Dorktales Storytime
Be the hero of your own story with Dorktales Storytime, the award-winning podcast for kids and their pop culture loving grownups. Enter their Once Upon a Time world where hosts, Jonathan Cormur and Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog, take you on a storytelling journey of curiosity and acceptance. You’ll explore reimagined fairytales and fables with social emotional themes, discover inspiring stories of history’s hidden heroes, and experience imaginary tales of boundless possibilities.
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Dorktales Storytime
Hey Diddle, Diddle and the Lost Laugh - Silly Stories for Kids
Redge’s plans for the Bubbly, Cuddly, Huggly, Snuggly Hearts Party are in jeopardy when the musical act cancels at the last minute. Redge knows the show must go on if he wants this special celebration of friendship to be truly unforgettable. Luckily, he knows just who to put on the bill—the Hey Diddle, Diddle crew! With Cat on the fiddle, Cow jumping over the moon, and Dish and Spoon racing around, they seem like the perfect performers. But something is missing. Dog, the heart of their act, has lost his laugh, and no one knows how to bring it back. Can Jonathan and Redge hatch a plan to restore Dog’s joy to save the party—and rhyme— in the nick of time?
Go to the episode webpage: https://jonincharacter.com/hey-diddle-diddle-and-the-lost-laugh/
GRAB YOUR FREE PDF list of conversation questions for this episode:
https://dorktalesstorytime.aweb.page/ep105freePDF
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: In Dorktales Storytime’s "Hey Diddle, Diddle and the Lost Laugh" kids learn that supporting friends through difficult times, using creativity to solve problems, and recognizing the importance of every individual in a group can make a big difference. It also reinforces that when things don’t go as planned, working together and staying positive can lead to a joyful outcome.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS STORY about a classic rhyme, you might enjoy the silly rhymes in EP52: The Tornado Two-Step, a remake of a classic tall tale: https://jonincharacter.com/tornado-two-step/
CREDITS: This episode is a Jonincharacter production. It was written by Monique Hafen Adams, edited and produced by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.
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Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!
JONATHAN CORMUR: Hello Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur and you're listening to Dorktales Storytime, the podcast for kids and their pop culture-loving grown-ups.
THEME SONG: It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure and glory, new friends and old ones too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tail, so let us regale you.
REDGE (on the phone, disappointed): Oh nooooo…are you sure?
JONATHAN: Hiya, Redge!
REDGE (whispered): Be with you in a sec, Jonathan. I’m on a quick call.
JONATHAN (Whispered): Oh sorry.
REDGE (Back to the phone): It’s just especially difficult since this is all so last minute…no, no…I understand. Completely. I’m sure we can find someone else. Ok…yes, yes…next time. Thank you. Ok. Cheers.
JONATHAN: You okay, Redge?
REDGE: I just got some disappointing news.
JONATHAN: What’s up?
REDGE: At the very last minute, the Branch Sisters are unavailable to perform at our Bubbly, Cuddly, Huggly, Snuggly Hearts Party tomorrow due to, quote, scheduling conflicts, unquote. What did I expect? They are in high demand. Who can blame them?
JONATHAN: Sorry, Redge. It was awfully nice of you to try to get them for the Doubly, Cuddly, Stubbly, Bubbly, …?
REDGE: Bubbly, Cuddly, Huggly, Snuggly.
JONATHAN: Right. For your…party tomorrow night.
REDGE: I thought having the Branch Sisters there would be the perfect way to celebrate the importance of friendships. That’s what the Bubbly, Cuddly, Huggly, Snuggly Hearts Party is all about. That, and heart-shaped treats, of course.
JONATHAN: I’m sure it’ll be just as Huggly and Snuggly as ever. What can I do to help?
REDGE: Luckily, the Folktale Forest is filled with bustling talent. And I know just where to go to find the perfect replacement.
JONATHAN: Where’s that?
REDGE: The Hey Diddle, Diddle crew, of course! They’ve got dishes, they’ve got spoons, they’ve got fiddles…
JONATHAN: They’ve got cows jumping over the moon?
