Transcript

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Let's have some fun 

with things that rhyme

welcome Kids 

it's poetry time!

Hip Hip Hurray!

Welcome everyone to Kids’ Poetry Club with me, Little Dazzy Donuts. Earlier today, I received a cryptic voicemail message from Queenie. She mentioned something about Sammy Showers and a walkie-talkie, and so am heading into the Club to find out what’s going on. Seeing as I’m not quite at the Club yet, why don’t we take advantage of this time to do our 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!

Well, I just arrived at the Club, and so let’s head in and see what Queenie and Chicken are up to.

SOUND (Door)

Queenie: 10-4. 10-4. Copy that. Roger. Ummm…. I wonder who Roger is? I do know a Roger, but I don’t think he’d expect to be mentioned in every walkie-talkie conversation I have. How strange!

Hi Queenie … Hi Chicken.

SOUND (Chicken)

Queenie: Oh hi Little Dazzy Donuts. Your timing is impeccable. Come, pull up a chair and join us over here at our Headquarters. Things are about to get going!

This table is the headquarters?

Queenie: Why, of course it is. Look … it has our notepad … our pens … and most importantly, our walkie-talkie. If those don’t scream headquarters, then I don’t know what does!

So, what exactly happens here at the headquarters?

Queenie: Well … it turns out that today is Sammy Showers’ birthday. I know that because he mentioned it when giving the forecast on the local radio station this morning. But he didn’t sound that excited about it … and he let slip that he was going to celebrate his birthday alone at home. Well, that’s not good at all when he could be celebrating with us. Anyway, Chicken and I were talking about it, and we came up with a wonderful plan. And that wonderful plan needed a headquarters – which you’re now sitting in.

So, what’s your wonderful plan?

Queenie: Well, after much careful thought, we wrote a little note to Sammy and we put it into an envelope together with a walkie-talkie. We then popped it into his mailbox. When he reads the note, it tells him that he’s on a special birthday trasure hunt care of Queenie and Chicken, and instructs him to press the “speak” button on the walkie-talkie. When I hear from him, I’ll give him his first clue  so he can figure out where to head. So, Chicken and I are here in the command center with our walkie-talkie waiting for Sammy to contact us. It’s exciting! It could happen at any moment.

Well, this sounds really exciting. It’s a lovely thought that you two planned a fun activity to make his birthday a special one. For sure, it will brighten up his day. I tell you what, while you wait for Sammy to contact you on that walkie-talkie, why don’t I read a poem to you? This first poem is called

SOUND (Walkie-Talkie)

Sammy: Hi, Queenie … Chicken. Are you there?

Queenie: Oh, hang on Little Dazzy Donuts. That’s Sammy. Can you wait a mo on the poem so that we can give him his first clue?

Queenie: Hi Sammy. It’s Queenie. Over.

Sammy: I received the envelope, and I’m intrigued. What happens next?

(Pause)

Sammy: Queenie – are you there?

Queenie: 10-4 … breaker breaker, Sammy. You need to say “over” when you’ve finished talking so I know that you’ve finished talking and I can then talk. Over.

Sammy: Say what?

Queenie: Say over, over.

Sammy. Over?

Queenie: Exactly, over.

Sammy: Okay – so what happens next, over?

Queenie: Next? Well, here’s your first Clue, Sammy. Take your walkie-talkie with you … and head off to a place of worry. Over.

Sammy: Ummm … okay. A place of worry. I wonder what that means. Oh – I bet that’s Donna Worry’s house. Okay. I’ll head over there now. Over.

Queenie: Copy that. 10-4. Over and out!

Queenie: YIPPEE!!!!! The treasure hunt has begun. Sorry about that, Little Dazzy Donuts – can we listen to the first poem while Sammy heads over to Donna’s house?

Of course we can. In fact, this first poem is all about a Walkie-Talkie, and so fits perfectly with the fun that we’re having with Sammy today. It’s called “My Walkie-Talkie” and I’ll read you the poem now.

I love my walkie-talkie!

Press the button. Start to talk.

Despite the name, I’ll talk sat down -

as I’m not required to walk.

