Welcome in everyone to Lively Lewis Stories.

That's right, We're back with even more awesome adventures with Levi and Ivy.

Set your storytime meter too fun and get ready to join the Lively Lewis crew.

All you need is your imagination and we go.

I can't make you see were my story can't just good day.

Have you ever wanted to get more Lively Lewis in your life, Well we've got you covered.

Grab an adult and oom over to Livelylewishop dot com or just click on the link in our show notes.

Enough about that, let's get too Today's super Live a Lewis story.

The story you're about to enjoy was inspired by Carter.

Thank you so much for your awesome idea.

Levi and Ivy ran into the school from the playground, catching up with some friends as they walk down the hall.

Did you hear the new art teacher starting today?

Said one of Levi's friends.

Cool.

I wonder what they'll be like Levi?

And why was Levi and Ivy's school getting a new teacher in the middle of the year.

That was because Missus Gillis, the kid's current art teacher, was leaving to have a baby, which left the class needing a teacher.

I hope the new teacher lets us build with clay, said one of Levi's friends.

Missus Gillis said, we could do clay sculptures next month.

I'm sure whoever takes over will have to follow whatever class work plan missus Gillis leaves behind, said Ivy.

But maybe they'll do some awesome new stuff too, like stuff we've never done before.

Like maybe the new teacher will let us paint a mural on the cafeteria wall.

Maybe the new teacher will let us paint with our hands and feet, laughed one of Ivy's friends.

Maybe the new teacher will let us use space lasers to carve metal and make our own art rockets, said Levi, making his friends laugh even harder.

Then, all of a sudden, they felt like someone was standing right behind them, and they were right.

One by one, they all turned around and found themselves looking at a tall man with brown hair and glasses, wearing a paint splattered shirt, blue shorts, and bright yellow shoes.

Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear your art ideas, said the man.

I really love all of them.

I'll have to look at my class work plan and see if I can fit some of those ideas in.

It was then that Levi, Ivy and their friends realized that they had just met their new art teacher.

Hi, I'm mister King, said the man.

I'll be your new art teacher, and with so much creativity and imagination, I know we're going to have a great time together.

The kids all took turns saying hello to mister King.

Then they walked him down to the art room, where he met up with Missus Gillis.

He would work with her for a few days before she left for the year, so she could get him familiar with her class work plans, introduce him to her students, and show him where all the art supplies are.

Wow, he seems really cool, said Ivy.

I think he really liked my Space laser art idea, said Levi with a smile.

The kids all went to their classrooms as the bell rang, and in the days that followed they got to know mister King better.

He was silly and creative and made learning very fun.

He encouraged the kids in his class to be creative as well as use their imagination to create art that told a story like the story he told with the painting he made called all about Me.

On the first day meeting each class, he told his new students a little about himself through a painting.

It was of a blue house with a bright green lawn in front and a giant elm tree lining the driveway.

He lived there with his wife, who he painted standing next to him on their front lawn.

Take a close look at my painting, said mister King.

I've hidden some things in it, and I'm hoping you can find them all.

When you do, I'll tell you what they mean to me and why I've included them in my painting.

I love hitting picture games, said Levi as he raised his hand and told mister King he noticed a soccer ball in his painting.

Good eye, Levi, said mister King, I love soccer.

Another student said she saw jack O Lanner on the steps of the porch.

That's right, said mister King.

Halloween is my favorite holiday.

Another student pointed out a kayak on the roof of the car sitting in the driveway.

Another good discovery.

I love kayaking, said mister King.

Then Ivy raised her hand and told mister King that she noticed a dog leash on the railing of the porch.

Mister King was always smiling, but when Ivy mentioned the dog leash, his smile got even bigger.

That little leash is one of my most favorite things in the painting.

I'm so glad you found it, Ivy, said mister King.

I absolutely love dogs, and I hope to get one soon.

If you love dogs so much, mister King, why don't you have one already, asked Levi.

Because the right dog hasn't found me yet, said mister King.

Found you as one of Levi's friends.

I'm pretty sure you're the one that has to go out and find the dog, like I did when I went to the animal shelter with my parents and adopted my cat, Captain Cutie Kitty.

First of all, I love that name, said mister King with the giggle.

And while you are right, most people do go out and look for a pet.

I know the right dog will find me when the time is right.

I had a dog when I was your age, and he found me at an adoption event at the park near my house.

I wasn't planning on taking a dog home that day, but he ran right over to me, and I knew he needed me, and I didn't know it yet, but I needed him too.

Then mister King went on to tell his students about their first art homework assignment.

Since they were talking about pets, he wanted them to paint a portrait of an animal.

It could be a pet, an animal that they see in nature, or even an animal that come up within their imagination.

Everyone was really excited and ready to get started as soon as they got home.

As they walked home from the bus stop, Levi, Ivy and their friends all talked about their art homework.

