the children are enjoying the festivities, Miss Minchin has a caller who gives her some terrible news, and Sara’s life, just like that, is completely changed. Now a princess no longer, Sara is exiled to the attic room next to the scullery maid, Becky, and she has to work very hard for the dubitable privilege of being allowed to stay under cruel Miss Minchin’s roof.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. In today’s chapters of A Little Princess, Sara is finally able to meet Becky, the little scullery maid who makes her fire and loves to quietly listen to the amazing stories that Sara spins. When Sara finds Becky fast asleep in her easy chair, she realizes she has an opportunity to scatter a form of largess, just as a princess would do, by being kind and loving to those who need those good things in their lives. This gives Sara a wonderful idea: she will pretend that she is a princess so that she can teach herself to act like one.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. In chapters three and four of A Little Princess, we meet some of Sara’s schoolmates. First is Ermengarde, who is plump and a bit dull. She can’t remember her lessons very well, but she loves Sara and has the potential to become a true friend. Then there is little four-year-old Lottie who needs a mother most of all. Sara volunteers to fill that role, and Lottie loves her for it.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Today I will be reading the first two chapters of A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This book was published in 1912, and has become a beloved favorite all over the world. In these chapters we will meet little Sara Crewe, who is seven years old. She and her father have come all the way from India, where Sara has lived most of her life, to England, where she will be going to school at Miss Minchin’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies. Sara and her father, Captain Crewe, don’t want to be separated from each other, but Sara needs to get her education, and her father has to return to India. Sara is a very serious young girl, and very polite. In fact, even from this young age, it seems that she has an air about her of a little princess.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Looking for treasures---and finding them---is something I’m always interested in! In this story, “With Bert and Ray,” William and his mother learn to price and then sell the contents of houses for estate sales. When Ma finds something she has a special feeling about, William pushes her to persevere and find out what it is really worth. But Ma has also learned how to keep good relations with Bert and Ray, who helped her start on her business. Sometimes it’s important to look like you’ve lost in order to win.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
This story from Throwing Shadows, by E. L. Konigsburg is “In the Village of the Weavers.” Here we meet Ampara, a tour guide in Ecuador. She meets Antonio, a very intelligent young man who has some good entrepreneurial ideas. But Antonio doesn’t see the need for politeness if he is getting things his own way. Ampara wants to help him improve his life, so she sets him an example of how to make life a little more beautiful by showing him kindness.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
In her book Throwing Shadows, E. L. Konigsburg introduces us to several characters whose lives are changed for the better by a chance encounter with someone else. That meeting throws a shadow on what things have been, and what they can become. Ned is the boy in this first story, “On Shark’s Tooth Beach.” He loves hunting along the long stretch of the ocean shore in front of his house for fossilized shark teeth. But he doesn’t particularly like to hunt for these treasures with the retired man, Bob, who likes to inform Ned several times a day that he used to be the president of a college in Michigan. When Ned finds himself in a situation where he feels he is becoming like President Bob, he makes an important choice.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company.
I am the children’s librarian in Pocatello, Idaho. Every year we give the prestigious and coveted Pocatellecott Award to the authors of our favorite books of the year. In 2012, Ellen Bryan Obed won this award for her delightful book, Twelve Kinds of Ice. Listen here as the Bryan family enjoys the coming of the ice season when they can skate all over the countryside, and even make a rink in their own garden. Not only does this book have beautiful images and language, but it makes me long for the days when we, too, can skim over the ground on silver skates, if only in our dreams.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
At the ending of the last episode, there was a loud knocking at the front door of the big old house on Walden Street. When Aunt Lily opened the door, what a wonderful surprise! The lost were found at last! Everything began to fall into the right place again. But what about the treasure? And the back taxes, and Uncle Freddy’s befuddled mind?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
With the deadline very quickly approaching for Aunt Lily to pay the back taxes or lose their beloved house, Eleanor and Edward decide to sleep one last night in the tower room. The dream they have is the most dangerous yet, and Eddy has a terrible accident! Aunt Lily forbids the children to sleep upstairs anymore. But there are only two more stanzas of the mystery poem to solve, and the children can’t resist trying just one more time to find the jewels that will help their family.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
