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  • WOMAN: ♪ Hey, now... ♪

  • Hey, wow... ♪

  • Here's how

  • Come and read

  • Between the lions

  • CHORUS: ♪ Come on

  • Come in

  • Begin

  • The world awaits

  • WOMAN: ♪ Between the lions

  • Between the covers of a book

  • It's time to look between the lions

  • Behold the tales beyond the tails

  • CHORUS: ♪ Behind the door

  • Become, explore

  • Come in between the lions

  • Begin between the lions

  • Be here between the lions! ♪

  • ( chuckling )

  • ( Lionel and Leona arguing )

  • Oh, that's a keeper.

  • Cubs, listen!

  • Will you please keep it down in the library?

  • ( cubs still arguing in distance )

  • Eeh...

  • Uh...

  • Click!

  • The cubs are in that book there

  • about ships, The Admiral's Adventure.

  • LIONEL: We're on the high seas.

  • I'm having an adventure.

  • Oh, that's my toe!

  • Oh, Leona, could you please stay over there?

  • I am over there.

  • You bumped into me.

  • There's just not enough room in this book.

  • This is bad.

  • This is so bad.

  • This is terrible-- it's very, very bad.

  • Listen...

  • Engaging drag and drop.

  • ( beeping )

  • ( whooshing; Theo yelling )

  • ( thud )

  • All right, look, what's the problem, cubs?

  • Dad, Dad, this is very bad.

  • It's very bad.

  • There's not enough room in this book.

  • Yes, and it's making me mad.

  • Yes, and it couldn't get any worse.

  • Couldn't get any worse, eh?

  • You know, I know a story

  • that I think you two should hear.

  • I'll go get it.

  • Click, drag me out!

  • ( Theo squeals )

  • ( thud )

  • What took you so long?

  • Eh, okay, gather round.

  • This is a Russian folk tale...

  • THEO ( reading ):

  • ( splat )

  • ( wet thwack )

  • THEO:

  • ( wet thwack )

  • THEO:

  • Speak to the wise woman.

  • That's me.

  • O wise woman, there's no room in my house

  • for all of my family.

  • Maybe I'm not making myself clear.

  • I look at you, and I think...

  • But I can solve all your troubles.

  • THEO: So the wise woman charged the sad dad eight kopecks.

  • Eight kopecks?

  • In advance.

  • THEO:

  • Bring all your animals into the house.

  • Bring all my animals into the house.

  • THEO:

  • THEO:

  • CLEO: Theo, my love, could you please read louder?

  • Read louder, Cleo, my sweet?

  • Yes, everyone is trying to hear you read.

  • Yeah, man, we never looked at one book

  • and heard a lion inside it

  • reading a different book before.

  • Way nutty, man.

  • ( sighs )

  • You know, Cleo, if everyone wants to hear this story

  • why don't we have Click drag and drop you all in here, hmm?

  • What?

  • What?

  • All of us?

  • Yep-- Send them in, Click.

  • CLICK: Executing command.

  • ( whooshing, thudding and squealing )

  • And now...

  • BUSTER: Huh! Just what the world needs.

  • "Dear Walter and Clay Pigeon

  • "I want to be a basketball player.

  • "What should I do?

  • Signed, Adam, age 37."

  • Adam, our advice is, um... um...

  • Uh...

  • Feed the pigeons.

  • Yeah, right.

  • What?

  • That is bad advice.

  • Very bad advice.

  • Hey, it could be, uh...

  • Worse?

  • Yeah, we could tell all pigeons

  • to come and sit on Buster's...

  • Uh... head!

  • Yeah!

  • ( laughing )

  • BUSTER: Don't make me mad.

  • ( pigeons stammering )

  • Bye!

  • This has been...

  • Bad.

  • ( makes short "a" sound )

  • Hey, it's standing room only

  • for Martha Reader and the Vowelles

  • screaming that fabulous short "a"-- "aah"-- sound

  • in the world "flag."

  • ( Martha singing repeated short "a" sound to pop tune )

  • ( Vowelles respond rhythmically with short "a" sound )

  • ( crowd makes short "a" sound )

  • ( monkeys hooting )

  • An.

