Last episode, we brought you Chapter 24, where The Cloud presented their project, revealing field mice in the ventilation system, showing the whole school that the mold in the insulation and how the mice were bringing it throughout the school. This was the cause of people getting sick.

Last episode, we brought you Chapter 23, where The Cloud prepared to present their new project. Mr. Ginsburg, the Technology Resource Teacher, had set up the event and reviewed the interactive voting system. Mrs. Young, the Assistant Principal, introduced each group to come to the center table to present their project to the audience. Melvin continued to make snide comments about the validity of The Cloud's data. Finally, The Cloud was called to the center of the gymnasium as the last group to present.  

Just a reminder that we are recording a novella that Mr. Chris and I wrote. The story, about kids solving a mystery using their technology skills,  has twenty-five chapters.   Last episode, we brought you Chapter 22, where The Cloud walked around to check out all of the other groups projects, and prepared to present their project to all of the teachers, parents, and peers.

Just a reminder that we are recording a novella that Mr. Chris and I wrote. The story, about kids solving a mystery using their technology skills,  has twenty-five chapters.  Last episode, we brought you Chapter 21, where The Cloud worked diligently at their houses reviewing video and photo evidence to come up with a hypothesis as to what could be causing the school to get sick.  

Last episode, we brought you Chapter 20, where The Cloud had a day off of school that they used to meet as a team to put their science fair project together. However, they found that their data had been tampered with and they would be forced to withdraw or get another project together in one day's time.   

Last month, we brought you Chapter 19, where The Cloud had a plan to potentially investigate their hypothesis of Melvin making people sick. However, after getting the approval of Mr. Brisbane to clean the classroom, their plan went awry. The Cloud made a judgement error and ended up losing Mr. Brisbane's trust in the process.

Last episode, we brought you Chapter 18, where The Cloud had Mr. Brisbane come to the library to help them with their science project so they could test if he was the cause of the rampant illness in the school by having other people in another environment around him. In the end, the foursome found that a sort of sickness captured only one of the library volunteers, but it was not what The Cloud expected.

Last episode, we brought you Chapter 17, where The Cloud come up with a plan to test their newest theory that Mr. Brisbane is making everyone sick. The scientific method was in full effect.

A few weeks ago, we brought you Chapter 16, where The Cloud enlisted the class' help in gathering ladybugs to put in a container so Todd could breathe in the air around the ladybugs to see if they were what was making the school sick. They came to the conclusion that the ladybugs did not cause everyone to get sick, and the experiment was successful.

A few weeks ago, we brought you Chapter 15, where Garrett and Todd gave their health recommendations to a very distracted Mrs. Young. Their suggestions were easy to accomplish, but her distraction left them wondering if they would even see them implemented by the end of the year. Did you know that you can help the Cloud? Simply share a picture of the weather that is happening in your neck of the woods at [email protected].  We'll place them on the the class website at bit.ly/brisbanegrade4 to help out The Cloud with their science fair data!  

A few weeks ago, we brought you Chapter 13 and 14, where Val questioned Melvin, hoping to find out who was putting the extra files in their project. The Cloud came to the assumption that Mr. Brisbane was helping them.

A few weeks ago, we brought you Chapter 12, where The Cloud found extra resource links, pictures and videos in the digital folders for their science project. They began to hypothesize who could have access to their folders. They made a plan to quietly ask around the classroom to figure out if someone was trying to help their chances of winning.

Last week we brought you Chapter 11, where Val and Garrett went to turn in attendance in the office, when they found the principal, Mr. Wolff, was feeling sick. Mr. Wolff tasked them both with drafting health rules for the school, and ended with him and Jamie going home sick. This week, we bring you Chapter 12. Our sponsor, Texthelp, will be featured before and after this week's episode. Texthelp, the makers of WriQ, is establishing a new revolution for student writing achievement. Join a growing community of students and teachers and try WriQ for free today. Visit: text.help(forward slash)stories.

Last week we brought you Chapter 10, where The Cloud discussed how they would divide the work for the science fair amongst themselves, and also thought up ideas to help Jamie make a swift recovery.   What type of project have you done or would you be interested in doing for the science fair?  Check out the class website at bit.ly/brisbanegrade4 and  http://www.nightlightstories.net for a link to be part of the class! 

Two weeks ago we brought you Chapter 9, where The Cloud decided their nicknames and learned about the school's upcoming science fair. Mr. Brisbane incentivized entering the science fair by giving no homework while the students prepared their projects! The class clusters were all abuzz about options for the projects they could do.

Last week we brought you Chapter 8, where the four friends organized their efforts and solved Mr. Brisbane's riddle, and due to their resourcefulness on the internet, he dubbed them "The Cloud". Check out the class website at bit.ly/brisbanegrade4 and http://www.nightlightstories.net for a link to be part of the class!    This week, we have chapter 9. Our sponsor, Texthelp, will be featured before and after chapter 9. Texthelp, the makers of Fluency Tutor are offering it for free through the end of the school year. Try it today, by visiting: text.help/nightlightstories

Just a reminder that we are recording a novella that Mr. Chris and I wrote. The story, about kids solving a mystery using their technology skills,  has twenty-five chapters.   Last week we brought you Chapter 7, where the four friends organized their efforts by dividing up the clues to research and creating a shared word processing doc.  The whole class worked in their somewhat chosen pods in order to breakdown the visuals and audio clues given. They also worked to create unique and individualized name tags.  You, too, can follow the clues and help them out by utilizing some technology tools! Check out the class website at bit.ly/brisbanegrade4 and also the Clues Corner on the blog http://www.nightlightstories.net for a link to be part of the class!  Speaking of checking out cool technology tools this week's episode is sponsored by Fluency Tutor, brought to you by Texthelp. Check it out at text.help/nightlightstories.

