Theme park rides like Thunder Mountain Railroad and others are a blast to ride and experience, but how do these rides come to be? Who designs them? Who builds them and creates all of the environments and machines that are required to make them work? Today we’re going to talk about none other than the world famous Disney Imagineers!

The magical world of Disney theme parks has captivated the hearts of millions around the globe for decades. Behind the scenes of this enchanting experience lies a rich history marked by creativity, ingenuity, and a team of visionary individuals known as Imagineers. The roots of Disney’s theme park legacy can be traced back to WED Enterprises and the birth of Imagineering. 

When Walt Disney first decided to build a theme park, after his wild success as an animation studio, Disney created a group called WED Enterprises. This was in 1952 and Disney formed the group because he knew he would need a crew of very talented people to help design and engineer his theme park, which was still just a thing of his dreams and imagination. 

WED Enterprises included artists, engineers, architects, and designers who would bring Walt Disney’s dreams to life. They were known for having more than just one skill, such as being an architect or an engineer. They had to have BIG imaginations and be ready to think outside the box. At heart, they were storytellers, responsible for creating immersive narratives that would become park rides and other experiences. Their mission was to blend creativity with cutting-edge technology to create an enchanting world for park visitors.

In 1986, WED Enterprises changed its name to Walt Disney Imagineering. Imagineer is the combination of the words engineer and imagine! Imagineers are expected to not only have the skills to do their job but to think creatively and come up with new, bold ideas as they tell their stories in the form of attractions. In fact, one of the Imagineers first principles is “It all begins with a story.” 

Next, let’s dive into the life of some of the most famous Imagineers! Marc Davis was born in Bakersfield, California and from a very young age loved drawing and art! He practiced during his free time and eventually went to college in Kansas, where he further developed his skills. In 1934, Marc joined Disney as an animator and helped illustrate for animated classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Bambi. He worked closely with Walt Disney to create these films and when it came time to start designing Disneyland, Walt Disney knew Marc would be the perfect fit to help bring his dreams to life. 

One of his first projects was designing characters for The Haunted Mansion. Marc had a great sense of humor and was able to bring it to life through art as he designed characters such as The Hitching Ghost and the ghostly bride Constance Hatchaway. He also worked on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and many of the humor pirates you can see and experience throughout the ride. Marc also helped design the Enchanted Tiki Room, the Jungle Cruise, and EPCOT’s Journey into Imagination.

Another early imagineer was Harriet Burns. Harriet was born in San Antonio, Texas and early on had a passion for art and design. She started at Disney in 1955 as a set painter for many of the rides. She became one of the first female Imagineers and helped design and paint characters on the Disneyland Railroad, Its a Small World, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Harriet was also known for her strong will and personality. When she had a vision for how someone should be done, she worked hard at it and made her opinion known until she got results!

The history of Disneyland Imagineers wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Tony Baxter, whose first job at Disneyland was actually an ice cream scooper at age 17. He loved being at the park and was determined to help make it an even more fun and enchanting place. He went to school and studied landscape architecture and later theater design. At this time, he also started helping with construction projects at Disneyland.

In 1970, Tony officially became an Imagineer. His dream job! He helped redesign Fantasyland, then later came up with the idea that became Splash Mountain. Splash Mountain showcased Baxter’s ability to combine storytelling with groundbreaking ride technology. The attraction became an instant classic, enchanting generations with its whimsical charm.

Baxter’s gift for adventure and storytelling reached new heights with the creation of the Indiana Jones ride. Opened in 1995, this dark ride blended film and theme park elements, plunging riders into the heart of an ancient temple filled with scary sights! The attraction’s success showed Baxter’s ability to translate movie magic into an immersive and exhilarating theme park experience.

Other famous Imagineers worth mentioning are the artist Mary Blair, X Atencio, Wing T. Chao, Alice Estes Davis, Yale Gracey, Bob Gurr, Joe Rohde, and Marty Sklar. Because Disney parks are worldwide, Imagineers of many different nationalities, races, and backgrounds are now part of the Imagineering team!

Something else exciting about Imagineers is that as they are working on new rides, they often invent entirely new technologies that are used not only at Disney but in other theme parks and attractions around the world.

One of their most famous innovations are audio-animatronics. These are the life-like robots that become characters on the different Disney rides. They often look very realistic and move in real ways that make the parkgoers feel like they are experiencing the characters and the environments for real! The animatronics on some of the rides were ahead of their time. To date, one of the most advanced and realistic animatronics is the Shaman on the Na’vi River Journey at Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. Animatronics like this require many designers and engineers to figure out how to make them move in life-like ways. You’ll have to check out a video for this one, because you won’t believe your eyes!

Many of the vehicles for Disney’s rides also feature very advanced designs in order to move guests around through the attraction. This includes trackless rides that use magnets to orient them along the path. Another example is the jeep in Indiana Jones that makes passengers feel like they are bumping up and down on a wild ride, which has the flexibility to move many different directions.

Using RFID wristbands, guests are able to open their hotel rooms, enter parks and even make purchases using radio frequencies. Many of these technologies feel like magic when they are being used, but under all of the electronics a smart engineer had to design every piece of the advanced equipment to make it work. 

Other technologies include projection mapping, augmented reality, and virtual reality simulators… all with the goal of making guests feel like they have been transported to a different place and time and are living the actual experience. Pretty amazing, right?

Does becoming an Imagineer sound interesting to you? If so, be sure to look up their principles of design and think of ways you can apply them to your own interests. Do you like to be creative? If so, think of the kind of ride you would create if you were a Disney Imagineer. Draw up a plan and maybe even make a miniature version of it using cardboard and other materials. You might even simulate how it works using a space in your backyard or living room. Be sure to run it by your parents first, of course, but remember that all of these Imagineers were once kids like you who were passionate about art and design and had BIG imaginations! 

The post History of Disney Imagineering for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Rudyard’s childhood was filled with excitement. He and his sister, Trix, roamed the colorful streets of Bombay, exploring markets, tasting exotic foods, and making friends with people from all walks of life. The vibrant bazaars and bustling harbors of Bombay ignited his imagination, and he soaked up the sights, sounds, and smells of this fascinating city. These early experiences would later inspire many of the stories he would write.

But adventure wasn’t just limited to the city. Rudyard’s parents believed in giving him a well-rounded education. So, when he was just six years old, they sent him off to a school in England. Can you imagine leaving your home at such a young age and traveling to a distant land? Rudyard did, and it was a thrilling, albeit challenging, experience. He missed the sights and sounds of India, but he also learned to love the English countryside, the stories, and the books that filled his new world.

When Rudyard returned to India at the age of 13, he carried with him a wealth of stories, both from the books he had read and the adventures he had lived. He began to write his own tales, inspired by the vibrant and diverse culture of India. His first published works were written during his teenage years, and they showcased his growing talent as a storyteller.

One of Rudyard’s most famous books is “The Jungle Book.” Can you imagine a story about a young boy who is raised by wolves, befriends a bear and a panther, and faces off against a fierce tiger? Well, that’s exactly what Rudyard Kipling imagined. “The Jungle Book” is a thrilling adventure filled with animals that can talk and a young hero named Mowgli. This book has captivated the hearts and imaginations of countless children around the world for over a century. Rudyard Kipling’s childhood in India, where he was surrounded by exotic wildlife, inspired the enchanting tales of the jungle and its inhabitants.

Rudyard Kipling didn’t just write stories about the jungle; he also penned tales about the high seas and adventures on the open water. One of his most famous works is “Captain Courageous.” It’s a story about a young boy named Harvey who gets thrown overboard from a luxury cruise ship and ends up on a fishing schooner. Harvey must learn the ways of the sea and earn the respect of the rough and rugged fishermen. This thrilling tale takes readers on a journey across the vast oceans and teaches valuable lessons about hard work, determination, and courage.

Another book that will sweep you off your feet is “Kim.” This novel tells the story of an orphan boy who grows up in India and becomes a spy, traveling all over the country. Kim is a master of disguise and has exciting adventures as he explores the rich tapestry of Indian culture, meets fascinating characters, and navigates the complexities of British colonialism. Rudyard Kipling’s deep love for India shines through in “Kim,” as it is a captivating blend of adventure, mystery, and cultural exploration.

But life wasn’t all thrilling adventures and stories for Rudyard. He faced some challenges too. As a young man, he returned to England to work as a journalist and faced tough times. Yet, he persevered and continued writing stories that would later become classics. His life experiences, both good and bad, were woven into the tapestry of his tales, making them all the more relatable and inspiring.

