A Carefully Built Pretend

By: Melissa Oliveri
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  • Summary

  • A Carefully Built Pretend - A collection of original stories for children by Melissa Oliveri. Episodes alternate between stories geared toward younger kids (usually shorter and sillier) and others geared toward children young and old, and are labelled as such. Whether you're listening to the silly tale of Mr. Pebbles the gold fish, or the heartwarming tale of a Black Dog Waiting to find a place called home, there is something for everyone to enjoy in A Carefully Built Pretend.
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Literature & Fiction
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Episodes
  • Elliot Under Glass (EVERYONE)

    Elliot Under Glass (EVERYONE)
    Mar 18 2022
    This episode marks the end of Season 1 of A Carefully Built Pretend. Thank you so much for listening and supporting my work, I look forward to bringing you more original stories when we pick up with Season 2 in a few months.Today we’ll be reading a story called Elliot Under Glass. Have you ever looked deeply into a snow globe and wished with all your might that you could go inside? Maybe it’s a snow globe with a dashing unicorn, flowers laced in its flowing mane and tail. Or perhaps it’s a holiday snow globe with a jolly Santa surrounded by his elves and a mountain of toys. Or maybe it’s one of those snow globes that someone brought back from a trip, with the Empire State Building or the Eiffel Tower inside. You give it a shake and watch the glittery snow swirl around and fall gently toward the bottom, dreaming you could be taken away to the magical space inside the snow globe.Now what if I told you that sometimes... well, at least one time... there was someone inside the snow globe wishing they could get out?! You don’t believe me, do you? Well, let me tell you the story of Elliot Under Glass...A Carefully Built Pretend podcast is written and produced by Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comSupport Melissa on Patreon - http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriMelissa on Instagram: @the.mop.podMelissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveriAll music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.comMusic and Stories brought to you by Things with Wings Productions and Phaeton Starling Publishing.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Pssst! Over here!Take my hand, I’ll take you to a Pretend Land!Are you ready?1 -2 -3, Wheeeeeeeeee!Welcome to A Carefully Built Pretend. My name is Melissa, and I’m so glad you’re here!Today we’ll be reading a story called Elliot Under Glass. Have you ever looked deeply into a snow globe and wished with all your might that you could go inside? Maybe it’s a snow globe with a dashing unicorn, flowers laced in its flowing mane and tail. Or perhaps it’s a holiday snow globe with a jolly Santa surrounded by his elves and a mountain of toys. Or maybe it’s one of those snow globes that someone brought back from a trip, with the Empire State Building or the Eiffel Tower inside. You give it a shake and watch the glittery snow swirl around and fall gently toward the bottom, dreaming you could be taken away to the magical space inside the snow globe.Now what if I told you that sometimes... well, at least one time... there was someone inside the snow globe wishing they could get out?! You don’t believe me, do you? Well, let me tell you the story of Elliot Under Glass...Are you ready? Here we go!No one is quite sure how Elliot got inside the snow globe. Some say he was put in there when a mystical creature cast a spell on him, others say he grew from a seed or grain of sand, others think maybe he hatched out of an egg. Whatever the case, Elliot had never known a day outside of the snow globe. He wasn’t completely alone in there, he had a doll, a toy train, a plate of cookies, and a glass of lemonade. But the one thing he didn’t have, was a real friend.Tony loved Christmas. Every year he would spend the weeks leading up to the holidays pouring over the Sears toy catalogue, circling all his favourite things. That Christmas, Tony got a new sled, a Batman colouring book, a chutes and ladders board game, and his very own hair comb. “There’s one more gift under the tree, Tony,” his grandpa had said, “I think it’s for you!”Tony had scurried to the tree and gently lifted the small, rather heavy box. There was no tag on it. “Who is it from?” he asked. He looked around at the grownups in the room, but none of them seemed to know. Tony shrugged and tore off the paper. Underneath was a plain brown cardboard box. Tony carefully pried it open and lifted the object out. “It’s a snow globe!” he shouted, giving it a shake then holding it up to the light to peer inside.“Dad is this your doing?” Tony’s dad asked Tony’s Grandpa. Tony’s grandpa shook his head no and shrugged his shoulders. “Well son, I guess we’ll just chalk this one up to Santa!” he said, smiling.“I love it!” said Tony, running up to his room to find the perfect spot for his gift. The snow globe found a home on top of his dresser next to the bed. Every night before bed he would lay down and hold it up above his head, peering at the boy inside as the glittery snowflakes fell around him. The boy inside was sitting cross-legged on the floor, a doll, toy train, plate of cookies, and glass of lemonade by his side. I wonder what your name is...thought Tony one day. “It’s Elliot!” shouted the boy. Tony was so shocked he almost dropped the snow globe on the floor. He had seen a film at the movie theatre last year with his dad where the toys could talk, and move. But... that wasn’t real... was it?“Hello Elliot, I’m Tony,” he spoke into the glass at the top of the snow globe. He leaned back and ...
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    18 mins
  • Is Your Name Camilla? (YOUNGER KIDS)