In these chapters, Eleanor has a dream of her own, in which she watches Prince Krishna build a beautiful dress out of snow. And then both children, so tired of winter, dream of walking a sandy beach and climbing into a chambered nautilus. Still, winter lingers on and on in Concord, and Mr. Preek has given Aunt Lily an ultimatum. The Hall family must pay the back taxes in full, in two weeks’ time, or lose the house! Uncle Freddy’s idea of living in the hollow apple tree is charming, but unrealistic. If only they could find some jewels!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Again, Eleanor and Edward have some strange shared dreams. In one of these, they find themselves in a strange and mysterious maze made of mirrors. By carefully choosing their path, they stumble across some very exciting futures for themselves. But growing up is hard, and the future seems very far away, especially because the children haven’t found any diamonds or other jewels to help Aunt Lily pay all the back taxes! The adventure continues!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
In these chapters of The Diamond in the Window, Eleanor and Edward continue to have very revealing dreams about the early inhabitants of Concord, Massachusetts. They see a doll’s-eye view of the Alcott girls and eat delicious breadcrumbs thrown to their little mouse-selves by Henry David Thoreau himself! Poor old Uncle Freddy lands himself in a bit of hot water to the embarrassment of Eddy and Eleanor when he starts harassing tourists at Walden Pond. But are the children any nearer to finding the jewels to help Aunt Lily?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
In these next four chapters of The Diamond in the Window, Eleanor and Edward Hall decide to solve the clues to the treasure hunt that were scratched into the glass at the top of the tower room. They have a mysterious dream that leads them to the first treasure, but they haven’t found any jewels yet. So, they are ready to try to figure out the second clue!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Today we are beginning a new story, The Diamond in the Window, by Jane Langton. This book was published in 1962 and is still as exciting and intriguing as it was when it was new. It is the first in a series of eight books.
Eleanor and Edward Hall live in an old, rather rundown house that has towers and turrets and balconies, in the middle of historic Concord, Massachusetts. They live with their Aunt Lily and her brother, Uncle Freddy. One day they notice a colorful window up above the attics and realize they don’t know where that window is. They hunt for it and discover a mystery in their own house!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of MacMillan publishing company.
Here are the last two chapters of The White Mountains: We Fight a Battle, and The White Mountains. While Will is resting after he and Henry and Beanpole have tried, futilely, to lose the Tripod that is somehow following them, Henry notices a strange metal button embedded in Will’s skin. It is some kind of a tracking device! That explains how the boys were never able to escape from the Tripods. But even though the boys have four grenades that Beanpole saved from the Great-City metro, these weapons seem useless against the terrible invaders. What can the boys do to escape and cover the last distance to their goal, where people live free with hope for the future?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of MacMillan publishing company.
Chapters seven and eight of The White Mountains are The Tripod, and Flight and a Follower. During the second day of the tournament, Will learns something that horrifies and deeply saddens him. It also helps him realize that he must escape from the Castle of the Red Tower and join his cousin Henry and Beanpole on their journey to the White Mountains. But every day as the three are traveling, it becomes more and more obvious that a Tripod is tracking them!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of MacMillan publishing company.
This chapter of The White Mountains is called The Castle of the Red Tower. After Will became very ill with a fever, he and Henry and Beanpole were taken in by the Comte and Comtesse of the Castle of the Red Tower. Their beautiful daughter, Eloise, becomes Will’s special friend. For the first time, Will has second thoughts about his trek to the White Mountains. Is it really so important to live a free life? Certainly life in the Château de la Tour Rouge is pleasant and alluring. Will has a hard decision to make.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of MacMillan publishing company.
Four years ago I visited a dear friend who lives in Paris. We had a wonderful time together exploring her beautiful old city. We peeked into shops and drank hot chocolate in sidewalk cafes and took the metro all over. It was quite a contrast between that enchanting experience and the one you will listen to today when Will, Henry, and Beanpole cross the desolate and ruined City of the Ancients on their way to the White Mountains.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of MacMillan publishing company.
Here are chapters three and four of The White Mountains, by John Christopher. Will sneaks out of his house to begin the journey to the White Mountains. But soon he has an unexpected companion on his trek---Henry! As they travel south to find the free people, the boys put aside their differences to help each other find their way, first across the English Channel and then on to parts unknown.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of MacMillan publishing company.
