Dorktales Storytime | Stories for Kids Who Love Big Adventures

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Taylor the Valley Hen is new to the neighborhood, and even though she’s got plenty to be proud of, she’s still nervous about making new friends. When the giants hear about her spectacular six-grain feat, they invite her to boogie down at the biggest bash ever! Taylor fears she’ll look foolish at the party and no one will like her. Will her nerves get the best of her, or will she find the courage to be herself and dance her way into some wonderful new friendships?
This stories for kids episode, The Valley Hen Taylor, is a Dorktales Classic reimagining of the Grimm’s fairy tale, The Valiant Tailor.
WEBPAGE: https://jonincharacter.com/the-valley-hen-taylor/
FAN PAGE FUN: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/ 
DOWNLOAD WORKSHEET/COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/dorktales66funsheet 
GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep66freePDF 
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: This Dorktales Storytime stories for kids episode is a reimagined fairy tale based on Grimm’s The Valiant Taylor. It’s about finding the courage to make new friends in a new situation and not letting fear of rejection stop you. Taylor builds her own self-confidence by recognizing her own strengths and deciding to  be herself rather than trying to impress others. The giants model how being welcoming and accepting can help newcomers feel comfortable enough to be themselves. 
IF YOU LIKED THIS STORY about a brave hen, you may also like this stories for kids episode about an overly anxious hen in EP26 The Great Acorn Incident.  It’s our reimagined English fairy tale, “Henny-Penny,” with a lesson on big feelings that can lead to anxiety, worry and fear: https://jonincharacter.com/the-great-acorn-incident/ 
CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Amy Thompson, produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.
CALLING FOR LISTENER SUBMISSIONS BY 9/20/26: Grownups, send us your child's questions, ideas, or drawings of their favorite character or episode for a chance to be featured in our next FanTales zine. Email us at dorktalesstorytime.com and don't forget to include your child's first name and age.
Support the show
GROWNUPS: Dorktales Storytime is more than a Kids and family stories for kids podcast. Every visit to our Once Upon a Time world invites kids to discover reimagined fairy tales, fables, Greek myths, mysteries, fantasy adventures, pirate adventures, bedtime stories, Halloween stories, dinosaur stories, and inspiring stories about historical figures and STEAM pioneers. We believe a well-told story brings families together, opens the door to meaningful conversations, and helps every child know they belong and their imagination can change the world.
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Does your child have a question? Send it to us here.
We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
Support Our Storytime for Kids pod: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1267991/supporters/new 
Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

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Redge is taking Ariel, the little mermaid, on a photography adventure through Once Upon a Time to find the most magical and extraordinary things the land has to offer. Her search quickly turns into a day of delightful distractions, from flipping flapjacks at Granny’s Diner, to exploring little thing-a-ma-jigs in the community garden, to having fits of fascination over the library. As Ariel zooms in on unexpected details, she discovers that magical moments can be found in the most ordinary places.
WEBPAGE: https://jonincharacter.com/ariels-day-out-little-mermaid-stories-for-kids/ 
MORE LITTLE MERMAID STORIES FOR KIDS: https://jonincharacter.com/riddle-of-red-herring-reef/
FAN PAGE FUN: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/ 
WORKSHEET AND COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/dorktales136funsheet
GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep136freePDF 
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: This little mermaid adventure stories for kids encourages them to slow down, pay attention to the world around them, and find magic in everyday moments. Ariel’s fascination with everyday objects highlights the value of observation and perspective-taking. When Ariel worries that she has failed at her photography mission, Redge helps her reframe her disappointment and recognize she did achieve what she set out to do, even though the day didn’t go as planned. 
CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. This story was written by Kristin Schmitz and Molly Murphy. Ariel and Cat were performed by Sophie, who you can find streaming on twitch.tv/s0ph. All other characters were performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.
CALLING FOR LISTENER SUBMISSIONS BY 9/20/26: Grownups, send us your child's questions, ideas, or drawings of their favorite character or episode for a chance to be featured in our next FanTales zine. Email us at dorktalesstorytime.com and don't forget to include your child's first name and age.
Support the show
GROWNUPS: Dorktales Storytime is more than a Kids and family stories for kids podcast. Every visit to our Once Upon a Time world invites kids to discover reimagined fairy tales, fables, Greek myths, mysteries, fantasy adventures, pirate adventures, bedtime stories, Halloween stories, dinosaur stories, and inspiring stories about historical figures and STEAM pioneers. We believe a well-told story brings families together, opens the door to meaningful conversations, and helps every child know they belong and their imagination can change the world.
REACH OUT!
Does your child have a question? Send it to us here.
We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
Support Our Storytime for Kids pod: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1267991/supporters/new 
Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

