Laughter in Learning, How a Nine Year Old Talks About His Love to be a Book Narrator

Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors

Papa Rick:

Hi Folks.

How are you doing?

You're listening to the story behind the story, Laughter in Learning.

I'm pleased to introduce you to our youngest grandson, Cooper.

Cooper is the inspiration and a contributor behind the story Laughter in Learning and is the narrator of the audiobook Laughter in Learning.

Because our stories take place in the fictional town of Big Head, in the Rocky Mountains, Cooper picked an animal that is natural to the area. His character in our story is a red fox.

Hello Cooper.

Cooper:

Hi.

Papa Rick:

Thanks for joining us on this segment of our audiobook, Laughter in Learning.

Did you enjoy being the narrator of the audiobook?

Cooper:

Very much.

Papa Rick:

And what did you like about it?

Cooper:

I liked how I could voice act, and I've never done anything like that.

Papa Rick:

Yeah, you did an excellent job. That was fantastic. You had some perfect inflection, laughter, and all that neat stuff, right?

Cooper:

Yeah.

Papa Rick:

So, can you tell me why you picked a red fox as your character?

Cooper:

I just saw it, and I thought it was cool. Foxes are one of my favourite animals, and I'm sure you do, too.

Papa Rick:

And they're smart. They're. You're a very smart animal.

Cooper:

Yes, definitely.

Papa Rick:

Now, did you see things, or when you were going through the story and narrating it, did you notice things that reflected something about your life and what's happening in your life?

Cooper:

Yes.

Papa Rick:

So, what were some of those things you saw or heard?

Cooper:

On my first day, my sister waited for me, picked me up, and asked those exact words.

Papa Rick:

Those exact words. Ha. So Cooper talks about his sister Bailey, who is the narrator in several of the stories.

Over the Bailey has narrated some of the stories in The Adventures of Kaboose the Rocky Mountain Bear.

So, with that in mind, Cooper, you just started a new school year. So, what do you like about school so far?

Cooper:

I'm hoping that we can do more gym activities, and later on in the year, we can do electronics, so we can build things, like rebooting a calculator with no battery.

Papa Rick:

Oh, you can build a calculator with no batteries.

Cooper:

Yeah, but that's later on. Later on in the year. Once we learn that electricians, yes.

Papa Rick:

That sounds pretty darn exciting. Are there any other new things you're learning about this year that you've never done before at school?

Cooper:

Not really yet.

Papa Rick:

Not yet, eh?

Cooper:

Yeah.

Papa Rick:

So, just until you get to that new electronic session, right?

Cooper:

Yeah.

Papa Rick:

Yeah, that's neat in itself. Are there new kids at school with whom you're making friends?

Cooper:

Yeah.

Papa Rick:

Are you making new friends, or do you have most of the same friends you had last year?

Cooper:

Most of the same friends.

But I think I have a new friend. His name is Justin.

Papa Rick:

Oh, his name is Justin. Cool. And is Justin new to the school?

Cooper:

No.

Papa Rick:

No? You he's finally in your class?

Cooper:

Yeah.

Papa Rick:

Okay, okay. I get it. Is there anything you're doing that's a challenge this year?

Cooper:

Not really yet. Yeah, I don't think there's anything that hard.

Papa Rick: Is nothing that hard?

Cooper:

No. And now,

Papa Rick:

I heard you started basketball this year.

Cooper:

I did, and my first practice was on Monday. It was on Monday.

Papa Rick:

And that's something that's outside of school, right? You don't have basketball at school.

Cooper:

I play basketball outside of school but can also play during gym class if we have free time or a basketball lesson.

Papa Rick:

Right on. Right on. Cool. And you used to have a gym in your daycare.?

Cooper:

Yeah.

Papa Rick:

Were there any basketball hoops there?

Cooper:

There was, but we'd rarely go down to the gym.

Papa Rick:

Oh, okay. Okay, so you didn't play much basketball at daycare?

Cooper:

No.

Papa Rick:

Okay, and you know what? In the story, Cooper, the red, Cooper is the, is a red fox in this story, right?

Cooper:

Yeah.

Papa Rick: He has a good sense of humour and uses his sense of humour to make friends and get his teachers to take a liking to him.

Cooper:

Yep, just like me.

Papa Rick:

Just like what?

Cooper:

Me.

Papa Rick:

Just like you. Do you see yourself in character Cooper the Red Fox?

Cooper:

Yep.

Papa Rick:

And what are some of the similarities between you and Cooper the Red Fox?

Cooper:

He has fun and humour and makes a lot of friends quickly.

Papa Rick:

Do you see using humour? Can you see how it can help you in difficult situations and make them easier to deal with?

Cooper:

Yeah.

Papa Rick:

Can you think of times that's happened to you?

Cooper:

Once, my best friend and I fought, but it all worked out because I started telling funny jokes.

Papa Rick:

Ah, so who started telling the funny jokes?

Cooper:

I did.

Papa Rick:

You did, and he started laughing. So, that made the whole bad situation into a good situation?

Cooper:

Yes.

Papa Rick:

Oh good, and you guys weren't mad at each other after that?

Cooper:

Good, good. Is there anything else you want to add about this experience as a storyteller?

Cooper:

No.

Papa Rick:

No?

Papa Rick: Have you never thought of yourself as a storyteller?

Cooper:

No.

Papa Rick:

You never thought of yourself as a narrator of a book? An audiobook?

Cooper:

Nope.

Papa Rick:

Ha. So, it was a pretty cool experience.

Cooper:

Yeah.

Papa Rick:

Yeah. And are there any lessons learned as we read and recorded the story that stick with you?

Cooper:

People will be your friends if you're kind, helpful, or have a good personality.

Papa Rick:

Right on.

And that is not a bad quality to have, right?

Right on.

Papa Rick:

Thank you, Cooper. I appreciate your time today.

Cooper:

Thanks for inviting me.

Papa Rick:

All right. See you, folks.

Mentioned in this episode:

Visit Website under Fun Resources "Free"

Getting to Know Cooper