- 3 days ago
Season 12 (1996-1997)
Featured Book: Always My Dad
Reviewed Books: Boundless Grace
The Perfect Spot
Taxi Taxi
Original production funding provided by: Kellogg’s Cereal Company
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
PBS Viewers Like You
National Science Foundation
The Pew Charitable Trusts
The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
Featured Book: Always My Dad
Reviewed Books: Boundless Grace
The Perfect Spot
Taxi Taxi
Original production funding provided by: Kellogg’s Cereal Company
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
PBS Viewers Like You
National Science Foundation
The Pew Charitable Trusts
The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
Category
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TVTranscript
00:00PBS Kids opens worlds of possibilities for all children, thanks to PBS stations and viewers like you.
00:30Friends to know, and ways to grow, pretty rainbow, I can be anything, take a look, it's in a book, pretty rainbow, pretty rainbow.
01:00Hey Andre, que pasa, how you feeling?
01:05Great!
01:06Hi, and welcome to Family Day.
01:10One day each year, all of the families in the neighborhood get together for a big bash, and it's always a sensational day.
01:17My family used to picnic a lot, right here in this park.
01:20In fact, right over there was our spot.
01:25Let's see, there was my mom, my sisters, Leticia and Valencia.
01:30Aunts, uncles, and cousins.
01:33Lots of cousins.
01:35The only person missing was my dad.
01:39Because you see, when I was about eight years old, my father and mother separated.
01:44My dad moved out of the house, and my sisters and I stayed with my mom.
01:49That changed our family and our lives in lots of ways.
01:54My dad just wasn't around much anymore, and, well, I had a pretty tough time understanding why.
02:00Sometimes, I thought I was the only kid on the planet with just one parent at home.
02:07Well, I was wrong.
02:09There are lots of kids that don't have a dad at home, like the girl in this story.
02:14Always my dad.
02:21Always my dad.
02:24By Sharon Dennis Wyeth.
02:27Illustrated by Raul Colon.
02:30Read by B.J. Crosby.
02:38Sometimes, the person I want to see more than anyone in the world is my dad.
02:45But I'll only see my dad once in a while.
02:51Daddy moves around, so his address keeps changing.
02:56His job keeps changing, too.
02:58A long time ago, he flew planes for the Air Force, and after that, he worked in an office.
03:09Once, his job was painting houses, and then he fixed televisions.
03:14I'm not sure what he does now.
03:19One day last summer, Mom took me and my brothers to stay with my dad's parents, who lived on a farm.
03:26After Mom left, I looked everywhere.
03:32In the barn, I saw Grandpa milking brownie.
03:36When I opened the door to the hen house, two big hens flew out.
03:43Who I was really hoping to see was my dad, but Daddy wasn't there.
03:54My brothers and I played hide-and-seek.
03:57We helped Grandpa weed the vegetable garden.
04:01We helped Grandma pick blackberries.
04:03And when the evening came, we listened to the crickets while we ate blackberry cobbler and ice cream.
04:12So peaceful, Grandma would say.
04:16Just look at that sky.
04:19Sometimes, there was a moon with no stars.
04:23Sometimes, there was a moon and stars together.
04:26One special night.
04:31There was a light on the path.
04:34Looks like we got a visitor, said Grandpa.
04:37Even in the dark, I could tell who it was.
04:44Daddy, Daddy, my brothers began shouting and running.
04:47But suddenly, I got shy.
04:50Hi, Daddy.
04:51Daddy, I said walking up to him real slow.
04:55He lifted me up and kissed me on the cheek.
05:01Hi, sugar.
05:03Look how tall you've gotten.
05:05Now, instead of brushing our teeth in the bathroom, we brushed them outside at the pump.
05:13Because Daddy said it's more fun.
05:15Instead of wearing shoes, Daddy let us go barefoot.
05:22And in the evenings, while Grandma and Grandpa rested on the porch, we caught lightning bugs in the field with Daddy.
05:29We put them in jars and made our own flashlights.
05:39In a while, we went upstairs.
05:41What's that?
05:43I whispered, seeing a strange shape on my window.
05:48Just some candle flies.
05:50They like the light, said Daddy, tucking me in.
05:53But then they fly away.
05:55He tapped the pane, and they disappeared.
05:58One morning, Daddy took us to the general store.
06:07We sat on high stools and drank grape soda.
06:12Tomorrow I'm leaving, Dad told us.
06:16How come?
06:17I asked him, trying not to cry.
