BCLS Podcasts

The Three Billy Goats Gruff: Surfside Edition

2009-04-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

The summer 2009 variety show is coming to a branch near you soon! In order to whet your appetite, we're giving you a sample. Library staff rewrote The Three Billy Goats Gruff and gave it a Brazoria County twist. Listen as the library staff perform just a taste from the 2009 variety show Texas Three Step: The Good, the Bad and the Funny.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff: Surfside Edition
written by Sara Joiner
performed as part of Texas Three Step: The Good, the Bad and the Funny, the 2009 summer variety show

Direct link: goats.mp3
Total time: 1:42 minutes

Rapunzel

2009-02-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

The original version of Rapunzel is probably different than you remember it. Listen as Jo reads this classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.

Rapunzel
written by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm

Direct link: rapunzel.mp3
Total time: 7:29 minutes

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

2008-12-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

Did you see the 2008 variety show, Jacked Up Fairy Tales: 3½ Stories (and a Song)? If you missed it, here’s your chance to listen to part of it. Three library staff members wrote a new version of the Aesop fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf. What do you think will happen? Find out as the children’s staff of the library system presents our first creative production.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf
written by Sara Joiner, Tom West & Jered Smith
originally performed as part of Jacked Up Fairy Tales: 3½ Stories (and a Song), the 2008 summer variety show

Direct link: wolf.mp3
Total time: 4:00 minutes

The Hare and the Hound

2008-10-28T06:18:00.000-07:00

A dog eagerly chases a rabbit, hoping to make a meal of him. Will the rabbit get away? Find out in this short Aesop fable, The Hare and the Hound, read by Laura.

The Hare and the Hound
originally told by Aesop

Direct link: hare_hound.mp3
Total time: 0:27 minutes

The Angler and the Little Fish

2008-09-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

The fisherman has caught a tiny fish for supper. Will the little fish be able to outwit the fisherman? Find out as Regina reads The Angler and the Little Fish, a fable by Aesop.

The Angler and the Little Fish
originally told by Aesop

Direct link: angler.mp3
Total time: 0:50 minutes

Hen Lake

2008-08-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

There’s a new bird in the barnyard, and he’s always bragging about himself. Poulette knows that the other chickens are just as good as he is, but can she convince the others to believe in themselves? Miss Emmy reads Hen Lake by Mary Jane Auch.

Hen Lake
written & illustrated by Mary Jane Auch
published by Holiday House, 1995

Direct link: hen.mp3
Total time: 11:47 minutes

What Do Teachers Do (After You Leave the School)?

2008-07-11T05:57:00.000-07:00

Once all the students have gone home, how do the teachers spend their time? Discover the answer when Miss Diane reads What Do Teachers Do (After You Leave School)? by Anne Bowen.

What Do Teachers Do (After You Leave School)?
written by Anne Bowen, illustrated by Barry Gott
published by Carolrhoda Books, copyright 2006

“What Do Teachers Do (after You Leave School)?” by Anne Bowen, illustrated by Barry Gott. Text copyright © 2006 by Anne Bowen. Illustrations copyright © 2006 by Barry Gott. Reprinted with the permission of Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this text excerpt may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

Direct link: teachers.mp3
Total time: 3:47 minutes

ETA: Link to mp3 recording removed per agreement with publisher. Please see our list of other titles featuring school and teachers.

Library Lion

2008-06-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

There’s a lion in the library! What is the librarian going to do? Find out as Carolyn reads Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen.

Library Lion
written by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
published by Candlewick, copyright 2006

Direct link: lion.mp3
Total time: 9:30 minutes

The Wolf's Story

2008-05-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

You all know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, but you haven’t heard the wolf’s side of the story. Until now. Learn what the wolf has to say as Sara reads The Wolf’s Story: What Really Happened to Little Red Riding Hood by Toby Forward.

The Wolf’s Story: What Really Happened to Little Red Riding Hood
written by Toby Forward, illustrated by Izhar Cohen
published by Candlewick, copyright 2005

THE WOLF’S STORY. Text copyright © 2005 Toby Forward. Illustrations copyright © 2005 Izhar Cohen. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Inc. Cambridge, MA.

Direct link: wolf.mp3
Total time: 5:08 minutes

Lucy's Quiet Book

2008-04-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

Lucy lives in a noisy house with six brothers. She visits the library for some quiet, but how can she ever get her brothers to be quiet at home? Learn her secret in Lucy’s Quiet Book by Angela Shelf Medearis read by Carolyn.

Lucy’s Quiet Book
written by Angela Shelf Medearis, illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst
published by Harcourt, copyright 2000

LUCY’S QUIET BOOK, text copyright © 2000 by Angela Shelf Medearis, illustrations copyright © 2000 by Lisa Campbell Ernst, reproduced by permission of Harcourt, Inc. This material may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Direct link: lucy.mp3
Total time: 2:14 minutes

ETA: Link removed per agreement with the publisher.

Five Little Piggies

2008-03-06T05:49:00.000-08:00

You all know the rhyme about the five little piggies. But do you know why one went to market? Why one stayed home? Why one had roast beef? Why one had none? And, why one cried “wee, wee, wee”? Find out in David Martin’s Five Little Piggies, read by Sara.

Five Little Piggies
written by David Martin, illustrated by Susan Meddaugh
published by Candlewick, copyright 1998

Direct link: piggies.mp3
Total time: 5:33 minutes

The Library Dragon

2008-02-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

Is there really a dragon who works in the library at Sunrise Elementary? The librarian couldn’t be a dragon ... could she? Find out as Carolyn reads The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy.

The Library Dragon
written by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael P. White
published by Peachtree Publishers, copyright 1994

Direct link: dragon.mp3
Total time: 8:18 minutes

ETA: Link to mp3 recording removed per agreement with publisher.

