[soft music playing]

(Describer) A woman sits beside a dog puppet.

I spy with my little eye something prickly. Um, a porcupine! No, we don't have any. In the reading room. Oh, oh! Cactus. Oh, you are good!

(children) Hi! Oh, 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...

No, no! Ooh! [children laugh]

(Describer) She bonks Dusty.

"The u Closed Syllable Badge." Ooh! Unbelievable! Ahh!

[bus horn toots]

The Alphabotteers are here! Let's go outside and say hello. Oh, I love when they do the song!

[theme song playing]

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

(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. Yes. Run! Run! Haha. Uh, Dust, that means you too. Guh! Uh, right. Woof, I feel like I'm running uphill.

[children laugh] 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]

[funky music]

[applause, cheering]

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

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

(both) "Cunning!" Cunning means: "to be tricky or sneaky to get what you want." 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.

[marching music]

[Alphabott squealing]

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

(all) "Uh, uh, uh!" That's a fun sound, A.B. "Uh," like in "up." Today, you're going to help Dusty earn "The u Closed Syllable Badge."

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

[buzzing]

When we make the "uh" sound, your mouth is open and your tongue is flat with the back part low in the mouth. Your voice box is on. Repeat after me. "Uh, uh, uh."

(all) "Uh, uh, uh." A.B., let's show them when the letter "u" is "uh" in words.

[squealing]

(Describer) Alphabott shows the word: 'sun,' spelled s-u-n.

[dinging]

"Sun." 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 "u" represents "uuh" in this word. Let's read it together. Ss, uh, nn. Sun!

[beeping]

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 "uh" sound, and you'll earn the "u Closed Syllable Badge." Little by little.

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

[marching music continues]

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

Hum hum. Just humming here. Not so fast, Dust. Oh! Dott! How are ya, old chum? Did you clean your doghouse this morning? Of course! Everything's all neatly tucked away! Tucked in all that muck! Oh! Will you help me clean up all that junk?

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

[panting] [funky music playing]

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

Hmm? Guh!

(singer) ♪ Dog, dog, doggy dog ♪

♪ Doggy dog dog doghouse ♪

A,E,I,O, you win again! Haha! Okay, let's sort this junk. Today, let's set aside all the things that have the "uh" sound somewhere in their name. Remember-- "uh" like "up."

(junk pile) Oh, look, a mutt! And proud of it. Dive! Dive! Dive! Wheee!

(Describer) He digs in the pile.

Underwear! "Uhnn" derwear. Hmm. Does underwear have the "uh" sound?

(child) Yes! Yeah! Under there, underwear.

[grunting]

Milk! Mm, ih, ll, kk. Does milk have the "uh" sound?

(child) No, Dusty! Haha! No, it does not! This is a lactose-free zone!

[grunting]

[quacking] Duck.

Duh, uh, kk. Does duck have the "uh" sound?

(child) Yes! Haha, yeah. You lucky duck!

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

(Describer) Outside, Dusty finds Jampa.

[dog howls]

[upbeat banjo]

Hi, Jampa! Hi, Dusty. Woah, is that a new picture for your scrapbook? Yeah! What's that a picture of? Gum! Gum? Oh, I've heard of that. Does gum fly? No, Dusty! Oh, it doesn't? Well, then what do you do with gum? You chew it. Oh, you chew it! Mmm! Oh, wait! I'm not allowed to eat gum, Jampa. It's okay, Dusty, you can pretend! I can pretend! That's right. Hey, will you pretend to chew gum with me? And we can blow big bubbles. Sure. Ready? Yeah, I'm ready. Go!

(Describer) They pretend to chew and blow bubbles, then Jampa jabs his finger.

[munching]

Pop! Woah! I've got gum all over me. Thanks for sharing you scrapbook with me. Bye, Dusty. Bye, Jampa!

[banjo strums]

(Describer) He shuts his scrapbook. Later, Alphabotteers search outside.

