Showing results by narrator "Maria Pendolino" in All Categories

Precious is not looking forward to being a donkey in the school play. Precious thinks donkeys look silly and smell bad, that is, until Grandfather comes to visit on his donkey cart. Grandfather teaches Precious that donkeys are much than they seem—they are hardworking, loyal, and kind.

Enjoy this collection of funny animal stories. In "Small Mouse, Big Trouble", a trickster mouse causes trouble for a young girl. Can she outsmart the mouse, or will he have her room all to himself? When it seems like the mouse might just get his way, the clever girl uses a game that her father taught her to outwit the mouse. You’ll also find four other stories featuring some entertaining animals: "The Conduit Mouse", "Eudora Entwhistle and the Geese of Macadoodle-by-the-Sea", "The Pirates and the Peacock", and "Dragon Treat".

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the end of the harvest season. As such, food plays an important role. While the food varies by region, the sense of togetherness under a moonlit sky lasts long after the last bite of mooncake has been eaten.

What's a girl to do when nobody wants her help? Help anyway! The garden needs tending and the new neighbors just might need someone to save the day. Using several of the lessons she learned at Sunday school a young lady tries to be the best neighbor she can be.

Melanie volunteers with the zoo to teach children about animals. She doesn't anticipate encountering her biggest fear up close: a boa constrictor!

The First People had only four lights to illuminate the world. The First People asked First Man and First Woman to give them more daylight. In this traditional Navajo story, learn how First Man and First Woman created the sun, moon, and stars to give light to the First People.

Have you ever ridden a roller coaster? They’re a lot of fun, but a lot of physics is involved in making those rides work. The momentum built up by energy and speed keep those trains on their tracks and riders in their seats, even when they’re upside-down!

Wedding Planning for the Busy Feminist is filled with practical, funny advice from real brides, grooms, and vendors about how to plan your dream wedding on a budget. It's also an empowering survival guide that examines how modern women feel conflicted about outdated traditions and expensive social media fantasies but kinda want the perfect wedding anyway.

Did you know that writing letters used to be the only way to communicate with people far away? Samuel F.B. Morse changed all of that when he invented the telegraph and Morse code! Using wires and electromagnetism, Morse found a way to communicate over long distances almost instantly. This new technology paved the way for the telephone, as well as the other methods of communication we use today!

Your skin does a lot to make sure you are healthy and feeling good. It can keep you warm on a cold day, and cool on a hot day. It's tough and helps protect you from the sun. Its ridges help you grip things. Let's face it, your skin has you covered.

The Wampanoags, who inhabited what it is now southeastern Massachusetts, were strikingly different from the Pilgrims, who did not share the same interests in sharing land. The native people could not foresee Europeans taking the land that the Wampanoags had once respected and treasured.

In India, stories spread about the magical powers in the songs of a young boy named Tansen. Years later while hunting in the forest, Emperor Akbar witnesses the magic of Tansen’s voice. Now a member of Akbar’s court, Tansen is challenged by the other musicians to perform the Deepak Raga, a song that could bring fire and death to the singer. Will Tansen be able to survive the dangers of this song?

Learn more about haiku, which are short poems, written in a style created in Japan more than 400 years ago.

Making friends and fitting in don't always go together, especially in middle school. Enjoy this collection of stories about friendship. In "They Made Me Do It and...I'm Sorry", listen to story about how someone gets the silent treatment at CiCi's school every few weeks. But when everyone starts to ignore her friend Eric, what will she do?

Enjoy this collection of stories about middle-school children performing. In "World Music", Niccolo’s parents are professional musicians who play with a symphony orchestra. They want Niccolo to spend the summer playing violin with the youth symphony orchestra. Niccolo enjoys classical music and playing his violin, but after meeting his new neighbors, Jeremy and Melly, he wants to try something different.

Enjoy this collection of origin folktales, also known as pourquoi stories, that explain why things are the way they are. In "Why Alligator Hates Dog", everyone respects M'su Cocodrie, the king of the swamp, except the dogs, who taunt him and make lots of noise.

Seth has a new stepfather, a new stepsister, and a new home. Adjusting to so many changes at once is difficult. He's happy for his mother, but he misses spending time alone with her. When a new neighbor moves in, Seth becomes fascinated by her African grey parrot.

Beginning readers will love this collection of stories about kids discovering who they are. In "Someday", Ada dreams of becoming an inventor when she grows up. As she soon discovers, she is already looking for solutions to everyday problems. Also included are eight other stories of self-discovery: "Tall Enough", "Kojo's Shadow", "Sing Softer, Maggie", "If Henry Could Dance", "Wullus", "Shelby the Shy", Not Now, Natalie", and "Paint the Morning".

Tamitha meets the most interesting people! Enjoy this trilogy of humorous fantasy stories, which follow Tamitha's adventures: "Tamitha and the Troll Witch", "Tamitha and the Dragon", and "Tamitha and the Vampire".

In "Miami by Fujian", Mariel is a young girl who is struggling with her identity. As a Chinese-American being raised by her adoptive Latino family in Miami, she doesn't understand who she really is. Mariel feels connected to her Latino culture, but all of the other kids make fun of her. After a trip to China, where she was born, Mariel learns about her Chinese heritage. Seeing the orphanage and all the children who are still up for adoption allow Mariel to be happy with her life. Also included are two other stories of heritage and diversity: "Amy's Metaphor" and "From Scratch".