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It's fall and many kids are headed back to school and they're on the hunt for the perfect book to read. Don't forget to check out our But Why book series. We have two books perfect for young readers about age 8 to 10. Look for Our Llamas Ticklish and Do Fish Breathe Underwater wherever you buy your books. And if you prefer to listen to books, check out the audiobook versions as well. You can find out more at butwhykids.org books.
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This is But Why from Vermont Public Radio. I'm Jane Lindholm. Today we're bringing you something special. You've heard episodes of one of our favorite podcasts, Circle Round, from our friends at WBUR in Boston before on this show.
Well, today we're going to share an extra special episode of that storytelling podcast because I got to star as one of the characters. I joined Molly Bloom, the host of another favorite podcast, Brains On, and we got to be two sisters in a story called The Fallen Sparrow. As you'll hear, I am the very selfish sister, and I hope that doesn't make you think differently of me. My kids said I was very mean in this story, and it's true.
I hope you'll enjoy this episode of Circle Round, and thanks to WBUR for sharing it with us and for letting me be a voice in the episode. It was a dream come true for me. Okay, on to the story.
Ever heard of somebody getting their just desserts? You might think that getting your just desserts has something to do with cookies or ice cream or pie, but no. When you get your just desserts, it means you get what you deserve for your actions. We're about to meet two characters who get their just desserts, and lucky for one of them, those desserts are very sweet indeed. Woo-hoo!
I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time. Today our story is called The Fallen Sparrow. You'll hear versions of this tale across East Asia, in China, Japan, Korea, and Tibet. The Fallen Sparrow
Some really great people came together to bring you our adaptation of this folktale, including two of my fellow children's podcast hosts, Molly Blue and Jane Lindholm. Kids, you might know Molly from the American public media podcasts Brains On and Smash Boom Best. And you'll recognize Jane from But Why, a podcast for curious kids from Vermont Public Radio. So circle around, everyone, for the fallen sparrow.
Chloe and Zoe were twin sisters, but even though they looked very much alike, the two were very different. Chloe lived in the grandest house in town and had more money and riches than she knew what to do with. Zoe lived in a tumble-down cottage in the country and didn't have much more than the clothing on her back. Zoe struggled to get by, but she knew better than to ask Chloe for help.
because every time she worked up the courage to walk all the way to town and knock on her twin sister's gold-plated door, the answer was always the same. No way, Zoe. I won't share anything with anyone. Look, we all get what we deserve, and clearly you don't deserve much.
One morning, Zoe was sitting under the apple tree in her tiny little yard, reading a book and dreaming, when a brisk wind blew in from the north.
The gust rattled her cottage's rickety windows and snapped a branch right off the apple tree. The heavy limb came crashing to the ground. Whoa! Zoe leaned down to pick up the branch. And when she did, what should she see lying on the ground but a brown and gray sparrow?
Oh, no!
Day and night she nursed the fragile creature back to health. And when the sparrow seemed ready to take to the skies again, Zoe carried the bird back to the apple tree and set it down on a branch. Here you go, little one. You look good as new. I have to admit, I'll miss you. But maybe we'll see each other again. The bird cocked its head, let out a chirp, then spread its wings and flew away.
The next week, Zoe was back under her apple tree, reading and dreaming, when she heard a familiar chirping sound.
She glanced up, and do you know who she saw perched on the tree's top branch? You guessed it, the brown and gray sparrow, the same one she had nursed back to health the week before. Sparrow, it's you! Oh, I'm so happy to see you again. The sparrow opened its beak and dropped something toward the ground, something smooth and white. Zoe reached out her hand and caught it. What's this? A pumpkin seed? A pumpkin seed?
Again, the sparrow opened its beak. Only this time... You betcha! It spoke! This pumpkin seed is for you, Zoe. Consider it a reward for all you've done. Plant it in your garden and see what grows. I will, friend. Thank you. Of course. Then the bird fluttered its wings and sailed off into the sky.
Zoe did as the sparrow instructed and planted the seed. She watered it every day, and soon what should come bursting from the ground but a leafy green pumpkin vine.