REDGE: Righto! Come, come! We’ve not a moment to waste. The party is tomorrow night!
JONATHAN: Let’s go!
(Furious fiddle playing)
JONATHAN: Wow! I’ve never heard such wild fiddle playing.
REDGE: That’s Cat! Cat learned from one of the best fiddlers in the Folktale Forest!
JONATHAN: Cat learned from Tabitha? From your Merry Band of Bremen?
REDGE: That’s right!
JONATHAN: Wow!
(The fiddle playing is very loud and very fast now.)
REDGE: Hello there!
(More fiddle. And now some loud mooing.)
REDGE (coughs loudly): I say! Hello there!
(More music. More mooing.)
REDGE: Hello?!
JONATHAN: I don’t think they can hear us.
REDGE: No, I guess not. But look at Cow go!
JONATHAN: She’s getting quite the height with those jumps.
REDGE: She’s a true jumping pro. Oh, oh look who’s coming this way! Just who we need to talk to! Dish! Spoon!
DISH (breathing heavily): Oh, hello Reginald! Sorry. Can’t talk right now. Come on, Spoon, come on! Keep up! Keep up!
SPOON (breathing heavily): Sorry, Redge. Gotta keep running!
JONATHAN: Maybe they’re training for something?
REDGE: That must be it! Let’s cheer them on!
JONATHAN: Scoop it up, Spoon!
REDGE: Roll with it, Dish!
JONATHAN: Woo hoo, Cat! You’re the cat’s meow!
REDGE: Go Cow! You’re UTTER-ly amazing!
REDGE: Bravo!
JONATHAN: Really terrific!
REDGE: Magnificent effort team!
JONATHAN: So, what are you all training for?
CAT: Cow, did it work?
COW: It must have worked this time, Cat.
DISH: Someone go check.
SPOON: I tried last time, Dish. Cat, you go see if it worked this time.
CAT: I’d go Spoon, but he hasn’t moved a bit. He didn’t even lift his head towards us. Nothing’s working.
JONATHAN: Um, excuse me, but what’s going on?
DISH: Spoon, do you wanna try to explain?
SPOON: I could try…you see, it’s Dog. We can’t get him to laugh. It started after our last gig. He’s been so sad. No matter what we do. He just lays there all mopey.
COW: No one knows why.
REDGE: Oh dear! Without Dog…
JONATHAN: What?
REDGE: The rhyme is incomplete, Jonathan.
CAT: Say it for him, Cow!
COW (dramatically): Hey Diddle, Diddle. The cat and the fiddle. The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun.
DISH and SPOON: And the dish ran away with the spoon.
CAT: But Dog is not laughing and we don’t know why.
JONATHAN: I see.
COW: Maybe we’re not fun anymore!
(Cat, Dish, and Spoon all gasp in fright.)
REDGE: No, no!
JONATHAN: That can’t be it! Redge came here to ask you to perform your music and tricks for his Doubly, Bubbly, Toil and Troubly….?
REDGE: Bubbly, Cuddly, Huggly, Snuggly.
JONATHAN: Hearts Party tomorrow night because he knows just how fun you truly are!
REDGE: But without Dog…
CAT: We just couldn’t. Without Dog, we’re incomplete.
COW: That’s right, Cat. It seems pointless to lift my limbs above the moon and into the sky without Dog’s giggles. It makes me feel ridiculous.
JONATHAN: Should I try talking to Dog?
SPOON: Yes, do try to get the scoop?
JONATHAN: Ok, Spoon. I’ll give it a shot…
Pardon me to interrupt, but Dog, I was wondering…
(Dog moans. Exhales.)
It’s ok, pal. Would you like a nice belly rub?
(Dog moans. Exhales.)
We could play fetch…?
(Dog moans. Exhales.)
REDGE: Ooof. Poor Dog. Good try, Jonathan. Maybe the pup is hungry?
SPOON: Dish whipped up his favorite dish…he wouldn’t touch it.
JONATHAN: Maybe he’s not well and needs some medicine?