06:21Well, I've been having a problem getting my life together, Daddy said quietly.
06:26Daddy, now at least I've got a new job driving a truck cross-country.
06:32You're always going somewhere, grumbled Gary.
06:36Can't we come with you, asked Brian?
06:39Please, Dad.
06:41Daddy shook his head.
06:43You're better off with your mom, having a regular life.
06:47When am I going to see you again, Daddy?
06:50Soon, he promised.
06:52I love you.
06:53Just remember, wherever I am, I'm always your dad.
07:03During the leftover summer days, my brothers and I played and did our chores.
07:09At night, we'd listen to crickets with Grandma and Grandpa.
07:14Once, all by itself, was the biggest moon I'd ever seen.
07:22It was round and orange and looked like a sweet potato pie.
07:29I don't dream much, but every once in a while I do, and it's always the same.
07:41I'm standing in the field with Daddy.
07:44There are lots of stars in the sky, and the moon the color of sweet potato.
07:49And fluttering all around are silvery candle flies.
07:56Wherever he is, I know my dad loves me.
08:01He's always my dad.
08:04My mom had to be both mom and dad for my sisters and me.
08:19She helped us with our homework, fixed our bikes and our roller skates.
08:24She taught us how to cook and sew.
08:26Mom did just about everything.
08:27And for me, well, it worked most of the time.
08:32But once in a while, it didn't.
08:35Like when my Boy Scout troop, Troop 416, announced its father and son camp out.
08:42My dad wasn't around.
08:44What was I going to do?
08:45So I talked to my mom, and she invited our friend Mr. Bruce to take me.
08:51He agreed, and I was all set.
08:53Well, the day finally arrived, and when he came to pick me up, Mr. Bruce had in the car with him his own son, Doug.
09:03I was crushed.
09:04I mean, I understood that he wanted to spend that time with his own son, but I wanted my own dad.
09:11That was real tough for me.
09:13Whether it's your dad or your mom who doesn't live with you, it can leave an empty space that's pretty hard to fill.
09:27But take a careful look around.
09:29There are lots of families with one parent who takes care of the kids by her or himself.
09:35This is the Davis family.
09:42Bill Davis is a single parent who's both dad and mom to his children.
09:46My former wife and I agreed that our relationship was not the healthiest, and that since it was not very healthy for us, that it would not be very healthy for our children.
10:01And so we made a decision that it would be better for us to separate and to get divorced, and that the best way to serve the children's interests was for them to live with me.
10:11It was a transition that was painful, but smooth.
10:33My dad has to do a lot of things.
10:35He has to cook breakfast in the morning.
10:37He drives us to school and to parties and stuff like that, so he has to play two rules in his family.
10:50One of the biggest challenges for me is getting them up and out in the morning.
10:56Oh, Tucson.
10:57Looks like you got a great piece, man.
11:01Everybody did a great job helping out with breakfast this morning.
11:04So we want you to enjoy your meal, and then we got to go.
11:09All right.
11:09All right?
11:10Being a mother and father has been the most difficult thing that I've ever tried to do.
11:16Hi, Daddy.
11:16We're back.
11:17Hey, Bonnie.
11:17What's up, Grant?
11:18What'd you get?
11:19Sometimes I may have to say things or do things that, you know, you will not like, but it's ultimately because it's because I love you that I have to do it.
11:27Wait a minute.
11:27What is this?
11:29Soda.
11:29Soda.
11:30You know we don't drink soda, man.
11:32All that sugar in there.
11:33Well, I got it.
11:34We have to put that back.
11:35No, no, no.
11:35We have to put the soda back.
11:36Okay.
11:37All right?
11:37All right.
11:39There have been times in which they've been disagreement about things.
11:42Well, let's get these.
11:43Let's get these.
11:45Sometimes we can't decide on what cereal we get.
11:49But usually I win.
11:51We got those last time, so now we have to get these.
11:54Okay.
11:55But all in all, I'd have to say that, you know, they have realized how important it is for them to work together as a team.
12:03Somebody please put the cart back.
12:05I'll put it back.
12:08And they have helped to support me so that this circumstance would work.
12:15So, Bonnie, tell me about your day.
12:17What did you do?
12:18Did you and Cali hang out and do something fun today?
12:19During dinner, it's the one time in which we're all sitting at the table together and we don't really have to rush a lot.
12:25That's what the school system is doing.
12:28For them, it's a time in which they know that if there's something they really need to say, they have an opportunity to say it.
