Send us a textWelcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. After Tom’s bicycle accident, the young people of the Shaw household are so good and kind to each other that Grandma becomes worried that something bad is going to happen. But, things never run in a smooth course, and this chapter is full of scrapes and mistakes and hurt feelings. It’s only natural, after all. Can Tom, Fanny, Maud, and Polly ever be friends again? To find out, just sit back, relax, a...

Send us a textWelcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Polly is still visiting the Shaw family, and sometimes she feels homesick for her own family. You see, her own home is filled with love, and to her surprise, the Shaw home is not. Polly can’t understand why, but she sets to work to do the small and simple things that bring peace and affection to a household. Even incorrigible Tom is touched by her kindly ways! Now sit back, relax, and listen to this ...

Send us a textWelcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here is the first episode of Louisa May Alcott’s delightful book, An Old-Fashioned Girl. Here we meet Polly Milton as she leaves her home in the country to go visit Fanny Shaw, who lives in town and is already quite a young lady. Polly, who is nearly the same age as Fanny, still considers herself a young girl. She doesn’t have the fancy clothes and big city sensibilities Fanny does, but somehow her kind a...

Send us a textWelcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. When we last left Frank and Joe and their father, they had been tied up by the smugglers and were awaiting being forced into Li Chang’s boat, bound for China! Things look very grim for our heroes. How can they possibly escape and see the smugglers come to justice? Here is the thrilling conclusion of The Hardy Boys in The House on the Cliff.Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life.Listeni...

Send us a textWelcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Brave Frank and Joe Hardy start exploring the hidden cove under the cliff at Barmet Bay. Not only do they find a secret channel where boats can come in and out of the area unseen, but they find the smugglers’ lair, and a weak and frail prisoner who has been held captive until he will sign a certain document. Can the boys rescue this prisoner from the clutches of the smugglers?Now sit back, relax, and list...

Send us a textWelcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Where could Fenton Hardy, Frank and Joe’s father, have gone? He was last seen in the vicinity of the deserted old Polucca place. So Frank and Joe and several of their chums decide to go explore the whole house, just in case he may be there. What a surprise they have when they find the old house tidied up and seemingly inhabited by some renters. And not only that, but they find a clue that makes them suspe...