Rudyard Kipling’s adventurous spirit took him to many parts of the world. He traveled to South Africa, where he covered the Boer War as a journalist. 

He visited America and made lifelong friends with famous figures like Mark Twain. These journeys helped him gather more stories and experiences to share with the world.

During the Boer War, Kipling embarked on a journey that would lead him to the heart of the action, traveling alongside British troops. Rudyard wasn’t a soldier, but he carried his pen and notebook like weapons, ready to capture the stories of bravery and valor. He witnessed the roar of cannons, the thunder of hooves, and the courage of men facing the unknown.

One day, while Rudyard was riding with a group of British soldiers, they found themselves deep in enemy territory. The Boers, fierce fighters who knew the South African terrain well, were lurking nearby. A skirmish broke out, and the British soldiers were outnumbered and outgunned.

Amidst the chaos of battle, Rudyard’s journalistic instincts kicked in. He crouched low, scribbling notes furiously as bullets whizzed past. The noise of the battlefield was deafening, but he remained calm, determined to record the bravery of the soldiers, who fought for a cause they believed in.

As the day wore on, the situation became even more perilous. The British soldiers needed to send a message back to their headquarters, but the enemy was watching their every move. Rudyard, known for his resourcefulness, volunteered to sneak through enemy lines with the urgent message. It was a daring mission, but he was determined to get the story out.

Under the cover of darkness, Rudyard set out, crawling through the tall grass and avoiding the watchful eyes of the Boer sentries. He moved silently, his heart pounding with each step. His adventures as a young boy in the bustling streets of Bombay had prepared him for this moment of danger.

After a nerve-wracking journey through the enemy’s territory, Rudyard finally reached the British camp. He delivered the message, and his courageous act earned him the respect of the soldiers. His storytelling wasn’t limited to pen and paper; he had lived an adventure that would become a part of his own legend.

Rudyard Kipling’s experiences during the Boer War served as the backdrop for some of his most poignant writings. He understood the sacrifices made by soldiers and the price of war. His stories from the battlefield, like “The Man Who Would Be King,” and “Soldiers Three,” reflected the human aspects of the conflict, the camaraderie, and the struggles faced by those on the front lines.

One of Rudyard’s most famous poems, “If—,” is a true inspiration. It’s a message about being brave and resilient in the face of adversity. “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs…” goes one of its lines. It’s a reminder to stay strong, no matter what challenges life throws your way. “If—” has been recited and cherished by people of all ages for generations, and its wisdom is just as relevant today as it was when Rudyard Kipling wrote it.

Rudyard Kipling’s life was like an adventure story itself. He faced triumphs and trials, explored distant lands, met fascinating people, and left behind a treasure trove of stories for the world to enjoy. His books continue to transport readers to far-off places, introducing them to incredible characters and exciting adventures.

So, young adventurers, as you read Rudyard Kipling’s tales, remember the little boy who once roamed the colorful streets of Bombay, the teenager who journeyed to England, and the man who traveled the world seeking inspiration. His stories are a testament to the power of imagination, the wonder of exploration, and the importance of never giving up on your dreams. Rudyard Kipling’s legacy lives on, inviting you to embark on your own adventures, whether in the pages of a book or out in the wide world beyond.

The post History of Rudyard Kipling for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Imagine you’re in a painting studio. You take a deep breath and smell the sweet smell of the oil paints and the crisp air within the painting studio. You look around and see many paintings on the walls, each one telling a different story.

But your attention quickly turns back to the canvas in front of you, which seems to be calling out for your attention. You dip your paintbrush into a palette of different colors and then put it on the canvas. You feel happy and excited when you see the brush moving so easily on the canvas. You create a beautiful picture of a world you want to see, and it makes you feel calm and happy.

You continue to work, feeling the warmth of the paint beneath your brush, and the gentle strokes of color as you add dimension and texture to your creation. As you paint, you feel a sense of peace and contentment that comes from being fully immersed in the creative process.

You continue to work, feeling the warmth of the paint beneath your brush and you see how the colors mix together, creating something new and unique. You love how it feels to make something special with your hands.

When you’re done painting, you step back and admire your work. You feel so proud of what you made and can’t wait to share it with others. You know that it will make people happy and inspire them to look at the world in a different way.

This is what it’s like to be like Bob Ross, a painter who made people happy by showing them how to paint and see the world in a new way.

Bob Ross was born on October 29, 1942, in Daytona Beach, Florida. He grew up in a town called Orlando, where he spent a lot of time exploring the beautiful landscapes around him.

His dad was a carpenter named Jack, and his mom, Ollie, was a waitress. As a child, Bob loved to take care of injured animals which sometimes made his parents unhappy because they never knew what kind of animal they would find in the house! They might see a hurt alligator in their bathtub or an armadillo running around Bob’s room. 

Later, Bob didn’t finish high school. Instead, he left after 9th grade to work as a carpenter with his dad. One day, Bob had a terrible accident that injured his left index finger. He lost the tip of it! Even though he was hurt, Bob didn’t let that stop him. It was an injury he later hid from TV viewers most of the time with his paint palette.

When Bob turned 18, he joined the Air Force which he soon didn’t enjoy. He said that he had to be “mean” sometimes, and that made him unhappy. When he was in the Air Force, he was known for being tough on his fellow airmen, and they even gave him the nickname “Bust ’em up Bobby.”

Although he had a tough exterior, Bob Ross also had a softer side. He discovered his love for painting while attending an art class in Alaska during his time in the Air Force. Many of his painting instructors at the time were more interested in abstract art, but Bob was fascinated by nature and the beauty of the world around him. He found that painting allowed him to capture that beauty and share it with others.

After attending many art classes that focused on abstract painting, Ross found his passion for painting returned through a television show he found called The “Magic of Oil Painting”. The show was hosted by artist Bill Alexander Bill introduced Ross to an old painting technique known as “alla prima” which means “first attempt” in Italian. Ross was fascinated by “alla prima” because it allowed Alexander to finish a painting in just 30 minutes. Alla prima is also known as “wet-on-wet” painting, which means that wet layers of paint are added to paper to create an image. Bob loved this new technique and decided to master it himself.

Bob Ross started earning money by painting Alaskan mountainsides on the inside of gold pans, after observing Alexander’s Wet on Wet technique. He soon became well-known among the local Alaskan people for his artistic abilities and often taught children and the elderly how to paint, too. Eventually, Ross began making more money from selling paintings and offering art lessons than from his day job in the military. After serving in the Air Force for twenty years, Ross left the military and said that he would never yell or raise his voice again, he was known from then on to have a very soft and calming presence. 

In the 1980s after leaving the Air Force, Ross had a burning desire to truly master the art of wet-on-wet painting. He found his favorite artist Bill Alexander in Florida. There, Alexander was a part-time art teacher and happily shared all his knowledge with Ross.

Next, Bob Ross got a job as a traveling tutor for the Alexander Magic Art Supplies Company. He had a soothing, gentle voice, and an encouraging teaching style, and said things like “happy accidents” instead of the word “mistakes” to make people feel happier and more positive about painting and being ok with messing up. 

Have you ever made a mistake? Well, in painting it is very easy to make mistakes and Bob was excellent at helping people understand that even when we make mistakes we can turn those mistakes into something good! This idea that he used in his painting lessons caught the attention of a woman named Annette Kowalski. Annette was fascinated by Ross and thought they might find a way to sell the experience of painting with him. She saw potential in Ross’s teaching style and decided to work with him to build a successful business.

After a meeting with Annette Kowalski and her husband, Ross became convinced that he should leave the Alexander Magic Art Supplies Company and start his own teaching business. Kowalski was so confident in their potential for success that she spent all of her life savings on the business. Ross and his wife spent most of their money too! Unfortunately, their high hopes were met with a harsh reality: the business lost $20,000 in its first year open.

Low on money, Bob Ross decided to take a bold step and change his look. Gone were the days of the strict military haircut, and in its place emerged a new and unexpected style: the classic afro that would come to define him. Ross said that he decided to perm his hair and make it curly because then he could save money and he wouldn’t need to pay for haircuts every week. Little did he know that this bold decision to perm his hair would change his appearance forever. Ross’s afro was so different than what his hair used to look like that many of his friends only recognized him by his missing finger that he lost while working as a teenager. 

