[soft music]

(Describer) A woman sits beside a dog puppet.

(children) Hi! You're here, you made it! You're the first to arrive! I'm Dott, like the polka dot, and this is my dog, Dusty. Like the dust! Hey, Dott, what badge am I getting today? Today's Alphabadge is called:

(Describer) She bonks Dusty.

No, no, no! Uggh! "The i Closed Syllable Badge"! Uuuh! Rin, Tin, Tin! [sighs]

[bus horn toots]

The Alphabotteers are here! Let's go outside and say hello. Hey! Wait for me.

(Describer) As kids arrive outside, scenes show them playing and learning.

[intro music playing]

(all) ♪ We use our eyes ♪

♪ We use each ear ♪

♪ The letters show ♪

♪ The sounds we hear ♪

♪ Our Reading Buddies will help us grow ♪

♪ These badges show you all we know ♪

(Dott) ♪ You get a new one every time ♪

(Dusty) ♪ And with your help, we'll take that climb! ♪

♪ Let's Go! ♪

♪ On a letter adventure ♪

♪ Let's go! ♪

♪ Learning's better together! ♪

♪ We're the Alphabotteers! ♪

[applause, cheering]

(Describer) A title: 'The Reading League's Reading Buddies.'

All right, everybody, drop your backpacks off inside and meet back here for A.B.'s sound of the day. In fact, come back in six minutes, exactly, for A.B.'s... Uh, Dust? Hmm? That means you too. Uh, right. Ha! Back in a jiffy!

[panting]

And you! Come on.

(Describer) A fence pops up with a sign: 'Act One.' Then a curtain rises to reveal a garden with two gnomes.

[fanfare, drumroll]

[applause]

Hello, Reading Buddies! I'm Marty, the garden gnome, and this is Mary. Say hello, Mary. "Hello Mary"! We're here to give you

(everybody) "The Fancy Shmancy Word of the Day" We're gonna give you a fancy word and tell you what it means. Drumroll, please. Yaba yaba yaba! Today word is "nimble"! Let's say it together! "Nimble" on three-- One, two, three--

(all) "Nimble!" "Nimble" means: moving parts of your body quickly and easily. Hey! The Alphabotteers are coming back! See ya later, alligator! In a while, crocodile!

(Dott) Freeze!

(Describer) In a window, a megaphone pops out of Alphabott the robot.

[drum beating]

[Alphabott squealing]

You know what that means! It's time for Alphabott's sound of the day! "Iih, iih, iih."

(all) "Iih, iih, iih." That's a fun sound, A.B. "Iih," like in insect. Today, you're going to help Dusty earn "The i Closed Syllable Badge"!

(all) Ooh! Let's explore this sound a little more. A.B., please show us what our mouth does when we make the "iih" sound.

[beeping]

When we make the "iih" sound, your mouth is open a little bit and the front part of your tongue pushes up, but the tip of your tongue stays down. Your voice box is on. Repeat after me. "Iih, iih, iih."

(all) "Iih, iih, iih." A.B., let's show them when "i" is "iih" in words.

[beeping]

(Describer) Alphabott shows the word: 'sit,' spelled s-i-t.

[dinging]

"Sit." This word is a closed syllable-- there is just one vowel, and that vowel is closed in by a consonant. The vowel sound will be short, kind of like it's anxious that the consonant is closing it in. So "i" represents "iih." Let's read it together. Ss, iih, tt. Sit.

[Alphabott whimpers]

The way a word is spelled shows us...

(all) How to read the sounds! Thanks for giving us our sound, A.B.

[squealing]

Be sure to listen for that "iih" sound today, and you'll earn the "i Closed Syllable Badge." Little by little!

(all) Letter by letter! Off you go. I'll see you inside.

[soft music playing]

(Describer) As the kids head inside, Dusty sneaks away.

Ignore me, ignore me. Not so fast, Dust. Yip. Did you clean your doghouse this morning? I did! I did clean my doghouse this morning! I didn't. I didn't clean my doghouse this morning, and it's filled with insects. Will you help me clean up that junk?

