Little Pumpkin and Lewis, a gentle Halloween Tale

Hello Dear Gentlefolk, today I'm excited to share that I'm part of the Kids Listen Mash Up, a seven part series of kids podcasts about Big Emotions. The story that I have in the "Fear and Bravery" mix is about our fairy friends Sar and Nieva - The Two Sister and The Wolf. I'm delighted to share storytime space with my fellow Kids Listen Friends: Forever Ago, PJ Library Presents, Afternoons With Mimi, and the whole episode is hosted by: Eric from What If World. Loved this story? Find more and join the Gentlefolk community at April Eight Songs & Stories IG: https://www.instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aprileight Here is more about the whole episode Fear & Bravery (Part 2) 😱🦸 Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings  Welcome back to Big Emotions! Bravery doesn't mean never feeling afraid - it's about feeling fear and moving forward anyway. In Part 2 of Fear and Bravery, we hear more incredible stories from Kids Listen shows about facing fears, taking risks, and finding courage together. You'll discover how sitting with fear, learning from it, and practicing bravery can change the way we experience challenges. Contributing podcasts in this episode: Forever Ago • April Eight • PJ Library Presents, Afternoons With Mimi Hosted by: Eric from What If World Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings - for the whole series. Looking for hands-on ways to explore this theme? Download the Kids Listen Fear & Bravery Activity Guide created by Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore. ---- About this series: Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups is a 7-part audio adventure where creators from the Kids Listen community come together to explore feelings in all their shapes and sizes. Each episode pairs two related emotions, sharing original clips and reflections to help kids (and grownups!) understand, name, and navigate their feelings. To hear the whole Two Sister and The Wolf series, find all the episodes on one page: https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/p/kids-listen-big-emotions-fear-and  

Re-Issue! This leprechaun story is so fun, I thought I'd share it again in case you missed it the first time! Welcome to Episode 71 of the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast. Today's episode is called "A Leprechaun Tale - Birdie and the Leprechaun" a great story for your kids at bath time, bedtime, car time, and family time.  On today's episode, Grammy and the kids, that's Sage, Sander and Arwen, and of course, Birdie, the dog, have an unexpected guest. A leprechaun! Turns out, Lucky Mr. Liam and Grammy are old friends, and he comes to stay with her for safety from all those dangerous leprechaun traps that children all over the world are setting this time of year.  The best place to find all things April Eight: aprileight.comSubstack newsletter: https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/ Instagram.com/aprileightsongsandstories/ YouTube Channel for videos and songs Well, leprechauns like a good limerick, and Lucky Mr. Liam likes to speak in them. And he tells the kids and Grammy all about his adventures out in the world, trying to keep out of trouble. It is a fairytale, and a tall tale, and a story of friendship -- a fun story for St. Patrick's Day or any day at all.  "There once was a wee dog named Birdie Who lived in a cottage most pur-ty I asked, “Tell me why Dis Birdie can’t fly?” She told me I was just being churly." The Leprechaun also explains why children set traps for leprechauns...   "Why would ya catch a leprechaun, oh They are just wee men in green trousers, no? It’s magic we have Could be good or bad But everyone wants a pot o’gold." Lucky Mr. Liam also gives a few tips on how best to set a good leprechaun trap: "For a leprechaun trap to be tricky You might think to add something sticky Perhaps a wee treat Candy nice and sweet But ta think ya can catch us, yer daffy" I am so happy to say that the April Eight Songs & Stories Podcast is now available anywhere you listen to podcasts. Please share your favorite episodes with your friends. And please share how you listen to your April Eight stories, in the bathtub? on the way to school? at bedtime? I have Waldorf family and homeschoolers, big kids, little kids, Montessori kids and unschoolers, regular schoolers, and world schoolers listening in. And a lot of adults who just want a good fairytale. I love that!  I have listeners across the globe these days. I can't even tell you how much joy that brings me. April Eight is for the innocent heart in all of us everywhere. xoxoxo All songs, stories, and illustrations are copyrighted by me, ©April Eight 2017. It is my favorite thing to do! 

All songs and stories written and narrated by April Eight - copyright ©2025.  A perfect bedtime tale about a lonely little star who finds a surprise friend. Little Star learns a lesson - friends can be found if you know how to look. "Now today I have a bedtime story. This would be a nice one to listen to right before you go to sleep. It's about a little star. It's called The Little Star Story..." If you like this story, you'll probably like our other April Eight Songs and Stories too. Have a listen and see what you think.  The content herein is protected by copyright and may not be used without permission. © 2025 April Eight - Goldenthread Creative LLC. Find me at http://www.aprileight.com Free Newsletter - Stay Up Late with April Eight link: https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/ "April is a world-class storyteller, sure to engage both your kids and you." -PDX Parent "April's calm, kind, funny, and so entertaining." - The Art Alliance

Sometimes what you think is your greatest flaw turns out to be the very thing that makes you shine. Little Pumpkin believes he'll never be chosen from the pumpkin patch — he's got a flaw he feels no one would ever want to take home. But when a boy named Lewis comes along on a golden autumn day, everything changes. This gentle, joyful Halloween story for kids celebrates family, kindness, and being yourself — perfect for family listening, bedtime stories, and cozy fall days. If you love original kids' stories and songs, visit aprileight.com for more storytelling magic, behind-the-scenes wonder, and seasonal tales from April Eight Songs & Stories.