A book that has had a big impact on me and on what I think of as the standard of a wonderful and intriguing adventure story is The White Mountains, the first volume of a series by John Christopher. In this book, a powerful alien race that seem to inhabit huge three-legged creatures called Tripods have taken over the earth. Once a year, all the children who have turned fourteen years of age during the past year are taken up into the Tripods and mind controlling caps are embedded into their heads. Will Parker sees how this cap has changed his beloved older cousin, Jack, and he really doesn’t want to have the Capping happen to him. But how can he avoid it?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Here is the final installment of The Animal Family, by Randall Jarrell. One day after a storm, the lynx finds something surprising and amazing. He and the bear work together to bring this new discovery back to the little house at the edge of the meadow. What he found changes the lives of the hunter and the mermaid forever!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
In the little cabin between the forest and the sea, the hunter and the mermaid have built a peaceful and happy life for themselves. It becomes all the better when they open their home to two animals, first a bear cub and then a little lynx. They enjoy watching these two creatures grow and grow and grow!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
In 1966, Randall Jarrell’s book The Animal Family, won a Newbery Honor prize. Here is the story of a hunter and a mermaid who found each other and lived together in a small house, and of the animal family they eventually assembled together. It is a charming and lovely tale.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Today’s story is one of my favorites. This story, “The Waddle-I-Doers,” is the last chapter in Mrs. Piggle Wiggle’s Magic. Instead of a story of a magical cure, this is a tale of a treasure hunt for secret drawers and cupboards throughout Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s fascinating upside-down house. I hope this story makes you want to hunt for treasure as much as it does me!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
The Franklin children have a bad habit of interrupting anyone who is talking. But Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has the cure! And then Jody Jones just doesn’t want to go to school anymore. He pretends to be sick so that he can become a carpenter and work on the treehouse, and of course carpenters don’t need to go to school. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has a cure for Jody, too. Here are two more funny and clever tales from Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic, by Betty MacDonald.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Meet Christopher Brown, a very friendly, kind boy who just happens to have the table manners of a wild animal! Can Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s marvelous pig, Lester, help cure him of his horrible eating habits? His mother certainly hopes so! Today’s story is “The Bad Table-Manners Cure,” from Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Here is “The Tattletale Cure,” from Mrs. Piggle Wiggle’s Magic. Wendy and Timmy Hamilton have recently come down with a bad case of Tattletaleitis! They tell on each other and on their classmates all day long. It is very annoying. But Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has a remarkable cure!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
When I was a little girl, we had in our house a very old copy of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic, by Betty MacDonald, that had been my mother’s when she was a little girl. We read that book over and over again until the cover was coming off and the pages were all loose. But the words stayed with us and became part of our family lore. For example, when we are eating dinner together and someone says, “Fleas gasp and mutter,” we all know that that person is asking for the butter. Here is “The Thought-You-Saider’s Cure,” along with the wonderful introductory chapter, “Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s Magic.”
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Here are the last few chapters of Baby Island, by Carol Ryrie Brink. Mr. Peterkin is becoming a kind and helpful neighbor to the stranded girls. He cuts a path through the jungle and builds baby walkers for the little children. Mary realizes that Christmas is coming, and Jean still longs to find out what is in Mr. Peterkin’s chest.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Here are chapters nine, ten, and eleven of Baby Island, by Carol Ryrie Brink. Mary and Jean meet their neighbor, the grumpy Mr. Peterkin. He has goats, and that means milk for the babies! But oh, he is a very grumpy man! Not only that, but he tells terrible fibs about his missing toe. Mary and Jean do their best to reform him, but maybe he just can’t be changed.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Here are chapters six, seven and eight of Baby Island, by Carol Ryrie Brink. Finally, the girls find a clear stream of fresh water and a perfect place to make their home. Baby Pink learns a new word, and Mary and Jean discover that they are not alone on Baby Island!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
Here are chapters three, four, and five of Baby Island, by Carol Ryrie Brink. After a wild night, Mary and Jean find themselves on the sandy shores of a beautiful desert island, Baby Island! Now come the important tasks of securing the boat, building a shelter, and finding fresh water. In and around these necessary responsibilities are the regular chores of feeding and bathing the babies, and keeping them entertained.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Simon and Schuster Publishing Company.