(children) Yes! Hot Dog! Race ya there. Ready, set, go!

[panting]

(Describer) Dusty trips through a door and appears in a cartoon bedroom with a talking pile of stuff.

Hmm? Gaaah!

(singer) ♪ Dog, dog, doggy dog ♪

♪ Doggy dog dog doghouse ♪

[panting] You win again!

Okay, let's sort this pile of junk. Today, let's set aside things that have the "iih" sound somewhere in their name. Remember-- "iih" like insect.

(junk pile) Well, if it isn't Dusty! It is! It is Dusty. Dive! Dive! Dive! Yeeeah!

(Describer) He digs in the pile.

Ship! [horn blows]

Sh, iih, puh. Does ship have the "iih" sound?

(child) Yes! Ha! Yes! Bed ho!

[horn blows]

[panting]

[whistling] Pen!

Puh, eh, nn. Does pen have the "iih" sound?

(child) No, Dusty! No! I'm more of a pencil dog myself, make too many mistakes.

[grunting]

[snorts] Pig!

Puh, iih, guh. Does pig have the "iih" sound?

(child) Yes! Ha! Yes! My new roommate!

[laughs] [snorts]

[whistles] Inchworm.

Iih, nn, chworm. Does inchworm have the "iih" sound?

(child) Yes! Ha ha! Yes! Go measure the marigolds, inchworm.

(junk pile) Noooooo! See ya tomorrow, Dusty! See ya tomorrow, Junk! Hey! Thanks for helping me clean up that mess. Now let's get out of here and get some fresh air! Woof! Ha ha!

(Describer) Outside, Dusty finds Jampa sitting beside his camera and scrapbook.

[dog howls]

[upbeat banjo]

Hi, Jampa! Oh, hi, Dusty. Ooh, is that a new picture for your scrapbook? Yeah! What's that a picture of? A fish! A fish! Hey, do fish fly? No, Dusty. Oh right, right, right. How do they move? They swim! They swim? Oh, hey, can you show me how a fish moves in the water? Sure.

(Describer) He plugs his nose and swims his arms.

Fish, fish, fish. I'm doing the doggy paddle. Oh, I like that. My fins are tired! Thanks for sharing your scrapbook with me, Jampa. Bye, Dusty. Bye, Jampa!

[upbeat banjo music]

(Describer) He shuts his scrapbook, titled, 'Jampa's Adventures.' Inside, Alphabott is shaped like a music player.

[upbeat music]

Thanks for the music, A.B.

[squealing]

[whispering] Okay, we turn...

(Describer) Kitt looks at a notebook as she practices a spin, then slumps.

no. Whatcha doing, Kitt? Dancing. Ha! It looks more like you're sitting. Well, that's the problem! I have to create a solo, but I'm stuck. I've never done something like this alone. A solo! Hello! That is incredible! It does seems like a lot of responsibility, though, isn't it? Yeah. I love to perform, but someone else has always created the dance. Mm. It's okay to feel insecure when you are doing something independently. I'm nervous it wouldn't be good enough.

Oh, Kitt! [soft music]

If it comes from you, it'll be more than good enough. You can do this! With patience and time, you'll be fine. I believe in you!

(Describer) Dott leaves.

If only I believed in myself.

(Describer) Kitt sighs. In the yard, Ziggy paints on Alphabott's screen.

Hmm.

[grunting]

Hey, Alphabott's in art mode! Come on, let's see what they're up too. Woah!

(Describer) He trips, then hurries over.

Huh! Hmm.

[squealing]

Every day's a great day when you're drawing, right, Alphabott?

[buzzing]

Hi, A.B. Hi, Ziggy. What are you drawing today? I was stopping to smell the flowers, of course! Of course. When I saw this little insect! Hey, Ziggy, do you know what I see? What? The letter "i"! Like our Alphabadge? Woah! Incredible! I see it, too! Well, I don't! That's not a letter, it's an insect. Don't worry, Dust, we've got you covered. Will you help us show Dusty the "i" in this insect?

(children) Yeah! Great! Well, we'll need our magic paintbrush. Now, I know I put mine around here somewhere. Oh, ha ha! I remember now.