Just a reminder that we are recording a novella that Mr. Chris and I wrote. The story, about kids solving a mystery using their technology skills,  has twenty-five chapters.   Last week we brought you Chapter 5 and 6, where the students worked on solving the clues that their new 4th grade teacher, Mr. Brisbane had given them in multiple different formats. They were presented with pictures, audio directions from the computer, clues on a class website and search engines for research. In order to get Mr. Brisbane to talk they have to solve his puzzle. You, too, can follow the clues and help them out by utilizing some technology tools! Check out the class website at bit.ly/brisbanegrade4 and also the Clues Corner on the blog http://www.nightlightstories.net for a link to be part of the class!  Speaking of checking out cool technology tools this week's episode is sponsored by Fluency Tutor, brought to you by Texthelp.  Texthelp, the makers of Fluency Tutor are providing free access to Fluency Tutor for all educators and students to the end of the school year. Try it today, by visiting: text.help/nightlightstories

Just a reminder that we are recording a novella that Mr. Chris and I wrote. The story, about kids solving a mystery using their technology skills,  has twenty-five chapters.   Last week we brought you Chapter 4, where the students were introduced to their fourth grade teacher in a very unique way. In order to get their teacher to talk, they will need to follow a series of clues. You, too, can follow the clues! Be sure to listen for the class website name (bit.ly/brisbanegrade4) and check out the Clues Corner on the blog for a link to be part of the class!  This week, we have two chapters in this episode. You can hear about our new sponsor, Text Help ,before Chapter 5 and before 6.

We hope this finds you and your family safe and well. We last saw our 4 friends being introduced to their new teacher in the gymnasium. They also found out who was, in fact, in their class. As they all followed their new teacher, Mr. Brisbane, to their classroom, there were many rumors floating through the line about Mr. Brisbane's past. This week, we bring you Chapter 4 of The Cloud. 

Hello and welcome to episode 65 of the Night Light Stories podcast recorded on April 11, 2020. This podcast tells one original story (or part of an original story) each episode that will light up the imaginations of children of all ages, anytime, anywhere.  Just a reminder that we are recording a novella that Mr. Chris and I wrote. The story, about kids solving a mystery using their technology skills, has twenty-five chapters. We’re putting out each chapter as a separate episode of the podcast. Last week we brought you Chapter 2, where four friends met up at the school on the first day to meet their new teacher. This week, we’re excited to present Chapter 3 of The Cloud!

Last week we brought you Chapter 1, where we met four friends who were utilizing a video conferencing tool on their computers to meet up at the end of summer. Together, they share their excitement and anticipation for the start of a new school year and to discuss a mysterious new addition to the staff. This week, we’re excited to present Chapter 2 of The Cloud! Stay well and stay safe!

Four friends meet virtually on the last night of summer break to discuss events that happened at the school over the summer.  They also prepare to meet their mysterious new-to-the-school fourth grade teacher.

During the summer before his fifth grade school year Haver Hawkings sets out to find all 21 geocaches hidden by an expert named Babatoochee. Having found 20 of the 21 caches, Haver searches for the final one hoping it will be the secret that unlocks the entire mystery. http://nightlightstories.net This episode is sponsored by http://bit.ly/bagsbybetty

Haver, a bit of a neat freak, heads out to find the first of the 21 caches hidden by expert geocacher, Babatoochee. Unfortunately for Haver, obtaining the cache isn't as easy as he had hoped. 

Haver Hawkings loves geography and maps but hates getting dirty. When his teacher introduces him to a global hobby called "geocaching" Haver learns there's a world of hidden objects for him to discover. http://nightlightstories.net

A talk show host interviews a zombie about his latest viral video. This episode is sponsored by Soda Stream http://sodastreamusa.com http://nightlightstories.net

Admist tragedy, Vivien learns the secret behind her visions and discovers she has a difficult choice to make.  http://nightlightstories.net  http://bit.ly/nlsitunes

Strange images seemingly appear out of nowhere when Vivien spends time with a special animal. 

A boy works to keep his imagination from getting the best of him in order to complete a chore for his mother.

There's only seconds left in the big game. Who will be the football hero?

Mojo the ferret is going on a trip but his destination isn't what he expected. What ever will he do to entertain himself?

Carol is way behind with her Christmas preparations when she starts to experience some strange symptoms. Can her family step up to help her out?

Auntie Kerry recruits her family to fulfill her dream of competing in a unique river race but when she gets sick they are forced to come together as a team without their fearless leader. http://nightlightstories.net This episode is sponsored by http://parsonagesoap.com

Princess Ennui is bored with everything until she meets an imp who offers her a magical intervention with unexpected results. Can Princess Ennui find a way to save the kingdom? http://nightlightstories.net

A boy and his mother discover the wonder of watching a letter fly through the sky.

Here's that BIG ANNOUNCEMENT we mentioned in the previous episode! Dragonfly, Dragonfly Show Us The Way (Episode 11 of the podcast) have been adapted into an children's e-book for the iPad and iPhone! The books is available for $2.99 within the Flying Books App. Learn more at http://nightlightstories.net

Simon receives a mysterious present from his uncle. Can he use his powers of observation to unravel its special purpose? This episode is sponsored by Nature's Clean Choice Anti-microbial Baby Blankets protected by Fossshield. http://bit.ly/superblanket

Grabby Goose learns the value of true friendship when things got awry on Lake Wallawallawampack.

Come along on a tour of the exhibits featured in the Museum of Malodorous Art!

While learning to ride a bike, a boy learns that perseverance breeds confidence.

This flashlight episode features a letter from a leprechaun named Seamus who explains how he escaped from the leprechaun trap. http://nightlightstories.net

Clementine the cupid has lost his magical quiver. Can his friends help him find it?

A boy prepares for his shot at taking home the spelling bee championship. Will he succeed?

A boy's personal collection grows into something far bigger than himself.

