There once was a simple man.

All sorts of things he knew
and all sorts of errands ran.

Nature he liked, in all its glamour.
Listened and looked and loved 
until utterly devoid of murmur.

With a whisper then he disappeared, 
for he was lost to the world.

●

Different than before,
human he was not
but rather something more.

To the Cat-tree a root he became,
Omni om
was now his name.
_____________________________________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Om Njom - Om Nyom

Big or small,
dark or light,

hungry she is always for 

Insight.

The will for power yet may come,
along with a lot of trouble for some!
•
“He who eats round – will be round.”

Miss Molina has spoken.
_______________________________________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Šjora Molina - Miss Molina

Nature is nurture.

•	

Naturalize yourself.
Neutralize yourself.

•	

Do not hesitate
- regenerate.

•	

Remember, human,
remember your nature.
______________________________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Oprirodi Se - Nature Yourself

Mister Sniffles and Chameleonardo
live in a symbiotic,
self-sustained eco-system.

Sniffles feeds Chameleonardo his leaves,
and Chameleonardo feeds Sniffles his love
and understanding.

The Sniffles` are, by the way, known far and wide for the
quality plants they grow for their chameleons,
and I heard they can grow treetops so lush that they 
cannot see where they are going.
For that, they have developed a very good smelling orientation
-	hence the name, Sniffles.

•	

Here you can see them posing for a local newspaper
„Forest man – not mad!”
__________________________________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Gospon Šnjofkić - Mister Sniffles

This chalky, salt`n pepa mister,
a.k.a. Black Boris,
is a typical example of a Balkan playboy

His Button illuminates the dark,
which makes him dubiously capable of being useful
and problematic
- at the same time.

•	

It is obvious then, to ask ourselves this:
what exactly is this Button of his?
And is the one wearing it, indeed
- a gentleman?
________________________________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Gospon Gumbek - Mister Buttons

All children surely know

a doll should be like snow,
so calm and still and slow.

●

But this here doll
 is bound to steal the show.

Lively head on this bold player
She´s a slayer, multilayer
Walking proudly,
dancing loudly,
making everyone gayer.

•

Long live her prayer!
_____________________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Amanda

Momo the sloth has long lived on the wood.
Alone,
invisible,
and generally, in a really bad mood.

Through days dull and sombre
he ate his leaves slowly still,
this unusual furry hombre.

Wishing for a friend,
or for it all to end.

●

As he thought of sending it all to heck,
On his head he felt a peck-peck!!

What he saw he took in surprise.
An eagle boldly to the sky did arise,
screaming with laughter,
croaking with charm:

„Heeey, dully dull, give me your arm!“

●

The rest of the story is kept in the History of Healthy Relations.
__________________________________________________________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Momo i Kapetan Kljukić - Momo and Captain Beaks

For eons, Moon-face was doomed to just float and look.
Craving Earth, but the Force wouldn`t let him off the hook.

He wished for hair, or at least fur of a sort
to dress up his head, like a good old sport.

•	

One eclipse, in dreams, a Yak he became,
one who plays the Tibetan mountain game.
Hardy and mellow, impressive was this fellow.
Fighting the cold with gentle glee,
his hairy head shining bright for everyone to see.

Like a hundred torches
in all their might,
his lush mane dancing with the wind,
for failure to spite.

•	

Moon-face then knew how to be a Yak*.
(*meaning strong in Croatian; jak)
________________________________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Mjesečeva Razigrana Kosa - Playful Moon Hair

There is an old tale
of a beautiful fairy of the vale
who one day enveiled herself 
in black ash,
like Johnny Cash.

•	

There is no hope to remain.
People are insane.


She liked birds.
Not chickens.

•	

She withdrew from the world and took a Vow of Silence.

That was her loudest shriek.
___________________________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Zlatousta - Goldmouth

Silas,
when alive,
is as loud
as a hive.

•	

When dead,
his voice sealed and bound,
Silent his name,
skin grey as a hound.

