Riding on a Buffalo Fire Truck

Hi. I'm Charles the Bear Cub. You know me. I live on Sparkle Road. That's by Sandwich Street in Windsor. I know where Windsor is. It's in O Canada. I live with my buddy, Grandpa James. He's really old. He was the second Canadian to get off Noah's Ark, you know.

 Oh. Wait! Chance lives with us, too. He's a newborn cubby someone left in a basket on our doorstep. He's a wee little thing. He's so newborn he doesn't have any teeth. He doesn't even have a tail, yet. I look after Chance, too. He's a handful!

Know what? Chance and me are riding on a Buffalo Fire Truck. Grandpa James says it's a triple combo pumper. The fire truck is red. It has a siren and a bell. Fire trucks go very fast. That's because they have to take the firefighters to the fire and put it out.

Firefighters have very important jobs. They keep everyone safe from fires. They help when there is an emergency, too.  Bear cubs can be firefighters, you know. I would be a very good firefighter. I would make the siren sound and ring the bell. I could drive the firetruck. I could holler, "Look out, good citizens! Firetruck coming through!" I could wear a fire helmet and put out fires with a great big hose. Chance is a wee little thing but he could help, too.

Oh. Wait! Did you hear that? James is hollering, "Where are my handsome bear cubs? Where are my Sons of Windsor? Where are my Princes of Ontario? That's me! Charles! That's Chance! We're handsome bear cubs. We're Sons of Windsor and Princes of Ontario! We gotta go find Grandpa James so we can get our ears tickled and our noses kissed.

 This is me, Charles the Bear Cub saying, "Be good citizens. Be kind to friends and neighbours. Then you can eat Smarties and drink root beer. Oh! Wait! Come over to our house and play with us! We can play firefighter and ride on the big red firetruck together! Okay! Over and out!"

Play Me, I'm Yours!

Charles and Chance with Sebastian in front of Union Station in T.O.

Hi. I'm Charles the Bear Cub. You know me. I live on Sparkle Road in Olde Sandwich Towne with my buddy, James. He's really old. He was the second Canadian to get off Noah's Ark, you know.

 Wait! Chance lives with us, too. He's a newborn cubby someone left in a basket on our doorstep. He's a wee little thing. Chance is so newborn he doesn't even have a tail or any teeth! He just drinks chocolate owls' milk. We get it at Mac's. I look after Chance. He's a handful!

I'm five, you know. I go to the Scruffy Maple Day Care Centre on Sandwich Street.

Know what? Sometimes we go to Tranna. We ride on VIA Rail to get there.  It's pretty far from our house. The train stops at Union Station. That's under the CN Tower, you know. When we got off the train, there was a pretty blue piano on Front Street right in front of Union Station.

Play Me, I'm Yours

 Sebastian  plays the blue piano. He knows lots of songs. He lets Chance and me sit on top and listen to him play. He's pretty good you know. Lots of people come to listen. I'll tell you a secret. I think Sebastian is a prince.

Sebastian is a very good piano player. I bet he knows all my favourites.

Sebastian lets me and Chance play the piano with him. Sebastian has an important job. When he plays music, people feel good. I could be a pianist when I grow up. Music makes everyone happy.

 Oh. Wait! Did you hear that? James is hollering, "Where are my handsome bear cubs? Where are my Sons of Windsor? Where are my Princes of Ontario? That's me! Charles! That's Chance! We're handsome bear cubs. We're Sons of Windsor and Princes of Ontario! We gotta go find James so we can get our ears tickled and our noses kissed.

This is me, Charles the Bear Cub saying, "Be good citizens. Be kind to friends and neighbours. Then you can eat Smarties and drink root beer. Oh! Wait! Come over to our house and play with us! We can go to Union Station and play the piano with our buddy Sebastian! Okay! Over and out!"

Eating Wallermelons!

Hi. I'm Charles the Bear Cub. You know me. I live on Sparkle Road with my buddy, James. He's really old. He was the second Canadian to get off Noah's Ark, you know. Sparkle Road is at the corner of Sandwich Streeet. That's in Windsor. Windsor is in O Canada.

 Oh. Wait! Chance lives with us, too. He's a newborn cubby someone left in a basket on our doorstep. He's a wee little thing. He's so newborn he doesn't even have any teeth! He just drinks chocolate owls' milk. I look after Chance, too. He climbs up high on things and can't get down. I have to help him. He's a handful!