That's not it! Let's go. Oh! A.B., a scavenger hunt! Haha. I love scavenger hunts! Okay, let's see, uh... Uh, what are we looking for again? [squealing: "What are we looking for again?"] We're helping Jampa look for something missing. Oh, bummer! So this isn't a scavenger hunt? I wish it were. We can't seem to understand where Jampa's bag of peanuts went. Yeah! It's totally gone! Missing peanuts, huh? That is unusual! We'll have to mull this over.

(all) Mull, mull, mull, mull.

(Dusty) Ahem! This is a puzzle that can only be solved by...

[whooshing sounds]

Sherlock Bones! And his trusted partner, "AlphaBottson."

[buzzing] Forward and upward!

And, uh, backwards, if need be!

[squealing]

Tally ho-o-o!

(Describer) He slips!

[children laughing]

[peanut shells clanking]

Woah! Oh! Peanut shells. Ah. Hmmmm. Well, whoever took your peanuts aren't the neatest!

[buzzing]

Follow those crumbs!

[child laughs]

All right, good luck, Detective!

(Describer) Behind the fence, a squirrel tail scampers past, trailing peanut shells. In the yard, Ziggy paints on Alphabott's screen.

[squirrel chittering] [shells scattering]

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

(Describer) He trips, then hurries over.

[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 laying in a field, unwinding, when I looked "up" and saw the beautiful sky. Imagine, if I didn't look "up," I could have missed it. To remind everyone to look "up" once in a while, I drew these arrows pointing...

(both) Up? Yeah! Wow, Ziggy! This is really uplifting! Yeah, thanks. Ziggy, do you know what else I see? What? The letter "u."

[gasps] Our new Alphabadge!

Dott, I see it too! Well, I don't! That's not a letter, it's just a couple of arrows pointing up. Dusty, don't worry. We've got you covered. Will you help us show Dusty the "u" in up?

(children) Yeah! Great! We'll need our magic paintbrush. Now, let me see, I know I put mine around here somewhere. Oh, I remember now.

(Describer) She pulls an invisible paint brush from Dusty's ear.

Bewoooop!

[squealing]

Ew. [beeping]

First things first. We need this!

(Describer) Writing lines.

Now we need Ziggy's arrows, pointing up.

(Describer) She moves them to the writing lines.

(Ziggy) U, up, "uh"! Let's all start on the dotted line. Now, we make a little cup, like this. We add short, vertical line down, and we're done! The letter "u."

(Ziggy) U, up, "uh." 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 "u Closed Syllable Badge!" You'll be unstoppable, Dust, with your help, of course. A.B., switch into learning mode, please.

[buzzing, whirring]

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

[upbeat music playing]

[audience cheering]

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

(all) Okay! All right! See you in the reading room.

[slow music]

(Describer) They head inside as Alphabott's screen counts down from six, and a title appears: 'alpha shorts.' A lowercase letter u rises into the clouds.

[numbers beeping]

♪

(Dott) U, up, "uh." U, up, "uh." U, up, "uh."

(Describer) A gameshow title spins over a box: 'Where Is It?'

[game-show theme playing]

[audience 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, Rusty! I'm on TV! Today, you're listening for the "uh" sound. It's up to you to tell us where the sound is in each word. The first word is "up."

(Describer) Two squares appear.

Up. Uh, puh. Where is "uh" in "uh, puh"?

(children) The first sound! Okay! Let's do the first sound, Dott!

[positive buzzing]

(Describer) A-B shows the first square.

(Dott) That's right! Let's add a third sound. The next word is: "buck." Buck. Buh, uh, kk. Where is "uh" in "buh, uh, kk"?

(child) The middle sound! Are you sure? Yes! Okay. Is it the middle sound?

[positive dinging]

Yes! Let's add a fourth sound.

[buzzing, beeping] (children) Oooh!