  • A... n... an.

  • ( whistles )

  • ( makes B sound )

  • B... an... ban.

  • Ban.

  • ( whistles )

  • J... o... jo.

  • Ban... jo.

  • "Banjo."

  • ( imitates banjo picking tune )

  • Banjo.

  • ( heavy metal music playing )

  • ♪ "b" and "d" confusion

  • Really drains my brain

  • Sometimes b-i-g, "big" ♪

  • Looks like d-i-g, "dig" ♪

  • ♪ "b" and "d" are driving me insane! ♪

  • When I look at those crazy letters

  • ♪ "b" and "d"-- they look a little alike

  • But "bunk" and "dunk" ♪

  • And "boom" and "doom" ♪

  • Are as different as day and night. ♪

  • When I look at them close together

  • ♪ I can see they're kind of turned around

  • But "bent" and "dent" ♪

  • And "bare" and "dare" ♪

  • Have a very, very different sound. ♪

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • ♪ "b" and "d" confusion

  • Turn my "bread" to "dread" ♪

  • When I see the word "brag" ♪

  • Sometimes think it's a "drag" ♪

  • ♪ "b" and "d," you're messin' with my head. ♪

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • ♪ "b" and "d" confusion

  • Thought my "bog" was a "dog." ♪

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • ♪ "b" and "d" confusion... ♪

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • Got my mind in a fog... ♪

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • ♪ "b" and "d" confusion... ♪

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • Thought my "brink" was a "drink" ♪

  • Ha!

  • Imagine my surprise!

  • I tried to drink my brink!

  • What do you think?!

  • ( laughs )

  • WOMAN:

  • ( snaps fingers quietly )

  • ( Leona humming tune )

  • Huh?

  • What?

  • What...

  • WOMAN: Can you read that, Leona?

  • Um... uh...

  • ( sounding out "a dan" )

  • No.

  • That's right.

  • Very good, Leona.

  • It's a dan-cer.

  • A dancer.

  • A dancer?

  • A dancer.

  • ( piano begins playing )

  • ( music ends )

  • Uncle Albrecht!

  • Would you like to dance with me, Leona?

  • Oh, yes, yes, yes!

  • Let's dance together.

  • Okay.

  • ( piano resumes playing )

  • ( everyone in book talking over each other )

  • LEONA: When are you going to finish that book?

  • As soon as everyone's here, Leona.

  • Click, is that everyone?

  • ( bang )

  • I am losing power.

  • Hey, wait for me!

  • CLICK: I hope I have the strength to lift Heath.

  • Did she say "Heath"?

  • ( all gasp )

  • ( all screaming as Heath falls )

  • ( loud thud )

  • Oh, this is bad... so bad!

  • Hurry up, Dad, read the story!

  • I... can't... get... the book... open!

  • ( all shouting )

  • ( music begins )

  • MAN: ♪ If you can read A-T, "at" ♪

  • Then you can read "cat" and "chat" ♪

  • And you can read "bat" and "brat" ♪

  • And you can read "drat" ♪

  • CHORUS: ♪ See, I got you reading with me

  • All you need is a little A-T ♪

  • If you can read A-T, "at" ♪

  • Then you can read "fat" and "flat" ♪

  • And you can read "sat" and "scat" ♪

  • And you can read "splat" ♪

  • See, I got you learning with words

  • Don't you love every "at" that you've heard? ♪

  • If you can read A-T, "at" ♪

  • Then you can read "pat" and "hat" ♪

  • And you can read "rat" ♪

  • And you can read "bat" ♪

  • ♪ 'Cause you can read "at." ♪

  • F...

  • L...

  • A... T.

  • ( laughing )

  • "Flat."

  • "Flat."

  • Yes, I've done it!

  • I've done it!

  • Watson, get in here quickly!

  • ( grunts )

  • Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Nitwit.

  • It... is...

  • "Nitwhite"!

  • Yes, yes!

  • Watson!

  • Cast your eyes on my latest and greatest discovery:

  • the only... I say the only four-letter word

  • in the English language

  • with the A-T-- "at"-- sound on the end:

  • the word "flat."

  • ( chuckles )

  • "Flat"?