It is not totally clear how  Bob became a famous painter on TV. There are two stories about how he was able to get onto the PBS channel. One story says that Bob and his former teacher Bill Alexander filmed a commercial for his art classes, which happened to impress someone important. Another version suggests that his partner, Kowalski, took a video of one of Bob Ross’ 30-minute lessons and sent it to the TV station. It is possible that both stories are true. Either way, it is obvious that Bob Ross was so good that he couldn’t be ignored. Before long he was a famous TV star in a new show called “The Joy of Painting”!

While filming “The Joy of Painting,” Bob made it feel like he was talking to his audience one-on-one. Almost like a personal teaching lesson. 

Bob Ross put a lot of thought into every detail of his show. He took great care in selecting his clothes, wearing timeless jeans and casual shirts that wouldn’t look old in the future. He also sanded down his painting palette lightly to keep it from reflecting the studio lights, a trick he figured out over time by switching to a clear painting palette for the first few episodes. 

Bob never received payment for his appearances on the show, nor did he sell any of the paintings he created on air. The show served as a platform to promote his teaching business which grew to include Bob Ross paint brushes, paint, and other supplies, soon making him a millionaire!

Even though being on TV made Bob Ross very successful he remained humble and generous with his artwork. He gave away most of the paintings he created on the show, as well as thousands of others he made throughout his life. Some were donated to charitable causes to be auctioned off, while others were gifted to friends and acquaintances.

Bob Ross taught us that mistakes are not failures, they are just happy accidents. When you make a mistake, don’t give up. Instead, use your creativity and turn it into something beautiful. Just like Bob Ross, you can use your talents to make the world a brighter and more joyful place

The post History of Bob Ross for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Imagine a world where interesting creatures that have powers roam free, each with their own unique abilities and personalities that you can catch and keep in a little red and white ball. These creatures are called Pokemon and you keep them in a poke ball. As a young trainer, you set out on an adventure to explore this world and catch as many of these creatures as you can, traveling through different regions, each with its own unique environment and different types of Pokemon.

You’ll journey through lush forests, treacherous mountains, and even mysterious underwater kingdoms, encountering new and exciting Pokemon along the way. With your trusty poke ball, you’ll be able to capture these creatures and add them to your team, training them to be stronger and braver so that they can fight for you.

As you travel, you’ll meet other trainers and their Pokemon, and you’ll have the chance to challenge them to battles. These battles are a test of your skills as a trainer and a showcase of the strength and abilities of your Pokemon. You’ll have to strategize and work with your Pokemon, using their different moves and powers to defeat your opponents.

Along the way, you’ll also have the opportunity to collect valuable items and earn rewards, such as gym badges and special items that will make your journey easier. You’ll meet friendly and helpful characters who will give you tips and advice on how to become a better trainer.

But your ultimate goal is to become the greatest Pokémon trainer of all time. To achieve this, you’ll need to journey to the Pokemon League, where the strongest trainers from each region come together to compete in the ultimate test of their skills. You’ll have to defeat each gym leader, earning their badges along the way, and then face off against the Elite Four and the Pokemon Champion. Only then will you be able to call yourself the greatest Pokémon trainer of all time!

So pack your bags, grab your poke ball, and embark on an adventure through the history of Pokemon with us today!

—————————————

Let’s travel back in time to the early 1980s,  in a place called Setagaya, Tokyo, where there was a boy named Satoshi Tajirwhen. Satoshi loved catching bugs and collecting them as a hobby when he was young. His friends even called him “Dr. Bug”!  As Satoshi grew up in the bustling city of Tokyo, he noticed that the spaces where he used to hunt for bugs were disappearing as more and more land was being covered by streets and buildings. But Satoshi didn’t want to lose the feeling of catching and collecting creatures, and he dreamed of a way to bring that same joy to other kids.

As he got older, Satoshi became fascinated with arcade games and spent many hours playing them. His love for games like Space Invaders and Dig Dug inspired him to create his own video games. Satoshi took apart his video game system to understand how it worked, and even won a video game idea contest when he was 16 years old! 

Satoshi’s love for video games never went away even though his parents thought he was a troublemaker for spending so much time playing them. He even cut classes to play games. Ove time he made up for it by attending make-up classes and eventually earning his high school diploma. 

Instead of going to college, Satoshi attended a two-year technical degree program at the Tokyo National College of Technology, where he studied electronics and computer science. 

When Satoshi became a little older he made a special magazine that he would write by hand and staple together called “Game Freak”. Game Freak was a magazine that had tips and tricks on how to beat games and find hidden secrets in them. A hidden secret in a game is called an “Easter Egg”. The magazine became so popular that one magazine sold over 10,000 copies! Satoshi’s friend Ken Sugimori was the person who drew the pictures in the magazine, this is called an illustrator. As the two of them wrote this magazine they realized that most video games weren’t very good. So, they decided to make their own games instead! Tajiri learned how to make games by studying and practicing a lot. Finally, in 1989, Tajiri and his friend Sugimori started their own video game company called Game Freak. Their very first game, Quinty, was a big hit and they never looked back!

After several years of developing games for different consoles,  Satoshi Tajirwhen and his friend Ken Sugimori,  decided to talk about  their idea to Nintendo for a game about collecting monsters. The idea was a hit, but it wasn’t easy to convince Nintendo to take a chance on something so unique. Thanks to their previous successes, Game Freak was given the “OK” to develop the game under the help and mentorship of Shigeru Miyamoto. Shigeru Miyamoto was the creator of Super Mario, a video game about an Italian plumber who crawls through green pipes and collects gold coins while trying to save the princess Daisy from the evil Bowser!

Satoshi worked long hard hours on his video games and in an interview once he was asked why he looked so tired and he responded by saying, “I sleep 12 hours and then work 24 hours. I’ve worked those strange hours for the past three years. It’s better to stay up day and night to come up with ideas. I usually get inspiration for game designing by working this schedule.”

After 6 years of long hours and a lot of hard work the world was introduced to Pocket Monsters: Red and Green, the very first Pokémon video games. These games allowed players to catch, collect, and trade over 150 different Pokémon characters. It was an instant hit in Japan, and soon the game was spreading to other parts of the world.

So what is Pokemon? In the world of Pokemon, people known as Pokemon trainers catch and train creatures called Pokemon. Pokemon are fictional animals with unique abilities and characteristics. The trainers then battle their Pokemon against other trainers to determine who is the strongest.

The games and cartoon series follow a young trainer named Ash Ketchum and his journey to become a Pokemon Master. In Japan instead of Ash the main character’s name is Satoshi. If you remember, Satoshi is the creator of Pokemon, so Ash was supposed to be Satoshi when he was a little kid. He travels through different regions, catching and training new Pokemon, making friends and rivals along the way, and participating in many competitions and battles.

When the first Pokemon video games were released in Japan they were an instant success. In the games, players take on the role of a Pokemon trainer, starting with one Pokemon and traveling around the game world to catch and train more. There are now over 800 different species of Pokemon, each with their own unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, that’s a lot of Pokemon to catch!

The thought of catching and training creatures was completely new, and the game offered a sense of adventure and discovery that was unlike anything players had experienced before. The games quickly gained popularity and as Pokemon grew in popularity, it expanded into TV shows, movies, and card games. Kids everywhere were obsessed with the world of Pokémon, and it wasn’t just a game anymore – it became extremely popular and well-known to the point where almost everyone knows about it and it ended up having a big impact on things like movies, TV shows, toys, and games. 

The TV show followed the adventures of Ash Ketchum, a young trainer from Pallet Town, and his trusty Pikachu as they journeyed through different regions, encountering new Pokemon and battling against other trainers.

The success of the TV show led to a boom in the sale of Pokemon merchandise, such as toys, trading cards, and other products. 

One of the main reasons that Pokemon became successful was because the games were designed to be played with friends, and the trading and battling parts of the games encouraged players to connect and compete with one another. 

Over the years, the Pokemon franchise has continued to evolve and expand and Satoshi and Ken’s vision for Pokémon has inspiring a generation of young people to explore the world around them, make new friends, and be creative. Today, Pokemon continues to evolve and grow, offering new adventures and exciting experiences for fans of all ages. And so, the story of Pokémon continues, with new games, new creatures, and new experiences waiting just around the corner.

Just like in a Pokemon battle, we all have strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to remember that everyone is different, and that’s what makes us special. Just because someone is strong in one area doesn’t mean they’re better than someone else. We should respect and appreciate each other’s differences, and work together to achieve our goals. 

More recently, in 2016, the game Pokemon Go was released. It introduced many new gamers to an augmented reality version of Pokemon in which you can walk around the real world and see and catch Pokemon through your handheld device. Pokemon Go became very popular as well and is still played by many gamers today.

