Once upon a time, in a cozy donut shop, all the donuts were fast asleep. But when the clock struck five, the shop closed, and the donuts woke up for a fun adventure! They had sprinkles, frosting, and even jelly inside. Some donuts drove cars, while others sailed on pirate ships. They danced in sprinkle rain and played donut sports. But when morning came, they had to hurry back to their trays before the shop opened. The shoppers wondered, “Where did all the donuts go?”
Luis was a charming cat who lived at the fire station. One day, he met Tabitha, a beautiful cat, through a glass door. Luis tried everything to impress her, from bringing sardine tins to balloons. But Tabitha’s owner always shooed him away. Luis asked his friends for advice and decided to become an “inside cat” to be with Tabitha. After a heroic rescue, Luis and Tabitha were finally together, and everyone celebrated their bravery.
Mikey was excited about his birthday party but couldn’t decide what food to serve. His mom suggested he choose something special. Mikey thought about pizza, tacos, and even fried rice. His friend Sophia suggested a mix of his mom’s Italian and dad’s Chinese heritage. Mikey decided on fried rice with marinara sauce. At the party, everyone loved the unique dish, and they all cheered, “Fried rice is good!”
Little Red the fox loved playing with Hazel the dormouse in the colorful autumn forest. But Hazel had to hibernate for the winter, leaving Little Red feeling lonely. Little Red wished for ways to keep Hazel awake, but Hazel promised to return in the spring. As they snuggled together, they both fell asleep, dreaming of their next adventure.
Trees are amazing! They give us food like apples and nuts, and they provide wood for furniture and musical instruments. Trees inspire art and creativity, and they offer fun with swings and treehouses. Trees are homes for many animals and help keep our air clean. We should always be thankful for trees and take care of them.
Shells are fascinating treasures from the ocean. They come in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Some shells protect animals like hermit crabs, while others hide in the sand. Even though some animals eat shelled creatures, shells are important for ocean life. Coral reefs, made of tiny animals with shell-like coverings, are home to many sea creatures. Sometimes, a shell holds a surprise like a pearl!
Emily and Alex are twins, but they are as different as can be. Emily is neat, while Alex is messy. They both love exploring and having fun, even if they do things in their own unique ways. Together, they make the perfect team!
Max’s puppy went missing, and he was very worried. He searched everywhere and made posters to find his best friend. Max missed Puppy so much that he couldn’t even eat dessert. But he never gave up hope. One day, the phone rang, and Max hoped it was news about Puppy. Will Max and Puppy be reunited? Stay tuned to find out!
Donut Adventure Drawing: Imagine you are a donut in the cozy donut shop. Draw a picture of your donut character and the adventure it would go on at night. Would your donut drive a car, sail a pirate ship, or maybe something else? Share your drawing with your classmates and describe the adventure your donut would have.
Tree Observation Walk: Take a walk with an adult and observe the trees around you. Look for different types of leaves, bark, and any animals that might be living in or around the trees. Collect a few fallen leaves and try to identify which tree they came from. Discuss with your family or friends why trees are important and how they help us and the environment.
Shell Sorting Activity: If you have access to a collection of shells, try sorting them by size, color, or shape. Talk about what makes each shell unique and what kind of animal might have lived in it. If you don’t have shells, you can use pictures from a book or online. Imagine what it would be like to be a hermit crab choosing a new shell to live in. What would you look for in a shell?
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript, removing any unnecessary elements, maintaining clarity, and ensuring it is appropriate for all audiences:
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**Transcript:**
Books. Donuts tell the whole story. The clock strikes five; the shop is closed. Donuts sleep, so we suppose there are no donuts here.
Thank you. Hill sprinkles, hole in one—you don’t say. Lots of donuts everywhere. Stop, safe golden sprinkles. Some with frosting, some without sprinkles. Come back here. Some with jelly in and out. Well, this is a bit of a jam.
Powdered donuts, maple bars. Hey, donut cups drive donut cars. Typical donut trucks, donut trains. Donuts do not make good planes.
Donut pirate, donut ship. Just desserts! I am just a dessert. Donuts trip to take a dip in sprinkles. Donuts play a donut sport. We can’t stop him; he’s a holy terror. Jump! Donuts take the last resort; it’s a whole new ballgame.
Donuts dance in sprinkle rain. April’s sprinkle makes me tinkle. Donut floors must need a drain. Donut doctor, donut bed—feeling crummy? Donuts who just treat the head.
I don’t know; I just feel empty inside. You’re a tough donut to crack. Donut farm where donuts grow. Who is hiding in the row? Robber runs, police car stalls.
I’m gonna be rolling in the doughnuts. Okay, robber meets a dog downfall. Robbers caught; the dog is back. Donuts never run away again. Sprinkle poos, money in the sack. Huh, we’d be in the hole without this.
