Sparkle Stories Podcast

We're thrilled to present our carefully curated September podcast selections that revolve around embracing authenticity, cultivating a culture of acceptance, valuing differences, and empowering children to dream big! This month we will feature our free stories on our website here at https://www.sparklestories.com/september-stories/ The stories are there waiting for you!

This week's free story comes from the At Home with Martin & Sylvia collection. It's called "Go-to-Sleep Fairy." This story is a part of the "Handy Toolbelt of Stories" — a collection of stories designed to give your family support during overwhelming life events. Included are stories about trauma, sickness, potential harm and death. They are stories to have in your back pocket if your family experiences a sudden trauma or difficult life event. This story comes from the Martin & Sylvia Series. Martin is grumpy — he simply hasn’t been getting enough sleep. He explains to Momma that he is just not sleepy at night. Everyone has some advice, from warm milk to special stories, but it is his sister who saves the day (or night!) with her delightful introduction to the go-to-sleep fairy. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 Windward Ho! Fore & Aft (Book One) collection. It's called "Episode One: Periwinkle's Parrot." In this first episode of Windward Ho! book one, Periwinkle "Wink" Mackenzie excitedly waits to purchase the next book in her favorite series, The Windward Chronicles, early on the morning of its release. She never suspects that receiving the new book will be only the beginning of an unforeseen adventure. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 Back to School Stories collection. It's called "Libby & Dish: What Is School Time?" When Libby starts showing some back-to-school energy, Dish knows just how to stoke the fires! Libby has settled into summer and the easy rhythms of life at her grandparents’ house. Dish, however, feels ready to get back to their predictable city ways. When the clever cat notices telltale signs that Libby is itching to learn some new skills, he invites her to imagine a glorious return to the city and the delights of School Time. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 Sparkle Sleepytime collection. It's called "Teeny the Toadlet." Teeny is a little toadlet who is about to go to school for the very first time. When she realizes that going to Toad School includes leaving some of her friends from the pond and making new friends on land, she grows nervous. Her mother reassures her that toads are lucky because they can make new friends at Toad School while keeping their old friends from the pond. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 Junkyard Tales collection. It's called "Beaver Days." The Junkyard animals don’t know what to do. It is the All Clear Common, when no one works and the animals do things that are fun and relaxing. But no one has any good ideas — not until Fredland the Moose arrives with an exciting invitation: come to “Beaver Days” where the forest animals meet at the lake to play games, run races, and eat all sorts of yummy food! The Junkyard Animals have an adventure they could never have imagined on their own. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 Nature School Introduction collection. It's called "Part One: What to Do on Thursdays." This collection introduces the Martin & Sylvia: Nature School Series. In the Nature School Introduction, the idea for a "Nature School" is born. It's summer's end, and Momma, Martin, and Sylvia reflect on all the things they loved about the summer season: hikes, walks along the beach, blueberry picking, climbing trees and collecting bird feathers. Then Momma suggests that they keep the summer outdoor fun alive all year long: “Every Thursday, let's have Nature School!” And so Martin joins the Goose-eye Wilderness School, and Sylvia and her friend Sophia create a Nature home-school. From wild craft cooking to outdoor games to building projects to tree identification, Nature School is a year of unfolding learning and fun. In Part One: Momma, brother, and sister decide they want to dedicate one day a week for outside 'nature' school and they set intentions about it. By the next day, Martin is enrolled in the Goose-eye Wilderness school and Momma has formed a homeschool nature day with Sylvia's friend Sophia. "Wow!" they think, "Making intentions really works!" If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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!

