Read Me a Story, Ink
84 episodes - English - Latest episode: 24 days ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratingsFamily stories perfect for classroom, bedtime, or anytime.
Based on my 26 year hobby of reading in public elementary schools, the stories offered here are some of my favorite, kid-tested read-alouds. All stories appear with the permission of the author.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
"The Hare and the Orphan" by Lynne Reid Banks
March 26, 2024 17:38 - 6 minutes - 5.83 MBA story from Ms Banks' delightful anthology “The Magic Hare” in which the magic hare is snared by an orphan for dinner. The hare continues to suggest ingredients that would make him taste better but the final one is through the dark forest where the orphan has never gone. The hare leads the way, the orphan overcomes her fear and both live happily, but separately, ever after.
"The Magic Weaver: a Tale from Ireland" by Melissa Shaw-Smith
February 28, 2024 22:44 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBWhen Conal builds his castle on a hilltop he is not aware that he is intruding in the domain of the powerful fairy, Duine Sidhe. Cursed by the fairy, Conal and his family find no happiness until Conal’s son is befriended by a weaver who weaves a magic tapestry that can lift the curse.
"John Robert and the Dragon's Egg" by Thomas N. Scortia
January 21, 2024 23:01 - 28 minutes - 27.3 MBAfter John Robert found a dragon’s egg down by the swamp, he and his Grandpa Riley kept it a secret from Aunt Bess whose life was too hard to care about such things. That is until it hatched, grew to 14 feet in two months and drank all the coal oil in the barn. Well, something had to be done. Lucky for John Robert and Grandpa Riley it was the flyin’ kind…
"The Hare and the Flower" by Lynne Reid Banks
January 02, 2024 23:27 - 9 minutes - 9.34 MBA story from Ms Banks delightful anthology “The Magic Hare” in which the magic hare hears tiny bells after every good deed and discovers they are applause from a sad, unnamed flower. In gratitude, the magic hare gives the flower a name, ‘harebell,’ or ‘Campanula rotundifolia.’
"Mistletoe: A Tale of Giving" by Douglas Evans
December 18, 2023 16:16 - 6 minutes - 6.78 MBWhen Derek’s kid brother finds bunches of mistletoe on the ground in an orchard, he decides to sell them to earn money to buy Derek a much needed guitar case. Little does he know that Derek is the one cutting the mistletoe trying to earn enough money to buy him the wooden recorder he has always wanted. Nicely reminiscent of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.”
"The Magic Spoon: a Tale for Hanukkah" by Eric A. Kimmel
December 05, 2023 00:02 - 11 minutes - 11.5 MBWhen a stranger comes to the city of Chelm, he claims that he can make his own latkes with nothing but his magic spoon. To make them even better, the folk of Chelm start to loan him ingredients until they are feasting on the perfect latkes.
Kotoshi the Dragon Doctor
November 11, 2023 22:27 - 9 minutes - 9.59 MBYoung Kotoshi is supposed to be the yearly sacrifice to appease the local dragon. But when she finds the dragon grief-stricken over her dying pup, she uses her healing skills to save the pup. In gratitude, the dragon promises that no harm will ever come to the village.
"Kotoshi the Dragon Doctor" by Phillis Gershator
November 11, 2023 22:27 - 9 minutes - 9.59 MBYoung Kotoshi is supposed to be the yearly sacrifice to appease the local dragon. But when she finds the dragon grief-stricken over her dying pup, she uses her healing skills to save the pup. In gratitude, the dragon promises that no harm will ever come to the village.
"The Entrance Exam: A Young Witch's Tale" by Mary Carey
October 14, 2023 16:22 - 18 minutes - 15.8 MBYoung Kate Fotheringay is refused entrance to Miss Perkle’s School for Young Witches, until one of her spells saves the school and causes Miss Perkle to reconsider.
"The Magic Carpet" by Sophie Masson
September 20, 2023 17:19 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBYoung Hamid, is bound as a servant to rug merchants that he believes are his aunt and uncle, until one day a beautiful but ghostly figure hands him an old carpet. Both the woman and the carpet seem remotely familiar and, indeed, they lead to Hamid being reunited with his father, a prince, while the abusive couple get their comeuppance.
"Katya and the Goat with the Silver Hoof: A Tale from the Ural Mountains" by Bob Barton
August 25, 2023 15:35 - 15 minutes - 14.7 MBWhen a young orphaned girl comes to live with Old Vanka, he tells her of his yearly search for the goat that leaves jewels wherever he stamps his silver hoof.