Donuts celebrate and sing; donuts can do anything. Morning nears, so donuts run down. At night has been real fun, and time to race back into the donut case.
Shoppers soon will want their treat. Which one will they want to eat? What people eat us? My insides feel like jelly. Your insides are jelly. Donuts want a long lifespan. Donuts craft a donut plan.
All must help the cop, the crook, even Pan and Captain Hook. Straight line, me hearties! Oh, you’re up to Davy Jones and a pink box.
Does it work better than your airplane? The sun is up, and the rooster sings. Shop is open; shop bell rings. Time for donuts with the dawn. But hey, where have all the donuts gone? Only empty trays and bowls. Donuts have a knack for holes.
Thank you.
Louise and Tabitha. Luis was a cat about town, dashing, charming, perfectly suave. He lived unofficially at the fire station and had since a daring rescue involving a very small Louise, a very shrill smoke alarm, and a very tall house. His tail still had the scorch marks.
Luis liked to go visiting, as society cats do. Sometimes he’d travel in the fire truck. Everywhere he went, Luis was welcomed with open arms and leftovers—too much catnip and too many sardines.
Luis was making his rounds when he took a wrong turn. He climbed a wall and saw Tabitha—elegant, silky, perfectly sophisticated. Luis stopped; Tabitha stared. It was love from afar, love under the spotlight of the moon, thwarted by a thick glass door.
And by Tabitha’s owner, “Shoo!” she cried. But he wasn’t done. The next morning, Tabitha stared out at a vast bouquet of sardine tins, twine, and feathers. Luis smiled; Tabitha smiled. Tabitha’s owner did not smile.
Phew! She cried, “Shoo!” Luis chewed, but he wasn’t done. The next day he brought mice. The day after that, he brought pigeons. And after that, balloons, which is not easy when you’re a cat.
Each day, Luis and Tabitha stared into each other’s eyes until Tabitha’s owner chased the whis away.
Luis needed advice. He asked his friends over a bowl of cream. “I don’t know,” you’re an outside cat, said Mr. Pickles. “And you need to be an inside cat,” said Socks. “Or at least look like one,” said one-eyed Winky.
Luis had an idea. The next day, Luis showed up at Tabitha’s door once more. Luis smiled; Tabitha smiled. Tabitha’s owner clutched her hands to her heart and opened the door.
Luis was inside where everything was soft and warm and scratchable. Luis and Tabitha were inseparable until the doorbell rang.
Luis and Tabitha were thwarted by the thick glass door once more. Luis had a new home and a new name and a new owner, and all the sardines and cheese he could eat. All he wanted was Tabitha, and all Tabitha wanted was Luis.
It was love from afar.
Then the doorbell rang. “Is this him?” “That’s him, and that’s not him.”
And Luis was a cat about town once more. Luis needed advice. He asked his friends over a bowl of cream. “You’re an outside cat,” said Mr. Pickles. “And she’s an inside cat,” said Socks. “And that’s just the way it is,” said one-eyed Winky.
So Luis went visiting, as society cats do. He went visiting all across town. Everywhere he went, he was welcomed with open arms and leftovers. And everywhere he went, Tabitha wasn’t.
Until one night, Luis was riding in the fire truck when his tail began to tingle. Luis saw Tabitha—elegant, silky, perfectly sophisticated—and in terrible danger.
The sirens began to wail. “Hide!” cried the firefighters. The crowd was a cloud of arms and shrieks as it gathered on the corner, but there was no Tabitha.
There was no Luis. The crowd waited and worried and fretted. Finally, the gray parted, and from it emerged Luis and Tabitha, leading Tabitha’s owner. The crowd cheered.
Tabitha’s owner plopped down on the curb and clutched her hands to her heart. She looked at Luis and Tabitha and smiled. The cat showed judge placed a blue ribbon on Tabitha, and the firefighters placed a gold medal on Luis and declared them both perfectly heroic.
Luis was back inside where everything was soft and warm and scratchable.
We’re inseparable.
Fried rice and marinara. Young Mikey M danced to his front door. “Mom, do you know I’m about to turn four? All of my friends will come over and play. Then piles of presents will fill our driveway. We’ll have a huge cake, and my buddies will say, ‘Your party was perfect! Hip hip hooray!’”
Mikey’s mom smiled as he finished his speech. “Your plan is fantastic, my sweet little peach, but no celebration is ever complete until you’ve decided what you want to eat.”
Her statement stopped him dead in his tracks. Food, of course! Every party needs snacks. Hmm. Well, pizza is something that everyone loves, but tacos fit in your hand like a glove.
