[soft intro music]

(Describer) A woman sits with a dog puppet.

Sure, I just invited him to my birthday. Oh, that's so nice of you! Yeah, hope he brings presents.

(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...

Oh no! Doh! [child laughing]

(Describer) She bonks Dusty.

The "o-o" food vowel-team badge.

[birds tweeting] Did somebody say "food"? Ah!

[horn toots]

The Alphabotteers are here! Let's go outside and say hello!

[upbeat music] Hey, wait!

What about the food?

[upbeat music]

(Describer) As kids arrive, 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 ♪

(all) ♪ Let's go! On a letter adventure ♪

♪ Let's go, learning's better together! ♪

♪ We're the Alphabotteers! ♪

[children laughing, 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! Troop, we have oodles of stuff to do today. Oodles of stuff! Uh, Dust? That means you too. Gah! Right. Ha ha! Toodle-ooh! And you. Come on.

[drumroll, fanfare]

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

[upbeat music]

[all 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...

[together, with children] The "Fancy Schmancy

Word of the Day!" We're going to give you a fancy word and tell you what it means. Drumroll, please. Yabba, dabba, yabba... Today's word is... "Foolish." Let's say it together. "Foolish" on three! One, two, three!

(all) Foolish! Foolish means: "doing or saying something silly without thinking." Hey, the Alphabotteers are coming back. See you later, alligator! In a while, crocodile! Freeze!

(Describer) A megaphone pops out of Alphabott.

[military march plays]

[Alphabott squealing "fanfare"] You know what that means-- it's time for Alphabott's sound of the day!

(Alphabott) "ooh, ooh, ooh."

(all) "ooh, ooh, ooh." That's a fun sound, A.B.-- "ooh" like in food. Today, you're going to help Dusty earn the "o-o" food vowel-team badge!

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

[positive whirring]

(Dott) When we make the "ooh" sound, our lips are in a tight little circle and the back of the tongue is lifted high in the back of our mouth. Your voice box is on. Repeat after me: "ooh, ooh, ooh."

(all) "ooh, ooh, ooh!" Hey, A.B., let's show them something special about your Sound of the Day!

[whirring]

(Describer) Letters f-o-o-d:

[dinging]

(Dott) Take the word "food." When we see a syllable that has vowels next to each other, they form a vowel team. They team up to make one sound. Today's vowel team is two "o"s, and together, they are pronounced "ooh" as in food. Let's read it together. ff, ooh, duh. Food!

[music sizzle]

[whirs]

The way a word is spelled shows us...

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

[squeals "You're welcome"]

Be sure to listen for that "ooh" sound today, and you'll earn the "o-o" food vowel-team badge. Little by little...

(all) Letter by letter! Off you go.

[military march] I'll see you inside.

[march continues]

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

Be cool, Dust. Real cool.

[child laughing] Not so fast, Dust.

Oh, Dott! Who wants a smooch? Here it comes! Did you clean your doghouse this morning? Ho ho, Dott! Hahahah! You're a hoot! Oh, I'm such a goof! I forgot to clean my room! Will you help me clean up all that junk?

(children) Yes! Haha! Hot dog! Race you 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? Goh!

(singer) ♪ Dog dog, doggy dog ♪

♪ Doggy dog dog doghouse ♪

[panting] A, E, I, O, you win again!

Haha! Woof! Let's sort out this pile of junk. Today, let's set aside all the things that have the "ooh" sound somewhere in their name. Remember-- "ooh" like food.

[junk pile snoring]

Ye snooze, ye lose! Dive, dive, dive! Whee! [grunts]

(Describer) Dusty digs in the pile.

[whistles] Kazoo!

kuh, uh, zz, ooh! Does kazoo have the "ooh" sound?

(child) Yes! Yeah! Oh, Alphabott loves kazoos.

[whistles] [grunting]

[chomps] Tooth.

Tuh, ooh, th. Does tooth have the "ooh" sound?

(child) Yes! Yeah! That's one of my baby teeth.

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

[humming]

(Describer) Dusty finds Jampa sitting outside.

[dog howls]

[banjo strumming] Hmmm.

