>>Oh, I love watching the clouds go by.

>>Mm, me too.

>>I saw a jet.

>>Oh, I think I just saw a dinosaur head.

Hi, friends.

>>We're so glad you joined us today.

>>Today, we're going to be wondering- >>And creating.

(Mary chuckles) >>So, come on.

Come wonder and create with us.

>>Let's go.

♪ Come play with me ♪ ♪ Won't you come play with me ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Come play play music with me ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ >>Welcome to "Songs and Stories".

>>With Mary and Mike.

>>Where we tell the stories of music.

>>And we share the music of all people.

>>Mm-hm.

>>So, I'm wondering, what are we wondering about today and what are we creating today?

>>Oh, boy.

Friends, this might be the most important show we've ever done.

Do you wanna know why?

This show is all about you and inspiring you to wonder, create and start telling your story right now, today.

>>So what are we going to share for inspiration?

>>Ooh, we have a wonderful book called "Everywhere, Wonder" about a little boy who wonders about all of the things he sees and he takes those images, swirls them around in his head and uses them as part of his story.

>>And then we're gonna share the story of Mathias who's a young musician who tells his story by writing music.

>>Mm, he composes music.

So, friends, we want you to start your process of writing your story or telling your story today.

Do you like to build?

Do you like to write?

Ask your adult helper to help you start gathering some supplies.

If your adult helper is not available right now, that's okay.

Just follow along with us for some inspiration and you can start creating at another time.

Are you ready?

Let's go.

>>Let's do it.

>>Let's be mindful.

>>Before we read "Everywhere, Wonder", I wanted to take a minute together to sit calmly, quietly to focus our minds and our bodies and get ready to create.

You know, we all create in different ways and that is so wonderful but I've noticed something about myself that I am my most thoughtful and creative when I've taken some time to sit still and let my mind wander and wonder.

(chuckles) One of my favorite places to do this is looking out my window.

Do you like to look out a window whether you're at home or in the car or on a bus or a train or a plane?

(chuckles) Do you sit there and look out the window?

I love it because you can see the things that are right in front of you but then, you can also let your imagination run wild.

So friends, let's do this together.

I'm sitting here looking out my window and let's take three deep breaths together.

So we're calming our bodies, but I want you to let your mind wander and your imagination run wild.

Let's do it together.

Here we go.

(Mary breathing deeply) (mellow ukulele music) ♪ Looking out my window ♪ ♪ I can see all the things ♪ ♪ Imagine all the places ♪ ♪ I'd like to be ♪ ♪ Looking out my window ♪ ♪ I dream my dreams ♪ ♪ They feed my soul, yeah ♪ ♪ And I am free ♪ You know, I was inspired simply by sitting here with you and looking out the window at the world around me.

I hope that you take some time today to simply look around at the world around you and gather inspiration to start telling your story.

(lively ukulele music) ♪ Looking out my window ♪ ♪ I can see all the things ♪ ♪ Imagine all the places ♪ ♪ I'd like to be ♪ ♪ Looking out my window ♪ ♪ I dream my dreams ♪ ♪ They feed my soul, yeah ♪ ♪ And I am free ♪ ♪ Oooh ♪ ♪ I see clouds, I see trees ♪ ♪ I see leaves ♪ ♪ Dancing in the greens ♪ ♪ I see you ♪ ♪ And you're smiling back at me ♪ ♪ I let my mind wander ♪ ♪ I am free ♪ ♪ Looking out my window ♪ ♪ I can see all the things ♪ ♪ Imagine all the places ♪ ♪ I'd like to be ♪ ♪ Looking out my window ♪ ♪ I dream my dreams ♪ ♪ They feed my soul, yeah ♪ ♪ And I am free ♪ ♪ Oooh ♪ ♪ I see clouds, I see trees ♪ ♪ I see leaves ♪ ♪ Dancing in the greens ♪ ♪ I see you ♪ ♪ And you're smiling back at me ♪ ♪ I let my mind wander ♪ ♪ I am free ♪ ♪ Looking out my window ♪ ♪ Out my window ♪ ♪ I can see all the things ♪ ♪ All the things ♪ ♪ Imagine all the places ♪ ♪ All the places ♪ ♪ I'd like to be ♪ ♪ Looking out my window ♪ ♪ Out my window ♪ ♪ I dream my dreams ♪ ♪ Dream my dreams ♪ ♪ They feed my soul ♪ ♪ Feed my soul ♪ ♪ And I am free ♪ ♪ I am free ♪ ♪ And feed my soul ♪ ♪ Feed my soul ♪ ♪ And I am ♪ ♪ Free ♪ >>Let's read a book!