Boop. (children) Oooh!

(Describer) She pulls an invisible paint brush from Alphabott's hand.

First things first. We need this!

(Describer) Writing lines.

Now we need Ziggy's insect.

[insect whistling]

(Describer) She moves it to the writing lines.

(Ziggy) I, insect, "iih"! Let's start on the dotted line. Draw a short line down, lift, and add a dot to the top. Done! The letter "i."

(Ziggy) I, insect, "iih"! I saw it! You can see so much in art-- Woah! I have to rinse out my brushes. See ya later, painter! I really think I'm gonna get that "i Closed Syllable Badge"! I imagine you will, Dust, with your help, of course. A.B., switch into learning mode, please.

[buzzing]

(Describer) Alphabott rocks back and forth. She pulls in her arms, and her head spins above her robot body.

[upbeat music, whirring]

[children cheering]

Want to go inside and play with this "iih" sound a bit more?

(all) Okay! All right, see you in the reading room!

[pleasant music]

(Describer) They head inside as Alphabott's screen counts down from six, and a title appears: 'alpha shorts.' A lowercase letter i floats in, then turns into an insect.

[numbers beeping]

(Dott) I, insect, "iih." I, insect, "iih." I, insect, "iih."

(Describer) It flies away! Then, a gameshow title spins over a box: 'Where Is It?'

[game-show theme playing]

[children cheering]

(Describer) Host Dott wears glasses and holds a microphone, and Dusty wears a name tag.

Welcome back to...

(all) "Where Is It?" The game show where you have to listen for a sound in a word. I'm your host, Dott. You all know our champion, Dusty. Hi, Inri! I'm on TV! Today, you're listening for the "iih" sound. It's up to you to tell us where the sound is in each word. Here we go. The first word is: "inch."

(Describer) Three squares appear.

Inch. Iih, nn, ch. Where is "iih" in "iih, nn, ch"?

(children) The first sound! The first sound, Dott! A.B. says...

[buzzing, whirring]

(Describer) She shows the first square.

Yes! The next word is: "shin." Shin. Sh, iih, nn. Where is "iih" in "sh, iih, nn"?

(child) The middle sound! Is it the middle sound, Dott?

[whirring, beeping, dinging]

(Dott) Oh, yeah! Okay, last round. The word is: "icky."

[children laugh]

Icky. Iih, kk, eee. Where is "iih" in "iih, kk, eee"?

(child) The first sound! The first sound! A.B. says--

[beeping]

(Dott) Oh, yeah! And that sound means you win!

[upbeat music]

You've won a crib full of figs! Join us next time when we'll be listening for a whole new sound!

[music concludes]

(Describer) Outside, Dusty wears headphones and a sweatband.

Get ready to "Squat with Dott!"

[pop song begins]

(Describer) She warms up with Kitt and Cosmo.

We're all getting our steps in. Hey, do you want to stand up and move with us? Yeah, come on! You got this! Great! Be sure to listen for that "iih" sound while you exercise. What's up first, Dott? Our first move is called "The Itch."

(Describer) They scratch their shoulders.

Haha! Here, we, go. The Itch! The Itch. The Itch... and stop! How about this, Dott? It's called...

(Describer) She taps one heel to the ground, then the other.

"the Dig." Ho! I love it! Let's all do it with Kitt. Here, we go-- the Dig! The Dig! The Dig... and stop! My turn! It's called "the Hip Dip."

(Describer) He shakes his hips as he points to one foot, then the other.

Wowee. Can you do the Hip Dip with Cos? Here we go-- The Hip Dip! The Hip Dip! The Hip Dip... and stop! Great workout, folks! Inventive, really!

[laughs]

(Describer) In a bubble bath, Dusty holds a scrub brush.

[soft music]

Hm, woof. That workout made me sweat. Woah! Look at all of these bubbles. Let's get popping! Ha ha!

[bubbles pop]

(Describer) Two bubbles appear, then become one.

(Dott) Inn, to. Into.