Pokemon Poem by Chat GPT: 

In a world of monsters big and small,

There’s a little creature loved by all.

It’s called a Pokemon, have you heard?

It’s captured hearts all around the world.

There’s Pikachu, with cheeks so bright,

And Charmander, all red and white.

Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and so many more,

Each one unique, you can’t ignore.

With special powers and moves to make,

Pokemon battles are never fake.

You’ve got to train and work real hard,

To become the best, to go far.

But even if you don’t compete,

You can collect and make them neat.

Trading cards and figures too,

Pokemon fun is endless, it’s true.

So join the craze, and catch ’em all,

You’ll have a blast, you’ll have a ball.

Adventure awaits, in the great outside.

With Pokemon there, right by your side,

The post History of Pokemon appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Imagine you’re starring in a high-stakes action movie. You’re a rugged, charismatic hero who must save the world from a dangerous threat.

As the cameras roll, you leap from a helicopter onto the roof of a skyscraper, gunfire ringing out all around you. You slide down a cable and land gracefully on the ground, knocking out a group of enemies with expert hand-to-hand combat.

As the action intensifies, you find yourself racing through the streets on a high-speed motorcycle, dodging bullets and explosions. You finally make it to the villain’s stronghold and engage in a final, epic battle to save the day.

With the threat eliminated and the world safe once more, you stand victorious as the credits roll. The crowd erupts in applause and you can’t help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. Ye this is just another day in the life of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a household name, known for his incredible career as a professional wrestler and successful acting career. But before he was known as “The People’s Champion” and one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, he was simply Dwayne Johnson, a young boy growing up in a humble family.

Dwayne was born in Hayward, California, the son of Ata Johnson and Rocky Johnson. His father was a professional wrestler and his mother was a homemaker. Dwayne’s parents were of Samoan and Black Nova Scotian descent, and his father was one of the first Black wrestlers to break the color barrier in the WWE. The WWE is a big show where strong and very athletic people put on a wrestling-type performance. They dress up in colorful costumes and have cool nicknames like “The Giant” and “The Superstar.” They pretend to fight each other and do cool flips, jumps and lift each other up to show their strength. These wrestlers are not only strong, but they are also great actors, telling stories and playing different characters to entertain the audience. They sometimes play the role of the hero who saves the day or the villain who tries to cause trouble. 

But even before Dwayne Johnson grew to fame in the WWE his parents instilled in him the importance of hard work, perseverance, and dedication, values that would later serve him well in his own career.

As a child, Dwayne was a natural athlete, excelling in football and track. He also loved to read and learn about history. Maybe he would have loved Bedtime History, just like you! Dwayne attended a number of schools, including President William McKinley High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Glencliff High School in Nashville, Tennessee.

After high school, Dwayne went to college at the University of Miami on a full football scholarship. This means he agreed to play football for them and they paid for his schooling in exchange. He earned a degree in Criminology and Physiology, and had wanted to become a professional football player. Sadly, while playing football he received many knee and shoulder injuries, but Dwayne refused to give up on his goals. He remembered the lessons his parents taught him about perseverance and determination. They taught him that success comes from hard work, and that the only way to achieve your dreams is to never give up, no matter how difficult the obstacle.

Dwayne put those lessons into practice, refusing to let his injury defeat him. He worked long hours and many days to fix his injury, and eventually, he was able to come back stronger than ever before. But this time he turned to professional wrestling, like his father. His father, Rocky Johnson, was a larger-than-life figure, known for his strength and athleticism in the ring. He was a trailblazer in the world of wrestling, breaking down barriers for black wrestlers and paving the way for future generations. Rocky Johnson not only was a wrestler but also a mentor to Dwayne. He taught him the skills and discipline necessary to succeed in the wrestling ring. He taught him a strong work ethic and a love for entertaining the audience. Dwayne learned from his father the importance of respect, humility and discipline.

Dwayne began his wrestling career in 1996, joining the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and quickly becoming one of the company’s top stars. He was a multiple-time WWF Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and Tag Team Champion, and was known for his iconic catchphrases, such as “If you smell what The Rock is cookin'” and “The People’s Champion.” He also became known for his intense rivalry with fellow wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin.

After leaving the WWF in 2004, Dwayne transitioned into acting, starring in a number of successful films. One of his first big movies was called “The Scorpion King.” In this movie he is a very strong and brave warrior leading an army of scorpions. He is very powerful and can do many amazing things, like jumping high and fight with a sword. In the movie, The Scorpion King goes on a big adventure to save his kingdom and his people from bad guys who want to take over. He has to fight battles and overcome many challenges, but with his strength and bravery, he is able to save his kingdom.

A few years later he was in a movie called Doom about a space marine who fights enemies on a moon near the planet Mars.

Have you seen the movie Moana? It’s a story about a courageous young girl who embarks on an adventure to save her island and her people. Along the way, she meets a demigod named Maui who joins her on her journey and he sings a very memorable song when they first meet call “You’re Welcome”. Maui’s voice is actually Dwayne Johnson and he even sang the song “You’re Welcome”! 

He’s also known for starring in movies like The Fast and The Furious, Jumanji: The Next Level, The Jungle Cruise, and recently Black Adam.

One story that is often shared is when he was filming the movie “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and he had to film a scene where he had to eat a live insect. He ended up eating it and then acted like it was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted, much to the shock and amusement of his co-stars.

Dwayne has become one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, and has been nominated for several awards for his performances.

Even with all his success, Dwayne has always remained humble. He is a loving husband and father to his wife Lauren and two daughters, Simone and Jasmine. He is also known for his philanthropy and business ventures, and has been a board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Have you heard of the “Make a Wish Foundation?” The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a special organization that helps children who are very sick. Sometimes, when a child is very sick, they might have a dream or a wish that they would like to come true. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a group of kind and caring people who work hard to make those wishes come true.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is made up of volunteers and donors who want to help bring joy and happiness to children who are going through a tough time. They work hard to make sure that each child’s wish is special and unique, just like they are.

It is a wonderful organization that brings happiness and hope to children who are facing difficult times. They work to make the child’s dream come true and give them and their families memories that will last a lifetime.

Throughout his career, Dwayne has always taught about hard work and perseverance. He often encourages others to “never give up” and to always strive for their dreams. He has also been known to share a good laugh, with a quick wit and a great sense of humor. 

Like “The Rock”, we can learn that with hard work, perseverance and determination, we can overcome obstacles and reach our goals. He faced many challenges and setbacks in his life, but he never gave up and he kept pushing forward, and that is what led to his success. He also showed that one should never underestimate the power of a positive attitude and the importance of having a good role model and support system in the form of family and friends. He taught that we should never give up on our dreams, no matter how hard the road may be, and that we can achieve great things if we believe in ourselves and never lose sight of our goals.

“The Rock of Hollywood”

A man of muscle, a man of might,

A wrestler turned actor, a true delight.

Dwayne Johnson, known as “The Rock”,

A star in the ring and on the clock.

From football field to wrestling ring,

He’s achieved great success, it’s quite the thing.

Championships won, fans in thrall,

He conquered the WWE, stood tall.

But Hollywood called, and he made the leap,

Starring in films, his talent to keep.

Fast cars and action, a hero to be,

The Rock’s acting career, a thing to see.

He’s not just brawn, but brains as well,

A philanthropist, a man to tell.

Motivating speeches, wisdom to share,

The Rock’s impact, truly rare.

So here’s to Dwayne Johnson, a man of no shame,

A wrestler, actor, and true claim to fame.

The Rock of Hollywood, a shining star,

A legacy built, near and far.

The post Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Story for Kids appeared first on Bedtime History: Podcast and Videos For Kids.

Think of some of the objects you saw: family, friends, trees, maybe a pet, or the big blue sky and white moon in the dark of night. Maybe you saw a smile and objects moving, a car speeding by, or someone kicking a ball. Most of these objects are things you are used to. But when you were a baby they were very interesting! You were curious about everything because it was all new and fresh! As we get older many of these things to become familiar and perhaps not as interesting. Tonight we’re going to learn about Leonardo da Vinci, also known as one of the most curious and creative geniuses in recorded history. As we learn about him, think about how he saw the world differently and how you might see the world differently, too. 

When was Leonardo da Vinci born?

Leonardo was born on April 15th, 1452 in the country of Italy in a town called Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci means Leonardo of Vinci, the town where he was born.  He was born during a time that later became known as The Renaissance, which means “Rebirth” because the way people saw the world was changing dramatically during this time. The Medieval Times was over and people were beginning to see themselves as beings who had control over their life and the world and could think differently than those who came before them. 

