Speaker 1: Welcome in everyone to Lively Lewis Stories.
Speaker 2: That's right, We're back with even more awesome adventures with
Speaker 2: Levi and Ivy.
Speaker 1: Set your storytime eater too fun and get ready to
Speaker 1: join the Lively Lewis crew.
Speaker 2: All you need is your imagination and we go.
Speaker 3: I can't make you see we are my story to
Speaker 3: just good day.
Speaker 1: Have you ever wanted to get more Lively Lewis.
Speaker 2: In your life, Well we've got you covered.
Speaker 1: Grab an adult and zoom over to Livelylouishop dot.
Speaker 2: Com or just click on the link in our show notes.
Speaker 3: Enough about that, let's get too Today's super Live Ay
Speaker 3: Lewis story.
Speaker 1: Today, we're here to share a wonderful story with you,
Speaker 1: but not just any story. A story about a very
Speaker 1: special brother and sister who are best friends, a brother
Speaker 1: and sister who are great explorers, and a brother and
Speaker 1: sister who never backed down from an adventure.
Speaker 2: A brother and sister known as Levi and Ivy.
Speaker 1: In this story, they learn very important lesson about kindness
Speaker 1: when they meet some talking friends in a forest, a magnificent,
Speaker 1: enchanted forest.
Speaker 2: It's truly an amazing adventure.
Speaker 1: Amazing, yes, but Levi and Ivy soon find out that
Speaker 1: the animals that they call the forest home have a
Speaker 1: big problem on their hands. Well, I guess it's really
Speaker 1: more like their paws and wings, because they're animals after all.
Speaker 2: Good point. We felt that a story this good needed
Speaker 2: to be shared and were happy to share it with you.
Speaker 1: So one day in the middle of the summer, Levi
Speaker 1: and Ivy were riding bikes around their neighborhood as they
Speaker 1: had done hundreds, if not thousands of times before. They
Speaker 1: thought they had seen every inch of their neighborhood and
Speaker 1: explored it all, but they would soon be in for
Speaker 1: a surprise. Ivy, are you thirsty? Levi called out as
Speaker 1: he pulled his bike over to the side of the road.
Speaker 1: A little, replied Ivy, stopping right next to him. Did
Speaker 1: you two, Levi began, until he was interrupted by a sister.
Speaker 1: Bring our water bottles, Ivy said with a smile as
Speaker 1: she reached into the backpack that she was wearing. Of
Speaker 1: course I did, Levi. Awesome, Thank you, Ivy, said Levi
Speaker 1: in between gulps of water. As they sat on the
Speaker 1: side of the road enjoying their water bottles. It was
Speaker 1: only a minute before they realized they had to get
Speaker 1: some shade. I am so hot, said Ivy. Let's go
Speaker 1: sit under that tree and get out of the sun
Speaker 1: for a little bit while we have our water. Levi agreed,
Speaker 1: and they left their bikes by the side of the
Speaker 1: road and walked toward a tall oak tree. They were
Speaker 1: right near their favorite park where they had played so
Speaker 1: many times before, but that day the sun was so
Speaker 1: hot that no one at all was enjoying the playground
Speaker 1: or even a walk or a picnic. This is nice,
Speaker 1: said Levi as he sat back against the giant tree,
Speaker 1: enjoying the cool of the shade. Ivy sat back as well,
Speaker 1: and they talked about that they would be doing for
Speaker 1: the rest of the day as he tossed a bright
Speaker 1: orange super bouncy ball back and forth that Levi had
Speaker 1: brought along. He had just wanted at the arcade the
Speaker 1: night before and had been bouncing it all over the
Speaker 1: house that morning. It's too hot for baseball, said Levi,
Speaker 1: and it's too hot for bike riding, added Ivy. Even
Speaker 1: the water in the swimming pool is too warm to
Speaker 1: cool us off. Levi and Ivy kept tossing the tiny
Speaker 1: ball back and forth as they continued their list of
Speaker 1: things it was too hot to do. It's way too
Speaker 1: hot to build a second floor in our treehouse, said Levi,
Speaker 1: and way way way too hot to build a snowman,
Speaker 1: giggled Ivy. Levi started to laugh too, and as he did,
Speaker 1: he lost sight of the bouncy ball as Ivy threw
Speaker 1: it to him.