(Describer) Now, bubbles with letters:

(Dusty) Ha! Woah! Tiny bubbles! Ff, iih, nn. Fin! Ha! Wuh, iih, ssh. Wish! Gotcha! Ch, iih, puh. Chip! Woohoo!

[bubbles popping]

Hmm. Dott, I'm all done! I'll unplug the drain. Huh! Weeeee!

(Describer) He spins out of sight! A fence pops up with a sign: 'Act Two.' In the garden:

[fanfare]

[drumroll]

Oh, hi, Reading Buddies! I'm trying to catch some of these nimble butterflies. Ha! Haha, Mary! I told ya! These butterflies are moving way too quickly! You'd have to be pretty "nimble" to catch them. They're flying circles around you! Haha. Hey! I'm nimble, too, ya know! Look how quick I am! Ha! Swing and a miss! Strike one. Nimble! Ha! Strike two. Haha! Mary be nimble, Mary be quick, Mary-- Catches a butterfly! Aaaahhhh! Ha! Hiya!

(Describer) She swings her net and catches Marty.

Oh, oh! Hey, Marty, I got one! Strike three, Mary.

You're out. [children laugh]

(both) "Nimble"! Moving parts of your body quickly and easily.

(child) Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

(Describer) The curtain closes as Jampa tosses daisies and claps.

Bravo, bravo.

(Describer) Inside, Dott dries Dusty off.

Dusty loves his baths. I'm like a fish! Maybe I'll grow some fins!

[Alphabott whirring, buzzing]

(Describer) Alphabott spins over.

[beeping]

Perfect timing, A.B.! It's time to transform some words with the sound of the day in them. Alphabott, would you please give us our letters?

[buzzing]

(Describer) Letters s, i, and p.

Okay, let's read what we have here. Ss, iih, puh. Sip. Time to use your dog ears. What sound is in the middle of "ss, iih, puh"? I hear it! A.B.'s sound of the day! "Iih" like insect. It's a closed syllable. Impressive, huh? Yes! I must be a good teacher. Now let's transform "ss, iih, puh" into "ss, iih, kk." What do we have to add to the end? Add the "kk"? Yes. In this word, we add the letters "ck" to make "ss, iih, kk." Sick! Okay, Dusty, transform "ss, iih, kk" into "ll, iih, kk." Ll, iih, kk. We have to change the first sound! It should be "ll," the letter "l." Very good. We get rid of our "s" and we add an "l." Now can you transform "ll, iih, kk" into "ll, ah, kk"? Sure, why not? Hm, let's see-- "ll, ah, kk." I hear it. Replace "iih" in the middle with an "ah." Yes, we add the letter "o." Ll, ah, kk. Lock! Now, that's another closed syllable. You transformed all of those words, Dusty! Thanks, A.B.!

[buzzing, whirring down]

(Describer) She closes her eyes.

Oh, Alphabott's battery must be drained. She's been helping us out so much today. Hey, Dusty, could you take her to Reggie for a quick charge? Sure. Hey, Do you want to come with us?

(children) Okay! Ha! Great! Come on, Alphabott! Let's go!

[thumping]

(Describer) Dusty brings Alphabott out to the yard.

[grunting] Hey, Reggie!

Would you mind giving A.B. a quick charge? Oh, of course, Dusty. Oh, hey, Reading Buddies! Come on in.

[rock music playing]

(Describer) He pushes a button on a remote, and lights flash on the camper. Bubbles float past, and the camper opens up. It has tools, a lab, and a Space Camp Fund chart.

[machine whirring]

(Describer) Reggie invites them in, and smoke drifts up from Alphabott.

Wowie zowie, her battery is drained! Hey, could you help charge Alphabott's battery?

(children) Yeah! We can do it! Okay, for every sound we hear in a word, we have to press a button. After a few rounds, Alphabott will be fully charged. Let's get to work!

[whirring]

(Alphabott) "Imp."

(Dusty) Imp. The word is "imp." How many sounds do you hear in: "iih, mm, puh"?

(children) Three!

(Dusty) Let's see. "Iih, mm, puh." Imp!

(Reggie) Wowwie zowwie!

(Alphabott) "Ill."

