Sammy's Story Shop

The man in the moon, bored with life on his drifting sphere in space, longs to join in the fun he sees on earth. He catches a shooting star and rockets down, only to be treated as an invader. Disillusioned with life on earth, he returns to his shimmering seat in space. This is the story of the silent wonder of a city snow and Peter's solitary delight in it as he slides down snowy mountains and takes a snowball home in his pocket. The sensitive combination of pictures and storytelling reflects the sparkling quality of snow. Louie constructs a shoebox diorama and uses his imagination to visit his old neighborhood.

After raising her ducklings on an island in the Charles River in Boston, Mrs. Mallard leads her brood to their permanent home in the Public Garden. The timeless qualities of this classic tale are captured on the screen by camera movement on the original illustrations. An Australian possum named Hush used to think that the magic made by Grandma Poss to make her invisible was fun - until one day, Hush wants to know what she looks like. Tour Australia with these two charming possums as they sample the food that will one day make Hush's wish come true. Narrated by author Mem Fox with music by Yothu Yindi.

Norman's job is to stand guard at the mouse hole entrance to the Museum of Art, but his ambition is to become an artist. One of his sculptures wins an award in the museum's art show and Norman finds himself a celebrity in this witty adaptation of Don Freeman's satire. One evening Harold decides to go for a walk in the moonlight, but there isn't any moon. He takes his purple crayon and draws one. The wondrous magic of Harold's purple crayon takes this character on a succession of adventures matching the range of his own imagination.

Burt catches himself a lot more than a fish when he and his trusty boat, the Tidely-Idely, put out to sea. A whale of a tale! Narrated by Tim Sample. An industrious, hardworking hen teaches her friends a thing or two about helping out in this classic story. Hippo promises not to eat Ngai's little fishes in exchange for being allowed to live in the cool water instead of on dry land.

A hungry fox with a toothache begs a mouse dentist to relieve his pain in this modern-day fable. A wicked troll tries in vain to gobble up a family of goats when they go trip-trapping over his bridge. A lion in a Paris zoo tries to return his friends' visits by venturing into town to see them.

Amidst life's gloom and despair, a blind man and two boys discover music as a common bond of joy. The lively blues sound of a harmonica reflects their happiness. Young children can spy familiar nursery characters hiding in the colorful pictures. There's Tom Thumb, Jack and Jill, and the Three Bears as well as Baby Bunting and a host of others. Known as the Thanksgiving Address, this Native American good morning message is based on the belief that the natural world is a precious and rare gift - from the moon and the stars to the tiniest blade of grass. Narrated by Chief Jake Swamp in English and in the Mohawk language.

Strega Nona's meddling assistant Big Anthony is determined to prove to the townspeople his knowledge of the magic secrets contained in the pasta pot of Strega Nona. In so doing, he unleashes a torrent of pasta which threatens to engulf their little Italian town. Millions and billions and trillions of cats! A search by a husband to find a cat for his wife becomes a lesson in humility and greed. Black and white graphics and all of the original text are preserved in this popular filmed version to ensure the integrity of this classic book. The romantic tale about the voyage of a seemingly ill-matched pair and the happiness they find together.

Hendrika, a cow who longs to see the city, gets her wish - and more - when she rides an old raft down one of Holland's most picturesque canals - to adventure. Monty, a dependable and considerate alligator taxi for three children who need to get to school every day, decides that he needs a vacation when their back-seat driving proves more than he can handle. Archie needs to come up with a pet in a hurry for the neighborhood pet show. A timeless story.

What do you do when your best toy disappears and no one will help you find it? Jules Feiffer's spunky little detective learns that if you keep on searching, you might just discover more than you expected! In simple rhythmic words that are the essence of pure poetry, Rev. Ted Hoskins describes the Maine island that is the home of Robert McCloskey. Radiant watercolors, sparse piano music and haunting sound effects capture the sights and sounds of all seasons.

Louis' best birthday present comes from his Uncle McAllister in Scotland -- a tadpole! Everyone is stunned to see Louis' new pet, Alphonse, grow and grow and grow. A young girl from the West African village of Tos movingly tells how the men came to live in square houses and the women in round ones.

A charming tale of the peddler whose stolen caps mean all kinds of monkey business.Three clever soldiers devise a plan to get food and lodging from the selfish inhabitants of a French village during the time of Napoleon. Tasaku is a lowly cutter of stone who longs for power. Authentic Japanese music on the koto.

Plucky Flossie Finley asks a clever fox to prove that he is a fox before she will be frightened of him on her way to deliver a basket of eggs. Narrated by author Patricia McKissack. At a lonely old farm house, deep in the forest on a crisp winter's night, everyone sleeps. All but one ... the old Tomten, a little troll whom no human being has ever seen. In the moonlight, he moves about the farm, comforting the animals in a silent little language.

Joey looks for another home when he doesn't feel like cleaning up his messy room. When Charlie's old cloak becomes torn and tattered, he spins a new one showing how cloth is made from wool. A friendly ghost looks for a new house to haunt when he feels unwanted by the Whitaker Family.