Childhood & Early Education

Leonardo grew up with his father and spent much of his time exploring the land around their home. He loved to observe the birds and animals and get lost in the beautiful countryside. Around the age of 15, his father noticed he had an interest in and a gift for art. For this reason, his father had him become an apprentice to Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence, Italy. An apprentice is a student to a master artist. And at this time Florence was known for its gifted artists and sculptors. In Verrocchio’s workshop, Leonardo learned from his master how to paint and sculpt. Sculptors used materials like clay or marble to make grand sculptures.   

Leonardo studied and helped with paintings and sculptures in Verrochio’s workshop until he was 20 years old. The next step in an artist’s life was to join a guide and Leonard did just that when he was accepted into the painters’ guild in Florence. A guild was a group of skilled artists who worked and met together. At this time he created many pen and pencil drawings and technical drawings of weapons and other mechanical devices. He was very interested in how things worked and in creating new devices. He loved inventing things! 

Milan and Duke Sforza

In 1482, when he was about 30 years old Leonardo moved to the city of Milan where he worked for the city’s duke, Ludovico Sforza. There he created paintings and worked on inventions for the Duke. The ability to create and improve technical devices is called engineering — and Leonardo was a very gifted engineer. He worked for Duke Sforza for many years. There he painted two of his best-known works The Virgin of the Rocks and The Last Supper depicting Jesus and his Twelve Apostles. He also helped design buildings and gave the Duke engineering advice for his army. 

One of Leonardo’s other biggest projects was a huge, 24-foot bronze horse for Duke Sforza. He spent 12 years designing it out of clay, which would be a mold to be turned into bronze. Unfortunately, before they could pour the metal into the mold to finish the horse sculpture, the project was stopped, because a war started and the metal had to be used for cannons instead of the horse! In our day, someone decided to get together the money to finally build the horse Leonardo always wanted. If you ever visit Milan, Italy you can see it today!

After the war Duke Sforza was no longer Duke, so Leonardo stopped working for him. Leonardo continued working in his workshop in Milan and soon had his own students and apprentices.

Florence

In the 1500s a French army invaded and took over Milan, so Leonardo left and went to Florence, where he had been an apprentice as a young man. In Florence, he painted his most famous painting, The Mona Lisa. Leonardo was a gifted artist, but he wasn’t afraid to learn new topics and never stopped learning. He was infinitely curious! Leonardo began to study math and science. He studied the human body, which is called anatomy. He also observed the flight of birds and studied the flow of air and water. He looked at everyday objects through different eyes. He wondered how bodies worked, how birds flew, and what gave living things their motion. He didn’t take anything for granted and saw the miracle in everyday life and studied deeply to try and understand it. 

Eventually, Leonardo moved back to Milan and continued his scientific studies, writing and creating many sketchbooks to help others understand the human body and how it worked. He came to believe that all bodies and living things worked according to certain laws of nature, which was very ahead of his time. 

Rome

In 1513, around the age of 60, Leonardo again moved to Rome where he lived in the Vatican and worked for Giuliano de Medici. At this time many of the popular Renaissance artists were living and creating amazing works of art in Rome. The famous St. Peter’s Cathedral was being built at the time and Raphael was painting walls in the Pope’s new apartments. One of the most famous artists of all time, Michaelangelo, was also in Rome working on the Pope’s tomb. 

By the age of 65, Leonardo was asked by the King of France to move there, where he became his main painter, architect, and engineer, which was a great honor. There he continued his sketches and consulted other artists in their works. He also helped plan a palace and garden for the king. He spent a lot of time arranging his writings and sketches about nature in his many notebooks, which fortunately we have today! Leonardo passed away at an old age while living in France.

Leonardo’s Influences

Today we’re lucky to have many of Leonardo’s paintings and notebooks. Many of the ideas he had were for machines that wouldn’t be invented for hundreds of years. For example, in his study of birds and flight, he had the idea for an airplane, a helicopter, and a parachute, which he sketched in his notebooks. He also had the idea for many military machines, such as an armored car, a giant crossbow, and a three-barreled cannon. When you get the chance you can find a book about Leonardo’s inventions at the library or look at them online. They are amazing!

What can you learn from Leonardo?

One of the most interesting things about Leonardo was his ability to take his artistic talents and engineering skills and combine them. He became known as a Renaissance Man because of his curiosity and ability to combine many different skills to invent amazing things. He believed artists were the best qualified to achieve true knowledge, because of the unique way they were able to view the world. Think about that as you observe the miraculous world around you. Never take for granted the little things. Even the smallest living things like a flower or a bee are extraordinary as you look at them closely and learn more about them. Think about what you might do to learn more about the world around you like Leonardo. You could take the time to study a rock or a leaf and sketch it into a notebook as Leonardo did. This is the way he came to better understand the world, one simple object at a time. 

Listen to the audio

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Do you like to play board games?  Maybe you know of some popular games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Battleship, or Trouble.  Maybe you even have your own favorite board game that you play with your family.  One of my favorite board games is called “Clue.”  This game was created a long time ago, in 1944 by an Englishman, for people to play while they were huddled in underground shelters during bombing raids.  It was originally called “Cluedo” which means “I play” in Latin! It is a mystery game full of twists and turns, where players find clues and try to figure out who committed a daring deed with a household item, such as a fireplace poker, knife, or a walking stick, inside a spooky gothic house.  It is a game of cunning and conniving – of trying to figure out who is the villain and how to use clues to solve the mystery.  The characters have funny names like Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, and Mrs. Peacock and you need to follow and remember their hijinks and clues during the game.  You need to be a super sleuth – or spy!    

Real Spies

During the time Clue was created, there were a lot of real spies.  But instead of playing a make-believe game, they were engaged in actual spycraft!  During WW II, US spies worked tirelessly and covertly – meaning secretly – to obtain enemy information, such as where the enemy was headed, where they would attack, how many planes, ships, or men they had, and other useful information.  And not all of these spies were men!  Women were also used as spies across Europe and Asia because they were so unexpected.  At that time, people did not think that women could be involved in the war, either fighting or spying.  So, women had the perfect spy cover!  They could act like a society lady, attending parties, and listening to war talk between men.  Or they could ride their bikes around town, stopping in shops and cafes to listen for war secrets.  And some even created news by writing fake radio announcements, newspaper articles, or postcards to confuse the enemy.  

Betty McIntosh – Spy

One such spy was Elizabeth “Betty” McIntosh who was born on March 1, 1915, in Washington, DC.  She was very brave and smart.  She knew how to speak Japanese and was working as a news reporter during the start of WWII.  Betty was stationed in Hawaii when Japanese planes bombed US ships docked at Pearl Harbor.  

The bombing of Pearl Harbor brought the US into the war and Betty moved to Washington, DC.  She kept busy writing articles about Eleanor Roosevelt, the President’s wife, and her war efforts.  She then interviewed a man working at the OSS – the Office of Strategic Services.  This was the US spy agency during WWII.  During the interview, she was asked if she would “like to do something more interesting.”  She was not told it would be spying – which was very sneaky of them!  She said, “I would like to do it if it involves going overseas.”  And they granted her wish!  

Betty reported for her first day of work and was fingerprinted – meaning they covered her fingers in ink and pushed her fingers onto a piece of paper, leaving fingerprints on the paper.  She was then told that she had to keep everything top secret and swear an oath – which she thought was strange because she didn’t even know what she would be doing yet.

Betty was then sent to a group called MO – Morale Operations.  Their entire job was to spread rumors.  Can you imagine that?  I’m sure all of us have been told by our parents and teachers not to tell lies or spread rumors.  But that was her new job!  She was taught how to start rumors and make them believable by mixing in bits of truth with lies.   She worked with other “spy craft” people, like radio announcers, artists, newspaper editors, cartoonists, and writers – people who had skills in writing and creating convincing stories and pictures.  Some of these spycraft people were captured Japanese soldiers who were artists and agreed to work with the allies.

Betty McIntosh Heads to India

Once Betty finished training in 1943, she was sent to India to spread false radio and news reports to Japanese soldiers who were getting very tired of fighting.  The Japanese government had told their soldiers that if they stopped fighting – or if they surrendered – they could never go home and they would lose their houses and savings.  This made the Japanese continue to fight very hard.  The US needed to find a way to let the Japanese soldiers stop fighting while keeping their honor.  So, Betty and the OSS created false Japanese military orders to surrender in one particular battle!  They had another spy capture a Japanese courier – a mailman – and put the false order in his mailbag.  This order was later read and believed by the Japanese officers!

