GOODHEARTS Audio Stories
AN IMPORTANT NOTE: Listening and comprehension are essential skills that are too often thwarted by the plethora of electronic and print visuals that bombard a child’s life.
The Goodhearts Audio Stories contain no illustrations so children can focus on what they hear and imagine everything else. In this way the Audio Stories can improve listening skills and stimulate and develop the imagination.
Each Goodhearts Audio Story is accompanied by an Assisted Reader Script that highlights the words as they are being read for the purpose of enhancing reading and vocabulary skills.
The Goodhearts Audio Stories are especially effective at bedtime and in the car when there are fewer distractions. That said, they provide great edutainment for children anytime and anywhere.
THE GOODHEARTS
The Community Center (aka CC) has a daycare center that is in session five days a week. The program for the 3- to 6-year-olds is run by a wonderful daycare worker who acknowledges and rewards her children for being kind. She calls these children the GOODHEARTS.
The GOODHEARTS stand out, not because of their social status, accomplishments, or possessions, but because of their goodness. They routinely respond to social challenges with acts of kindness, and these acts are the basis for the fun and engaging GOODHEARTS stories.
THE GOODHEARTS CHARACTERS
Nanise Topou
Nanise is a Polynesian name that means “gracious.”
Personality – the leader
Favorite Thing to Do – tell other people what to do and occupy center stage
Favorite Toy – costumes, makeup, and anything else that can be used to put on a performance
Favorite Pretend Character – a fairy princess
Pet Peeve – people who play too roughly
Dumaka Franklin
Dumaka is a Nigerian name that means “he who helps out.”
Personality – all boy
Favorite Thing to Do – all sports
Favorite Toy – sports equipment
Favorite Pretend Character – Spiderman
Pet Peeve – people who are bad losers
Karenza McGregor
Karenza is a Scottish name that means “love.”
Personality – competitive tomboy
Favorite Thing to Do – win
Favorite Toy – scooter
Favorite Pretend Character – Peter Pan
Pet Peeve – boys who don’t want to play with girls
Case Connelly
Case is an English name that means “he who brings peace.”
Personality – initiator, the one who thinks up things to do
Favorite Thing to Do – laugh and play with other kids
Favorite Toy – action figures
Favorite Pretend Character – Superman
Pet Peeve – people who aren’t any fun
Latifa Jackson
Latifa is an Arabic name that means “tender, gentle.”
Personality – happy-go-lucky
Favorite Thing to Do – laugh and sing
Favorite Toy – pretend microphone and song recordings
Favorite Pretend Character – Elmo
Pet Peeve – grouchy people
Hiroshi Osaka
Hiroshi is a Japanese name that means “generous.”
Personality – the brain
Favorite Thing to Do – number and logic games and puzzles
Favorite Toy – computer and video games
Favorite Pretend Character – Yoda (both Hiroshi and his father are Star Wars fans)
Pet Peeve – people who bother him when he is thinking
Tirza Levy
Tirza is a Hebrew name that means “kindness.”
Personality – the quiet one
Favorite Thing to Do – draw and paint
Favorite Toy – stuffed animals
Favorite Pretend Character – Winnie the Pooh
Pet Peeve – people who talk too loud and too much
Beattie Parks
Beattie is a Gaelic name that means “one who brings joy.”
Personality – guileless
Favorite Thing to Do – anything anyone wants to do
Favorite Toy – toy vehicles, dirt, and sand
Favorite Pretend Character – Big Bird
Pet Peeve – mean, bossy people
THE GOODHEARTS’ SIBLINGS
THE GOODHEARTS’ FAMILY INFORMATION
