(cheerful piano music begins)
♪ You are the best you the world will see ♪
♪ Come along now and share you with me ♪
♪ Let's learn something new and share feelings too ♪
♪ Because these are the things to do to be the best you ♪
(cheerful piano music continues)
- Hello friends.
Hello, Possum.
- Hola, Auntie Lena.
- Oh well, hola Possum.
Como estas?
- Bien, eh.
Eh, oh, that's all I can remember.
- Oh, well, that still was really good.
But Possum, why are we speaking in Spanish today?
Does it have something to do
with a special trip you just went on?
- Yeah, the trip Mama Possum
and I took to Mexico for spring break.
Oh, it was so much fun.
We went to a museum and the beach,
and we even went snorkeling.
- Ooh, that's great!
It sounds like you had a blast.
I remember when I went to Mexico
and tried enchiladas for the first time.
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.
They were yummy.
- Oh yeah, I ate some enchiladas too.
Oh, it was so cool to be somewhere so different from home.
I wish we could go back again soon.
We never travel.
- You just returned.
Aren't you happy to be back in your comfy tree?
- Well, yeah, but every day has been the same
since we got back.
Oh, I'm just so bored.
In Mexico, we did something new every day.
- Yes, traveling and trying new things
are both very exciting and different,
but it's important to be grateful
for your everyday life as well.
Every day, I think about how grateful I am for your tree
and whoever planted it long, long ago.
- But being grateful for a tree
sounds kind of silly, Auntie Lena.
- Well maybe, but it's an important tree.
If that tree weren't planted,
you may have lived somewhere else,
and we may have never met.
Your tree is something I'm very grateful for.
- Oh, yeah.
Well, I never thought about it like that.
- You know, I read a book the other day,
and it was a story about a young boy named Mateo
who had to start finding his everyday wow too.
- Auntie Lena, a wow isn't a thing.
What do you mean he found his wow?
- Finding your wow means finding people, things,
and activities that give you joy.
- I like finding new things to do.
- Discovering new things is fun.
However, learning how to look around
and enjoy what some would call ordinary,
that's really cool too.
It may take time, imagination, or even, ooh, being silly.
- Looking around is something I need to learn?
- Yes, Possum, it is. - Huh.
- To see the extra special every day
in ordinary things takes time.
Time to notice.
You'll see what I mean.
- Okay.
- Let's go to Douglas Truth Library with our friends.
As Mr. Gene reads "Mateo Finds His Wow" by Gabi Garcia.
(magical chime)
- Hi friends.
- I'm Mr. Gene.
- I'm Kiyomi.
- And today we are at the Douglas Truth Library
in Central District,
and we'll be reading "Mateo Finds his Wow:
A Story of Wonder and Gratitude,"
by Gabi Garcia, illustrated by Charity Russell.
Are you ready to start reading?
- Yes.
- Perfect.
"Why does it have to rain on Saturday," asked Mateo?
"It's not fair.
There's nothing to do," he grumbled to Papa.
Mateo had already used up his screen time for the day.
Can I have 30 more minutes please?
He's sitting over here in his little comfortable pajamas.
"You know the rules," Papa answered.
"Why don't you help me in the kitchen?"
"Boring," replied Mateo.
"What's Lucas up to?
Maybe you could play with him," Papa suggested.
"I guess," Mateo said with a sigh.
Mateo opened the bedroom door
and found Lucas building a fort for his toys.
Look at this, look at all the toys.
"Aargh, Lucas is messing up all my stuff," Mateo yelled
as he yanked his dinosaur and baseball glove
from Lucas's pile and returned them to his side of the room.
"Why do I even have to share a room?" he asked himself.
"None of my friends have to."
Mateo stomped out into the hall
and saw Mama tuning her guitar.
"Mama," he whined.
"Can I?"
"Don't even ask," Mama said.
"You'll find something to do."
Mateo grabbed a notebook from his backpack
and plopped into a chair.
"No, I won't," he shot back as he clenched a pencil
and scrawled out a list of all the things he couldn't do.
He couldn't go swimming.
He couldn't travel.
He couldn't ride his bike.
Go to the park.
He couldn't go climb trees or play baseball.
- Hmm.
- Hmm, how does that make you feel?
Does it make you feel sad?
Yeah.
Mateo sat and sulked.
He huffed and puffed loudly.
His brain felt stuck.
Kiyomi, has your brain ever felt stuck?
What does that mean?
- Um, that means your brain don't know what to do.
- Yeah.
Mateo looked up from his list.
The window in front of him had completely fogged up.
He reached over to wipe it clean,
but stopped himself when he felt the cold glass.
