Episode #1 – Sally and Billy Bear

First grader Sally was heartbroken when her classmates laughed at her for bringing her shabby stuffed bear to school. To explain, she told them a mysterious story about how she found her bear. She has always thought he is special. She tells him her hopes and her problems. Today, after school, she tells Billy Bear that she is upset that everyone laughed at him. She is also upset about a fight she had with her best friend, Kora. Suddenly, Billy speaks to her. He gives her advice on how to solve her problem with Kora. He encourages her to share. Sally is amazed, and calls her brother Tony, but Billy won’t speak to Tony. The next day when Tony and Sally come home from school, Sally is happy because she and Kora have become friends again. Mom tells Sally and Tony that she has given Billy Bear and some other old toys to the neighboring thrift shop. Sally is frantic about losing Billy Bear, and Tony offers to help. Together they visit the park near the thrift shop, and find the girl who has received Billy Bear from the thrift shop. Sally and Tony persuade the girl to trade Billy for Sally’s new bear and Tony’s new game. They go home happy and Billy Bear finally speaks to Tony as a reward for his help.

Episode #2 – Sally’s Revenge

Sally is a typical little sister. She wants to play with her older brother, Tony, and his friend, Bobby. Sally gets angry when the boys reject her and decides to get revenge on Tony by hiding all his favorite games. She sneak s into Tony’s bedroom and removes all his favorite games, including his new “Wii” controller. She decides to hide his favorite game, the Wii controller, in the attic. That evening Tony discovers that all his games are missing. He tells Mom, and she and Tony confront Sally. Sally admits what she did and explains it was because the boys wouldn’t play with her. Mom is sympathetic but tells Sally that as a penalty, Sally will not be allowed to watch her favorite TV show for five days. The next day, when Kora and Sally are playing “dress up,” they beg Tony and Bobby to play kings and queens with them. The boys realize they will never be rid of the little sister wanting to play with them. They understand that the girls need them as friends and helpers, so they agree to act as kings for the “queens” pretend game.

Episode #3 - Parents’ Day at School

Tony and Sally are both excited about Parents Day at school. Parents are invited to eat lunch with their children and then visit the classroom. Tony and Sally both want Mom to come to their room. Tony says he is older, so he should have Mom. They settle the problem by inviting Grandma, who will come to Sally’s class while Mom comes to Tony’s. On Friday, Grandma eats with Sally. Back in her classroom, Sally reads an essay she has written, “Why I Love my Grandma.” Grandma is so pleased that she cries. Things don’t go that well for Tony. While his mom is at lunch with him, a food fight breaks out at the table. Tony is caught throwing bread at Bobby, and sent to the principal. Tony insists that Bobby started the fight and he was just responding. The principal sends for Bobby who admits this is true, but he is angry at Tony for telling on him. Back in class, with an audience of parents, Tony starts to read his essay about his Wii game, but Bobby, still angry, starts making fun of Tony. That evening, Dad tells Tony that he should learn from his experience that striking back is not a good problem solution. Sometimes it is best just to ignore another person’s bad behavior.

Episode #4 – Family Trip to the Beach

It is Saturday, and Sally, Tony, Mom and Dad are looking forward to a day in the sun. They are going to the beach. Tony’s friend Bobby is coming. Sally is angry that she can’t invite a friend too, but their car will only hold five people. Dad tells the kids that at the beach he will have a surprise. When they arrive, Sally runs away down the beach to worry the family, because she is still angry. Dad watches the boys play in the ocean while Mom hunts for Sally. Mom returns to their beach spot upset about not finding Sally. Just then Sally turns up. She has made a new friend, a girl about her age. She is happy now. The girls go off to build a sand castle while Mom lays a picnic lunch on the blanket. Sally comes running up and accidentally kicks sand on the food. The family forgives her, and everyone eats except Sally, who won’t eat sandy chicken and potato salad. Afterwards, Dad takes out his surprise, fishing rods for everyone. They go to an isolated part of the beach, and Dad teaches Sally to fish. She catches a little fish, and he helps her release it. She wants to keep it but Dad says fish are happier in their own environment. That night Sally talks over the day with Billy Bear. It was a great day, she says, except for when she got angry and ran away down the beach. He tells her she needs to think before she acts impulsively. He suggests she count to ten next time, and she agrees to try that. She is learning to control her actions.