Betty McIntosh in China

Betty then flew to China, where she started writing fake radio scripts and stories for the OSS.  One OSS radio worker acted as a fortune teller.  This fortune teller pretended to look at the stars and make predictions over the radio.  The Japanese loved to listen to these radio stories!  Betty was told she had to write a very scary, but believable story to scare the Japanese.  “What about an earthquake?” she said.  No, that happens all the time in Japan,” said her boss.  “Well, what about a Tsunami,” she replied.  “Nope, they have those, too,” he said.  “Well, I’ll think of something scary” replied Betty.  

She thought and thought, but couldn’t think of something truly scary.  So, she finally wrote the following announcement, “Something terrible is going to happen to Japan. We have checked the stars and there is something we can’t even mention because it is so dreadful and it is going to eradicate one whole area of Japan.” That same day, the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.  Betty didn’t even know this was going to happen and she was shocked – as well as everyone else who listened to her radio announcement!  She was asked, “How did you know about the bomb because it was top secret?”  She said, “I just made the story up!”

Betty McIntosh Returns to the US

After the war ended, Betty returned to the US and started writing for Glamour magazine.  But it was very boring writing about clothes and makeup after being a spy!  So, Betty returned to government work, assisting the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the State Department, and the United Nations.  She also wrote several spy books, including “Undercover Girl” and “Sisterhood of Spies” as well as several children’s books.

Still, Betty missed the thrill and excitement of working as a spy, so she asked for a job with the new US spy agency, the CIA, or Central Intelligence Agency.  She worked there for many years until retiring.  She signed an oath to never talk about her work at the CIA, so we will never know about her other spy exploits, but I’m sure they were exciting!  

Betty passed away at the age of 100 in 2015 after 40 years of working as a spy.  Before she died, she stated that her work as a spy was the most exciting time in her life.  

In 1982, the US started an annual celebration called Women’s History Month, which starts on March 1^st in honor of Betty’s birthday.  

Life as a Spy

What do you think of Betty’s life as a spy?  Would you like to be a spy?  What would be your spy name?  What kind of spy would you be?  Would you write stories, sneak behind enemy lines gathering information, or smuggle people to safety?  Or maybe you would do something else, like crack codes or decipher messages.

I think Betty’s story reminds us that women can do courageous, patriotic, and amazing things.  Betty traveled overseas and did important work for her nation during a time of great crisis to save US lives and shorten the war.  Maybe you can continue to honor Betty and other brave women by participating in Women’s History Month and learning more about courageous women who changed the course of history. 

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Have you ever heard of Super Mario Brothers or the Legend of Zelda? Have you ever played these games on Nintendo? Nintendo is a household name across the world, but it didn’t start out that way. And most people don’t realize the Nintendo company has been around for over 100 years — long before video games were invented.

Early Beginnings of Nintendo

Our story begins in 1889 in the large city of Kyoto, Japan. In Kyoto lived a man named Fusajiro Yamauchi. Fusajiro had a wife and a daughter and was an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is someone who has big ideas and starts new businesses. And Fusajiro had an idea to start his own shop to sell playing cards which were used to play a Japanese card game called “Hanafuda.” His playing cards were hand-painted and he decided to name his business “Nintendo Koppai.”

Fusajiro’s playing cards were very popular in Kyoto and soon he didn’t have enough time to paint all of the cards by hand. When an entrepreneur has this problem, which is a very good problem, he hires more people to help him — and this is exactly what Fusajiro did! He hired assistant and taught them how to paint playing cards like he did. With more playing cards to sell, the Nintendo company grew and grew until Fusajiro opened a new shop in Osaka.

For 40 years Fusajiro’s company grew and grew, they designed games other than Hanafuda and eventually became the largest playing card company in Japan. 

At the age of 70, Fusajiro retired and his adopted son-in-law became the new president. But little did Fusajiro realize what would become of his playing card company.

Hiroshi’s Contributions to Nintendo

In 1927 a boy named Hiroshi was born in the same city of Kyoto. When he was little parents were unable to take care of him, so he went to live with his grandparents. His grandfather was the President of Nintendo. Hiroshi started school when he was 12 and planned to go to college, but when World War II started he had to wait on college and instead worked in a factory making weapons for the war. When the war ended he started college to study law and was also married at that time.

In 1949 Hiroshi grandfather, the President of Nintendo died and Hiroshi was next in line, so he became the president of Nintendo. Hiroshi was only 22 and no one thought he’d be able to run the company. But he proved everyone wrong by being very firm and taking control of the company. And  he would go on to lead Nintendo and help it grow for the next 53 years! 

As the new President of the company, Hiroshi was interested in selling Nintendo playing cards in the United States. In the United States he made a deal with Disney to allow Nintendo to use Disney characters on their cards and eventually sold 600,000 packs in one year. With all of the new money coming in, Hiroshi began to look at new ways for Nintendo to make money. They tried many different ventures such as a taxi business, restaurants, and toy making. While many of the ideas failed, toy-making seemed to be their best bet. 

Gunpei and Nintendo’s Light Gun

One day while Hiroshi was in the factory, he noticed one of the engineers playing with a device he had built that could stretch out and grab things like a hand. The engineer’s name was Gunpei Yokoi and his normal job was to repair machines in the factory. But Hiroshi liked the device he built so much that he decided to turn it into a toy. They called it the “Ultra Arm” and sold over 1 million of them. With the Ultra Arm’s success, Hiroshi asked Gunpei to help design toys instead of work in the factory. Gunpei went on to design several other toys for Nintendo such as the first solar-powered light gun, later called the Nintendo Beam gun. 

In 1972 the American company Magnavox released one of the first home video game consoles and called it the Odyssey. Magnavox used Nintendo light guns with the Odyssey. Not long after the Odyssey’s release, Nintendo started creating its own arcade games using the light gun. Their most popular arcade was called The Laser Clay Shooting System. 

Shigeru Miyamoto and Donkey Kong

In 1977 Nintendo hired a young artist named Shigeru Miyamoto. Shigeru was born in Sonobe, Japan and from a young age loved exploring the natural world around his home, including forests, lakes and secret caves he found. He had a big imagination of loved to draw. He later went to college to become an artist. At Nintendo Shigeru did artwork for an arcade game called Sheriff and worked with Gunpei Yokoi, the designer of the “Ultra Arm” on other new games.

One of their big ideas involved a carpenter, his girlfriend, and a gorilla. The carpenter, also named Jumpman, ran up ramps and jumped over barrels the gorilla threw at him until he reached the girl at the top. When Sherigu finally decided on a name for Jumpman he named him “Mario” after the man who owned their building. They named their game Donkey Kong and it eventually it became one of the most famous video games of all time.

Nintendo and Gunpei Yokoi’s next big invention was a hand-held gaming device called the Game and Watch, which included a simple game and a clock. The Game and Watch was very popular and gave Nintendo more money to invent other new devices. Their next big device was called the Famicom (or Family Computer) and was their first gaming console. It sold over 500,000 units, but many of them had issues and had to be recalled from the stores.

This was very costly for Nintendo, but in 1985 they fixed the system and renamed it the Nintendo Entertainment System or NES. Nintendo was known for its quality games, which had to receive its stamp of approval before being released. The NES ended up becoming wildly popular in the United States. 

The Mario Brothers

Shigeru Miyamoto, the artist with the big imagination, also created Super Mario Brothers featuring his Mario character from Donkey Kong and added a brother named Luigi. They changed Mario from a carpenter to a plumber and gave him superhuman abilities. He could fall from any height and with his hat and thick mustache worked his way through a wild world full of fantastic monsters and underground sewage pipes. 

Legend of Zelda

Designing his next video game, Shigeru remember his childhood of adventure and wonder exploring the natural world around his home in Sonobe. He remembered finding a dark cave and exploring it along with the hillsides and lakes. He decided his next big game would try and capture that wonder he felt as a child. In his game The Legend of Zelda, an adventurous elf named Link would explore an open video game world in search of the Princess Zelda. The Legend of Zelda also became very popular and many sequels have been created under Shigeru’s direction. 

Enter the Gameboy

Nintendo’s next popular device was the Gameboy, designed by Gunpei Yokoi. It was a handheld device and was known for being sturdy with quality games like Tetris, Super Mario Land and Pokemon. The Game Boy eventually sold 118 million units!