By the time autumn rolled around, the vine sprouted one enormous pumpkin, as bright and round as a full moon. Oh my goodness, what a beautiful pumpkin. It'll be just right for pumpkin pie. Mmm. So Zoe snipped the pumpkin from the vine. There we go. Hauled the massive gourd into her cottage. This thing's gonna make a whole lot of pie. And hoisted it onto the table. Hoop!
Now, if you've ever made pumpkin pie, then you know that first you carve around the pumpkin stem, then you pull off the top, then you scoop out the mushy mess of strings and seeds inside. But when Zoe sliced around the stem of this pumpkin and pulled off its top, she didn't see mushy strings or seeds. Instead, she saw something else entirely different.
Cold coins! Indeed, the pumpkin was chock full of sparkling, glittering gold coins, more money than Zoe had ever seen before.
And she knew just how she'd spend it. She carted the coins to town, then bought a big load of wood and nails. With these supplies, I can replace my falling-down cottage with a cozy new one. Next, she picked up a bunch of soil, fertilizer, and seeds. I can't wait to start a lush, green garden and grow my own food. Now remember, Zoe had a twin sister named Chloe.
A very wealthy, very stingy twin sister named Chloe, who believed we all get what we deserve. And when Chloe learned of Zoe's sudden prosperity, she definitely didn't think her twin sister deserved it. So Chloe jumped into one of her many horse-drawn carriages and went galloping across the countryside to Zoe. Zoe!
How did you get this cozy cottage and this abundant garden? You're going to have to explain how you got all this wealth.
So Zoe told her twin sister the story of how she mended the fallen sparrow's wing, then received a pumpkin seed as a reward. And when I planted that seed, it sprouted a huge pumpkin, the biggest I've ever seen. When I cut the pumpkin open, it was full of gold coins. I see. Chloe's greedy mind began to race. And, uh, just tell me...
Just tell me again, how exactly did that sparrow break its wing? Well, the wind snapped a branch off the apple tree and the bird went tumbling down. Oh, you should have seen it, sister. The poor creature was barely breathing and tears sprang to my eyes when I saw just how... But that's all Chloe heard. She had already sprinted out the door and back to her carriage.
The next morning, Chloe hopped out of bed extra early and crept into her spacious yard. Her gardeners had planted the yard with all kinds of flowers, bushes, and trees. Chloe tiptoed to one of the apple trees and squinted at its branches. Hmm...
Surely one of these branches has a sparrow on it, right? Just then, she heard a loud chirp. Ha! That looks just like the bird Zoe described. Without missing a beat, Chloe grabbed the trunk of the apple tree and began to shake it. She shook and shook and shook until at last one of the branches snapped off.
The limb came tumbling to the ground, bringing with it the brown and gray sparrow.
Chloe squatted down and plucked the bird out of the grass. Oh, dear. How ever did this happen? You poor little thing. You're lucky you have me to take care of you. Chloe brought the sparrow inside and spent the next two days looking after it. But not because she had a kind heart like Zoe did. It feels like I've been taking care of this bird forever. But no matter.
It'll be worth it when that reward is mine. All mine. When the sparrow finally seemed well enough to fly again, Zoe carried the bird outside and plopped it onto the grass. All right, off you go. But remember, if it weren't for me, you would never fly again. Don't you forget that, bird. The sparrow cocked its head, let out a chirp, and flapped its wings and flew away.
The next week, Chloe was inside her house, counting her money, when she heard a loud chirping sound through the window. What is with these ridiculous birds in my yard? How am I supposed to focus on counting all of my beautiful money if those pesky creatures keep tweeting and chirping and...
Wait a minute. She dashed outside and looked up at the apple tree. Can you guess who was perched on one of its branches? Yep, the brown and gray sparrow. Ha! You're back. It's about time. The sparrow opened its beak and a smooth white pumpkin seed dropped to the ground. This pumpkin seed is for you, Chloe. Consider it a reward for all you've done.
Plant it in your garden and see what grows. Oh, you bet I will, bird. I earned this one. Of course. Then the bird beat its wings and soared up to the sky. Chloe ordered her gardeners to plant the pumpkin seed in the yard.
Very soon, much to her delight, what should emerge from the earth but a leafy green pumpkin vine? And by the time autumn came, the vine sprouted not one enormous pumpkin, but three. Ha! I knew that sparrow liked me better than my twin sister. It gave me three pumpkins instead of just one. Chloe seized the first pumpkin and chopped it off the vine. Ha!