Curious, he swirled his fingers across the window,
leaving behind a dewy trail.
Mateo experimented with his new drawing surface.
Do you like drawing?
- [Kiyomi] Yes.
- What do you like to draw?
- Um, flowers.
- Ooh, flowers.
Mateo is drawing flowers here too looks like.
And a snail, and what's this?
- Butterfly. - A butterfly, that's right.
He didn't feel so stuck anymore 'cause he's drawing.
Mateo leaned back to admire his work
and caught a glimpse of something moving outside.
A hummingbird hovered around the feeder.
The rain didn't seem to bother it at all.
A tiny acrobat flittered and fluttered.
It flew forward, backward, and even side to side,
flapping its wings so quickly, they blurred.
It darted up and down a few more times
before pulling away from the feeder.
And just like that, the aerial performance was over.
Mateo felt tingles of delight all over.
"Wow, little bird.
That was amazing.
Thanks for the show."
Mateo took a deep breath.
The smell of chiles and garlic filled the air.
He turned to see a plate of chilaquiles, his favorite.
"Wow, Papa, thanks for the stack of deliciousness."
Mama's guitar played softly as she sang.
Mateo recognized the lullaby she used to sing to him.
He thought of bedtime stories and goodnight kisses.
"Wow Mama, your voice feels like a warm sunshine on my body.
Thanks for the tune."
Do you have a favorite song?
- Mhm.
- What's your favorite song?
- "Queen of Red."
Oh, that's wonderful.
Mateo peeked into their bedroom
and saw that his toys
had been carefully lined up on his bed.
He watched Lucas wrap Chacho, his favorite truck,
in a blanket and tucked it next to his stuffed animals,
all while wearing underwear on his head.
Mateo laughed.
His heart smiled.
"Wow, Lucas.
I'm sorry I grouched at you earlier.
Thanks for taking such good care of my toys."
Mateo wondered what other bits of wow were around.
He could go looking for them on purpose.
Mateo picked up his notebook and turned the page.
He had something else to write.
- [Kiyomi And Mr. Gene] Thank you, rain.
- What'd you think about the book?
- It was pretty.
- Yeah, it was pretty.
You liked the illustrations?
- Hmm. - Mhm.
Have you ever been stuck inside when it was raining?
- Yes.
- What do you like to do when it's raining
and you're stuck inside?
- Gymnastics.
- Gymnastics, wow.
What I like to do in the rain, if it's raining,
I go inside, and I like to play piano.
I think that's a lot of fun.
I also like to read books.
Sometimes I like to cook.
- Thank you, Mr. Gene, for reading with me today.
- You're welcome, Kiyomi.
Let's say goodbye to our friends.
- Goodbye, friends.
(magical chime)
- Wowee, the window art was really cool.
- Look who found their wow.
The art was wonderful.
And that is something Mateo had to learn
that he could do whenever he wants.
- I never thought about using a window for drawing.
- Yeah, noticing the small parts of life keeps you excited
even when you feel a little bored sometimes.
- Is that why Mateo huff and puffed?
He was bored?
- Yes, Mateo was frustrated and bored.
But I think he surprised himself
with that small wonder of the window right in front of him.
- Oh, well, now I wanna find more wows.
Ah, um, hmm.
Oh, this is kind of hard, Auntie Lena,
and I don't have a window I can draw on like Mateo.
- It's definitely not easy to notice something new,
especially when you are in the same place all the time.
- No, it's not.
- Well, we all have the gift for finding our wow
inside each and every one of us.
You just might need a little extra help to use that gift.
I think I know the perfect tool
to help you see things.
- Um glasses?
- Well, that's definitely one way to see things differently,
but I think a camera could help too.
Have you ever used a camera before, Possum?
- No, but I do love getting my picture taken.
- I know you do,
and I'm sure you'd love taking them as well.
Pictures help you capture all the little wows in the moment.
Maybe taking a few will help you
really use that gift of yours.
- But if I can't find my wow,
how will I know to take a picture of it?
- Well, that's a really good question.
You know, I have an idea.
- Ooh. - How about
a find and draw scavenger hunt?
- Oh, I love scavenger hunts.
- Yes, it's a great way to discover things around us.
Let's join Miss Amari
and our friends at Wa Na Wari Art Center to play.
(magical chime)
- Hi, friends.
- My name is Miss Amari.
- And my name is Aziah.
- And we are here at the Wa Na Wari Center.
And today we are going to do a find and draw scavenger hunt.
Aziah, have you ever been bored at home?
- Yeah.
- Didn't really know what to do?
- Mhm.
- Well, next time, you can always do a scavenger hunt.
I have a few ideas.
