Kids Short Stories
Common Sense Media Review
By Diana Baron-Moore
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kid-written stories are lighthearted and fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Listen
Parent and Kid Reviews
What’s It About?
Episodes of KIDS SHORT STORIES each follow their own cast of characters through worlds that are different and new each time. Host Jim Jacobs brings these worlds to life with his exuberant narration and many silly voices. Stories are fantastical, with appearances from unicorns, lava monsters, and pirates alike. The only recurring character seems to be the villains Professor Sticky Fingers and, the sometimes French, sometimes German, Dr. Stinky Breath. It can be hard to predict the type of story you'll get from episode titles, but each is so short, averaging 11 minutes long, that it's easy to pick another if you aren't interested. Lack of resolution may leave kids with unanswered questions at the end of the story, but families who listen together might consider taking this as an opportunity to write their own imagined sequels or endings.
Is It Any Good?
What this cheerful storytelling show lacks in well crafted plots and educational value, it makes up for with gusto and wackiness. The strength of Kids Short Stories is in its simple production and lively narration. Children will love host Jim Jacob's nearly breathless delivery as he hypes up the goofy, nonsensical tales pitched by his kid listeners. Though stories don't consistently offer moral messages, the show is the perfect distraction for an errand run in the car or those ten extra minutes to get dinner ready.
Kids Short Stories consistently delivers engaging and inoffensive children's content in ten minute long chunks. Episodes can be consumed in any order, leaving families the option to choose titles that draw their attention. Stories cover a wide range of topics so there is something for every kid in the feed. Best of all, hearing the wild and weird stories of other children treated with the love and care this show extends them may inspire listeners to use their imaginations and write a story of their own.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the characters in Kids Short Stories solved their problem. What did you think about their choices? What would you have done differently?
What did you like about the story? If you were writing a story to go on a podcast, what would it be about? What are important elements of a story?
What positive character traits did you hear in the story? How did the characters demonstrate those traits?
Podcast Details
- Release date: October 1, 2019
- Genre: Storytelling
- Average Run Time: 11 minutes
- Website: https://heymrjim.com/kids-short-stories
- Host: Jim Jacob
- Production Companies and Networks: Mr. Jim , iHeartPodcasts
- Pricing structure: Free
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures
- Last updated: October 24, 2023
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