What could be in there? Gold coins like Zoe got? Or maybe diamonds? Or emeralds? Or rubies? But when Chloe sliced around the pumpkin stem and lifted off the top, she didn't see gold coins or diamonds or emeralds or rubies. Instead, she saw...
Mud. Gross. Sticky, sludgy, ooey-gooey mud oozing out of the pumpkin and dribbling all over Chloe's fancy clothes. Yuck! There must have been some mistake. After all I did for that bird, surely it will give me the reward I deserve.
Maybe it's inside this second pumpkin. Chloe lunged toward the second pumpkin and hacked it from the vine. But when she sliced off the top, she began to cough. And sneeze. And wipe her eyes. And do you know why? Because the pumpkin was filled with pepper. Pepper.
spicy black pepper. This can't be my reward for all I've done. Let me check this third pumpkin. So Chloe slashed the third pumpkin from the vine and carved around the stem.
But just as she was removing the top... Oh, no. She heard the sound of buzzing. Lots and lots of buzzing. Yikes! Before Chloe knew it, a noisy swarm of bees rose up out of the pumpkin and started buzzing right toward her. Yikes!
Chloe leaped to her feet and began to run. She raced through the yard, down the street, and all the way across town. Some say she's still running today. But then, we all get what we deserve, right? Chloe's twin sister, Zoe, meanwhile, continued to live comfortably and happily. Her cottage got even cozier, and her garden got even bigger. Chloe's twin sister, Zoe, meanwhile, continued to live comfortably and happily.
She grew her own pumpkins, full of mushy strings and seeds, and became famous for her delectable pumpkin pies, pumpkin cake, and pumpkin pudding. So, it just goes to show you, practice a little kindness and generosity, and you too can get your just desserts. Music
Now it's your turn. Have you ever made a bird feeder? It's a fun and easy way to help out the feathered friends in our midst. To make your bird feeder, first you'll need an empty paper towel or toilet paper roll. Take the roll, then smear the outside with whatever nut butter or seed butter you and your family use at home.
Once the roll is all covered and sticky, sprinkle it with bird seed. If you don't have bird seed, you can use a combination of the following foods. Uncooked oats, fresh pumpkin seeds, dried fruit like apricots or raisins. You can even use plain popped popcorn. The next step is to get a long piece of string and have a grown-up help you feed the string through one end of your roll to the other.
Tie a knot in the string, then find a place outside near your home to hang your feeder. After that, sit back and enjoy the birds as they come to enjoy the yummy treat you made for them.
This week's story, The Fallen Sparrow, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Virginia Marshall. Circle Round's executive producer is Catherine Brewer. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimilonis. Circle Round's artist is Sabina Han. Sabina's made a black and white picture for every Circle Round story, pictures that you can color in. Ask a grown-up to visit our website, wbur.org slash circleround, and click on Soundtrack and Coloring Pages.
Special thanks to this week's actors, Kimberly Schreff, Molly Bloom, and Jane Lindholm. Molly Bloom hosts the American Public Media podcast, Brains On and Smash Boom Best. Jane Lindholm hosts But Why from Vermont Public Radio. You can find all three podcasts wherever you and your grown-ups listen to Circle Round. ♪
The featured instrument in today's story was the celeste. You can learn more about this member of the percussion family and see a picture on our website, wbur.org slash circle round. Never want to miss an episode of Circle Round? Ask your grown-up to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever they get their podcasts. And please leave us some stars, write us a review, or just tell your friends about the show. Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for circling around with us. One of the best things about creating Circle Round is hearing from listeners like you. Circle Round fans have been telling us about their favorite Circle Round stories, and we're excited to share some of their voices with you today.
My name is Griffin. This is my little brother Gabriel. We live in Suffolk, Massachusetts. My favorite circle around is the unwelcome guest because I like when he puts food in his pocket. My favorite stories are going in the garden and asking kids to come.
Did someone mention an episode you missed? No problem. You can find every single Circle Round story on our website. That's wbur.org slash circle round or wherever you and your grown-ups get your podcasts. From PR.