001Hello. Welcome to Calling All Kids. I'm your storyteller, Jennifer Temple. Welcome, friends. I You just caught me. I was doing some decorating for Easter. Putting out some of my Easter decorations. What do you think? If you're celebrating Easter, are you decorating and getting your house ready? Or maybe you're getting it ready for Passover. Our stories today are going to be about Easter and Passover. Are you ready? Here we go. Our first one is about the first story is about um the Easter Bunny, but it has my one of my favorite story book characters, Cat. Have you ever met Cat? He looks like this. Cat is in many different books or adventures that are written by Deborah Underwood. And she uses this main character, Cat. Now, Cat wants to take over for the Easter Bunny. I
002wonder why. Let's find out what happens. This is called here comes the now here it says Easter and bunny is written in green words behind the sign cat is holding up. So it says here comes Easter cat. Let's find out what happens in this adventure and if cat takes over for the Easter bun. Look, he has a basket already filled with Easter eggs. Do you decorate Easter eggs for Easter? Well, let's find out what's going on here. Here comes the Easter cat. You have to look closely. This cat doesn't really speak. He'll hold up signs or make gestures. Here comes the Easter Cat by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Claudia Ruda. She did the pictures. Here we go. What's wrong, cat? You look grumpy. See? look grumpy, too. Look at him. Arms crossed, his red cheeks,
003his eyes are kind of burrowed together. The Easter Bunny. What about him? Well, of course, everyone loves the Easter Bunny. I wonder if Cat, does he like the Easter Bunny? Why? Because he's nice. He delivers chocolate eggs to millions of kids. It's a hard job. Oh, he does look a little angry here. It does. Or it looks like he's not really liking the Easter Bunny. Don't be jealous, cat. Why don't you be the Easter cat? Could he help out the Easter Bunny? Have two of them? Sure. You can bring the children something nice, too. I wonder what a cat would bring if he was the Easter cat. Oh, no. What does he think they should bring? Not hairballs, cat. Chocolate bunnies. Why bunnies? Do you think the Easter cat should bring chocolate bunnies just like
004the Easter bunny brings? Should he bring something different? Cat. He's showing that he likes eating the chocolate bunnies. The Easter Bunny hops from place to place. How did you get around? How does an Easter cat get around? Where are you going? Looks like he's holding up a finger saying, "One minute." Maybe he's going to show us how he'll get around. A motorcycle. Is that how an Easter cat gets around on a motorcycle? It would be fast. Ah, so you can beat the Easter Bunny. I should have known. He's saying he'd be faster if he's on a motorcycle than hopping like a bunny. Clothes. No, you don't need special clothes, cat. Does the Easter Bunny have special clothes? Well, the Easter Bunny does have a very nice vest. So, what would cat wear? So, cat's thinking,
005h the Easter Bunny's wearing a vest. What should I wear? Wow, that's very um sparkly. Do you like that outfit for him? Looks like you're ready to roll. Have fun, Easter cat. So, there's his basket of eggs on the back and he's heading out back so soon. What's up? What do you think? Why is his hand to his mouth and his mouth is open? What do we call that? That's right. He's yawning. Uh oh. Tired from his hard work. A nap. You've already taken five naps today. Do you know in real life cats like to nap all day long? So he's tired. Oh, he's holding up his sign. You've taken seven naps today. Then you can't possibly be tired. How is he ever going to deliver Easter candy if he's tired all the time? I'll
006bet the Easter Bunny really is tired. He has to deliver millions of eggs in one night. He can't take any naps. Cat looks a little worried now. He doesn't know if he can do the job of the Easter cat like the Easter Bunny does. Nope. He gets no naps. Not even one little nap. I told you he has a hard job. He's feeling sorry for the bunny now. He's like he needs to have a rest or a nap like I do. Hey, do you hear something? What do you think it is? Ah, the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny even has a special egg just for you, Cat. Wow. How do you think Cat feels about getting his own special Easter egg? He has a big smile on his face. He's looking very happy about his
007special egg. Then Cat looks at the Easter Bunny. Poor tired Easter Bunny. Wait, Pat, where are you going? Wonder what he's up to. Do you know what he might be up to? A side car on your motorcycle. What's that for? What do you think he's going to do with the side car? Cat, are you stealing the Easter Bunny? Looks like he's pushing the Easter Bunny towards the side car. H. Well, then what are you doing? The cat looks mad. He's like, "Oh, I'm not stealing the Easter Bunny. What is he up to? Oh, I see. The Easter Bunny can nap while you deliver his eggs. That's very thoughtful of you. See, here he is. A picture bunny in the side car. And Cat will help the Easter Bunny deliver all the eggs. Is that a
008kind friend? Absolutely. Bye. So, off they go. They're finishing doing their delivery all the Easter eggs. So, don't be surprised if you see the Easter Bunny coming up with hat in a motorcycle. You're back. You really are nice to help out the Easter Bunny cat. I'm proud of you. Does Cat look like he's proud of himself? Yeah. Now that you and the Easter Bunny are friends, I guess you don't need to be the Easter cat anymore, right? Hey, where are you going, cat now? What is he up to? Cat, where is he? Oh, good grief cat. What is he thinking now? Now he can be the Santa cat and help Santa out. Isn't he a silly cat? That was just a kind of a fun story about the Easter Bunny and the Easter cat helping