12:33Can I have a cellular phone for my birthday?
12:36Sure, you can.
12:37This birthday coming up.
12:38No, no, no.
12:39The birthday when you get out of high school and go to college.
12:41No.
12:42For me, it's invaluable because it's one of the few times that I really get a chance just to listen.
12:47Tell me about your day.
12:50Well, I got back to midterm and math.
12:52After seeing my other friends with two parents and seeing how they go on with life and everything, well, I just think that our family's doing very well with just one.
13:03Woo!
13:06My dad is funny, and when I need him, he's always there.
13:11He's a kind, loving, and caring person.
13:14I miss my mom on birthdays and, like, Christmas and Thanksgiving and stuff like that.
13:29Happy birthday to you.
13:34Happy birthday to you.
13:37Happy birthday, dear Naima.
13:41The last time I saw that thing was, like, two Christmases ago or something like that, so I miss her.
13:47My birthday wish for you, Naima, is that I hope you have good health and prosperity through the rest of your life.
13:54I don't think you know what prosperity means.
13:57Are you ready to blow your candles out?
13:58Yeah.
14:00Go, Naima!
14:01Yay!
14:03All right, dear Naima, very good.
14:05Birthdays are really difficult because that's the time when you really miss their mother.
14:10You want to cut?
14:11The challenge that it takes for parenting is just an ongoing thing.
14:15You realize that no matter how well you do it, you have to go back and keep on doing it, and keep on doing it, and keep on doing it.
14:23I tell people it's the most difficult job you'll ever love.
14:30I want to be like my dad because he's a good parent, and I want to be a good parent, too.
14:38If he loves you and cares for you, one great parent is all you need.
14:42No!
14:42The Davis family is a happy family, because even though it's a single-parent household, everybody gets what they need.
14:59Sometimes that means reaching out to others, but together they always find a way.
15:05When I was growing up, I could generally talk to my mom about, well, about anything, but sometimes I just needed a man's point of view.
15:15Like when my scoutmaster, Mr. Hill, would spend extra time with me working on my camping skills.
15:22Knot tying, fire building, how to sharpen my pocket knife.
15:26My mom didn't know anything about camping, but Mr. Hill was there for me.
15:33Once in a while, someone special can step in when you need help.
15:37Like a big brother, for example.
15:43Meet Mark and Max.
15:45They're like brothers, but they don't belong to the same family.
15:51Max lives with his mom.
15:53Six, five, yes.
15:54Nice job.
15:55Ah, okay.
15:59Mark is a businessman who spends free time with Max.
16:02You know, just being able to see something.
16:06That must be Mark.
16:07Yes.
16:11It's Mark.
16:12Okay, come on up.
16:15Why don't you get a jacket and get whatever else you need and get going.
16:19All right, sure.
16:20When Max was six years old, Max's dad and I got a divorce, and I became a single mom and began to raise Max myself.
16:31Well, I remember there was one time I went to my friend's house.
16:34This is after my parents had been divorced.
16:37I went to my friend's house, and I saw him and his father wrestling, and I came home, and I was really upset.
16:43And I asked my mom, would she wrestle with me?
16:44And then that's when she, like, really realized that I needed, you know, someone to be there for me.
16:50My dad wasn't there for me, like, four years.
16:53He just, I didn't hear one word from him.
16:55I just started getting really depressed, and my mom realized that I needed somebody.
16:59I needed to fill up any holes that were left for my dad leaving.
17:05Hey, Max.
17:06Hey.
17:06How you doing?
17:07I'm okay.
17:07How are you?
17:08Hi, Carol.
17:08Hi, how are you?
17:09How are you?
17:09Good.
17:10Good, you all ready to go?
17:11Yeah.
17:12Great.
17:12Mark became part of Max's life when Max's mom called Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
17:17Have a good time.
17:18Okay.
17:20Hello, Valerie Stark.
17:22Oh, yes, hi, how are you?
17:24Big Brothers matches kids with adults who can be like older brothers or sisters.
17:29He'll be here any minute.
17:30Don't be so nervous.
17:31Do you have any questions for me, Max, before Mark gets here?
17:34Will I like him?
17:35I think you'll like him a lot.
17:36I really didn't know what to expect, you know, what kind of kid he was, if he'd like me.
17:40I guess, yeah, you could say I was a little nervous.
17:42I just wanted to make sure he'd like me.
17:44He was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and a leather jacket.