I am, of course going to paint a portrait of Captain Cutie Kitty, said Levi's friend.

I'm going to draw my fish, said Ivy.

Another friend mentioned drawing his portrait of a squirrel that always steals food from the bird feeder in his backyard.

Others said they would paint something really exotic, like a tiger or a giraffe, and another friend talked about creating an animal that was a mishmash of all their favorite creatures.

They suggested a bear with wings of a hawk and a great, big, fluffy foxtail.

However, as they got closer to home, Ivy noticed that Levi was the only one who hadn't mentioned the animal that would be in his portrait.

They said goodbye to their friends and headed inside, where Ivy asked Levi what animal he wanted to paint for his portrait.

I'm not really sure, answered Levi.

I guess it's like mister King said, the right animal hasn't found me yet, but I'm sure it will soon enough.

The art assignment was due in one week, and Levi spent the next couple of days trying to figure out the perfect animal for his portrait.

He really wanted to impress mister King and knew that whatever he chose had to be something special.

It was Saturday, and I was running out of time to create his portrait, which was due on Monday.

Ivy had already put the finishing touches on the portrait of her fish, and everyone else Levi I knew in his class, had finished their portraits too.

LEVI, maybe you're thinking about this homework assignment just a little too much, said Ivy over breakfast that morning.

I mean, just paint your favorite animal and finish it already.

I don't know, Ivy, what mister King said, just keeps playing over and over in my head, answered Levi as he chomped on a cereal.

I'm waiting for the right animal to find me.

There's always lots of animals at the park, suggested Levi's dad.

How about we take a walk down there today and maybe your animal is waiting there for you.

That sounds like a good idea, said Levi.

But at that point, since he only had a couple more days to finish his portrait, any idea sounded like a good idea.

Levi I really did want to finish his portrait.

He certainly didn't want his first homework assignment for mister King to be marked as incomplete, but he also wanted it to be perfect, so he took his time at the park very seriously.

Levi sat down on a nearby bench and looked around the park as Ivy and some of their friends played on the playground.

Levi I saw dogs, squirrels, and the occasional cat as he sat and doodled in his art sketchbook, but none of them were right for his portrait.

That is until he heard something right behind him.

It sounded like wrestling in the bushes.

Levi waited excitedly to see what would come out from behind the thick branches covered in green leaves.

Maybe this is what I've been waiting for, thought Levi to himself.

Maybe I was meant to come to the park today, and the animal for my portrait is going to come out right now and find me.

As Levi watched and waited, the wrestling got louder, and before he knew it, he was staring at the tiniest, cutest Golden Retriever puppy he had ever seen.

And without another thought, Levi knew at that moment which animal he would be painting for his portrait.

Hi, buddy, said Levi as he got up and went over to pet the little puppy.

What's your name and where did you come from?

As Levi was trying to figure out where his new adorable furry friend came from, the little puppy hopped around excitedly, playing with Levi and wagging his tail.

I would really love to paint a portrait of you, But how would I ever do that when you won't stop moving around?

Giggled Levi.

The puppy was full of energy, and Levi played right along with him, that is until the puppy heard something in the distance and suddenly stopped.

The little puppy took one last look up at Levi before he ran back through the bushes.

Levi couldn't just let him leave, after all, he needed to paint his portrait, so he followed after him.

Levi followed the puppy as he ran toward the slide in the playground.

When Levi finally caught up with the little dog, he saw him snuggling with a little old lady.

I'm so glad you're back, little one.

Don't ever run off like that again, said the old lady to the excited puppy.

Levi quickly said hello and asked if it was possible for him to borrow the puppy for a la little bit to paint his portrait.

The little old lady thought it was the sweetest request ever and immediately said yes.

She explained how the puppy had run out of her house, which was right next to the park, earlier that morning, and how she had been out looking for him.

Well, of course you can paint this little puppy, said the little old lady, And if it's not too much trouble, would you mind making me a portrait of him for me as well.

Then she went to explain that her golden retriever had just had puppies and she would be giving all of them up for adoption because her house wasn't big enough to keep them all.

She knew that the little puppy that met Levi would be one of the first to be adopted because he was full of so much energy and love.

Levi agreed, saying he would be happy to paint a portrait for the little old lady.

He started right away as the little old lady played at the park with her other dog.

Levi worked for a long time, wanting to get every detail just right.

When he was finally finished with both portraits, he hugged the little puppy, thanking him for being a great model.

Then he gave one portrait to the little old lady, and since they were all leaving the park at the same time, he Ivy and his dad walked her and the puppy back home.

Thank you again for this wonderful portrait, said the old lady to Levi.

I'll treasure it always, and if you want to adopt one of these little puppies, they'll be available starting on Monday.

You'd be a great dog owner, I can just tell.

She smiled that Levi and headed into her house.