DISH: Spoon gave him a spoonful of the best remedy…He didn’t perk up a bit.
CAT: And I’ve fiddled song after song. I even wrote him a whole new hoedown. But nada. Nothing.
COW: And my gams have never gotten such a workout with all the intense jumping I’m doing. He’s always laughed at that. But nada. Nothing.
REDGE: Hmmmm…well there’s only one solution.
JONATHAN: I’m right with you, buddy!
JONATHAN/REDGE: It’s time to ramp up the fun so high that Dog has absolutely no choice but to come out of his funk and fill the air with his joyous giggles!
REDGE: Come, friends. We’re going to need the help of a few more Folktale friends.
(Now we hear a whole field of cows mooing and gathering.)
COW: This way ladies! This way! Let’s all line up one by one so we each have a turn jumping.
DISH: All magical dishes and cutlery, follow me, please. Follow me. Forks to the right and knives on the left. Thank you all for coming down from your hutches. Fork, you’re with Bowl. And Cup, you’re with Knife. Spoon, you’re with me, of course.
SPOON: Sorry Dish, but wouldn’t it be sillier if Fork was with Cup and Knife was with Bowl?
DISH: I hadn’t thought of that…oh gosh, what’s funnier? Redge, help! Fork with Bowl or Fork with Cup? We gotta get this right! For Dog’s sake!
REDGE (nervously): Mmmm…oh dear! What’s funnier? Knife with Bowl or Knife with Cup? I…I…Jonathan, help! What do you think?
JONATHAN (confidently): Knife, you’re with Bowl. Cup, you’re with Fork. Everyone to your starting line. The finish line is just past Billy Goat Bridge over the stream. Be ready to do a few laps. Cat, are you ready with that original hoedown you wrote for Dog?
CAT: Ready, Jonathan!
JONATHAN: Count ‘em in, Redge!
REDGE: Way to take charge, Jonathan! Here we go everyone! A 1, a 2, a 1, 2, 3, 4!
(Hoedown starts, the cows moo, clinking of dishes and silverware)
REDGE: Oh, this is wildly fun!
JONATHAN: Who knew so many cows could reach such heights?
REDGE: They really know how to get mooooo-ving.
JONATHAN: And the way the cutlery is racing around the track…
REDGE: It gives new meaning to “fast food.”
JONATHAN: I’ve never seen such a magnificent production in all the Folktale Forest!
REDGE: Let’s check on Dog.
JONATHAN: He’s waaaatching…
REDGE: He’s waaaalking this way…
JONATHAN: I think it’s working!
REDGE (really selling it): Hi, Dog! Isn’t this a blast!? Yeehaw!
(Dog bursts into tears.)
JONATHAN: Oh no.
REDGE: Dog, what’s wrong?
CAT (still playing): Dog?!
(More of Dog’s crying is heard.)
DISH: Oh no, Dog!
SPOON: We’re coming, Dog! It’s gonna be ok!
REDGE: Watch out, Dish!
JONATHAN: Spoon! Look out!
(A loud distressed moo is heard and a crash as Cow trips and falls into Dish and Spoon who tumble toward Cat. Music stops.)
REDGE: Cat! Cow! Are you okay?
JONATHAN: Dish! Spoon! Are you alright?
SPOON: Not a scratch.
DISH: Not a chip.
COW: I’m seeing spots, but I think I’ll be ok.
CAT: I always land on my feet. We’re just worried about Dog...Dog? Are you ok?
DOG (sadly): Are you rehearsing a new act without me?
CAT: What? Oh, no.
COW: Never!
DISH: This is all for you, Dog.
DOG: For me?
SPOON: We’ve noticed you’ve been feeling down so we thought if we amped up the fun, it might help you get your laugh back.
DOG: Wow, you did all this for me?
CAT: Oh Dog, we’re nothing without you.
DOG: That really means a lot to me. I always feel like everyone else has the talent. What am I good for? All I do is laugh.
