The Read Aloud Lady

A painter is setting up to create an enormous painting-- one that will take up the entire courtyard of the temple! When he is told that he must finish by sundown to make way for a holiday celebration, he sets to work, unsure whether his 3 day project can ever be done in such a short amount of time.

Whether it contains imagination or magic, this little story is certainly enchanting. Enjoy!

Since the US Government is retiring the penny, I thought this was a good time to tell a story about what a penny used to mean.

Offerus the giant lives near a river and carries weary travelers across the story waters. One day he gets a very special traveler which adds more to his life than he first realizes. Merry Christmas!

If you have ever experienced "Grass is always greener on the other side" syndrome, then keep listening. This is a short and entertaining story that examines whether what one wishes for is really "greener" ;)

Two brothers are inseparable in childhood, but go their separate ways to seek their fortunes. Their paths cross in the most fortuitous way! This story is certainly a celebration of sibling love and the lasting nature of brotherhood.

The boys couldn't wait for the new chimney to be built but grandpa suddenly tells them that it must be put off. They are terribly disappointed, until the find out the reason why!

And happy birthday to Maggie, for whom this episode was uploaded :)

The story today is a little glimpse into the early life of the author of the perennial childhood class "Tom Sawyer." Maybe this will inspire you to re-read some of those stories and be brought to the banks of the roaring "Mighty Mississippi"! Enjoy!

The nursing profession didn't always look as it does today. Before the Crimean War, London hospitals lacked proper hygiene practices and properly trained nursing staff. The women in the story today helped to change all of that-- and it all started with nursing a dog back to health!

I couldn't be more delighted to share a full chapter from one of my favorite books. From the Anne of Green Gables series, the chapter is quite a ways into Book 2: Anne of Avonlea. I hope it brings you as much joy to listen as it did for me to record it!

Music:

https://freetouse.com/music/pufino/enlivening

If you could purchase a dream, would you? This story explores what it could mean to be swept up in a fancy of a dream--and makes you wonder a little where the line is between imagination and enchantment. Enjoy!

A delightful story that employs a type of repetition that is common in folktales. Originally a Chinese folktale from the Qing dynasty, this particular rendition was adapted for an American audience by Claire Huchet Bishop.

Use with permission from Childcraft and World Books Inc.

Music: https://freetouse.com/music/pufino/enlivening

Before there were hand-held recorders or computers, there were newspapermen who had to carefully write down every single word of a speech or event and then rush back to his office to get their words typeset and into print. People were as anxious to get their news then as they are now! Listen to hear about a particularly exciting adventure of a man who carried an important speech through the rainy streets of London.

Sometimes people find their calling late in life and some find it earlier. The story today is about a little girl who helps her brother recover from a leg injury and eventually becomes one of the most famous nurses in history. As founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton's continues to bless people around the world. Enjoy!

The story today is about a impressive young man who solves a problem while onlookers laughed at him. There were many things in his life that required deep strength and resilience. Enjoy this story about a young Abraham Lincoln!

It's been a while but here is part 2! Jump into the delightful world of poetry.

Welcome to our special Halloween episode! Young Heinrich listens to his father's story about a monster and decides that he needs to investigate the details of the story for himself.

I found two delightful stories from American Indian legends... why babies goo and why the rabbit has a stubby tail :) Enjoy!

We are all familiar with the story of Cinderella; but did you know that there is a similar story from thousands of years ago? Around 500 years BC and was written down in a first century geography text. There isn't a fairy godmother, but someone definitely steps in as matchmaker, and it might not be what you expect. Enjoy!

Ever wonder where bluetooth technolgy got its name? Wonder no longer, and enjoy todays episode about a Viking King, Harold Bluetooth!

When a society makes quick steps forward in technology and inventions, safety concerns will sometimes arise. Once the need is known, there are always sharp minds who can come up with clever solutions. The story today is about a tragedy and the invention that it sparked!

New inventions are often met with skepticism and are tested against the things they were made to replace. The story today is about that exact situation-- the Tom Thumb, the newly invented steam locomotive, is challenged to a race with a horse. Will it be able to prove itself or be declared a failure? Listen and find out :)

Have you ever been so busy and wished that one of the things on your "to do" list could just magically be completed on its own? Well, that's pretty much what happens every time we turn on an appliance and walk away! It is really thanks to inventions that we can be "in two places at the same time." The story today tells about a young man who created a machine to get him out of a tight spot. Enjoy!