"A Kindness: From an Arkansas Boyhood" By Robert D. Culp
July 29, 2023 21:15 - 8 minutes - 8.72 MBRooster is wondering how to untangle his lucky bobber when mean Old Man Bockenweiler comes strolling down the path. While Rooster hides, his dreaded enemy stops, untangles the bobber, neatly rolls the line and leaves Rooster’s fishing pole by his can of worms, showing Rooster a surprisingly kind side of the Old Man.
"Three Foots: A Tale from Down South" by Nancy Van Laan
July 04, 2023 23:41 - 4 minutes - 4.77 MBA lovely verbal rhythm develops as three squirrels, foot, foot-foot and foot-foot-foot, attempt to eat all the nuts on the tangliest ol’ giant of a nut tree in the bottom of the holler.
"Who Owns the Moon?" by Sonia Levitin
June 08, 2023 14:31 - 8 minutes - 7.99 MBFarmers Abel, Nagel and Zeke could argue about anything, and did. But when they started to argue about which of them owned the moon, their wives said enough was enough and demanded they go into town and talk to the Teacher who settled their argument in a very clever fashion
"The Magic Kerchief" by Kirby Larson
May 15, 2023 18:37 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBA grumpy and friendless old woman begrudgingly gives a weary traveler a bed for the night. In exchange the traveler gives the old woman a magic kerchief. Wearing her new kerchief, the old woman’s curt and hateful words come out compliments as warm as sunshine, bringing with it the riches of new found friends.
"Above the Classroom" by Douglas Evans
April 14, 2023 17:52 - 24 minutes - 21.1 MBFor a minor crime, Howard and Francis must stay at their desks for recess. Left to their own devices, they climb through the trap door above the cloak room only to find W. T. Mellon, founder of their school and dead these many years, living in a room filled with books and overflowing with information, including where teachers come from.
"Si-Ling and the Dragon" by Joan Hiatt Harlow
March 16, 2023 14:19 - 15 minutes - 15.2 MBWhen the emperor dies, no man in the kingdom is brave enough to be tested by the great dragon. It is only the emperor’s daughter Si-Ling who has the courage to face the dragon and test her skill against his riddles. Solving the three riddles she ascends the throne with the dragon’s best wishes and rules with courage, heart and wisdom the rest of her days.
"Tremble with Fear" by Will Rawson
February 21, 2023 19:17 - 4 minutes - 3.37 MBWhile eating his morning cereal, Jamie is confronted by two 5 centimeter aliens named Zzyxc and Xthyyz. Jamie suggests that there lives would be a lot simpler if they had names like Alan. The aliens think this a brilliant idea, give up their plan of conquest and head home to rename their planet, and all of its inhabitants, Alan.
"Wizard's Apprentice" by Delia Sherman
January 25, 2023 17:43 - 24 minutes - 23.5 MBDahoe, Maine boasted its very own evil wizard—it said so right on the sign over his door, "Evil Wizard Books, Z. Smallbone, Prop." But Mr. Smallbone’s apprentices never stayed long, that is until young Nick Chanticleer arrived.
"Heart's Desire: A Cinderella Tale for Our Times" by Janni Lee Simner
January 01, 2023 23:37 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBIn a modern day twist on a well known fairy tale, Cinderella can’t seem to convince her fairy god-mother that she just wants to stay home and read a good book.
"Good Neighbors: A Tale from Northern Lands" by Bob Barton
December 09, 2022 22:02 - 10 minutes - 9.93 MBWhen a young couple moves into a remote valley, they assure the local trolls that they mean no harm. As the years pass the trolls come to love the couple and they the trolls. Unfortunately the family’s prosperity brings development to the valley and eventually the trolls have to move north, leaving behind a precious gift for their friends.
"A Good Day for Dragons" by Rick Hautala
November 11, 2022 04:20 - 26 minutes - 21.8 MBIt’s always a good day to fight pirates, especially if you’re a dragon and a boy, friends for life. Even if your mother keeps telling you that the is no such thing as “people” and that you must curb your dragon imagination.
"Gyffes Llaw: A Welsh Tale" by Sharon Bailly
October 16, 2022 15:01 - 9 minutes - 9.24 MBGyffes Llaw is the finest shoemaker in Wales and the Princess of Wales goes barefoot for lack of good shoes. But it won’t be easy for Gyffes to win her heart. “I will marry, but the man I wed must come to me neither on horse nor on foot. He must welcome me neither inside nor out. He must stand above me yet remain beneath.”
"Mountain Medicine" by Rosemary Wells
October 01, 2022 01:50 - 13 minutes - 11.3 MBThe first of three lovely, interconnected stories about nurse Mary Breckinridge who created the Frontier Nursing Service and spent her life riding the isolated hills of Appalachia bringing medicine to their poorest residents and building clinics.
