[soft intro music]

(Describer) A woman watches a dog puppet play a drum.

[both scatting, laughing]

That was good!

(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...

Oooh! [children laughing]

(Describer) She bonks Dusty.

The "o-o" look vowel-team blend badge.

[birds tweeting] Woof! I'm all shook up!

Ugggh!

[horn toots]

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

[upbeat music] [humming]

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

[upbeat music]

(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! Yeah, so hoof it out of here! Uh, Dust? That means you too. Gah! Right. Goodbye! Hey! Wait for me! 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]

[people hooting, clapping]

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... "crooked." Let's say it all together. "Crooked" on three! One, two, three!

(all) Crooked! Crooked means: "bent or twisted." Hey, the Alphabotteers are coming back. See you later, alligator! In a while, crocodile! Freeze!

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

[military march plays]

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

(Alphabott) "oo, oo, oo."

(all) "oo, oo, oo." That's a fun sound, A.B.-- "oo" like in look. Today, you're going to help Dusty earn the "o-o" look 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 "oo" sound.

[whirring]

When we make the "oo" sound, our lips are in a loose circle, and the back of the tongue is lifted high in the back of our mouth. Your voice box is on.

[beeps]

Repeat after me: "oo, oo, oo."

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

(Describer) Letters l-o-o-k.

[whirring]

[dinging]

(Dott) Take the word "look." 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 "oo," as in "look." Let's read it together. ll, oo, kk. Look!

[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 "oo" sound today, and you'll earn the "o-o" look 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.

Just don't look at her. Just don't look at her. Not so fast, Dusty. Whoa! I looked at her. Did you clean your doghouse this morning? It's me! Dusty! Remember? I'm a good dog! I'm a baa-a-a-ad dog! I forgot to clean my room! Ugh! Hey, 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! Okay, let's sort out this junk. Today, let's set aside all the things with the "oo" sound somewhere in their name. Remember-- "oo" like in look.

(junk pile) Dusty, you crook! Junk, I am lots of things, but I am not a crook! Dive, dive, dive! Whee! [grunts]

(Describer) Dusty digs in the pile.

[splashing] Hook.

Huh, oo, kk. Does hook have the "oo" sound?

(child) Yes! Haha! Yeah! Looky, looky, I got hooky! Whooo! Ha!

[grunting]

[clicks] Mouse!

Mm, ow, ss. Does mouse have the "oo" sound?

(child) No, Dusty! No! You can go to Alphabott's room, but you can't stay here!

[grunting]

[whistles] Hoodie.

Huh, oo, dd, ee. Does hoodie have the "oo" sound?

(child) Yes! Haha! Yeah! Hoodies-- for when fur just isn't warm enough.

(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] [dog howls]

(Describer) Dusty finds Jampa sitting outside.

[banjo strumming]

Hi, Jampa. Hi, Dusty. Hey! Is that a new picture for your scrapbook? Yeah. What's that a picture of? A foot!

[sniffing]

Whoa, definitely a foot! Yeah, a paw is just like a foot. Hey, Jampa, what do feet do? Everything, Dusty. I can walk with them! Oh, I love walks! And I can balance on them! Jampa? What? Will you balance on one foot with me? Yes, ready? Ready, go!

[grunting] Whoa! Whooooa!

(Describer) They balance.

Wow, you're really good at this. Uh, whoa, whoa!

[grunts]

(Describer) Dusty tips over.

And he's still up! Oh, my goodness! Thanks for sharing your scrapbook with me, Jampa. Bye, Dusty. Bye, Jampa.

[banjo strumming]

(Describer) In the Reading Room, Dusty and Jampa wait for Dott.

I am so excited for Dott to read this book! It's one of my favorites. What's it called? "The Wizard of Paws"! Ho ho! Wait till you hear it, Jampa! There's a scarecrow and a flying house and a scared lion who is a riot!

[laughs] Funny.

And a witch and monkeys and melting. Oh, my! Dusty, don't spill the beans. Beans? What beans? "Spill the beans" is an expression that means sharing new information ahead of time. When something's new for someone, like this book is for you, Jampa, Dusty shouldn't spill the beans! Now, if only I could find it. I know it's around here somewhere. Here it is! Yeah, ho! I wonder how it ended up on the floor. Uh, whoops! I think maybe I forgot to put it away the last time I was looking at it. Well, try to remember, Dust. We don't want the reading room becoming as messy as your doghouse, now do we? Actually, you and Jampa can get started. I'm just feeling a little bit, um, thirsty. Yeah, I'll go get some water.

(Describer) He leaves.