Speaker 2: My bouncy ball, called out Levi as he jumped up
Speaker 2: and watched the bright orange ball bounce toward a large
Speaker 2: row of evergreens and disappear through the thick branches. I'm sorry,
Speaker 2: said Ivy as she hopped up too. Let's go get it,
Speaker 2: but it's way under those huge trees. Now we'll never
Speaker 2: find it, said Levi. Don't say that, because you know what,
Speaker 2: it's not too hot for Ivy said, with a smirk
Speaker 2: on her face, an adventure. Levi looked at her and
Speaker 2: began to smile too. You're right, he said, Let's do it.
Speaker 2: Levi and Ivy walked toward the towering trees and knelt
Speaker 2: down to look underneath them, hoping the bouncy ball would
Speaker 2: be right there. However, what they saw next was something
Speaker 2: they would never forget. Levi was the first one to
Speaker 2: see and jump back, calling out t Ivey Oh my goodness,
Speaker 2: Levi shouted as he flew back and landed on the ground.
Speaker 2: What what is it? Ivy called out, as she quickly
Speaker 2: moved closer to the trees to have a look for herself.
Speaker 2: That's when she found herself nose to furry nose with
Speaker 2: a squirrel. Well aren't you cute? Said Ivy, giving her
Speaker 2: little critter it's space, but definitely wanting to say hello,
Speaker 2: what were you so afraid of? Levi's just a cute
Speaker 2: little squirrel. I wasn't afraid, said Levi, quickly scurrying back
Speaker 2: over to Ivy. I was surprised and amazed. Why don't
Speaker 2: you ask that squirrel what made me jump? Ask the
Speaker 2: squirrel Levi. Like it's going to answer me, laughed Ivy,
Speaker 2: turning back toward her new furry friend. Well, of course
Speaker 2: i'd answer you if you asked me a question. It
Speaker 2: would be rude if I didn't, chattered the little squirrel.
Speaker 2: Ivy immediately jumped back, just as Levi had. A talking squirrel,
Speaker 2: exclaimed Ivy, what's going on here?
Speaker 1: So now we have two kids who love an adventure.
Speaker 1: Meeting a talking squirrel sounds like the start of something special,
Speaker 1: right It didn't take long for Levi and Ivy to
Speaker 1: introduce them and to ask the squirrel a million questions.
Speaker 1: And who could blame them? Right? I know I'd have
Speaker 1: a question or two for a talking squirrel. Let's see, like,
Speaker 1: what's your name? What are you doing here? Do you
Speaker 1: live under those giant trees? Do all animals that live
Speaker 1: here talk? Have you seen a bright orange bouncy ball?
Speaker 1: On and on went Levi and I have be asking
Speaker 1: question after question until the little squirrel politely shouted stop.
Speaker 1: I'm sorry, friends, but that's a lot of questions, said
Speaker 1: the little squirrel. Let me try to answer a few.
Speaker 1: My name is Charlie. I'm here because I heard you
Speaker 1: both talking and I thought you may be able to
Speaker 1: help me. I don't live under these trees. I live
Speaker 1: in an enchanted forest just on the other side. Yes,
Speaker 1: all the animals that live in the enchanted forest talk,
Speaker 1: but I mean they are animals, so there's also the
Speaker 1: occasional who growl, ribit, chirpit and other animal chatter. And yes,
Speaker 1: I have seen a bright orange bouncy ball. It bounced
Speaker 1: right by me as I heard you talking. That was
Speaker 1: a lot of information for anyone to take in not
Speaker 1: to mention the fact that it was all being said
Speaker 1: by a talking squirrel. Levi and Ivy were still taking
Speaker 1: it all in when Charlie asked, can you help me? Actually,
Speaker 1: all of the animals in the enchanted forest needs your help.
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy were beyond curious to know what they
Speaker 1: could possibly help with in an enchanted forest, So when
Speaker 1: Charlie asked that they follow him through the giant evergreen trees,
Speaker 1: they went along without delay.
Speaker 2: Now this is where the story gets interesting.
Speaker 1: Wait a minute, you think the story gets interesting, now
Speaker 1: did you miss the whole part about the talking squirrel?
Speaker 1: That was pretty interesting?
Speaker 2: It absolutely is. But you know what could make it
Speaker 2: even more interesting? A troll?
Speaker 1: Oh? Okay, you're right.
Speaker 2: Levi and Ivy chased after Charlie as he scurried over
Speaker 2: fallen logs covered in red and white toadstools, through little
Speaker 2: streams filled by dazzling waterfalls, and into a clearing that
Speaker 2: was sparkling with sunlight. It was truly a magical place,
Speaker 2: but you wouldn't know it by the way the animals
Speaker 2: there were acting. They were huddled together in a little
Speaker 2: group insects crowded behind tree leaves while chipmunks, skunks, and
Speaker 2: foxes hid under bushes, Birds peeked out of their nests cautiously,
Speaker 2: and snakes slithered quickly into the long grass. Everyone don't
Speaker 2: be scared, it's just me, shouted Charlie in a whisper.
