This page is a collection of audio podcast storytimes, narrated by our very own Miss Cathy. They will be released weekly throughout the summer. We hope that they bring joy to the children listening as they use their imaginations to bring the stories to life!
"How Do Dinosaurs Choose Their Pets?"
Written by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
Read along with the transcript
Hello, friends. It's Miss Cathy from the Mary L Cook Library. Won't you join me for a story? I'll read and you can use your imagination to see the pictures. Let's get started. How Do Dinosaurs Choose Their Pets? Written by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague.
How does a dinosaur pick out his pet? Does he go on the prowl with a stick and a net? Does he head to the zoo and take home a big cat? And what does his mom have to say about that? Does she drag a huge elephant back in a wagon with both its long trunk and its wee tail a draggin’.
Or speaking of dragons, does she go acquire a high flying beastie who loves to breathe fire? Does he pick out a boa constrictor for play? Does it look at his dog in a very odd way. Does he sneak an iguana inside of a cap or lead home a kangaroo by a long strap? Does he ask for a manatee, maybe a whale, or wish for a shark he can keep in a pail.
Does she carry off tortoises, zebras, a mink giving them hay and a cola to drink? Is that what you think? No, a dinosaur doesn't. She knows what to do. And she never brings anything home from the zoo. He goes to a shelter or pet store or farm. To find a small creature who will do no harm. He brings home a kitten or hamster or pup that he can teach manners as they both grow up. She cares for her pet and gives love even more. Big hugs to your friend, little dinosaur.
"Never Ask a Dinosaur to Dinner"
Written by Gareth Edwards and Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees
Read along with the transcript
Hello, friends. It's Miss Cathy from the Mary L. Cook Library. Won't you join me for a story? I'll read and you can use your imagination to see the pictures. Let's get started. Never Ask a Dinosaur to Dinner written by Gareth Edwards, illustrated by Guy Parker Rees.
Never ask a dinosaur to dinner. Really, never ask a dinosaur to dinner because a T-Rex is ferocious and his manners are atrocious. And you'll find that if he's able, he will eat the kitchen table. He'll grow fatter while the rest of you grow thinner. So never ask a dinosaur to dinner.
Please don't share your toothbrush with a shark. Really, please don't share your toothbrush with a shark. They've got so many rows of teeth on the top and underneath. And any self-respecting shark’ll want each little tooth to sparkle. If you rush him, he may make a rude remark. So please don't share your toothbrush with a shark.
Never let a beaver in the sink. Really, never let a beaver in the sink. He’ll block it up with sticks and mud and turn the taps on till they flood. And build a great big beaver dam and fill the whole thing up with salmon. And the water won't be very good to drink. So never let a beaver in the sink.
Please don't use a tiger as a towel. Really, please don't use a tiger as a towel. Because in case you have forgotten, tigers are not made of cotton. And although they're furred quite thickly, they can get mad very quickly and you'll find they have a rather scary growl. So please don't use a tiger as a towel.
Never choose a bison for a blanket. Really, never choose a bison for a blanket. Because although it's warm and woolly, you'll find it as a bully and its hooves will be too clumpy and its horns will make you grumpy. And by morning time, you will not want to thank it. So never choose a bison for a blanket.
Please don't let a barn owl in your bed. Really, please don't let a barn owl in your bed. Because the first thing that you'll learn will be a barn owl is nocturnal. She will hunt for mice and hoot all night. And leave your bed a dreadful sight. You'll wish that owl was in a barn instead. So please don't let a barn owl in your bed.
Now, here's how you can have a lovely sleep. Really, here's how you can have a lovely sleep. Say no to Beaver, shark, and owl. Avoid the tiger and his growl. Steer clear of every dinosaur. Leave bison at the bedroom door. These animals won't help you rest at bedtime. Here is what is best. Stick to one teddy and a flock of sheep. And that's how you can have a lovely sleep.
"When Dinosaurs Came with Everything"
Written by Elise Broach and Illustrated by David Small
Read along with the transcript
Hello, friends. It's Miss Cathy from the Mary L Cook Library. Won't you join me for a story? I'll read and you can use your imagination to see the pictures. Let's get started. When Dinosaurs Came with Everything written by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small.
Friday is errand day. My mom goes on boring errands and I have to go with her. And this Friday seemed like every other Friday until we got to the bakery. A sign above the donuts read, “Buy a dozen. Get a dinosaur.” I couldn't believe my eyes. Neither could my mom. “They must mean a toy,” she said.
