Listening with My Heart - Kids stories read aloud - Childrens read along - Fun stories play

Hi friends! It's Sasha and today we'll be reading Listening With My Heart - a story of kindness and self-compassion by Gabi Garcia illustrated by Ying Hui Tan. Let's begin! Esperanza's tummy fluttered as she practiced her lines on the porch. Today was the class play! Waiting for Mama to walk with her to school, she paced back and forth when she spotted a heart-shaped rock. Esperanza picked it up and showed it to Mama as soon as she stepped outside. "I see you found a little treasure," said Mama. Esperanza rubbed its rough surface and felt a twinkle of joy. "Maybe it's a sign." "For what?" asked Mama. She thought about the class play later that afternoon wondering what it would finally be like in the spotlight. "To put my heart into everything I do," she answered. At that moment, they heard scratching and a soft cry. Esperanza peeked under the stairs and spotted a kitty shaking and shivering. No mama in sight. She scooped the kitten into her lap and cuddled her. "She's all alone. I think she's hungry." Esperanza reached for her lunch bag, pinched off a piece of chicken, and offered it to the kitty, who gobbled it up. 'Mama, I think the rock is a reminder to spread kindness and love. That's what we do when we listen with our hearts". "I think you're on to something," said Mama. "Can we keep Cleocatra? Please?" asked Esperanza, who'd already named the kitty. "Queens are always welcome at our house," said Mama. "If she is still here after school, we'll take her in." At school, Esperanza was more focused on the play than on math or reading. Clutching her script during recess, she noticed Bao sitting alone on a bench. He was new in school this week and didn't speak much English. She wondered if he felt lonely or scared. Esperanza found a soccer ball and kicked it over to him. A smile spread across Bao's face. He stood, popped the ball in the air, then bounced it between his knee and his head a few times. "Dude's got moves!" thought Esperanza. They spent recess giggling and making up hand signals. Afterwards Esperanza borrowed Ms. Owen's English - Vietnamese dictionary. She wrote "friend" in Vietnamese, drew a picture of Bao and her, then put it on his desk. Esperanza rubbed the rock in her pocket. Listening with her heart made her feel peaceful inside. Finally, it was time for the performance! It was too late for Bao to be in the play, but he stood at Ms. Owen's side as a stagehand. Excitement bubbled as Esperanza awaited her cue. Esperanza walked on stage, tripped as she was about to say her first line, and splattered across the stage. When she got up, she forgot her lines, so Ms. Owen whispered them to her from backstage. Heat rushed through Esperanza's body as all eyes were glued to her. She wished she could disappear. "I ruined the play!" though Esperanza rushing off stage as soon as she'd finished her part. "I'm such a dummy for forgetting my lines. I messed up in front of everyone." She tucks herself in behind some props. So no one would see her. Esperanza noticed her body shaking and her face still burning. She took a deep breath and dug the rock out of her pocket. It was cracked and lopsided, just how she felt. Esperanza touched her hand to her heart and felt the disappointment. Bao found Esperanza a few minutes later and handed her a drawing with the word friend written above it. Esperanza nodded. She hadn't been treating herself like a friend. Esperanza realized this wasn't the first time she had been unkind to herself. At the soccer game last weekend, she'd missed the ball that's swooshed by her head and they lost the game. "Nice work!" A player from the other team yelled as the others laughed. Esperanza thought she let her team down and was the worst soccer player in the world. Thinking those thoughts had made her feel worse. At the curtain call, Esperanza reminded herself she hadn't ruined the play. She'd had an accident and accidents happened to everyone. Listening with her heart wasn't just about giving kindness and love to others, it was about giving it to herself, too. I can be afraid to myself, thought Esperanza. When Esperanza got home she focused on her favorite things. She zipped down the hill on her bike then spent the afternoon painting at the kitchen table. She also got the hug she needed from Mama, and some cuddles from Cleocatra. And that was Listening With My Heart by Gabi Garcia. Featured in the back of this book. It has special exercises that you can do such as Listening With Your Heart, Being My Own Friend, Kind Words For Myself and We Are All Connected. Remember friends, everyone has bad days and make mistakes. It's okay to be angry or sad, but remember to be a friend to yourself and show self compassion. Now it's Sticker Time and today sticker is Right On Key! Thanks for joining me today. I had so much fun! If you liked this story, give it a thumbs up and hit that Subscribe button. 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