REDGE: Can I interrupt you there? Dog, without your giggle the rest of the Hey Diddle, Diddle crew has no guidance.
COW: Yeah, without your guffaws we can’t gauge if we’re any fun. We need you.
DOG: Thanks for saying that. But the truth is…I’ve always wanted to try something else. Something new.
CAT: Something else?
COW: Something new?
DOG: I’ve just been too embarrassed to ask…
DISH: Ask!
SPOON: Ask!
COW/CAT: Please ask!
REDGE: Would you want to try it out at the Bubbly, Cuddly, Huggly, Snuggly Hearts party tomorrow night?
DOG: Could I?
CAT: Yes!
COW: I think it’d be moo-gical!
SPOON/DISH: Cheers to that!
JONATHAN: Let’s let them rehearse, Redge.
REDGE: You’re right! See you tomorrow! Everyone else you’re released. Thank you for your added efforts for Dog.
(Field of cows moo. Fork, Bowl, Cup, and Knife clink away.)
JONATHAN: What a wonderful turnout for your (tentatively) Bubbly, Cuuuuddly, Snuggly, Flubbily? Hearts party, Redge!
REDGE: Close enough! Yes! It’s been a lovely celebration. And now, our dessert service is almost finished. Have you seen the Hey Diddle, Diddle crew?
JONATHAN: I don’t think they’re here yet.
REDGE: Oh no really? I hope Dog hasn’t bowed out.
JONATHAN: Redge, the servers are waving to you. I think the dessert service has ended.
REDGE: This is when the Hey Diddle, Diddle crew is supposed to perform…
JONATHAN: Maybe you can try again next year?
REDGE: I’d better give a little speech. Thank you all for joining us for this year’s Bubbly, Cuddly, Huggly, Snuggly Hearts Party. It’s been a tremendous success. We had some entertainment lined up for you tonight, but it seems…
(Fiddle playing is heard.)
JONATHAN: It seems they’re ready and raring to go!
(Loud cheers from the crowd. More fiddle playing.)
REDGE: Oh wonderful! Folktale friends and families, let’s give it up for the Hey Diddle, Diddle Crew!
(Fiddling and cheers and a loud moo as cow jumps.)
REDGE: Jonathan, do you see Dog?
JONATHAN: I don’t…Wait!
REDGE: There he is!
JONATHAN: What’s he going to do?
REDGE: Cat’s fiddling, cow has already jumped, and dish and spoon are ready to run. This is when he would usually laugh, but instead…
JONATHAN: He’s approaching the moon…
REDGE: And he’s…he’s…
JONATHAN: He’s leaping with cow!
REDGE: He did a twirl! Look at his glorious silhouette!
JONATHAN: He is staring down at the moon now…
REDGE: Opening his snout and–
(Loud howl from Dog at the moon.
JONATHAN: He’s howling at the moon!
REDGE: Oh what a glorious sound!
JONATHAN: You can probably hear that across all of Once Upon a Time!
(Loud cheer from the crowd. More howls and more fiddle playing.)
REDGE: Folktale friends and families, give it up for Dog!
(More cheering.)
REDGE: Doggone brilliant, don’t you think, Jonathan?
JONATHAN: Indeed, Redge. Sometimes it takes a little encouragement from friends to get you through a “rough” time.
REDGE: Remembering there’s always someone there to lean on when you’re feeling down.
JONATHAN: And it’s ok to change what you usually do or what you’re interested in.
REDGE: But when you’ve got a crew like The Hey Diddle, Diddle’s, you’re bound to find who you really want to be! And maybe even find your giggles, laughs and guffaws again!
(Dog laughs and howls.)
REDGE: I’d give a few howls for that myself!
JONATHAN CORMUR: This has been a Jonincharacter production. This story was written by Monique Hafen Adams, edited by Molly Murphy, and performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Hamilton Studio Recordings. Contact us at dorktalesstorytime@gmail.com or try our one-way text feature as a safe way to reach out. You can find a link at the top of our show notes.
Now, go be the hero of your own story and we’ll see you next once-upon-a-time!
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