    Is Your Name Camilla? (YOUNGER KIDS)
    Mar 11 2022
    Today we’ll be reading a story called “Is Your Name Camilla?”. This story is a little bit like a puzzle, or a guessing game. Our friend Harriet Hedghog is trying to find her sister’s friend, Camilla. Will you figure out which animal Camilla is before Harriet does? Let’s get reading to find out!A Carefully Built Pretend podcast is written and produced by Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comSupport Melissa on Patreon - http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriMelissa on Instagram: @the.mop.podMelissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveriAll music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.comMusic and Stories brought to you by Things with Wings Productions and Phaeton Starling Publishing.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Pssst! Over here!Take my hand, I’ll take you to a Pretend Land!Are you ready?1 -2 -3, Wheeeeeeeeee!Welcome to A Carefully Built Pretend. My name is Melissa, and I’m so glad you’re here!Today we’ll be reading a story called “Is Your Name Camilla?”. This story is a little bit like a puzzle, or a guessing game. Our friend Harriet Hedghog is trying to find her sister’s friend, Camilla. Will you figure out which animal Camilla is before Harriet does? Let’s get reading to find out!Are you ready? Here we go!Meet Harriet Hedgehog. Harriet loves wearing mittens, putting bows in her hair, and playing with her rainbow beach ball.Harriet has a sister named Hillary Hedgehog. Hillary is rather sad today because she has lost her friend, Camilla. “Don’t worry, I will go find your friend Camilla!” says Harriet. She puts on her shoes, and her favourite mittens and heads out the door.First, I will look in the park! she thinks. At the entrance to the park she sees a little grey mouse! “Excuse me, Mouse” she says, “is your name Camilla?”“Why no!” says the mouse. “My name is Mozza because I LOVE mozzarella cheese! But I know someone named Camilla, and she has HUGE eyes!”“Oh, thank you, Mozza!” replies Harriet, and she keeps walking. Ahead of her she sees the county fair. That seems like a good place to look for Camilla. She walks by the Ferris wheel and the carrousel, and suddenly sees a large brown horse. “Why, this horse has big eyes!” cries Harriet. “Excuse me, horse, is your name Camilla?” she asks.“Nay!” says the horse, “My name is Wind because I can run like the wind. But I know someone named Camilla, and she has big feet!”“Thank you, Wind!” shouts Harriet, running toward the zoo. Harriet follows the winding path around the different enclosures, and suddenly sees a kangaroo. Now, kangaroos have big eyes AND big feet! thinks Harriet. “Excuse me, kangaroo, is your name Camilla?” she asks.“Not at all!” the kangaroo replies. “My name is Pocket because I have a pocket on my belly. But I know someone named Camilla, and she has no tail!”“Oh, thank you, Pocket!” says Harriet, hurrying toward the forest. Harriet is running so fast she runs right into the paws of a lynx. Lynx have big eyes, AND big feet, AND they have no tail! thinks Harriet. “Excuse me, lynx, is your name Camilla?” she asks, untangling herself from its paws.“So sorry dear, but it’s not. My name is Moonlight because I love to play in the moonlight. But I know someone named Camilla, and she has no fur!”“Oh, well, thank you, Moonlight,” says Harriet, following the path through the woods. Suddenly she hears a strange sound... “Oooo – oooo – ooooo”. What could it be...?“An Owl!” cries Harriet. “Of course! Owls have no fur, only feathers! They have big eyes, AND big feet, AND no tail!” Harriet quickly climbs the tree and finds the owl on a branch. “Excuse me, owl, is your name Camilla?”“Whooooooo?” says the owl. “No, my name is Dinnerplates, because I have such big eyes! But I know someone named Camilla and.... she’s just around the corner!”“Wonderful! Thank you so much, Dinnerplates!” shouts Harriet over her shoulder as she scrambles down the tree. She rushes down the path and comes to a small pond. Sitting on a lily pad in the pond is a lovely, smiling frog. The frog has big eyes, AND big feet. She has NO tail, and NO hair – she is all green! “Excuse me, frog,” says Harriet, “is your name Camilla?”“Why yes!” says Camilla “How may I help you, dear?”“My sister Hillary is very sad! She couldn’t find you earlier and she’s quite worried!”“Then, we’d best hurry home!” says Camilla, hopping off the lily pad and swimming to meet Harriet at the edge of the pond.The pair race home to find Hillary, who gives Camilla a big hug the moment they walk through the door. Hillary turns to Harriet and asks, “Did you have a hard time finding Camilla?”“Not at all!” replies Harriet, “and I made some wonderful friends along the way!” Thank you for being here my friend, it’s so nice to spend a little bit of time with you!I hope you enjoyed this story, and remember, it’s okay to ask for help if you need it.Until ...
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    8 mins
  • That Time I Didn't Listen (EVERYONE)

