[soft music playing]

(Describer) A woman sits with a dog puppet:

We are all out of food today. No food for you! Well, then, um, is spaghetti food? Hahaha!

(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! Oooh! [children laughing]

(Describer) She bonks Dusty.

"The a Closed Syllable Blend Badge." Oh! Look at all the birdies flap, flap, flapping.

Ooh! [bus horn toots]

The Alphabotteers are here! Let's go outside and say hello. Ha! Flap, Flap.

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

[theme song 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 ♪

[cheering, applause]

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

All right, everybody, drop your backpacks inside and meet back here for A.B.'s sound of the day. You heard her, class! Dash over there and-- Uh, Dust? That means you, too. Oh, right! I'll be right back. 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 and drumroll]

[upbeat music]

[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...

(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, yabba, dabba... Today's word is... "grand." Let's say it together. "Grand" on three-- One, two, three.

(both) Grand! "Grand" means: something that impresses people because of its size or appearance. 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.

[military march playing]

[Alphabott buzzing]

You know what that means-- it's time for Alphabott's sound of the day. "Ah, ah, ah."

(all) "Ah, ah, ah." That's a fun sound, A.B. "Ah," like apple. Today, you're going to help Dusty earn his first blend badge-- the "a Closed Syllable Blend Badge."

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

[buzzing]

When we make the "ah" sound, your mouth is open and the front part of your tongue is low inside your mouth. Your voice box is on.

[beeps]

Repeat after me-- "Ah, ah, ah." Your turn.

(all) "Ah, ah, ah." Today's badge is a blend badge. A blend is when consonants keep their own sounds when they're together. Blends can be found at the beginning or end of a syllable. A.B., let's show them when the letter "a" is "ah" in words with blends.

[buzzing]

(Describer) She shows f-a-s-t.

[dinging]

"Fast." This word is a closed syllable-- there is just one vowel, and that vowel is closed in by a consonant, or, in this case, a blend of "s" and of this "t." The vowel sound will be short, kind of like it's anxious that the consonant is closing it in. So "a" represents "ah" in this word. Let's read it together. "Ff, ah, ss, tt." Fast.

[beeps]

The way a word is spelled shows us...

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

[happy buzzing]

Be sure to listen for that "ah" sound today, and you'll earn the "a Closed Syllable Blend Badge." Little by little...

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

[march music continues]

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

Don't attract attention. Don't attract attention. Not so fast, Dust. Oh, rats! Did you clean your doghouse this morning? Uh, actually, I did... Not! Ha! There's a lot of trash in there. I mean, like, a lot of trash! Will you help me clean up that junk?

(children) Yes! Ha! 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? Gah!

(singer) ♪ Dog dog doggy dog ♪

♪ Doggy dog dog doghouse ♪

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

(junk pile) Who is that? I don't have my glasses. You should have worn your contacts! Dive. Dive. Dive!

[grunting]

(Describer) He digs in the pile.

Plant. "Puh, ll, ah, nn, tt." Does plant have the "ah" sound?

(child) Yes! Yeah. Haha!

[grunting]

Fish. "Ff, ih, sh." Does fish have the "ah" sound?

(children) No! Nuhuh. Now that's what that smell was!

[grunting]

[growling]

Ant. "Ah, nn, tt." Does ant have the "ah" sound?

(child) Yes! Haha, yeah. Hey, don't move my plant, ant.

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

(Describer) Dusty finds Jampa sitting outside.

[dog howls]

[upbeat banjo]

Hmm. Hi, Jampa. Oh, hi, Dusty. Whoa! Is that a new picture for your scrapbook? Yeah. What's that a picture of? A flashlight. A flashlight? I've heard of that! Hey, Jampa, do flashlights fly? No, Dusty. Oh, no, I should have known. What do you do with a flashlight? You press a button, and bam! The light comes out. Wow! Instant light. What will they think of next? Flying cars. Flying cars? Hey, flying cars covered in flashlights! Hehehehaha! Thanks for sharing your scrapbook with me, Jampa. Bye, Dusty. Bye, Jampa.

[banjo playing]

(Describer) Later, a sign reads, 'DUSTY'S LEMONADE.'

Grand opening of Dusty's Lemonade Stand! The best in the land. Give me a hand! Okay. Dusty. Dusty! Hi, Dusty. Ooh! A customer. I'll take one cup. One cup. One... uh... uh, one cup. Uh, I'll go grab that. Be right back.

(Describer) Reggie shakes his head.

Ha. One cup. Thanks, Dusty. Uh, Dusty? The lemonade is kinda absent. Uh... this is awkward. I, uh, I don't have lemonade! I'll never earn the money to buy Ziggy new markers. Um, Dusty? I accidentally ruined his other ones. Dusty! Oh, the humanity! Dusty! Snap out of it.

[children laugh]

[inhales, exhales]

What I think you need is a plan. Oh, a plan. Um, how do I make a plan? If you want to know how to make a plan, I'll show you how to make a plan. My grandma always says: "The best plans start when you break the steps apart. What tools do you need, in order to succeed?" Okay, well, uh, I need some cups, and uh, oh! Lemons! And, um, ice. Nobody likes warm lemonade, and my piggy bank for change! And... [stomach growls] and snacks. Hahah! I'm going on break. Being a small business owner is hard work.