But when I took the box of doughnuts, the lady behind the counter said, “Hold on, little guy. Don't forget your dinosaur.” And there he was. "Mom!" I yelled. It was a triceratops. “What?” cried my mom. She did not look happy. “How are we supposed to get that home?” The bakery lady smiled. “Oh don't worry. He'll follow you. They always do.” And he did.
All the way to the doctor's office where I had to go for my checkup. My mom shook her head. “What are we going to do with him now?” She looked him up and down. That took a while. “We can't bring him inside,” she said finally. “He'll have to stay in the parking lot.” I told him not to talk to strangers.
After my checkup, I asked for a sticker like usual. “No stickers today, said the nurse. Just dinosaurs with a shot. You get two.” “I want a shot,” I said. The nurse smiled. “Not today, buddy. But you can pick up your dinosaur at the front desk.” “Mom!” I yelled. There at the front desk was a Stegosaurus. “What on earth is going on?” My mom cried. “It's a special day,” the nurse explained. “Today, dinosaurs come with everything.” “Yes,” I said. “No.” My mom groaned.
We walked down the street and my triceratops and my Stegosaurus walked right behind us. Thud, thud, thud. They made friends right away across the street. Other kids had dinosaurs too. I saw an ankylosaur, a duckbill, and a velociraptor. We all waved at each other. Our mothers glared and kept on walking.
“I think we'd better go home now,” my mom said. “But what about my haircut? The barber's waiting for me.” My mom looked at the dinosaurs. Then she looked at my bangs. “The barber always gives you a balloon, doesn't he? A nice balloon?” “Uh huh,” I said. I didn't want a balloon. I wanted a barosaur.
At the barber shop I gave my triceratops and my stegosaurus donuts for a snack. They waited outside and watched through the glass. The barber pumped the chair up high. He cut my hair too short, but I didn't mind because he patted my head and said, “Wait right here, sport.” He was gone for a long time. My mom tapped her foot. “I don't like this,” she said. “Where exactly do they keep the balloons?” Just then the barber came back with something flying over his head. It wasn't a balloon. “Mom!” I yelled. It was a pterosaur.
“This is too much,” my mom protested. “Now listen,” she said to the barber. “I think a balloon will do just fine today. Don't you have any balloons?” "Sorry, lady. No balloons. You get one of these instead.” It was like that everywhere we went at the shoe store. The sign read, “Buy two pair, get dinosaur free.” My mom decided my shoes would last a little longer. At the theater, we could hear the popcorn man shouting, “Butter? No butter? You want a dinosaur with that?” My mom said we'd go to the movies another day. At the diner, I wanted to stop for a hamburger. But then, a girl walked out with a Tyrannosaurus rex. “Okay. That's it.” My mom cried. “We are definitely not having lunch there.”
She looked at my Triceratops, my Stegosaurus, and my pterosaur. “What are we supposed to do with all of these dinosaurs? We don't have room for them. We can't take care of them.” I hugged her leg. “Don't worry Mom. They can live in the backyard.” My mom shook her head. “Sweetheart, they're not toys. Dinosaurs are a lot of work.” “But, Mom, look, they eat anything and they sleep outside. I'll do everything, I promise. Please, Mom. Please.” My mom sighed. “Well, I suppose we can't just leave them here. Thank heavens we didn't stop at the diner.”
We hurried home and my dinosaurs hurried after us. Thud, thud, thud! Flap, flap, flap. When we were almost there, we saw a little duckbill dinosaur standing alone on the street corner. He looked lost. “Mom! That's a baby hadrosaur. He's all by himself.” “We've already got our hands full.” The hadrosaur followed us. It wasn't my fault.
When we got home, my mom needed to lie down, so I made lunch for the dinosaurs. Then I showed them where to go to the bathroom. I told them to stay out of the neighbor's yard because of his mean dog. And I showed them my slide, my tire swing, and all the toys in the garage. They seemed to be having fun, but they really went wild when I took out my Frisbee.
The hadrosaur had the first throw. The frisbee landed on the roof. I saw my mom watching from the window. “Is everything all right out there?” She asked. “Everything's fine mom. We can get it down.” And my pterosaur flew up and plucked the Frisbee out of the gutter.
My mom kept watching. She looked at him for a long time. The next thing I knew, she had him cleaning the gutters. Then she came out to the backyard with a pile of wet clothes. “These spikes come in handy, don't they?” she said. Pretty soon my mom had thought of chores for all of my dinosaurs. But I knew they didn't mind. It just meant they were part of the family.
When we were finished helping, my mom said I could invite some friends over. It was a bring your own dinosaur party and guess what happened next? I heard my mom on the phone to the bakery. She asked, “Do you have any donuts left?” And that's when I knew everything would be just fine.