Speaker 2: This is Levi and Ivy. They're friends and I think
Speaker 2: they can help us. One by one, the animals quietly
Speaker 2: emerged from their hiding places. Are you sure it's safe,
Speaker 2: question a blue jay from high up in a tree.
Speaker 2: Really really safe, added a nervous hedgehog. Trust me it's safe.
Speaker 2: Please come out so we can tell our new friends.
Speaker 2: How are they gonna help us save the enchanted forest?
Speaker 2: Called out Charlie as he looked over his shoulder. He
Speaker 2: seemed to be watching for something, but Levi and Ivy
Speaker 2: didn't know what just yet.
Speaker 1: As the animals started to gather around Levi and Ivy,
Speaker 1: Charlie finally gave them the answer to the question they
Speaker 1: were both asking themselves. What do you need help with?
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy. We have a problem to deal with,
Speaker 1: A very big problem, shared Charlie. What kind of problem?
Speaker 1: Asked Levi, sounding a little worried. It's a well, well,
Speaker 1: a troll, whispered Charlie, not wanting to scare Levi and
Speaker 1: Ivy away. A mole replied Ivy, looking confused. No I
Speaker 1: think he said it was a ball, said Levi. No
Speaker 1: I said a troll, shouted Charlie, in a voice louder
Speaker 1: than he had intended. He covered his mouth with his
Speaker 1: hands and told Levi and Ivy to sit down. A
Speaker 1: troll recently took over this land where we'd all live
Speaker 1: for hundreds of years. He's mean, he's rude, and he
Speaker 1: won't leave, explained Charlie. Hey drinks up well our fresh water,
Speaker 1: said a salamander. He eats up all the berries, nuts
Speaker 1: and apples, added a deer. He leaves trash everywhere, and
Speaker 1: is so loud sometimes we can't sleep at night, said
Speaker 1: a porcupine. And he smells, whispered the tiniest ladybug you've
Speaker 1: ever seen. He what, asked Levi. He smells, repeated the
Speaker 1: ladybug in the same tiny voice. He what, asked Ivy Again.
Speaker 1: He's stinks, shouted the ladybug. Sorry, we've got it, answered Levi.
Speaker 1: So what are we supposed to do about this troll?
Speaker 1: I saw something special, and both of you when I
Speaker 1: spotted you on the other sid side of those giant
Speaker 1: evergreen trees, said Charlie. You seem brave, smart and adventurous.
Speaker 1: That's just what we need to help us drive away
Speaker 1: the troll. That and you were both a little taller
Speaker 1: than him, so I think that should help.
Speaker 2: Levi and Ivy felt really bad for all the animals
Speaker 2: and the enchanted forests. They looked so sad to have
Speaker 2: a place they loved and called home taken over by
Speaker 2: someone who didn't care about it or them at all.
Speaker 2: We're really sorry, began Ivy. But we've never had to
Speaker 2: deal with a troll problem before, so we don't quite
Speaker 2: know what to do. The closest thing that I've had
Speaker 2: to deal with was a new girl at school who
Speaker 2: was being a bit mean to me because she wanted
Speaker 2: to hang out with my friends. Well, I would find
Speaker 2: out by talking with her that she was just jealous
Speaker 2: of me. That's why she was acting out. Hmm, said Charlie.
Speaker 2: Did you ever get her to be nice to you? Yes,
Speaker 2: answered Ivy with smile. I remember I invited her. I
Speaker 2: remember I invited her to sit with all of us
Speaker 2: at lunch. We talked and learned we had a lot
Speaker 2: in common. She realized it was better to be friends
Speaker 2: with me and all my friends rather than to be
Speaker 2: rude to me and push me out of the group.
Speaker 2: Now we're all friends and everyone's happy. Wait a minute,
Speaker 2: said Levi. Do you think that would work with the troll?
Speaker 2: Do you think we could change the way he acts
Speaker 2: by treating the situation with kindness? Wow, that sounds like
Speaker 2: a great idea. It's like mom and Dad always say,
Speaker 2: kindness and compassion are always a good place to start,
Speaker 2: said Ivy. That sounds like a great plan, replied Charlie,
Speaker 2: looking hopeful. So what do you say? Will you help us?
