Growler Radio 1-27
Representing the state of the art in  children's audio, GROWLER RADIO takes storytelling to another level.   The characters, concepts, and production techniques have evolved further.   Here, information comes at you not only from the drama, but also from many other sources.  The news, a magic helpline, a complaint forum, entertainment, historic context, opinions, etc. all contribute to the richness of the unfolding mystery (just like in real life).  Super exciting stories, more ear-grabbing characters, plus the introduction of more challenging vocabulary and story concepts all designed to make kids listen and learn with much richer audio than kids audiobooks. Each audiocassette/CD is self contained, each story stands on its own.

1 - I Am Not A Pig!              Listen to a sample
Why is the Huhu Authority gathering and burning all reported Swine Laurel bushes?  This plant only comes out once every 10,000 moons, but when it does, it's always a magical disaster!   And if you don't have the antidote, you're going to need exceptionally good luck!

Looking for a ball, the kids make a mysterious discovery.  Someone dug a hole in the meadow and left a trail of dirt.  Then there are those weird little creatures and that message overheard in the giant house.  And why are all those pigs denying that they're pigs?
                                                                I Am Not A Pig Crossword Puzzle

2 - The Sky Rider Problem              Listen to a sample
Someone put too much magic into the new Sky Rider Passenger Kites!  They go up fine, they just can't come down.  And here you are stranded on board, without a parachute!  What do you do when everyone else has abandoned ship except for someone named Growler Louise?

There's no wind, yet the kite goes straight up until the string runs out.  Then, in one instant, the kite comes tumbling down.  But in that same instant, much more happened, and some of it is very hard to explain.  Like who's flying the kite?  And who's riding IN it?
                                                     The Sky Rider Problem Crossword Puzzle

3 - Way Out              Listen to a sample
Way Out is made from purified T-9.  It looks like a black rubber pizza, but when you put it on a surface, it becomes a hole you can reach through or go through.  Then, you can grab it by the edge and peel it off, removing the hole.  It's a portable hole, and it's dangerous.

Riding in the car turns into an incredible adventure without ever leaving traffic.  A Way Out was accidentally placed in the back seat of the car, and the kids have fallen in.  In order to get back, they have to borrow some equipment.  But Growler Louise doesn't like it.
                                                                        Way Out Crossword Puzzle

4 - Imposimazoo              Listen to a sample
What was it that the ancient Huhu intentionally sealed under all those rocks, and why has Growlerville been quarantined?  Sometimes it's better to leave things buried the way your ancestors intended.  Unless you're prepared to suffer the consequences of contamination.

The wristband that she lost was unique.  There are no others like it.  Because it's so valuable, the Dutchess is offering a reward for it's return.  Now it seems there are TWO of them.  Or are there?  And what exactly does Imposimazoo look like?
                                                                Imposimazoo Crossword Puzzle

5 - Book Of Lies              Listen to a sample
Those antique volumes are reminders that some ancient spells are still potent!  There are some books that you shouldn't read unless you have guidance, and then there are some books that you shouldn't read, EVER!  Dispose of all hazardous magic properly, and don't believe everything you read.

A package containing 2 books gets mistakenly delivered.  The kids encounter the power and danger of magically encrusted antique manuscripts when the package accidentally opens.  And, of course, things are never as they seem.
                                                                Book Of Lies Crossword Puzzle

6- Dry Water              Listen to a sample
Messing with natural forces almost always creates unexpected side effects.  Dr. Growler convinced the Huhu Authority to let him extract wetness factor from the water in the stream.   It makes the water feel good, taste good, and doesn't harm the environment.   So what's the problem?

Something's happening to the stream.  From a quick glance, it's hard to notice anything different, but things have definitely changed.  The Huhu already know about Dr. Growler & his machine, and they WANT him to change their water!  Until they discover the consequences.
                                                                    Dry Water Crossword Puzzle

7 - Summer Snow              Listen to a sample
Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.  No one, that is, until Growler Louise and the Dutchess stumbled onto a powerful new enchantment.  But you know how it is when you experiment with magic - sometimes you're hot, sometimes you're not.

