The Selfish Giant

A grumpy old giant doesn’t like kids and won’t let them play in his garden. Mysteriously, everything turns to winter. But in the end he befriends a little boy and learns how nice it is to share, and spring returns!

About this Episode

Snoriezzz, a children’s mindful bedtime podcast and part of the GoKidGo universe of shows for kids, is co-created and co-hosted by Academy Award Winning actor Marcia Gay Harden (she/her), and actor and comedian Natalie Peyton (she/her). Building love of self and love of sleep at the same time, the Snory godmothers use affirmations, calming routines, and a beautiful fairy tale to help you make bedtime the peaceful, bonding moment you need!

Snoriezzz Segments:

00:47 MINDFUL TALK

03:01 GROUNDING WITH YOUR SURROUNDINGS

04:13 SNORY SELFISH GIANT

17:51 CALM YOUR BODY MEDITATION

You can always revisit the affirmations, Snory, or meditations as your little one needs! We’ve provided the timing for each segment above.

Segment music composition: Nana Simopoulos (she/her)

Story music composition and foley: Sterling Steffen (he/him)

Editing: Sterling Steffen

Cover art: Eulie Scheel (they/them)

Production Manager: Kyle Dempsey (he/him)

Branding/marketing: Julitta Scheel (she/her)

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Get ready for Connect & Learn! Where you and your adult dive deeper into the Snoriezzz episodes you’ve heard at bedtime or naptime!

Deep Dive
Mindful Affirmations
Play + Learn
Science Tips

WELCOME TO ENGLAND! BUT…WHERE IS ENGLAND, ANYWAY?

The Selfish Giant is a wonderful English tale about a grumpy old selfish Giant who doesn’t like kids… but by the end of the story, he learns to love them! It was written way back in the 1800’s (which is over 200 years ago) by a famous author named Oscar Wilde.

Oscar loved to write short stories for children! He was born and raised in Ireland (the land of the four leaf clovers), but when he grew up he moved to England. Do you think of England as a country full of castles, kings and queens? Well, that’s true, but the country England is also now part of something bigger, called the United Kingdom – or UK for short. Just like all
the different states in our country make up the whole United States, the four different countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
make up the UK!

But….what exactly is the UK?

Well, it’s a group of countries across the sea from America, where the people all speak English, and the countries that belong to the UK need to agree with each other to make big world decisions. Like, they have to make decisions about the environment, or war, or peace, and lots of other laws, and they have to work together!

Still confused? Think of the UK as a great big pie – sliced into four different sized pieces. The biggest piece of the pie is the country called England. The second biggest piece is Scotland,
and then a little bit smaller piece of the pie is Wales, and finally, the teensiest piece of pie is Northern Ireland.

All of these pieces of pie together could be called either the UK or Great Britain. (Sometimes we call the people from there British.) All together it is The United Kingdom of Great Britain. We know! It can all be a little bit confusing, but you’re a good learner! Check out our pie map for a visual!

But first, WHO WAS THE SELFISH GIANT?

The Selfish Giant lived in the countryside of England, and he was the proud owner of a great big castle and a beautiful garden. (We’ll call him Giant, for short)! Do you know what the countryside looks like where you live?

Giant had a big garden surrounding his castle, and it was full of yummy fruits and vegetables, and beautiful plants and flowers. He lived alone, and he was pretty grumpy, and probably very lonely!

The story begins when Giant returns to his castle after a long visit with his ogre friend in Cornwall, England. When the Giant returned home, remember what happened?

He was angry to discover local children playing in his garden! Giant did not want to share his garden with anyone! He wanted it ALL to himself… He put up a sign that said ”NO TRESPASSING”. Which is why he was called the Selfish Giant.

WHAT ARE THE FOUR SEASONS?

The Selfish Giant Connect & Learn, set in England, is a great way to teach you about the four seasons – but if you already know what they are – shout it out! And if you don’t know, no worries! We are here to learn!

The four seasons are: winter, spring, summer and fall (fall is also sometimes called autumn).

These are the four different times of the year when the weather changes, and plants grow or die.