SNES and the Wii

The next version of the Nintendo was called the Super Nintendo or SNES with new and improved graphics and a host of new games. At this time, Nintendo began to face competition from the Sega Genesis gaming system, which included wildly popular games like Sonic the Hedgehog. The Sony Playstation and later Microsoft’s Xbox gaming system also competed with Nintendo, which later released the Nintendo 64 with 3D graphics, the Game Boy Color, then the Game Cube and later the Nintendo DS, and Wii.

The Wii became the best selling game console of all time, selling 10 million units with hit games like Wii Sports, Super Mario Galaxy, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Wii U was released next and finally its current console, the Nintendo Switch. Even with all of the new competition over the years,

Nintendo found ways to reinvent itself and make its game systems different. With the Wii, Nintendo invented the hand-held pointing devices or nunchucks. With the Switch it designed a console that could be played on the TV or on the go. Nintendo also continued to create wildly imaginative, colorful and family friendly game franchises such as Zelda, Mario Kart, Metroid, Star Fox, and Pokemon. 

In the end, Nintendo was successful due to the business sense of its President Hiroshi Yamauchi and the creativity of designers like Shigeru Miyamoto and Gunpei Yokoi.

Entrepreneurs

Would you like to be an entrepreneur some day? Remember an entrepreneur is someone who is creative and comes up with ideas for new businesses. If you’ve ever held a bake sell or sold lemonade you’re practicing the skills to become an entrepreneur. Remember, Fusajiro was an entrepreneur when he started his first playing card shop called Nintendo.

Do you like to draw or have a big imagination like Shigeru and Gunpei? If you created your own video game like Shigeru what would it be about? What would it look like? When you find the time, write out your ideas, draw a few pictures and plan out how it would work. Creativity, like other skills, requires practice. Take some time to think about how you can exercise your creativity muscles and invent imaginative worlds like Shigeru did with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

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Close your eyes and imagine you’re in a beautiful forest. It’s late in the evening, and you’ve decided to take a calming walk through the trees. You see a shape moving through the trees ahead, rustling the leaves as it leans down to drink from a pond. The silvery moonlight bounces off its back, which you see is covered in shiny, white fur. Suddenly, the creature raises its head, and you gasp: there’s a horn right on top of its head, pointing directly up at the moon and glowing in the night. The creature gallops away before you can get any closer. You wander home in a daze, wondering if what you saw was real, or if you just dreamed it. 

Unicorns of the Past

Whether you believe in them or not, or like them or not, our history with unicorns goes back a lot farther than you might imagine. In fact, scientists have found fossils that look something like unicorns. Elasmotherium sibiricum lived in Siberia and Kazakhstan up through the last ice age, and had a giant horn on top of its head. Before you get too excited, I should mention that this animal did not look like a white pony with a slender, twisted horn and rainbow mane (sorry). Instead, it looked more like a giant, furry rhinoceros. It was about the size of an elephant: 4 meters long, nearly 2 meters tall, and weighing in at about  4 tons. Scientists used to think this creature went extinct over 300 thousand years ago, but a recent fossil find was dated to be about 29 thousand years old. There were humans wandering around Earth at this time, so maybe they saw these giant creatures. And just maybe, they began telling each other stories about the magnificent horned beasts. We can’t really be certain, but maybe those stories were passed down, and led to our modern idea of unicorns. 

Ancient Stories

But the unicorn would take on many different forms in stories before it came to look like a majestic white horse with a horn. Some of the very first artwork involving unicorns dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Indus Valley Civilization flourished in what is now northwest India and Pakistan over 4,000 years ago. People in the Indus Valley Civilization made seals to stamp on things that belonged to them. These seals usually showed animals and also had mysterious writing on them. It was a bit like a signature. We still can’t read the writing, but many of the seals showed an animal that looked like an ox or an antelope with a single, curved horn in its head. Archeologists have also found small, clay figurines of these animals, with the horn coming up from between the eyes and curving forward. 

Mysterious Creatures

Some scholars think the unicorn creature is based on a real, two-horned type of cattle called an auroch that lived in the area. Others think it was based on a species of antelope. But maybe it was based on a mysterious creature that these people heard about in stories passed down by their grandparents, from their grandparents, and so on, back from a time that no one remembered anymore.

Legends and Unicorns

Many other ancient peoples had legends about unicorn-type creatures. Long after the Indus Valley Civilization had disappeared and been forgotten, stories from ancient India talked about a unicorn-like creature. Other Hindu stories describe boars and elephants with one horn instead of two. The Bible also mentions unicorns several times, depicting them as very strong and clever, but wild creatures. 

Asian History

In China, ancient stories tell of a creature called the qilin. This animal had a coat of multi-colored scales, like a fish; the body and hooves of a deer; the tail of a lion; and of course, a horn. The horn was usually pronged, instead of a single straight spike, and sometimes the qilin was also shown with two horns. The qilin would appear to people right before a wise man or great ruler showed up, foretelling their arrival. Korean and Japanese folklore includes a similar creature, known as a qirin.

Greek and Ancient Authors on Unicorns

Ancient Greek authors also wrote accounts of unicorn-like animals. They probably got the idea from the ones in Indian stories. One author, Ctesias, heard about such a creature from India while he was living in Persia, which is now Iran. He tried to describe it, but he’d never seen it or even talked to someone who had seen it with their own eyes. It ended up sounding like a donkey mixed with a rhinoceros….which he also hadn’t seen. The creature he described had a white body, dark red head and a horn that was white on the bottom, black in the middle, and bright red at the top. 

Many other ancient authors wrote about unicorns as well. They didn’t agree with each other or with modern notions of what unicorns look like. Most described unicorns as having very sharp horns–some say 4 feet! That’s about as tall as a 7 or 8-year-old child! Different writers described them as mashups of various animals. One said they had the body of a horse, legs of an elephant, tail of a pig, and a head of a deer. And of course, the 4-foot horn.

Can You Eat a Unicorn?

Unicorns were supposed to be very fierce and powerful. One author insisted that they let out “horrid roars.” They were said to be impossible to capture alive. But if you killed one while hunting, they were said to taste awful, so you shouldn’t eat them. (Though I doubt most kids these days would even think about it!) 

Still, ancient authors thought they were worth hunting for another reason. They thought the horn had magical properties that would counteract any poison, and you could even cure diseases by drinking from a unicorn-horn cup.  Some authors, including Julius Caesar, claimed that unicorns lived in the forests of Germany, a land that the Romans thought of as mysterious and dark, though they didn’t understand much about it. 

Unicorns in the Middle Ages

It was during the Middle Ages that unicorns started to look like what we’d call a unicorn today: A horse, or sometimes a goat, usually white and with a long, sharp, twisted horn growing up from its head. One person took issue with the new, pretty-white-horse image of unicorns: the medieval explorer Marco Polo. He visited China and saw something he was sure was a unicorn. He tried to set the record straight when he got back to Europe, telling people that real unicorns were gray and almost the size of elephants, had elephant feet, and enjoyed wallowing in mud. 

Can you guess what he really saw? 

Yes, again, he’s confusing a rhinoceros with a unicorn. In the 1400s, rhinos lived in China, but they’re extinct there now.

Much of what we know about what people believed about unicorns in the middle ages comes from a book called the Physiologus. The Physiologus described many wild and mythical animals, including unicorns. It described how they looked, but also how they behaved, and it gave them moral traits, just like humans.  We don’t know who wrote the Physiologus, but it was very popular for hundreds of years and translated into many different languages.  

Unicorns were still said to be fierce, strong, clever, and wild. One story told of a unicorn chasing a lion. The only way the lion survived was by ducking behind a tree at the last moment, so the charging unicorn’s horn got stuck in the tree trunk. But the Physiologus added that unicorns also symbolized purity and grace, and even represented Jesus Christ. There was a story that when a unicorn drank water from a dirty pool, the water would be cleaned and other animals would be able to drink from it too. Just like in ancient Rome, people still thought that unicorn horns could cure you of sickness and counteract poison. People would sell rhinoceros or narwhal horns as “unicorn” horns to people looking to use it as a remedy. Of course, they didn’t work. 

Medieval Artwork

Unicorns are featured in a lot of medieval artwork. People wove elaborate sets of tapestries that told stories in pictures. A unicorn-themed tapestry might show a group of hunters trying to catch a unicorn on the first panel, which we know by now is not easy! 

But, we learn in another panel, these hunters have a secret weapon: a young woman. In the middle ages, people thought that only a young maiden could tame a unicorn. The tapestry would show the maiden sitting with the calm unicorn, his head resting in her lap. 