It's a heat wave, and it looks like a storm is brewing.  But those clouds are flashing!  The radio says Growlerville is completely buried under snow, and it's still snowing!  The kids get permission to play with the stuff in the Magic Shop, but not everyone believes them.
                                                               Summer Snow Crossword Puzzle

8 - Invisibility Crisis              Listen to a sample
Those ancestral enchantments can be real tricky.  Most don't work at all.  Sometimes they do the exact opposite of what you expect them to do.  And every once in a while, one gets so completely out of control that all you can do is hang on tight and hope that the ancients knew what they were doing.

Just before she disappeared, Mother Huhu was experimenting with an ancient enchantment.  Because she didn't have an updated version of Magic Reference, she thought it was safe.  Now the kids are involved in a full scale emergency.
                                                              Invisibility Crisis Crossword Puzzle

9 - Time Stop              Listen to a sample
Make sure they've got the bugs out of the system before you order any free magic samples over the phone, or you may suddenly find yourself stuck somewhere strange.  No problem, except that Growler Louise won't let anyone read the Magic Reference.  And then there are these seemingly useless beans...

There are so many different kinds of magic, like the enchantment that sounds like music, but actually stops time.  It could be a great way to get your chores done when your schedule's tight.  But what about when it happens to you by accident?
                                                                    Time Stop Crossword Puzzle

10 - Mad Rainbow              Listen to a sample
If you happen to find a small, double-sided mirror, ask it to show you something.  If it's the magic one, you'll be granted one magic view before it disappears.  But Growler Dee is accusing others of stealing her mirror.  Why is she so red, and what on earth is Seemingly Normal?

The wonders of nature: Encounter a new kind of airborne seed delivery system that flies the seed packet in a tiny glider.  The kids find out what happens when these gliders hit you, and they don't like it.  And when they finally get help, it's too late for the usual fix.
                                                                Mad Rainbow Crossword Puzzle

11- Time In 2 Bottles              Listen to a sample
Sooner or later everyone wants Sooner Or Later.  That's because it lets you visit the past and the future.  It's a hit new magic product that's selling out before it arrives.  But wait...  Something's wrong...  Professor Growler thinks you're guilty of something.   And then there are those incredible magic rags.

They know something's wrong when their butterfly turns into a caterpillar.  An errand to the basement leads to an incredible adventure in which the kids observe themselves in another time zone, visit the School Of Magic, and find themselves in a major predicament.
                                                             Time In 2 Bottles Crossword Puzzle

12 - Wave Of The Future              Listen to a sample
In the future, the Know It All will make life easier by providing both communication links and information on demand.  All you have to do is ask for help.  That is, unless the information you need pertains to magic.  In that case, you'll have to look somewhere else, because magic references may not be stored on line.

The beach is usually so much fun - the sand, the surf, the sun.  But powerful natural forces have been set in motion and have to be dealt with.  The kids know they're in trouble when they can't find their parents.  And what does it mean when they see themselves as teenagers?
                                                       Wave Of The Future Crossword Puzzle

13 - Voice Throw              Listen to a sample
Something's not right at the Huhu Amphitheater.  Sammy didn't get to make his delivery because Security was sure he had something that was not allowed backstage.  Was Sammy really concealing the equipment that the star of the show asked for, stuff needed for the program?  Yep.  Cool stuff too.

The unusual sounds coming from the woods that night would have made anyone investigate.  And who would think there could be so much excitement happening backstage, before the show even starts?!  The kids search for Uncle Huhu while trying to avoid a confrontation.
                                                                Voice Throw Crossword Puzzle

14 - Nothing For Christmas              Listen to a sample
It's snowing on Christmas Eve, there are lots of presents under the tree, Grandma & Grandpa are coming, and life couldn't be better.  But wait.  The early warning system detected a potentially dangerous release of magic into the environment.  It was an accident, but will Growlerville ever be the same again?

