Transcript

QUEENIE: How great to see you here again at the Kids’ Poetry Club podcast. While we wait for Little Dazzy Donuts to start, I wanted to reminder you that kidspoetryclub.com contains YouTube videos of illustrated poems and a packet of activities based on this week’s episode. It’s all free. Okay … let the fun begin …

Let's have some fun 

with things that rhyme

welcome Kids 

it's poetry time!

Hip Hip Hurray!

QUEENIE: Hi everyone. Welcome back to Kids Poetry Club with me, Queenie. I know that you’re expecting to hear Little Dazzy Donuts right now – but I arrived here early to surprise him. I’m just so excited that this is the 15th episode of Kids’ Poetry Club, and that feels like something to celebrate! I sneaked in without Little Dazzy Donuts knowing, and I’ve filled the Club with streamers and balloons. I’m now sitting here in the dark waiting for him to arrive so that I can jump up and shout “SURPRISE!”… I may have actually got here too early – I’ve been sitting here in the dark for a long long time. I finished my sandwich ages ago. I hope he gets here soon….. Oooohhhhhh I hear him coming. Okay – stay quiet with me, and shout out Surprise when he opens the door.

SOUND (door, light switch, lights)

QUEENIE: Okay, everyone – shout it now …. SURPRISE!!!!

Oh my! Queenie – how surprising to see you!!! Wow – look at how fantastic the Club looks. There are sooooo many balloons!

QUEENIE: I know. I was blowing them up for ages … and then I felt light-headed and so sat down for a while and ate my sandwich. I’m glad you like it all – I wanted to surprise you because it’s the 15th episode.

You’re right it is – and I love what you’ve done here. There are balloons, and streamers … oh, and three boxes too.

QUEENIE: Yes! I thought that a celebration deserves presents … and so you have three presents in boxes!

Well, I can’t wait to open them. Let me first welcome everyone else to the Club and play the intro music, and then perhaps I can open the first box. How amazing!

Here goes then … I hope you’re feeling ready for some rhymes and fun today because we're going to spend the next 15 minutes listening to three poems on this week's chosen topic - are you going to guess what the topic is? Given how this has already started, it feels like we’re guaranteed plenty of fun today. So, while I play our intro music, get wriggling around to find a comfortable spot ... I’m so excited! It's time for this week's Kids’ Poetry Club!

Music

Before we play "guess the topic of the week", let's start off with club registration. This is where you get to shout out your name and get a club point for being here. So, on the count of three, shout out your name so that I can hear you through your phone, computer, or radio.

Let the drum roll begin. Here goes …. One. Two. Three! ….. Excellent!

So, by any chance do you remember the topic from last week?  Just in case you don’t, here’s a little clue ….

SOUNDS

Yes, it was the WEATHER! So let’s see if you can guess this week’s topic. Think about everything that Queenie has already done today, and why she did it. Also, think about what you all shouted out with Queenie when I walked into the Club.

So, did you work it out? I bet you did as this week’s topic is SURPRISES!

SOUND

Well, Queenie – you definitely surprised me when I arrived at the Club, and that fits perfectly with today’s topic. Now, how about I open up one of the presents?

QUEENIE: oooohhhhh yes, I’d love that. I put the gifts inside recycled boxes – that seemed most environmentally friendly. Also, I didn’t use wrapping paper because it can’t always be recycled. But I did make the boxes really pretty with stamps and stickers….. How about you open that one there – the box that I covered in Kids’ Poetry Club stickers.

Okay then, let’s open this up and see what’s inside. Ohhhh – is this box from you and from Postie Dale? It looks like it has poems inside.

QUEENIE: IT IS!!!!!!! I let him in on the surprise, and he popped by earlier to drop off the poems. He said that he hopes you like all of them as they were picked out especially for the topic!

Oh yes, I can see that now. He’s brought us three poems all on the topic of SURPRISES. How about I read one of them out? Let me close my eyes, and pick one at random …. There we go.  Oh, this one is ideal given how you surprised me today. It’s a poem called Birthday Surprise.

“Your Birthday Surprise”

For a birthday surprise

we planned a big party,

with all of your friends,

like Ruby and Charlie,

and Jack, Dan, and Amy,

and Nick and Steve too.

We invited hundreds of people

to come surprise you.

We rented a room,

and bought a big sign:

rainbow colors that said,

“Happy Birthday Surprise.”