To the Bonebeak land then he moves
To where the heart wants and approves.

On his head Eden-bird a nest will lay,
in sunrise together they will sway.

No dark shall fall,
lucky wonderwall.
____________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Paunov Kostokljun i Gnijezdonoša Tih -  Bonebeak Peacocok and Silas the Nestbearer

Floating on fresh air,

skies and clouds of empathy,

hearts without darkness.
_______________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Ruka Ruci - Hand in Hand

When love is, it´s a thrill.
When it´s not, just chill.

In all it lives.
In birds and bees,
 in suns and seas.

Like electricity, it makes a flare.
Everywhere she is, like the air.

All that is,
is because of this.

•	

Be love, beloved.
Love is here for us to feed,
not to make us bleed.
_____________________________

Original title:
Choodne Moodre

Illustration and text:
Zorana Jančić

Proofreading:
Juraj Šitum

Voices and music:
Lucija Lekšić 
Nikola Kahriman
Roko Margeta
Zorana Jančić

Sound master:
Toni Tkalec
Penthouse Studio
Zagreb

Independent edition
Croatia, Planet Earth, 2021

Ljubav - Love

This week's free story comes from the Martin & Sylvia: More Adventures Collection.
It's called "A Little Bit of Light"

Every year when the trees have all lost their leaves and the ground starts to frost in the morning, brother and sister start to make their lanterns for their annual lantern festival. This year they can't go their normal route and need to choose another place to walk. When Martin suggests going next door to visit the doctor's house, Sylvia worries that it will be too dark. But the magic of the evening shows her just how much can be seen with the light of a single lantern.

If you enjoyed that story, there are hundreds and hundreds more where that came from. Try a Sparkle subscription now - for free. Go to www.sparklestories.com and click the button at the top that says “Start Free Trial,” then you can listen to our giant library as much as you like, anytime you like. 

Each week on the Sparkle Stories Podcast, we share a free story from one of our original story series!
For many many many more stories like this one, visit the Sparkle website:
www.sparklestories.com
Questions?  Ideas?  Requests?
Email us!  info@sparklestories.com
Enjoy!

Sparkle Stories Podcast

"A Little Bit of Light" from the Martin & Sylvia: More Adventures Collection

spots/vlekken

It's the year 2001. The protagonist and Sebastián meet at Cementerio General in Santiago de Chile.​​​ [Listen with headphones/ eyes closed.]

Transcript: 
https://www.mariamaddox.com/about-1

Written, narrated & produced by María José Maddox

Santiago #1: "Cemetery"

A poetry reading + description of Sebastián's fiancée, Dani. 

Transcript:
https://www.mariamaddox.com/about-1

Written & produced by María José Maddox.

Ft. 
"Sunlit Rooms" by Ryan Fiegl
https://ryanfiegl.bandcamp.com/album/shadows-of-ghosts

"Estamos aquí" by Maria Perlita
https://www.instagram.com/mariaperlitamus?igsh=YzZqYnNzaGk4ZHd3

Santiago #2: "Poetry reading + Dani"

2004.
Miraba care las gotas iluminadas por los relámpagos, y cada vez que respiraba, suspiraba, y cada vez que pensaba, pensaba en ti, Susana.
Every time I breathed, I sighed, and every time I thought, I thought of you, Susana.
"Isn't that corny?" I asked.

Transcript:
https://www.mariamaddox.com/about-1

Written, narrated & produced by María José Maddox.


Santiago #3: "E-mails"

"The wedding was rescheduled for April 15, 2005.
Sebastián asked if we could grab a drink the night before.
I didn’t have the guts to say no."

*
Written & produced by María José Maddox.
Art: Marta Nadolle

Santiago #4: "Mapocho"

Sparkle Stories Original Audio Series.  Creating fresh audio each week for children around the world.

Chilean singer-songwriter (2015-2019)
Podcasting since 2021.

New tracks tagged #Audiostory