Know what? We get to eat wallermelons! They grow in the garden. They grow really really big.  I l-o-v-e wallermelons, don't you? They're yummy and that's one of the four food Groups in Canada's Food Guide. I could eat wallermelons all day long! Grandpa James says that good food grows in Ontario. I think wallermelon is one of the bestest foods ever!

I help Grandpa James cut the wallermelons. We cut them in triangles. Some wallermelons have seeds and some wallermelons don't have any. It's fun to spit the seeds, you know. I can spit them very far. Sometimes we eat yellow wallermelons. They're yummy, too.

 Oh. Wait! Did you hear that? James is hollering, "Where are my handsome bear cubs? Where are my Sons of Windsor? Where are my Princes of Ontario? That's me! Charles! That's Chance! We're handsome bear cubs. We're Sons of Windsor and Princes of Ontario! We gotta go find James so we can get our ears tickled and our noses kissed.

This is me, Charles the Bear Cub saying, "Be good citizens. Be kind to friends and neighbours. Then you can eat Smarties and drink root beer. Oh! Wait! Come over to our house and play with us! We can eat wallermelons together! Okay! Over and out!"

Trinkets and Treasures

Hi. I'm Charles the Bear Cub. You know me. I live on Sparkle Road with my buddy, James. He's really old. He was the second Canadian to get off Noah's Ark, you know.

Oh. Wait! Chance lives with us, too. He's a newborn cubby someone left in a basket on our doorstep. He's a wee little thing but he climbs way up high and can' get down. I have to say, "My son! Come down from there this instant!" Then I have to help him get down. I look after Chance, too. He's a handful!

Know what? This is Chance and me with our buddy Melissa. She has an important job. She makes beautiful gifts at her store. It's called Trinkets & Treasures. Melissa painted our tambourines. Mine says "Charles." That's me! My tambourine has Smarties painted on it. Chance's tambourine has his name on it. Melissa painted an owl on Chance's tambourine. That's 'cuz he's so newborn he can only drink chocolate owls' milk. We get it at Mac's, you know.

Melissa also made me a washtub bass. That's 'cuz Chance and me are gonna sing songs for boys and girls at Children's Fest in September. That's in the Safety Village in Windsor, you know.

Oh. Wait! Did you hear that? James is hollering, "Where are my handsome bear cubs? Where are my Sons of Windsor? Where are my Princes of Ontario? That's me! Charles! That's Chance! We're handsome bear cubs. We're Sons of Windsor and Princes of Ontario! We gotta go find James so we can get our ears tickled and our noses kissed.

This is me, Charles the Bear Cub saying, "Be good citizens. Be kind to friends and neighbours. Do good deeds. Then you can eat Smarties and drink root beer. Oh! Wait! Come over to our house and play with us! We can sing songs together! Okay! Over and out!"

Eating at Piccolo's Italian Restaurant is Yummy!

Hi. I'm Charles the Bear Cub. You know me. I live on Sparkle Road with my buddy, James. He's really old. He was the second Canadian to get off Noah's Ark, you know.

 Oh. Wait! Chance lives with us, too. He's a newborn cubby someone left in a basket on our doorstep. He's a wee little thing. I look after Chance, too. He's a handful!

Know what? We got visitors! Grandpa Dave and Nana Clare came to out house. We love Grandpa Dalve and Nana Clare. They give the very bestest hugs and kisses. They brought us a present, too. They brought Redi-Burger. I l-o-v-e Redi-Burger. Grandpa James says it is the Rolls-Royce of vegan food. Redi-Burger is yummy and that's one of the four food groups in Canada's Food Guide. I bet you that angels eat Redi-Burger every day. We put it on the barbecue.

We get to eat at Piccolo's. That' an Italian restaurant on Tecumseh Road. They have crazy sticks. I could eat crazy sticks all day, you know. They have lasagna and pizza, too.  This is Shelley. She's the nice lady who brought us our food. Shelley is a server. She has an important job, you know. She knows when visitors are as hungry as bears. She bring everyone food. I could be a server when I grow up. I could say, "Hi. I'm Charles. I'll be your server today. What would you like to drink?

I'm gonna share lasagna with Grandpa James. Lasagna has lots of cheese and noodles and tomatoes. It's good for growing bear cubs like me.