We also made a big cake,

covered in candles.

We hung helium balloons

of monkeys and pandas.

When the day came,

we turned off the lights,

and waited to jump up

shouting, “Surprise!”,

but it turned out our planning

wasn’t thorough enough

as the surprise for us all

was you didn’t turn up!

QUEENIE: HaHa! I like that poem, Little Dazzy Donuts. Although I’m glad that you turned up today. It would have been soooooooo boring had I been stuck in here in the dark for much longer. That said, I did notice something while I was sitting here with the lights off. I noticed that, every now and again, I could hear the sound of feet, and the sound of pecking too! Feet AND PECKING!!!!!!!

Well, Queenie, it sounds like you heard the chicken. We still haven’t caught it after you accidentally released it a few weeks’ ago.

QUEENIE: You know what … I don’t think that chicken wants to be caught. I really can’t blame it either. She’s now free range around our Club … and, in return, we get to enjoy all of those yummy eggs. My omlet consumption has gone up soooooooo much!

Okay – so what should I do next? Should I open another box … or read a second poem?

QUEENIE: ooohhhhh …. Well, I think you can do both. Here, open up this second box, and then read a poem. But be careful as you open it up – its contents are fragile.

Okay – well, this is a big box. Ummmm … let’s see what’s inside. Oh, it’s a cake!

QUEENIE: It is!!!! I made it myself.

What a lovely surprise! Would you like a slice?

QUEENIE: YES PLEASE!!!!! This is my favorite cake in the whole wide world.

Okay, so, let’s both have a slice of cake before I read the second poem.

Ummmm … that’s creamy! Oh … what’s that flavor. Uwwww. That’s definitely an unusual flavor. I’m not sure that I’ve ever tasted a cake quite like this before. What is it?

QUEENIE: It’s a vanilla sponge … with a buttercream filling. All very normal really. But I then made it into a really special surprise cake by adding Tuna & Banana frosting! Oh, I love TUNA & BANANA!!!!!!

Ah yes – that definitely explains the unusual flavor. I tell you what, why don’t you eat your slice of cake while I read out the second poem on today’s topic of surprises. This poem is all about somebody waking up and being surprised with breakfast. Although it sounds like the surprise didn’t fully go to plan. This second poem is called “Breakfast Surprise”.

“Breakfast Surprise”

There was a bang,

then a crash

and something big smashed,

so it was then that I dashed

to discover a pile

there on the floor

of saucepans and bottles

and ladles and more.

There was flour spread widely

all over on the walls,

and smashed eggs with yolks

sliding slowly down doors.

The freezer was open

and so was the fridge,

and the sink now contained

a large lake of milk,

that was so big it was running

up over the sides.

The butter had melted

and was now liquified.

What a sight to greet

my just opened eyes,

when someone cooked me

a breakfast surprise!

Well, that poem definitely describes a surprise. Imagine waking up, hearing noises in the kitchen, and going in expecting to find breakfast being made, but instead finding that whoever was making breakfast had somehow managed to get food everywhere.

Talking of food, Queenie – how are you getting on with the cake.

QUEENIE: Yum …. Yum ….. It’s just sooooooo yummy!

While you finish your slice of cake … and hopefully also the frosting off my slice too … why don’t I open up this final box to see what’s inside.

SOUND

Oh my … it’s a phone.

QUEENIE: SURPRISE!!!!!! If you wait just a few seconds, something special is going to happen. Hang on … five, four, three, two, one …

RING!

Hi, this is Little Dazzy Donuts.

Rhyming Rita: Hi Little Dazzy Donuts – it’s Rhyming Rita, the Poetry Teacher.

Hi, Rhyming Rita – how great to hear from you again! I’m guessing that Queenie asked you to be a part of her surprises today.

Rhyming Rita:

You’re right, Queenie asked me

To join all the fun

And as my pupils know from Rhyming School

Fun’s my Number 1.

Especially if the fun we’re having

Involves a poem or rhyme

So I have one ready to read out now

That I prepared ahead of time.

That’s so wonderful, Rhyming Rita. You know, Queenie is so lucky to be in your class at Rhyming School, and we’re so lucky that you join in with the Club. Okay, Queenie has finished her slice of cake now, so why not read us your rhyme.

Rhyming Rita:

Last time I was at the Club

You called me for a riddle

And I read one out from Jonathan Swift

About vowels – it was such a giggle.