(Dusty) Ill. The word is "ill." How many sounds are in "iih, ll"?

(child) Three!

(Dusty) Three? Let's see! Iih, ll.

[negative whooshing] Oh! Let's try it again.

"Iih, ll."

(child) Two!

(Dusty) Iih, ll. Ill!

[positive whirring]

(Reggie) I believe in you! Keep going.

(Alphabott) "Spit."

(Dusty) Spit. The word is "spit." How many sounds are in "ss, pp, iih, tt"?

(children) Four!

(Dusty) Let's see. Ss, pp, iih, tt.

Spit! [positive whirring]

(Reggie) Almost there!

(Alphabott) "Miff."

(Dusty) Miff. The word is "miff." How many sounds do you hear in: "mm, iih, ff?"

(child) Three.

(Dusty) Three? Sounds good to me. Mm, iih, ff. Miff!

(Reggie) She's fully charged!

[children cheering]

Great work, Reading Buddies! That'll be ten cents, Dusty. Ten cents towards the "Get Reggie to Space Camp fund"! Thanks, Regg. Aw, Thanks, Dust.

[beeping]

(children) Awww!

(Describer) Now, a heart reveals letters i and s.

(Dott) Today's heart word is: "is," as in "Dusty is eating out of the trash."

(Dusty) "Is" rhymes with fizz! Haha!

(Dott) "Is" is a heart word, which means it has one or more sound spellings we may not know yet. "Is" has two sounds. "Iih, zz." The first sound, "iih," is spelled with the letter "i." The second sound, "zz," is spelled with the letter "s," which isn't making it's usual sound, "ss." This is the part we have to know by heart. Let's read it together. "Iih, zz."

(all) Is!

[upbeat music]

(Describer) Outside, Kitt spins as she practices. Cosmo holds her notebook.

[music continues]

What came after the turn? Uh, the kick! Oh, right! I made this up! You'd think I'd remember! Thanks, Cosmo! And thanks for the music, A.B.

[buzzing]

Hey, how's it going? Better now! Dott, you are going to flip when you see Kitt's newest step! It's so innovative! So inspirational! So incredible! Well, A.B. knows some great tunes, and Cosmo definitely helped me. I didn't help you with the steps. I'm just here for moral support,

and perfect penmanship. [buzzing]

It was hard to keep track of all the moves, so Cosmo's helping me by writing them down. Well, could I see your latest move? Yeah, show 'em the back walkover! Oh! Watch out! All right!

(Describer) Kitt arches back and lands on her feet.

Oh ho! Amazing! Oh, my gosh! I used to have to have my mom hold my legs, but with practice, I got the hang of it. Just like making up this dance. It was scary at first, but now look at you! "With patience and time, you'll be fine." Anything else we can do to help? Um, no, thank you. I think I got it from here! Okay, can I see one more move, though? Oh, of course. Okay!

(Describer) She moves her fists in a circle. Later:

Oh, ho ho! And you, Dusty, I award you with your new Alphabadge! "The i Closed Syllable Badge." Wear it with pride.

[fanfare, applause]

Hey, everyone, we did it! Ha ha! Little by little!

(all) Letter by letter!

[bus horn toots]

Time to go home! Give your uniforms to A.B. I'll see you tomorrow.

[closing theme plays]

(Describer) Dott says goodbye to each Alphabotteer as they leave.

(all) ♪ Reading Buddies ♪

♪ You did great work today ♪

♪ Reading Buddies ♪

♪ I really wish you could stay ♪

♪ We'll see you soon from this same spot ♪

♪ With Dusty and Dott ♪

♪ And Alphabott ♪

♪ With your Reading Buddies ♪

♪ You'll never read alone! ♪

(all) Bye! Bye bye! Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

(Describer) Credits roll as Alphabott and Dusty pop up behind the fence. Produced, Created, Written, and Performed by Andrea Dotto and Brendan Malafronte.

[theme music]

♪

(Describer) More credits roll. Copyright 2023 The Reading League - All Rights Reserved.

(Describer) A trademarked logo appears with a robot: The Reading League's Reading Buddies. Accessibility provided by the US Department of Education.