Speaker 1: Of course, exclaimed Levi and Ivy. Together, then they sat
Speaker 1: down with Charlie and a few other animals and came
Speaker 1: up with a plan to share kindness and compassion with
Speaker 1: the troll and see if that would help. I think
Speaker 1: we should start by involving all the animals in the
Speaker 1: forest in our plan, said Ivy. I agree, replied Levi.
Speaker 1: The more friends that we want to help, the more
Speaker 1: kindness we can spread, and the faster we can get
Speaker 1: this problem taken care of. Charlie and the rest of
Speaker 1: the forest animals then told Levi and Ivy something kind
Speaker 1: they could do each day. Ivy wrote down their suggestions
Speaker 1: in a little notebook she had carried with her in
Speaker 1: her backpack. Once the list was done, she read it
Speaker 1: out loud.
Speaker 2: Kindness Checklist, Share with everyone, respect everyone's space, keep your
Speaker 2: voice down when others are trying to sleep, keep things
Speaker 2: neat and tidy. Say hello to others when you see them.
Speaker 2: Include everyone in your games and activities. Take up trash
Speaker 2: that you see. Help others that may be lost. Share
Speaker 2: a joke with a friend if they look sad. Start
Speaker 2: each day with a kind thought. Do one good deed
Speaker 2: each day. Treat others how you would like to be treated. Wow,
Speaker 2: exclaimed Ivy. These are all great ideas, but that's all
Speaker 2: they'll be until we go out there and start doing them,
Speaker 2: said Levi with great excitement. Who's ready to go out
Speaker 2: there and spread some kindness with me? We are, replied
Speaker 2: the forest animals in a thunderous chorus. And that's exactly
Speaker 2: what they did, Levi, Ivy, Charlie and all the other
Speaker 2: animals set off into the forest looking for ways to
Speaker 2: spread kindness and do good deeds. Surely, if we fill
Speaker 2: the forest with all this love understanding, in kindness. Some
Speaker 2: of it has to rub off on that mean old troll,
Speaker 2: thought Ivy as she walked with Levi and Charlie. I
Speaker 2: really believe that it will, said Charlie. After all, this
Speaker 2: is an enchanted force full of magic and wonder.
Speaker 1: As they walked along Ivy's I saw a scrap of
Speaker 1: paper on the ground and picked it up. She saw
Speaker 1: another and another and gathered those up too. Those are
Speaker 1: from the troll, explained Charlie. He litters everywhere. He doesn't
Speaker 1: care how it makes a forest look or how it
Speaker 1: makes us feel. We kind of stopped cleaning it up
Speaker 1: because it gets to be too much sometimes. Thank you
Speaker 1: for helping us keep this place clean. Charlie was so
Speaker 1: inspired that he ran around with a few other squirrel
Speaker 1: friends and picked up a few bits of trash. Then
Speaker 1: a few other animals joined in, and then a few more.
Speaker 1: Before they knew it, the area was clean, looking like
Speaker 1: it should. Ivy smiled at Charlie, you all did a
Speaker 1: great job. See what working together as a team can do.
Speaker 1: Levi continued on. He was enjoying the beautiful forest until
Speaker 1: he heard a tiny voice cry out help help. He
Speaker 1: heard the little voice traveled from the tall grass just
Speaker 1: off the side of the path where was walking. He
Speaker 1: bent down and searched through the grass until he saw
Speaker 1: a tiny bunny. Hi, little buddy, what's wrong, said Levi
Speaker 1: in a gentle voice. Don't be afraid. I'm here to
Speaker 1: help you. I'm lost. I heard you walking through the
Speaker 1: forest and thought you were that mean old troll. I
Speaker 1: ran off the trail away from my family to hide in.
Speaker 1: Now I'm lost, cried the little bunny. You're not lost
Speaker 1: when you have a friend with you, smiled Levi. Hop
Speaker 1: into my hand and we'll find your family together. That's
Speaker 1: so kind of you, said the little bunny, using his
Speaker 1: long floppy ears to wipe away his tears. Thank you.
Speaker 1: After walking just a few minutes on the trail, Levi
Speaker 1: I saw a few bunnies up ahead. They were frantically
Speaker 1: looking all around and calling out, Benny, Benny. Levi looked
Speaker 1: down at the little bunny in his hand and said,
Speaker 1: are you Benny? I am, said the bunny excitedly as
Speaker 1: he heard his mom's voice. That's my mom. He jumped
Speaker 1: out of Levi's hand and ran down the trail to
Speaker 1: meet up with his family. But he wasn't gone long.