Hey, Dott, I don't think Dusty really needed water. Really? Really. Do you think he's sad? Mm-hm. Do you think I was too hard on him? Mm-hm. About the beans and the book on the floor? Mm-hm. Thank you for telling me, Jampa. We'll read this book later, okay?

(Describer) He gives a thumbs up.

Okay, come on.

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

[funky music]

Hmm. [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.

[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? My little brother and I had an epic staring contest. We didn't blink for, like, three minutes. I drew this to celebrate. Wow, it's like your little brother is... watching us!

(all) Oooh! I know. He's looking right at me. Hi, Henry.

[laughs]

Wow, Ziggy, do you know what else I see? What? The letter "o" side by side! It's the "o-o" vowel team!

[gasps] Our vowel-team badge? Where?

You have a really good eye for art, Dott! I see it too! I don't! That's not a letter, it's a picture of some eyes... looking! Don't worry, Dust. We've got you covered. Will you help us show Dusty the "o"s in these looking eyes?

(children) Okay! 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 hair.

[magical tinkling] (children) Ooh!

First things first. We need this!

(Describer) Writing lines.

Now we need Ziggy's looking eyes.

[whistling]

(Ziggy) o-o, look, "oo." 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!

[squealing]

The "o-o" vowel team!

[letters whistling]

(Ziggy) o-o, look, "oo." 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" look vowel-team badge! I think you will, too, Dust! With your help, of course. It's gonna look pretty good with all your other badges. 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 "oo" sound

a bit more? (children) Yes! All right! 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.' Two lowercase o's appear, and turn into eyes.

[numbers beep]

(Dott) o-o, look, "oo." o-o, look, "oo." o-o, look, "oo."

[game-show music]

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

[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! Look, Brooke! I'm on TV! Today, you're listening for the "oo" sound. It's up to you to tell us where the sound is in each word. Here we go. The first word is: "wood." Wuh, oo, duh.

(Describer) Three squares appear.

Where is "oo" in "wuh, oo, duh"?

(child) The middle sound! Oh, okay! Let's do the middle, Dott! A.B. says...

[whirring, happy buzzing]

Ding, ding, ding! Yes! The next word is: "wool." Wuh, oo, ll. Where is "oo" in wuh, oo, ll?

(child) The second sound! Ooh! I'm really feeling that middle sound, Dott!

[happy dinging] (Dott) That's right!

Let's see how you do with another sound!

(children) Oooh! The last word is: "crook." kk, rr, oo, kk. Where is "oo" in kk, rr, oo, kk?

(child) The third sound! Oh, going with the third sound on this one!

[buzzing, dinging]

Aha! And that sound means you win!

[theme music plays]

You've won a piece of wood!

[children laughing]

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! Great! Be sure to listen for that "oo" sound while you exercise. What's up first, Dott? Our first move is called: The Chop the Wood. Here we go!

(Describer) She chops with both hands, then just one.

Five, six, seven, eight. Chop the Wood! Huh! Chop the Wood! Uh! Chop the Wood! Uh! And stop! Oh, I got one! It's called "The Goodie Goodie."

[giggling]

(Describer) She sways her shoulders.

How charming! Here we go-- Five, six, seven, eight!

The Goodie Goodie! [giggles]

The Goodie Goodie! Haha!

The Goodie Goodie. [giggles]

And stop! Oh, here's one! I call it "The Looker!"

(Describer) He shades his eyes and looks around.

Oh, I see! Let's do it! Cosmo's Looker. Five, six, seven, eight. "The Looker." And switch! The Looker! And switch! The Looker! And Switch! And stop! Nice workout, folks! I was hooked, really!

(Describer) In a bubble bath:

[bubbles popping] [soft music]

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

[bubbles pop]

(Describer) Two bubbles appear, then become one.

(Dott) Foot... step. Footstep.

(Dusty) Aha! Whoa, tiny bubbles.

(Describer) Now bubbles with letters:

Wuh, oo, dd. Wood! Ha! Ll, oo, kuh. Look. Gotcha!

[bubbles popping]

(Describer) The bubble pops.

Hm Hm Hm! Hmm? Dott, I'm ready to come out! My paws are pruney!

[whistling, fanfare]

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

[drumroll, upbeat music]

Oh, hi, Reading Buddies! I painted a picture of Marty and me. Marty's hanging it up. Is that good, Mary? It's a little crooked, Marty. Huh, whoa, whoa, whoa! Is it good now? Still crooked, Marty.

[sighs] Okay.

Whoa, whoa, yikes! Whoa, whoa!

(Describer) He reaches to fix it, and his ladder falls down!

