Showing results by narrator "Donna German" in All Categories

Why are ravens black? Why do screech owl eyes look red in light? How did we get fire? You'll find the answers to those questions in this retelling of a Cherokee pourquoi folktale. The earth was cold and dark, but the animals could see fire coming from the tree on the island. They tried to fly or swim to the island to bring back the fire's heat and light. What happened to some of the animals? Which animal brought it back and how?

It isn't always easy being a moose, but this young moose has a special, joke-telling friend to keep him company and to help him find his way. Join Moose, Magpie, and some of their other animal friends as they frolic through a year of changes. Learn what the Liberty Bell and the moose have in common or why the moose crosses the road. Laugh along with Moose and Magpie, and learn something while you are at it.

How much does an elephant weigh? How do you know? How would you know if you didn't have a modern scale? Six-year-old Cao Chong, the most famous child prodigy in Chinese history, faced just this problem! Chong watches as the prime minister's most trusted and learned advisors debate different methods. The principle of buoyancy and a little bit of creative thinking help this boy come up with a solution.

Seasons change in the ocean much as they do on land. Spring brings new plants and baby animals, summer oceans glow with sparkly plankton lights, and autumn winds blow across the open water. In winter the humpback whales migrate to warmer waters, just as some land animals move to warmer climates.

While at play with his dog, Newton, a young boy discovers the laws of force and motion in his everyday activities. Told in rhyme, Lynne Mayer's Newton and Me follows these best friends on an adventure as they apply physics to throwing a ball, pulling a wagon, riding a bike, and much more. They will realize that Newton's laws of motion describe experiences they have every day, and they will recognize how forces affect the objects around them.

This fascinating story influenced by Native American folktales explains why the moon changes shape and helps children deal with bullies. After the sun insults and bullies her, the moon feels so badly hurt that she shrinks and leaves the sky. The moon turns to a comet and her many friends on Earth to comfort her. Her friends include rabbits and Native Americans. Then she regains her full shape, happiness, and self-esteem. The moon also returns to her orbit.

In this delightful, rhythmic sequel to One Odd Day, the young boy awakens to find that it is another strange day - now everything is even, and his mother has two heads! This time a school field trip to the zoo is dealt with in an odd but even-handed manner. Square it all off with more number fun in the "For Creative Minds" section.

Modeled after The Wizard of Oz, this enchanting story describes a young giraffe who suffers from a fear of heights. On his way to the doctor, he befriends a monkey who is afraid of climbing and a hippo who is afraid of water. What causes the three new friends to face and overcome their fears?

The Sparrow family is ready for their trip south for the winter, but Papa's wing is hurt, and he cannot make the trip. He asks the trees for help. One by one, the mighty, leafy trees of the forest say no! Will any of the trees help Papa Sparrow? What will happen to the selfish trees that turned him away? Discover why some trees lose their leaves in winter in this retelling of a pourquoi tale.

Hawaiian locals and visitors always enjoy spotting endangered Hawaiian monk seals, but Honey Girl is an extra special case. She has raised seven pups, and scientists call her "Super Mom". After Honey Girl is injured by a fishhook, she gets very sick. Scientists and veterinarians work to save Honey Girl so she can be released back to the ocean. This true story will have listeners captivated to learn more about this endangered species.

Long ago, when the world was young, the magpies' nests were the envy of all other birds. To help the other birds, Maggie Magpie patiently explained how to build a nest. But some birds were impatient and flew off without listening to all the directions, which is why, to this day, birds' nests come in all different shapes and sizes. This clever retelling of an old English folktale teaches the importance of careful listening.

Penelope Parker lives with penguins! Short ones, tall ones, young and old - the penguins are from all over the southern hemisphere, including some that live near the equator! Do the penguin antics prove too much for her to handle? Children compare and contrast the different penguin species as they learn geography.

Two friends take off on a butterfly hunt, only to find themselves tangled in a mathematics net! Written in rhyme, award-winning author Barbara Mariconda takes you along as the narrator, Rose, and her friend, Ed, race to see who can catch the most butterflies on this addition adventure. "How many in all? Let's add them again!" shout the butterfly hunters. Who will win?

The Tree That Bear Climbed is a creative twist on the classic The House That Jack Built. Young listeners and early readers will love the rhythmic repetition as they learn about the many parts of a tree. Beginning with the roots that anchor the tree, this cumulative verse story climbs to a surprise ending. Why is bear so eager to climb the tree, and what happens when he gets to the top?

This humorous, rhythmic story is about a young boy who awakens to find that everything around him is odd. He has one shoe, his shirt has three sleeves, and his dog has five legs! Children and adults will delight in finding all the odd things hidden in the art. The "For Creative Minds" section includes odd fun facts, a Creative Sparks supplement, and a counting activity.

When Sophia dreams that howling winds whisk the fur and feathers right off her animal friends, she shares some of her clothes with them. But her clothing doesn't work well for the animals. Seeing their disappointment, she offers to sew each one the "right" coat. Animals line up to explain what they need and why. Polar Bear needs white fur to stay warm and hide in the snow. Fish needs scales with slime. Snake needs scales, too, but dry ones. And how will Sophia make a prickly coat for Porcupine?

Count backward from 10 to one during one of the most colorful times of year: fall. Learn about the bright, colorful leaves and the trees from which they fall: aspen, birch, maple, oak, chestnut, linden, pine, beech, dogwood, and sweet gum. Discover the animals who frolic in the crisp, autumn air as they get ready for the approaching cold winter. The "For Creative Minds" educational section includes: plant parts, leaves - the shape of it all, and what plants are good for.

Weather changes daily. Sometimes it can even change from one moment to another - like a sudden storm. Weather affects our daily lives from what we wear to what outdoor activities (or lack thereof) we can do. Learning about weather and how to dress and prepare for it is an important skill to learn. Maybe even more important is the skill of observation. By asking simple questions, children become engaged and can start to observe and make correlations about the weather around them so they will understand how the weather impacts their lives.

It’s common knowledge that coast redwoods are tall, tall trees. In fact, they are the tallest trees in the world. What most people don’t know is that there is a whole other forest growing high in the canopy of a redwood forest. This adaptation of "The House That Jack Built" climbs into this secret, hidden habitat full of all kinds of plants and animals that call this forest home.

When a young girl finds a sparkly rock buried in the dirt and discovers that it cleans to a beautiful quartz crystal, she is fascinated and becomes "Julie the Rockhound". Join Julie as her dad shows her how to dig for minerals and explains the wonders of crystal formation. Combining clever wordplay with Earth science, young listeners learn about Earth's most abundant mineral "treasure".