Hi, Jampa. Hello, Dusty. Whoa! A new picture for your scrapbook! Yeah. What's that a picture of? A moon. A moon! Oh, I love the moon! I've seen that before. Does the moon fly? No, Dusty. No, I guess it just kind of sits up there and spins around us. Hey, when can I see the moon? See it at night. At night? Oh, I love howling at the moon. Hey, Jampa, will you pretend to be a wolf with me and we can howl at the moon? Yeah. Okay, ready? Let's howl at it. Ready, let's... Hoooowl! Hoooowl! Whoo oooh oooh aaaooohhh aaaaooh! Thanks for sharing your scrapbook with me, Jampa. Bye, Dusty. Bye, Jampa.

[banjo strumming]

(Describer) Inside, Kitt puts a locket back into a jewellery box.

Thank you, Kit. That was so special! Ooh, I cannot wait to see the rest of your heirlooms. Reggie, how about you go next? All right, this is my grandfather's toolkit. He was an inventor just like me.

(all) Wow! Runs in the fam. I brought a recipe box full of recipes handed down from my great-aunt to my mom. One day, it'll be handed down to me!

(all) Wow! Awesome! Wow! These are all so wonderful! Cosmo, your turn. Oh, uh, I forgot mine at home. Oh. No worries, Cosmo. Well, thank you, everyone, for sharing your heirlooms. It is so important to remember and honor our ancestors and loved ones. It sure is. Okay. Time to get back to our lessons. So, are there any recipes in there for some dog treats?

[all laugh] Sure, come on, Dust!

All right, thanks, Maya. Thank you. Get some dog treats.

(Describer) Dusty looks out the window and sees Ziggy painting on Alphabott's screen.

[funky music]

[humming, gasps]

[grunts] Hey, Alphabott's in art mode!

Come on, let's see what they're up to.

Woah! [grunts, pants]

(Describer) He trips, then hurries over.

[Alphabott squealing] [French music playing]

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

[buzzing]

Hi, A.B. Hi, Ziggy. What are you drawing today? I'm kind of a foodie. I love food. I couldn't just pick one piece of food to draw, so I drew as many as I could. Hey, what a feast! It's good enough to eat. Hey, Ziggy, do you know what else I see? What? The letter "o" side by side! It's our "o-o" vowel team. Oh, our new vowel team badge! Ooh, you're right, Dott! I see it too! Well, I don't. You two are cocoa for Cuckoo Puffs! That's not a letter! It's a picture of food. Don't worry, Dust! We've got you. Will you help us show Dusty the "o"s in this food?

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

(Describer) She pulls the imaginary brush from her arm.

[magical tinkling] (children) Ooh!

First things first. We need this!

(Describer) Writing lines.

Now we need Ziggy's food.

[whistling]

(Ziggy) o-o, food, "ooh." Let's start between the dotted and the bottom line. Draw a counterclockwise circle to the left.

[magical tinkling]

Now let's draw another. Draw a counterclockwise circle to the left. Done!

[happy squeal]

The "o-o" vowel team!

[letters whistle]

(Ziggy) o-o, food, "ooh."

[gasps] I saw it!

You can see so much in art! Woah! I have to rinse out my brushes. See ya later, painter!

[squeals]

I really think I'm gonna get that "o-o" food vowel-team badge! I think you will, too, 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, whistling]

Want to go inside and play with this "ooh" sound

a bit more? (children) Okay! All right! See ya in the reading room!

(Describer) They head inside as Alphabott's screen counts down from six, and a title appears: 'alpha shorts.' Two lowercase o's appear, and fill up with food.

[numbers beep]

[funky music]

(Dott) o-o, food, "ooh." o-o, food, "ooh." o-o, food, "ooh."

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

[game-show music]

[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! Hey, Dupree! I'm on TV! Today, you're listening for the "ooh" sound. It's up to you to tell us where the sound is in each word. Here we go. The first word is: "mood."

(Describer) Three squares appear.

Mm, ooh, duh. Where is "ooh" in "mm, ooh, duh"?

(children) The middle sound! I knew that! Let's do the middle, Dott!

[whirring, happy buzzing]

Yes! The next word is: "zoom." zz, ooh, mm. Where is "ooh" in zz, ooh, mm?

(child) The middle sound! Oh ho! The middle, Dott!

[happy dinging]

(Dott) That's right! Let's add another sound!

