On her first slow walk out to the end of a red mangrove branch, Shakira, the pygmy sloth experienced something sudden:  the branch broke off.  She and the branch fell down to the ground, and though she was fine - no breaks or bruises - she was still rather shaken up.  Luckily her mother had fallen many times and knew what to do - she would 'unshake' her - or help her body let go of the accident.
 
This story can be useful for when your child (or anyone really) needs support after an accident.  In fact, the story was written for some dear friends who had just gotten into a car accident, and though they escaped with only bruises, both children were pretty rattled.  The story gives a body-based exercise that anyone can use.  We hope you can add this story to our growing list of 'first aid kit' stories to have ready in your back pocket

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a Free Story from one of our Original Story Series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

Enjoy!

Each year, the Junkyard animals celebrate their love and appreciation for each other with a Valentines Gift Exchange.  Everyone draws one name from a hat — to learn who will receive their gift.  When Ben Thompson, curious cat, picks the name of Georgia Bean, the kindly rat, he panics.  Georgia Bean is like a mother to all the animals!  There’s no one better at being kind, caring and generous.  What could he possibly give her?

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we'll be sharing a Free Story from one of our Original Story Series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

Enjoy!

This story is in honor of Martin Luther King Jr and his work to bring equal rights to all people.  And what does it mean to have equal rights? 

“The Rights of the Lefts” is about a kingdom long ago and far away where the right-handed people were in charge: they ate the best food and enjoyed the best jobs and lived in the best houses.  The left-handed people, however did not enjoy any of those comforts.  No, they lived in the fields and ate while they worked and slept on the ground.  But this was how things were, this was how life had been for years and years and though there were some that didn’t agree with this, no one spoke up against the king and queen who ruled them.

And then something remarkable happened.  The king and queen had twins and only one of them was right handed.  The other was left handed - and now, they were faced with an important decision.  And what happens next is not what you would expect.

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a Free Story from one of our Original Story Series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

This is a story about snow and the miracle that comes when you make something out of snow.  The fairies love such creations, and they invest heavily in each and every one. This is a story about a boy named Jack and what happens when he positions a carrot in just the right way in the middle of his snowman’s face. 

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we'll be sharing a Free Story from one of our Original Story Series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

Enjoy!

When Martin and Sylvia play “explorers”, they don their special hats and venture happily into the back yard or surrounding forest with their eyes and ears ready to discover something new.   But their sense of adventure is put to the test when they are told they need to spend a whole day in Momma’s office.  “Explorers always find something exciting everywhere they go,” says Daddy.  But brother and sister are not so sure.  Could they really be explorers – everywhere?

This story was originally shared in 2014.

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a Free Story from one of our Original Story Series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

Enjoy!

A boy named Sempronius Elija Boyd can actually smell gold, and as he grows, he uses this skill to become very rich.  But in his quest for riches, he loses the delight he feels in his senses and in the search. Years later he meets a young girl who helps him remember the delight gold once gave him.

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a Free Story from one of our Original Story Series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

Enjoy!

Armen Zinger is Tullyport’s newest cobbler. And oh, he has a hard job to do! Everyone in town wants new shoes before the Twelfthnight Dance, and his orders are piling up.

Armen also has a secret: every night he leaves his work out, in hopes that the elves will come to his aid. But each morning, he finds that it is just as he left it the night before.

Now, only a few days before the Dance, he must work non-stop, much to the disappointment of his children. Then, that night, something magical does happen, that transforms the whole family.

This story is featured as a story-within-a-story in the Martin & Sylvia "Twelve Days of Christmas Audio Book".  It comes from the "By Thistle By Thimble" Audio Story Series.

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a Free Story from one of our Original Story Series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

Enjoy!

A poor father and son have spent many days preparing their Christmas presents for each other - only to have their gifts washed away in a sudden flood.  They are both sad from the loss, but after a few days, they each discover something unexpected that would make a perfect gift.  But they are both in for a delightful surprise!

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a Free Story from one of our Original Story Series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

Enjoy!

This year, Martin is invited to attend the local production of “The Nutcracker” with Momma.  It’s an exciting first!  But as it’s a long performance, it’s decided that five-year-old Sylvia is too young to join.  And oh, is she disappointed!  Martin makes it up to his sister by promising to bring the Nutcracker right back to their own living room — and he does, in a full family performance!

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a Free Story from one of our Original Story Series!

For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

Enjoy!

How do you begin to talk to your children about race and justice? 

What words can you use to help young ones understand the conflict, and the possible solutions to these big challenges? 

David shares storytelling tips from his "Tranformational Storytelling" workshop.

This Episode is for Parents ears, as we want to share the secrets behind our own storytelling process, and offer tools to make parenting easier. 

Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us! 
info@sparklestories.com

Enjoy!