Ryers Readers - Rick the Rock of Room 214

Episode Date: May 24, 2023

Rick is a rock, rocks are built for adventure! But when Rick follows his desire to find something exciting, he learns that friendship might be the best adventure of all!

Let's do this! Thank you so much for tuning into today's story. Don't forget to rate and follow so you never miss out on all the Ryers Readers' fun. And if you're looking for even more fun, come join me on the Ryers' Reader's Patreon page, where you can find ad-free episodes, bonus content, and even become a Ryer's Reader celebrity. Before we get into the story, do you want to know a fun number? In fact, did you know that there are three different types of rocks? Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Igneous rock comes from lava that has cooled down. Sedimentary rocks form from layers of sand, mud, and small stones getting smushed together. And metamorphic rocks are rocks that have changed from

other rocks due to pressure and heat deep down in the earth. Pretty cool, huh? Okay, story time. Today, we have a super special Ryers Reader's Reader's request from four-year-old Zara. Zara would like to hear Rick the Rock of Room 214 by Julie Falakco. I hope you enjoy this story, Zara. Let's do this. He lives on the nature fine shelf of room 214 with an egg corn, some moss, and a piece of bark. These are the students of room 214. They sing and jump, draw, and read.

Rick, the Rock, doesn't do any of those things. He sits. He has been sitting on this shelf for as long as he can. could remember. One day, the teacher starts a new unit. A rock is a mix of mineral matter, says the teacher. Hey, I'm a rock, says Rick. Rocks are strong. They hold up the world, says the teacher, says Rick. Look at all those powerful rocks, having adventures, and confronting danger outside. When will I get to do that?

You're not that kind of rock, says the moss. There's lots of excitement right here on this shelf, says the egg corn. I got to pose majestically on top of a mountain. When am I going to tumble off a jagged cliff? When will I fall from a great height into a river? We're all nature finds now, says the bark. Our job is to sit here on this shelf. Just sit?

Says Rick. Just sit, says the bark. I like sitting, says the eggorn. But Rick, the rock, does not want to just sit. He has seen photos of his outdoor cousins forming outcroppings. hanging off crags, jutting out of waterways. He is a rock, and a rock is made for adventure. I am made for adventure, he says. I'm going outside.

Outside? says the eggorn. Nature finds do not go outside, says the moss. Outside is unpredictable, says the bark, and dangerous. Exactly, says Rick, here I go. It's not easy for a rock to get down from the nature fine shelf of room 214, and the students of room 214 don't make it any easier. One day he sees his chance.

He tumbles. He falls from a great height. He poses majestically. How, says Rick. And the sunshine. I'm ready for my life of adventure. A rock can really be a rock out here. Whispers someone nearby, Rick looks around

and sees that he is surrounded by rocks. Rugged rocks, real outdoorsy rocks who live next to trees and grass and have never had glitter glue spilled on them. Hi, I'm... Rocks don't have names. No, now. You are unusually talkative.

When do we explode out of volcanoes? No one explodes here. We already exploded. Other times, we're done with that now. You did? What an adventure, how was it? Horribly dangerous. Some of us broke into bits, never to be seen,

And now we sit quietly. What have I done? Thanks Rick. I never knew it could be so lonesome to be surrounded by rocks. He is a wet rock. With each raindrop, Rick nestles deeper into the dirt, where he came from long ago. I am strong, thinks Rick.

I hold up the world. But it is hard to feel strong in the mud alone. In the morning, Rick wakes up to the sun shining on the patch of him that's not covered in mud. There you are, Rick! says a girl. We missed you! Do you want to come back inside? She carries Rick back into the classroom and places him carefully on the nature-fine shelf. Where did you go? Asked the egg corn.

Everything was weird with you gone. You smell like dirt, says the moss. It's nice. Was it dangerous out there? Asked the bark. Was in horrible danger of being lonely, says Rick. So I came back. This is a...

rock. He lives on the nature fine shelf of room 2.14 with his friends. He helps the students with math and snacks, songs, and stories. Rick is a rock, and he sits. And every day is an adventure. The end. To stick around to see if you can answer today's paying attention question. Before you go, do you think you can answer today's paying attention question? Do you remember at least one of Rick the Rock's friends on the nature fine shelf? Can you remember all three? If your answer was an egg corn, some moss, and a piece of bark, you did it! Great job! You sure were paying attention!

I hope you enjoyed that story. I wonder what we're going to read next. Bye, Zara.