[soft intro music]

(Describer) A woman and a dog puppet:

Get the ducky! I want that duck! Oh, get your ducky!

(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, no! Goh! [child laughing]

(Describer) She bonks Dusty.

The "a-w" vowel-team badge.

[birds tweeting] Aw, yeah! Aggh.

[laughs]

[horn toots]

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

[upbeat music] [laughing, panting]

(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! Okay, y'all! You heard her! Backpacks inside. Uh, Dust? Huh? That means you too. Gah! Right. Hey, wait for me, y'all!

Y'all! [children laughing]

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... "Bawl." Let's say it together. "Bawl" on three! One, two, three!

(all) Bawl! Bawl means: "to cry loudly." 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) "aw, aw, aw."

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

[squealing]

(Dott) When we make the "aw" sound, our mouth is open; our tongue is low and down in the back of our mouth. Our voice box is on.

[squeals]

Repeat after me: "aw, aw, aw."

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

[whirring]

(Describer) Letters c-l-a-w.

[dinging]

Take the word "claw." When we see a syllable that has vowels next to each other, they form a vowel team!

[gong sounds]

They team up to make one sound. Today's vowel team is an "a" and a "w." Together, they're pronounced: "aw," like in "claw." Let's read it together. kk, ll, aw. Claw!

[music sizzle]

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 "aw" sound today, and you'll earn the "a-w" 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 crawl. She can't see you if you crawl. Oh! Not so fast, Dust. Ah! Dott! Did you clean your doghouse this morning? Ho ho! I bet you think all my stuff is just sprawled out all over the floor. She's right, of course. I forgot to clean my room! Hey, will you help me clean up all that junk?

(children) Yes! Haha! Hot dog! Race you there! Ready, set... wait for it. Go!

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

[panting] [funky music playing]

Hmm? Goh!

(singer) ♪ Dog dog, doggy dog ♪

♪ Doggy dog dog doghouse ♪

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

Okay, you know the drill. Let's sort out this pile of junk. Today, let's set aside all the things with the "aw" sound somewhere in their name. Remember-- "aw" like claw.

(junk pile) Dusty, you're looking a little scrawny today. Scrawny? Well, that's the last straw! Dive, dive, dive! Whoo! [grunts]

(Describer) Dusty digs in the pile.

[whistles, screeches] Hawk.

Hh, aw, kk. Does hawk have the "aw" sound?

(child) Yes! Yeah! Perch where you want to, hawk.

[grunting]

[splashing] Turtle.

Tt, er, tt, ll. Does turtle have the "aw" sound?

(children) No, Dusty! Nope! See you in episode 18, turtle!

[grunting]

[plodding] Paw print.

"Puh, aw" print. Does paw print have the "aw" sound?

(child) Yes! Haha! Yeah! Well, that's what happens when you help Ziggy rinse his brushes. You get paint paws!

(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!

[dog howls]

(Describer) Dusty finds Jampa sitting outside.

[banjo strumming]

Hello, Jampa! Hello, Dusty. Oh! Is that a new picture for your scrapbook? Yeah. What's that a picture of? A crawfish. A crawfish! Whoa! Do crawfish fly? No, Dusty! No, I didn't think so. Where did you find these crawfish? In my backyard in the creek. In your backyard in the creek? What are those things on its head? Antennae. Antennae? What do those things do? Find food and danger. Oh, they help the crawfish find food and danger. Jampa, can we pretend to be some crawfish with antennae? Ready, go! Okay. Let me know when your antennae sense anything. I sense something. What do you sense? A fish. A fish? Whoa. Now this is making me hungry.

[laughs]

Thanks for sharing your scrapbook with me, Jampa. Bye, crawfish Dusty. Bye, crawfish Jampa.

[banjo strumming]

(Describer) Nearby, Reggie finds Ziggy painting a black X on Alphabott's paper screen.

[angry brushing]

Hey, Ziggy. Twiggy Ziggy! What jerks. Um, Ziggy? Oh, hi, Reggie. Bad day at school? Awful day! Those older kids giving you a hard time again? My soccer practice was ruined by them chanting: "Twiggy Ziggy, Twiggy Ziggy."

[groans] They think I'm scrawny.

Bullies. You know what? Who cares about what they think? You're amazing at soccer. It's honestly amazing how good you are. Thanks, but I wish I was more like my dad. He's brawny. Well, maybe you can be brawny if you really, really want to. But what if they start chanting "Twiggy Ziggy" at tomorrow's game? We'll think of something. Until then, keep on painting those feelings out. Whaa! Okay. But I'm going to need a lot more paper. I'll help you grab some. Thanks, Reg.

