Storytime With Joe Hayes

What makes a great story? Spend time with legendary storyteller Joe Hayes, who has been telling stories for more than fifty years, sharing tales passed down through families, cultures, and communities of the American Southwest. Joined by the Kids Crew at the Outpost Performance Space, Joe explains why stories matter, how listeners help shape every story, and why imagination is such an important part of listening.

Forests are full of life, stories, and connections we cannot always see. Learn how forests help keep our planet healthy, how trees communicate, and why old growth forests matter. With songs, questions from kids, and a biologist who studies trees and fungi, this show explores what makes a forest more than just a group of trees.

Fourth graders teach listeners about the Underground Railroad and the life of Harriet Tubman. Kids learn how secret routes, brave helpers, and the North Star guided people to freedom. This episode helps young listeners understand courage, teamwork, and an important chapter in American history.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day and honor love in all its many forms. From the history of the holiday and exchanging cards, to the science behind how love makes our hearts race and our brains feel happy, we explore how love helps us feel connected and makes the world a kinder place. This episode is our Valentine to all our listeners, created with love by The Children’s Hour!

This time on The Children’s Hour, we explore the skin we are in. We are joined by Dr. Holly McGee and Dr. Nina Jablonski, who have written a book to explain the cultural and social history of skin color called It’s Just Skin, Silly. Then we meet Dr. Adnan Mir, a pediatric dermatologist who helps us understand even more about our skin from a medical point of view. This episode comes with a learning guide filled with activities to learn more.

We learn all about skunks with world renown mephitologist, Dr. Jerry Dragoo. Mixed with great music sure to captivate kids of all ages. Comes with a Learning Guide!

Firefighters are helpers who rush toward danger when others need help. On this episode of The Children’s Hour, the Kids Crew visits AFR Fire Station Number Three in Albuquerque, New Mexico to learn how firefighters protect people, animals, and neighborhoods every day.

The Kids Crew explores the world of reading to dogs and learns how therapy dogs help kids feel calm, safe, and excited to read. Guests from the local library explain how the program works, why dogs make great listeners, and how reading out loud builds confidence. The episode also includes the story of Rover the Reading Dog, who helps students overcome fear and enjoy books. This show celebrates reading, friendship, and the special bond between kids and animals.

We take a step back in time, to over 80 years ago to World War II, one of the biggest conflicts in human history, which changed modern humanity forever. Learn from Ms. Teresa Rand Bridges' bilingual 5th grade class at Alvarado Elementary, a public school in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Why do we spend so much of our lives sleeping? Is anything happening in our brains while we sleep? Do animals sleep the same way we do? On this episode of The Children's Hour, we explore the science of sleep with expert guests and our Kids Crew.