When the steamship they are traveling on to join their father in Australia begins to sink, resourceful Mary Wallace, and her sister, Jean, rescue the four babies on board! Now they are floating in an open boat, somewhere in the Pacific, hoping to land on one of the hundreds of islands that must be out there. Here are the first chapters of Baby Island, by Carol Ryrie Brink.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Today’s story is Warton and the Traders, by Russell E. Erickson. It is fall, and Warton is taking the toads’ yearly gift of preserves to their Aunt Toolia. When he arrives at her house, she is nowhere to be found. Warton searches all over, until a friendly whippoorwill tells him that his aunt may have gone to The Bog. Even worse, a mean wildcat is prowling around! What can Warton do?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Today’s story is Warton and Morton, by Russell E. Erickson. Warton persuades Morton to go outside and explore. All is well until their tent gets swept away in a rainstorm and the brothers are separated. Luckily, Warton is taken in by some friendly muskrats. But where is Morton?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Today’s story is A Toad for Tuesday, by Russell E. Erickson. Warton and Morton are two little toads who live under an old tree. Warton does all the cleaning, and his brother, Morton, does the cooking. One day Morton makes such a delicious batch of beetle brittle that Warton wants to take a box of it to their Aunt Toolia. The only problems are that it is winter, and a big fierce owl lives in the wood between the toads’ house and Aunt Toolia’s. But Warton is brave, and after he builds himself some skis, off he goes!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Today’s story is “Pie and Punch and You-Know-Whats,” from Centerburg Tales by Robert McCloskey. Uncle Ulysses has a new jukebox in his lunchroom. When he leaves Homer in charge one evening, a mysterious stranger brings in a disgustingly unbreakable record and inserts it into the jukebox. Then he leaves, telling Homer and Freddy NOT to play the record! What happens next leads to trouble.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Today’s story is “Experiment Thirteen,” from Centerburg Tales by Robert McCloskey. Homer Price and his friend Freddy have been hired to help Centerburg citizen Dulcy Dooner take care of the thirteen strange plants that are growing from the seeds he inherited. What will those seeds grow into? For one thing, they are tremendously huge, and for another, Homer thinks the shape of the plants is a bit familiar, in a bad way!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Nothing much is happening in the little town of Centerburg. So when an antique car, driven by a man with a very long beard, comes to town, everyone is interested. On the back of the car is his amazing invention: a musical mousetrap that doesn’t hurt the mice! Homer and the rest of the children can’t wait to see it in action.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Homer Price likes to help his Uncle Telemachus wind string on his huge ball in the garage. The sheriff also saves string, on a ball down at the jail. They are invited to unroll their balls at the county fair, to determine once and for all who is the String Saving Champion of the World. But Miss Terwilliger, whom both Uncle Telemachus and the sheriff want to marry, joins the contest! Whose ball is the biggest? To find out,
Sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Homer Price is helping his Uncle Ulysses make doughnuts with the Automatic Doughnut Making Machine. It is all very exciting, especially when the machine just won't turn off! Now there are doughnuts everywhere! What can Homer do?
Just sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Homer Price lives just outside the small town of Centerburg. His family owns a small tourist stop with a gas station and little cabins to rent. Homer does odd jobs around the place, and in his spare time he builds radios. A nice, soft, tame animal named Aroma has become his pet and likes to sleep in his suitcase. But his new pet is a SKUNK!! Something interesting happens when some robbers meet up with Aroma.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Today’s story is McBroom Tells a Lie, by Sid Fleischman, copyright 1976. McBroom’s youngsters are building a hoopedoodle of some kind in the barn, and old Heck Jones has been hee-hawing around, wanting to trade his poor, worn-out land for the McBrooms’ wonderful one-acre farm. And Josh McBroom confesses to telling a lie!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Today’s story is McBroom Tells the Truth, by Sid Fleischman, copyright 1966. I first discovered this book when my sons and I were staying in our good friends’ cabin in Michigan. There was no electricity in the cabin, so at night we lit hurricane lamps and watched the fireflies gleaming outside over the pond. There was a bookshelf in the cabin, and on it we found several stories about McBroom, his wife Melissa, and his eleven redheaded youngsters. I read the books aloud by lamplight. I’m sure you’ll also enjoy hearing about McBroom and his wonderful one-acre farm!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Today's story is "Mortimer Says Nothing," which is the first chapter in the book of the same name by Joan Aiken. This is the last of the Arabel and Mortimer stories I'll be sharing on this podcast. Next time I'll start an entirely new book and author. But you can find many more stories about Arabel and Mortimer in the public library. And don't stop there! Joan Aiken wrote scores and scores of wonderful books I'm sure you will enjoy!