The House That Jack Built

2008-01-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

The classic cumulative rhyme is brought to life as Sara reads The House That Jack Built.

The House That Jack Built

Anonymous

Direct link: jack.mp3
Total time: 1:53 minutes

A Visit From St. Nicholas

2007-12-10T09:39:00.000-08:00

A beloved Christmas poem gets the library treatment as Kathryn reads Clement C. Moore’s A Visit From St. Nicholas.

A Visit From St. Nicholas

written by Clement C. Moore

Direct link: christmas.mp3

Total time: 3:37 minutes

Mother Goose

2007-11-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

Nursery rhymes come in all shapes and sizes. Listen as our children’s staff read some of their favorite Mother Goose rhymes.

Direct link: mother_goose.mp3

Total time: 3:16 minutes

Big Momma Makes the World

2007-10-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

Big Momma is busy with all her work. She’s making a world, but she’s also got to care for her baby and get to all that laundry that’s piled up. So, what’s Big Momma to do? Sara reads Big Momma Makes the World by Phyllis Root.

Big Momma Makes the World
written by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
published by Candlewick Press, copyright 2002

Direct link: momma.mp3
Total time: 6:07 minutes

ETA: Link to mp3 recording removed per agreement with publisher.

Rattletrap Car

2007-09-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

It is a hot day, and Poppa and the kids decide to go to the lake to cool off. Unfortunately, their car may not make it. What will they do when it breaks down? Will they ever get to the lake? Miss Diane reads Phyllis Root’s Rattletrap Car.

Rattletrap Car
written by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Jill Barton
published by Candlewick Press, copyright 2001

Direct link: rattletrap.mp3
Total time: 4:39 minutes

ETA: Link to mp3 recording removed per agreement with publisher.

The Librarian of Basra

2007-08-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Alia Muhammad Baker is a librarian in the city of Basra in southern Iraq. In this true story, Alia does whatever she can to protect the books in her library before war comes to her city. Will she be able to save all the books? Sara reads The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter.

The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq
written & illustrated by Jeanette Winter
published by Harcourt, copyright 2005

THE LIBRARIAN OF BASRA: A TRUE STORY FROM IRAQ, copyright © 2005 by Jeanette Winter, reproduced by permission of Harcourt, Inc. This material may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Direct link: librarian.mp3
Total time: 3:21 minutes

ETA: Link to mp3 recording removed per agreement with publisher. Please see our list of other titles featuring libraries.

Cautionary Tales for Children (excerpt)

2007-07-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Hear the sad tale of Jim who went with his nurse on a fateful trip to the zoo, and learn an important lesson from the boy’s tragic tale. Tom reads the Hilaire Belloc’s poem “Jim, Who Ran Away from His Nurse and Was Eaten by a Lion” from Cautionary Tales for Children.

Cautionary Tales for Children
written by Hilaire Belloc, illustrated by Edward Gorey
published by Harcourt, copyright 2002

Direct link: cautionary.mp3

Total time: 2:37 minutes

Ten In the Bed

2007-06-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

Can ten animals sleep in one bed? Find out what happens when one little animal just wants the others to “move over.” Miss Diane reads Jane Cabrera’s book Ten In the Bed.

Ten In the Bed
written & illustrated by Jane Cabrera
published by Holiday House, copyright 2006

Text and illustrations copyright © 2006 by Jane Cabrera. All rights reserved. First published in Great Britain by Gullane Children’s Books, an imprint of Pinwheel Limited, Winchester House, 259-269 Old Marylebone Road, London NW1 5XJ. First published in the United States of America by Holiday House, Inc. in 2006. Used by permission of Holiday House, Inc.

Direct link: ten_bed.mp3
Total time: 2:13 minutes

Ruby's Wish

2007-05-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

Ruby's loves to attend classes in her grandfather's home in China. Her greatest wish is to go to college, but her family expects her to marry. Will her wish ever come true? Sara reads Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges.

Ruby's Wish
written by Shirin Yim Bridges, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
published by Chronicle Books, copyright 2002

RUBY'S WISH: text © 2002 by Shirin Yim Bridges; illustrations © by Sophie Blackall. Used with permission of Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco. Visit ChronicleBooks.com.

Direct link: ruby.mp3
Total time: 6:37 minutes

ETA: Link to mp3 recording removed per agreement with publisher. Please see our list of other titles featuring Asian or Asian American characters.

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude (excerpt)

2007-04-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Two very different children have to find a fairy tale to read for a school project. Unfortunately, they can't agree on which story to choose. How do they find a fairy tale they both like? Find out in this excerpt from the very funny Kevin O'Malley book Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude read by Jered.

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude

written by Kevin O'Malley, illustrated by Kevin O'Malley, Carol Heyer & Scott Goto

Direct link: motorcycle.mp3

Total time: 3:30 minutes

Brothers In Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan (excerpt)

2007-03-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

Garang, an eight-year-old Sudanese boy, loses his family to war. He finds himself walking with hundreds of other boys to safety in Ethiopia. But war follows them there, too. Will Garang ever be safe? Sara reads an excerpt from Brothers In Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams, a story inspired by true events.

Brothers In Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan
written by Mary Williams, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
published by Lee & Low Books, copyright 2005
visit the Brothers In Hope website

Direct link: brothers.mp3

Total time: 3:22 minutes

Eaglet's World

2007-02-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

Eaglet feels quite content in his nest with his mother and father bringing him food. But now they want him to fly on his own. Will he find the courage? Find out as Miss Emmy reads Evelyn Minshull's Eaglet's World.

Eaglet's World
written by Evelyn Minshull, illustrated by Andrea Gabriel
published by Albert Whitman & Company, copyright 2002

Direct link: eaglets_world.mp3
Total time: 5:14 minutes