Welcome back aboard Nanny Nikki's Imagination Station — where story time is always just the beginning.Tonight’s story is a very special one because it’s not about witches, pirates, princesses, or magical kingdoms. Its a Nanny Nikki original story.It’s about a very tiny old chihuahua named Dickie Birdie.And yes… that is his real first name.In this cozy, heartfelt story told through the eyes of a sleepy little desert dog with no teeth and two first names, listeners will travel to Cave Creek, Arizona — where the coyotes sing at night, the desert glows warm beneath the sunset, and one tiny old gentleman spends his days supervising podcast recordings, protecting blankets, taking very important naps, and riding through life in a little red stroller like royalty.But Dickie Birdie isn’t just any dog.He’s my best friend.He’s been with me since he was eight weeks old, through different homes, different chapters of life, veterinary hospitals, podcast studios, difficult days, and now even CrimeCon — where, to his complete surprise, hundreds of people somehow knew his name.This story was inspired by getting the suitcases out once again as we prepare to head back to CrimeCon together, where Dickie Birdie will once again ride through crowds of people as the tiny mascot of my podcasting world. Watching him experience these adventures at thirteen years old, with sleepy eyes and tiny legs that don’t work quite like they used to, reminded me that even small, quiet lives can still be full of magic, purpose, comfort, love, and adventure.This episode is gentle, emotional, funny, cozy, and filled with little moments that animal lovers — especially senior dog lovers — will understand deeply.It’s a story about:growing olderunconditional lovecompanionshipbravery in small packagesfinding comfort in ordinary momentsand how sometimes the tiniest creatures leave the biggest paw prints on our hearts.It’s also a love letter to senior pets everywhere.Dickie Birdie may no longer have teeth, and he may spend most of his day wrapped in blankets judging the world from soft pillows and sunny spots, but he still has adventures to go on, people to meet, and stories to tell.And honestly?He’s kind of becoming famous.If you’d like to support Dickie Birdie and the rest of our little animal family here in hot Arizona — especially as we prepare for another very warm summer and our upcoming CrimeCon travels — we do have an Amazon animal wishlist filled with cooling supplies, pet necessities, comfort items, and goodies for our furry family members as well as the crabby ones. Not kidding! We have hermit crabs here! Animal Wishlist:Thank you for supporting our little family, our storytelling adventures, and this tiny old chihuahua with two first names.And if you happen to see Dickie Birdie rolling through CrimeCon in his stroller this year, please say hello to him. He takes his mascot duties very seriously.Now fluff up your blankets, snuggle in close, and enjoy tonight’s story from one very brave, very sleepy little gentleman named Dickie Birdie.

Welcome aboard Nanny Nikki’s Imagination Station — where turning the page is only the beginning.This episode is incredibly special to me because it’s not only our very first official fairy tale episode, it’s also the episode that truly made this podcast feel real. Less than 48 hours before this existed, this was simply lunch recess story time on a playground.By day, I’m Nikki — a pre-K assistant teacher surrounded by tiny humans constantly begging for “just one more story.” Somewhere between the silly voices, spooky whispers, pirate growls, dramatic sound effects, and kids piling closer during the scary parts, another teacher joked that I needed to move story time closer because she wanted to listen too.And honestly?That one little comment sparked this entire idea.This podcast was created to bring the magic of playground story time beyond the classroom walls and into homes, bedtime routines, classrooms, car rides, and wherever imagination happens.For our very first fairy tale episode, we journey into the Southwest with Alice Nizzy Nazzy: The Witch of Santa Fe, written by Tony Johnston and beautifully illustrated by legendary children’s illustrator Tomie dePaola.This spooky, funny Southwestern folk tale is filled with desert magic, witches, talking fences, mystery, humor, Spanish vocabulary, and just enough suspense to make children squeal, giggle, and hide behind their blankets before immediately asking for another story.A huge reason my students love this book so much is because of the incredible illustrations and immersive storytelling. I’m incredibly grateful to both the author and illustrator for creating such a memorable story that became a classroom favorite.This book appears to currently be out of print, but if you’d like to learn more or try to track down a copy, here are a few places to start:Amazon listing:https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Nizzy-Nazzy-Witch-Santa/dp/0399227881Paperback edition:https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Nizzy-Nazzy-Tony-Johnston/dp/069811650XI also want to give full credit to the magical fantasy music used throughout this episode:“Castle in the Mist – Magical Orchestral” by Geoff Harvey via Pixabay Music.Music link:https://pixabay.com/music/fantasy-dreamy-childrens-castle-in-the-mist-magical-orchestral-388047/After the story, we also talk about:the Spanish word “la bruja”Southwestern culture and Santa Feadobe homes and desert lifeauthors and illustratorswhy children love spooky storiesand fun educational breakdowns for kids and parents to enjoy together.Quick disclaimer from your very excited podcast host:I’m still learning how to balance storytelling voices inside a recording studio instead of outside on a loud playground, so there are definitely a few moments where the audio gets a little dramatic or cuts out a bit. But honestly? I didn’t want to re-record it. There was something magical about this very first recording, imperfections and all.My goal is to release new episodes every Saturday filled with fairy tales, spooky stories, pirate adventures, magical journeys, and cozy story time moments families can enjoy together.Thank you so much for being here at the very beginning of Nanny Nikki’s Imagination Station.Now turn the page…and let the imagination continue.

What started as lunchtime story time on the playground quickly turned into something bigger. After another teacher suggested I move closer so she could listen too, I realized maybe this little daily tradition deserved a life outside the playground.Welcome to Nanny Nikki's Imagination Station — a magical storytelling podcast inspired by the voices, laughter, and imaginations of the kids I spend my days teaching. From silly adventures and pirate tales to princess stories, spooky stories, and imaginative journeys, each episode is designed to bring stories to life the same way I do during recess story time: with voices, excitement, and heart.And because learning never really stops, stick around after each story for fun facts about the book, the author, and simple kid-friendly discussion moments parents and children can enjoy together.Less than 12 hours after the idea was born, the trailer was finished — and this is only the beginning. So climb aboard the Imagination Station and let’s tell some stories together.~Nanny Nikki