Hi there! I’m Ron, and I’m so happy you’re here for Story Time with Ryan and Craig! If you enjoy our stories, you can follow us on Instagram or visit our website at RyanandCraig.com. You can watch all our episodes or even send us a message!
Today’s story is called “Iggy Peck, Architect,” written by Andrew Beatty and illustrated by David Roberts. Let’s dive into the adventure!
Iggy Peck is a young boy who loves to build things. When he was just two years old, he made a tall tower using only diapers and glue! His mom was amazed and said, “Wow, Iggy, that’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!” But then, a little breeze came by, and she realized the diapers weren’t clean. Oops!
Even when he was outside, Iggy couldn’t stop building. He used dirt to make a big statue called the Great Sphinx. His mom thought it was amazing but suggested he should design some pants too!
When Iggy turned three, his parents noticed his love for building was here to stay. He made churches and chapels from peaches and apples and even built temples using modeling clay. One night, he surprised his dad by building a huge arch from pancakes and coconut pie!
Everything was going great for Iggy until he reached second grade. His teacher, Miss Lila Greer, didn’t like buildings at all. She had a scary experience when she was little, getting stuck in an elevator in a tall building. Because of that, she didn’t want anyone talking about buildings in her class.
Iggy felt sad because he couldn’t build in class. He tried to make a castle with chalk, but Miss Greer told him to stop. Without building, school became boring for Iggy.
One day, Miss Greer took the class on a picnic to Blue River Pass. They crossed a bridge to a small island, but the bridge broke! Miss Greer fainted, and the kids didn’t know what to do. But Iggy had a plan!
All the kids worked together to build a new bridge using what they had. When Miss Greer woke up, she saw the amazing bridge they made. She realized that building could be a wonderful thing!
After that day, Miss Greer changed her mind about building. Now, every week at Blue River Creek Elementary, the kids learn about the world’s greatest buildings. And guess who teaches them? Iggy Peck, of course! He’s the brilliant young man who builds towers from pie and loves to share his passion for architecture.
Iggy has come a long way, and he’s still building amazing things. He’s got his plans, his pencil, and even his pants!
Thanks for joining us for this story! Remember, you can always dream big and build amazing things, just like Iggy Peck!
Build Your Own Structure: Gather some simple materials like blocks, cardboard, or even recycled items like plastic bottles and boxes. Try to build your own structure, just like Iggy Peck! Think about what you want to create. Is it a tower, a bridge, or maybe a house? Once you’ve built it, share your creation with your family or friends and explain what inspired you to build it.
Observation Walk: Take a walk around your neighborhood or school with an adult. Look for different types of buildings and structures. Can you find a tall building, a bridge, or a unique house? Talk about what you see and how it might have been built. What materials do you think were used? How do you think the builders made it stand up strong?
Design Your Dream Building: Grab some paper and crayons or markers. Draw a picture of your dream building. It could be a castle, a spaceship, or even a treehouse! Think about what makes your building special. Does it have a slide, a secret room, or maybe a garden on the roof? Share your drawing with someone and describe why you chose to design it that way.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hey, I’m Ron, and welcome to Story Time with Ryan and Craig! Remember, if you like what you see, follow us on Instagram or visit our website, RyanandCraig.com. You can watch all of our episodes or send us a message.
I want to give a shout-out to Russell G, Mr. Will, and Miss Gibby in Georgia. Thanks for sending us today’s book! You guys are great! Today’s book is “Iggy Peck, Architect” by Andrew Beatty, illustrated by David Roberts. Let’s get started!
“Iggy Peck, Architect” by Andrew Beatty, illustrated by David Roberts.
Young Iggy Peck is an architect and has been since he was two, when he built a great tower in only an hour with nothing but diapers and glue. “Good gracious, Ignatius!” his mother exclaimed. “That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!” But her smile faded fast as a light wind blew past, and she realized those diapers weren’t clean. “Ignatius, my son, what on earth have you done? That’s disgusting!” But he was gone, out on the lawn using dirt clods to build a Great Sphinx.
“Wow, that thing is beautiful! What a great Sphinx! He is very naked from the waist down. Maybe you should design yourself some pants!”
When Iggy was three, his parents could see his unusual passion would stay. He built churches and chapels from peaches and apples and temples from modeling clay. At dinner one night, to his father’s delight, he got a bright gleam in his eye and went out on the porch to build the St. Louis Arch from pancakes and coconut pie.
Did you see that arch? Yeah, the one with pancakes! It’s enormous!
Well, that thing is huge for a cat!
Iggy had it made until second grade when his teacher was Miss Lila Greer. On the very first day, she had this to say: “We do not talk buildings in here, Gothic or Romanesque. I couldn’t care less about buildings, ancient and new.”
That might seem severe, but she was sincere. When she was no more than seven, she’d had a great fright at a dizzying height in a building so tall it scraped heaven. On an architect’s tour of the 95th floor, young Lila got lost from the group. She was found two days later in a stuck elevator, eating cheese with a circus troupe. After that day, it’s quite safe to say she thought all building lovers were nuts. As a teacher, she taught that above all, one ought to avoid them—no ifs, ands, or buts.
At first, I thought this teacher was crazy, but now that I know her story, I don’t want to get in an elevator either!
Iggy was still building, but it caused him stress to hear such terrible talk. He sat in the rear while building a castle of chalk. “Iggy Peck, your desk is a wreck! Tear down that castle right now! You will not build in here! Is that perfectly clear?”
Iggy lowered his head, and his heart sank. With no chance to build, his interest was killed. Now second grade was a bore. After 12 long days that passed in a haze of reading, writing, and arithmetic, Miss Greer took the class to Blue River Pass for a hike and an old-fashioned picnic.
They crossed an old trestle to a small island nestled in the heart of a burbling stream, but they soon passed, and the footbridge collapsed. Miss Lila Greer started to scream. Luckily, she fainted—not dead! The kids were amazed, uncertain of what to do. But one bright young man was off hatching a plan, which started with Miss Lila.
Soon, each lad and lass at Blue River Pass was working together as one. When she came to, Miss Lila Greer knew that something quite brave had been done. She looked in the air and saw hanging there a structure with cables and braces. On the far side, beaming with pride, were seventeen smiling young faces.
Some of which one should not mention were stretched ridge to ridge in a glorious bridge dangling from shoestring suspension.
It all became clear to Miss Lila Greer as she crossed that bridge over the stream. There are worse things to do when you’re in grade two than to spend your time building a dream.
Now, every week at Blue River Creek Elementary in second grade, all the school kids can hear, along with Miss Greer, how the world’s greatest buildings were made. The weekly guest speaker in a t-shirt and sneakers talks of buildings from Rome to Quebec. Of course, he’s the guy who builds towers from pie— that brilliant young man, Iggy Peck!
He’s come a long way! Look at him there—he’s got his plans, his pencil, and his pants!
We’re just missing the hero of the story.
Wait, he is the hero!
Where’s the cat?
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains the essence of the original transcript.