The last word is: "lunch." Mm! Now we're talking. Lunch. Ll, uh, nn, ch. Where is "uh" in "ll, uh, nn, ch"?

(children) The second sound! Okay, the second sound, Dott!

[positive squealing]

(Dott) Buzz, buzz, buzz! And that sound means you win!

[cheering] You've won...

a trunk full of skunks!

(all) Awww! Well, join us next time, where we'll be listening for a different sound!

[applause, cheering]

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

Get ready to "Squat with Dott!"

[upbeat music]

(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 "uh" sound while you exercise. What's up first, Dott? Our first move is called:

(Describer) She gives herself bunny ears.

Ha ha! "The Bunny Hop." Here we go! The Bunny Hop. That's right, The Bunny Hop. Last time, the Bunny Hop... and stop! How about this, Dott? It's called: "The Chuckle."

(Describer) He pumps his arms and pretends to laugh.

I love it! Okay, let's all try. The Chuckle. Here we go. The Chuckle! Ha, ha. The Chuckle, ha, ha. The Chuckle, ha, ha... and stop! Try this one! It's called "Snug as a Bug."

(Describer) She hugs herself and flicks her wrists.

Oh, Kitt, I love it. Do you want to try? Here we go! Snug as a Bug. Snug as a Bug! It's good! Snug as a Bug... and done! Nice workout, folks! Funny, really!

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

[soft music]

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) Hum, drum. Humdrum.

(Dusty) Wheee!

(Describer) Now, bubbles with letters:

Huh, uh, gg. Hug! Gotcha! Huh, uh, mm. Hum! Woohoo!

(Describer) Dusty slips across the bathroom floor.

Hm hm hm, woah woah!

(Describer) A fence pops up with a sign: 'Act Two.'

[fanfare, drumroll]

Oh, hi, Reading Buddies! Marty and I are trying to eat healthy, so today we're having... walnuts! Donuts! Marty! Not fair! If I have to eat a "healthy snack," so do you! Put down that donut. Sounds like someone's jealous! Enjoy that walnut! Hahah! Jealous of your junk food? Oooh. Pssst. Reading Buddies, let's get Marty to eat this walnut. It's time to be "cunning." Marty! Stop! I didn't know you liked dog germs! Dog germs? What are you talking about? Where? Gross. On that donut. I saw Dusty drooling all over that this morning. You mean I was about to eat... A dog drool donut! Yes. But don't worry! Lucky for you, there's no drool on this unbelievable walnut! It's packed with "walnutty" flavor! Here, you can have mine. I'll take that yucky donut off your hands. Gee, thanks, Mary! That was a close one! I can't believe I was about to eat...

Burp! [children laugh]

"Cunning" -- to be tricky or sneaky to get what you want.

[applause]

Yum. [children cheering]

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

Bravo, Bravo! Bravo!

(Describer) Inside:

Dusty loves his baths. I'm snug as a bug in a rug.

[Alphabott buzzing, whirring]

(Describer) Alphabott spins over.

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?

[squealing]

(Describer) Letters t, u, and b.

Okay, let's read what we have here. Tt, uh, bb. Tub. What sound is in the middle of "tt, uh, bb"? I hear it, I hear it! A.B.'s sound of the day! "Uh," like up! Very good! The letter "u." Now, let's transform "tuh, uh, buh" into "tuh, ooh, buh." What do we have to add to the end? Tuh, ooh, buh. Oh, this one's hard. I need a little help. Remember our "braver e"? When we put "e" at the end of tub, it helps the "u" say its long sound. So "tuh, uh, buh" becomes "tuh, ooh, buh." Oh! Yeah, I remember now! Thanks. Now, transform "tuh, ooh, buh" into "kk, ooh, buh." Hmm. That "braver e" is still at the end, so the "u" still says its name-- "yuu." That means we have to change the first sound. The "tuh" changes to "kk." Very good. We add the letter "c" to make: "kk, yuu, buh." Cube. Now can you transform "kk, yuu, buh" into "kk, uh, buh"? You got this, Dusty. Okay, hm... "kk, uh, buh." Wait! We want the "uh" sound, so we have to get rid of that "braver e" to make "kuh, uh, buh"! Yes. "Cube" without the "braver e" becomes "kk, uh, buh." Cub! You transformed all of those words, Dust!