[zapping, beeping]

The last word is: "noodle." Nn, ooh, duh, ll. Where is "ooh" in nn, ooh, duh, ll?

(child) The second sound! Woof! Are you sure? Yes! Okay! The second sound, Dott.

[buzzing, dinging]

And that sound means you win!

[theme music plays] You've won a silly goose!

Join us next time, where we'll be listening for a different sound!

[children cheering]

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

Get ready to "Squat with Dott!"

[upbeat music]

(Describer) She stretches with Kitt and Cosmo.

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

(Describer) They flick their fists like starting up a motorcycle.

The Vroom Vroom! Uh-huh! The Vroom Vroom! One more time! The Vroom Vroom! And stop! How about this, Dott? I call it "The Swoon." Oh! Poor Kit! Let's all try. Ready? Five, six, seven, eight.

(Describer) They hold the backs of their hands to their foreheads.

The Swoon! Oh! The Swoon! The Swoon! And stop! Oh, how about this one? I call it "The Scoot Scoot!"

(Describer) He steps and claps.

Oh, a classic. Let's all try! Ready? Here we go. Five, six, seven, eight. The Scoot Scoot. Uh-huh! The Scoot Scoot! Very good! The Scoot Scoot! And stop! Nice workout, folks! Cuckoo, really! Oh, come on! Maybe a little.

Or a lot. [children laugh]

[bubbles popping] [soft music]

(Describer) In a bubble bath:

Oh, woof! That workout made me sweat. Woah! Look at all the bubbles. Let's get popping! Haha!

Gah! [bubbles pop]

(Describer) Bubbles float up with letters in them:

(Dott) nn, ooh, nn. Noon. zz, ooh. Zoo.

(Dusty) Gotcha! Puh, rr, ooh, ff. Proof. Whoo-hoo!

[bubbles popping]

(Describer) Dusty runs through the bathroom and slips.

[panting] Woah!

Don't run on wet floors!

Safety PSA! [humming]

[whistling, fanfare]

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

[drumroll, upbeat music]

Oh, hi, Reading Buddies! We got a bookshelf from "Gnome Depot." Mary, I don't need these directions. Marty, don't do anything "foolish." I think you should take some time to read those directions. I'm not foolish, Mary. Besides, these "directions" are just a bunch of pictures.

[grunts] I can figure this out Marty style!

It's hammer time!

[jackhammer drilling]

(Describer) A sign says, 'Pardon Our Dust.' Then Marty reveals a crooked bookshelf.

Well, Mary, what do you think? Gee, Marty, it looks... like a bookshelf... kinda. Ha! Who's foolish now?

[whistling] Ooh, ah!

(Describer) The bookshelf tips, and falls on Marty!

[children laugh] [gong sounds]

You are, Marty.

(both) Foolish-- "doing or saying something silly without thinking."

[applause]

(all) Bravo! Bravo!

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

(Jampa) Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

(Describer) Inside:

Dusty loves his baths.

[gasps]

We should get a pool!

[laughs]

[Alphabott buzzing]

(Describer) Alphabott spins over.

[squeals] 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?

[happy buzzing]

(Describer) s, t, o, and p.

Okay, let's read what we have here. "ss, tt, ah, puh." Stop. Time to use those dog ears. How do we transform "ss, tt, ah, puh" into: "ss, tt, ooh, puh"? I hear it! A.B.'s Sound of the Day-- "ooh" like food! Yes! We have to use our "o-o" vowel team, which in this word is pronounced "ooh" like: "ss, tt, ooh, puh." Stoop! Now, transform "ss, tt, ooh, puh" into "ss, kk, ooh, puh." We need to get rid of "tt" and replace it with "kk--" the letter "c"! Wow, Dusty, that's right. Yes, "ss, kk, ooh, puh"-- scoop. Can you transform "ss, kk, ooh, puh" into "kk, ooh, puh"? We have to get rid of the "s" in "ss, kk, ooh, puh." Then we have "kk, ooh, puh." Very good. We got rid of that "s" and now we have: "kk, ooh, puh." Coop. All right, can you transform: "kk, ooh, puh" into: "kk, ooh, ll"? We have to get rid of that "p" at the end of "kk, ooh, puh" and replace it with the letter "l"! Wow, Dusty, good boy! Now we have "kk, ooh, ll"-- cool! You transformed all of those words, Dust! Thanks, A.B.