Speaker 1: Before he turned around and ran back to Levi. Thank
Speaker 1: you for helping me, Benny said, it really makes me
Speaker 1: want to help others. My mom said, I can walk
Speaker 1: with you and spread some more kindness around if that's
Speaker 1: okay with you. Of course it is, said Levi to
Speaker 1: Benny as he jumped back into his hand.
Speaker 2: As Ivy, Levi, Charlie, and Benny made their way through
Speaker 2: the forest looking for the troll, they were all grated
Speaker 2: with smiles and open hearts as they showed love, kindness,
Speaker 2: and compassion to all. This is really amazing, said Charlie.
Speaker 2: I'm so excited to see all my forest friends so
Speaker 2: happy again. We've all been so scared of the troll
Speaker 2: lately that we've all kept to ourselves and spent more
Speaker 2: time hiding than being together. Levi and Ivy were happy
Speaker 2: they could help, but they knew their biggest hurdle was
Speaker 2: still waiting for them somewhere in the forest, but a
Speaker 2: smaller hurdle was right in front of them. Levi and
Speaker 2: Ivy continued along with Charlie and Benny. They got a
Speaker 2: little hungry. They saw an apple tree and ran over
Speaker 2: to it. This is the one the tree that the
Speaker 2: troll eats from all the time, began Charlie. It's usually
Speaker 2: filled with apples, but since he eats them all, hardly
Speaker 2: anyone in the forest has been able to have one
Speaker 2: in the longest time, and it's sad because they're the
Speaker 2: best apples you'll ever taste. Levi and Ivy loved apples
Speaker 2: and looked all over the tree to see if there
Speaker 2: was maybe one the troll had left behind, and sure enough,
Speaker 2: after searching and searching, Levi called out, I see one. Thankfully.
Speaker 2: It was quite big, which was great since it was
Speaker 2: the only apple on the tree, and Levi of course
Speaker 2: wanted to share it with Ivy, Charlie and Benny. But
Speaker 2: just as he was reaching for it, a rather large
Speaker 2: hawk flew down and grabbed it.
Speaker 1: Thanks for finding me a snack, the hawk laughed as
Speaker 1: he landed in a high branch of the tree nearby.
Speaker 1: It's one of these apples in a long time. Excuse me,
Speaker 1: I'd be called out, but my brother found that apple.
Speaker 1: It's not yours, but if you return it, we can
Speaker 1: all share it. The hawk just began to laugh and
Speaker 1: he started to peck at the apple. No way, he
Speaker 1: said between bites. Why would I share it? With you.
Speaker 1: That troll doesn't ever share anything with anyone, so I
Speaker 1: think that's the way to go. I have to watch
Speaker 1: out for myself. Levi didn't get upset at the hawk. Instead,
Speaker 1: he wanted to talk with them. I'm sorry the troll
Speaker 1: has taken your tasty apples and won't share, but that's
Speaker 1: no reason for you to do the same, Levi began.
Speaker 1: We're all hungry, not just you. Think of how you
Speaker 1: would feel if I was holding that apple and refused
Speaker 1: to share it with you. The hawk had never thought
Speaker 1: of it that way. He had gotten so used to
Speaker 1: seeing the troll not share or think of others that
Speaker 1: he started to act the same way. The hawk grabbed
Speaker 1: the apple with his claws and flew down to Levi.
Speaker 1: I'm very sorry, said the hawk as he placed the
Speaker 1: apple in Levi's hand. I know sharing is the right
Speaker 1: thing to do. I just got caught up thinking of myself.
Speaker 1: As the hawk turned to fly off, Levi stopped him.
Speaker 1: There's enough to share. Why don't you join us for
Speaker 1: a snack, he said.
Speaker 2: The hawk looks stunned. Why would you share with me
Speaker 2: after I was so rude to you, said the hawk.
Speaker 2: I'vey stepped in with an answer. It's because the more
Speaker 2: we work together, the better it is for everyone. She said.
Speaker 2: The way you feel now understood, accepted, and included feels good,
Speaker 2: doesn't it. The hawk nodded his head. Now that you've
Speaker 2: felt that way, you'll be more likely to want to
Speaker 2: share that wonderful feeling with others. Ivey said with a smile.