Let’s start with the first season in our story:

The Selfish Giant begins in early autumn or fall. We know this because the children are coming home from school, the grass is green, and the peach trees have already made fruit. When the Giant kicks them out of the garden, they play on the dusty road outside the wall. They don’t get to pick the pumpkins which come in the fall, or the lovely vegetables!

Winter comes, and everything becomes a cold and dreary winter, full of snow and frost. The garden is icy and brown with nothing growing at all!

Then spring comes, and everywhere OUTSIDE the garden, trees are in bloom, and the birds are singing. But in the garden, it’s still winter. We know it is spring outside the garden because the peach trees are in bloom! Spring is when the flowers first come up from the ground and attract the bees.

Finally, summer comes! Remember at the end of the story when the Giant lets the children play in his garden again? It goes from being cold and wintery, to summer! Summer is when the flowers bloom and the vegetables grow.

The Giant realized how selfish he was, and he tore down his wall so everyone could enjoy all the seasons in his beautiful garden. Thank Goodness! Now, let’s learn about each season in England!

SEASONS

Every year we have four seasons: winter, spring, summer, fall, which are the different times of the year when the weather changes. The weather changes throughout the year because of the way the earth moves!

Winter

is the first season of the year in England, and it’s the coldest season, often accompanied by snowfall! During winter English people bundle up in warm clothes, and participate in fun winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and “sledging” which is called sledding in America.

In the United Kingdom (UK), winter is often associated with the holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Years – just like in America! And they celebrate many of the same traditions and festivities that we do! Some of their traditions are so cool! During winter, English families build snowmen or enjoy cozy evenings by the fireplace. English people stay warm in winter by bundling up in their “jumpers” which are jackets! In England, winter starts in December and lasts all the way through New Years into February.

One holiday that English people celebrate during winter that is unique for them, is called Boxing Day (it’s the day after Christmas on December 26th). This holiday began as a way to give to the poor… maybe you can do something nice for other people too during your holidays! Winter has the shortest day of the year, it’s called the Winter Solstice, and it gets super dark very early on that day. The Winter Solstice in England occurs between December 20th and 23rd and repeats every year!

Hibernation

What else happens in the winter? Well, some animals in the UK (and other parts of the world) hibernate during winter months to survive. They find a safe, cozy place, and they go into a deep, long sleep for several months! That’s a lot of sleep! They do this because it’s hard for them to find food to eat during winter since things are frozen and typically covered in snow. Worms hibernate by digging way down in the ground. Bears hibernate by getting really slow and sleepy. And squirrels, snakes, and even frogs hibernate! The best hibernator of all is the groundhog because it’s body temperature and heartbeat slow down sooo much it seems like it is in a deep, deep sleep! Animals that don’t hibernate in the winter months grow thicker fur to survive in the cold. How would you hibernate? What’s your favorite part of winter?

After Winter comes…

Spring

During spring, the Earth awakens from its winter slumber. Flowers blossom, and trees sprout new leaves. Birds return from their migrations, and you can sometimes see the birth of baby animals in the wild! In England, spring is a season of renewal and bright colors! It’s the time when you plant bulbs for tulips, and seeds for the garden. Nature is very busy during spring with new growth and life.

Spring is Snory Godmother Natalie’s favorite season – because that’s when her birthday is, and she loves all the pretty colors of the flowers like daffodils and bluebells! The weather can change a lot from day to day in springtime! The snow is melting and sometimes you can still see ice dripping on a spring day. In April there is a lot of rain, which people call “April Showers.” In May, lots of flowers bloom! That’s why they say “April showers bring May flowers!” In England the Spring season’s months are March, April and May.

Next is…

Summer

Summer brings long, sunny days! It’s vacation time! The sun is high in the sky, making it warm and perfect for outdoor activities. Beach trips, water sports, and picnics are popular during this season. Snory godmother Marcia loves the summer, because she loves to swim and waterski! In summer, the garden vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers start to form, and you can pick lots of lovely flowers! It’s a time to enjoy the longer daylight and the energy of nature. In fact the longest day of the year is in the summer months! It’s called the Summer Solstice and it repeats every year in June (between the 20th and the 23rd of June)! On this day the sun stays up for the longest time, more than any other day in the year. And many English people for thousands of years have celebrated the summer solstice at a place called Stonehenge in England. You can learn more about Stonehenge here, and in The Three Little Pigs Deep Dive here! In England, students have summer vacations and many families go on “holiday” which is what we call “vacation” in America. Where’s your favorite place to “holiday” in the summer? In England summer is in June, July and August.

