Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.In this episode, Sophie really wants a cat. She comes up with a cunning plan to convince Dad. But will she succeed?Please note that we've made some big changes to our podcast. We've moved over to a dedicated podcast hosting solution (Buzzsprout), and so our old website is no longer around. The move means that we're now on way more podcast platforms. The only one we're no longer on is Google Play, because Google has announced that their podcasts should now be shared through Youtube. They will be phasing out Google Play Podcasts. If you'd like to stay up to date, please make sure you join our Facebook Group (search for "Sophie and Sebastian").Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.It's spring time in Alberta, so let's celebrate with a poem about nature. Between the time when I wrote the episode and recorded it, all the snow melted! In this episode we share some marvelous facts about woodpeckers, as well as a poem.  We talk about the woodpecker's long tongue, its zygodactylic toes, and the fact that its brain doesn't shake around. But here's another neat thing: woodpeckers have three eye-lids! Not only do they have an upper and lower eyelid, but they also have a transparent eyelid that goes across the entire eye. It's called the Nicitating eyelid. I supposed it's handy when bark and woodchips go flying in all directions. Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.This is a story I've been meaning to write for a while. Many of the Sophie and Sebastian stories are about relationships and community. So I wanted the kids to do a kind deed. The challenge was to avoid being overly preachy and boring. You'll have to decide if the story succeeds in that.Writing "A Gift With Words" was challenging because it made me reflect on my own shortcomings. Living far away from parents is not always easy. This story is a reflection on what most of us can do better. Note: a couple of times an airplane flew over as I recorded this. So you might hear a bit of background noise. Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.This story is a return to the style of some of the earliest Sophie and Sebastian stories. Over time, the stories have of course become more complex, but this one is all about innocence and curiosity. Enjoy! Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.Time for another Sophie and Sebastian story. This one is all about using your imagination and telling exciting stories, the kind that make you forget everything you were doing before. It's okay for kids to be a bit bored once in a while: it often leads to great creativity! Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.Who doesn't like to have a tea party. The difficulty is finding a good butler to serve you!Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.Time for some more poetry! In this episode we feature two poems, including one about the famous pirate Tessa Messa de Delicatessa! Enjoy. Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.In this poetry episode, we celebrate the coming of spring and share a little poem about chickadees.Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message. Time for our first poetry episode! We'll start with something fairly simple: the limerick. Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.Time for another Sophie and Sebastian story. Sophie recently broke her arm when she went sledding. Fortunately it was a minor buckle fracture, and she should be better soon. I also wanted to write about people's favourite words, and the way words can start to haunt us when we think about them a lot.Some of the more difficult words in this story are the following:Enjambment: when there is no pause at the end of a line of poetry but the idea spills over to the next line.Flibbertigibbet: a gossipy, talkative personEpiphany: a sudden realization or insight. Also, the Christian feast of Epiphany (Jan. 6) celebrates the revelation of Christ's birth to the magi.Serendipity: when something unexpected happens and it turns out really well. So, what's your favourite word? Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message. Many of our stories celebrate the passing of the seasons. There's something beautiful about the way the world changes all around us. Even if we might not love every season--and winter is a little long in Canada, where we live--it's still wonderful to experience so much variety! This story, then, is about autumn, when the leaves are falling, the days get shorter, and there's a coolness in the air. It's a story about playing outside and enjoying the last warmth before winter comes around again. It's also a story about pretending to be medieval knights. Sophie wants to be King Arthur, but she can't be a king without knights to serve her. But can she convince Sebastian and her best friend Jasmine to be her faithful knights? Let's find out!P.S. If you're new to the show we recommend you first listen to episode 1: The New Neighbours. Once you know the main characters, you can listen to pretty well any episode. Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message. It's a rainy day, but you can always have fun inside. In this story, Sophie decides that it's time to play a hiding game. As you'll find out, the rules are very simple, but figuring out the clues and finding the prize before the other team does--now that's quite a challenge. This story was inspired by a memory of a children's book I read when I was a kid. I can't remember the title, but it was a story of children in a village (somewhere in Scandinavia I believe). These kids spent all their time playing outdoors, building forts and inventing games. One of these games was to hide a treasured object and give the other team a difficult and perplexing clue about where to find it. I'm guessing it was probably something by Astrid Lindgren, but I can't for the life of me remember the name of the book. Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.In this episode, Sophie visits her best friend Jasmine, and together they do everything they can to get Jasmine's dad to play with them. He says he's too busy, but isn't that what every parent always says? Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.This story is dedicated to all those wonderful teachers out there who do their utmost to make a difference. Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.This story is all about making great art. But what is art anyway? And how do you become an artist? Sophie and Sebastian try to find out. We hope this story inspires you to do some drawing and painting. Have fun and be creative! Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.In this episode we have a bedtime story about … bedtime! Oh, and of course there’s a llama, a hot air balloon, and much more. So snuggle up and enjoy!Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.In this story, Sophie and Sebastian have a mystery to solve. Someone does not seem to like the tiny library they made for all their neighbours. Who could it be? Listen carefully and see if you can guess the culprit. Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message. One wet and blustery day, Sophie's friend Jasmine comes over for a visit. But Sophie and Jasmine don't want Sebastian to play with them, so they do what girls do: they put up a sign saying "Girls Only." Will that be enough to keep the boys out? And what are these girls up to anyway? That of course is a secret, and you'll have to listen to find out ... P.S. This episode is inspired by something that happened to Sophie and Sebastian's mom when she was at a friend's house as a kid.P.P.S. This episode contains some scatological humour. Consider yourself forewarned.Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message.One day, Bert decides to do something nice for Fran, but it doesn’t all go according to plan. Fortunately, Bert has some amazing friends who are more than happy to visit him at the hospital...This episode contains a lot of allusions to Winnie the Pooh, so I thought it might be fun to point out where the story of “The Hospital Visit” reveals a debt to A. A. Milne’s famous children’s classic.Obviously Bert’s grumpiness is reminiscent of Eeyore, just as Sophie’s innocent questions and responses reflect Pooh’s lack of awareness. Then there’s the notion of bringing balloons as a present to cheer someone up. But perhaps the most specific allusion is the play on the word “ambush.” Here are the two passages side by side: 1. “Ambush?” said Sophie, “What does that mean?” “It means that someone surprises you and you fall into a bush.” Bert did not look very happy. “Oh,” said Sophie. “I didn’t know there was a word just for that. What if you happen to fall on a flower?" 2.  “My dear Pooh,” said Owl in his superior way, “don’t you know what an Ambush is?” ... “An Ambush,” said Owl, “is a sort of Surprise.” “So is a gorse-bush sometimes,” said Pooh. I’ve taught Winnie the Pooh so often that it’s hard to write for children without adopting the same perspective, a perspective that is simultaneously nonsensical, ironic, and nostalgic. It’s a unique mixture that you won’t find in many other children’s books.Here’s one more place where I had Winnie the Pooh in the back of my mind: 1. “What happened?” Sophie said, “What did you do?” “Take a guess,” said Bert, “Do you think I’m taking a nap in a rose bush? Do you think I’m trying out a new form of acupuncture? Or could it be that I was trying to do something nice and happened to have a fall?” 2. “Eeyore, what are you doing there [floating in the river]?” said Rabbit. “I’ll give you three guesses, Rabbit. Digging holes in the ground? Wrong. Leaping from branch to branch of a young oak-tree? Wrong. Waiting for somebody to help me out of the river? Right. Give Rabbit time, and he’ll always get the answer.” I love Eeyore’s sarcasm, and I think young kids get it too. It’s too bad many people no longer read the original Winnie the Pooh but are satisfied by those short spin-off Disney books that always end with a sappy moral. There is nothing quite like the original Winnie the Pooh. Support the Show.

Liked the episode? Let us know by sending a text message. "One sunny day the sky was so perfectly blue that it looked like you could jump off the roof and dive into a lake..." So begins "The Lemonade Stand," a nostalgic story about that most magical of childhood memories -- having your own lemonade stand! Support the Show.