Slow, slow… quick, quick… LOUD. Young Ayo just got his very first drum, and he practices every single day, which is great news for Ayo and VERY bad news for Auntie's terrible toothache. In The Gaga Monster, a folktale that traveled from the Yoruba people to the African American community of the Appalachian Mountains, Ayo is sent to pick strawberries in the deepest, darkest part of the forest, right where the googly-eyed Gaga Monster is said to gulp people up in one big gulp. Ayo has a quick, clever mind and a drum full of rhythms… but can one little drumbeat really outsmart a monster?

Recorded live at Buunni Coffee in Inwood, New York City, with West African drummer Lamin Thiam bringing every beat to life. Kids, get ready to drum, chant and shout along: "Googly, oogly, GAGA, OOOOO!"

🎨 What You'll Draw Today (3 Drawing Prompts):

1. Ayo in the deepest, darkest part of the forest with his strawberry basket and his drum
2. The googly, oogly Gaga Monster spinning around and around as Ayo plays
3. A BIG surprise moment for the Gaga Monster and Ayo's whole family (no spoilers!)

📦 Supplies You'll Need:

• 3 pieces of drawing paper
• Your favorite coloring materials (crayons, markers, colored pencils, anything that adds a little pizzazz!)

📚 Story Source: Rachael learned this folktale from Boo-Tickle Tales: Not-So-Scary Stories for Ages 4–9 by Lyn Ford and Sherry Norfolk, shared here with Lyn's kind encouragement. Find more tales like this one in their book → https://www.parkhurstbrothers.com/boo-tickle-tales.html

💜 Thank You to Our Fall 2026 Sponsor: Prelude Opera introduces opera to children! Based in Washington Heights, Prelude Opera presents family-friendly works by both historical and living composers and employs local professional artists. → preludeopera.com

🔗 Links & Resources:

• 📬 Join the Fairy Snail Art Cart Club: a monthly old-school envelope full of a bonus episode, art projects, stickers, stationery & more → https://www.rachaelharrington.com/the-fairy-snail-art-cart
• 📧 Sign up for the Fairy Tale Art Cart Newsletter: podcast news, early access to live event tickets & newsletter exclusives → SIGN UP HERE
• 🐘 Loved this one? Listen next to Aran Aung and the Elephants, also recorded LIVE at Buunni Coffee, where a giant sneezes a whole herd of lost elephants out of his nose!

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