00:00Oh yeah
00:30Good morning y'all. The story that I'm going to read for you today is one of my favorite
00:39children's books and not simply because I've written it. It was a story that was written
00:46exactly for circumstances like the ones that we are all living through right now. It's called
00:53The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm and it was co-written by Susan Schaefer-Bernardo and our illustrator
01:00was a very talented Courtney. Are we ready? Here we go.
01:12In the middle of the morning, Mika Mouse trembled under her blanket. A storm boomed outside her
01:21window. Rain crashed against the glass. Wind rattled the shutters. More than anything else, Mika was
01:31afraid of storms. A year before, a powerful hurricane had destroyed her home. I'm scared, Papa, she said.
01:40Mika, we are safe. This storm will pass soon, said Papa. Would you like me to read you a story?
01:53I know just the one to help you feel better. Mika loved books and Papa's gentle voice soothed in a way
02:01that made her forget all about the thunder. Papa opened the book and began. Long, long ago,
02:11before there were words, animals roamed in plentiful herds. Little rhinoceros roamed happy and free,
02:18exploring mountains and meadows, rivers and trees. His world was delightful and chock full of magic,
02:26until out of the blue, that magic turned tragic. A storm swept through the valley, turning bright
02:38sky to black. A flash flood came raging, no time to react. Lost in the thundering, no time for wondering.
02:45Chaos and lightning, fury so frightening. Earth quaking, him shaking, water rumbling, him tumbling,
02:52raggedy, jaggedy, senseless calamity. The storm crashed through his world and tore it apart and took
03:02to his heart. Rhino was stunned by the terrible scene. Death and destruction all through the ravine.
03:13Enraged by the pain of such a great loss, Rhino acted without a thought to the cost. Rhino looked at his
03:20world, all tattered and torn, stood out on the ledge and swallowed the storm.
03:31Inside his belly, he felt the storm growing. Inside his head, he heard howling and blowing like a
03:37tornado he spun as the storm raged inside, growing bigger and bigger and wider than wide.
03:44When he finally stopped, when he regained control, he was at the very bottom of a very deep hole.
03:55What to do? Rhino worried as rain dripped down his face. I'm lost and I'm lonely and in such a dark place.
04:03And just the right moment to comfort and guide him, a spider dropped down and dangled beside him.
04:12The world up above is shattered and gray, but it's where you belong. So you must find a way to let that
04:20storm out and move through your sorrow. You'll find many helpers on your world to tomorrow.
04:30Oh, but that hole was dreadfully deep and the walls around him were slippery steep. Rhino tried to climb
04:41out, but was losing all hope when kangaroo heard him and threw down a rope. The rhino was heavy from
04:49the weight of the storm. They towed him right up, got him safe, dry and warm.
04:55We're strong and steady and always ready. When danger strikes, we hop to it. Fire or flood,
05:04snow or mud, when health is needed, we'll pull you through it. But watching those heroes do what
05:12they did best gave Rhino the strength to set off on his quest. But that storm he was clutching made him
05:22buzzy and blurry. It kept his brain foggy. It filled him with worry. Where do I go? What do I do?
05:29How will I ever make it through? After every dark night, there comes a new day. Be kind,
05:39do your best and you'll find a way. Up comes the fun. There are steps to complete. There isn't a map.
05:48Just follow your feet. Well, Rhino followed his feet to a wallowing spot where he plopped on a rock
05:58and had a deep thought. I'm tired of caging this shimmy. And he stomped in the mud. And just as he'd
06:07hoped that storm came unstuck. At first, one little teardrop leaked out of his eye. Then,
06:14Rhino let go and had a good cry. His tears formed a river that flowed to the sea where a pot of whales
06:25swam, happy and free. I do feel better, Rhino thought as he drifted. Then up swam a whale and Rhino was
06:34lifted. If you ever feel blue, the whale said with a spout, remember to breathe. Breathe in and breathe out.
06:46Sing your own song and take it deep, deep, deep. Then rise above with a joyful leap.
06:54As he floated home on a gentle wave, Rhino felt calm and strong and brave. His vision was clear,
07:06like the sky above. And he looked at his world through eyes filled with love. He thanked the
07:13kind spider and the brave kangaroo and all of the others who'd helped him through. He was glad to know
07:18that if he ever lost hope, they'd lend him a hand or throw him a rope.
07:29Journeyed his journey a very long way to find the light in a world turned gray. He'd swallowed a storm
07:36with no thought to the cost. He felt all alone. He'd been tumbled and tossed. Life would bring changes,
07:44beginnings and ends. But he had faith in himself and faith in his friends.
07:52He, as they curled up together, he felt loved and protected. And he dreamed of a world that was
07:57safe and connected. He understood now. It was love that mattered. Love could never be lost. Love could
08:07never be shattered. Papa closed the book and gave Mika a big hug.
08:15I know it was scary when our home was destroyed last winter, said Papa. Bad things happen sometimes,
08:23and we can't always control that. But we had lots of helpers, said Mika, just like Rhino did.
08:31That's right, little one, Papa said in his gentle way. You're never really alone when bad things happen.
08:40There are family and friends and even people we don't know who are always there to help us through
08:48the tough times. And like every good story with a storm, this one ends in a rainbow.
08:56I hope you have enjoyed The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm by LeVar Burton,
09:04Susan Shafer-Bernardo, and illustrations by Courtney Fletcher. At the end of the book, there is a list
09:10of questions with which adults can engage the children in their lives and questions about the
09:15book and observations and really help our young ones understand how they can deal with the storm
09:25inside of them. For your very own copy of The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm, go to LeVarBurton.com
09:31and give us your email address and you'll be able to download a digital copy. Peace and blessings,
09:37you all. Stay safe, be well. I'll see you next time, but you don't have to take my word for it.
09:55Outro Music
10:13Outro Music
10:15Outro Music
10:18Outro Music
10:22You
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