"An Autumn Tale" by Susan Eberly
September 12, 2022 21:32 - 13 minutes - 11.7 MBArcite, the coldest queen, feels neither joy nor sorrow. At the suggestion of her High Counselor, Arcite sets out on an adventure in hopes of finding both. In her chance encounter with the great Bully Legged Bogle, she finds, at last, both sorrow and great joy.
"The Breadth of a Whisker" by Janet McNeill
August 12, 2022 17:18 - 12 minutes - 10.8 MBEach night the alchemist and the mouse meet in the lab to try to make gold. But after so many years, it is as much for friendship as it is for the gold. One night – almost absentmindedly – they succeed with just enough to coat the mouse’s whisker but the Alchemist can’t even remember how he did it, or perhaps simply doesn’t want the nightly friendship to end.
"How to Stuff a Rhino" by Gene Twaronite
July 22, 2022 20:55 - 12 minutes - 10.4 MBJuan had wanted his own Rhino for the longest time. Then, one birthday, his parents gave him a Rhino. But after a short few hours of fun, Juan realized that the Rhino was homesick and Juan had to figure a way to get the Rhino back to the Serengeti. So, Juan stuffed his Rhino into a hatbox…
"Watch: An Ogre's Tale" by J. G. Formato
June 28, 2022 18:50 - 19 minutes - 16.8 MBIt is the Ogres’ sacred trust to watch over human beings, but when Oni’s mother is killed by humans she vows to never help a human again. That is until she begrudgingly saves, then befriends a young woman who is drowning.
"Books of Wisdom" by Michael Caduto
June 11, 2022 20:39 - 11 minutes - 9.9 MBWhen an old woman shows up in a prosperous village with twelve beautifully bound books that contain all the knowledge and all the wisdom in the world, the town refuses to buy them for one sack of gold. By the time they realize the true cost of ignoring knowledge and wisdom it is nearly too late.
"The Pirate Who Tried to Capture the Moon" by Dennis Haseley
May 17, 2022 00:14 - 8 minutes - 8.72 MBA pirate has captured everything but the moon. After many attempts, he finally comes up with a plan to own the moon but in the end, it is the moon that captures the pirate’s heart.
"Critch: a Witch's Tale" by Judith Gorog
April 27, 2022 02:48 - 34 minutes - 27.3 MBCritch, an old witch who is living in a time past the time of witches is befriended by a strange young girl who helps her with her failed spells and keeps her house entirely too clean. When the girl brings her brothers, sisters and friends, Critch finds she has a place after all, as a storyteller.
"The Contests at Cowlick" by Richard Kennedy
April 04, 2022 20:04 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MBWhen Hogbone and his gang ride into town, the sheriff and his men are just a holler up the creek fishing. Unfortunately everyone is too scared to holler and saving the town is up to young Wally who tricks Hogbone into a hollering contest.
"All the Cats in the World" by Sonia Levitin
March 20, 2022 16:03 - 10 minutes - 9.38 MBOld Mikila came each day to feed the wild cats at the base of the light house, all the while ignoring the teasing of the lighthouse keeper. But when she fell sick, it was the very same keeper who fed her beloved cats thus starting a friendship that brought warmth to their aged lives.
"The Leprechaun's Story" by Richard Kennedy
March 03, 2022 03:33 - 10 minutes - 9.44 MBAccording to legend, if you see a leprechaun and don’t take your eyes off him, he must take you to his pot of gold, which is just what a traveling tradesman does. But in the end, he is outwitted by the leprechaun’s sad but clever story.
"New Day Dawning" by Joyce Hansen
February 09, 2022 02:22 - 18 minutes - 15.8 MBOn the day of their emancipation, field hands on George Thomas’ plantation threaten to leave unless he builds a school to educate their children. Young Sarah, the mistress’s personal slave, is conflicted between taking her freedom and dedication to her mistress but decides to stay on awhile if she can go to the school and study to become a teacher.
"Reading to Matthew" by Jackie Vivelo
January 20, 2022 00:13 - 26 minutes - 21.9 MBJohn had been reading to his younger brother, Matthew, his entire life. Early on they discovered that something happened when the two of them read together, they found themselves IN the story. When Matthew was knocked out by a baseball and lay in a coma in the hospital, all John could think to do was to read to him, which had unexpected and amazing results.
"The Creature in the Doorway" by Jackie Vivelo
December 29, 2021 22:25 - 21 minutes - 18.2 MBWhat Jeff mistakenly thought was a black velvet rope in the doorway to his classroom turned out to be the tail of a huge black panther - a panther that no one else saw, and it had clearly chosen Jeff. But why?