Tragedy befalls a boy and his candy cane on a long car drive to Grandma's for the holidays.

One by one, the seasons take turns impacting people's lives. This episode features a bumper from New England Patriot, Kyle Arrington.

A goblin named Glum wants to have a surprise birthday party for his brother Gloom, but every monster he invites already has plans for the evening.

A little one has a special request for everyone in attendance at her fourth birthday party.A special thanks to Raz of the Just Ask Raz show for sending us a bumper!

Mojo the ferret takes an unexpected trip outside but will he be able to find a way back in?

A fairytale that proves warriors and their weapons come in different shapes and sizes.

When Agnes, an old woman who lives alone in the woods, discovers a mysterious packet of seeds she finds more than just vegetables can grow in her garden.

A limerick for Better Hearing and Speech Month.  For more about Better Hearing and Speech Month check out http://asha.org. http://nightlightstories.net

A family fends off alien pursuers on their way home from the grocery store.  http://nightlightstories.net Thanks to Mover Rich from the Imagination Movers for the cool bumper! http://imaginationmovers.com

This episode is a special St. Patrick’s Day flashlight episode about two leprechauns caught in a leprechaun trap.  A flashlight episode means that it is just a wee bit shorter than our other stories, but we think you’ll find it just as illuminating. http://nightlightstories.net

A rhyming poem where a boy discovers the differences between his parents' styles of play.

Mojo the ferret discovers a new friend in the most unlikely of places.

Two wrestlers meet in the ring for a re-match!  Who will come out victorious?

A downloadable PDF board game related to the story "The I'm Sorry Truck", episode 8 of the podcast.

When a team of Christmas elves goes against a team of St. Patrick's Day leprachauns in the Holiday Hockey Winter Classic, who will win?

Agent Tissue is hot on the trail of a runaway nose that is hiding on the playground. Can his two new recruits help him catch the slippery culprit?

What goes bump in the night? How do you keep the Heebie Jeebies away, especially on Halloween?

A boy describes his experience of having to get stitches.

Getting ready for the very first bus ride on the very first day of school can be a nerve-racking experience! 

A tribe of Ooga Boogas try to change their lives for the better with unexpected results.  

The sequel to "The Walk" describes the boy's adventures he has on a hike with his family.

A girl's journey through her memories with her imaginary friend.

Hello All, Surprise!  Happy Mother's Day!  Mr. Chris and I dedicate this quick flashlight episode to our beautiful moms who have supported and loved us through thick and thin.  We are so grateful for every phone call, hug, and chocolate lollipop you bring us. We would have bought you flowers, but thought a poem was something you could listen to over and over all year round to remind you how very special you are.     VORACIOUS VOCABULARY In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say. Try to use some of these words in your vocabulary this week at home or in school.   confidence: belief in oneself and one's abilities. delight:  something that gives great pleasure. pride: the feeling of being proud. As always, I look forward to the many stories and memories  we can share together. 

Some exciting things are happening in the Night Light Stories household that we want to share with you! Mr. Chris and I were asked to write a series of children's books.  We are thrilled and eager to create a story that you'll get to read in print form! We've already started working on the project and we're really happy with how it is coming together. We're going to have a lot of fun working on the story, but it is also going to take a lot of time and a lot of hard work.   Unfortunately, that means we're going to have to take a short break from writing for Night Light Stories. Don't worry though, we plan to come back sometime in the Fall with brand new stories!  Also, we're going to keep adding new Lighting the Way With Words each week over, as well as occasional updates on our writing project and, who knows, maybe there will be some surprises along the way.   So, please, stay subscribed and tell your friends about Night Light Stories because we're so excited to be able to share this journey.   VORACIOUS VOCABULARY In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say. Try to use some of these words in your vocabulary this week at home or in school. jaunt: a short journey lurch: a sudden tip or roll to one side pungent: sharply affecting the organs of smell JUST ADD IMAGINATION!Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story. 1.  2.  COMPREHENSION CHALLENGEAfter listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions? 1. What wakes up Mojo from his nap that is troubling him? 2. Make a list of all the ways Mojo tries to itch and soothe his ears before he sees the doctor.   3. Why does Mojo's fear build when he is in the car? 4.  How does the doctor make Mojo feel more comfortable? BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHESWe want to send out bright birthday wishes to: Will D of Valencia, Spain Joe D of Valencia, Spain Uncle John of Valencia, Spain, Ellie H of Danvers, Massachusetts Pattie C of Groveland, Massachusetts Uncle Terry of New Hampshire We hope your day SPARKLED! As always I look forward to the many stories we can share together.

Hi All,   Currently, in the Night Light Stories household, we have been working with our two young children on having patience with each other. Our youngest is in the destroying phase and that makes for a very unhappy big brother. We try to remind him that she is learning and to make him a part of the teaching process.  It can be hard though, for both of them.  However, when one is upset or hurt, the other one is the first one to be there to offer comfort and kind words.  They are, in every sense of the word, siblings! VORACIOUS VOCABULARY In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say. Try to use some of these words in your vocabulary this week at home or in school. clever: having sharp or quick intelligence, mentally brightmalicious: mischievous in motivation masterpiece:a person's greatest piece of work, as in an art. JUST ADD IMAGINATION!Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story. 1. Build, draw, create, or cook your own masterpiece.  You could build with blocks, draw with paints, create a sculpture with Play-Doh, or try out a new recipe with your favorite adult. 2. A simple act of kindness is easy to do. Try to do something helpful for your family members like making their beds for them, emptying the trash without being asked or even just clearing your place at the table when you are finished eating. COMPREHENSION CHALLENGEAfter listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions? 1. What life changing event happened for the narrator at the beginning of the poem? 2. How does the narrator try to get his little sister's attention as she is heading towards his tower?   3. Who gives some great ideas of how to deal with Captain Destructo? What were her useful ideas? BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHESWe want to send out bright birthday wishes to: Christie H. of Philadelphia Victoria J. of Maryland Aunt Julie of New York Mike N. of New York   Luke N. of Virginia We hope your day SPARKLED! If you know someone who has a birthday coming up and you'd like to send them a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at [email protected] send us your loved one's first name and the first initial of their last name only and we'll pass along the birthday wish. There are no age limits! As always I look forward to the many stories we can share together.  