Fun in the backyard snowballs into adventure and mystery as the kids stumble into a developing crises.  A giant Santa and some crushed presents are clues to the unexplainable force that seems to have taken control.  And then there's this stuff called Nothing that everyone wants for Christmas.
                                                   Nothing For Christmas Crossword Puzzle

15 - Recipe For Disaster              Listen to a sample
When you create a machine as smart and useful as Sweetie Pie, you're bound to be proud and protective, like Professor Growler.  But no matter how smart you make it, if large objects appear out of nowhere, even machines could be vulnerable.  And then there's this incredibly contagious magic virus...

What is going on in the woods?  A strange machine is hovering about, making weird noises and searching for something.  Suddenly, an accident reveals that all of Growlerville is in great danger.  And the only remedy has been removed from all copies of Magical Reference.
                                                         Recipe For Disaster Crossword Puzzle

16 - Seeds Of Doubt              Listen to a sample
Those beautiful crystals are much more than rocks.  They're magically encrusted substrates, and they have awesome powers.  Although huge, they have almost no weight, so they're lots of fun.  But be warned: Growler Fred does not like intruders, so be careful not to get caught inside the Hazardous Disposal Area.

It's a parasite that smells unpleasant and makes discomforting noises in the wind.  It was once considered a useless weed, to be pulled and discarded.  But it also neutralizes a much more menacing problem.  The kids discover the consequences of a fire in the Forest Of Doubt.
                                                                Seeds Of Doubt Crossword Puzzle

17 - Edible Incredible              Listen to a sample
An industrial accident during the manufacture of a magic food creation product threatens the town's survival.  The Huhu Authority is asking citizens not to eat public property.   And to make things worse, the tiny volunteers who were on their way to save Growlerville now seem to have been kidnapped.

The map has an "X" drawn at the tip of Nose Rock.  The kids recognize the location and end up embroiled in a dangerous situation in a place where everything's edible, and delicious!  The problem is they fit the description of the kidnappers, and they've been caught breaking the rules.
                                                             Edible Incredible Crossword Puzzle

18 - The Ring Of Truth              Listen to a sample
They think they've discovered one of Oldold's secret magic sources, a sealed mine holding an encrusted clay called Scratch. With it, you can easily make duplicates of anything. It's so much fun you could forget there's a flaw. Warning: Oldold once referred to it as "a menace disguised as a blessing."

What clogged the vacuum cleaner was an amazing device called The Ring Of Truth. It makes sounds that predict the future, and it leads the kids right smack into a fiasco of major proportions. The Huhu Authority allowed the opening of the ancient mine only to discover it was intended to be kept sealed.
                                                            The Ring Of Truth Crossword Puzzle

19 - Stuck On A Sneeze              Listen to a sample
Encrusted life forms evolving in the magically harsh conditions of the Forbidden Zone can develop some awesome capabilities.  Like the tree that goes from pollination to the bearing of fruit in just a few moments. Professor QB Snifs was experimenting with it and thought he had things under control.  He was wrong.

Growler Fred's first effort was a miserable failure.  Reinforcements were sent for, but the kids have somehow intercepted the plea for help.  Now they're the primary participants in the rush to save a prominent researcher from the consequences of unknown botanical forces.
                                                          Stuck On A Sneeze Crossword Puzzle

20 - Toxic Obnoxic              Listen to a sample
Dr. Growler's maniacal, lifelong attempt to get rid of darkness has led him to make some compromises and take some risks.  Like using an encrusted mineral he knows is dangerous.  He miscalculated the consequences of failure and that increased the risks not only for the Growlers, but civility itself.  

The Baby Huhu twins are missing, dangerous objects are falling from above, and night no longer is a time of darkness.  The kids discover the truth about Project No Night and they want no part of it.  And then there's this comic book that puts you at the center of the story, and much more.
                                                           Toxic Obnoxic Crossword Puzzle

21 - Bottomless Bag              Listen to a sample
Everyone's looking for Grandma Huhu. Students enrolled in Time Manipulation 101 reported her missing when she failed to show for morning lecture. Their greatest fear is that she might be stuck somewhere unknown in time, which would be a big problem. But the actual problem is in fact much, much bigger.