Chance doesn't have any teeth but we brought a bottle of chocolate owls' milk for him to drink. That's what newborn baby bear cubs drink, you know. When he is older he will grow teeth and a tail. Then I will share my lasagna with him.

Oh. Wait! Did you hear that? James is hollering, "Where are my handsome bear cubs? Where are my Sons of Windsor? Where are my Princes of Ontario? That's me! Charles! That's Chance! We're handsome bear cubs. We're Sons of Windsor and Princes of Ontario! We gotta go find James so we can get our ears tickled and our noses kissed.

This is me, Charles the Bear Cub saying, "Be good citizens. Be kind to friends and neighbours. Then you can eat go to Piccollo's and eat crazy sticks. You can eat Smarties and drink root beer. Oh! Wait! Come over to our house and play with us! We can go to Piccollo's together! Okay! Over and out!"

Rock Stars at Children's Fest

Hi. I'm Charles the Bear Cub. You know me. I live on Sparkle Road with my buddy, James. He's really old. He was the second Canadian to get off Noah's Ark, you know.

 Oh. Wait! Chance lives with us, too. He's a newborn cubby someone left in a basket on our doorstep. He's a wee little thing. He climbs way high on things and then he can't get down. I say, "My son! Come down from there this instant!" Chance can't get down, so I help him. He's so newborn he doesn't even have any teeth. Chance drinks chocolate owls' milk from a bottle. I look after Chance, too. He's a handful!


Know what? We got tambourines. One for me and one for Chance. Tambourines make noise. I love to make noise, don't you? We use them when we sing. Chance and me know lots of songs. We know Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and the Prune Song and Farmer Brown and All Around the Circle and lots and lots of songs. We're pretty good singers. Well, Chance is too little to sing but he makes squeaky noises 'cuz he's happy.  We practise 'cuz we're gonna sing for boys and girls at Children's Fest at the Safety Village. That's in September, you know.

Oh. Wait! Did you hear that? James is hollering, "Where are my handsome bear cubs? Where are my Sons of Windsor? Where are my Princes of Ontario? That's me! Charles! That's Chance! We're handsome bear cubs. We're Sons of Windsor and Princes of Ontario! We gotta go find James so we can get our ears tickled and our noses kissed.

This is me, Charles the Bear Cub saying, "Be good citizens. Be kind to friends and neighbours.  Then you can eat Smarties and drink root beer. Oh! Wait! Come over to our house and play with us! We can sing songs together! Okay! Over and out!"

Auntie Debbie's Birthday

Hi. I'm Charles the Bear Cub. You know me. I live on Sparkle Road with my buddy, James. He's really old. He was the second Canadian to get off Noah's Ark, you know.

 Oh. Wait! Chance lives with us, too. He's a newborn cubby someone left in a basket on our doorstep. I think the angels brought him. There was a note that said, "Please look after me. I drink chocolate owls' milk." I named him Chance. He's a wee little thing. I look after Chance, too. He's a handful!

Know what? We're at Auntie Debbie and Uncle Rob's. It's Auntie Debbie's birthday. Auntie Debbie is 21 the second time. I don't know what that means but she's not as old as Grandpa James! Birthday parties are fun, you know. Uncle Rob put burgers and dawgs on the barbecue. We get to eat potato salad and coleslaw and pickles and veggies and fruit. We get to drink root beer. Oh! Wait! I almost forgot the best part! We get to eat chocolate birthday cake and vanilla birthday cake, too! I l-o-v-e birthday cake, don't you? We have to watch Chance. He tries to lick the icing.

 
I know the Birthday Song. It goes like this-

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday Auntie Debbie,
Happy birthday to you.

I can sing it in French, too.

Bonne fete ma tante,
Bonne fete ma tante,
Bonne fete tante Debbie,
Bonne fete ma tante.

Oh. Wait! Did you hear that? James is hollering, "Where are my handsome bear cubs? Where are my Sons of Windsor? Where are my Princes of Ontario? That's me! Charles! That's Chance! We're handsome bear cubs. We're Sons of Windsor and Princes of Ontario! We gotta go find James so we can get our ears tickled and our noses kissed.

 This is me, Charles the Bear Cub saying, "Be good citizens. Be kind to friends and neighbours. Go to birthday parties. Then you can eat Smarties and drink root beer. Oh! Wait! Come over to our house and play with us! We can go to Auntie Debbie and Uncle Rob's house! We can eat burgers and dawgs and lots and lots of birthday cake! Okay! Over and out!"