[children laugh]

(Describer) Reggie shakes his head. Later, Dusty sees Ziggy painting on Alphabott's screen.

[funky music]

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

(Describer) He trips, then hurries over.

Hmm! [panting]

[squealing]

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

[buzzing happily]

Hi, A.B.! Hi, Ziggy. What are you drawing today? I went apple picking. I drew a picture of my favorite apple. Hey, Ziggy, do you know what I see? What? The letter "a." Ooh! Like our Alphabadge? I see it, too. Well, I don't! That's not a letter, it's an apple. Don't worry, Dust, we've got you covered. Will you help us show Dusty the "a" in this apple?

(child) Yes! Great! Well, we'll need our magic paintbrush. Now, let me see, I know I put mine around here somewhere... Oh, I remember now. Booop!

(Describer) She pulls it from Alphabott's ear.

(all) Oooh! First things first-- we'll need this.

(Describer) Writing lines.

Now we need Ziggy's apple.

(Describer) She moves it to the writing lines.

(Ziggy) A, apple, "ah." To draw the letter "a," start between the dotted and the bottom line. We make a circle to the left. Now we add a short line down. Done! The letter "a."

(Ziggy) A, apple, "ah." 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 "a Closed Syllable Blend Badge." That's the attitude, Dust. I know you will! With you're help, of course. A.B., switch into learning mode, please.

[happy buzzing, whirring]

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

[upbeat music]

♪

[children cheering]

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

(children) Okay! Yeah! See ya in the reading room!

[funky music]

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

[numbers beeping]

(Dott) A, apple, "ah." A, apple, "ah." A, apple, "ah."

(Describer) A bite mark appears! Now, a gameshow title spins over a box: 'Where Is It?'

[game-show theme music]

(audience) Woo! Yeah.

♪

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

Welcome back to...

(audience) "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, Anton, I'm on TV! Today, you're listening for the "ah" sound. It's up to you to tell us where the sound is in each word. Here we go! The first word is "ask."

(Describer) Three squares appear.

Ask. "Ah, ss, kk." Where is "ah" in "ah, ss, kk"?

(children) The first sound! It's the first sound, Dott. [positive buzzing, bell ringing]

(Describer) A-B shows the first square.

Yes! Let's add another sound.

(children) Oooh! The next word is "camp." Camp. "Kk, ah, mm, pp." Where is "ah" in "kk, ah, mm, pp"?

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

[dinging] Oh, yeah!

Okay, the last round. The word is "stack." Stack. "Ss, tt, ah, kk." Where is "ah" in "ss, tt, ah, kk"?

(children) The third sound! We think it's the third sound, Dott.

[positive buzzing]

And that sound means you win! You've won a bath filled with clams! Join us next time, where we'll be listening for different sound.

(audience) Yes! Wahoo! Nice!

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

Get ready to "Squat with Dott!"

(Describer) She stretches with Kitt and Cosmo.

[upbeat music]

We're just 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 "ah" sound while you exercise. What's up first, Dott? Our first move is called "The Flap Jack." Ready? Here we go.

(Describer) She flaps her elbows and reaches high.

The Flap Jack. The Flap Jack! The Flap Jack... and stop! How about this, Dott? It's called the "Slam Dunk." Oh, I love it!

(Describer) He shoots an invisible basketball.

Okay, let's all try Cosmo's Slam Dunk. Let's go-- the Slam Dunk! All right, the Slam Dunk! That's great! The Slam Dunk... and stop. Try this one. It's called... "The Snapitty Snap." Kitt, I love it! I love it.

(Describer) They snap out their hands, and reel them in.

Okay, here we go. The Snappity Snap! Good work! The Snappity Snap! Uhhuh, the Snappity Snap... and stop! Nice workout, everyone. Smashing, really. Really. Yeah.

[soft music]

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

Woof! That workout made me sweat. Woah! Look at all these bubbles! Let's get poppin'. Haha!

[bubbles pop]

(Describer) Two bubbles appear, then become one.

(Dott) Hand. Shake. Handshake.

(Dusty) Ha! Woah! Tiny bubbles.

(Describer) Now, bubbles with letters:

Ss, nn, ah, pp. Snap. Snap! Ll, ah, nn, dd. Land. Woohoo!

(Describer) Dusty splashes around.

Hmm? Dott! I'm ready to come out! My paws are pruny.

(Describer) A fence pops up with a sign: 'Act Two.' In the garden, the gnomes carry a tall plate of pancakes.

[fanfare and drumroll]

[upbeat music]

Oh, hi, Reading Buddies! We made a grand stack of pancakes. Hey! Maybe we'll even win a prize or something-- The Grandest Stack of Pancakes Award goes to Mary and Marty!

(both) Hahaha! Now that sounds grand, Marty.

[stomach grumbles]

Do you think it would still be the grandest stack of pancakes if I ate one?