When you see butterflies flying into a Bottomless Bag, you probably should investigate. This bag is bigger on the inside than the outside, so it holds a LOT!  The kids get a peek into the past, have a first hand experience with Fast Fingers, and get on the wrong side of Growler Fred.

                                                                              Bottomless Bag Crossword Puzzle

22 - The Noise Thief              Listen to a sample
When technicians at the Oldold Institute opened the vessel containing the mineral sample from the Forbidden Zone, they were unable to talk or call for help. Just prior to the incident, the Deck Of Antiquity was seen nearby. Could it have been working with the Noise Thief toward some mutual objective?

The kids get tricked by a master of deception and experience the amazing creature that grazes on sound energy.  Along the way they encounter Grandpa Huhu, who's trying to get a handle on a potentially bad problem. And then there's Dr. Growler, who never makes life easy.

                                                                        The Noise Thief Crossword Puzzle

23 - Glitch              Listen to a sample
Scientists are saying that unless all Glitch is removed from our midst, something very destructive is about to happen in Growlerville. So, for the safety of all, the Huhu Authority is asking citizens to voluntarily turn in any Glitch jewelry they may own. What are the chances that everyone will cooperate?

Who made those tiny footprints in the bathroom, and why did someone sprinkle Gravity Boost on the stairs? Deja vu plays a role as the kids inadvertently become involved in an organized effort to save Growlerville from an overdose of chaos.  But it may already be too late.

                                                                                     Glitch Crossword Puzzle

24 - EverCool              Listen to a sample
Dr. Growler's company, EverCool is a hugely successful enterprise, manufacturing everything from appliances to soft drinks.   It's a household name that everyone loves for its amazing products.  But there's a dark spot out in the meadow that seems to be growing, and the trees and plants are all dying.

Being up in a treehouse gives you a great view from above.  It's a cool place to observe woodpeckers, or deer, or even someone harvesting shadows.  The kids rescue the Eensies, get severely exposed to a dangerous substance, and discover that the remedy is not a sure thing.

                                                                                   EverCool Crossword Puzzle

25 - Camouflage              Listen to a sample
Mother Huhu had a slight accident during the taping of her show. But not to worry. Everything that escaped has by now been recaptured and is being held in small glass containment traps spread out on the lawn, waiting to be put back into the vault by the baby Huhu. What else could possibly go wrong?

When you suddenly can't see your own body, there are questions that need answering. Is there any difference between being invisible and being perfectly camouflaged? Have magic practitioners become lax when it comes to safety issues? And what exactly is 100% Visibility?

                                               Camouflage Crossword Puzzle (not yet available)

26 - Timefish              Listen to a sample

The Timefish evolved the ability to create an opening in time called a temporal vortex, through which they can travel to other timezones in search of better survival conditions. But is this temporal vortex a dangerous place for the Baby Huhu? And what is Prof. Growler doing with all those fake crickets?

An organization called EARS (Encrusted Animal Rights Society) has been protesting the exploitation of encrusted animals by scientists. They've even infiltrated Prof. Growler's project. The kids get caught up in a weird experiment, and then lead a last ditch rescue effort.

                                               Timefish Crossword Puzzle (not yet available)

27 - All Things Being Equal              Listen to a sample

During a renovation of Oldold's historic residence, a sealed basement room was discovered and opened. During the next rainstorm, weird purple fires started popping up everywhere. Then citizens started having trouble making up their minds. To top it off, there's an anti-magic candidate running in the election.

It looks like a green, powdery mold, but it's something much more devastating. It's the essence of the encrusted phenomena Oldold created and named All Things Being Equal, and you'd better not get any on you. Of course, the kids get it all over them and learn that too much equality can be a bad thing.

                                               All Things Being Equal Crossword Puzzle (not yet available)

28 - The Vagaries Of Vague in production

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Producer's note:  Growler Radio is an ongoing series which gets progressively more sophisticated.  When production on Growler Radio 1 began in 1993, Zebe & Rue (lead kids) were 8 & 10.  The series has gradually grown in sophistication as these two real children have aged.   This helps explain the wide disparity in recommended ages by reviewers.