Speaker 2: Being kind is powerful. You now have the power to
Speaker 2: make others feel good, smile and know that someone is
Speaker 2: looking out for them. The hawk agreed and thanked them
Speaker 2: all for the tasty snack. Levi divided up the apple
Speaker 2: into five pieces and they all enjoyed it together. I'm Henry,
Speaker 2: by the way, said the hawk, and I'd be happy
Speaker 2: to help in any way I can. Levi explained that
Speaker 2: they were in search of the troll to try to
Speaker 2: show him like they had just shown Henry, that kindness
Speaker 2: and compassion is always a good place to start. As
Speaker 2: they all walked on looking for the troll, they met
Speaker 2: up with many other forest friends who wanted to help,
Speaker 2: and a few more forest friends that needed some convincing
Speaker 2: like Henry did. But in the end, all the animals
Speaker 2: decided it was best to form a supportive and strong
Speaker 2: community and stand up to the troll once and for all.
Speaker 1: This kindest thing sure is fun, said Henry the Hawk
Speaker 1: as he flew over Levi in Ivy's head as they
Speaker 1: made their way further into the enchanted forest. I forgot
Speaker 1: how nice it felt to be nice. That's really wonderful
Speaker 1: to hear, replied Ivy with a big smile, Hoping when
Speaker 1: we meet the troll he'll have the same reaction to
Speaker 1: our kindness that you did. Yeah, I'm hoping he was
Speaker 1: nice at one point and can remember how that felt,
Speaker 1: and that you can always go back to that way
Speaker 1: of thinking and acting, added Levi. It's never too late
Speaker 1: to be nice. As they continued along, Benny the Bunny
Speaker 1: hopped along beside them. He was little, but his heart
Speaker 1: was so big. He did all he could to be
Speaker 1: kind and friendly to every animal they saw. This is
Speaker 1: so much fun, said Benny. I can't wait to meet
Speaker 1: that troll. There's no way he'll be able to be
Speaker 1: mean once he meets us. That's right, giggled Charlie. Where
Speaker 1: the Kindness Crew and spreading kindness is what we do.
Speaker 1: I can't wait to see that troll's big frown turn
Speaker 1: into a big smile when we teach him that being
Speaker 1: nice is the way to be squawkeed Henry. Oh yeah,
Speaker 1: I bet he'll change his mean old troll ways and
Speaker 1: become the nicest, kindest, sweetest troll ever to live in
Speaker 1: this forest, said a voice from behind the group. They
Speaker 1: all thought it was someone else saying it, so they
Speaker 1: didn't think much of it until the voice kept going.
Speaker 1: Or you'll meet the troll and he'll be so mean
Speaker 1: and grumpy that no amount of kindness can change him.
Speaker 1: Or he'll send you all running back to your little, magical,
Speaker 1: enchanted houses. The voice continued, shaking under your little beds
Speaker 1: and hoping not mean old troll doesn't eat up all
Speaker 1: your precious little apples and drink up all your sparkling
Speaker 1: cool water again this week.
Speaker 2: That doesn't sound like something Levi Ivy, Charlie, Benny or
Speaker 2: Henry would say, And they would all soon realize that
Speaker 2: as one by one they turned around and found themselves
Speaker 2: face to face with the troll. He was small, but
Speaker 2: seemed larger than life, with an overwhelmingly negative energy. His
Speaker 2: hair was messy, and his clothes were stained with dirt
Speaker 2: and berry juice. With his eyebrows turned down and scowl
Speaker 2: on his face. He didn't need to speak another word.
Speaker 2: The message he was sending out was quite clear. Stay
Speaker 2: away from me. The troll didn't look interested in joining
Speaker 2: the Kindness crew, let alone listening to anything they had
Speaker 2: to say. Ivy, Levi, Charlie, Benny and Henry all quickly
Speaker 2: huddled together, just staring at the troll. None of them
Speaker 2: were sure what to do or what to say. What
Speaker 2: do we have here, the troll began as he slowly
Speaker 2: walked toward the nervous group, A bunch of do gooders
Speaker 2: trying to spread kindness through the forest. Well, isn't that
Speaker 2: just the sweetest thing I've ever heard?
Speaker 1: Levi and Ivy.
Speaker 2: Something tells me he doesn't really think it's the sweetest thing,
Speaker 2: whispered Benny. You're absolutely right, replied Levi, as Benny jumped
Speaker 2: up into his hands. I hope you haven't gotten your
Speaker 2: hopes up of finding me and turning me into some
Speaker 2: lovey dovey troll who would rather help others rather than
Speaker 2: help himself, snarled the troll. Because I'll save you the
Speaker 2: time and the effort. I'm not changing and you and
Speaker 2: all the other animals in this little forest. Better get
Speaker 2: used to it.