  • Yes.

  • "Flat."

  • Well, how about that?

  • Yes, I know, isn't it...?

  • What did you say?

  • How about that?

  • Oh, no...

  • "That."

  • "That"?

  • Oh, no, no, no!

  • Why don't I just scat?

  • "Scat"?!

  • ( groans )

  • Bye, Dr. Nitwit.

  • That's "Nitwhite"!

  • Right!

  • Oh, drat!

  • ( gasping and shrieking )

  • ( groaning )

  • CLEO: And now, one of Hollywood's brightest stars, Roma Downey

  • reading a poem about this and that.

  • DOWNEY: "This and That" from The Butterfly Jar by Jeff Moss.

  • ( cheering and applause )

  • Oh, that was...

  • that was lovely.

  • Thank you, that's very nice.

  • ( monkeys exclaim )

  • Oh, did you hear that?

  • This is too much.

  • ( cheering and applause )

  • I don't deserve this.

  • ( monkeys exclaiming )

  • Thank you.

  • Okay, that's enough.

  • ( monkeys exclaiming )

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • MAN: ♪ The team called the Madison Cats

  • had a terrible problem with rats

  • Said the catcher, "Let's see, if we swap R for B ♪

  • We can turn all those rats into bats." ♪

  • ( organ plays "Charge!" theme )

  • MAN: ♪ Swami Smarmy Marmy-- that's the swami's name

  • And reading what the future writes is Swami Marmy's game! ♪

  • Come in, future...

  • come in, future.

  • Write to me in this crystal ball.

  • I want to read what the future brings.

  • Huh?

  • The future isn't making much sense today.

  • Oh, future! ♪

  • We need a rewrite here.

  • I got it! I got it!

  • Ooh!

  • Oh!

  • Nice catch!

  • Oh, thanks!

  • ( monkeys shouting )

  • Yay, team!

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • ( monkeys shouting )

  • I should have worn a helmet.

  • ( groans )

  • Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Leon Redbone.

  • REDBONE: Hmm...

  • The Barnaby B. Busterfield III Memorial Public Library--

  • I love it.

  • You'll find it all here cataloged A to Z

  • all according to the alphabet.

  • Here, check it out.

  • ( music begins )

  • ♪ A is for "Albrecht" and B is for "Busterfield" ♪

  • And "Click" and "Cleo" start with C ♪

  • ♪ D is for "Dot," E is for "Elephant" ♪

  • And F is for "Fred" ♪

  • GAWAIN: ♪ I'm Gawain, and I start with G. ♪

  • REDBONE: ♪ H stands for "Heath" and I is for "Ines" ♪

  • And J is for "Johnny Consonanti" ♪

  • It's fun to sing about each person and thing

  • In the Busterfield Library

  • ♪ K stands for "King" ♪

  • ♪ L is for "Lionel" and "Leona" ♪

  • And "Leon"-- lots of luck

  • ♪ M is for "Marmy" ♪

  • ♪ N is for "Nitwit" ♪

  • "Nitwhite"!

  • ♪ O is for "Ox" and P is for "Puck" ♪

  • ♪ Q is for "Queen" ♪

  • ♪ R is for "Ram" ♪

  • And S is for "Sam" ♪

  • And "Tiger Words" starts with T ♪

  • The Un-people's name has a U at the beginning

  • And the "Vowelles" start with V ♪

  • ♪ W is for "Walter" ♪

  • ♪ X marks the spot

  • ♪ Y is for "Yam," now we're up to Z ♪

  • ( monkeys cheer )

  • And Z is for "Zoo," now it's good-bye to you

  • From the Busterfield Library

  • We're proud to be in... ♪

  • The Busterfield Library

  • We're A to Z in... ♪

  • ALL: ♪ The Busterfield Library. ♪

  • Yeah!

  • ( song ends )

  • CLICK: Resources overtaxed.

  • Must go into sleep mode.

  • Snore... sleep mode.

  • CLEO: Everyone, everyone... everyone take a deep breath

  • so Theo can open the book.

  • Ready... one, two...

  • ( all inhale deeply )

  • Got it!

  • ( all exhale loudly )

  • Okay, uh, now, where were we?