17:59Mark, this is Max.
18:00Hi, Max.
18:00How are you?
18:01This is Mark.
18:01My mother told me I should dress up for him, so I wore a shirt, a tie, and jeans.
18:06I don't normally wear a shirt and tie.
18:08Okay.
18:08See you later.
18:10See you later.
18:14Valerie just asked us to take a walk around the block, sort of to get to know each other.
18:19So we took a walk around the block, and I told him a little bit about myself.
18:23So, where do you live?
18:26I live in Staten Island.
18:27Yeah?
18:28Yeah.
18:28I have a friend who lives in Staten Island.
18:30Oh, really?
18:30Yeah.
18:31I was nervous, but when he talked to me, I knew I was going to like him, because he was
18:35just like the type of person that I was.
18:37Where do you work?
18:39I work a couple of blocks from here.
18:40Yeah?
18:41You look like a very warm person inside.
18:43Of course.
18:44What do you do?
18:44On his stockbroke.
18:46Oh.
18:46He looked like a great kid.
18:47He really did.
18:48He looked like a, you know, type of person I could have a lot of fun with.
18:52So I felt comfortable about it.
18:54No, I can't imagine one.
18:56Oh, look, they're back.
18:57Hi, guys.
18:58How you doing?
18:58How'd everything go?
18:59It went really well.
19:00It went really well.
19:00Great.
19:01Yeah.
19:01Where'd you go?
19:04Nice day, right, Max?
19:05Yeah.
19:06Hey, Mark, can you ask me if I open my window?
19:07Sure you can.
19:08I expected somebody to be, like, kind of like a father for me, but it turned out that
19:14it was, like, actually more like a big brother.
19:17One of the first girls that ever went out with lived on this block.
19:20Yeah?
19:20Yeah.
19:21What's her name?
19:22Chris.
19:23Yeah?
19:24Big brother, my definition is someone who is just there for another person, whether
19:31it's to listen, to talk to, whatever it may be.
19:39I try to bring up topics about school, maybe girls.
19:44You have any girlfriends?
19:45Yeah.
19:46Really?
19:46That sounds like you have more than one.
19:49Only one.
19:50So how long are you dating her?
19:51A week.
19:53A week?
19:54A week?
19:54Sometimes when Mark asks me about things that are a little personal or things like that,
19:59I feel comfortable with it.
20:01So your mom told me you got a report card recently.
20:05Uh-huh.
20:05Uh-huh?
20:06Yeah.
20:06And how was it?
20:08Not so great.
20:09Not so great?
20:10Not so great.
20:10What does that mean?
20:12I failed three subjects.
20:13Three subjects?
20:13Three subjects.
20:15Listen, this is not finished.
20:18You can't leave this like this, okay?
20:20Uh, many times I feel like I can be a close person to him, but I know I can't be his dad.
20:25Come on, Max.
20:26You want to get good grades, you've got to be able to do the work.
20:32You can do it neatly, too, okay?
20:33Yeah.
20:34Whatever.
20:36Which subject is this that you're working on?
20:39This is science.
20:40Oh, so this is one of the subjects that you're having a little problem with in school, right?
20:45Yeah.
20:46So let's go back a little bit.
20:47I think my mom really likes Mark because he helps me with a lot of things that I need help with.
20:52Body temperature drops without the temperature of the environment.
20:55So if we go back to the graph...
20:57I went into this, I really just wanted to help somebody, and it's a very, very rewarding thing to do.
21:02You can see what the temperature is.
21:03Since I've become a little brother and I have a big brother, my life has changed.
21:08Because now I know that there's someone there for me, and it's not only my mom or my aunts or my uncles.
21:14It's also Mark.
21:20Hey, guys, how you doing?
21:21Hi, Mark.
21:22How you doing?
21:22When I was growing up, I did want a little brother.
21:24And I talked to my mom about that, and she said my sister and me were enough.
21:29All right, let's go.
21:30Let's go.
21:31Let's go.
21:33I know Max for about a year and a half now, and we built a relationship together, and it'll continue for the rest of our lives.
21:45Let's get a haircut in here.
21:47No way.
21:47Come on, we'll cut your hair really short, and the girls will really like it.
21:50Girls like how it is.
21:52And it's incredible.
21:53When you see them together, you cannot believe that a year ago, these two were complete strangers, and now it's like they're family.
22:00Our relationship is just like real brothers.
22:04I mean, that's what we are.
22:05We just, I think we were just made for each other or something.