Speaker 1: Levi, Ivy, Charlie, Benny, and Henry didn't know what to do.
Speaker 1: Then all of a sudden, Ivy stepped forward. Okay, she said,
Speaker 1: trying to sound strong and unafraid. What did you say?
Speaker 1: Asked the troll, sounding confused. You're fine with what I
Speaker 1: just said. You don't want to try to change me? No,
Speaker 1: I'm not fine with what you said. And yes I
Speaker 1: do wish we could change your unkind ways, but if
Speaker 1: you don't want to change, then there's little we can do,
Speaker 1: said Ivy. That's not how these conversations usually go, said
Speaker 1: the troll, sounding mad. You're supposed to either run away,
Speaker 1: upset or try to take me on, But I'm so
Speaker 1: much stronger and I'll win and I'll get my way
Speaker 1: no matter what. Well not today, added Levi as he
Speaker 1: stood right next to Ivy. Today, we don't want to
Speaker 1: run or fight. We want to ask you one question.
Speaker 1: Why do you act this way? Because I'm a mean
Speaker 1: old troll, That's why, shouted the troll. Because that's the
Speaker 1: way everyone thinks I should act, So that's what I do.
Speaker 1: Do you think you should act like that? Ask Benny. Well, well, yeah,
Speaker 1: I I guess, so I don't know, said the troll,
Speaker 1: sounding a bit confused. Have you ever been nice? Asked Henry.
Speaker 1: I know how easy it is to get caught up
Speaker 1: only thinking of yourself. It becomes easy to only answer
Speaker 1: to yourself, and before you know it, you don't have
Speaker 1: to answer to anyone ever again, because when you act
Speaker 1: unkind and mean, no one wants to be around you.
Speaker 2: The troll just stood there. Is once angry and scary
Speaker 2: face now looked sad and lonely because what Henry said
Speaker 2: was exactly how he was feeling. No one has ever
Speaker 2: stopped long enough to talk to me like this, said
Speaker 2: the troll. But yes, I used to be nice, Levi, Ivy, Charlie, Benny,
Speaker 2: and Henry all stepped in a bit closer to listen
Speaker 2: to the troll, something they would find out no one
Speaker 2: had done in a very long time. First off, my
Speaker 2: name is bo. I tried to make friends when I
Speaker 2: first found this part of the enchanted forest, but every
Speaker 2: time I tried to talk with an animal, they would
Speaker 2: run away. Bobie gamb They said I was too big
Speaker 2: and I looked mean. They didn't even know me. How
Speaker 2: would they know if I was mean? Bowing on to
Speaker 2: tell the Kindness Crew that the animals he met never
Speaker 2: wanted to get to know him. They already had formed
Speaker 2: opinions about him, So after trying for a long time
Speaker 2: to make others like him, he decided to just be
Speaker 2: what they thought. He was, a mean old troll. That's
Speaker 2: when I started to eat all your food, drink all
Speaker 2: your water, and not care or focus on anyone but me,
Speaker 2: sighed Bau, looking sad. I didn't like the way it
Speaker 2: made me feel at first, but then it just became
Speaker 2: who I was, and I never looked back until today.
Speaker 2: Thank you so much for talking to me. Henry walked
Speaker 2: up to Bow and put a wing around his broad shoulders.
Speaker 1: I know just how you feel, Henry said. It's just
Speaker 1: the way I felt before I met this group. They
Speaker 1: made me feel understood, accepted and included and changed my
Speaker 1: whole world. They taught me that being kind is powerful,
Speaker 1: and that I and now you have the power to
Speaker 1: make others feel good, smile and know that someone is
Speaker 1: looking out for them. It's a pretty great feeling, said
Speaker 1: Beau in a low voice, as a smile returned to
Speaker 1: his face. I haven't smiled in a long time. It
Speaker 1: feels really good, and you have a great smile, said Ivy.
Speaker 1: I'm so happy that we could help you today by
Speaker 1: showing kindness and compassion. We've been working with the animals
Speaker 1: in the forest to show more kindness, so I think
Speaker 1: you should give them another chance. Bo looked nervous, not
Speaker 1: like the mean old troll everyone had made him out
Speaker 1: to be. He just needed a friend, and lucky for him,
Speaker 1: he found five that day. Aside from kindness and compassion,
Speaker 1: they taught Bo empathy, the ability to understand and share
Speaker 1: the feelings of another. He learned from them to be
Speaker 1: true to his heart, and his heart told him to
Speaker 1: be kind no matter what anyone else thought of him.