Send us a textWelcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. After rescuing the young man from the water after his almost fatal encounter in the bay, Frank and Joe Hardy are understandably concerned about him. Their father thinks the young man, who seems to be using an assumed name, may be in the secret service, trying to discover secrets about Ganny Snackley and his smuggler’s ring. But the Hardy boys aren’t so sure. They want to try to solve the mystery themselve...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Here is the second exciting volume of The Hardy Boys Mysteries. In The House on the Cliff, Frank and Joe Hardy stumble on a mystery as they and their friends Biff, Chet, and Jerry, are riding their motorcycles around Barmet Bay one Saturday in early June. When they decide to explore an old deserted house, none of the boys is frightened or concerned until a bloodcurdling scream emanates from the empty dwelling. Could th...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Poor Peter has been so lonely and disgruntled and, most of all, jealous this whole summer. Instead of having Heidi to himself up on the mountain pasture, she has been spending all her time with Clara. And even when she decides to come up to the high meadows with him, she will be bringing her friend! When Peter sees an opportunity to force Clara to go home immediately, he takes it. But the action brings unexpected conse...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. When I was a little girl, I remember begging and pleading with my parents to let my dear cousin, Susan, spend the night. Almost always my parents were happy to let her stay and we would stay up late and tell stories and talk about how we hoped our lives would go. Something similar happens to Heidi when Clara and Grandmama finally come to the mountain meadow to visit.Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Winter has come to the mountain once again. But instead of being snowed in on the mountain pasture and unable to go anywhere, Heidi and Grandfather have moved to the Hamlet. In the little town of Dörfli, Heidi goes to school, teaches the reluctant Peter how to read, and enjoys the snow-filled winter. Every day continues to bring something new and wonderful to her life. Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Who is Heidi waiting for? Goat Peter wants Heidi to come with him to the high pastures, but she is waiting for some special, long-awaited visitors. She is so happy when the doctor arrives to stay for a while. He is sad and despondent, but just being around Heidi helps him regain some joy in living. Heidi seems to have that effect on everyone! All too soon, the doctor’s visit must come to an end, but in the spring,...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. Finally back in her mountain home so dear, Heidi has to visit Grandmother, and go out to the pasture with the goats, and listen to the music of the wind in the fir trees. But most of all, she enjoys spending time with Grandfather, who has also been deeply affected by all that Heidi has learned in Frankfort. The lessons Heidi teaches him will change their lives for the better.Meanwhile, back in Frankfort, the Sesemann h...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker. The mystery of the Sesemann ghost has been solved, and without delay, in order to save her life, Heidi is allowed to go back up to her beloved mountain meadow with Grandfather and the goats, and Grandmother, and Goat Peter! When has a homecoming ever been so joyful, and the sounds of home so welcome? Rejoice with Heidi in her return to the place she has so longed to be!Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  After a wonderful, long visit, Grandmama Sesemann has to go back to her own house. Heidi and Clara miss her, but soon there is something to distract everyone from her departure. The Sesemann house is haunted! Every morning the front door is found to stand open, even though it has been double-locked every night! It takes Mr. Sesemann hurrying home from his business trip to solve the mystery. Now sit back, relax, and listen...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  When Mr. Sesemann returned from his trip to Paris, he discovered how much his little daughter, Clara, was devoted to her young companion. Heidi may have caused a bit of upheaval in the household, but she is full of kindness and consideration as well. And she found another loving grandma in Clara’s grandmama! What is more, Heidi learned from her that reading is a joy and delight. But oh, how much she still longs for her...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  Poor Miss Rottenmeier! She thought her idea of bringing a companion for Clara Sesemann would give her some relief from the hard work of caring for the girl. But now that Heidi has arrived, life is more surprising and disorganized that she ever would have believed. Heidi, on the other hand, is trying to find something in this new life that will bring her some happiness. She has already made a great friend and ally in...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  When the village schoolmaster sends word that he expects Meadow Nuncle to send Heidi down to school, Nuncle has other ideas. Even the pastor comes to reason with him, but Nuncle is obstinate. Heidi will stay as free and happy as the little birds and the goats. But then Aunt Dete comes back to the high meadow and takes Heidi away with her to live as the companion to Clara Sesemann in Frankfurt. Heidi doesn’t want to leave,...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  Let’s go with Heidi as she accompanies Goat Peter to the high mountain pastures with the herd of jumping, bleating, engaging animals. Heidi soon learns each goat’s name and little characteristics. She has never been so happy in her life, and when the sun begins to go down and colors the mountains in a rosy glow, Heidi feels that she is in the most beautiful spot in the world. All summer long she enjoys the mountains, and...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  Here are the first two chapters of the enchanting story of Heidi, the little Swiss girl who is taken to live with her grandfather in a tiny cottage in the Alps. In these chapters you will hear how Heidi is taken up to Meadow Nuncle’s house by her Auntie Dete—and left there with him! She meets Goat Peter, makes a bed of sweet-smelling hay, and becomes acquainted with the two goats that will soon become such a big part of...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  Now we are reaching the end of the tales of King Arthur and his Knights. But even though today’s selections end with the passing of King Arthur, you can find many more tales of chivalry and bravery and even other legends of King Arthur in the public library. Today we will hear about the beautiful and loving maiden of Astolat, and what she does for Sir Lancelot. Then, in the final tale, King Arthur is getting very old and...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  Finally, the time has arrived for the Seat Perilous to be filled! Sir Bors, who is a very valiant and virtuous knight, is granted a special vision in which he sees the knight who will fill the seat, although when Sir Bors sees him, he is still a tiny baby. King Arthur also has some wonderful adventures when he is taken to a hidden and dangerous castle. And do you remember King Pellinore? His youngest son, Perceval, has one...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  Lynette, a beautiful but very proud and haughty maiden, begs for King Arthur to send his very best knight to rescue her sister from the clutches of four evil knights.  She insists that Sir Lancelot be the one to help. King Arthur, however, has another idea as a different, but still fine and worthy knight, is available. Maybe enduring the mocking maiden is one of the things Sir Gareth needs to face as he goes on this...

Welcome to Stories Come to Life. I am your host, Kathryn Lopez Luker.  When another white stag appears, the court of King Arthur again sets off in pursuit of high adventure. This time, the quest comes to Sir Geraint, who defends the honor of the queen. Then we learn about Sir Lancelot of the Lake, who lived an idyllic childhood in Fairyland before becoming a Knight of the Round Table. Now sit back, relax, and listen to this story come to life. Listening to audiobooks really does count as...