[stomach grumbles]

Or two pancakes?

[stomach grumbles]

Now that you mention it, maybe we could eat three or four pancakes, and it would still be a grand stack. Well, what are we waiting for?

(both) Yum. Yum. Chomp. Yum!

(Describer) They eat the whole stack of pancakes, except for one.

Woof! That was delicious stack of pancakes, but it's not very grand or impressive anymore.

(stomach) Buuurrrppp!

(Describer) Mary's stomach:

[children laughing]

But that was! Did you hear that?

(both) "Grand-- "something that impresses people because of its size or appearance."

(children) Woo-hoo. Bravo!

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

Bravo. Bravo. Bravo. Bravo. Bravo.

(Describer) Inside:

Dusty loves his baths. Well, it's helping this rash.

[Alphabott buzzing]

(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?

[positive buzzing]

(Describer) Letters l, a, and p.

Okay, let's read what we have here. "Ll, ah, pp." Lap. Time to use those dog ears. What sound is in the middle of "ll, ah, pp"? I hear it! A.B.'s sound of the day! "Ah," like apple. Smarty pants. Now let's add a sound to the beginning to make a blend. Remember, a blend is when consonants keep their own sounds when they're together. Now how could we make this word read... "kk, ll, ah, puh"? "Kk, ll, ah, puh." We need the "kk" in the beginning! Yes! We add the letter "c" to make "kk, ll, ah, pp." Okay, now, how do we transform "kk, ll, ah, puh" into "kk, ll, ah, mm"? Kk, ll, ah, mm. "Mmm!" We have to change the last sound to "mm." Very good! Now can you transform "kk, ll, ah, mm" into "guh, ll, ah, mm"? Of course! Uh, maybe. Uh, uh, you know, we'll see. Okay. "Guh, ll, ah, mm." We have to change "kk" in that beginning blend to "guh." Yes! We change the "kk" to "guh" with the letter "g." Way to go, Dusty! You transformed all of those words with the "short a" and blends. Thanks, Alphabott.

[sad buzzing]

(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. Do you want to come with us?

(children) Okay. Sure! Great! Come on, Alphabott, let's go.

[squeals]

(Describer) Dusty brings Alphabott out to the yard.

[thumping]

[Dusty sighs]

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.

(Alphabott) Swag.

(Dusty) Swag. The word is "swag." How many sounds do you hear in "ss, wuh, ah, guh"?

(children) Four!

(Dusty) Let's see. "Ss, wuh, ah, guh." Swag.

(Reggie) Wowwie zowwie!

(Alphabott) Pant.

(Dusty) Pant. The word is "pant." How many sounds are in "puh, ah, nn, tt"?

(child) Four!

(Dusty) Four? Let's see. "Puh, ah, nn, tt." Pant.

(Reggie) I believe in you! Keep going.

(Alphabott) Ant.

(Dusty) Ant. The word is "ant." How many sounds are in "ah, nn, tt"?

(children) Three!

(Dusty) Let's see. "Ah, nn, tt." Ant.

(Reggie) One more should do the trick.

(Alphabott) Graph.

(Dusty) Graph. The word is "graph." How many sounds do you hear in "guh, rr, ah, ff"?

(children) Four!

(Dusty) Four? That sounds good to me. "Guh, rr, ah, ff." Graph.

(Reggie) She's fully charged.

[all 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.

[happy squealing]

(Describer) Now, a heart reveals letters w-a-n-t.

(all) Aww!

(Dott) Today's heart word is "want," as in "Dusty, do you want more cheese?"

(Dusty) Of course I do! "Want" rhymes with croissant.

(Dott) Want is a heart word, which means it has one or more sound spellings we may not know yet. "Want" has four sounds-- "wuh, aaah, nn, tt." The first sound, "wuh," is spelled with the letter "w." The third sound, "nn," is spelled with the letter "n." The last sound, "tt," is spelled with the letter "t." It's the second sound, "aaah," that's spelled with the letter "a," which isn't making its usual sound-- "ah." This is the part we have to know by heart. Let's read it together. "Wuh, aaah, nn, tt."

(all) Want!

[funky music]

(Describer) Now, a sign reads: 'REGGIE AND DUSTY'S LEMONADE.' The stand has a pitcher and cups.

(Dusty) At last! The grand, grand opening of Dusty... And Reggie's...

(both) Lemonade stand! Haha. We've got cups! We've got lemonade.

We've got change. [piggie rattles]

(both) We need...

(customer) Hey, Reggie!

(both) Customers! Looks like I'll one cup, Dusty. Oh boy! Pretty soon, I'll be able to get Ziggy markers and a card! And then we'll expand with a lemonade stand on every corner. Oh, the plans we'll make. Um, Dusty. The, uh, cup? Oh, haha! Here you go.

(Describer) Reggie pours.

(both) Order up! Haha.

(Describer) Later, Dott holds up a badge.

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

[fanfare, applause]

(Describer) She puts it on his vest.

Blammo! We did it! Little by little...

(all) Letter by letter!

[bus horn toots]

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

[theme music playing]

(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.