[children laugh]

I'm okay!

(Describer) The portrait is straight.

Perfect, Marty! Not crooked anymore!

[whistles]

(Describer) The portrait tilts, and the gnomes shake their heads.

[children laugh] [sighs]

(both) Crooked-- "bent or twisted out of shape or out of place."

[applause]

(all) Bravo! Bravo!

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

(Jampa) Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

(Describer) Inside:

Dusty loves his baths. And a good foot massage! Hint, hint.

[Alphabott buzzing]

(Describer) Alphabott spins over.

[happy squeal] 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, o, o, and t.

Okay, let's read what we have here. "ss, oo, tt." Soot. Time to use those dog ears. What sound is in the middle of "ss, oo, tt"? Our Sound of the Day-- "oo." Yes! These two "o"s make the "oo" sound in "ss, oo, tt." Soot! Now, how do we transform "ss, oo, tt" into "ff, oo, tt"? We have to get rid of that "ss" and replace it with "ff"! Yes, very good. We get rid of the "s" and add "ff" to the beginning to make "ff, oo, tt." Now, let's transform "ff, oo, tt" to "ff, ah, tt." The middle sound changes! We lose our Sound of the Day, "oo," and replace it with "ah." Yes, we take out our "o-o" vowel team and we add the letter "a" to make "ff, ah, tt." Fat. All right. Now, Dusty, can you transform "ff, ah, tt" to "mm, ah, tt"? We have to get rid of "ff" in the beginning and replace it with "mm." Very good. Get rid of the "f" and replace it with the letter "m" to make "mm, ah, tt." Well done. All right, can you transform "mm, ah, tt" to "mm, ah, sh"? The last sound changes! We lose the "tt" and add "sh." Good boy! We lose the letter "t" at the end and replace it with the "s-h" digraph to make "mm, ah, sh." Mash! Dusty, you transformed all of those words! 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! Sure! 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]

♪

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

[Alphabott whirring]

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) Woof.

(Dusty) Woof. The word is "woof." How many sounds do you hear in: wuh, oo, ff?

(children) Three! Let's see. Wuh, oo, ff. Woof.

[whirring] (Reggie) Wowee zowwie!

(Alphabott) Brook.

(Dusty) Brook. The word is "brook." How many sounds are in: buh, rr, oo, kk?

(children) Four! Four? Let's see. Buh, rr, oo, kk. Brook!

(Reggie) Halfway there, Buddies.

(Alphabott) Hoodie.

(Dusty) Hooodie. The word is "hoodie." How many sounds are in: huh, oo, duh, ee?

(child) Four! Four? Let's see. Huh, oo, duh, ee. Hoodie!

(Reggie) One more should do the trick! [happy whirring]

(Alphabott) Cookie.

(Dusty) Cookie. The word is "cookie." How many sounds are in: kuh, oo, kk, ee?

(child) Four! Four? Let's see. Kuh, oo, kk, ee. Cookie!

[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]

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

(children) Awww!

(Dott) Today's heart word is: "do," as in: "Dusty, do you know where my slipper is?"

(Dusty) I do! I ate it! "Do" rhymes with "shoe."

(Dott) "Do" is a heart word, which means it has one or more sound spellings we may not know yet. "Do" has two sounds-- "duh, oo." The first sound, "duh," is spelled with the letter "d." The second sound, "oo," is spelled with just one "o," which is not making the "ah" sound we're used to. This is the part we have to know by heart. Let's read it together. "duh, oo."

(all) Do!

(Describer) Inside:

Dirty Dusty. Making a mess. Ugh, Dusty. More like-- more like "messy." That should be my name. Hey, Dust. Hey, Dott. Jampa helped me realize something. I was too hard on you earlier about the floor and the books and the beans. I just felt like I wasn't doing anything right. You know? [sighs] I was a little embarrassed, I guess. Dusty. I was so focused on your little mess-ups that I made an even bigger mess-up. I hurt your feelings. And you didn't deserve to be treated that way. Think you can forgive me? I love you, Dott! I forgive you!

[laughs] Oh, Dusty!

I love you too. But you're not off the hook yet. Let's finish that book! We need to find Jampa! Come on, Toto! Follow the Yellow Brick Road! I'm not sure why I have to be Toto, but...

[laughs]

[guitar strums]

(Describer) Outside:

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

Wear it with pride. [fanfare]

[applause]

Hey, everyone, come see how good I look! Hahaha! 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!

(Describer) Credits roll as Alphabott and Dusty pop up behind the fence. Copyright 2023 The Reading League - All Rights Reserved.

Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

[upbeat music]

♪

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