Dreams can be funny or scary or just plain confusing. But in today's story, a dream ending up being quite useful! Listen to find out all about it :)

Music used for the episode:

https://freetouse.com/music/pufino/enlivening

No one wants to think that they are too old to still be useful, and the donkey, dog, cat, and rooster in this story certainly have that in common. To avoid their respective fates, they band together to become the musicians that they were meant to be. And they find more adventure than they originally bargained for!

Do you ever wish that you could just talk to a pot and have it fill up with your favorite food? Unlimited soup or pasta sounds pretty good to me. The Brothers Grimm play with that idea in this delightful story about a magic pot that goes a little wrong. Enjoy!

Today's episode is a charming story, although perhaps lesser known, from the great Hans Christian Anderson. If they had hashtags in the mid 1800s, I think this one would be labeled #CoupleGoals

Music credit for the episode

https://freetouse.com/music/pufino/enlivening

A mother dragon tells a story of her husband's heroics for her children's bedtime story.

Mentioned in the episode:

"The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" ISBN # 9780140544510

Music used:

https://freetouse.com/music/pufino/enlivening

Traitors are discovered within the ranks of Mighty Kamehameha's circle of Chieftains, which threatens to upend the unity of the entire Kingdom of Hawaii. Will the King simply put the men to death or give them a more fitting either-or? Listen and find out!

Mentioned in the episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9l7qrUYpMw

Music used for the episode:

https://freetouse.com/music/pufino/enlivening

The year is 1840. Scientist and explorer Louis Agassiz is the first human even to go inside a glacier well. This story is about that journey! Listen to find out about the surprise he got at the bottom...

Episode music credit:

https://freetouse.com/music/pufino/enlivening

A young Frenchman, enthusiastic for the cause of the American Revolution, is in England and desperately making his way to a ship bound for America. The trouble? Soldiers, hot on his heels. Will he make it to his ships? Or will his failure be the only mention of him in history? Listen to find out!

A Cherokee man works diligently, studying each sound of his language and creating a mark to correspond with it-- the first written alphabet for his people. Will they accept such a foreign concept? Or will he be misunderstood? Listen to find out!

Today's episode is the story of an exciting sea battle, with what seems like a clear underdog. A small American ship is guarding a slow unwieldy ammunition ship when a larger warship suddenly comes towards them. Should they fight what is surely a losing battle? Or abandon their post, leaving the ammunition ship to surrender or be sunk? Or perhaps the Captain has another plan in mind? Listen and find out!

A young man sneaks past a royal guard, climbs a vine covered fence and trespasses into a private chapel, all to hear some organ music up close. Is he a hooligan or a criminal? Well, it turns out that he actually became one of the most famous and prolific musician and composer of his time. Listen to the full story and at the end, you'll enjoy a short clip of one of his particularly well known compositions. Enjoy!

Continue listening to Beethoven's work here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9UApyClFKA<...

Listen to a "grim" fairytale and stick around to hear what sets fairytales apart from other types of literature-- hopefully it will inspire you to check out these old tales.

The sacred music from the Sistine chapel is found in a private home of a 13 year old Austrian boy. Can he prove that he did not steal the music, but rather remembered it? Listen and find out!

Enjoy the rest of the concerto here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whTEVQ2OizI&list=RDwhTEVQ2OizI&start_radio=1&t=351s

Many thanks to "free to use" music used in the intro and extro:

https://freetouse.com/music/pufino/enlivening

A man rides through a New England town, to warn his fellow countryman of an imminent battle. 86 years later, a poet recounts the events. The details are hazy, and change a bit depending on who you ask, but the story is a good one and an important bit to understand the spirit of early America. Enjoy!

https://freetouse.com/music/pufino/enlivening

The charming, if perhaps slightly embellished, story of how one early frontiersman met his future wife.

Today's story goes to show that school boys never change, whether they live in the mid 1700s or 2025. This is a special episode that contains some clips from the main character as well as the boys choir that he used to sing in!

Full song from the boys choir:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IthY9Mim36o&list=RDIthY9Mim36o&start_radio=1

More from Joseph Haydn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmEmwafLMJ4&list=RDkmEmwafLMJ4&start_radio=1&t=2279s

There's a Fete in town and it happens to fall on a bank holiday, which means that the whole village has come to watch! There's games of all sorts, and we know that Milly Molly Mandy, Little Friend Susan, and Billy Blunt will want to participate. Does their practices pay off? Listen and see!

Sometimes the Founding Fathers-- or maybe, just people who lived long ago-- can conjure in your mind a statue of them or a dusty portrait of them wearing a wig. But the truth of the matter is that they were also teenagers, who had their own struggles and victories. The story today is anything but dull-- family difficulties and perhaps one of the first documented practical jokes in American History!