Hello my friends, this episode is so fun, I thought I would share it again. It's almost Halloween, and what is more fun than singing not-so-spooky songs with your family and friends? Sing-along with me, April Eight. Perfect for bedtime, bathtime, getting ready to go trick-or-treat time, in the car time, or anytime your family needs some fun. Kids love it! Stay Up Late with April Eight newsletter https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/ aprileight.com

He took a deep breath and said, "Hi. I'm Mookie. This is Larkin." Larkin squeezed Mookie's hand again. I'm excited to wrap-up this story series because I feel like I found a satisfying ending for this tale. However, I am also sad about letting it all go for now. I love writing about Mookie and Grandpa. They are both so wise and kind. I love the friendship between Mookie and his best friend Larkin. I also love what Jemi and Sander bring to the team - their brains and focus. I love that color-changing baby Chromanian dragon, Baby, and, of course, I love Shamaya. Oh, and don't forget Theadosa the chicken. I love everything about them all. But a story has to have an ending, and today I am sharing this one with you. The April Eight Songs and Stories Podcast is full of gentle, magical songs and tales for innocent ears. Perfect for bedtime, snack-time, dinner-time, car-time, any time you need a sweet, funny, entertaining story told. April Eight, Waldorf teacher, and early grades specialist, has been called a "world-class storyteller". She shares her original fairytales to delight and enchant the whole family. Sign up for free or for the paid subscription newsletter at Stay Up Late with April Eight Substack, and never miss any of the sweet content that April Eight shares with her audience. Enjoy bonus content, more songs, more stories, and more fun at https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/ Links for other April Eight stories mentioned: You can find these stories anywhere you listen to podcasts. Here are links directly from my podcast host. The Butterfly Adventurer - the original Thom Gnome series. Jemi and the Birthday Surprise. Sander and the Lost Giant. Mookie and the Magic Egg really starts with this story - Larkin and the Troll.

Mookie and the Magic Egg, Story 7 Mookie and Grandpa are trying to decide how to care for the Chromanian Dragon whose egg was left in their chicken coop. With the help of this podcast's favorite gnome and his blustery little buddy Brizbane the Mouse, you're sure to enjoy this original fairytale series.  The April Eight Songs and Stories Podcast is full of gentle, magical songs and tales for innocent ears. Perfect for bedtime, snack-time, dinner-time, car-time, any time you need a sweet, funny, entertaining story told. April Eight, Waldorf teacher and early grades specialist has been called a "world-class storyteller". She shares her original fairytales to delight and enchant the whole family. Sign up for free or for the paid subscription newsletter at Stay Up Late with April Eight Substack, and never miss any of the sweet content that April Eight shares with her audience. Enjoy bonus content, more songs, more stories, and more fun at https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/ Links for other April Eight stories mentioned: You can find these stories anywhere you listen to podcasts. Here are links directly from my podcast host. The Butterfly Adventurer - the original Thom Gnome series. Jemi and the Birthday Surprise. Sander and the Giant. Mookie and the Magic Egg really starts with this story - Larkin and the Troll. That should keep you busy until Mookie and the Magic Egg 8, the final story of this series, comes out on Wednesday, August 21st!

Story 6 from the series Mookie and the Magic Egg. Who could sleep when they have a baby Chromanian dragon to protect? Certainly not Mookie. Fortunately, he has some unexpected assitance from a tiny mouse (who you callin' tiny?) and a helpful gnome.  The "Mookie and the Magic Egg" series is a gentle, magical tale for innocent ears. Perfect for bedtime, snack-time, dinner-time, car-time, any time you need a sweet, funny, entertaining tale told. April Eight, Waldorf teacher and "world-class" storyteller, shares her original fairytales to delight and enchant the whole family.  Sign up for the Stay Up Late with April Eight Substack Newsletter, and never miss an episode. Enjoy bonus content, more songs, more stories, and more fun at https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/

One of our old friends pops up in this episode - literally - to help Mookie and Grandpa decide what to do to help their baby dragon. Brizbane is back and up to all kinds of trouble, as usual. A gentle, magical podcast for innocent ears. Perfect for bedtime, snack, dinner, or car-time – any time you need a sweet, funny, entertaining tale told or song sung. April Eight, Waldorf teacher, and world-class storyteller, shares her original fairytales and folk songs to delight and enchant the whole family. And the book that Brizbane refers to is one of my favorites to read to third graders, "Dragon Rider" by Cornelia Funke. This series starts with Episode 53, Larken and the Troll. If you haven't listened to these stories, you might go back and listen from the beginning.  Stay up to date by joining my free newsletter at: https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/ Find all things April Eight at https://aprileight.com/  

In Story 4, Mookie comes home to tell his grandpa all about the adventures he and his friends had and the magical creatures they discovered in Hawthorn Grove Woods. Dragons, fairies, kids, and magical cat wizards - there's a lot of fun to be had in this original series of sweet stories from storyteller April Eight. And someone you might know arrives to offer up his  help at the end of this one...  Stay Up Late with April Eight Newsletter - find it at https://aprileightuplate.substack.com/ Find me at aprileight.com