Surprising facts about how oysters build underwater cities, clean our water and help protect our shoreline!

You can find an illustrated version of this story on the Sparks Creative Stories YouTube channel.

Inspired by the work of marine scientist Olivia Blondheim of the University of South Florida College of Marine Science and creative summer campers at DeSoto Park Recreation Center in Tampa FL.

written and produced by Sheila Cowley

performed by Vickie Daignault and Fanni Green

with many thanks to Tampa Parks and Recreation

made possible thanks to the City of Tampa Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs

Feature image by Jalen

#steameducation

#scienceisreal

#marinescience

Astonishing, amazing algae! From microscopic plankton to 200' long seaweed, algae created oxygen on Earth and terraformed our planet by evolving into plants and trees. Everybody eats algae – or eats someone who does. . .

A fun story of surprising algae facts and uses, from algae airplane fuel and sneakers to camouflaging tree sloths and keeping baby otters from drifting out to sea. Algae are vital and amazing – and can help fix the climate crisis!

You can find an illustrated version of this story with amazing visuals on the Sparks Creative Stories YouTube channel!

Many thanks to the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, the USF Optical Oceanography Lab, The Oceanography Camp Especially For Girls and Creative Clay St. Pete

Feature image – Clown of Essential Forest in Seas by Ashton T.

#steameducation

#marineeducation

#scienceisamazing

A girl who's struggling to learn the alphabet visits Paige the Literacy Bus and overcomes her fears as she explores words and letters through play. A celebration of Paige the Literacy Bus, the creative early learning project of Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa Bay and the amazing teacher Tara Tallon-Stone.

A celebration of reading, the alphabet and public education – with creative ideas for struggling readers and for kids of all abilities. A story with hope for everyone learning to read, and so many thanks to caring teachers.

You can find an illustrated version of this story on the Sparks Creative Stories YouTube channel, with wonderful photos of Paige the Literacy Bus!

a Sparks Creative Stories project

written and produced by Sheila Cowley

performed by Beth Gelman, Bob Devin Jones, Phyllis McEwen and JL Rey

directed by David Warner

inspired by Tara Tallon-Stone and Paige the Literacy Bus

on Instagram @HCPSPaigetheLiteracyBus

#earlyliteracy

#publiceducation

#learningtoread

Balls bounce, so why not me? A short celebration of resilience, trying again and not giving up – an empowering reminder for kids trying something new, for when things don't go your way, and for all ages and abilities.

For everyone struggling with these troubled times, and life's daily ups and downs.

You can find an illustrated version of this story with beautiful paintings by artists with physical and developmental disabilities at Creative Clay St Pete – and this story in Spanish and in ASL! – on the Sparks Creative Stories YouTube channel.

Feature image – Untitled, by Stacey B. of Creative Clay

#don'tgiveup

#keeptrying

#resilience

Are you picturing a chicken in a car? A frog in a firetruck? The vivid voices of film and TV actors Eugenie Bondurant and Mary Rachel Quinn welcome you onto a train with a triceratops, as you wonder if an octopus can use a scooter.

Wordplay and a vivid soundscape that invite you to imagine yourself paddling with a kangaroo in a canoe, and floating in a balloon with a baboon.

Created by request for Jonas, who loves animals, and vehicles! For fans of pirate ships and spaceships, rockets and recycling trucks – and everyone imagining adventures with your favorite stuffies.

written and produced by Sheila Cowley

performed by Eugenie Bondurant and Mary Rachel Quinn

directed by Jim Rayfield

chickens by Eugenie Bondurant, Vickie Daignault, Fanni Green, Jan Neuberger, Mary Rachel Quinn and Mimi Rice from Chickens to the Rescue!

vocal sound effects, baboons and piracy by Bass, Matt Cowley and Dave Waterman of Offramp Improv Absurdities

#wordplay

#audiobooksforkids

#animalstoriesforkids

A naptime story for when you're not tired (yet)! Burn off your energy and use your imagination in an immersive soundscape created by the actors' voices – with whale lasers, dolphin rockets and your own homemade flying machine.

Then relax knowing the universe is safe, thanks to you.

written and produced by Sheila Cowley

performed by Leah LoSchiavo Doan

all sound effects created by the voices of Bass, Matt Cowley and Dave Waterman of Offramp Improv Absurdities

Feature image – Mailbox by Ana Maria Vasquez

#i'mnottired

#naptime

#voiceacting

A girl who's always ready for emergencies that never come faces a hurricane – and winds up helping her little brother feel safe as they evacuate (with his annoying pink bear Useless Joe), and when their home is damaged.

You can use this story to talk with your children about their fears of big emergencies. With heart and humor, kids can experience her family's real-life experience of having an emergency plan and a Save The Day Kit (Go Bag), evacuating to a shelter and camping out with other families in an elementary school classroom during the storm – then coming home to cope with their damaged home and a week without electricity where they visit the library and a museum.

Throughout it all, she takes action and keeps her little brother feeling safe as her family, friends and neighbors all take action and work together before, during and after the storm – in this celebration of community and kindness.

Inspired by kind people working hard to help after two catastrophic 2024 hurricanes in Tampa Bay.

You can find an illustrated version of this story on the Sparks Creative Stories YouTube channel – and this story in Spanish!

written and produced by Sheila Cowley

performed by Vickie Daignault and Jim Sorenson

directed by James Rayfield

Feature image by Kirk Ke Wang from his "Foul Play" series of doodles based on hurricane forecast maps – kirkkewang.com

with many thanks to

The City of St Petersburg FL

The City of Tampa FL

Creative Clay St Pete

Daystar Life Center

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art

Kirk Ke Wang

Margo Hammond

Reach St Pete

St Pete Free Clinic

Tampa Parks and Recreation

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida

You can find this audio story and illustrated video in Spanish on our Sparks Creative Stories YouTube channel – ¡Un Día de Desastre y Fatalidad! Cómo Sentirse Seguro Cuando Da Miedo.

#kidsandstorms

#resilience

#kidpower

When you're feeling bad, call Chickens to the Rescue! A fun rhyming story to cheer you up when you're feeling sad, mad, bad or blue :)

A cheery gift to everyone who needs a lift – and a showcase of fabulous voice acting! With expressive, emotional, hilarious chickens driving a firetruck and ambulance, and imaginative vocal sound effects created by amazing stage and screen actors.

You can find an illustrated version of this story on the Sparks Creative Stories YouTube channel – with photos of the real Dottie, Pilot, Cocoa, Marshmellow, Gloria and Phyllis, and drawings by cool kids of chickens driving firetrucks.

written by Sheila Cowley

performed by Eugenie Bondurant, Vickie Daignault, Fanni Green, Jan Neuberger, Mary Rachel Quinn and Mimi Rice

directed by James Rayfield

inspired by Cynthia and Wayne, who keep chickens more for jolly company than eggs – and the real Dottie, Pilot, Cocoa, Marshmellow, Gloria and Phyllis

Featured artwork by Teddy

#rhymingstory

#feelbetterstory

#feelhappier