Hi All, We hope the New Year is finding you well! We have been getting more snow than usual this month here at the Night Light Stories household.  Having a 4 year old and 2 year old to bundle up to get outside takes some time and patience. Once we get out there though, it is worth it! There is a lot to do like snow angels, snow ball fights, snow forts, snow men and sledding. So many choices, so little time! In other Night Light news, we were thrilled to have a local newspaper, the Loudoun Independent, do a story about us.  You can click here to find the article about Night Light Stories.   VORACIOUS VOCABULARY         Our stories are filled with many illuminating words.Try and use them somewhere in a conversation this week.collision: crash   nestle: snuggle or cuddlestumble: stagger, fall, or trip       JUST ADD IMAGINATIONTry these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story.1. Gather different size balls such as a golf ball, tennis ball, kick ball, soccer ball, football or any other type you can find around the house.  Race two different balls down an incline at the same time to see which one reaches the bottom first.  2.  Fill an ice cube tray with water and color the water with food coloring.  You can use as many colors as you like.  Freeze the ice cubes.  Take them out and use them to paint a watercolor picture.COMPREHENSION CHALLENGE   After listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions?1. Why was the boy so excited to go sledding?2. Who stumbled into the path of his sled?3. What was the boy's last request at the end of the story?BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHESWe want to send out bright birthday wishes to:Colton G of MarylandKatie M of West VirginiaKate G of MarylandDana V of Toddler BrainHeather E of VirginiaMr. Chris of Night Light StoriesWe hope your day SPARKLED!If you know someone who has a birthday coming up and you'd like to send them a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at [email protected] send us your loved one's first name and the first initial of their last name only and we'll pass along the birthday wish.There are no age limits!As always I look forward to watching the glow grow brighter with the many stories we can share together.  

Try any or all of these fun activities with Inky! 1. Color Inky your favorite color using markers, crayons, colored pencils, or any other fun coloring tool you have! 2.   Paint or color an ocean scene on a piece of paper and then paste Inky somewhere in your seascape! 3.  Design Inky's den for him.  Where would his bed be? Would he have a kitchen? 4.  Use a crayon and color all of Inky's pieces heavily.  Really bear down on the crayon so that you cannot see any white spots.  When you are finished, flip the paper over to the side that is not colored.  Dribble a little vegetable oil on a paper towel and spread it across the paper.  Check out the cool effect you've create!  Hang Inky on the tree or in the window to create a sun catcher. 5.  Practice your counting, addition, subtraction and/or multiplication with Inky! Print out the Head, Arms, and Suction Cup templates.  Attach all 8 arms to Inky's head. Cut out all the suction cups.  Move them around each tentacle and add them up or take some away.  6. Place as many suction cups as you want on each tentacle and count them up. You  can practice counting by 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, or even 10's! 7. Practice your multiplication facts! Place 6 suction cups on all 8 arms and see how many you get? Take them off and place 3 on each arm. How many do you have now?  8.  Create a pattern with Inky's tentacles, such as red, green, red, green.  If you are a little more daring, use the suction cup template and see how detailed you can make your patterns on his tentacles. 9. Decorate Inky as festive as you can for the holiday season using things around the ocean. 10. Design your very own Inky, Shark, Jellyfish, and Eel. The possiblilities are endless! Once you've finished your project, take a picture and send it to us at [email protected].  We'll post it up in our Fan Art section so you can share it with the world!  Who knows?  Your work of art might just inspire someone else! Have fun and enjoy!

Click here to listen to: Chilly's Christmas (our first Christmas story) Hello All, Season Greetings! We want to send out our warmest Night Light wishes to you and your family during this holiday season. This time of year, we look forward to a lot of parties, lights, decorations, singing, and presents. There are a lot of different ways to give through the holiday seasons. You can give your time to a worthy cause, collect food, collect toys, even donate a book for children in the hospital. Share with us a way that you have given in this holiday season. We love to hear about how creative and generous our listeners are. Voracious VocabularyOur stories are filled with many illuminating words. Try and use them somewhere in a conversation this week.festive: joyouspropel: to drive, or cause to move, forward or onwardsmithereens: small pieces, bits  All Things Inky Try any or all of these fun activities with Inky! 1. Color Inky your favorite color using markers, crayons, colored pencils, or any other fun coloring tool you have! 2.   Paint or color an ocean scene on a piece of paper and then paste Inky somewhere in your seascape! 3.  Design Inky's den for him.  Where would his bed be? Would he have a kitchen? 4.  Use a crayon and color all of Inky's pieces heavily.  Really bear down on the crayon so that you cannot see any white spots.  When you are finished, flip the paper over to the side that is not colored.  Dribble a little vegetable oil on a paper towel and spread it across the paper.  Check out the cool effect you've create!  Hang Inky on the tree or in the window to create a sun catcher. 5.  Practice your counting, addition, subtraction and/or multiplication with Inky! Print out the Head, Arms, and Suction Cup templates.  Attach all 8 arms to Inky's head. Cut out all the suction cups.  Move them around each tentacle and add them up or take some away.  6. Place as many suction cups as you want on each tentacle and count them up. You  can practice counting by 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, or even 10's! 7. Practice your multiplication facts! Place 6 suction cups on all 8 arms and see how many you get? Take them off and place 3 on each arm. How many do you have now?  8.  Create a pattern with Inky's tentacles, such as red, green, red, green.  If you are a little more daring, use the suction cup template and see how detailed you can make your patterns on his tentacles. 9. Decorate Inky as festive as you can for the holiday season using things around the ocean. 10. Design your very own Inky, Shark, Jellyfish, and Eel. The possiblilities are endless! Once you've finished your project, take a picture and send it to us at [email protected].  We'll post it up in our Fan Art section so you can share it with the world!  Who knows?  Your work of art might just inspire someone else! Have fun and enjoy! JUST ADD IMAGINATIONTry these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story.1. Create a holiday scene using the ocean theme. How many things in the ocean can you find to mimic decorations on land? 2. Write a letter to Inky sharing some ideas with him on how you think he could control his inking. COMPREHENSION CHALLENGEAfter listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions?1. List 2 things that Inky worries about throughout the story.2. How did he plan on not inking at Shark's Shindig? At Jellyfish's Jamboree? 3. Were his friends angry with him like he thought they would be? How did he know?BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHES We want to send out bright birthday wishes to: Papa G of MassachusettsUncle Markie of MassachusettsShawn DNonni B of New YorkCavin D of West VirginiaWe hope your day SPARKLED! If you know someone who has a birthday coming up and you'd like to send them a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at [email protected] send us your loved one's first name and the first initial of their last name only and we'll pass along the birthday wish.There are no age limits! As always I look forward to watching the glow grow brighter with the many stories we can share together.