Visiting Miss Donna, Our Dental Hygienist

Hi. I'm Charles the Bear Cub. You know me. I live on Sparkle Road with my buddy, Grandpa James. He's really old. He was the second Canadian to get off Noah's Ark, you know.

 Oh. Wait! Chance lives with us, too. He's a newborn cubby someone left in a basket on our doorstep. He's a wee little thing. I look after Chance, too. He's a handful!

Know what? Chance and me are visiting Miss Donna. Miss Donna is a dental hygienist. That means she's the boss of our teeth. She's checking my teeth to make sure they are healthy. She's holding an X-ray machine up to my face. It's kind of like my space ray gun but it doesn't make any noises. It doesn't hurt at all. Miss Donna says, "Sit still, Charles." Then she takes a picture. The pictures show what my teeth look like on the inside!

Miss Donna is very nice. I will tell you a secret. I think Miss Donna is a Princess.  My teeth and gums are healthy. I don't have any cavities. I know what cavities are. They're holes in our teeth. I don't have any holes.  That's 'cuz I brush after every meal with my Spiderman toothbrush. Grandpa James helps me floss, too.

Miss Donna checks Chance's gums. He's so newborn he doesn't even have any teeth, yet. Chance doesn't even have a tail! He will grow some teeth and a tail when he's older. Right now, Chance just drinks chocolate owls' milk. We get chocolate owl's milk at Mac's.

Know what else we get at Mac's? We get gummy worms and Smarties. Oh! Wait! We get root beer there and pineapple licorice, too. Mac's has everything!


Oh. Wait! Did you hear that? James is hollering, "Where are my handsome bear cubs? Where are my Sons of Windsor? Where are my Princes of Ontario? That's me! Charles! That's Chance! We're handsome bear cubs. We're Sons of Windsor and Princes of Ontario! We gotta go find James so we can get our ears tickled and our noses kissed.

This is me, Charles the Bear Cub saying, "Be good citizens. Brush your teeth and floss them. Then you can eat Smarties and drink root beer and not get cavities. Oh! Wait! Come over to our house and play with us! We can brush and floss together! Okay! Over and out!"

Happy Birthday, O Canada! Happy Birthday, Charles!

Hi. I'm Charles the Bear Cub. You know me. I live on Sparkle Road with my buddy, James. He's really old. He was the second Canadian to get off Noah's Ark, you know.

 Oh. Wait! Chance lives with us, too. He's a newborn cubby someone left in a basket on our doorstep. He's a wee little thing. I look after Chance, too. He's a handful! Oh. Wait!

Know what? Today is O Canada's birthday. James says that O Canada is 145 years old. That's really old but I'm gonna tell you a secret. I think James is older.

Today is my birthday! I love birthdays. Birthdays are fun. I'm the birthday bear. I get to pick the food. I want moussaka. Moussaka is yummy and that's one of the four food groups in Canada's Food Guide. I get to pick what I want to drink, too. Chance and me are sharing a lime drink. It's tasty, too. We play a game. I drink some juice and holler, "Lime slime!" Then I kiss Chance's nose. He makes little squeaky noises, 'cuz he's happy. Chance is too newborn to talk but he kisses my nose with lime slime, too. It's a fun game.

Birthday bears get presents. Presents come in boxes. I got a VIA Rail cap. Now I can really play train!  I got a Spiderman billfold to keep my money in. I got a Raffi album. I like Raffi's songs, don't you? I got a colouring book about trains. Oh! Wait! I forgot! We get to eat birthday cake, too. I l-o-v-e birthday cake!

Did you hear that? James is hollering, "Where are my handsome bear cubs? Where are my Sons of Windsor? Where are my Princes of Ontario? That's me! Charles! That's Chance! We're handsome bear cubs. We're Sons of Windsor and Princes of Ontario! We gotta go find James so we can get our ears tickled and our noses kissed. We get to stay up really late tonight 'cuz we're gonna go down to the river and watch the fireworks.

This is me, Charles the Bear Cub saying, "Be good citizens. Be kind neighbours and friends. Then you can eat moussaka and drink lime slime. Oh! Wait! Come over to our house and eat with us! We can eat birthday cake and watch the fireworks together!  Okay! Over and out!"