Welcome to Litera City! Each episode follows a simple structure:Storytime: Mayor Bogart barges into the studio fuming—he’s discovered a new library display titled “Writers Who Changed the World” and can’t understand how books could compete with statues or speeches. Oz is already there, reading from Maya Angelou, and explains that March is Women’s History Month, a time to honour the achievements of women whose words have shaped history. Bogart scoffs at the idea until Oz introduces three key ideas: influence (the power to affect how people think or act), insight (deep understanding), and contribution (something important given to the world). She tells him how Maya Angelou’s poetry gave people courage and changed minds by offering insight into experiences others hadn’t understood. Bogart gradually realises that writers influence the world not by shouting but by sharing ideas that resonate across generations. In a rare moment of reflection, he decides Litera City will officially recognise Women’s History Month and expand the library display. The episode ends with the notion that real influence comes from thoughtful contributions—and that stories can change the world.Lightbulb Words: Listen out for three key vocabulary words sprinkled through the story. We’ll spotlight each one and explain its meaning:Influence (n.): The power to affect how people think or act.Insight (n.): A deep understanding of something.Contribution (n.): Something important someone gives to the world.Song Spotlight: At the end, enjoy our song “Voices on the Page” which weaves the words influence, insight and contribution into a memorable melody about writing, history and courage. You can click the link in the description to hear the full version later!More Fun at HomeExplore the illustrated Lightbulb Word cards for this episode and practise using the words in sentences. Try these review questions together:What is Women’s History Month, and why do we celebrate it?How did Maya Angelou’s writing influence people around the world?What do the words influence, insight and contribution mean, and why are they important?Check the podcast description to hear the full song and find links to the Lightbulb Word cards. Enjoy celebrating Women’s History Month with Mayor Bogart and Oz by learning how words, stories and women writers have changed the world!

Armie & Plato: Tastes of Her HistoryWelcome to Litera City! Each episode follows a simple structure:Storytime: Armie bursts into the studio excited about Women’s History Month and announces that he wants to explore the women who changed the world of food. Plato appears with a beautifully laid table, ready for more than just a snack. Armie explains that this is a time to recognise women whose work shaped how we cook, eat and gather. Together, they explore how women like Mrs. Beeton and Julia Child made hearty meals accessible, how slow‑cooking techniques create rich, savoury flavours passed down through generations, and how special dishes help us celebrate life’s important moments. They imagine tasting historic dishes, from Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon to the meals prepared by women preserving their cultural heritage through migration and by pioneering chefs opening their own restaurants. In the end, they agree that food is more than fuel—it’s memory, heritage and celebration. Armie announces that Litera City will honour the women who made meals hearty, flavours savoury and celebrations meaningful. Plato raises his glass: “To those who fed the world.”Lightbulb Words: Listen out for three key vocabulary words sprinkled through the story. We’ll spotlight each one and explain its meaning:Hearty (adj.): Filling and satisfying, especially warm comfort food.Savoury (adj.): Having a pleasant taste or smell that is not sweet—think salty, spicy, rich flavours.Celebrate (v.): To mark an important occasion with joy, food or gathering.Song Spotlight: At the end, enjoy our song “Sisters of the Kitchen" which weaves the words hearty, savoury and celebrate into a delightful tune about family recipes and the women who shaped our culinary traditions. You can click the link in the description to hear the full version later!More Fun at HomeExplore the illustrated Lightbulb Word cards for this episode and practise using the words in sentences. Try these review questions together:What is Women’s History Month and why does it matter?What does it mean for a meal to be hearty and how did women help make hearty meals accessible to more people?What is savoury food and why do slow‑cooking techniques make it taste so good?How do special meals help us celebrate important occasions?Check the podcast description to hear the full song and find links to the Lightbulb Word cards. Celebrate Women’s History Month with Armie and Plato by learning how hearty dishes, savoury flavours and joyous gatherings honour the women who shaped our culinary heritage!