We're in the holiday season. There will be days off of school and work, eating mouth watering foods and desserts, and of course, spending time with those you love. Whether you are traveling by plane, car, or train, we wish you a safe journey. Personally, in the Night Light Stories household, we love to jam to music from Rocknoceros, Laurie Berkner, Imagination Movers and Recess Monkey on our iPods, listen to stories and watch a movie or two. We also love to play games to pass the time like car Bingo or I Spy. Whatever your plans are this holiday weekend, we hope you have a magnificent time. While spending some time with your family, we hope you share with them this and the other stories at http://nightlightstories.blogspot.com

Hello All, We hope you enjoyed part two of the Patchwork Pumpkin. We plan on posting the pictures of our jack-o-lanterns this weekend after our "Carvefest" with the kid's grandparents. We would love to see yours as well! Send us a picture of how you are celebrating this time of year and we will post it for all to enjoy! CONTEST CORNERTo help celebrate our 1st two part story, the Northern Virginia based band, Rocknoceros, generously offered their newest CD, PINK, as a prize for a contest. To enter, simply visit Rocknoceros' website and explore all around. Dance to some songs, check out their podcast, and read their bios. Then, come back to this post at http://www.nightlightstories.blogspot.com and leave a comment about what you found most interesting, fun, or inviting about this intriguing trio!  What did you say, a word of the day? That is right, in our story there are many illuminating words. Try and use them in your conversations this week!awkward:lacking grace or ease in movementexasperated:annoy extremelyflinch:to draw back or withdraw fromsilhouette:the outline or general shape of somethingCOMPREHENSION CHALLENGEAfter listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions?1. What made Millie flinch in the hay loft?2. Do you think Millie raked the leaves like her mom asked? What did she do with them?3. Where was Millie's father before she showed him the scarecrow?JUST ADD IMAGINATION! Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story.1. Make a list of things you could reuse around your house to make a scarecrow.2. Visit Crayola.com's coloring website http://bit.ly/pwpump to create a picture from your favorite part in the story. Send it us at [email protected] and we will post it for all to enjoy.3. Carve your own digital pumpkin at http://www.puffgames.com/pumpkincarving

Hello All, Have you ever carved a pumpkin or made a scarecrow? The Night Light Stories household loves to do both. So far, we have created the scarecrow that is pictured below. The pumpkins are scheduled to be carved next weekend when the grandparents arrive for a visit. We would love to see a picture of your pumpkins, scarecrows, or any of the Harvest time decorations you created this year. Send the pictures to [email protected] and we will post them on the site for all to enjoy, as well as in our Fan Art. What did you say? A word of the day! That is right! In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say!Crest: the highest part of a hill or mountain rangeFerocious: savagely fierce Girth: the measure around anything Muffled: To deaden (a sound) COMPREHENSION CHALLENGEAfter listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions? 1. Where does Millie find her father first in the story? The second place she finds him? The third place she finds him?  2. Why does Millie’s father carve the pumpkin without her?   3. Can you name all of the things that are on her father’s list to complete?    JUST ADD IMAGINATION! Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story. 1. Making lists are a very helpful and useful tool. I use them daily so that I do not forget to complete the many tasks that need to get done throughout the day. Make a to do list. Check each thing off as you complete them.  2. Create a scary face for Millie's jack-o-lantern. What shapes would you use to make it ferocious looking?   3. Millie's mom uses the idiom "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" in the story. An idiom is a phrase which has a meaning that is commonly understood by speakers of the language, but whose meaning is often different from the normal meaning of the words. You can find a list of idioms at the website http://www.idiomsite.com/. See how many on the list that you have heard of or used before.    BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHESWe want to send out bright birthday wishes to: Aunt Kathleen of Valencia, SpainNanny D of Danvers, MA We hope your day SPARKLED! If you know someone who has a birthday coming up and you'd like to send them a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at [email protected]. Please send us your loved one's first name and the first initial of their last name only and we'll pass along the birthday wish. There are no age limits! As always I look forward to the many stories we can share together. We want to send out bright birthday wishes to: Aunt Kathleen of Valencia, SpainNanny D of Danvers, MA We hope your day SPARKLED! If you know someone who has a birthday coming up and you'd like to send them a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at [email protected]. Please send us your loved one's first name and the first initial of their last name only and we'll pass along the birthday wish. There are no age limits! As always I look forward to the many stories we can share together.