We can find something big,
find something new, and find something green.
How does that sound?
- Good.
- Ready to go find it?
- Yeah. - Let's go.
Let's look around.
We're going to start off by trying to find something big.
Okay, like bigger than us, okay?
[Miss Amari] There's that house, that's pretty big.
- [Azaih] I see that big red photo booth.
- Oh, that phone booth is big.
Let's come see it.
(bright music)
Okay, this was super fun.
So we have something big.
Now we're looking for something new.
Okay, I think we have something new here.
It's an e-bike.
- [Aziah] A e-bike?
- Yeah, an e-bike is an electric bike,
so you don't even need to pedal.
All you do is take that stop off
and you click a button, and you're off.
How do you feel about drawing a bike, Azaya?
- I like it.
- Okay, so we got something big.
That was the phone booth.
We have something new.
That's the e-bike.
- Now we need something green.
- Yeah, okay, we're surrounded by green stuff.
So let's look around.
Okay, so we got the leaves.
We have the grass.
- [Aziah] Oh, how about that bamboo tree
right behind our chairs?
- Wow, we have all three.
Let's draw.
We found our things.
Now it's time to draw.
First, we have something big.
So we have our crayons and our markers.
What are we drawing first?
- The red phone booth.
- Yes, the red phone booth.
Okay, that's something big.
So you can grab a red marker.
I have the red crayon.
First, we can draw a square.
And a long rectangle.
And do you remember that little phone that was inside?
- Mhm. - Let's try
to draw that little phone.
Oh, it's lookin' like a phone booth already.
And then of course, we have to write the Wana Wari.
(bright music)
- Now do we draw the e-bike?
- Yes, we do.
Okay, so the e-bike was black I think.
So the first thing for a bicycle,
you're gonna draw two big circles.
(bright music)
And then to actually make the bike,
we're gonna have the seat.
So you're gonna draw a long line,
and then you can draw the seat right there.
Perfect, and then you draw one more line there.
Do you know how to ride a bike?
You do?
When did you learn?
- When I was three.
- When you were three?
Oh, you're a pro at this point.
You know, if we didn't do the scavenger hunt,
I don't think I would've realized that e-bike was there.
- Yeah.
- So next time you're bored, this is all you'll need.
And so what's the last thing we have to draw?
- The bamboo tree behind us.
- Yeah, okay, so all we have to do is turn around.
That's something green.
I have my green.
You got your green?
Okay, first we can draw the leaves and the branches.
- Okay, I think I'm all done.
- Oh, great, let me see.
Oh wow, yes, we have our phone booth,
our bike, and our bamboo tree.
Okay, so next time you're bored,
what do you think you'll do?
- Make a scavenger hunt.
- Exactly.
Thank you so much, Aziah.
I had a lot of fun.
- Thank you.
- So let's say bye to our friends.
- Bye, friends.
(magical chime)
- Say "awesome possum."
- Awesome possum!
- Great picture.
- Oh yeah. - Yeah!
- Did the scavenger hunt help you think of a few ways
to find more things to be grateful for?
- Yeah, it did.
- Can you share a few things with us?
- Mhm, I'm grateful for the leaves on my tree
because they cover me when it rains
and my fur doesn't get wet.
- Very good, Possum.
- And I'm grateful for the fence
because it's where I get to talk to you.
- Aw, and I'm also grateful for the fence.
Look how quickly you were able to notice those small parts
that make your day amazing.
- Oh, I know.
And did you find anything?
- I sure did.
I'm grateful for my garden.
- It is an awesome garden, Auntie Lena.
- Thank you, Possum.
I'm also grateful for the teeny tiny ladybugs
that keep the other bugs from eating my garden.
- But I haven't seen any ladybugs.
- Hmm, well, we might need a tool to help us,
a tool that they use in science.
- Science? - Yep.
My friend, Miss Susan, can show us how science
can help us see our wow.
Let's join her at Wa Na Wari Art Center to learn.
(magical chime)
- Hi friends, I'm Miss Susan,
and today we're at Wa Na Wari Art Center.
Have you ever had a case of the, this is so borings?
Me too.
So today I'm gonna teach you this new superhero power,
turning a boring moment into a fun one.
And we're going to do that
by making a microscope from everyday objects at home.
You'll need a disposable cup.
I've got a paper one, two different plastic ones,
something that you can cut the bottom off.
Sandwich bags, rubber bands,
and then an object to cut with.
So you can have scissors or a box cutter
and make sure you have an adult with you
to help you with that step.
Are you ready to see the world in a whole new way?
We can do that first by getting our sandwich bag
and our scissors and cutting the top off.
All right.