In some tapestry stories, the woman might lead the unicorn to the king as a gift. In others, the hunters killed or captured the unicorn, while the woman cried, sorry for the part she had played in tricking the beautiful, clever creature. 

But often, in a final panel, the unicorn would be seen galloping away into the woods, as though it could never really be captured, even by trickery. 

Now it’s not hard at all to capture a unicorn, or at least something unicorn-themed. Unicorns are on everything from bed sheets and stuffed animals, to cupcakes and party supplies. They turn up in books and movies, such as My Little Pony and Harry Potter. And sometimes we even call people “unicorns” when they have some unusual combination of traits that almost seem to give them superpowers. 

What do You Think?

What do you think? Where did the legend of the unicorn come from? Did we pass down stories of a strange, prehistoric creature that, over time, morphed into a graceful horse with a slender horn? Did someone see a rhinoceros from far off, or hear a story about one, and just get confused about what it was? Or do hunters and young maidens in the forest late at night sometimes see the outline of a wild horse against the full moon, with a single horn pointing up to the stars, and sense something magical?

Sources

https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythic-creatures/land/unicorns-west-and-east

https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/unicorns-are-more-legit-than-you-think?utm_source=DamnInteresting

https://thekingsbible.com/Concordance/unicorn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qilin

https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1629/the-unicorn-myth/

Parpola, Asko (2011) ‘The Harappan unicorn in Eurasian and South Asian perspectives.’ Linguistics, Archeology, and the Human Past. Eds. Toshiki Osada & Hitoshi Endo. Indus Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature. Kyoto, Japan.

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In Coupvray lives a leatherworker named Simon-Rene Braille and his wife, Monique.  The year is 1812.  They have four children: two daughters and two sons.  One of these sons is named Louis (Loo-WEE).  Louis loves to play with his brother and sisters in their little stone house or the vineyards nearby.  It is fun to play hide-and-seek or search for snakes and creepy crawlies.   

He also loves to spend time with his papa in his workshop.  It smells of horses and leather and woodsmoke.  It is the perfect place for adventures – like crawling under papa’s workbench to hunt for monsters or throwing wood in the fire-breathing dragon’s mouth.  Papa says it is not a dragon – it’s just a wood stove!  

One day when Louis is 3, he climbs up on a wooden bench and looks at his papa’s tools.  He picks one up.  His Papa warns him not to touch it but then someone comes into the shop and Papa goes to talk to him.  Louis picks up the sharp, pointy tool and pretends he is papa.  He jabs the tool into the leather, but it bounces up and hits him in the eye.  Louis starts crying and papa runs to him.  He takes Louis to the house and calls the doctor.  The doctor wraps Louis’ eyes and tells him not to touch it. But they hurt – a lot.  And soon Louis cannot see at all.  

His world turns black.  He doesn’t understand why he can’t see when the bandages come off.  What happened to the light?  Why can’t he see mama and papa and his brother and sisters?  He can hear them, but it feels like he is in a dark room with no windows or doors.  He is very scared.  “When will I see again?” he asks.  His mama and papa say they do not know.

But his parents are wise – they think of ways to help Louis.  They teach him how to use a cane to walk.  By waving it from side to side when he walks, he won’t bump into things.  They teach him to count steps to learn how many steps it takes to walk to the kitchen, the vineyard, or papa’s shop.

They also teach him echolocation.  That means finding things by making a sound and listening for the echo like bats and dolphins do.  Have you ever tried yelling in a tunnel or through a cardboard tube?  They sound different, right? Louis learns how to understand these echoes and knows if he is walking by an open field or a tall house.  It is easy to tell when he is walking by the river because of the gurgling sounds, or in the park because of the squawking ducks.

But he misses seeing things…and he misses seeing the faces of his family.  Some days he is very sad.  

But he decides to make a game of it.  He listens very hard to the sounds around him.  Swish swish – the sound of fabric dragging on the cobblestone road.  That’s Mrs. Blanchet with her long skirts going to the market.  Clippety clop, clippety clop every morning at dawn.  That’s Mr. Monet delivering cheese and milk with his horse and wagon.  Ding ding, ding ding!  That’s the best sound of all – that’s Louis’ friend, Pierre, on his new bike, coming to take him for a ride.  

Louis’ sisters help, too.  They make letters out of leather strips or straw tied together.  His papa pounds nails into boards in the shape of letters.  They teach him the letters of the alphabet by feel.

At night, Louis plays dominoes with his mama.  He feels and counts the little dots on the tiles and is very good at the game.  This dot game will eventually change Louis’ life!

Louis keeps growing but his eyes never see again.  He goes to school and listens to the lessons.  Pierre reads the books to him.  Louis is very smart and learns quickly.  

Then one day when Louis is 10, his parents tell him they are taking him to a school in Paris called the Royal Institute for Blind Youth.  He is nervous to go – he’s never been away from his house, his family, or his town.  But he is also excited to try something new.  He wants to learn new things, like how to read!  

The school is not what Louis expected.  It is cold and big and it smells funny – like old bark from the riverbank.  The food is yucky and there is never enough heat or hot water.  Some of the boys are mean – they are older and play tricks on him.  He feels very alone and scared and misses his family.  But he stays because he REALLY wants to learn to read.

He listens to the school lessons and remembers everything.  He also learns to play the piano and the cello by feeling the keys and the strings.  

One day his teacher takes him to a room filled with books.  He can tell it is a big room by the echo their feet make when they walk inside.  It sounds like they’re in a big cave.  And it smells very dusty.  They probably don’t clean the room very often.  THUNK.  The teacher dumps a heavy book in front of Louis.  He tells Louis to run his fingers over the paper.  Wow – it is very bumpy!  He tells Louis those bumps make letters, and those letters make words.  He teaches Louis how to “read” the bumps with his fingers.  This “bump” language was invented by Captain Charles Barbier for soldiers on the battlefield.  They can read these bumpy messages at night by feel without using a light. But this “bump” language is very long.  Several sentences can take up a whole page!  

Louis wonders: Can he make a new language with these bumps?  One that is easier and shorter and doesn’t take up so many pages?  His teacher builds him a wooden frame that holds paper.  The frame has a sliding metal bar attached to it that slides up and down the frame.  The bar has openings in it so Louis can punch holes through it into the paper in neat rows.  He uses a tool called an awl – the same tool that hit Louis in his eye.  He slides the metal bar down the frame and punches rows of dots in the paper with the awl.  He makes a dot message!

He can finally write and read without seeing!  He practices for years with this frame and awl until he is 15.  Then one day, he tells his teacher, “Read something to me.”  The teacher pulls a book from the shelf and starts reading out loud.  Louis punches the paper in his frame with the awl.  “I will read it back to you,” he says.  And he reads every word perfectly while sliding his fingers over the bumps he punched on the page!  He has created a new language from six dots! 

How does this work?  Well, imagine you have a domino.  The number six on a domino tile is represented by three rows of dots:  two dots on one line, two dots on a second line, and two on a third line.  By punching dots in different patterns, you create a code.  Every pattern of dots is a different letter of the alphabet!  Once you memorize the dots and the letters they represent, you can read and write the code!  Neat, huh?  It’s like reading a bunch of dominos – but it’s a language instead of a game!  That domino game with mama sure came in handy!

After Louis graduated, he stayed at the school and became a teacher.  He taught there for many years. Sadly, over the years he caught lots of chest colds that made him very weak and tired.  One day when he was 43, he was taken to the hospital, where he passed away from illness.  

Louis lived a short life but was an amazing inventor – and by the early age of 15!  He created a language called Braille, which is named after him.  Braille is used by millions of blind people around the world today.  You can even see his Braille language on public signs.  The next time you are in an elevator or a public building, look at the signs.  Do you see bumps next to the words or numbers?  That’s Braille – the language Louis created!

What do you think of Louis and his invention?  Would you like to learn Braille and teach it to your friends?  Look it up online. You could swap secret messages back and forth by writing lines of dots on paper!

Louis was very brave.  He could have stayed at home, afraid to go outside or explore the world around him.  Instead, he was driven by a desire to learn and read.  Because of his desires and perseverance, he accomplished great things at a very young age!  Louis teaches us that no matter what challenges we face in life, with focused determination we can work through our obstacles and accomplish great things.   Also, his life teaches us that where there is darkness, there can also be light.  Meaning, even when things seem at their worst and we may not know the way forward if we hold on there will be a silver lining or a new path to lead us out of the darkness.  

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