>>Let's read the book "Everywhere, Wonder" written by Matthew Swanson, illustrated by Robbi Behr.

In this book, a little boy wonders.

He wonders about the things he sees in his books and he wonders about the things that he sees right outside of his bedroom window, right outside his door and he takes all of those wonders and he dreams with them to tell his own story.

I love this book and I hope you will too.

"Everywhere, Wonder" written by Matthew Swanson.

Illustrated by Robbi Behr.

I have a story to share.

It is a little gift from me to you.

You might not know it but you have a story too.

You'll find it in the things you stop to notice.

The world is full of people and places and things.

All of them interesting.

All of them beautiful.

You never know what you might see or where your mind might take you so keep your eyes wide open as you go.

(waves lightly crashing) In Egypt, there are pyramids.

In Arizona, there are canyons.

(birds chirping) In the jungles of Brazil are leaves so plentiful and green that light can barely reach the ground below.

In the high hills of Japan are gardens full of wind-worn rocks and clean white sand but not a single flower.

(wind blowing) In Kenya, there are hot, dry savannas filled with zebras and blue wildebeest.

(birds chirping) In Alaska, there are cold, wet waters filled with seals and sockeye salmon.

(waves lightly crashing) In the middle of the coral sea, there is a roaring story that no one ever hear.

On the near side of the moon, there is a quiet footprint that no rains will ever wash away.

In Sheboygan, there is a tractor mechanic named Shirley who has 37 friends.

On the North Pole, there is a cold and lonesome bear wishing for some company.

You want to go see him, of course, to let him know he's not alone but your bike won't get you there and back by bedtime.

Still, you noticed him, didn't you?

He walked off this page and into your head.

Now, he is part of your story.

There are other wonders yet to find, not so far from where you are right now.

They, too, are interesting.

They, too, are beautiful.

Stop to really look and you will see them.

(birds chirping) In the highest part of the tree is an unexpected gift.

A blue balloon that must have slipped from someone's fingers.

In the deepest part of the pool is sunken treasure.

A shiny dime that must have tumbled from someone's pocket.

Will you save it or spend it or leave it there for someone else to find?

In the grocery store are isles and shelves and stacks of cans.

You have to look so carefully to find the one you want.

In your bowl of steaming soup is just one noodle that doesn't match the others.

Where do you think it came from?

(Mary chuckles) Can you see the noodle that doesn't match the others?

(children chattering) On the playground is a sturdy line of bright black ants carrying their supper home.

Under the bridge is a gently rolling river, floating a blue glass bottle out to sea.

Perhaps, it holds a message.

What does it say?

Who could it be for?

(people chattering) In the busy town are sidewalks full of swiftly moving people who somehow never seem to collide.

Collide means crash or bump into each other.

How does that happen?

(birds chirping) In the quiet countryside are miles of open empty roads that somehow never seem to end.

Where do they go?

Someday, you may find out.

In the hallway is a spotted dog that turns golden as the sun sets through the window.

In the bedroom is a door knob that makes rainbows when the reading lamp clicks on.

(crickets chirping) Now, the lamp is off and the moon is up.

You close your eyes and see them again, the things you noticed today.

All of these together are your story.

Dream with them awhile.

When you wake up in the morning, open your eyes and open your window and let your story out into the world.

It is a little gift from you to me.

Now, my story is complete but yours is just beginning.

(Mary sighs) Goodness, what a beautiful book!

I'm wondering about so many things.

Are you?

I'm wondering about those pyramids in Egypt.

I want to see them.