Burgers and hot dogs are easy to eat, but pork and fried rice is such a nice treat. He needed a guru, a trusted grub guy. “Maybe my grannies can help me decide. What food did you have for your birthday?”
“Babu in Hong Kong, Chinese food is all that we knew.”
“Huh? No, do you know what food you would choose?”
“My roots are Italian, so pasta can’t lose.”
“Oh, Chinese or Italian, both are delicious!”
He remembered his cousin’s birthday dishes for the twins—rice and spice on their special day, while Joe had lasagna. He ate a whole tray.
Mikey was stuck, not sure what to do. He couldn’t decide between the two. Ravioli or dumplings? Linguini or lo mein? All of these options were hurting his brain.
Focaccia, burrata, caprese, risotto, dim sum, or wontons or noodles and shrimp row. His mind was a jumble of possible choices.
He heard both sides of his family’s voices. He rushed to the park to get out of his head. His best friend Sophia found him and said, “Are you okay, Mikey? Why so much sorrow?”
“I can’t pick a dish, and my party’s tomorrow!”
“Your mom is Italian; your dad is Chinese. You’re free to choose food as unique as you please. Why not have both? Is that too outrageous? A Chinese-Italian mashup for the ages?”
“Yeah, Sophia, that’s it! I don’t have to choose one!”
He bolted straight home; there was a lot to get done. Mikey burst in the kitchen. “I’m ready to pick! I’ve made my decision; this isn’t a trick. I want fried rice and marinara sauce!”
“That’ll be different, but hey, you’re the boss.”
He awoke the next day in a jittery mood. Friends were arriving—would they like the food? Mikey’s mom fried up a rock full of rice and went the veggies, two eggs, and some spice.
His friends helped give the tomatoes a squish; they drizzled the sauce to complete the new dish. Mikey tensed up as his friends took a taste, but the fusion of flavors lit up every face.
Despite any doubts, the meal couldn’t be beat. The fried rice was savory; the marinara sweet. It tasted more scrumptious than they thought it could. The whole party shouted out, “Fried rice is good!”
As the season turned, the forest was dressed in new colors of rich amber, burnt orange, and chestnut brown. Little Red the fox was happy because now it would be much easier to hide.
It would be hard to spy among the dried brown leaves, burgundy bushes, and coppery grasses. Only in the open meadow could one catch sight of Little Red.
Little Red and Hazel spent hours and hours playing hide and seek together. The two friends loved jumping and rolling in the crisp dried leaves.
They loved the rustling sound. “Laughing with us,” said Hazel joyfully. During these moments of happiness, the cold air hinted of the coming winter.
Little Red felt a tinge of sadness. For Red, the smell of winter meant one thing—loneliness. Soon, Little Red’s very best friend in the world would settle down in a warm burrow to hibernate.
“Hazel, perhaps this season you will sleep less,” said Little Red hopefully, trying to sound cheerful.
“Little Red, I am no fox; I am a dormouse. I’d like to stay awake and keep you company, but you know in the end, I must always sleep.”
Little Red started to think of ways to keep Hazel from falling asleep. What if I could make the sun stay high? Then winter would not be so cold.
What if I could ask the forest to hold its fruit? Then there would be food all winter long. What if I tickled Hazel to stay awake? Then we could play and play.
The dormouse started to yawn. “I want us to stay together forever,” pleaded the friend.
“Little Red, I promise when the winter gives way to spring, I will be here for you, and we will play again.”
“I know, Hazel, but before you sleep, may I tell you a story?”
“Why yes, oh, as long as it is short,” replied Hazel sleepily, with head nodding and eyes closing.
So Little Red curled up on the forest floor, and Hazel nestled into the soft, warm tail to listen.
For a word of the story was spoken, the two friends had fallen fast asleep together.
Be thankful for trees, how trees sustain our planet. First, a tree is food. Would life be satisfying without trees?
Eat it when not sweet sap together. Dance to pick nuts, berries, bark to crunch, munch, and lick. Leaves for a koala, bamboo shoots for a bear, a giraffe stretches up for an acacia tree’s fare.
Apples and syrup for you, cherries and chocolate for me. People and animals are fed tree by tree.
Second, tree comfort. Would life be good without trees? It would not. What gives you a seat, a floor for your feet?
A place you can sit with your family to eat. What gives you a sofa, some comfy chairs? A way to the attic with pull-down stairs.
A baby’s cradle, a double-decker bed, a dining table with the mom at the head. Places to sit, places lumber—a tree is lumber.
Third, a tree is music. Would life be melodious without trees? It would not. Thank yous and bongos, a violin and bow, the moan of a cello, lonesome and low.
The pom-pom of a drum, guitars twangy strum. Tree wood makes music zing, ping, and hum.
Fourth, a tree is art. Would life be beautiful without trees? It would not.