[happy 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?

(all) Okay! Haha! Great! Come on, Alphabott! Let's go!

[tired buzzing]

(Describer) Dusty brings Alphabott out to the yard.

[thumping]

[Dusty grunting]

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.

[rattling, bubbles popping]

♪

[Alphabott whirring]

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

Wowee zowwee! Her battery's drained. Could you help us charge Alphabott's battery?

(all) Yes! 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!

[beeping, whirring]

(Alphabott) Hoot.

(Dusty) Hoot. The word is "hoot." How many sounds do you hear in: huh, ooh, tt?

(children) Three! Let's see. Huh, ooh, tt. Hoot.

[whirring] (Reggie) Wowee zowwie!

(Alphabott) Goofy.

(Dusty) Goofy. The word is "goofy." How many sounds are in: guh, ooh, ff, ee?

(child) Four! Four? Let's see. Guh, ooh, ff, ee. Goofy!

[happy whirring] (Reggie) Halfway there, Buddies.

(Alphabott) Kazoo.

(Dusty) Kazoo. The word is "kazoo." How many sounds are in: kuh, uh, zz, ooh?

(child) Four! Four? Let's see. Kuh, uh, zz, ooh. Kazoo!

(Reggie) Impressive! [happy whirring]

(Alphabott) Oof.

(Dusty) Oof. The word is "oof." How many sounds are in: ooh, ff?

(child) Two! Two? Let's see. Ooh, ff. Oof!

[happy whirring] (Reggie) She's fully charged!

[fanfare, cheering]

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

[happy whirring]

(children) Awww!

(Describer) Now, a heart reveals letters w-h-o.

(Dott) Today's heart word is: "who," as in: "Who dug a hole in this backyard?"

(Dusty) Who do you think? It was me. "Who" rhymes with "shoe."

(Dott) "Who" is a heart word, which means it has one or more sound spellings we may not know yet. "Who" has two sounds-- "huh, ooh." The w-h digraph spells the "huh" sound instead of the "wuh" sound we're used to. The second sound, "ooh," is spelled with an "o," which is not making the "ah" sound we're used to. These are the parts we have to know by heart. Let's read it together. "Huh, ooh."

(all) Who!

[applause]

(Describer) Dusty finds Cosmo sitting outside.

Ah, there you are, Cosmo! He's out here, everybody! Hey, what do you have there, Cosmo? Oh, just an old VHS tape. V... HS? What does it do? People used to watch movies on these. It's what I was going to share. How can that be an heirloom? Yeah, I've never heard of that. It looks really weird. It's not an heirloom. I've never seen that. Yeah, it does seem a bit foolish. No! No, it's not foolish. If it has meaning to you, it's special. And we should all remember to stay open and compassionate when we're learning something new. Tell us more, Cosmo. Well, this was given to me by my favorite uncle. Some of his favorite cartoons are recorded on here. We watched them together every Saturday morning. Wow, that does seem really special, Cosmo. I'd love to watch it. I love cartoons. I think I'm ready to share, but, Dott, do you have anything we can watch this on? Ha! Oh, do I? A.B.! VHS mode, please!

[Alphabott whirring]

Gather round! A.B., we haven't used this mode in a while. [Alphabott squeals in agreement]

(Describer) She puts in the tape.

All right, here we go!

["Looney Tunes" theme plays]

[all laughing, reacting]

I'm so glad you shared, Cosmo! Me too! Oh, wait, Dusty, this part is too funny. You're gonna want to watch this. Okay. Watch out for that banana peel--doh!

[all laughing]

He went right down!

[all laughing, reacting]

[guitar strumming]

(Describer) Later, Dott holds up a badge.

And you, Dusty, I award you with your new Alphabadge, the "o-o" food vowel-team badge!

Wear it with pride. [fanfare]

[applause]

Haha! Next stop--the moon! Hey, Reggie, I need a spaceship! Little by little.

(all) Letter by letter!

[bus horn beeps] Time to go home!

Give your uniforms to A.B. I'll see you tomorrow.

[closing theme song 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) Goodbye! 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.

[upbeat 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.