Armie & Brick Celebrate Women’s History Month – Women Who Changed SportWelcome to Litera City! Each episode follows a simple structure:Storytime: Armie is excited about Women’s History Month and invites Brick to explore how women athletes changed the world of sport. Brick initially thinks it’s just about winning medals, but soon discovers the challenges women faced—from being excluded from early Olympic events to fighting for equal pay and recognition today. Through examples like Naomi Osaka, they talk about breaking down barriers, showing resilience when things are tough, and striving for equality. Together they realise that sport isn’t just about scoring points—it’s about changing minds and making the game fair for everyone.Lightbulb Words: Listen out for three key vocabulary words sprinkled through the story. We’ll spotlight each one and explain its meaning:Barrier (n.): Something that blocks progress or makes something difficult—like old rules that once kept women out of sports or a moat that stops you entering a castleResilience (n.): The ability to keep going even when things are hard—the determination athletes show when they face setbacks.Equality (n.): Treating people fairly and giving them the same opportunities—making sure everyone gets a fair chance to play and be recognised.Song Spotlight: At the end, enjoy our song “Game Changers” which weaves the words barrier, resilience and equality into a catchy tune about women who used sport to change the world. You can click the link in the description here to hear the full version later!More Fun at HomeExplore the illustrated Lightbulb Word cards for this episode and practise using the words in sentences. Try these review questions together:What barriers did early female athletes face, and how did they overcome them?What does resilience mean, and how do athletes show resilience in their careers?Why is equality important in sports, and what does it look like when everyone has the same opportunities?Check the podcast description to hear the full song and find links to the Lightbulb Word cards. Celebrate Women’s History Month with Armie and Brick by learning how women athletes broke barriers, showed resilience and championed equality!

Welcome to Litera City! Each episode follows a simple structure:Storytime: Mayor Bogart bursts into the studio furious—his beloved Grand Bridge wobbles when he walks across it. He assumes strength and shouting are all it takes to build things and summons Brick for help. Brick explains that this is why we celebrate National Engineering Week: engineers solve problems by planning, testing and working as a team. He compares engineering to sports—you don’t win by guessing; you practise, adjust and try again. Bogart scoffs at the idea of designs and prototypes, but Brick patiently introduces him to the steps engineers follow. They start with a design (a detailed plan of how things will work), build and test prototypes, learn from mistakes, and keep trying until they find a solution that works. Bogart realises that engineering is about thinking and teamwork, not just shouting. He agrees to honour National Engineering Week in Litera City, but with a twist: he declares himself “Chief Tester,” judging every solution while wearing a hard hat and cape. The audience learns how real engineering works—even if Bogart still wants the spotlight.Lightbulb Words: Listen out for three key vocabulary words sprinkled through the story. We’ll spotlight each one and explain its meaning:

Engineer (n.): Someone who solves problems by designing and building things—bridges, buildings, machines, even video games.

Design (n.): Planning how something will work before making it, like a blueprint or game plan.

Solution (n.): A way to fix a problem after thinking carefully and trying different ideas.

Song Spotlight: At the end, enjoy our song “Design the Future” which weaves the words engineer, design and solution into a fun, catchy tune about planning, testing and creating. You can click the link in the description to hear the full version here!

Welcome to Litera City! Each episode follows a simple structure:Storytime: Mayor Bogart marches into the studio furious—Litera City has come to a standstill! The trains are packed, the roads jammed, and the shops are closed. He thinks productivity is plummeting, but Stax explains that people are travelling for the largest annual human migration: Chinese New Year. Families journey long distances to share a Reunion Dinner on New Year’s Eve. Bogart is skeptical but intrigued as Stax introduces the concept of reunion—coming together after time apart. They talk about the Chinese zodiac, a cycle of twelve animals that name each year. This year’s animal is the Fire Horse, symbolising energy and independence—much to Bogart’s delight. Stax also explains why red lanterns, envelopes and banners are everywhere: red represents happiness and luck and is believed to bring good fortune. Eventually, Bogart agrees to honour Chinese New Year. He decrees that everyone may travel home—but in typical Bogart fashion, he adds a twist: each citizen must return with a gift for him “to balance the luck.”Lightbulb Words: Listen out for three key vocabulary words sprinkled through the story. We’ll spotlight each one and explain its meaning.Reunion (n.): When people come together again after being apart—like families travelling home for a special dinner.Zodiac (n.): A cycle of twelve animals used to name years in the Chinese calendar, such as the Dragon, Rabbit or Horse.Luck (n.): The hope or belief that good things will happen.Song Spotlight: At the end, enjoy our song “Zodiac Parade” which weaves the words reunion, zodiac and luck into a festive tune about travelling home, meeting the Fire Horse and sharing good wishes. You can click the link in the description to hear the full version here More Fun at HomeExplore the illustrated Lightbulb Word cards for this episode and practise using the words in sentences. Try these review questions together:Why do so many people travel during Chinese New Year, and what is the Reunion Dinner?What is the Chinese zodiac, and which animal represents this year?How do people use red decorations to welcome luck, and what does luck mean to you?Check the podcast description to hear the full song and find links to the Lightbulb Word cards. Celebrate Chinese New Year with Mayor Bogart and Stax by learning about reunions, zodiac animals and welcoming luck!

