Storytime in the Woods
A gentle, nature-based storytime program for preschoolers.
Recent Episodes
EPISODE 11:Â GRANDPA IVY & THE WINDY DAY
It was a windy spring day in Riverbend, and Grandpa Ivy stood on his porch watching the wind blow to and fro. While he was standing there, the wind took his hat right off the top of his head! In this silly story, Grandpa Ivy and his neighbor, Dante, chase his hat as the wind blows it here, there, and everywhere!
EPISODE 10:Â LITTLE SMALL WEE TINY MAN
This is an old English Nursery Tale by Diana Ross. In this story, the Little, Small, Wee, Tiny Man is sad that he lives alone. Several folks in the community stop by to check on him and see if they can move in. Most are much too big for the Tiny Man’s home, but he eventually finds the perfect companion–an ant! I love this story; most children find it endearing and silly. It also teaches a valuable lesson about the smallest creatures.
EPISODE 9:Â LITTLE FLEA & LITTLE LOUSE
In this classic story from the Grimms Brothers, Little Flea assumes his beloved Little Louse has fallen into the soup pot and “gotten all boiled up” and leaves home with the table, bread pan, door, and tree following. Much to their delight and surprise, they find Little Louse napping peacefully under the rosebush.
EPISODE 8: POPPY'S FRESH PEACHES
Poppy and her mom were preparing for their annual spring equinox celebration. Their tradition was to bake a peach pie to remind them of the sunny, warm days that will soon return. They always used canned peaches from what they harvested the summer before.
This year, Poppy decides she wants fresh peaches, not canned ones, even though peaches don’t grow and can’t be found this time of year.
She walks into town, determined to find fresh peaches.
EPISODE 7: THE CRANKY CHICKEN
There was a Little Chicken who would become excited or frustrated and use her sharp beak to peck, peck, peck at things around her. Sometimes, even pecking her friends! Enjoy this episode and hear a pedagogical story about using hands in helpful ways (instead of harmful ones).Â
EPISODE 6: GOLDILOCKS & THE THREE BEARS
A little girl walks through the open door of a cottage in the woods, eats the porridge she finds on the kitchen table, sits in the chairs, and sleeps in the beds. This sweet and gentle version of the Grimms' Tale is perfect for preschoolers.
EPISODE 5: THE RABBIT & THE CARROT
A heartwarming variation of the traditional Chinese tale about caring for each other.
“It’s so cold and snowy; surely my friend needs something to eat. I’ll take them this carrot!”
Rabbit has an extra carrot she shares with her friend Donkey. Donkey then shares the carrot with Lamb, who shares it with Deer, who shares it (again!) with Rabbit.Â
EPISODE 4:Â THE OLD WOMAN & THE MOUSE
AÂ mouse visits an old woman who is knitting a sweater for her husband. The mouse returns again and again, wondering what will happen with the old clothes when they are replaced with new ones.
The Old Woman sat in a rocking chair knitting. As she knit, she sang a song:
“Knit and purl, I’ll knit and purl.
Knit and purl, I’ll knit and purl.”
EPISODE 3:Â GRANDPA IVY & THE CANDLESTICK
Grandpa Ivy makes beeswax candles with his friends, then carries one to the meadow to watch the sunrise. His young neighbor, Dante, joins him in the meadow to watch the morning sky. Dante sees Grandpa Ivy's lit candle sitting on the ground and makes a game of jumping over Grandpa Ivy’s candle.
Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick
Jack jump over the candlestick!
EPISODE 2:Â STONEÂ SOUP
In Ms. Becca’s version of the folktale “Stone Soup,” a young girl is lost in the woods and comes upon a village where she hopes to find a place to sleep and dinner to eat. When she is told there isn’t any food to share, she pulls a “magic soup stone” out of her pocket.
The stone lives up to its name, and soon, the soup pot is full of delicious vegetables–enough to feed the whole village.
EPISODE 1: THE MITTEN
In our first episode of Storytime in the Woods, we hear the silly story of a lost mitten that becomes home to a host of woodland creatures!
So they squeezed a little this way,
And they squeezed a little that way,
And they made just enough room in the mitten.