Episode #5 – Practice Makes Perfect

Sally bursts into tears while she and Tony are doing their homework. She is going to have a big math test on Friday and she doesn’t know her addition facts. Tony and Mom reassure Sally that she has enough time, all this week, to learn the facts. Mom reminds her that “Practice makes perfect.” The more she practices the facts, the more perfectly she will know them. Two days later, Bobby and Tony try out for a team in a new baseball league. Bobby makes the team but Tony doesn’t because he can’t bat well. He comes home upset. Sally, who has been practicing her math facts every day, tells Tony he needs to practice batting. She offers to pitch for him. Sally means well, but she can’t throw a ball anywhere near Tony. After three tries, her next ball goes over the fence and breaks a window next door. When Dad comes home that night, he promises to coach Tony for the next two afternoons so he can try out for another team on Friday. Dad teaches Tony to bat. On Friday, Tony makes the team and Sally gets a perfect score on her math test. They have learned that “practice makes perfect.”

Episode #6 – The School Talent Show

Sally and Tony both want to be in the upcoming school talent show, but not together. Sally tries to sing, but she can’t carry a tune. Her parents suggest that she try to “lip synch” a song. Tony tries to juggle, but can’t keep three balls in the air. Sally tries to lip synch and do hand motions to the song “itsy Bitsy Spider,” but she can’t coordinate her lip movements and hand movements. Discouraged, she says she has no talent and goes sadly to bed. Tony gives up on juggling and gets out a magic kit he received for his birthday. The next evening, he tries out a “magic” trick on the family, but Sally figures it out. Both children are upset and feel they can’t try out for the talent show. Mom suggests they do a “brother and sister” act, and put on a funny skit about how brothers and sisters get along with each other. With Mom’s help they create a funny story that shows the problems and joys of brothers and sisters. When they try out for the talent show, they do so well that even the teachers are laughing. As they bow to loud applause, they realize that cooperation has brought them success.

Episode #7 – Family Trip to the Zoo

Tony and Sally brought home good report cards, and as a reward, their parents are going to take them to the zoo. Both children are excited. Sally wants to choose her favorite animal. Tony has been studying animals at school, and wants to see the ones he has only read about. At the zoo, the children flip a coin to decide which exhibit to visit first. Tony wins and chooses insects. Sally hates insects and refuses to even look at any of them. For her turn, they visit elephants, tigers and monkeys. Tony then selects the “kid zone,” with lemurs, goats and meerkats. He says the meerkats are very interesting animals. They are social, and care for each other. Sally has never heard of meerkats and is sure they will be boring to see. She whines, and begs to see the penguins. As the family walks toward the kid zone, Sally runs off to find the penguins by herself. She gets lost. Her parents and Tony hunt frantically for her. They find her at the Kid Zone. She discovers the meerkats, and appreciates how they are organized socially to watch out for each other. She chooses meerkats as her favorites. She realizes that she should not pre-judge what other people tell her. Tony was right about the meerkats, and she knows she should have listened to him.

Episode #8 – Popularity

Sally is upset because three girls at school are teasing her and have formed a “Hate Sally” club. She was on their project team, and they didn’t let her do anything or suggest any ideas. The teacher noticed and scolded them. Mom suggests that Sally and friends can create their own “cool” group. Sally is excited at this idea. After Sally goes to bed, Mom fills out a candidate form. She wants to be on the Homeowners committee that makes decisions about the neighborhood. Dad suggests she involve the children in her campaign, and have them hand out posters promoting her as a candidate. On Saturday, four girls meet at Sally’s house to start their club. They vote to call it “The Club for Everyone.” They decide to meet again and make invitations for everyone in their class, even the boys. Secretly they hope the boys won’t join. The next day, Mom and family hand out flyers for her candidacy. The day after that, after ballots are counted, they learn that Mom has won. Her efforts to contact voters have brought her success. She won because she persisted at her goal. Dad gives her a decorated cake. Sally is happy, too. She invited everyone in the class to join her club, and half the class has joined. No boys. She is learning how to respond to unfair treatment without striking out or getting angry.