[beeping]

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

[funky music]

[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?

[happy buzzing]

Hi, A.B. Hi, Ziggy. What did you draw today? I went to the aquarium! Reggie and I saw two fiddler crabs dueling with their claws like this! Oh, ho! I see. So you drew these claws. Hey, Ziggy, do you know what I see in these claws? What? The "a-w" vowel team.

[gasps] Our new Alphabadge? Where?

I see it, too! Way to go, Dott! Well, I don't! Those aren't letters, it's a picture of some claws. Don't worry, Dusty! We've got you covered. Will you help us show Dusty the "a-w" vowel team in these claws?

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

(Describer) She pulls the imaginary brush from Alphabott.

[magical tinkling] (children) Ooh!

First things first. We need this!

(Describer) Writing lines.

Next, we need Ziggy's claws.

[claws whistling]

(Ziggy) a-w, claw, "aw." To draw the letter "a," start between the dotted and the bottom line. We make a circle to the left. Now, add a short line down. Time for the "w"! Start on the dotted line. We make a diagonal line down, diagonal up, diagonal down, and one last diagonal back up. Done!

[squeals]

The "a-w" vowel team!

[letters whistle]

(Ziggy) a-w, claw, "aw."

[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 "a-w" vowel-team badge! Aww! 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]

[happy whir]

You want to go inside and play with this "aw" sound

a bit more? (child) Yes! All right! See ya in the reading room!

(Describer) They head inside as Alphabott's screen counts down from six: 'alpha shorts.' Lowercase letters a and w float down, and turn into claws.

[numbers beep]

[upbeat music]

(Dott) a-w, claw, "aw." a-w, claw, "aw." a-w, claw, "aw."

(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! Hi, Claude! I'm on TV! Today, you're listening for the "aw" sound. It's up to you to tell us where the sound is in each word. The first word is: "all." All. Aw, ll.

(Describer) Two squares appear.

Where is "aw" in "aw, ll"?

(children) The first sound! Yeah, I think you're right. We pick the first sound, Dott! A.B. says...

[whirring, happy buzzing]

(Dott) That's right! The next word is: "awful." Awful. Aw, ff, ll. Where is "aw" in aw, ff, ll?

(child) The first sound! Woof! Are you sure?

(child) Yes! Okay! The first sound, Dott!

[happy dinging]

(Dott) Oh, yeah! Okay, the next word is: "dawn." Dawn. Duh, aw, nn. Where is "aw" in "duh, aw, nn"?

(children) The middle sound! Are you sure? Yes! Okay. The middle sound, Dott

[happy dinging]

Whoo-hoo! That's right! And that sound means you win!

[theme music plays]

You've won a pile of straw!

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

[applause]

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

[children cheering]

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 "aw" sound while you exercise. What's up first, Dott? Our first move is called: The Claw. [growls]

(Describer) She holds her arm with her hand shaped like a claw.

Here we go. The Claw! [growls] The Claw! Rrrr! The Claw! Rrrr! And stop! How about this, Dott? I call it "The See-Saw." Very good!

(Describer) He holds out his arms and tips back and forth.

Okay, let's give it a go! Five, six, seven, eight. The See-Saw! Come on. The See-Saw! Good. The See-Saw! And stop! Ooh! How about this, Dott? I call it: "The Yawn." I'm tired now. Oh, she's so tired. Come on. Five, six, seven, eight. The Yawn. Ah, The Yawn. The Yawn! And stop! Nice workout, folks! Jaw-dropping, really! That was pretty good! I agree.

[bubbles popping] [soft music]

(Describer) In a bubble bath:

Splash, splash, splash. Woof! Ha! That workout made me sweat. Look at all the bubbles. Let's get popping! Haha!

[bubbles pop]

(Describer) Bubbles with letters float into place.

(Dott) Ss, ll, aw. Slaw.

(Dusty) Haha! Dd, rr, aw. Draw.

(Dusty) Who-hoo!

[bubbles popping]

(Describer) The bubbles pop.

Hmm. Hm? 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'm trying to get a splinter out of Marty's finger, but he keeps bawling.

[sniffing] I was not bawling.

Marty, you were crying pretty loud. Nope! I'm a tough guy. It's just a teensy splinter. I'll make it quick. No rush! Take your time. But not too much time, okay? Don't bawl, Marty. Don't bawl. Don't... whhhaaaaa!

(Describer) Tears fall from his face.