An artist pours his heart and soul into an important painting of the civic guard in Amsterdam, Holland, in the mid 1600's. His fame had waned and this was going to be his big come back. His ailing wife and son were relying on him. But would the people understand this new style of painting? Listen to hear more about this fascinating story!

The Scottish army has been fighting the English, when the Scottish King fell ill. While he lays in bed with a fever, rumors swirl that he is dying or already dead. Will he be able to rally his troops? Listen and find out!

It is a surprise when Milly Molly Mandy's teacher needs a place to stay, and that place ends up being the spare room of the nice white cottage with the thatched room. In the course of the few days of hosting Ms. Edwards, Milly Molly Mandy does end up learning somethings... but perhaps not what she expected.

Today's episode is a little glimpse into the childhood and early accomplishments of Eli Whitney, American Inventor and genius. Enjoy!

I found some beautiful poems about animals in Vol 3 of the 1911 publication of the Boys and Girls Bookshelf. This is part one; the second half should be coming out early next month.

Everyone thought Charles Goodyear was crazy. Why would anyone keep messing with rubber? His friends' disbelief, however, ends up leading to one of the most influential discoveries in modern history. Enjoy the story!

Milly Molly Mandy is finally going to visit Mother's friend Mrs. Hooker, after her last trip was canceled. New friends, new room to stay in; she also must figure out how to get presents for everyone back home. Enjoy!

A story of true American ingenuity and the invention of a truly important piece of machinery.

This is a delightful story of two children, whose father is missing in a boating mishap, who do their best to make Thanksgiving at this home special. There's definitely a surprise ending!

Leonardo DaVinci is a fascinating historical figure-- artist, scientist, inventor. Enjoy this episode that covers a true story in his early life that helped to shape his artistic career.

Milly Molly Mandy has some big plans, but these plans require money (as most plans do!) Thankfully, Little Friend Susan and Billy Blunt join her and they pull off something bigger than they had originally thought possible!

Loss of one sense can often lead to exceptional use of the others. In the story today, an old blind man slowly makes his way to the house of a rich man where he is going to recite his poetry. An encounter with a young slave boy and his dog may just change all of their lives forever. Listen and travel in time back to ancient Greece!

When Miss Muggins is called away on important business, who will watch her shop? Can you guess? Listen and find out ;)

Enjoy this lovely French fairy tale, which teaches us something about the consequences of our kind (or unkind) words

Milly Molly Mandy sees a beautiful cosy when she goes visiting and decides to make one of her own. Where will she get all the supplies if she wants to keep it a secret? We know that Milly Molly Mandy is pretty resourceful, but listen to see how she manages it!

Long ago in ancient Greece, a monster stands outside a city. Those inside are free to leave but anyone who attempts to enter the city is met with a riddle and a quick death. Can a stranger answer the monsters riddle and save the city? Listen and see!

Milly Molly Mandy goes into town on an errand and comes across Billy Blunt gardening, but non too happy. Can she turn the day around and show Billy that gardening can be fun? Listen and see!

Ever wonder where the term "Marathon" came from? And who decides how long that should be? Wonder no longer and listen to the story of the Greek Hero Pheidippides!

Milly Molly Mandy's overnight trip is canceled and she is terribly disappointed. Will something even more exciting be right around the corner? Will little-friend-Susan be able to save the day? Listen and find out!

King Odysseus wishes to stay home with his wife and newborn son, but fate seems to have something else in mind. He has promised to protect the beautiful Helen, and surely nothing will ever happen to make him fulfill that promise. Listen to find out!

Welcome to the first episode of the Read Aloud Lady! Enjoy a peek into an adventure over 700 years ago, which almost ended in a disaster that would have changed history.

Enjoy this very old tale from Norway, which pokes gentle fun at the differences between men and women.

Enjoy a traditional Norwegian story, read from The Blue Fairy Book, published in 1914 (although the story itself is much older).

Milly Molly Mandy is getting ready for a party!

Milly Molly Mandy goes berrying, but things don't go exactly how she hopes.

There is lots of preparation when Milly Molly Mandy finds out that her great aunt is coming to visit. Since she is so great, surely she will need a very large chair and a room larger than the guest room?

Today's story is very old, first written down in the mid 1800s, but originated much earlier in Scandinavian oral tradition. It was written by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, who are the Scandinavian counterpart to the Brothers Grimm in Germany.

If anyone would like to take part in the pourquoi story writing challenge, send me your story at thereadaloudlady@outlook.com by June 15th 2025 and it could be featured in a bonus episode!

Chapter two of "Milly Molly Mandy Stories"

This is a chapter book, for the younger folks. Each story makes sense on its own, although I am sure they will wait excitedly to find out what Milly Molly Mandy does next.