Once you cut a hole in the sandwich bag,
we're gonna cut the edges.
(cheery music)
I think with life,
sometimes when we get into too much of a routine,
it does get boring.
But the question is, is how can we turn
that into something exciting?
All right, now that I've cut both edges,
it's a film of plastic.
I'll put that aside,
and then I'm going to cut the bottom of this cup.
So I like to get a box cutter
and make sure you have an adult with you.
This is going to form our lens
of the microscope.
All right, so I've cut a part of it here,
and I can use my scissors to finish cutting it.
Next, we're gonna put this plastic over the cup.
I'm evenly placing it over the cup,
so it still has a little bit of plastic on the edge.
I'll find my favorite rubber band
and then put it over the cup.
Okay, I've got some extra plastic here,
so I'm gonna cut that off.
Awesome.
Okay, so here's the cool trick about a microscope.
If you put a little bit of water in it.
That I have right here, just a few drops.
It's gonna make a curve in the plastic,
which kind of simulates a lens.
And when we have a lens,
we'll see the world in a whole new way.
Few drops of water.
Boop, boop,
like that.
All right, let's take a look.
Hmm, just looking at the table looks differently.
Now with our microscope,
I said, how are we gonna turn something boring
into something fun?
Well, friends, I went out on a nature walk earlier
and I picked up some rocks,
some leaves, and a spider.
Let's see if I can see the spider in a new way.
Hey, little guy.
You still there?
He's under the leaf.
All right.
I think he has eight legs,
but what else do I not know about the spider?
Whoa, I see little eyes.
Oh my gosh, I think little spider's even waving at me.
Whoa!
And he's on this leaf,
and I see all the different lines
inside the stem of the leaf too.
Hey, I never saw it this way.
How cool is that?
Now, I want you to make your microscope at home
and then see if you can go on a nature walk outside
and go treasure hunting,
lift up some rocks, look at some flowers or leaves,
and see if you can see something that surprises you.
The world around us is just waiting to be discovered,
and it all starts with you being curious.
Now you have a new superhero power,
turning something boring into something super fun.
All right, thanks so much for playing with me, friends.
Bye-bye!
(magical chime)
- Possum, did you enjoy making the microscope?
- Yeah, I did.
I've never used a microscope before.
I like how it makes stuff bigger,
so I can see it better.
- Now you can notice all the ladybugs
and other teeny tiny wows.
- Mhm.
Oh, let me see if I can find one now.
Hmm.
Oh, I can see a little caterpillar on my leaf.
- Well look at you.
Just racking up the wows.
So Possum, are you still bored?
- I completely forgot I was bored.
- Well, that's something to be grateful for, indeed.
- Oh, today was so much fun, Auntie Lena,
and I didn't have to get on a plane to do it.
- You sure didn't.
I'm glad you had fun.
There will always be new ways to enjoy this world,
as long as you make sure you take time to look for it.
Fun is all around us, right, Possum?
Wait, what is on your head?
- It's a lampshade hat.
- Oh my goodness.
Look at you having fun
with the ordinary things in your tree.
Just like Mateo with the underwear on his head.
- Oh, muchas gracias, Auntie Lena,
for showing me how to have fun with teeny tiny wows.
- You're welcome, Possum.
And friends, thank you for taking the time to look, listen,
and learn with us today.
Remember, you are the best you that the world will ever see.
- Bye for now. - Bye.
(Auntie Lena laughs)
- [Narrator] Now, for Auntie Lena's parent tip.
- As responsible and caring adults,
we create morning, afternoon,
and bedtime routines for our early learners
to have a sense of stability
and safety in their environment.
Setting alarms and serving up favorite meals
brings consistency and helps form necessary habits
for our young learners.
However, from a child's point of view,
the day-to-day routine
can become just plain old boring.
Children don't understand why they can't just go next door
and play when they want. Or go on a trip willy nilly.
It's easy for them to associate home environment
with the mundane and ordinary.
That's why it's important to teach our children
to appreciate the small, amazing things around them
and recognize how exciting every day can be.
Expressing gratitude and learning to recognize
your teeny tiny wows
helps you appreciate and enjoy life more.
"Mateo Finds His Wow" perfectly illustrates
how important perspectives are.
The happiest people are the ones
that are able to find joy in everything around them.
Teaching your child to find this joy early
sets them up for success
to be the best that they can be.
(cheery music)
- [Narrator] "Look, Listen, Learn"
is brought to you in part by Thistle Theatre.
Thistle Theatre is a local
professional puppet theater for families.
We feature an ancient Japanese style of puppetry
called Tabletop Bunraku.
Learn more at thistletheatre.org.