Whaaaa! Oh, the humanity! I can't look! I'm a goner! I'm... Done! Done? I didn't feel anything. See? You didn't have to bawl your eyes out.

[funky music playing]

(both) "Bawl--to cry loudly."

[applause]

(all) Bravo! Bravo!

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

(Jampa) Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

[funky music]

(Describer) Inside:

Dusty loves his baths. What can I say? My fur is flawless!

[laughs]

[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) Letters t-h and a-w.

Okay, let's read what we have here. "Th, aw." Thaw! Time to use those dog ears. What is the last sound, Dusty? That's our Sound of the Day-- "aw," like claw! Yes. It's our "a-w" vowel team. Next, transform "th, aw" to "ll, aw." We need to take out "th" in the beginning! Oh, oh, that's the "th" digraph, by the way. Replace it with "ll." You're such a show-off. Yes, we switch out the "th" digraph for the letter "l." Okay, now transform "ll, aw" to "kk, ll, aw." What do we need to add? "Kk"! Oh, we need to add "kk." Good job. I'm going to add the letter "c" for that "kk." Now we have "kk, ll, aw." Claw! Okay, can you transform "kk, ll, aw" to "ss, ll, aw"? I hear it! Get rid of the "kk." It needs to start with "ss." We need an "s." Yes, we do. We get rid of the "c" and we add an "s" to make "ss, ll, aw." Slaw. Okay. Can you transform "ss, ll, aw" to "ss, aw"? Ho ho ho! All we need to do is lose "ll." Goodbye, "l"! Goodbye, "l." That's right. We lose the letter "l" from the blend, and now we have "ss, aw." Saw! Hey! 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! 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]

♪

[Alphabott whirring]

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

[gears clanking, steam hissing] 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) All.

(Dusty) All. The word is "all." How many sounds do you hear in: aw, ll?

(children) Two! Let's see. Aw, ll. All.

[whirring] (Reggie) Wowee zowwie!

(Alphabott) Jaw.

(Dusty) Jaw. The word is "jaw." How many sounds are in: Jj, aw?

(child) Two! Two? Let's see. Jj, aw. Jaw!

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

(Alphabott) Prawn.

(Dusty) Prawn. The word is "prawn." How many sounds are in: puh, rr, aw, nn?

(child) Four! Four? Let's see. Puh, rr, aw, nn. Prawn!

(Reggie) One more should do the trick!

(Alphabott) Shawl.

(Dusty) Shawl. The word is "shawl." How many sounds are in: sh, aw, ll?

(children) Three! Three? Let's see. Sh, aw, ll. Shawl!

[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) A heart reveals letters w-a-l-k.

(children) Awww!

(Dott) Today's heart word is: "walk," as in: "Dusty loves to go for a walk outside."

(Dusty) Especially after lunch! "Walk" rhymes with "chalk."

(Dott) "Walk" is a heart word, which means it has one or more sound spellings we may not know yet. "Walk" has three sounds-- "wuh, aw, kk." The first sound, "wuh," is spelled with the letter "w." The last sound, "kk," is spelled with the letter "k." The second sound, "aw," is tricky because it's spelled with an "a" and an "l." This is the part we have to know by heart. Let's read it together. "Wuh, aw, kk."

(all) Walk!

(Describer) Outside, Reggie times Ziggy as he lifts a heavy paint can.

Seven, eight, nine... and ten! That's a wrap. Let's take a break, Ziggy. I can keep going. I've got to keep going! We said ten; you did ten. Let's take a break. Can't, Reg! I don't have any muscle...

[grunts, pants]

(Describer) Ziggy drops into a lawn chair.

You have no muscle, huh? Well, if you have no muscle, then how can you pick up a paintbrush and paint? Paintbrushes aren't heavy. Maybe not to you. And how can you kick the soccer ball if you don't have any muscle? Yah! And... how can you even breathe if you don't have muscle? I see what you're doing. Ziggy, you are awesome. Don't let anybody make you feel like you aren't enough. You are enough. Thanks, Reg. Um, hey, do you maybe think you could come to tomorrow's game? Ziggy, you know me. I'm already planning on it. Thanks, Reg.

(Describer) They fist bump and touch their pointer fingers together.

Okay, catch this. All right. Aw, so close!

(Describer) They toss popcorn to each other.

Ah! No! [laughs]

[laughs]

[guitar strums]

(Describer) Later:

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

Wear it with pride. [fanfare]

[applause]

Aw! It's so cute. Little baby badge. Hmm. 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 appear. 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.