“The Gift Givers: An Appalachian Christmas Tale” by Jack Stillman
December 06, 2021 18:58 - 10 minutes - 9.25 MBElderly best friends living at the Feldon’s Downs Nursing Home always look forward to Christmas when they can exchange their precious whittling knives…until one Christmas when neither knife can be found, but snow falls gently for the first time in 100 years.
"Skivvy and Cuttle" by Joan Lennon
November 10, 2021 01:24 - 15 minutes - 13 MBSkivvy and Cuttle the Dragon, team up with Robin’s merry men to save Robin Hood from the Sheriff of Nottingham’s dungeon.
“Four Dollars and Fifty Cents: An Almost-a-Ghost Story” by Eric Kimmel
October 21, 2021 02:30 - 13 minutes - 11.5 MBShorty Long took pride in his reputation for never paying anybody the money he owed them, but Widow McCrae, who ran the Silver Dollar Café, was determined to ruin his reputation, and get back her four dollars and fifty cents.
"The Purple Reader" by Douglas Evans
September 26, 2021 23:21 - 18 minutes - 16 MBKenneth is the worst reader in his class until a mysterious purple book appears on the bottom bookshelf of the reading corner. Each day there are fewer pictures and more words but each page chronicles events in Kenneth’s life that haven’t happened yet.
"The Princess Who Kicked Butt" by Will Shetterly
September 09, 2021 15:54 - 15 minutes - 12.7 MBWhen a princess is born, the Fairy Who is Good with Names names her the “Princess Who Kicked Butt.” However, the King and Queen hear the “Princess Who Reads Books.” It takes an Evil Enchanter, a kidnapped king and queen, a handsome page and a horse named Hates Everything to allow her to live up to her real name.
"The Test Tester" by Douglas Evans
August 19, 2021 01:27 - 20 minutes - 17.2 MBThird-grader Loren doesn’t like taking tests until she is contacted by the top-secret Iowa Test Site to be a test tester. Charged with her new duties, she settles into answering the questions seriously while looking for flaws. And if she ever has any questions, she can contact any one of the four secret test agents: Eeny, Meeny, Miny or Moe.
"Fluffle-Picking Time" by Chris Grabenstein
July 25, 2021 16:09 - 10 minutes - 9.27 MB“The outdoors smelled like cotton candy mixed with the fresh scent of pillowcases dried on a clothesline.” It was clearly fluffle-picking time, and Charlotte’s dad thought it could be the best crop in six years. Thousands of stuffed bears, blue whales, monkeys, and other critters just ripe for the picking from the fluffle trees in Plush Grove.
"Jamie and the Bakerman" by Phyllis Root
July 05, 2021 17:24 - 8 minutes - 7.11 MBWhen a young boy steps into a new bakery to get out of the rain, he is invited to help with the baking. But he soon finds out that what they are really cooking up is the weather… sprinkle the flour and the rain comes down, stir the bowl and the wind whips up.
"The Clever Thief" by Sophie Masson
June 01, 2021 15:03 - 7 minutes - 7.6 MBWhen a young boy is captured by a band of robbers and forced to do their bidding, he foils their attempts to steal by taking their instructions too literally.
"When Swamp Lily Met Swamp Thing" by J. G. Formato
May 10, 2021 21:52 - 22 minutes - 19.9 MBWhen Swamp Thing appears in 12-year-old Lily’s closet, with sorrowful eyes, begging for help in cleaning up his trash-strewn home, Lily elicits the help of her classmates in forming the North Florida Nature Preservers to clean up the swamp. But she keeps her friendship to Swamp Thing her special secret.
"Dr. Peterson's Electric Pumpkin Field" by Jack Stillman
April 26, 2021 23:23 - 27 minutes - 23.4 MBAfter his wife and son die in the epidemic of 1918, Jonathan Ford must find a way to keep his farm alive and instill the will to live in his young, influenza stricken daughter, which he does with love, ingenuity and some electric pumpkin seeds.
"The San Jacinto Corn" by Diane Bailey
April 11, 2021 15:19 - 12 minutes - 10.9 MBAfter Daniel's and Joseph's pa died at the Alamo, the boys joined Sam Houston's brigade to fight for Texas independence. After Santa Anna's surrender, Sam Houston passed around an ear of corn from their meager supplies and encouraged each soldier to take a kernel home so that they could cultivate the arts of peace as nobly as they had mastered the arts of war.
"Boom Town" by Sonia Levitin
March 19, 2021 15:11 - 11 minutes - 11.8 MBAmanda and her family have come to California to join her father in the mining camp but they find nothing but a few broken down log cabins. Soon Amanda is baking pies that her Pa sells to the miners and she is suggesting to traveling peddlers and wandering artisans that they settle down and open shops. Soon enough their cabin is smack dab in the middle of a Boom Town.