What’s your 20? Copy that!

Come in loud and clear.

Turn the volume up real loud

so everyone can hear!

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie

Affirmative. 10-4.

I’ll use the lingo that I know

and then I’ll make up more.

Roger … Standby … Over

Do you copy? Go ahead.

I’ll be on it. Wilco. Never phone,

Walkie-talkie me instead.

There are just just two rules to follow

and you’ll find these never change.

Don’t speak ‘til it’s your turn,

and don’t go out of range.

Queenie: Oh, that poem was a perfect fit for the episode, and it’s taught me some new lingo too. That’s one of the most fun things about using a Walkie-Talkie is that I get to speak in code. Oh, and I also get to say Over at the end of everything I say too. You’d think that could get a bit boring – but it never does. It’s like ending everything with a big exclamation point. Over.

So, where did you get these walkie-talkies from?

Queenie: Oh, we bought them. Not for Sammy’s birthday – it’s so that Chicken and I can stay in contact when she’s out in the garden. Last week, I was in the Club, and she was in the garden, and I thought of something I needed to tell her. Well, by the time I walked around to her, I’d completely forgotten what it was. Anyway, after that happened three times in a day, we decided that we needed a way of contacting each other that’s a little more instant.

Well, that makes a lot of sense. Plus, I bet using a walkie-talkie is a lot of fun too. So, any news yet from Sammy?

Queenie: Not yet, but we should hear from him any minute. Perhaps we coud listen to another poem while we wait?

Sammy: Hi Queenie … it’s Sammy. Over.

Queenie: Hang on a mo! It’s Sammy again.

Queenie: Hi Sammy – you’re coming through loud and clear. Over.

Sammy: I got to Donna Worry’s house, and she’s given me a piece of card with a letter U on it. So what happens next? Over.

Queenie: Next? Well, let me give you your second clue …. It’s that you need to head to a building. Over.

Sammy: A building? Which building? There are lots of buildings. In fact, I’m standing right in front of one right now. Oh, unless you mean Bill Ding the artist! Okay, I bet you do – let me head over to his studio now. I’ll message you again soon. Over and out!

Well, Sammy certainly seems to be enjoying his little adventure. Now, where does this treasure hunt take him?

Queenie: Eventually, he’ll end up here. He doesn’t know that yet – but, when he makes it here, we’ll give him his birthday present and a special birthday cupcake with a candle on top. Oh my gosh – the birthday present. It’s round at Chicken’s home. Chicken – you and I should pop around there now to fetch it.

SOUND (Chicken)

Queenie: Back in a mo!

SOUND (Door)

While Queenie and Chicken head off to fetch Sammy’s present, I’ll read the second poem. It’s actually about somebody who is celebrating their birthday all alone – just like Sammy would have done had it not been for Chicken and Queenie. I’ll read it to you now – it’s called “Party For One”:

I brought myself a present.

Wrapped the box up tight.

Then tried very hard to forget

about the gift I’d put inside.

I left it on the table

just beside the cake,

the knife, the fork, the single spoon.

The lonely party plate.

After blowing up a red balloon,

I hung it on the door.

Then cleared away all the chairs

to boogie on the floor.

I ate some trifle from the fridge,

and to muster up delight,

I then played pass-the-parcel

from my left hand to my right.

No matter what I did, or what I ate,

it simply wasn’t fun

to celebrate all alone

at my party just for one!

SOUND (Door)

Queenie: Okay, Chicken … just a little further. There we go … let’s put it down here. Gosh that was heavier than I expected.

It’s quite a size too. What is it?

Queenie: Let’s get it out of the box so you can see …. There it is … it’s a birdbath. Isn’t it wonderful!?

It is. It’s lovely. What got you thinking about a birdbath for a present?

Queenie: Well, Chicken and I were thinking that Sammy spends a lot of time looking out of the window. He’s a weather forecaster, and so he stares out of the window watching the weather. He watches it rain, and snow, and sleet … and watches the sunshine and the clouds. But there must be some days when not much is happening, and so why not give him something interesting to look at for those days?  With this, he can watch birds taking baths all day. That sounds fascinating to me!