    That Time I Didn't Listen (EVERYONE)
    Mar 4 2022
    Today we’ll be reading a story called That Time I Didn’t Listen. Do you ever have those moments where someone warns you about something, but you kind of want to find out for yourself? Or maybe you don’t quite believe them? This is a story about moments like those, and what our storyteller learned from them.A Carefully Built Pretend podcast is written and produced by Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.comSupport Melissa on Patreon - http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveriMelissa on Instagram: @the.mop.podMelissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveriAll music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.comMusic and Stories brought to you by Things with Wings Productions and Phaeton Starling Publishing.FULL TRANSCRIPT:Pssst! Over here!Take my hand, I’ll take you to a Pretend Land!Are you ready?1 -2 -3, Wheeeeeeeeee!Welcome to A Carefully Built Pretend. My name is Melissa, and I’m so glad you’re here!Today we’ll be reading a story called That Time I Didn’t Listen. Do you ever have those moments where someone warns you about something, but you kind of want to find out for yourself? Or maybe you don’t quite believe them? This is a story about moments like those, and what our storyteller learned from them.Are you ready? Here we go!The first time I didn’t listen I was making Rice Krispie Squares with my mom. We put a pot on the stove and melted some butter, then added some marshmallows to it and melted those too, then we mixed in the cereal, and it was a big gooey, sticky, sweet mess. My mom took the pot off the stove. I turned to look at the burner, it was a pretty, bright orange colour. “Don’t touch the hot stove, you’ll get hurt,” said my mom. “It’s so pretty,” I thought “I’ll only touch it a little bit,” I thought. I reached out my forefinger and placed it down on the bright orange burner. “Owwie owwie!” I shouted, popping my finger into my mouth as the burning pain shot up my arm. I took my finger out of my mouth and looked down at it. My skin was bright red and a big ol’ blister was forming. Even the Rice Krispie Treats didn’t make me feel better. I told myself next time my mother warned me about something I would listen.The next time I didn’t listen I was chewing bubble gum. I love bubble gum. Well, I used to love bubble gum. I would chew it and chew it, then I would pull some of it out of my mouth and twirl it around my finger and my father would say “One of these days you’re going to get bubble gum in your hair!” and I would roll my eyes and twirl my gum around my finger some more then pop it back in my mouth and keep chewing. One day I was at school chewing my gum and twirling it around my finger when the boy sitting behind me let out a loud sneeze - ATCHOO! I was startled and quickly turned my head around to look at him. Before I knew it, I had bubble gum in my hair. I pulled and pulled on it but no matter what I did it was stuck. I ran to the restrooms and tried to clean it off with water and a paper towel, but it was stuck. I put a hat on to hide the gum in my hair for the rest of the day. When I got home my father took one look at me and said “I told you so!”. He then got the scissors and cut the gum out of my hair. I looked very silly for a few weeks until my hair grew back. I told myself that next time my father warned me about something I would listen.The next time I didn’t listen I was pushing the shopping cart around the store while Grandpa and I were doing groceries. I was only a little bit taller than the shopping cart; my eyes were just above the handle. After a while I got a bit bored, and hungry, so I licked the handle of the shopping cart. “Oh dear,” said my grandpa, “shopping carts are covered in germs, you really shouldn’t do that.” I rolled my eyes and thought “What does he know? I don’t see any germs!” and kept licking the shopping cart handle with defiance. A few days later I woke up feeling very icky. “I think you caught a bug!” said my mom as she was looking at the thermometer. I missed my best friend’s birthday party because I was stuck in bed with a fever and a sore throat. I told myself, next time Grandpa warned me about something I would listen.The next time I didn’t listen we were on family vacation and staying at a hotel. The hotel had big, long, straight hallways with gray and beige carpeting. The hallways looked like racetracks, and I went racing down them every time we left our room. “You really shouldn’t run down the hallways, it’s disruptive for the other guests and you could fall and get hurt,” said my older sister. “She’s just jealous because I’m faster than her,” I thought as I flew down the hallways at top speed. I zoomed past the elevators, the vending machine, the door to the pool... the room numbers were all a blur as I raced by. Out of the blue, I tripped on my own feet and fell to the ground, my face rubbing against the carpet as I crash-landed in the hallway. I sat ...
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    11 mins

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