Episode #9 – Christmas (One)

Sally believes that Santa Claus brings gifts to every child in the world. She writes a letter to Santa asking for a bicycle and “world peace.” Tony, who is older and doesn’t believe in Santa any more, has only one Christmas wish. He wants an expensive skateboard. That night Dad tells Mom that the company where he works is in trouble, and he will have a pay cut of $300 per month. Mom and Dad worry about Christmas gifts for the kids. They call in the children and explain about the pay cut. Tony understands right away that he probably won’t get the skateboard, but Sally is sure Santa will bring what she asks for. The family goes to the mall on Saturday to see Santa, and again Sally asks for a bike. The parents select a small, inexpensive Christmas tree, and decorate it. On Christmas Eve, after the children have gone to bed, Mom and Dad put their gifts under the tree. They purchased a doll for Sally and a game for Tony. The parents are sad that they couldn’t afford what the children wanted, but they believe in family strength. The children will learn that the loving atmosphere of the family is more important than gifts. Christmas morning the children come running downstairs, and under the tree they find---a bicycle for Sally and a skateboard for Tony. Mom and Dad are amazed. They didn’t buy these gifts. Could Santa be real?

Episode #10 – Christmas Day (Two)

On Christmas morning, Sally and Tony want to tell their friends about their wonderful Christmas gifts. Kora and Bobby come over to see Sally and Tony, and the children talk about what gifts they received . In the afternoon, Tony and Sally watch excitedly for their grandparents’ arrival. Grandma and Grandpa arrive with gifts for the kids. Everyone gathers in the living room to exchange gifts. At dinner time, the grandparents catch up on what has been going on in the family. Grandma tells about Christmas when she was a little girl. Kora and Bobby arrive in time to have dessert, a homemade fruitcake that Grandma made and brought. It has been snowing outside, but now the snow has stopped. The four children go outside and make a snowman. As they are going inside for hot chocolate, Sally pronounces this “the best Christmas ever.” It is special because her family was all together, parents and grandparents. She is becoming aware of the importance of family and of friendship.

Episode #11 - Halloween

On Halloween night, Sally is certain the witch she saw was real. Many children dress up as witches for Halloween, but their eyes don’t glow with a weird red light. They don’t have real ghosts hovering in the air above their heads. Long before Halloween night, Sally and Tony spent a lot of time choosing costumes. Tony and Bobby discussed Halloween costumes as they walk home from school in early October. They considered being the same character . Sally and Kora have the same idea, but Kora changes her mind because her mom is making her a Little Red Riding Hood costume. Sally will have to wear one bought at the store. She is very angry. At the store, Tony gets an inflatable Incredible Hulk costume, but Sally can’t decide on a costume. Later she decides to check out Tony’s costume, and accidentally tears it. Tony is upset. Sally is sorry. Mom fixes the costume with duct tape and gently reminds Sally not to touch other people’s belongings. A few days later, Sally finally makes a costume choice. She will be Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. She and Kora get over their anger before Halloween. Sally has learned that she must accept her friends’ decisions, and she understands that Kora’s costume is special because her Mom made it. She and Kora go trick or treating together and have a good time until Sally sees the witch. She is positive the witch is real. No one believes her, but she is sure. She is reassured when told that, according to Halloween mythology, witches only have power on Halloween night, and that night is almost over.

Episode # 12 – Sally’s Birthday Party

Sally is very excited about having a birthday party. She is all dressed up in a pretty dress, and waits for her guests to arrive. First to arrive are her grandparents, with a small box for her wrapped in pretty paper. Then Sally’s friends begin to arrive: Lisa, Alan and Bobby. Each gives Sally a gift. Sally has recently had another fight with Kora, and she is afraid Kora won’t come. Sally’s teacher arrives. Sally is thrilled to have her teacher there. Finally, Kora comes and says “Hi.” Sally tries to apologize for their argument, but Kora brushes past her and sits down by Lisa. Lisa asks Kora if she is still angry at Sally. Kora decides that she is not, and plans to make up with Sally who really is her best friend. The children and adults play a “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” game, and then everyone goes into the dining room for birthday cake and ice cream. Kora wishes Sally happy birthday. Sally understands that Kora is no longer mad at her. She is very relieved and happy. Sally makes a wish and blows out the candles on her birthday cake. She tells Kora that she wished they wouldn’t fight any more. Grandma tells her that having friends and being a friend are very important. Sally agrees. She is learning how to be a friend and accepts the fact that friends won’t always do what she wants. Tony has been teasing her about how much they fight, and Kora persuades Sally to play a trick on Tony. The girls quickly wrap an empty box like a present. Sally opens her gifts and is happy with all of them. Then she and Kora present Tony with their “gift” for him. He is pleased at first, then disappointed as he unwraps the empty box. Mom and Dad bring in their special surprise gift for Sally: a puppy. She is thrilled and hugs the puppy.