In this tale, Mrs. Jones is having quite a bit of stress. About thirty members of The Rumbury Ladies Kitchen Club have invited themselves to her house for a light luncheon. Not only is she frantically making scones and macaroons and meringues and mayonnaise and prawn cocktails, but she saw a mouse in the house! At least Mortimer is behaving himself---by refusing to cooperate with an ornithologist sound recorder.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Today’s story is “The Mystery of Mr. Jones’s Disappearing Taxi,” a segment from the book Mortimer’s Cross, by Joan Aiken. Mr. Jones’s taxi has been using a LOT of gasoline lately, and so Mr. Jones, Chris Cross, Arabel, and Mortimer plan a stake-out to discover why. They end up at Rumbury Tower Heights where all sorts of interesting things are happening.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Today’s story is “Mortimer’s Tie,” a segment from the book Arabel and Mortimer, by Joan Aiken. Mortimer is trying to help Arabel and Chris Cross wash Mr. Jonses’s taxi, but he just creates a big mess, so he looks for diamonds instead. Then he finds one the size of a stewed prune! What will Mortimer choose for a reward: two thousand pounds or a ten-day cruise? Surely whatever he chooses will lead to some excitement.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Today’s story is “The Spiral Stair,” a chapter in the book Arabel and Mortimer, by Joan Aiken. Arabel is staying with her Uncle Urk and Aunt Effie for a couple of weeks. It’s exciting, because they live at a zoo, with ostriches, zebras, giraffes and more. There are also some automatic donut making machines that catch Mortimer’s interest.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Today’s story is “Arabel’s Birthday,” a chapter in the book Mortimer Says Nothing, by Joan Aiken. There are guests at Rainwater Crescent, Cousin Gladys and her daughter, little Annie Line, have come to stay while Cousin Gladys has some dental work done. But Annie is not a very nice little girl, and she has a doll that whispers secrets only to her. Mortimer doesn’t like this, so he makes some mischief!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
Today’s story is “The Escaped Black Mamba and Other Things,” a chapter in the book Arabel’s Raven, by Joan Aiken. Arabel and Mortimer get to spend the evening with their favorite babysitter, Chris Cross, while Mr. and Mrs. Jones have gone to a ball. Arabel and Mortimer have fun with all sorts of different coin-operated machines up at the High Street. It’s all very exciting!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. During this time of Covid, many people aren’t able to use the library in the same way as in the past. To help bring more stories to more readers, many publishing companies are allowing books that are normally unavailable for copyright reasons to be read out loud and shared with others until June 30, 2022. The stories that fall under that special permission will all be taken down on that date, so listen now, while they’re available! Today’s story is shared with permission of Penguin Random House Publishing Company.
This is Season 2, Episode 1, and the story I’m sharing today is Arabel’s Raven, taken from the book of the same title, by Joan Aiken, and shared here with permission from the publishers. Mortimer the Raven is one of my very favorite characters in all of literature, and I’m happy to share with you this first tale of his adventures.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 35, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
In this poetic interlude, listen to the pretty pattern rhymes make. The rhythm of poetry is delightful. But just as not all poetry has to rhyme, neither does it always bring delight. Sometimes it has a different message: of hope, or grief, or even amusement, such as when a kitten discovers snow.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to these poems come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 34, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
The four stories you will hear today are from the book Ashley Bryan’s African Tales, Uh-Huh. You will hear about adventures of Ananse the Spider, Elephant and Frog, Elephant and Bush Cow, and one of my favorites, How Animals Got Their Tails. These stories all illustrate one or more of the principles of Kwanzaa, often in funny ways. For example, Ananse the Spider may not realize it, but he is providing Crow with a way to become “uplifted economically.” Other stories illustrate the principles of unity, creativity, purpose, and other values. See if you can figure out some of the principles these stories demonstrate! The Ashley Bryan Center and the publishers have both graciously given permission for these stories to appear on this podcast.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to these stories come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 33, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Dear little Carol Bird prepares a marvelous feast for the Ruggles children. She has thought of everything: turkey, cranberry sauce, desserts galore, and best of all, presents for everyone! Finally, at the very end of the evening, the church next door has prepared some very special Christmas music for Carol and her family to listen to through their open windows.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 32, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
This story, The Birds’ Christmas Carol, was written by Kate Douglas Wiggin in 1886. It is the story of a sweet little girl named Carol who was born on Christmas Day. Her kind and loving temperament endears her to everyone. But even for all the attention she gets, Carol wants to give something to those around her to make their Christmas bright.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 31, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Here are some holiday stories for you to enjoy. Today’s tales were written by Isaac Bashevis Singer and the publisher graciously gave permission to have them on this podcast. In the first story, a young boy with vivid dreams becomes lost in a snowstorm on Hanukkah Eve. Then from Warsaw we will travel to the city of Chelm, which has the greatest population of fools in the whole world!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to these stories come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker, and this is episode 30. As we have just finished a book, this episode will be a refreshing poetic interlude before we begin the next story.