22:08I consider him my little brother.
22:11The little brother I never had.
22:12I love him like a brother.
22:19There's just no substitute for a good friend.
22:22Someone to turn to when you have something wonderful to share, or a tough time to get through.
22:27And books can be good friends, too.
22:29They'll keep you company, make you smile, and always be there when you need them.
22:34But, you don't have to take my word for it.
22:38Hello.
22:39My name is Zafia Cooper, and I'm going to tell you about a great story.
22:44It's called Boundless Grace.
22:47It's about a young girl named Grace.
22:51Grace lives with her Nana and her mom.
22:55Her mother and father got a divorce.
22:58She feels sad because she wants to be with her father.
23:03The most exciting part of this story is when she goes to Africa to visit him.
23:09Grace feels very, very happy and close to her dad for the first time.
23:15But she also feels mixed up.
23:18Africa is far away, and sometimes Grace misses her mom.
23:23She has a whole new family to get used to.
23:27This story has a happy ending.
23:30Not like a fairy tale, but like in real life.
23:33I like it a lot.
23:35I hope you do, too.
23:37Allow me to introduce myself.
23:39My name is Sam, and I'm here to tell you about a good book.
23:42It's entitled The Perfect Spot.
23:45It's a realistic story of a boy and his dad.
23:48Together, they spend a day in the woods, looking for the perfect spot.
23:54His dad is looking for a place with trees, rocks, and shadows.
23:59But the boy wants to find a place with lots of frogs.
24:03The boy goes along with his dad, but looks for frogs and salamanders.
24:08It seems sometimes that they are looking for two different spots.
24:12In the end, they find that the perfect spot is where they can be together.
24:16Under the waterfall, splashing around, they're having fun.
24:20Just like this boy, I like spending time with my dad.
24:24The father and the son in this book really love each other.
24:28In the end, that's what really counts.
24:30So I recommend The Perfect Spot.
24:33Hola, amigos y amigas.
24:35I have a great book for you today.
24:37It's about a girl named Tina and a very special papi.
24:40That's Spanish for Dad.
24:42The book is called Taxi Taxi.
24:44Tina's favorite day of the week is Sunday.
24:48That's because every Sunday, her papi comes in his yellow, shiny taxi to take her out for the day.
24:57Sometimes he's a little late, but he always comes.
25:01He opens the taxi door and says,
25:03At your service, senorita.
25:05They have a picnic and take walks on country roads.
25:09Papi even buys Tina a balloon and he says,
25:14Para mi chica, la más preciosa.
25:17That means to my best girl.
25:21Tina's parents don't live together.
25:24So Sunday is very special.
25:26Because papi makes time to be with his girl.
25:31I'm happy that my papi lives at home.
25:34But even if yours doesn't, find time to spend with him.
25:37You can start by reading this book together.
25:40Hasta luego.
25:41See ya.
25:48Maybe you live with both your parents or your dad.
25:51Maybe it's your mom who is at home.
25:54Well, guess what?
25:55That's your family.
25:57Every family has its own unique personality
25:59and sometimes things go smoothly
26:01and sometimes they don't.
26:03It's up to each family to find a way to make things work.
26:07Hey, I grew up with just my mom.
26:10I think she did a pretty good job.
26:13Hervor, will you be in the wheelbarrow race with me?
26:16My dad's not here.
26:17Hmm, the wheelbarrow race, huh?
26:19Yeah, you bet.
26:21Come on.
26:21I'll see you next time.
26:23Let's go.
26:25All right, everybody.
26:26Get set.
26:27On your mark.
26:28And go!
26:30Yeah!
26:47I can go anywhere
26:52Today's Reading Rainbow books are
27:05Always My Dad
27:07by Sharon Dennis Wyeth
27:09illustrated by Raoul Colon
27:11published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
27:15Taxi Taxi
27:18by Carrie Best
27:20illustrated by Dale Gottlieb
27:22published by Little Brown and Company
27:24Boundless Grace
27:27by Mary Hoffman
27:29illustrated by Caroline Bench
27:31published by Dial Books for Young Readers
27:33a division of Penguin Books USA
27:35The Perfect Spot
27:38by Robert J. Blake
27:40published by Philomel Books
27:42a division of the Putnam and Grosset Group
27:44on us
27:46and with us
27:47I will be here
27:48to begin with
27:49the Major
27:49for the
27:50Second
28:03of the
28:05the
28:07Am
28:08and