Now, since Levi's dad was very allergic to dogs, Levin knew he couldn't take one of those little Golden retrieve for puppies home, but he hoped whoever got the little one in his portrait would love him the most.

When Monday arrived, Levi was very excited to show his animal portrait to mister King.

He waited patiently as each student got up in front of the class and showed off their works of art and explained why they chose each animal.

Mister King was very impressed and really enjoyed everything he was seeing.

Then it was Levi's turn.

Mister King, it took me a long time to figure out which animal I would pay for this is assignment.

I just couldn't decide which one would be right, began Levi.

But I remember what you said, and I let the right animal find me.

I hope you like it.

Levi then opened a sketchbook and showed the class and mister King his portrait of the Golden Retriever puppy.

The class clapped as they did for each student, and told Levi what a great job he did.

He felt really proud, but he couldn't have predicted the way that mister King would react to this portrait.

It was better than he could have imagined.

Levi.

I looked over and noticed that mister King was smiling, but in a strange way.

It looked like he was remembering something from his past that made him very, very happy, but that he didn't have in his life anymore.

Mister King, do you like it, Levi asked.

I.

I love it, said mister King.

It looked just like the dog I had when I was a kid.

It was then that a light bulb went off in Levi's head.

As the bell rang to end class.

Remembering the conversation he had with the little old lady at the park, Levi stayed behind.

After all this student had left to talk to mister King.

Mister King sat at his desk, staring at Levi's sketchbook as if he was looking at his old dog once again.

I can't tell you how happy this makes me, said mister King.

May I keep it, of course, said Levi.

I feel like my dog is finding me all over again, said mister King.

I wasn't looking for him today, and bam, I come to school and here he is.

I'm so happy that you're happy, but I think I can make your day even better, said Levi as he went to explain that the little puppy from his portrait was right around the corner from school and was up for adoption starting today.

Mister King couldn't believe it and felt that he had to go and see the little puppy for himself.

Levi arranged to call his dad from the front office and ask for him and Ivy to be picked up from school that day.

He told mister King to follow them after school to the Little Old Lady's house and he would introduce them to the little puppy after school ended off they went.

Look who back, said the little Old Lady happily as she opened her front door.

I'm so happy to see you, Levi.

Are you looking to adopt the little puppy you painted the portrait of the other day in the park.

Not exactly, answered Levi with a big smile on his face.

But I brought someone along who may be interested.

He stepped aside, and mister King walked toward the door.

As he got closer, the little energetic puppy ran up to him as if he had been waiting for him to arrive.

Oh my gosh, he's perfect, exclaimed mister King as he bent down and picked up the little dog.

Well he seems to like you quite a bit, said the little old lady.

Looks like a perfect match.

Thank you so much, Levi, said mister King as the little puppy lift his face.

Mister King agreed on the spot to adopt the puppy, but wanted to show his wife the dog too.

He stayed behind when Levi, Ivy and their dad left to fill out some paperwork and get all of the puppies things.

I'll see you in school on Monday, said mister King to Levi.

Thank you again.

Levi, Ivy and their dad wave goodbye to mister King, the Little Old Lady and the Golden Retriever puppy and headed home.

Levi was so happy he could help bring mister King and the puppy together.

He knew they would be a perfect fit for each other.

The next day at school, mister King found Levi on the playground before school started.

LEVI, thank you again for everything yesterday, said mister King.

I introduced my wife to the puppy and she absolutely loved him too, so we officially adopted him yesterday that's great, mister King.

I'm so happy I could help, said Levi.

What did you name him?

We went with Pepper, said mister King.

How did you come up with that name, asked Levi.

Then mister King told Levi about the Golden Retriever puppy he had when he was a kid, the dog that found him by running over to him at the park and eating his bag of salty potato chips.

So mister King decided to name him Salt.

Since I already had a Salt, I thought it'd be fun to connect my new dog to him a little bit by naming him Pepper, said mister King with a smile.

It was that same smile he had when he saw Levi's portrait for the first time, like he was remembering something from the past that made him very, very happy that he didn't have in his life anymore.

He's a great dog, mister King, and you two are perfect for each other, said Levi.

And if you ever need someone to walk him or babysit him, or if you go out of town, just let me know, said Levi with a smile, before running off to play with his friends.

You got it, said mister King as he walked back into school.

Mister King and Pepper were the best of friends from the moment they met, and just like his first dog, he didn't know he needed a furry friend until Pepper came along and found him.

Thanks for joining us today, We hope you enjoyed the story and learned a little something too.

And since we know everyone has their own story, we'd love to hear yours.

If you have an idea for a Lively Lowis story, leave a comment on our Apple podcast for page with five stars, your idea and your little one's name.

Then maybe our next avanc you will be with you until our next story time hangout gan frim I mean, we can't wait to share another fun, Lively Lewis story with you