Whether it rhymes or doesn’t rhyme, whether it is about nature or life or a historical event, or anything else, a poem can give you insights and help you see things in a different way.
So, sit back, relax, and listen to these poems come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 29, book 3, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
After Old Mombi is captured by Glinda the Good, she reveals an astounding piece of information about something the Wonderful Wizard of Oz entrusted her to perform years ago. Everything will be different from now on, once Mombi reverses her nefarious magic!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 28, book 3, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
The band of travelers reaches the land of Glinda the Good, and of course she wants to help the situation in the Land of Oz. She has some interesting news, though, that may change the outcome of Queen Jinjur’s revolt!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 27, book 3, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Once the little band of friends reaches the Emerald City, it seems that they have to find a way to escape again! So they decide to build something to fly them away from the palace.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 26, book 3, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Old Mombi is doing her best to thwart the Scarecrow’s advance to retake the Emerald City from the Army of Revolt by erecting insurmountable barriers as they travel. The little queen of the field mice, whom the Tin Woodman saved from death, gives essential help to the party, and even provides the Scarecrow with a way to frighten off the invaders.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 25, book 3, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
The Tin Woodman has joined the group, and now they are all traveling back to the Emerald City to quell the revolt. As they are traveling, they meet a very interesting, and highly magnified personage, to add to their little band.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 24, book 3, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Jack Pumpkinhead meets His Majesty, the Scarecrow, and while they are becoming acquainted, General Jinjur's army of revolt conquers the Emerald City! Can the Saw-Horse save the day by galloping them all to safety?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 23, book 3, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead decide to travel to the Emerald City to talk to His Majesty, the Scarecrow. But Jack can’t possibly travel so far on his wooden joints. Tip comes up with a marvelous solution, and the Saw-Horse joins their little group.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode 22, book 3, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Almost everyone has heard the story of the Wizard of Oz, or has read the book, or has seen the movie. But did you know that there are many more books about adventures in Oz? The book I will be reading now is The Land of Oz, and it is the second in the series. It was written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1904. Here you will hear about Tip, a young boy who escapes a wicked witch and travels with his creation, Jack Pumpkinhead, to the Emerald City. You will also hear about the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, and meet other interesting characters.
So, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker, and this is episode 21. As we have just finished a book, this episode will be a refreshing poetic interlude before we begin the next story.
Whatever the season, whatever the weather, whether your mood is happy or sad, there are poems to help you find solace and beauty and companionship as you walk through life.
So, sit back, relax, and listen to these poems come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode 20, book 2, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
This is a Christmas unlike any Maida has ever experienced! She opens her shop to Rosie, Dicky, and Arthur for their handicraft fair, and she finds the perfect gifts for her father, Billy, and of course the members of the WMNT. But Granny’s gift from Billy is the best gift of all!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode 19, book 2, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Maida goes to her first ever Halloween party, but she has even more fun when it snows and she learns to coast down hills and build a very funny snowman.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode 18, book 2, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Now Maida is part of the WMNT club. She loves it, and they have great plans! But when Laura Lathrop becomes deathly ill, Maida and the other children realize that there is more to life than either work or play.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode 17, book 2, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Maida is learning to deal with the troubles that come to her as she keeps her little shop. And Billy Potter spins a marvelous fairy tale for Maida and Rosie!
To hear more, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode 16, book 2, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
To Maida, who is living in Primrose Court almost as a princess in disguise, her new life of shopkeeping and friends is as magical as a fairy tale. But not everyone is as kind to her as she is to others. Thankfully, she is becoming very good friends with Dicky Dore, who lives with his widowed mother and baby sister just down the street from Maida.
