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Welcome to Nicker Stories!
VISIT NICKER NEWS
Be sure to visit Nicker News between issues
Welcome to Nicker Stories – and Welcome to September.
Other than school starting again, maybe the biggest thing for September is the end of Summer the beginning of Fall (or Autumn, if you prefer). This year that happens on September 23.
Do you know what the seasons are? Do you know why they are?
This has to do with two things – the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, and the tilt of the Earth.
It takes 365 days (plus a little) for the Earth to travel all the way around the Sun. The orbit isn’t a nice circle, it’s more like an oval. That means, sometimes the Earth is closer to the Sun, and sometimes it is farther away. Where we are in this orbit tells what season it is.
The Earth is tilted. This means that when the top part is tilted away from the sun, it gets less sun, and the lower part gets more sun. And this tells you what the season will be like.
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You can do this for yourself. All you need is some kind of ball to be the Earth, and a flashlight to be the sun.
In January, the upper part (northern hemisphere) is tilted away from the sun, so it is colder. The farther north you go, the colder it will be. But at the same time, the lower part (southern hemisphere) is tilted toward the sun.
January is winter. In Minnesota, it will be cold, probably with snow and ice. Why? Because the Earth is tilted away from the sun. Days get shorter, and at the north pole there is no sunlight at all, not even noon.
In Australia, it is also January, and also winter, but it will be very warm. At the south pole in January, there is no night at all. The sun is shining even at midnight.
July is summer. In Minnesota, it will be warm. In Australia … it will be colder and there might be snow. Now the north pole has no night, and the south pole has no day.
Well, now it is September, and on September 23, because of where Earth is around the Sun, the seasons change from summer to autumn (or fall, if you prefer).
| If you haven’t already done it, be sure to get your FREE Nicker Calendar page for September (print two and give one to a friend). Mark September 23 as autumn (or fall, if you prefer – but, please … it’s okay to autumn, by try to not fall). |
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COMING SOON!
We’re working in the Nicker Recording Studio. Within a week, there will be at least one more story you can not just read but HEAR! Be sure to check Nicker News. For now, you can still read and listen to Cathy the Curious Cat. |
Did you notice that September 23 is also “Checkers Day?” Do you know how to play checkers? Click here for a fun game of checkers online!
NEXT ISSUE
Have you heard about the Loch Ness Monster? Nicker has and thinks that maybe he has found another relative. September 16 he will be on his way to Scotland where he will meet an unexpected friend named Gracie. Be sure that you come along and meet her, too!
The whole month is “Hats Month,” and that’s what our story is about this time. You can read it in Story Hour.
Get Your FREE Nicker Calendar page for September here
Don’t forget to get your new Nicker Calendar Page for October. The September page is still here (as you can see). So is the new October page (as you can see). Just download, print and hang on the wall (or refrigerator, or bedroom door, or on your dog’s tail, or ….) Come back at the end of each month for the next month’s page. Oh, my, you can even collect them!
Be sure to explore the entire menu, even if that takes several visits. Get to know us, and the whole sea dragon family. (They always seem to be up to something!) Be sure to come back. Some sections will be updated with new stuff to enjoy! We hope that you will tell others so they will also come visit and share with us.
This section is more for the parents than the kids. Think of it as a sort of guide to the rest.
Stories of sea dragons go back farther than sailing itself – and continue to this day. Some of them, like Nicker, even travel. You can also expand on this to help the children learn about science, other countries, other cultures, and more.
We are a team. Danny and I “played the game,” which is the main source of the Nicker stories. Marci Carrara, an amazing wildlife artist, has made it possible for others to see what we always have. Come on over to meet us!
Now you get to meet the characters in the stories – Danny, Nicker, Emily, Simon, Gordie, Arful, Glicker and others are here.
This extended “table of contents” tells you about the eleven stories in the first book.
You’ll find all kinds of stories here to share with the children. New stories will be put up regularly, so come back often. There is also an archive of earlier stories.
When I was a child, many cities had regular children’s programs on television, and many of these had lunch. I used to have “Lunch With Casey” and later “Lunch With Soupy Sales.” Food can be a fun way to share and learn – and Nicker has some interesting ideas about eating.
I expect this to grow. It’s where we will put letters (from you or the kids) and all sorts of other things. To help get it started there are even drawings you can print for the kids to color.
Eventually, we’ll be offering actual Nicker items. Just what these will be, I’m not sure yet. For now, come take a look at some other things we have to offer.
Contacting us is easy. There are clickable links in Meet the Creators, Store and a few other places – and again here, along with a special contact form.
Nicker Stories
18521 E. Queen Creek Road
Suite 105 #603
Queen Creek, AZ 85142
gene@nickerstories.com
You (and the kids) are welcome to send mail. If you wish a response, please enclose a self addressed envelope with correct postage.
Please remember that all materials on this website are copyrighted. No reproduction without express permission.
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