And what about in Alaska?

Ooh, in those cold waters, what animals are living in there?

I have lots of wonders.

So that was the first part of the book.

Wondering about places that maybe we've never been or never seen in person before.

The second part of the book helps us to realize that there are really beautiful, interesting things right outside our doors, where you are right now.

But you have to stop to notice them and wonder about them.

I love that blue bottle floating and wondering, hmm, where is it going?

Is there a message inside?

What does the message say?

There are so many interesting beautiful things around us.

And friends, I want you to be inspired to take it all in.

Maybe it's something you're seeing in a book or on TV or pictures or just a conversation you overhear and then the things right outside your front door to notice all of that today and take it in and when you go to sleep tonight, dream about them.

Let all of those images and ideas swirl around in your beautiful head so that tomorrow morning, you can wake up and tell your story however your heart and mind desire.

Dance, sing, tell somebody your story, build something, draw something, no matter what it is or how you want to tell your story, tell it.

The world needs your story.

Have you started telling your story yet?

>>Have you started creating yet?

>>Hmm, or maybe you're still just thinking about what you want to tell.

Wherever you are in this process is perfect.

>>So now, we're gonna hear about Mathias's story.

He's a young musician who writes music.

>>Yes, and you're going to hear a piece that he wrote and he was inspired by imagining what his little sister might be dreaming about.

>>Hmm, so his piece is called "Solveig's Dream" and it has five parts to it.

"Solveig's Lullaby", "War of the Animals", "The Spooked Deer", "Fox Chase", and "The Bear and the Hunter".

So we'll hear it all the parts and we'll hear what he thinks about music.

>>We're also going to hear a little bit from his parents about what it's like to watch Mathias take all of his wonders and his curiosity and then tell his story through music.

So friends, while you listen to this story, start working on yours right now.

>>Let's meet a musician.

>>Where does music exist?

I would say kind of in your mind because sound is everywhere but your mind has to work to interpret, to be music.

But most of my ideas come from playing just like improvising on the piano, sometimes, the clarinet and then writing it down.

The "Solveig's Dream".

I think it's about my, it's kind of like about my sister and like the dreams that I imagined her happy, mostly, all about animals, really.

(mellow piano music) "War of the Animals".

I hear a lot of other pieces that's inside of it.

Brahms, Marais, Beethoven.

(energetic piano music) "The Spooked Deer".

Well, there was one piece up was kind of like "The Spooked Deers" and I feel like that and "The Spooked Deer" sound pretty similar.

(lively piano music) "Fox Chase" (suspenseful piano music) "The Bear and the Hunter".

(deep suspenseful piano music) >>He'll do music.

I think it's just him.

It's how he communicates.

It's how he expresses who he is with everybody.

>>He's never gonna stop playing music but it just comes out of him.

It's something we definitely encourage but we didn't put it there in the first place.

(mellow piano music) >>You are a beautiful learner.

>>Friends, how's it going?

Have you started working on your story?

>>Are you drawing a picture?

>>Are you building something?

Have you written something?

Whatever you are doing to tell your story, I am sure, it is wonderful.

Now, our story of sharing inspiration with you is complete.

And now, it is your turn to tell your story.

>>So, you know what we always say.

>>What we always say, say it with us.

>>I am brave.

I am curious.

I am strong because I can do hard things.

I am a beautiful learner.

>>Yes, you are, friends and it has been a pleasure to inspire you today.

>>And we'll see you next time.

>>We'll see you next time.

(lively music) ♪ Come play with me ♪ ♪ Won't you come play with me ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Come play play music with me ♪ ♪ We're gonna sing, yes ♪ ♪ And we're gonna dance ♪ ♪ We're gonna learn to play some instruments ♪ ♪ Oh, come play with me ♪ ♪ Won't you come play with me ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Come play play music with me ♪ ♪ We're gonna sing, yes ♪ ♪ And we're gonna dance ♪ ♪ We're gonna learn to play some instruments ♪ ♪ Oh, come play with me ♪ ♪ Won't you come play with me ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, come on ♪ ♪ Come play play music with me ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ (light mellow music)