Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
Junkyard Tales Audio Advent Calendar Printable Coloring Page: Day 3 – Ben
After hearing Mitzie’s story, Ben has an idea about how to save the Junkyard — and the solution is right under their noses. There is something hanging in Mr. Flinch’s House of Chairs that is actually very valuable!Ben loves bells. What do you think his collection of bells looks like? Are they all shapes and sizes?
Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar – Day 3: "Rufus"
In this Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar Day 3 story,"Rufus," Martin and Sylvia wonder where will today’s Advent Card appear? Aren’t the children surprised at what they find, when they go next door to walk the neighbor’s dog Rufus!
Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar – Day 2: "Christmas Cards"
In this Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar story, "Christmas Cards," in their daily lesson, Martin and Sylvia experience the Advent magic of “watching and waiting.” They receive four gifts that set them up for a holiday activity!
Junkyard Tales Audio Advent Calendar Printable Coloring Page: Day 2 – Mitzie Niegel
Mitzie Niegel, the mysterious mouse who lives on the Far Side of the Junkyard, tells a tale about the Warden from her unique perspective. It seems that the tiny mouse knows the Warden and his family much better than any of the Junkyard animals could have imagined! Download the printable coloring page here!
Friday's Kind Words: Funny and Delightful Stories
The Junkyard Tales Audio Advent Calendar stories are funny and delightful, and they demonstrate courage, authenticity, compassion, empathy and most of all - service. ~Lizzy Spohr Russinko
Advent Projects: Martin & Sylvia's Audio Calendar – Day 1: "Waiting"
In this Martin & Sylvia's Audio Advent Calendar Day 1 story, "Waiting," Advent is coming and brother and sister are worried - where is their advent calendar?
The Junkyard Tales Audio Advent Calendar Printable Coloring Page: Day 1 – Sergeant
https://www.sparklestories.com/collection/martin-and-sylvia/
Sparkle Kitchen: Risgrøt
This week's recipe is risgrøt, a Norwegian rice porridge that is often served at breakfast on Christmas Eve. As with most traditional recipes, there are as many ways to make it as there are stars in the winter sky. On the first truly cold day of fall, I tested a few and discovered three things.
SparkleCast Episode 7 – Inspiring Service with Laura Chauvin of Her Best Foot Forward
In this episode, Laura, David, and Rebecca use the By Thistle By Thimble story “Purple” as the focus of a conversation about inspiring service in children and families. Laura tells the story of how Her Best Foot Forward was started and then talks about how service is central to her family’s life.
Storybox Playlist: Stories for Inspiring Service
We are busy – we are overwhelmed – emotions are running high and there is so much already scheduled. What is the best way to ground – to slow down – to enjoy the holiday season? Often, it is to shift our attention from ourselves and place it on others.
Sparkle Stories for Advent (including 2 Free Stories!)
We offer nearly 100 audio stories for Christmas and Advent!
Fridyay's Kind Words: Community Minded Stories
It is so nice to have wholesome, socially-progressive, community minded stories to share with our children (and enjoy ourselves). ~Adam Murray
NINE Sparkle Crafts and Recipes for Advent
The holidays are a great time for crafting, with so many gifts to give and decorations to be put up. It's also a great time for making yummy homemade treats. We've picked nine of our favorite holiday recipes and crafts to inspire you.
Sparkle Kitchen: Mac and Cheese
If there was a poster child for comfort food, it would be homemade macaroni and cheese. It's not fancy, but I think, for may of us, it harkens back to the same feelings Dante has in this story—comfort and safety and a loving parent taking care of us.
Tutorial: the Junkyard Tales PRINTABLE Advent Calendar
Look everyone! It's a PRINTABLE Advent Calendar!
Each of the 25 little doors hides a clue to the matching story in the Junkyard Tales Audio Advent Calendar - so you can listen and open a door each day from December 1st to the 25th!
Exploring the Dry Gables Series - "Something Greater Than Myself"
Nice of you to join us, Sparkle Grownups, for a Meet & Greet with Dry Gables’ very own town mayor, EB Herz.
The Junkyard Tales Audio Advent Calendar!
All about our collection for Advent: The Junkyard Tales Audio Advent Calendar!
Storybox Playlist: Stories of Advent
Here are some stories that both celebrate the Christmas season, and the beauty of the simple, the slow and the steady.
Sparkle Kitchen: Pebbles and Mushrooms
This week's recipe is my take on something I imagine one might see at a fairy feast. While mushrooms and thyme would, I believe, be at home on both fairy and human tables, I've subbed out gnocchi — a potato-based pasta — for the stones and pebbles the mythical folk prefer.