Hi All, Happy Autumn! The first day of Fall, September 22nd, was this week and I could not be happier. It is definitely our favorite season in the Night Light household. The crisp chilly air, no more pesky little gnats swarming your head and jumping in huge leaf piles! Although the days do become shorter and it gets darker earlier and stays dark later in the morning. Our night lights have to work overtime during this season. Our Lightning McQueen, Mater, and Princess night lights all do a wonderful job of keeping our rooms illuminated and help us feel a little more secure. On that note, we are honored and delighted to be sponsored by The Art of Patrizia. She is a talented woman who designs unique and stunning night lights. She welcomes new ideas for designs and the colors in the night lights can be changed at no extra charge. As our sponsor, she has generously offered to design us a Night Light Stories night light to give away to one of our loyal listeners! Entering for a chance to win is simple. Visit her site, The Art of Patrizia, and leave a comment about which night light on her site was your absolute favorite. We will randomly draw a winner on Thursday, October 8th. What did you say? A word of the day! That is right! In our story there aremany juicy words that are fun to learn and say! prance: to dance or move in a lively or spirited manner shimmer: To appear as a wavering or flickering imageCreative Corner1. Make a list of all the things you can think of that make the sound "click"?2. How many words can you make from the words "NIGHT LIGHT"? 3. While you are trying to fall asleep, count as high as you can.

Hi All,The school year is in full swing at the Night Light household. Trail hiking, river swimming and all day family days will have to wait until the weekends. Our minds are rested and rejuvenated from the summer adventures and we are ready to have some new adventures in school! We hope you admire your teacher, are blissful when collaborating with your classmates, never disguise how ecstatic you are about school, flabbergasted by all the new things you learn, and most of all we wish you all a gigantically successful school year!CREATE A TITLE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COOL SNACK BAG! Our twelfth story was written by Chris and Melissa Bugaj and well, to be honest, it does not have a title! We could really use your help and creativity! After you listen to the story, come up with a creative title for this story. Leave it as a comment on the blog, twitter it to us at nightlight08 or email me at [email protected]. Our favorite title will win this very fun and reusable snack bag created by Natalia at the Woobie Shop. Great for lunchboxes, purses, book bags, diaper bags or really anywhere you can fit it. What did you say? A word of the day! That is right! In our story there aremany juicy words that are fun to learn and say! launch:to send forth or release slogan: catch word or catch phrase summit:the highest point or part of a hill swivel: to turn or pivot JUST ADD IMAGINATION!Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story.1. Keep a special journal or notebook where you keep all of your thoughts, ideas and drawings. 2. Sit together as a family and write down three goals for the school year for school and home that you want to achieve.They could be daily goals, weekly goals, monthly goals or yearly goals. 3. Mrs. Brighton made her lunch and packed her backpack the night before so that she would not have to rush to do that in the morning. Think of one or two things you could do the night before school to make the morning a little bit easier for you. Examples would be: Take a shower, pack your lunch, organize your book bag or set out your clothes.COMPREHENSION CHALLENGEAfter listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions?1. Why did Mrs. Brighton have such a difficult time choosing a theme for her classroom? 2. Where is Mrs. Brighton when she thinks about "Leaping into Second Grade" as her theme? 3. What does she finally decide on as a theme? Be as specific and detailed as you can in describing her classroom. BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHESWe want to send out bright birthday wishes to:Amanda M from New HampshireHeather J of VirginiaSaben J of VirginiaAunt NennyDanielle B of Buffalo, NY Proby of Chigago Illinois.We hope your day SPARKLED!If you know someone who has a birthday coming up and you'd liketo send them a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email [email protected] send us your loved one's first name and the first initial of their last name only and we'll pass along the birthday wish. There are no age limits!As always I look forward to the many stories we can share together.

Click here to listen to: Dragonfly, Dragonfly, Show Us the WayHi All,Here we are in the last month of summer vacation. Can you believe it? We have had a great summer taking time to visit with our family and friends. Speaking of our friends, we are having a quick contest in honor of celebrating our little man turning FOUR with all of our friends! What will you win?Two imaginative, energetic and catchy music CD's. "FIELD TRIP" from Recess Monkey "JUICE BOX HEROES" from Imagination MoversTo enter, simply leave us a comment on the blog, at our email [email protected], or send me Tweet via Twitter.com at nightlight08 describing one of your favorite things about your best friend. We'll be picking two winners at random from all those who enter.  See my example below:I love my best girlfriend because she accepts me for who I am. For 15 years she has always been there for me. What did you say? A word of the day! That is right! In our story there aremany juicy words that are fun to learn and say! audible: loud enough to be heard conceal: cover up or keep from sightshimmied: to shake or vibrate treacherous: unstable or insecure, as footing JUST ADD IMAGINATION!Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story.1. A spelunker is a person who makes a hobby of exploring and studying caves. Think about all the things that a spelunker would find in exploring a cave. What kinds of things do you think they would study?2. Check out a book or many books at the library on the buffalo, the dragonfly, or the black-footed ferret. Read about one, two or all of these animals. COMPREHENSION CHALLENGEAfter listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions?1. Where did Buffalo and Dragonfly discover Black-Footed Ferret? 2. How did each of the friends help get each other safely through their journey? 3. Before meeting Buffalo, Dragonfly used to live in the meadow. Why did she leave? BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHESWe want to send out bright birthday wishes to:Gianna S of Peabody, MAMeme of Georgetown, MANana of Eden, NYBethie C of Groveland, MABrian C of Groveland, MABrian B of Fredonia, NYBrayden B of Fredonia, NYTucker B of Harpers Ferry, WVWe hope your day SPARKLED! If you know someone who has a birthday coming up and you'd like to send them a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at [email protected] send us your loved one's first name and the first initial of their last name only and we'll pass along the birthday wish. There are no age limits! As always I look forward to the many stories we can share together.