Speaker 1: The Kindness Crew walked Bo back into the enchanted forest
Speaker 1: and introduced him to all the animals there. They were
Speaker 1: cautious at first, but once they allowed themselves to get
Speaker 1: to know Bo, they realized they had a lot in common.
Speaker 1: Bo promised not to take all their food and water
Speaker 1: litter anymore or scare them, and in turn, the animals
Speaker 1: apologize for not getting to know the real Bow from
Speaker 1: the beginning. We'd be happy to have you here with us,
Speaker 1: said Charlie to Bo. Thank you so much, but I
Speaker 1: live in another part of the forest with my family,
Speaker 1: said Bo. I think it's important that I go back
Speaker 1: and share all that I learned from you with them,
Speaker 1: you know, spread kindness a little further through the forest.
Speaker 1: But you'll come back and visit, right, asked Henry, and
Speaker 1: Benny of course, replied Bo. I'd miss my new friends
Speaker 1: too much. Not too They all smiled and waved goodbye
Speaker 1: to Bow as he walked off. But before he left,
Speaker 1: he reached into the pocket of his vest he was
Speaker 1: wearing and grabbed something small, bouncy and bright orange. Here
Speaker 1: you go, Charlie, said Bo, tossing the object to him.
Speaker 1: I found this in the woods. When I come back,
Speaker 1: we can all play together. As it flew through the
Speaker 1: air leve, I called out my bouncy ball. He reached
Speaker 1: out and grabbed it. As Bo disappeared into the sunset,
Speaker 1: Charlie just smiled and said, I knew we'd find that
Speaker 1: bouncy ball. Eric, are you crying? That's so sweet.
Speaker 2: I mean, it's just such a great story. Bou needed
Speaker 2: a friend and found five of them through kindness, and
Speaker 2: Levi got his bouncy ball back. What could be better
Speaker 2: than that? But that's not where the story ends, Levi
Speaker 2: and Ivy. We can't thank you enough for helping us
Speaker 2: solve our troll problem, said Charlie, giving his new friends
Speaker 2: a big hug. We'd love to have you stay for dinner.
Speaker 2: That's when Levi and Ivy's eyes got wide. Oh no, dinner,
Speaker 2: they both exclaimed. We told Mom and Dad would be
Speaker 2: home for dinner, said Levi. We have to go, replied Ivy. Charlie,
Speaker 2: we loved meeting you, Benny, Henry, and all the other
Speaker 2: animals in the enchanted forest, said Levi. This will be
Speaker 2: a day we'll never forget. We hope you keep the
Speaker 2: Kindness Crew running until we come back, said Ivy with
Speaker 2: a smile. Of course, said Charlie, we can't wait to
Speaker 2: see you both again.
Speaker 1: As Levi and Ivy ran back through the giant evergreen
Speaker 1: trees to their bikes, they turned to each other with
Speaker 1: a look of disbelief. Did that really just happen, asked Ivy.
Speaker 1: It felt like a dream, replied Levi. But I think
Speaker 1: it's the best adventure we've ever had. I think we
Speaker 1: really made a difference. Kindness and compassion are always a
Speaker 1: good place to start, smiled Ivy. As they jumped on
Speaker 1: their bikes and headed home. Yes, they made it home
Speaker 1: for dinner. Yes, Levi got his bright orange bouncy ball back.
Speaker 1: Yes they had quite the story to tell their parents. Yes,
Speaker 1: they continued to spread kindness everywhere they went. And yes,
Speaker 1: they returned to visit with Charlie, Henry, Benny Bow and
Speaker 1: all the animals in the enchanted forest as often as
Speaker 1: they could.
Speaker 2: Even though our story is over, we hope you'll remember
Speaker 2: it always. How taking the time to listen, be kind,
Speaker 2: and show compassion can change someone's whole world, even yours.
Speaker 2: Until next time, remember kindness and compassion are always a
Speaker 2: good place to start.
Speaker 1: Thanks for joining us today. We hope you enjoyed the
Speaker 1: story and learned a little something too.
Speaker 2: And since we know everyone has their own story, we'd
Speaker 2: love to hear yours.
Speaker 1: If you have an idea for a Lively Lewis story,
Speaker 1: leave a comment on our Apple podcast review page with
Speaker 1: five stars, your idea and your little one's name. Then
Speaker 1: maybe I'm next to thank you.
Speaker 2: We'll be with you until our next story time.
Speaker 1: Hangout, gain friends and name.
Speaker 3: We can't wait to share another fun, Livery Lewis story
Speaker 3: with you.