Our days are filled with busyness and many many demands. Kids lives too are full. How do we cut through all of that to find a little extra joy and peace? Wonder! It's a powerful tool for rekindling an inner sense of awe and appreciation - which leads to so many good feels. In this conversation with Lisabeth Sewell and Dr. Carrie Contey, they explore all the ways to enrich our days with a little wonder. Visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the Libby & Dish: Adventures of the Finder's Club collection. It's called "Part One: A New Kind of Adventure." Libby, Juan Paco, and Morgan’s weekly adventure hike in the park has reached an impasse. Libby likes the path they always take, but Morgan wants to go somewhere new. What to do? Luckily, Dish has a suggestion that not only bridges the impasse, but opens the door to discovering something magical and completely unexpected! If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 By Thistle By Thimble collection. It's called "Constable Phelps and the Wondersmith." Everything in the town of Iontas is in perfect order. Constable Phelps keeps it that way. The people work hard and there is never any trouble or complaint. But there also aren't any smiles or laughter. That is, until the Wondersmith arrives and quietly, gently changes everything. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 "The Tiny House." Martin and Sylvia want to set up the tent, and in addition to sleeping bags, they want chairs, a work and dining table, as well as a reading and craft area. They quickly realize that it will take some careful planning to make it all fit?. By day's end they have a beautiful and functional little house. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 "Paddling to Treasure Island." When Daddy suggests they paddle to "Luck Island" which had recently been made into a public park, brother and sister are at once excited and filled with questions: "Does anyone live there?" "What is on the island?" "Will there be pirate treasure?" They find out that the island does indeed have treasure, but not at all the kind they were expecting. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 The Willowbee Tree collection. It's called "The Smell of Fire." Little Ty did not enjoy a recent camping trip with the rest of his family. He complained the whole time about the different sounds, and tastes, and especially the smells. When the willow tree takes him to the mud pools of New Zealand, Ty and a feisty Kea bird learn what amazing things one can see once you accept the intense smell for what it is: the smell of fire. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 "What Sandcastles Like." When Martin and Sylvia's family visits Momma's friend, Kaylee, on the coast, they discover a tidal river bank with sand perfect for sandcastles. They build what they hope will be a long-lasting sandcastle, but quickly learn what the ocean, the sand, and sandcastles prefer... If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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!

Carrie Contey has some wise and delightful ideas for capturing the sweetness of summer. Listen into her interview with Lisabeth — it's full of expert tips and intentional strategies that will enrich your family's entire summer. Join us as we delve into the joys of the season and uncover valuable insights to make this summer the sweetest one yet, filled with connection, growth, and cherished memories. Visit the Sparkle website: www.sparklestories.com Questions? Ideas? Requests? Email us! info@sparklestories.com Enjoy!

This week's free story comes from the FIFTY: The Stars, the States, and the Stories collection. It's called "South Dakota: Trying to Do Some Good." Most people have heard of the rough-and-tumble Wild West character Calamity Jane and her gun toting, hard talking, men’s clothes wearing reputation. But like many of the larger-than-life heroes and villains of the American West, the truth is much more subtle and complicated. For when an outbreak of smallpox threatens the gold rush town of Deadwood, South Dakota, it is not the doctor, or the marshal or even the care-taking women of the town that step forward to help, but Calamity Jane who sacrifices her own safety to be of service. Note: Though this is historical fiction and the characters have been developed to accommodate a story, their attributes and development may be useful as reference points and inspirations. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 I Am Marvel (How I Became Super) collection. It's called "Part One: An Introduction." One Saturday morning, a seemingly ordinary husband, father, and elementary school teacher learns that he has the “mark” of a superhero. The moment he decides to rediscover lost superpowers from his youth, his eyes are opened to community of curious local folk who teach him How to Be Super. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 collection. It's called "Mother's Day." Momma doesn't know what she wants to do for Mother's Day. So Daddy, Martin and Sylvia come up with all sorts of ideas. Together they create a small book of options. When Momma pages through, she is delighted and amazed to discover what her perfect mother's day could include! If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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 How to Be Super: The Violet Crown (Book One) collection. It's called "Part One: The Welcome Wall." In which we are introduced to Dante and his single mother and learn that on the morning of his twelfth birthday, he experiences something incredible: he is struck by lightning. He is fine, but it begins a series of events that leads him to the neighborhood welcome wall where he receives a message that changes everything. If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to 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!