Paper for drawing, recipes for cooks, signs, magazines, glorious books. With brushes and paint or drawn by yourself, a creation on paper displayed on a shelf.
Artists are different, but all can agree—a tree inspires creativity.
Fifth, a tree is recreation. Would life be fun without trees? It would not.
Wear a kite swirling, boats floating by. Tall trees reaching up help us see the sky.
Horse and paddles with slats, skateboards, balance beams, and wooden bats. Tree wood shapes toys for girls and for boys.
Sixth, a tree is home. Would life be comfy without trees? It would not.
Branches to swing from, hang on or rest. A perfect forked branch holds a knee, a little nest.
Habitat for a frog, a burrow in roots, a big hole is mine, say an owl’s loud hoots.
Protection and shelter under a wide leafy dome. A place to sleep—a tree is a home.
Seventh, a tree is life. Would life be possible without trees? It would not.
Storms, fires, floods, all kinds of construction. Trees need protection from man-made destruction.
No place for a bird, no shade, and no cream. Trees make the earth rich and keep our air clean.
Cool forest with its pine-scented breeze. Just remember forever—be thankful for trees.
Thank you.
Shells—a pop-up book of wonder. Shells glimmer in summer sunshine; they inspire curiosity and wonder.
A shell found on a beach is the hard outer covering left after an ocean animal dies or moves out. Some beach sand is made of tiny bits of shells. Calcium is the substance that makes most seashells hard.
They’re varying sizes, shapes, and colors—delight and intrigue. Many shells shimmer and change colors in different light. This is called iridescence.
Nautilus shells form in tight walls; snail shells spiral in many sizes and colors. Beneath the waves, animals are protected by shells.
A hermit crab protects its soft body by moving into an empty shell. Some shells blend in with sand, rocks, and plants to help the animal hide.
Decorated crabs attach live plants or animals to their shells for camouflage. These hard coverings don’t always provide safety from predators.
Grouper fish have crushing teeth plates for eating shelled animals such as crabs. Powerful jaw muscles help some sea turtles eat clams, crabs, and conchs.
An octopus has a short hard beak to crunch on crabs and other shelled animals. Vibrant coral reefs showcase many shells as shell-like coverings in case tiny animals called coral polyps.
Coral reefs are home to about 25% of the ocean’s plant and animal species. Coral reefs are at risk of destruction by climate change, fishing, pollution, and other causes.
Sometimes a surprise glistens inside—a pearl found inside a giant clam in the Philippines weighed 75 pounds (34 kilograms). Pearls are made when an oyster forms layers of hard matter over injured tissue or an irritant.
Only one in about every 10,000 oysters in the wild contains a pearl.
To deep ocean floor, shells fascinate—plane and fancy.
Emily and Alex are twins. They have the same birthday; they have the same last name. But Emily and Alex are different, as different as brothers and sisters can be—big, little, clean, dirty, inside, outside, forward, backward, excited, top, bottom, plain, fancy.
What? Oh, dry. Hmm, none. Yeah, lots.
Sims Tayback’s safari animals. Who am I? I have big feet; I have a long nose. I’m an elephant.
Who am I? I have black and white stripes; I can run fast. I’m a zebra.
Who am I? I have big teeth; I cool off in the mud. I’m a hippo.
Who am I? I cannot fly. I’m an ostrich.
Who am I? I have a big furry mane. I’m a lion.
Who am I? I am quite tall; I have a little neck. I’m a giraffe.
The big, bigger, biggest book.
Thank you.
Puppy is lost. Max’s puppy is lost. She was here, and now she is gone.
“Hey puppy, come for dinner!” called Max. Puppy thought, “Where am I? Max was here, and now he’s gone.”
Max looked everywhere for puppy—under the bushes, behind the trash bins, and near the sandbox.
“Puppy, anywhere?” He walked home alone. Max had no appetite; he could not even eat dessert.
In the middle of the night, Max had a scary dream. He could not go back to sleep. Max got out of bed and sat down at his desk. He made lost dog posters—lots of them.
“I lost my dog. Her name is Puppy; she is small and brown and friendly. Have you seen my dog? I really miss her. She is not just an ordinary puppy; she is my best friend. If you see my puppy, please call me. My name is Max; my dog is Puppy, and she looks like this.”
Max hung the posters near his house and near the park.
Max walked home. Puppy wandered in circles, but she couldn’t find Max.
“I’m sniffing everywhere, but nothing smells familiar. Why doesn’t Max come and get me? I’m tired; I’m hungry. Which way to where I last saw Max?”
Max was sad and lonely. He waited for news of his lost dog. He waited and waited.
Ring, ring, ring! Then the phone rang. The call was for Dad; it was not news about Puppy.
When the doorbell rang, it was Max’s friend Lucy. Max told