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If your child is experiencing back to school anxiety, this story for kids will validate their feelings and build confidence before a new school year begins. We explore first day of school worries and share gentle ways to help anxious kids conquer their fear of the unknown. 
Big Bad Wolf is starting a new school year and he’s having back to school jitters. He’s worried his wolf classmates will continue to make fun of him over his embarrassing incident during last year’s howl-at-the-moon final exam. Enter his Folktale Forest friends, including Serena the Capybara. They talk him through his new class nerves and guide him back to his calm, cool and collected canine self and send him off with the confidence he needs to become a Master Howler!
This story about back to school jitters is a Dorktales Classic.
Episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/big-bad-goes-back-to-school/ 
FAN PAGE FUN: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/ 
DOWNLOAD WORKSHEET/COLOR PAGE: https://bit.ly/ep74worksheet  
GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode:  https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep74freePDF 
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: A new school year often brings back to school anxiety. In Big Bad Goes Back to School, Big Bad works through his first day of school worries with help from friends and calming strategies. This story gently encourages emotional resilience, self-regulation, and using your support systems. It features two guided mindfulness exercises for back to school anxiety, useful coping tools for easing into the new school year. 
CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Amy Thompson, directed and produced by Molly Murphy and performed by Jonathan Cormur and Chanel Tsang from Peace Out podcast. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.
CALLING FOR LISTENER SUBMISSIONS BY 9/20/26: Grownups, send us your child's questions, ideas, or drawings of their favorite character or episode for a chance to be featured in our next FanTales zine. Email us at dorktalesstorytime.com and don't forget to include your child's first name and age.
Support the show
GROWNUPS: Dorktales Storytime is more than a Kids and family stories for kids podcast. Every visit to our Once Upon a Time world invites kids to discover reimagined fairy tales, fables, Greek myths, mysteries, fantasy adventures, pirate adventures, bedtime stories, Halloween stories, dinosaur stories, and inspiring stories about historical figures and STEAM pioneers. We believe a well-told story brings families together, opens the door to meaningful conversations, and helps every child know they belong and their imagination can change the world.
REACH OUT!
Does your child have a question? Send it to us here.
We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
Support Our Storytime for Kids pod: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1267991/supporters/new 
Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