Click here to listen to: The Watermelon Seed Hi All, We are hoping you are enjoying the start of your summer! In our last post we listed a few reading programs we found helpful and illuminating to keep you reading all summer long. Here is one more program from Scholastic Books that we just discovered! What did you say? A word of the day! That is right! In our story there aremany juicy words that are fun to learn and say! astute: smart, quick, perceptive awry: away from the expected or proper direction; amiss; wrong protruding: to thrust forward sweltering: oppressively hot and humid viable: able to live and grow JUST ADD IMAGINATION!Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story.1. Write a letter to someone you love about what you plan to do this summer. Don't forget the FIVE parts of a letter: Heading, Greeting, Body, Closing, and Your Signature. 2. Make your own observations. Save a seed from any kind of fruit you eat, such as a watermelon, an apple or a pear. Give it a few days to dry. Plant the seed in a cup of soil. Place it in the sun and water it daily. What changes do you see happening? Write them down or draw them out. COMPREHENSION CHALLENGEAfter listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions?1. What did the boy first notice was changing in his mom? 2. Why did the boy think the mom was growing a watermelon in her belly? 3. List 3 observations the boy made about his Momma's belly that he wrote his Grandma about? BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHESWe want to send out bright birthday wishes to:John D of Valencia, SpainKerry W of Cambridge, MASue H of East Amherst, NYSamantha R of Bedford, MAWe hope your day SPARKLED! If you know someone who has a birthday coming up and you'd like to send them a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at [email protected]. Please send us your loved one's first name and the first initial of their last name only and we'll pass along the birthday wish. There are no age limits! POST ITWe hope you have some wonderful summer time plans, whether it is playing in your yard or traveling to the beach, we'd love to hear about them. Feel free to post fun summer time activities on the blog.As always, I look forward to watching the glow grow brighter with the many stories we can share together.

Hi All,Happy End of the School Year! Thanks to all of you who participated in the contest by leaving a comment on the blog . There are a lot of ways that people can feel special. Stop by this post and check out the really inspiring entries at www.nightlightstories.blogspot.com.  While you're there feel free to share what makes you feel special.aroma: an agreeable odor; fragrance.promptly: quick to act pungent: sharply affecting the organs of taste or smell, as if by a penetrating powerreplenish: to make full or complete againunravel: to separate or disentangle JUST ADD IMAGINATION!Try these activities to keep your imagination glowing after hearing the story.1. Place the following list of words in alphabetical order: sailed, shaking, gloriously, patiently, grocery, jingle, peel, drifted, hammock, scampered2. Retell the story after you hear it to a parent or friend. It might help to write some key words down or draw some pictures as you listen to help you remember the correct order of the story.3. There are many ways to solve a problem. Think of another solution to Mojo's problem. COMPREHENSION CHALLENGEAfter listening to the story, can you recall the details to answer these questions?1. What did Mojo's human mom do with the bananas that she thought were bad? 2. Why was Mojo so upset when he saw the mice eating the bananas?3. How did Mojo solve the problem to keep the mice away from his bananas?BRIGHT BIRTHDAY WISHESWe want to send out bright birthday wishes to:Meg G. of Thurmont MD who turned 3Michael H. of Danvers MA John H. of Danvers, MA Timmy C. of Groveland MA We would also like to congratulate Kevin H and Bethi C who both graduated and will be on to bigger, brighter things!  We hope your day SPARKLED!If you want to be a part of getting a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at [email protected]. Please send us your first name and last name initial only along with your age and date of your birthday. There are no age limits! As always, I look forward to watching the glow grow brighter with the many stories we can share together.

The I'm Sorry Truck was originally inspired by a drawing made by Daddy and son for Momma after a particularly bad day filled with poor choices.  Check out the blog over at http://www.nightlightstories.blogspot.com

A short promo for the Night Light Stories podcast featuring original stories for children of all ages.  For more information or to listen to the stories from the web check out http://www.nightlightstories.blogspot.com

Happy Spring! As we have shared in our past few entries, one of our most favorite activities to do is take a walk or hike. On weeknights after dinner, we enjoy walking around our mountain as a family. We love to check on the level of the babbling creek, hike off the beaten path to the many interesting rocks formations, run as fast as we can down the dirt roads, and listen for birds chirping and other little critters skittering around. Sometimes we are really lucky and see our deer friends "Hoppy" and "Twirly" and their babies that are the new spring additions to our majestic mountain. As you listen to the story, consider the following: What do you enjoy doing most with your family? Leave us a message on the blog about your favorite family activity, the story, or any past story and you can enter a chance to win some great books from Hatchette Books! CH-CH-CH-CHANGESThis week we have a special treat! When you listen to the story, you will notice a difference. Did my voice drop a few octaves? Not exactly, but good guess. We are delighted to have Mr. Chris Bugaj, who has written all the stories with Miss Mel, to make his narrating debut. Mr. Chris is also the host of the award winning podcast A.T.Tipscast, which provides at least one strategy per episode about technology used to help struggling students.What did you say? A word of the day!That is right! In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say! Concoction: To prepare by mixing ingredientsEmbarked: To set out on a ventureEmblem: A sign, design, or figure that identifies or represents somethingInterweaving: To weave together, as threads, strands, branches, or roots Bright Birthdays We wanted to start sending bright birthday wishes to our loyal listeners at the end of each episode. If you want to be a part of getting a Night Light Birthday wish, send us an email at [email protected].  Please send us your first name and last name initial only along with your age and date of your birthday. There are no age limits! For example, this weeks episode we want to send out  Bright Birthday wishes to Will D, Joe D and John D from Valencia Spain.  We hope your day SPARKLED!More Worthy WebsitesCelebrate Spring with some clever craftsAll about Spring