Mayor Bogart Flips Out on Pancake DayWelcome to Litera City! Each episode follows a simple structure:Storytime: Mayor Bogart’s ordinary breakfast is interrupted when a pancake comes sailing through his window and lands on his face. He’s outraged—until he takes a bite and discovers it’s delicious. Eager for more, he summons Plato the platypus to explain how such a flying delicacy is made. Plato reveals that it’s Pancake Day (also known as Shrove Tuesday) and teaches the mayor the basics of pancake science: mixing flour, eggs and milk to make batter, heating it so bubbles form, and flipping with careful balance. They discuss the origins of Pancake Day, from Christian traditions of using up rich ingredients before Lent to global variations like French crêpes and Russian blinis. Bogart suggests a citywide pancake feast—mainly so he can eat them all—and dreams up extravagant toppings and pancake art. Plato gently reminds him that the day is about sharing and being resourceful: using what you have and making sure everyone gets a fair taste. When Bogart finally overindulges, he realises that flipping and sharing pancakes is more rewarding than hoarding them all for himself.

|Lightbulb Words: Listen out for three key vocabulary words sprinkled through the story. We’ll spotlight each one and explain its meaning:

Balance (n.): Staying steady and in control by paying attention, not rushing, and keeping everything from toppling over—like flipping a pancake without dropping it.

Share (v.): To have or use something with other people, dividing it so everyone gets a part.

Resourceful (adj.): Able to solve problems in clever, unexpected ways, using what you’ve got—like squeezing water from a sponge rather than wasting it.

Song Spotlight: At the end, enjoy our song “Flip it High” which weaves the words balance, share and resourceful into a catchy tune about Pancake Day, from mixing batter to flipping and topping pancakes. You can click the link here

!More Fun at Home

Explore the illustrated Lightbulb Word cards for this episode and practise using the words in sentences. Try these review questions together:What does balance mean, and how does it help when flipping pancakes?Why is sharing important during a pancake feast?What does it mean to be resourceful in the kitchen?What is Shrove Tuesday, and why do people make pancakes before Lent?Check the podcast description to hear the full song and to find links to the Lightbulb Word cards. Enjoy celebrating Pancake Day with Mayor Bogart and Plato by flipping, sharing and making the most of what you have!

Mayor Bogart Discovers National Storytelling Week

Welcome to Litera City!

Each episode follows a simple structure:

Storytime:

It’s the middle of the night, and Mayor Bogart’s dreams of an ocean of jam are interrupted when Yin bursts in wearing pyjamas. She needs a bedtime story because her brother Yang is practising the theremin by moonlight. Bogart grumbles that he doesn’t read stories—he’s a mayor!—but Yin reminds him it’s National Storytelling Week. To get her to stop dismantling his bedroom, he reluctantly agrees. He makes up a tale about jam and shopping carts, and without realising it his voice slows and repeats phrases. Yin points out that he’s telling an oral story just like people did before books existed. She introduces the words “imagination,” “structure” and “inspire,” explaining how our imaginations let us create pictures in our mind, how stories follow a beginning‑middle‑end structure, and how stories can inspire us to learn or try new things. Bogart brags that his brain is a storytelling machine and keeps going—until he falls fast asleep mid‑sentence. Yin tucks him in and heads off with a mischievous plan to raid his ice‑cream fridge.

Lightbulb Words:

Listen out for three key vocabulary words sprinkled through the story. We’ll spotlight each one and explain its meaning.

Inspire (v.): To make someone want to do something, like wanting to learn Mandarin after a trip to China. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_V8b-sh7I_4v5HzWA0ECg0JFNiCccUyp/view?usp=drive_link

Imagination (n.): The ability to create pictures or ideas in your mind—your brain’s own private movie theatre.

Structure (n.): The way something is organised, like the beginning, middle and end of a story.

Song Spotlight:

At the end, enjoy our song “Story Builders” which weaves the words inspire, imagination and structure into a catchy tune about bedtime stories and jam oceans. You can click the link in the description to hear the full version later!

More Fun at Home

Explore the illustrated Lightbulb Word cards for this episode and practise using the words in sentences. Use these review questions to chat together:

What does it mean to inspire someone, and how can stories do that?

How does your imagination help you create and enjoy stories?

What is a story’s structure, and why does it matter?

Check the podcast description to hear the full song here and find links to the Lightbulb Word cards. Celebrate National Storytelling Week with Mayor Bogart and Yin by discovering the magic of imagination and stories!