In this YouTube storytime video, author Lois Letchford introduces herself as the writer of Reversed: A Memoir and proceeds to read a selection of poems from Shel Silverstein’s collection Falling Up. She reads eleven poems—“Falling Up,” “Plugged In,” “Complainin’ Jack,” “Sun Hat,” “Scale,” “Little Pig’s Treat,” “Unfair,” “Wastebasket Brother,” “Crystal Ball,” and “Advice”—delivering each with a light, conversational tone aimed at children and families. Between readings she adds brief commentary, encourages viewers to like, subscribe, and share, and occasionally offers contextual notes (e.g., a suggestion to Google William Tell). The video showcases her enthusiasm for children’s literacy, her personal branding as a memoir author, and her playful interpretation of Silverstein’s whimsical verses.
Chapters
Hello, I'm Lois Letchford, author of the book Reversed: A Memoir, and now I want to read from the poetry book Falling Up by Shel Silverstein. It's one of my favourites and a brilliant way for kids to enjoy language learning and literacy. Falling Up. I tripped on my shoelace and I fell up, up to the rooftops, up over the town, up past the treetops, up over the mountains, Up where the colours blend into the sounds. But it got me so dizzy when I looked around, I got sick to my stomach and I threw down. Thank you. Hit like, hit subscribe, and share it with others. Hello, it's Lois Letchford reading from Falling Up. Plugged In. Peg plugged in her electric toothbrush. Mitch plugged in his steel guitar. Rick plugged in his CD player. Liz plugged in her VCR. Mong plugged in her electric blanket. Pop plugged in the TV fights. I plugged in the blower dryer. Hey, who turned out all the lights? Hi, this is Lois Letchford, enjoying reading from Falling Up, and this is one of my favourite poems called Complainin' Jack. This morning my old jack-in-the-box popped out. And wouldn't go back in the box. He cried, hey, there's a tack in my box and it's cutting me through and through. There also is a crack in the box and I never find a snack in the box. And sometimes I hear a quack in the box because a duck lives in here too. Complain, complain was all he did. I finally had to close the lid. Enjoy! Make an old jack-in-the-box. Make sure he's got a tack in the box and a crack in the box and no snack and definitely a quack in the box. Thank you. Hit like, hit subscribe, and enjoy. Hello, Lois Letchford here. Reading from the book Falling Up by Shel Silverstein, the poem Sun Hat. Oh, what a sweet child is Hannah High! Oh, how thoughtful! Oh, how nice to buy a hat with the brim so wide it gives shade to the frogs and the worms and the mice. Thank you. Hit like, hit subscribe, and share it. Enjoy. Hit like, hit subscribe, and share. Hello, Lois Letchford, reading from Falling Up. Scale. If I could only see the scale. I'm sure that it would state that I've lost ounces, maybe pounds, or even tons of weight. You'd better eat some pancakes. You're as skinny as a rail. I'm sure that's what the scale would say. If I could see the scale. Thank you. Enjoy. Hit like, hit share, and subscribe. Hello, Lois Letchford. Enjoying reading from the book Falling Up by Shel Silverstein. This one is Little Pig's Treat. Candy come in and people out. Little Pig's Treat, said the pig to his pop. There's a candy shop! Oh please, let's go inside, and I promise I won't make a kid of myself if you give me a people-back ride. Thank you. Enjoy. Like. Subscribe. Hello, Lois Letchford. Enjoying reading poems from Falling Up by Saul Silberstein. Unfair. They don't allow pets in this apartment. That's not decent. That's not fair. They don't allow pets in this apartment. They don't listen. They don't care. I told them he's quiet and never does bark. I told them he'd do all his stuff in the park. I told them he's cuddly and friendly, and yet they won't allow pets. Wastebasket brother. Someone put their baby brother Under this basket. The question is exactly why, but I'm not going to ask it. But someone, I ain't saying who, has got a guilty face, ashamed for letting such a lovely brother go to the waste. Enjoy Lois Letchford, Falling Up. Crystal Ball. Come and see your life in my crystal glass. 25 cents is all you'll pay. Let me look into your past. Here's what you had for lunch today. Tuna salad and mashed potatoes. Green pea soup and apple juice. Collard green and stewed tomatoes. Chocolate milk and lemon mousse. You'll admit it. I've told it all. Well, I know it. I confess. Not by looking in my ball, but just by looking at your dress. Enjoy! Hit like, hit Hit subscribe and share. Hello, it's Lois Letchford reading from Falling Up. Advice. William Tell, William Tell, take your arrow, grip it well. There's an apple, aim for the middle. Oh well, you just missed by a little. To understand this poem, you need to check out or Google William Tell and the story behind William Tell. Thank you. Hit like, hit subscribe, and share.