Hello All,Happy Daylight Savings Time! I know we are thrilled to move an hour ahead in this household. We love that our two young children who really like to wake up at 6 AM will now wake up at 7AM. Well, OK, maybe just for Sunday, but at least we get one day of feeling that we are waking up at a normal hour! Also, we are so excited that longer, lighter, warmer days are on their way. The Appalachian Trail is one of our favorite spots to spend our weekends and nights. It is such an awesome hike with a lot of different entry points close to us and alternate terrains to choose from.What did you say? A word of the day!That is right! In our story there are many juicy words thatare fun to learn and say! Pressure: a force or influence Dismay: a breakdown of courageDiscussion: an exchange of views about a topic

Hello All, The month of February flew by and the Night Light Stories' household has successfully healed from surgery, edited a book, and completed a fun story for your listening pleasure. Since February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, we though our story fit this month perfectly. A Tooth's Story was written by Chris and Melissa Bugaj. Enjoy! What did you say? A word of the day!That is right! In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say! I am going to post a word or two or three or more from the story that would be fun to try to use in your conversations throughout the week. Coax: To persuade or try to persuade by pleading or flattery Grumble: to express or utter with murmuring or complainingMuffled: being or made softer or less loud or clear Perspective: the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer

We are excited to introduce our first "flashlight" episode. A "flashlight" episode is shorter than other episodes, but we think you'll find them just as illuminating. In honor of this being our first "Flashlight", we are giving away some great books generously donated to us by our sponsor, Barefoot Books. Their books are original, entertaining, and so imaginative. There are two ways to enter and you can do just one or both! The first way is to draw a squircle by listening to the poem. Now, take that squircle and make a picture. Your picture can be just one squircle colored in, or a bunch of squircles put together to make something new. Your picture can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. We'd love to see what you can come up with using your imagination! Send your works of art to [email protected]. We will post all the entries in our Fan Art slide show for everyone to enjoy. The second way is to simply leave us a comment on the blog telling us THREE shapes you see throughout your day and where you saw them. One winner will be chosen randomly on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2009 to receive a set of five books from Barefoot Books. We look forward to seeing your creations.Speaking of creations, entries are starting to come in for the Goosie Card contest. The details for that contest are outlined in episode #3. You can check out all of the entries and find out more information about the contest by going to www.nightlightstories.blogspot.com. This episode and any past or future episodes is protected under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License which means that you have permission to share these stories but don't sell or alter them in any way. As always, I look forward to watching the glow grow brighter with the many stories we can share together. What did you say? A word of the day! That is right! In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say! I am going to post some words from the story that would be fun to try to use in your conversations throughout the week. Squircle: a mathematical shape with properties between those of a square and those of a circle.Phenomenal: highly extraordinary or prodigious; exceptional.Fret: to feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent.Galore: in abundance; in plentiful amounts. Sneak PeekHere is a sneak peak at a couple of the books you could win from Barefoot Books! We look forward to sharing these wonderful treasures with you!

Click here to listen to Dale Hello All, We here at Night Light Stories are excited to announce our very first contest. It is easy to enter, and fun to do! Simply send us an original picture of your favorite scene or character from the story Dale. One winner will be chosen randomly on January 28th, 2009. The winner will receive one free set of Goosie Cards! All you need to do to enter is send us a digital picture of your work of art to [email protected]. We would love to see your creations and post them to share with others! That is not all! Everyone can be a winner. If you place an order at http://www.goosiecards.com/ between now and February 28, 2009 you will receive 20% off your order. Simply enter the promo code nightlight during the checkout process. Enjoy!What did you say? A word of the day!That is right! In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say! I am going to post some words from the story that would be fun to try to use in your conversations throughout the week. Fragrant: having a pleasant scent or aroma Rambled: a walk without a definite route Unison: a process in which all elements behave in the same way at the same timeHardy: (of plants) able to withstand the cold of winter in the open air. Intently: having the attention sharply focused or fixed on somethingBright Ideas In the story, Dale finds "treasure scraps" in a compost pile. Do you know what a compost pile is? Do you know how to make one? Find out by following the link below. MAKE YOUR OWN COMPOST PILE!

Hello All, The holiday season is upon us and our house, probably like yours, is buzzing with excitement! Our second story, Chilly's Christmas was written by Chris and Melissa Bugaj. As you listen to the story consider the following, Have you ever been in a situation where things are different from what you are used to? What did you say? A word of the day!That is right! In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say! I am going to post a word or two or three from the story that would be fun to try to use in your conversations throughout the week. Admire: to regard with wonder, pleasure, or approval. Gingerly: with great care or caution Illuminate: to enlighten, as with knowledge. To supply or brighten with light Muster: to come together; collect; assemble; gather Scrumptious: very pleasing, especially to the senses; delectable; splendid CRAFTY CORNER Check out www.nightlightstories.blogspot.com for directions and templates to create your favorite characters from the story.Send us a digital picture of your project to [email protected] . We would love to see your creations! As always, keep your light glowing bright!Have a happy and healthy holiday season!

The first of the stories is up for your listening pleasure. I am so thrilled to have started this and get the light glowing bright! I wanted to share a little background on the story of Mojo and the Magic Couch. My husband and I are the authors. We came up with the idea for it after we noticed our ferret, Mojo, was escaping into the depths of our couch. He literally had dug a hole in between the cushions and would leap in there while we desperately tried to get to him before he wriggled his slinky body all the way in. We always joked that he was going in there to a magic land, and so that is how the story came to be.As promised, here is the picture of Mojo, the little rascal!       What did you say? A word of the day! That is right! In our story there are many juicy words that are fun to learn and say! I am going to post a word or two or three from the story that would be fun to try to use in your conversations throughout the week.   Scamper: To run or go quickly and lightly. A quick light run or movement   Wriggle: To twist to and fro; writhe; squirm.To move along by twisting and turning the body, as a worm or snake.   SHARE IT! Feel free to contact me at my website, [email protected] with any comments or suggestions you may have. I have just begun my journey with podcasting and blogging and would love to hear from you! Keep your minds glowing bright!