009each other out. I hope you enjoyed that little story. I have another Easter story called Happy Easter. And I don't know if you can see see all these little green circles there. Peas. You know the vegetable the pee that we eat. And this is a story about hat peas and what they do for Easter. Aren't they cute? They all have wear different hats or their hair is a different way or they might have a bow in their head. And this is by Keith Baker. And he also has a lot of books about the peas. There's happy and they have happy all the different happy happy Halloween, happy Thanksgiving, but this one's called Happy Easter by Keith Baker. Happy Easter. Happy spring. What surprises will they bring? Can you see the big word spring? and and
010all the little pea people are celebrating that spring is on its way. Gentle showers, blooming flowers, long sunny daylight hours. This is what we'll be doing. Getting ready for spring and planting flowers and Easter eggs. pink and green, purple, blue, plain and simple and fancy ones, too. You decorate your Easter eggs. Do you just do them solid colors or do you put fancy decorations on them like stripes and spots or zigzags? We color them all. Every eggy one. So, so messy. Do you dip them into jars of dye to change the color? So so messy and so much fun. Stripes and swirls, polka dots, happy patterns, lots and lots. On Easter morning, look all about. Eggs are hiding. Can you see the eggs hiding in the pictures? Do you hide your Easter eggs? Inside and
011out. There's eggs hidden in the house and outside in the bushes. Can you see some? I can see one right here by a bush. Trying to find them. So many eggs. Yippee. Hooray. On this special springy day. And look at all the Easter baskets filled with beautiful Easter eggs. And look at the pee people. They look very happy. Cool and cloudy or warm and sunny. Be looking for who's this? The Easter Bunny. So, you have to keep an eye out and look for the Easter Bunny. Happy Easter. Just a fun little story with the pea people. And there's a whole bunch of books about the pea people and them having many holiday celebrations. Now, our next story is for Passover. And it's called The Little Red Hen and the Passover Matzah. Now, matzah, you'll see
012this is a picture here, is a big piece of flat bread or it's almost like you might if you were had it before, it almost tastes like a cracker because it's very crunchy, but it's actually a bread. So, let's find out what happens in The Little Red Hen and the Passover matzah. And this is by Leslie Kimmelman, and it's illustrated by Paul Misel. Let's find out what Little Red Hen is making. I don't know if you've seen any of the other Little Red Hen stories, but she makes bread and cakes. Now she's making matzah. And there's some really fun Whoops. Beautiful pictures here. The year was passing. The little red hen could feel the change of the seasons in the tips of her tail feathers. She could smell it in the barnyard air. She could
013see it on her calendar. "OVA!" exclaimed the little red head, thinking ahead to spring. Before I know it, it will be time for Passover. I will need some matzah for the seder dinner, and that begins with some grains of wheat. The seder dinner is a special dinner that happens over Passover. In a corner of the chicken coupe, the little red hen kept a small pile of grains safe from the wind and water. She gathered them now and went to find her friends. "Such friends," she had, always ready to lend a hand. "Who will help me plant these grains?" she asked them. "Not I," said the sheep. "Sorry, Bub," said Horse. "Think again," said Dog. a little bit rudely. The little red hen was not happy. "Okay, okay," she grumbled. "I should worry. I'll just do
014it myself." And the little red hen planted those grains. There she are. Here she is planting the grains by herself. Too bad her friends didn't help out. Months passed. The sun shone, the rain fell, and the grain grew tall. The little red hen waited patiently. Finally, there was a field of wheat ready to be harvested. The little red hen went to find her friends. This time, she was sure they would lend a hand. "Who will help me cut the wheat?" she asked. "Not I," said the sheep. "Sorry, bud." Nay," said Horse. "Think again, woof woof, dog a little bit rudely. We're your friends, not your servants." The little red hen was definitely not happy. Friends, schmens, she muttered. I'll just do it myself. And the little red hen cut the wheat. Would your friends help
015you if you asked them? The wheat was ready for the milk. The little red hen gathered it together and went to find her friends. They won't disappoint me again, she told herself confidently. Who will help me carry the wheat to the mill? She asked them. Not I, said the sheep. Sorry, bud. Nay, said the horse. Think again. Woof woof. The dog said a little bit rudely, "We're resting." Don't you think the hen would like to rest, too? And I always say more hands make light work, so if they all work together, it wouldn't seem quite hard, right? The little red hen was really not happy this time. I should live so long, she caveted. she to see this bunch of lazy no good nicks put in an honest day's work. I'll just do it myself.
