The Cook Out

The Cook Out

Martin & Sylvia

Visitors are returning to Martin and Sylvia's house—friends they haven’t seen in a year! The brother and sister can't wait to do all the fun things they did last summer: cook-outs, tag, ball games and ‘explorers’. But once the friends arrive, Martin finds that Jacob doesn't want to join in the fun they planned. Not only that, but Jacob speaks rudely and teases Martin! Daddy gives Martin some useful advice on how to treat those who tease, and Martin is surprised to see that it changes everything.

19 min
4+
Topics: SummerParenting

Characters in this Story

Martin

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Winters Little and Big

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Family Farms

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Comfort Food

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When family friend Mr. Weber has surgery, they decide to cook for him. The family delights in learning how to cook carefully, slowly and how to fill the food with love.
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Helping Hands

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Tracking

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Animal Daycamp

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After waiting a while year to go to Animal Camp, Sylvia feels nervous when it's finally time to go.
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A Trip to the Doctor

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When Sylvia hurts her arm and needs to get an xray, she and Momma use a special imagination game to help them feel brave and relaxed, and, in the process, even delight the hospital doctor.
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The Sit Spot

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The Dark

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Martin is feeling nervous about the dark, so Momma guides him through a hearing, smelling and feeling exercise that not only reassures him, but relaxes him enough to fall deeply asleep
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Gargoyles

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Super Raker

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Apple Pies

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Martin & Sylvia
Martin comes up with a secret ingredient for entry in Mr. & Mrs Brown's pie contest. Will his unique concoction win the competition?
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Goose Eye Wilderness School

Goose Eye Wilderness School

Martin & Sylvia
When Momma and Daddy enroll him in a local wilderness school, Martin has the opportunity to experience adventures in the wild -- both unexpected and satisfying.
21 min
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The Cabin

The Cabin

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When Momma teaches her how to have ‘fox feet’ and ‘deer ears’ Sylvia suddenly finds the woods full of possibilities and indeed, animals.
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The Sick and Tired Day

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What’s a Sick and Tired Day? With Momma's help, morning play, snack time, lessons, lunch and even clean-up time become fun!
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Babbit the Rabbit

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The In-Between

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When the family takes a day-trip to the ocean, Martin and Sylvia discover that fairy magic can appear in the most unlikely places.
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The Enchanted Frog

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Loose Tooth

Loose Tooth

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As homeschoolers, Momma and Daddy have a special way of telling when it's time for certain lessons. Sometimes something unexpected happens, which can turn the day's lesson on end.
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This Is Camping

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It's time for their annual camping trip and Martin and Sylvia are excited to enjoy all of their camping traditions. This year, they learn that camping means different things to different people.
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Cousins

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The Drawing Contest

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Pirates

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The Cook Out

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Spy Team

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A Trip to the City

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Camping Out

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Thank-You's

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The Playhouse

The Playhouse

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Daddy finds a surprising way to include Sylvia's imaginative ideas in play time.
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Pick-Up League

Pick-Up League

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Martin is too young to join the baseball team, so Daddy pulls together a creative and crazy game with friends and family.
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The Woodpecker Tree

The Woodpecker Tree

Martin & Sylvia
When it's time to take down the Woodpecker Tree, Karl the playful woodsman teaches Martin and Sylvia about trees, cutting firewood, and a secret way to stay safe from black flies!
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A Fine Town

A Fine Town

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When vacation is over too soon, Momma and Daddy help the children see their own town with fresh eyes.
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Mother's Day

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Daddy, Martin, and Sylvia help Momma realize what can make Mother's Day perfect.
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Good Old Dog

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A Trip to Grandma's

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Martin and Sylvia are going on a road trip to Grandma's! But they've never been in the car together for that long before. What will they do, stuck in the car for all that time?
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Putting on a Play

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Telling the Truth

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A Plane Trip

A Plane Trip

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Christmas is over and it's cold and the family is restless. Daddy has an idea - "Let's go to the beach!" Sylvia learns how much fun a plane trip can be
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Moving

Moving

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Martin's friend Peter is moving away, and Martin finds it difficult to say goodbye.
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Catching Crayfish

Catching Crayfish

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Martin & Sylvia are sure the summer has arrived now that the crayfish have appeared in their brook. They spend the day figuring out how to catch some.
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The Kitty

The Kitty

Martin & Sylvia
Martin & Sylvia get to know their new kitten, Pickles. They wonder why she seems to prefer Momma to them and follow her around to find out her secret.
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Independence Day on the Green

Independence Day on the Green

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Martin & Sylvia come up with a plan to help their dog Billbill through his fear of fireworks so everyone can enjoy the Independence Day celebrations.
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4+

Father's Day

Father's Day

Martin & Sylvia
Martin joins Daddy for a day of work. From yard to field to downtown studio, Martin studies his father, and wonders — why does he do things just this way?
19 min
3+

Grandma's House

Grandma's House

Martin & Sylvia
As the family goes to Grandma’s to help her pack up her big old house and move, the kids worry she will have to give away some of the many treasures they find.
29 min
4+

The Birthday Book

The Birthday Book

Martin & Sylvia
Martin ponders what to get Sylvia for her birthday and after thinking about her favorite things, he envisions the perfect gift.
15 min
3+

Fairy Snow Fort

Fairy Snow Fort

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When Sylvia wakes with a plan to build a Fairy Snow Fort, the whole family pitches in and experiences the joy of working together.
15 min
4+

Helping Out

Helping Out

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When Momma takes a sick day from work, the children recognize the value and delight of letting go of plans and helping out at home.
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4+

First Day

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14 min
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The Finger-Knit Necklace

The Finger-Knit Necklace

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Martin & Sylvia are hard at work making a gift for the children's librarian, but when they end up with two gifts, they have to decide — who will get the second one?
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3+

A Proper Uniform: A Story for Military Holidays

A Proper Uniform: A Story for Military Holidays

Martin & Sylvia
Seeing the military uniforms during the Memorial Day parade inspires Martin & Sylvia to ponder what an official explorer's uniform would look like, and results in family fun and creativity.
17 min
4+

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