Sparkle Stories Podcast

This week's featured story comes from the Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Pick-Up League." Martin wants to join little league baseball like his friend Peter, but Momma and Daddy say he isn’t old enough for organized sports. He has to be nine. Nine! Martin is amazed! But that doesn’t mean there’s no baseball for Martin. Daddy pulls together a pick-up game with friends; flexible rules, bat and ball options, and many creative calls from the sidelines make the game fun for everyone in the family! If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Fairy Snow Fort." This week Sylvia wakes with a plan to build a "Fairy Snow Fort," a structure that looks a lot like an igloo with one very important distinction. The whole family helps build the fort together, working steadily all day, and culminates with a star-lit dinner within. This is a story of collaboration and the joys of a full family project. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Junkyard Tales collection. It's called "The Pie Festival." Ben Thompson, clever cat, wakes to a buzz of activity in the Junkyard: today is the day of the Pie Festival! On this eventful day, each of the junkyard animals makes their own particular pie, and at the end of the day, the pies are judged. And, the identity of the judge is a secret! But what kind of pie should Ben Thompson make? The diets and tastes of all the junkyard animals are so different! In the end, Ben makes an original pie that will win the attention of at least one junkyard animal. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Junkyard Tales: All Together Now collection. It's called "Zippy's Dream." When Ben and his Junkyard friends have a conversation about 'hopes and dreams', everyone shares something they'd love to have one day. After hearing some unique and exciting dreams, Zippy offers his. And after all the animals move through their surprise, they resolve to grant him his dream. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the At Home with Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Tag Sale." Martin and Sylvia's next-door neighbors, the Browns, are clearing out their barn and organizing a tag sale. They invite Martin and Sylvia's family to join them. Martin enthusiastically chooses toys and books he no longer uses to donate to the sale, but Sylvia is troubled by the idea of giving her old things away. In the end, she is surprised how much fun and satisfying it is to see other children love her things as much as she did. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the At Home with Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Puppy Sitting." Martin and Sylvia wake one morning to hear Momma talking to a friend on the phone. What's that she's saying? A puppy is coming to visit? For a whole day and night? Brother and sister are thrilled at the idea of having a younger dog around to play fetch, tag, and other fun doggies games. They are surprised to learn, however, that puppy sitting is a lot more work than they expect! If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the At Home with Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Living Room Camping." Brother and sister look out at the gray late autumn landscape and long for summer again. They miss the easy play, the summer adventures — and most of all, they miss camping. "You can still go camping!" says Daddy, "You can go living room camping. It's the same as outdoor camping, but just ... inside." Martin and Sylvia are inspired and immediately set to preparing. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Martin & Sylvia: Saturdays! collection. It's called "Nippy Knitting Day." Martin and Sylvia wake one late summer morning and feel a chill in the air. It is the first nippy morning of the year and they both start to imagine all the cool weather things they could do. Eventually they decide to knit scarves to help them stay warm. By the time they finish, however, the temperature has changed... If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Pirates." “Yo ho ho” and “Shiver me timbers!” are not what is usually heard on Town Lake during Lake Days, but this year Pirates have invaded the event, complete with head scarves, gnarly beards, and thick pirate accents. Could that be Martin in the black pirate’s hat? Could that be Sylvia at the helm of the pirate canoe? Could that be Daddy leading them to invade a friend’s sailboat and attempt to steal some "booty"? Listen and find out. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Junkyard Tales collection. It's called "The Guardian of the Junkyard." Ben knows all about knights: they are brave, they protect the weak, they have swords and shields, and they ride horses. But what he doesn’t know is that two of his junkyard friends are also knights! Junkyard knights! Once a year they “battle” it out to decide who shall be the next “Guardian of the Junkyard.” If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Helping Out." Martin and Sylvia wake to a snowstorm and the promise of sledding on the neighbor's horse pasture hill. When the hill turns out to be occupied and they return to see that Momma has taken a sick day from her work, the children recognize the value and delight of letting go of plans and helping out at home. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's featured story comes from the Junkyard Tales: All Together Now collection. It's called "Funny How Things Work Out." When Spiro and Zippy's ductwork home is suddenly taken away by a flatbed truck, the Junkyard animals rally to find them a new home. The two friends trust that things will work out, but the options aren't great. Finally they are delighted to see that indeed things do work out - just not in the way you might expect it. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a featured story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia's Twelve Days of Christmas collection. It's called "Day One: The Christmas Drum." This story is Day One: The Christmas Drum It's Christmas morning. All of the presents have been opened. "Is all of the fun over?" the children wonder. Then they notice something in golden wrapping paper hiding behind the tree. It is a record album called Twelve Tales of Tullyport Christmas; an album from Daddy's childhood. When their neighbors, the Browns, join them for Christmas breakfast, Daddy pulls out his old record player, and they listen to the first story together. All are delighted in the possibilities of a new Christmas tradition. From "Twelve Tales of a Tullyport Christmas: The Christmas Drum". In the story, Francis Tully and his family leave Ballyclare, Northern Ireland and arrive in colonial Maine in 1760 to see rocky shores, white pines and great possibility. They bring some clothes, some tools and an Irish frame drum that Francis insists will bring others together to live, work and celebrate together. This story honors the community impulse that is central to Christmastide. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia's Giving Thanks collection. It's called "Part One: Two Magic Words." This story is a part of Martin & Sylvia's Giving Thanks Story Collection — three stories that explore the magical power of two important words: "thank you". The children learn that feeling a 'thank you' with their whole body can change how they feel — and change how other people feel! This lesson sets the whole family into a Thanksgiving holiday filled with appreciation, joy and family adventure. Part One: "Two Magic Words" is about how brother and sister turn a long drive to Grandma's into a magical quest to bring gratitude into every part of the trip. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia: More Adventures Collection. It's called "A Little Bit of Light" Every year when the trees have all lost their leaves and the ground starts to frost in the morning, brother and sister start to make their lanterns for their annual lantern festival. This year they can't go their normal route and need to choose another place to walk. When Martin suggests going next door to visit the doctor's house, Sylvia worries that it will be too dark. But the magic of the evening shows her just how much can be seen with the light of a single lantern. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia's Family Tree of Stories Collection. It's called "Part Six: Nanni's Story." Nanni's story is about how she loved to sing to horses when her father, a large animal vet, was treating them. The horses always responded. When her father took her to the Kentucky Derby to treat one of the competing horses, a most incredible opportunity presented itself. This is a story about what magic can happen when you authentically wish to help others. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia's Halloween collection. It's called "Part One: The Thinning of the Veils" The stories follow the events that unfold over the few days before Halloween as the creative brother and sister prepare for their annual Fairy Ball. Part One: "The Thinning of the Veils" While Martin and Sylvia wait for the invitations to arrive for their annual Halloween Fairy Ball, Sylvia spies something curious sticking out of the toy shelf in their bedroom. She examines it, and finds that it is an orange piece of paper with a drawing — and on the drawing is a red “X.” Martin declares that it must be a treasure map! And thus brother and sister are launched on a cross-town treasure hunt. Where will it lead them? If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia: Dress Up collection. It's called "Part One: Grown-Up Costumes." One morning, Martin and Sylvia notice that Daddy is taking a particularly long time to get dressed. He's headed to a very big meeting, and he wants to look just right. When they see the ways colorful choices help inspire his attitude, they begin to wonder: what special clothing items might inspire their own outings? If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia: Saturdays! collection. It's called "Sudden Story." During a visit to Grandma's, brother and sister are inspired by some street performers who create a "flash performance" in the park. They too want to tell a story publicly — and suddenly — without any announcement. When Momma suggests they tell a "sudden story" at Mrs. Brown's birthday party, Martin knows just the right story to tell... If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia: How to Be a Superhero collection. It's called "Part One: Are Superheroes Real?." When Martin and Sylvia learn about superheroes from their neighborhood friends, their curiosity is instantly piqued. What is a superhero? Are superheroes real? And what do Momma and Daddy means when they say there are real superheroes living in their own town? If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series! For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!