  • Uh... uh, the wise woman told the sad family

  • to bring all their animals into the house.

  • And they had even less room to eat porridge

  • and less room to read and less room to...

  • to put on pants and stuff like that, yeah.

  • Whoa!

  • Very good summarizing!

  • Thanks, Dad.

  • Read the story!

  • Right, right, okay, okay.

  • Hmm...

  • I had a feeling you'd be back.

  • THEO: "So the wise woman charged the sad dad 18 kopecks."

  • ( coins jingle, drop )

  • My advice to you:

  • Take the chickens out of the house.

  • Take the chickens out of the house.

  • ( chickens clucking )

  • Oh, yes, wise woman.

  • THEO: "So the wise woman charged the sad dad 28 kopecks."

  • ( coins jingle, drop )

  • My advice to you is

  • take the goats out of the house.

  • Take the goats out of the house.

  • ( laughing )

  • ( laughing ): Goats... goats!

  • THEO: "So the wise woman charged the sad dad 48...

  • 58 kopecks!"

  • Take all the animals out of the house.

  • All the animals out of the house.

  • ( laughing )

  • You know, barely enough room...

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • ( car horn beeps )

  • "The end."

  • ( all grumbling )

  • You know, Lionel

  • I think that that story is kind of like this.

  • You know what I mean?

  • I mean, we thought it was bad

  • when it was just you and me

  • but it could be worse.

  • Yeah.

  • Dad?

  • Yeah.

  • You're trying to make a point and stuff

  • aren't you?

  • Oh, yes, I was.

  • Well, we get it, don't we?

  • Oh, yeah.

  • There's room for both Leona and me in this book.

  • ( chuckles )

  • Yeah, yeah, see?

  • CLEO: Very good, Theo

  • but I think we can all go now.

  • Right, right.

  • Okay.

  • Let's do it like the story

  • and send the chickens out first.

  • Click!

  • Snore... sleep mode...

  • THEO: Click... Click, are you there?

  • She's in sleep mode!

  • ALL: Oh, no!

  • How are we going to get out of this book

  • and back into the library?

  • This is bad.

  • Oh, yeah.

  • ALL: Very bad!

  • Actually, remember the story?

  • Huh?

  • It could be worse.

  • ( all agreeing )

  • ALL: No, it couldn't!

  • Click!

  • Click!

  • Click!

  • Click!

  • Snore... sleep mode... snore...

  • sleep mode... snore... sleep mode...

  • The Admiral's Adventure-- ooh!

  • It's the perfect book for me to read

  • on my two-year voyage around the world!

  • ( all gasp )

  • I'd like to check this book out.

  • Where is everybody?

  • Hello?

  • Hello?!

  • Anybody?!

  • Snore... sleep mode... snore...

  • What kind of library is this?

  • And now it's time for...

  • BUSTERFIELD: Glad advice?

  • Huh! I'll be the judge of that.

  • CLAY ( reading ):

  • Madeline, our advice is, um...

  • Uh... feed the pigeons!

  • Yeah, feed the pigeons!

  • What?!

  • That's the same bad advice!

  • But feeding the pigeons makes us...

  • glad!

  • And you know...

  • PIGEONS: It could be worse!

  • Do pigeons make you mad, too?

  • Or is it just me?

  • It's just you.

  • There are games and stories at the Between the Lions Web site:

  • pbskids.org, or America Online keyword: PBS Kids.

  • Hi, Mr. Roker.

  • Hi, Leona.

  • Mr. Roker, could you be

  • my designated reader today?

  • I'd be happy to.

  • Wow, thank you!

  • You ready?

  • Yeah.

  • All right-- "It was a dark and stormy night..."

  • Ooh!

  • "Not fit out for man nor beast..."

  • Hmm?

  • ♪ ♪ ♪

  • [Captioned by The Caption Center WGBH Educational Foundation]

  • CHORUS: ♪ Between the lions... ♪

  • Between the lions... ♪

  • WOMAN: ♪ Come in between the lions

  • Begin between the lions

  • Be here between the lions! ♪

  • CLEO: Between the Lions is funded in part by...

WOMAN: ♪ Hey, now... ♪

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