To hear more, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode fifteen, book two, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Maida has opened her little shop, and now she is beginning to meet the children who live and go to school around Primrose Court. Listen as Maida meets Dicky, the naughty Betsy Hale, and of course, the amazing Rosie Brine!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode Fourteen, book two, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When I was ten years old, I spent several weeks visiting my cousins during the summer. While I was there, I found my aunt’s treasured copy of Maida’s Little Shop, written by Inez Haynes Irwin and published in 1909. I was enchanted by the book and thought you might enjoy listening to it, too.
So, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker, and this is episode Thirteen. As we have just finished a book, this episode will be a refreshing poetic interlude before we begin the next story.
So many times, the words of poetry come back to us during difficult or happy or emotional times in our lives. Here is a selection of some poems you may remember from childhood or from discoveries later in life.
So, sit back, relax, and listen to these poems come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode 12, book one, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
There are still some important questions to answer in this book: Will Tom and Becky ever be found in the cave? Whatever happened to the treasure, and Injun Joe? And will Huckleberry Finn ever have a warm and comfortable place to sleep?
To find out, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is Episode Eleven, book one, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Everyone loves a picnic, and Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher are no exception. Not only is there a big outdoor feast and some games, but there is also a deep limestone cave to explore. But while Tom and Becky are roaming through the cavern's labyrinth, Huckleberry Finn has another kind of adventure.
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode Ten, book one, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Who wouldn’t want to find buried treasure? Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn know there must be treasure around, it stands to reason. But when they get trapped in the old haunted house on Cardiff Hill, they wonder if the gold and silver they saw is worth their lives!
Now, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode nine, book one, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Tom’s conscience is troubling him. He and Huckleberry Finn were secret witnesses to a murder, but the man who committed the dreadful deed seems to be getting away with it! Should Tom tell what he knows? But he and Huck swore a terrible oath to keep mum. Tom has to decide what to do, even at the peril of his life!
To find out what happens, sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode eight, book one, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
It’s almost summer vacation in Tom Sawyer’s town of St. Petersburg, and Tom has plans to leave school with a bang. But first he needs to make things right between himself and Becky Thatcher.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode seven, book one, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
When Tom Sawyer, Joe Harper, and Huckleberry Finn traipse into their own funeral service, of course everyone is amazed and surprised and thankful. But is life all smooth now that the boys have returned safely? Of course not! Somehow, Tom always gets into a scrape.
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode six, book one, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.
Even pirates on an idyllic desert island can get homesick, and Tom Sawyer, Joe Harper, and Huckleberry Finn begin to get tired of playing all day and doing nothing. Plus, maybe the people at home are missing them. Should they go back? After some consideration, Tom hatches a magnificent plan!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode five, book one.
Poor Tom. No one appreciates him, and no one appreciates his best friend, Joe Harper either. So the two of them, and Huckleberry Finn, of course, decided to leave civilization and become pirates out on Jackson Island!
Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life!
Read along with Kathryn Lopez Luker, Children's Librarian at Marshall Public Library
Everyone likes to listen to a good book, and there are so many wonderful books to choose from! So we decided to bring you this podcast of Stories Come to Life. Each episode features a chapter or two (or three) from either classic or modern literature especially chosen to be interesting and exciting to hear. So sit back, relax, and listen to these Stories Come to Life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life! This is episode three, book one: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain.
In this episode we find that Tom Sawyer, like so many young boys, does NOT like school. But there are some compensations, a cute new girl in class, for example. And of course there is always the excitement of talking to Huckleberry Finn!
So sit back, relax, and listen to this Story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life.
This is episode two, book one, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain.
In these chapters we will find out what happens when Tom makes plans to impress a girl, in church!
So sit back, relax, and listen to this Story come to life!
Welcome to Stories Come to Life. This is episode one, book one, and I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. I’m the children’s librarian at Marshall Public Library in Pocatello, Idaho. I love reading books aloud and helping others to find interesting and exciting things to read. Today I will be reading the first chapters of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain.
In this episode we will meet Tom, a young boy who can’t seem to help getting into mischief or staying out of trouble.
So sit back, relax, and listen to this Story come to life!