016The little red hen took the wheat to a special Passover mill where a miller grounded into flour. Then she slept the flour back home in a big heavy sack all by herself. Would that have been lighter if her friends were there helping? Right. Many hands helping out. Before she knew it, it was spring, the morning of the first night of Passover. Do you know that Passover is 8 days long? The Little Red Hen had cleaned her house top to bottom. There wasn't a crumb of bread to be found anywhere. Time to make the matzah, the little red hen announced to her friends. Who wants to help? Everyone deserves a second or um a fourth chance, she reminded herself. But what do you think the little red her hen heard from her friends? Do you think
017they want to help her with the matzah? Can you predict what they said? Let's see if you're right. Not I said the sheep. Sorry Bub said horse. Nay, laughed dog more than a little bit rudely. Think again. The little red hen was not happy. She was not surprised either. Okay, okay, she said. So, I should starve. I'll just make it myself. Doesn't mean I have to. She has to go hungry, right? She'll just cook it for herself. Then the little red hen washed up carefully. She put a big bowl on the kitchen table. Then she set her timer. According to Jewish law, Passover matzah had to be finished in just 18 minutes. From start to finish. That means from making it to cooking it. 18 minutes. Do you think she can do it? The little
018red hen mixed the flour and water quickly, quickly. Quickly. She kneaded it quickly, quickly, quickly. She rolled it out nice and flat. Quickly, quickly, quickly. Remember, the time is ticking. She pricricked it all over. Prickly, prickly, prickly. Then she put it in the oven to bake. And usually you bake it at 500°. That's a very high temperature. The matzah was ready. Just in time, the little red hen prepared the sader dinner. She boiled eggs, simmerred soup, and mixed geli gfelta fish. She washed parsley, chopped apples and nuts, and stirred batter for a cake. Finally, she set the table, putting out a beautiful Passover agit, should he come, God willing. She finished with a covered plate of homemade matzah. The little red hen sat in a chair and waited. When the sun began to set in
019the evening sky, there was a knock at the door. Who do you think's at the door? Any ideas? Guess who is standing there? Do you think it was dog, sheep, and horse? We're famished. They told Little Red Hen. "What for dinner?" "You've got to be kidding me," scolded Little Red Hen. "What? Husba? Husba? You didn't help me plant the grains when I asked you. You didn't help me harvest the wheat or carry it to the mill or take it back home again. You didn't even help me bake the matzah. [clears throat] So tell me, why should I share my seder with the likes of you? So what do you think? Do you think little red hand is right that she shouldn't share it with her friends? Let's see what happens. Oh, look at her friends.
020Do they feel sorry that they didn't help her now? or do you think they're just sad they're not getting some at the stad dinner? Sheep, horse, and dog couldn't think of a thing to say. The little red hen was right. They hadn't been very good friends. The three animals silently hung their head in shame. Now, the little red hen was quiet, too. Now, shouldn't I invite them to my sader? she thought. Then she remembered the words written in the Passover. Agada, I'm not saying I don't know if I'm saying that right. Agada. Let all who are hungry come and eat. She looked at her friends. They looked hungry. Besides, a little red hen was a good egg. A mench. A mench for gifts. And why are you just standing there? She finally said. come on
021in. So, she's remembering that, hey, they made a mistake. I should include them because they're hungry. So, together the friends celebrated the holiday. Together, they noshed on tasty, crunchy matzah. And when the seder was over, after all the planting and harvesting, the schleing and the cleaning and the baking and the feasting, just who do you think had to wash all those dishes? Now, can you make a prediction? Who do you think had to clean up? Do you think it was the little red hen, or do you think her friends finally chipped in and did their part? You ready to find out? Look. Look who's doing all the cleaning. Her friends. They learned their lesson. So, they did the cleaning. And the little red hen said, "Not I." She said, "I didn't have to do the
022cleaning. My friends finally did it." And I have a picture here of how to make matzah. And it's only a flour and water. That's all you need to make it. And remember, how many minutes do you have to make it from start to finish? 18. So, we'll have this recipe up. So, if you want to try and make that with a grownup, you can make your own matzah. It's very delicious. And do you know that way back before they had machines that would make the matzah? They would make it into cool shapes. Now, mostly matzah you'll find when you buy in the store because they have a machine. It's mostly um square or rectangle shaped, but they used to make it into fancy shapes or ovals or circles. We don't but the machines make it
023into squares and rectangles. I hope you like that story, the little red hen and the Passover mozza. And the little red hen is another character that is in many different stories about different things that she bakes and her friends don't help her out. Well, I hope you enjoyed our Easter and Passover stories today, and I hope you'll go to the library and see what other books you can find about Easter and Passover. Thank you for joining me today for Calling All Kids. I hope you enjoyed our stories, and I look forward to seeing you next time. Bye, everybody. Happy Passover and happy Easter. >> [music]