(upbeat music) Welcome, my dear, sweet, beautiful, brilliant Rise and Shiners.

I am Stacey McAdoo, your forever 2019 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

And it is story time.

Today we're reading a book entitled Bayou Stew, an Al The Gator Tale, written by LaTonya Richardson and illustrated by Matthew Fields.

Al the gator woke up from a long, long, very long nap, hungrier than ever before.

Leaving his den in the bayou, Al set out in search of a snack.

Just around the bayou's bend, Al the gator came across Raycoon.

Hey, Ray.

He said, smacking his lips.

My, my, my, how you've grown while I've been asleep.

You're looking pretty yummy.

Ahem, I mean, you're looking very healthy these days.

Would you like to join me for lunch?

Sure.

Ray said nervously.

What do you have in mind?

I was thinking about a tasty bayou stew my grandma-ma used to make.

He said, and then whispered under his breath, Avec racoon.

I love stew.

I'll help you make it.

Al built the fire while Ray collected ingredients.

Soon, Al's big pot of boiling water was ready for Ray's mushrooms, slugs and mud bugs.

The two chopped, diced and stirred.

Then they stirred some more.

Have a taste.

Ray said, handing Al a spoonful.

Al blew and sipped.

Hmm, it's missing something, he said, giving Ray a shifty smile.

Ray split and from a distance yelled, I'll be right back.

Before Al could stir the pot three times, Ray had returned with cypress root and a mess of moss.

They chopped, diced and stirred it into the pot.

After a while, Ray suggested that Al have a taste and he handed him a ladle full of stew.

Al blew, sipped and slurped.

Smacking his mouth he gave Ray a sly grin.

Something is missing.

Stay right there.

Ray said, running from Al's den yet again.

Before the bullfrog croaked three times, he was back with arrowhead and algae.

The two chopped, diced, simmered and stirred.

Finally, Ray said, Have a taste, and handed Al a cup full of stew.

Al blew, sipped, slurped and guzzled it all down.

Smacking his mouth and almost licking Ray, he announced, Something is still missing.

Ray ran off one last time.

Before the owl could hoot three times, Ray had returned with an arm load of cattails.

Now this should do the trick, he said.

The two unlikely chums chopped, diced and stirred the simmering pot of stew.

Now Al, have a taste.

Ray handed him a great big bowlful.

Al blew, sipped, slurped, guzzled and gorged till every last drop was gone.

What did you think?

I'm so full and so sleepy I can barely move but is still missing a little something.

Al burped.

Missing something, you say?

Ray laughed, skipping from Al's den.

Yup, your bayou stew is missing one clever Raycoon.

(upbeat music)