Thanks, A.B.! [buzzing]

[buzzing turns sad]

(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! Sure! Ha! Great! Come on, Alphabott, let's go!

[squeals]

[thumping]

(Describer) Dusty brings Alphabott out to the yard.

[grunts]

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

[upbeat music, whirring]

(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.

♪

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

Wowie zowie, her battery is drained! 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) Rub.

(Dusty) Rub. The word is rub. How many sounds do you hear in "rr, uh, bb"?

(children) Three!

(Dusty) Let's see. Rr, uh, bb. Rub!

[Alphabott whirring]

(Reggie) Wowwie zowwie!

(Alphabott) Sun.

(Dusty) Sun. The word is sun. How many sounds are in "ss, uh, nn"?

(children) Three!

(Dusty) Three? Let's see! Ss, uh, nn. Sun!

(Reggie) Halfway there, Buddies!

(Alphabott) Hums.

(Dusty) Hums. The word is hums. How many sounds are in "huh, uh, mm, zz"?

(children) Four!

(Dusty) Four? "Huh, uh, mm, zz." Hums!

(Reggie) One more should do the trick!

(Alphabott) Us.

(Dusty) Us. The word is us. How many sounds are in "uh, ss"?

(children) Two!

(Dusty) Two? "Uh, ss." Us!

(Reggie) She's fully charged!

[children cheering]

Great work, Reading Buddies! That'll be ten cents, Dusty. Ten cents toward the "Get Reggie to Space Camp Fund." Thanks, Reg. Aw, thanks, Dust.

[beeping]

(children) Aww!

(Describer) Now, a heart reveals letters p-u-t.

(Dott) Today's heart word is "put," as in "Dusty, put your dog toys away!"

(Dusty) Put rhymes with foot!

(Dott) Put is a heart word, which means it has one or more sound spellings we may not know yet. Put has three sounds-- "puh, euh, tt." The first sound, "puh," is spelled with the letter "p." The last sound, "tt," is spelled with the letter "t." The second sound, "euh," is spelled with the letter "u," which isn't spelling the usual sound we know, "uh." This is the part we have to know by heart. Let's read it together-- "Puh, euh, tt."

(all) Put!

(Describer) Outside with Sherlock Bones:

[munching] Well, that was a dud. [beeps]

All those crumbs by the oak tree and still no peanuts! We're stumped! Woah, not again! Oh! I'm such a klutz! Hey, why is this rug so lumpy? Hey, what's that jutting out from under it?

Oh oh! [shells clattering]

Hey! Look! It's your peanuts! Bark, bark bark bark, bark!

Bark! Stop! [squirrel chittering]

(Describer) He finds the squirrel.

Woof. You work for my pile of junk, don't you?

[squirrel chittering]

Oh! Why, thank you! My hat is very flattering. It belonged to my Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great-- hey, wait a minute!

Oh! [squirrel chittering]

You got me, squirrel! You got me! Hey.

[sighs]

(Describer) Dusty picks up the peanuts.

Ha ha! You were unbelievable, Dusty! You solved the mystery! Aw, shucks! I was just following my gut!

[stomach growling]

That's one loud gut! Ha ha ha! It is, isn't it?

Hahaha! [squealing]

[guitar strums]

(Describer) Later:

And you, Dusty, I award you with your new Alphabadge, "The u Closed Syllable Badge." Wear it with pride.

[fanfare, applause]

Shucks, folks, I'm speechless! 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.

[theme song begins]

(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. Copyright 2023 The Reading League - All Rights Reserved.

[closing theme music]

♪

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