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The Mad Hatter is facing the Cheshire Cat in the final round of the Wonderland Poetry Slam, where rhymes and wordplay take center stage. When his allergies threaten to turn every line into a giant sneeze, his friends must think fast to save the show. Without a moment to spare, a little Wonderland nonsense, a spoonful of honey from a singing bee, and a bit of quick-thinking improvisation help turn an unexpected setback into a clever comeback.
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: This Alice in Wonderland adventure stories for kids encourages them to see unexpected challenges as opportunities instead of reasons to give up. As the Mad Hatter struggles with his allergies before an important performance, his friends work with him to solve the problem while reminding him that success doesn't require perfection. The story reinforces flexible thinking, cooperation, recognizing others' strengths, and adapting when life doesn't go according to plan.
WEBPAGE: https://jonincharacter.com/wonderland-poetry-slam/ 
FAN PAGE FUN: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/ 
WONDERLAND PLAYLIST: https://jonincharacter.com/wonderland-podcast-playlist-for-kids/ 
COLOR PAGES: https://bit.ly/dorktalesWonderland 
ACTIVITY: https://bit.ly/dorktales135funsheet
GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode: https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep135freePDF
CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Monique Hafen Adams, directed and produced by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.
CALLING FOR LISTENER SUBMISSIONS BY 9/20/26: Grownups, send us your child's questions, ideas, or drawings of their favorite character or episode for a chance to be featured in our next FanTales zine. Email us at dorktalesstorytime.com and don't forget to include your child's first name and age.
Support the show
GROWNUPS: Dorktales Storytime is more than a Kids and family stories for kids podcast. Every visit to our Once Upon a Time world invites kids to discover reimagined fairy tales, fables, Greek myths, mysteries, fantasy adventures, pirate adventures, bedtime stories, Halloween stories, dinosaur stories, and inspiring stories about historical figures and STEAM pioneers. We believe a well-told story brings families together, opens the door to meaningful conversations, and helps every child know they belong and their imagination can change the world.
REACH OUT!
Does your child have a question? Send it to us here.
We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
Support Our Storytime for Kids pod: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1267991/supporters/new 
Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music

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In Wonderland, nothing is ever quite what it seems, including Alice’s birthday. The White Rabbit, who promised to celebrate with her, keeps darting off in all directions. Even the Mad Hatter deflates her hopes for a special day when he un-invites her to tea—because it’s not her unbirthday. Feeling lost and forgotten, Alice wonders if anything can turn the day around—until the Cheshire Cat appears with a curious new path to follow. In a land where left is right and up is down, a day full of bummers might just bounce back into the best birthday yet.
This reimagined Lewis Carroll portal fantasy tale, Alice’s Birthday Bummer, is a Dorktales Classic.
WEBPAGE: https://jonincharacter.com/alices-birthday-bummer/
FAN PAGE FUN: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/ 
WONDERLAND PLAYLIST: https://jonincharacter.com/wonderland-podcast-playlist-for-kids/ 
COLOR PAGES: https://bit.ly/dorktalesWonderland 
ACTIVITY: https://bit.ly/dorktalesEP114colorpage
GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode:  https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep114freePDF
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: In Alice’s Birthday Bummer, young listeners journey through the emotional ups and downs of a birthday that doesn’t go as planned. As Alice faces disappointment, confusion, and the chaos of Wonderland, she also learns the importance of expressing her feelings, leaning on her friends, and staying open to unexpected joy. The story gently encourages emotional resilience, empathy, and the idea that a bad day can still hold a happy ending.
CREDITS: This episode has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Amy Thompson, edited and produced by Molly Murphy. Special thanks to Sabrina Glow for voicing the character, Alice. All other characters performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.
CALLING FOR LISTENER SUBMISSIONS BY 9/20/26: Grownups, send us your child's questions, ideas, or drawings of their favorite character or episode for a chance to be featured in our next FanTales zine. Email us at dorktalesstorytime.com and don't forget to include your child's first name and age.
Support the show
GROWNUPS: Dorktales Storytime is more than a Kids and family stories for kids podcast. Every visit to our Once Upon a Time world invites kids to discover reimagined fairy tales, fables, Greek myths, mysteries, fantasy adventures, pirate adventures, bedtime stories, Halloween stories, dinosaur stories, and inspiring stories about historical figures and STEAM pioneers. We believe a well-told story brings families together, opens the door to meaningful conversations, and helps every child know they belong and their imagination can change the world.
REACH OUT!
Does your child have a question? Send it to us here.
We love our fans! Find free goodies: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/
Support Our Storytime for Kids pod: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1267991/supporters/new 
Music & Lullabies: https://dorktalesstorytime.bandcamp.com/music