This time around, it feels right to read

Another out to all

And give a week to find out who

Has the where-with-all.

Here’s a riddle I wrote for you

Let’s see who’ll be the star

Who listens hard to find two words

And works out what they are.

Oh – hang on Rhyming Rita …. Queenie and I are going to grab paper and pens so that we can write down your riddle. We’ll then spend the next week trying to solve it …. Okay … we’re ready now.

Rhyming Rita:

I am named for different colors,
at times where I reside
yet it may sound to you
like I have no clothes
or covers in which to hide.
Don’t confuse the two of me
for we are definitely not the same:
for I may be one by nature
and the other one by name.

Oh my, that’s a such a great riddle Rhyming Rita! I wonder what the two words are. I think we’ll need the week to solve this one. Thank you so much for writing it specially for all of us at the Club. Let’s give everyone a week to think about it, and then I’ll give the answer out next week.

Rhyming Rita:

It has been such fun here at the Club

But the time has come to fly

Good luck to everyone

As I bid you all goodbye.

Well, Queenie. The time has come for me to read out the final poem of the episode.

SOUND

This final poem fits perfectly with the week’s topic of Surprises. Already, we’ve heard a poem about a Birthday Surprise, and another about a Breakfast Surprise. This final poem is about a surprise gift – just like the ones that Queenie brought to the Club today. However, at least I got to open up all of Queenie’s gifts. In this poem, that may not even happen. It’s a poem called “Your Surprise Gift”

You arrived here
with a gift-wrapped box,
and the surprise of it all
meant my jaw just dropped.

I found myself rooted there
right to the spot.
My eyebrows were raised
My eyes were on stalks.

I jumped out of my skin
and had to cling to the door:
the surprise lifting my feet
clear up off the floor.

Then it blew me right over,
It sounds crazy but true,
that it blew me away,
took my breath away too!

You surprised me so much
that you knocked off my socks.
Now I’ll never find out
what’s inside of your box!

Well, that was our final poem for this episode.

SOUND

Queenie: Little Dazzy Donuts – why don’t you say your closing piece, and then I’ll stay behind to tidy up the Club. There are so many balloons and streamers … and now there are cake crumbs all over the place too. I could even play the closing music for you too.

Okay, Queenie – that sounds like a great idea. Well everyone, don’t forget that there are lots of ways to join in with the club. If you go to kidspoetryclub.com, you’ll see a wonderful drawing by our Club illustrator, Dot Cherch. You can also see the PodSnack video for the episode and download the episode’s PodPack of activities. They’re all free. Plus there’s information on how to send your poems and drawings into the club, including your entries for the Spring competition. There’s also information on how you can be the STAR of the episode who reads out our introduction poem. You’ll find everything you need at kidspoetryclub.com.

It has been so lovely to spend time with you! Thank you for joining me, Queenie, and Rhyming Rita.  I hope you enjoyed yourself, and hope you’ll be back for more next time the Club meets. Join us again next week when we’ll have a new topic and more fun.

Before Queenie stays behind to clean up the Club, let's finish with our short goodbye poem:

We've had some fun 

with things that rhymed

goodbye Kids 

until next time!

This is Little Dazzy Donuts saying .... keep rhyming!!!

Queenie: Thanks, Little Dazzy Donuts. You head off home now, and I’ll tidy up the Club.

Okay – thanks, Queenie – see you next time the Club meets.

SOUND

Queenie: Wow – this is quite the mess. Now, where’s the vacuum cleaner? I bet it’s in one of these cupboards here. Nope, it’s not in that one …. Or that one – gosh, I wonder why that’s full of dog food? …. It must be in this one … Oh my, this one has the chicken in it! Hi Chicken.

Cluck! Cluck!

Queenie: You don’t say. Well, I’m sorry you’ve been stuck in the Club.

Cluck! Cluck!

Queenie: Well, I like your positive attitude. I tell you what, once I’ve cleaned up the Club a little, let’s sit down and have some cake together. I have some kombucha here in my flask too.

Cluck! Cluck!

Queenie: Really? Well, it’s really sweet of you to help. Why don’t you peck up the cake crumbs seeing as I can’t find the vacuum cleaner, and I’ll take down the streamers. Oh my, I almost forgot to play the music. Now, which switch was it again????

SOUND

MUSIC