It does. I like the way you’re thinking. Now, are you going to wrap it up for Sammy?

Queenie: Ummm … I think it may be too big to wrap, and so we got this ribbon. Chicken, could you help me to tie a bow around the birdbath?

SOUND (Chicken)

Queenie: Okay, so you hold end A, and I’ll hold end B. Now, let’s cross B over A….. like so. Now, you loop A … and I’ll loop B …. Now, you cross your loop over my loop, and pull your loop through mine … ummmm … it looks like you’ll have to climb through my loop too … it’s a tight squeeze though …. Okay … wriggle … and wriggle some more … gosh, it’s getting tighter … keep wriggling Chicken. Oh dear! ….. you look stuck!

Sammy: Hi Queenie – it’s Sammy, over.

Queenie: Oh, I better take this Little Dazzy Donuts. While I chat with Sammy, would you be okay to see how to rescue Chicken out of the middle of the nice neat bow we’ve created?

Definitely I’m coming Chicken!

Queenie: Hi Sammy. How’s it going with the treasure hunt? Over.

Sammy: Well, I’m at Bill Ding’s art studio. He just gave me a letter L. So now I have a U and an L. What’s my next clue. Over?

Queenie: Okay … so your next clue is that your third place to visit is a current affair. Over.

Sammy: A current affair? Gosh – what could that mean? Oh, I know – I bet it’s Chef Katie Currant’s restaurant. I’ll head over there now. More soon. Over and out!

Okay, Queenie – now I’ve rescued Chicken, and while Sammy heads over to Chef Katie’s, why don’t I read the third poem for today, which is called “Birthday Candles”. That seems to fit nicely seeing as you’re putting a candle on Sammy’s birthday cupcake. Here – I’ll read the poem to you now.

There’s an extra candle

on my cake this year.

It’s a little brighter,

bringing even more cheer

to the celebration

that after 12 more months,

I’m now taller and wiser.

So, this time, for once

I’m going to prove to them all

as I get ready to blow.

With my friends all around,

it’s time now to show

that I can snuff out all candles

at the very first try.

But the moment I start,

I begin to see why

there’s a limit to how many

my lungs can blow out.

Soon I’m just spluttering

and kids start to shout,

as the last of my blow

leaves me red in the face.

All the candles still burning

on the top of my cake.

Okay then, well I guess that we should be hearing from Sammy again soon.

Sammy: Hi, Queenie … it’s Sammy, over.

Oh, here he is now.

Queenie: Hi Sammy. How’s the treasure hunt going? Over.

Sammy: Really well. Chef Katie was so nice, and she gave me a B. So now I have a U, an L, and a B. What happens next? Over.

Queenie: Next? Well, I’ll give you your final letter, and then you have to work out where your treasure is. And your final letter is a C. Good luck in figuring out the location of your treasure. Over!

Sammy: Thanks, Queenie. I’m excited to find my treasure. Over and out!

Oh, I do like your letters, Queenie. You gave Sammy a U, an L, a B, and a C … so, Sammy is sure to figure out that if he jumbles up those letters, it spells CLUB!

Queenie: Exactly!!!! Now, let’s get the birdbath with its beautiful bow all ready so he sees it the moment he enters the Club …. There we go …. And  how about we put the cupcake in the birdbath. Oh, let’s also light the candle! So, now, let’s all line up here behind the birthbath and wait for Sammy.

While we wait, let me remind everyone 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, based on one of the poems from the episode. You can also see the PodSnack video 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 poem and art entries into the Autumn/Fall competition on the topic of gratitude – so, what you’re thankful for, grateful for, and appreciate. 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, Chicken, and Sammy Showers. 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 brand new topic, and new poems.

As always, 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: Okay, I think I hear Sammy coming up the path now. Let’s get ready to shout Happy Birthday as soon as he opens the door…. Here goes.

SOUND (Door)

Queenie & Little Dazzy Donuts: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Sammy!!!!!!!

SOUND (Chicken)

Queenie: Look, Sammy – this is your birthday present!!!!!!!!! How wonderful that we get to celebrate your birthday with you. Happy Birthday, Friend J

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