Fall

As fall arrives, the temperatures cool, and the leaves on trees change to beautiful colors and begin to “fall”, making huge piles of leaves for the children to jump into! The landscape becomes vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues. It’s time for picking apples and pumpkins, and enjoying the beautiful flower “chrysanthemum”. In the fall, animals start to prepare for winter by gathering food and finding cozy places to stay. The nights become shorter. The Fall months in England are September, October, November.

There are lots of food festivals that happen around the autumn time in England. One of the coolest gatherings that happens every autumn in the city of Blackpool, England is the Blackpool Illumination: This is 6 miles of light shows which happen along the “promenade” – the big walkway, and it’s known as the greatest free light show on Earth! Find out more here. The Blackpool Illumination Fall tradition started in September 1879, and has happened every year since! At this light show you can see various tableaus, which in this case are lights that make a scene from a story in history.

Seasons in Culture

Britain is known for their rich culture and history. Some of the most famous rock bands come from the UK! Have you heard of The Beatles? Or U2? Or The Rolling Stones? Or the Doors? I bet your adult knows these bands! Ask them to play you a song! One band we want to tell you about is The Zombies, who created a song called Time of the Season about any season being a good season for love!

Seasons in Traditions:

In England, every spring in May, the Royal Horticulturist Society puts on a Garden Show on the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea, located in London, England. It’s considered to be the world’s most impressive display of flowers and plants, and for hundreds of years the Royal Family of England, (which is the Kings and Queens and their children, the Princes and Princesses) have visited this exquisite garden show because the sights are “fit for a Queen” as they say!

The Duchess of Cambridge and Her Majesty The Queen embracing the Chelsea Flower Show floral dress code in 2019.

The entrance to the Chelsea Garden Show May 2020

National Chrysanthemum Society ‘Rainbow’ themed colorful exhibition inside the Great Pavilion at RHS
Chelsea Flower Show 2019

Seasons in Language

In England, people speak English, just like we do in America, but it sounds different to us than how Americans speak the English language. We say the English people have an accent, and they say American people have an accent! We say tohmayto, they say tohmaaaahto! We say pohtayto, they say pohtaaaahto! We say : (sound it out) for garden: “Garrr-din”, they say “Gah-dn”. Can you hear the difference?

Sometimes people refer to the way British people speak English as “The Queen’s English”.

Did you know that in England people sometimes call their “backyards,” gardens?

Here are some examples of the different ways English people and Americans have different ways of saying the same things:

Holiday v. vacation
Sledging v. sledding
Jumper v. sweater or jacket
Fringe v. bangs
Kerchief v. bandana

Seasons in Landscape & Climate

People often joke that England doesn’t have a REAL summer because there is so much rain…it rains during every season! Here are some jokes we liked about summer in the UK.

It’s also important to note that the UK and Europe measure temperatures in Celsius, whereas in America, we measure temperature in Fahrenheit. So if you ever hear someone in the summertime say it’s 32 degrees Celsius, don’t worry! That’s not cold! They are actually saying it’s 90 degrees! Which is really hot if you ask us! Another funny thing you may hear about the seasons in England is that it’s not out of the ordinary to feel like you’re experiencing four seasons in 1 day! Meaning it can feel like winter, spring, summer and fall all in one day! The weather can have extreme highs and lows in a matter of hours.

Seasons in Art

John Constable and J.M.W. Turner should be recognized as two of the most famous painters that came from England in the 18th century. They were called “landscape painters” which means they painted scenes of the land; the English countryside, villages, and seaside. One of the main things they liked to paint was how the different seasons made the land look different too!

”Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows” (set in spring with a storm and rainbow showing the storm would pass)

The White Horse (serene, grey morning, summer)

Snow Storm – Steam-Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth (based on a snowstorm in the autumn of 1840)

Seasons in Food

The British have popularized what’s called seasonal eating, and that means eating food that grows during each particular season. Some of the meals we’d like to share with you include a popular summer meal called “British Ploughman’s Lunch”: This was a lunch the farmers, or “plowmen” (because they plowed the fields) would bring to the fields in their during their work day. It is an English cold meal based around bread, cheese, and fresh or pickled onions.

It reminds us of a picnic! What would you put in your ploughman’s lunch?

Another popular winter meal in Britain is called “Shepherd’s Pie” (it’s kind of like our pot pies)! it’s made of ground beef and vegetables and topped with fluffy mashed potatoes! That sounds like the ultimate comfort food to us! Here is Snory godmother Marcia’s favorite recipe for Shepherd’s pie!

Seasons in Castles

The Tower of London was not only a fortress to protect the city, but also a prison! Sometimes even the Kings and Queens were put in the prison tower! But, It was also a place where the crowned jewels were kept. What?

YES! That means the actual crowns of the kings and queens, and beautiful golden plates and scepters, and rubies and rings and necklaces and tiaras and watches and much much more…were all kept in the Tower of London Fortress! They are worth over 4 BILLION dollars! Don’t even try to imagine it! It’s mind boggling!!

The tower has been many things to many people over thousands of seasons. One cool seasonal event we want to share with you that happened at the Tower of London was an art exhibition where the artist Paul Cummins planted 888,246 ceramic poppy flowers to represent and honor the British lives lost during WW1. It was a lot of work but the final product was gorgeous. Have a look!

Gardens

Gardens have been around for thousands of years as a place for people to enjoy nature. Some gardens were private gardens and they were mostly for the wealthy, but it was important to open them up to the public so everyone could enjoy them! Now in public gardens you can take nice walks, plant and enjoy beautiful flowers and vegetables, play on the playground, or even play tennis! But most importantly, preserving land for gardens preserves important habitats (that means a particular type of land, like woods, or beaches, or grassy plains).

Different kinds of animals live in different habitats. From insects and birds to squirrels and fish! I bet you have a special park or playground near you. The next time you go, see what type of animals you can spot. Is there a robin? A blue jay? A cardinal? Or do you see bees? Butterflies? All of nature is important to protect! Maybe you can join a group that is helping protect your park! And always remember, throw your litter into the trash!

You will be helping keep the gardens beautiful!

The Selfish Giant: Mindful Affirmations

Embrace the Power of Affirmations!

Imagine a world where your child starts and ends each day with positivity and confidence! By weaving affirmations into their daily routines, children can boost their self-esteem, build resilience, and cultivate a growth mindset. These skills empower them to face life’s challenges with courage and optimism.

Bedtime Bliss and Breakfast Boost:

Why not make affirmations a delightful part of your family’s routine? Enjoy these uplifting phrases together before bed, creating a peaceful atmosphere for sweet dreams. Then, share them again at breakfast to set a positive tone for the day ahead.

You can inspire our little ones to shine bright and embrace every opportunity that comes their way! 🌟

Play & Learn

Download Play & Learn PDFs
Seasons Matching Game	Download Now
Seasons Coloring Page	Download Now
Seasons on Mindfulness Coloring Page	Download Now

Snoriezzz Science Tip

Sleep for Bedtime Ritual

Create a routine or ritual that you look forward to – consistency helps our brains.

Make sure room is clean so when you look around, no mess distracting to you. A cozy, clean room is a perfect clean environment for sleep.

A dark room is best when helping you sleep. The dark visuals will tell your body it’s time to wind down and go to sleep. If you like to use a nightlight, wearing an eye mask may help your mind wind down with dark visuals.

Going to bed and waking up at the same time each night is a great practice in your bedtime ritual. When you wake up and go to bed at the same time each day, your body will begin to wind down on its own when it is almost time to say good night.

Sleeping in a cool temperature room helps your body go to sleep more quickly and deeply. Our internal body temperatures naturally fall a little bit when it is close to bedtime, signalling to our vital organs and muscles that it is time to go to bed. By having your room be a little on the cool side, you may fall asleep with ease.

By including your Snoriezzz listening time to your ritual every night you’re participating in a healthy bedtime ritual!

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