Alice’s Birthday Bummer | Alice in Wonderland Adventure

In Wonderland, nothing is ever quite what it seems, including Alice’s birthday. The White Rabbit, who promised to celebrate with her, keeps darting off in all directions. Even the Mad Hatter deflates her hopes for a special day when he un-invites her to tea—because it’s not her unbirthday. Feeling lost and forgotten, Alice wonders if anything can turn the day around—until the Cheshire Cat appears with a curious new path to follow. In a land where left is right and up is down, a day full of bummers might just bounce back into the best birthday yet.

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PARENTS, TEACHERS AND HOMESCHOOLERS: In Alice’s Birthday Bummer, young listeners journey through the emotional ups and downs of a birthday that doesn’t go as planned. As Alice faces disappointment, confusion, and the chaos of Wonderland, she also learns the importance of expressing her feelings, leaning on her friends, and staying open to unexpected joy. The story gently encourages emotional resilience, empathy, and the idea that a bad day can still hold a happy ending.

CREDITS: This episode has been a Jonincharacter production. Today’s story was written by Amy Thompson, edited and produced by Molly Murphy. Special thanks to Sabrina Glow for voicing the character, Alice. All other characters performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording and production by Jermaine Hamilton at Pacific Grove Soundworks.

Try the Double 0 Quills I SPY game challenge on our Dorktales fan page: https://jonincharacter.com/dorktalesfans/

Transcript

Jonathan: 0:30

Hello, Dork Squad. I'm Jonathan Cormur, and you're listening to Dorktales the podcast for kids and their pop culture loving grown-ups.

Theme Song: 0:43

It's a beautiful day for a story, adventure, and glory, new friends and old ones, too. It's an excellent day to get swept away in a tale, so let us you. 

Redge: 1:03

Come along, Jonathan. I believe it's this way.

Jonathan: 1:06

Right behind you, Redge.

Redge: 1:08

It's absolutely splendid to be back in Wonderland.

Jonathan: 1:12

As long as we don't see any scary creatures like last time.

Redge: 1:16

Not a chance. We're here for fun and frivolity only. Jonathan, watch your step!

Jonathan: 1:22

Uh what? What where?

Redge: 1:24

Well, the flowers will not be pleased if you step on them.

Rose: 1:28

And we aren't afraid to let you know it.

Jonathan: 1:31

Oh wow. Hello.

Rose: 1:33

Hiya.

Bougainvillea: 1:34

Hello.

Daisy: 1:35

Greetings.

Jonathan: 1:36

I don't remember talking flowers on our last visit.

Rose: 1:40

We sing too.

Jonathan: 1:45

Oh, and they sound as lovely as they look.

Daisy: 1:48

Oh, how sweet.

Bougainvillea: 1:50

Ooh, I like him.

Rose: 1:52

He can stay.

Redge: 1:53

Well, we can't stay long, unfortunately. We have somewhere we need to be.

Jonathan: 1:58

Yes, and we don't want to be late.

Redge: 2:00

For our very important date. Uh let's see. Is it down the path to the left with the large oaks and strange birds?

Jonathan: 2:09

Or the path to the right with the rainbow-colored mushrooms uh oversized insects?

Redge: 2:14

These directions aren't exactly clear.

Jonathan: 2:16

Someone must have been in a rush when they wrote them.

Redge: 2:20

Hmm, well it's always so easy to get lost in Wonderland.

Jonathan: 2:24

Should we ask the flowers which way to go?

Rose: 2:27

Sorry.

Bougainvillea: 2:28

We can't help you.

Rose: 2:32

spot. 

White Rabbit: 2:32

Help me, oh my, help me, oh my!

Redge: 2:35

The White Rabbit! What's he doing here?

Alice: 2:39

White Rabbit, White Rabbit! Wait, wait!

Jonathan: 2:42

Oh, and there's Alice too. I'm late, I'm late.

Alice: 2:45

Uh White Rabbit!

White Rabbit: 2:47

No time to wait. I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.

Alice: 2:50

But it's my White Rabbit! You promised!

Redge: 2:54

Oh White Rabbit, wait!

White Rabbit: 2:57

Oh, Redge uh Jonathan! Oh, I'm sorry. I'm late. You understand? I'm late, I'm late, I'm late.

Alice: 3:08

White Rabbit!

Redge: 3:10

Alice!

Jonathan: 3:11

Hello!

Alice: 3:12

Oh, hi, Redge. Hi, Jonathan.

Redge: 3:15

Are you alright, Alice?

Alice: 3:17

It's just well, the White Rabbit is always in a rush, but he promised to slow down and spend the day with me. He was going to show me the new renovations to his house. It's finally completed.

Jonathan: 3:30

Oh, how nice.

Alice: 3:31

But he keeps running away and won't bring me to the house. I don't know which way to go. It's also terribly disappointing because it's a very

Jonathan: 3:41

Oh, is it?

Redge: 3:43

Yes. Is it?

Alice: 3:45

Yes, it's my birthday.

Redge: 3:48

Oh! Happy birthday!

Jonathan: 3:51

Yes, happy birthday, Alice.

Alice: 3:53

What are you doing in Wonderland?

Jonathan: 3:55

Uh, we just came for a visit.

Redge: 3:58

Yes, uh just a visit.

Jonathan: 4:01

It's very confusing getting around here.

Alice: 4:04

Don't I know it? Now which way did the white rabbit go?

Redge: 4:08

Uh to the left, through the oaks.

Jonathan: 4:10

Uh no no, I believe it was to the right, near the mushrooms.

Daisy: 4:13

It was through the trees.

Bougainvillea: 4:16

No, no, by the mushrooms.

Rose: 4:19

Don't listen to them. They can't see a thing past my thorns.

Jonathan: 4:23

What about you, Rose? Did you see which way the white rabbit went?

Rose: 4:28

Me? No, the sun was in my eyes. 

Jonathan: 4:37

Did you hear that?

Alice: 4:39

That must be the Mad Hatter. Maybe he's hosting another tea party.

Jonathan: 4:43

I think the sound is coming from down this way, through trees.

Alice: 4:47

You know what? If anyone knows how to celebrate, it's the Mad Hatter. And if the white rabbit won't be with me on my birthday, then I'll make my own fun. Will you come with me?

Redge: 4:59

Of course.

Jonathan: 5:00

Happy to.

Alice: 5:01

Oh, thank you. The day has been such a bummer so far. But this might save my birthday after all. Let's go!

Mad Hatter: 5:20

One lump, two lump, three lump, four. Oh, certainly, certainly you can have more. Just open your mouth and I'll give you a pour. Swirl it around and spit it on the floor.

Redge: 5:34

Hello there.

Mad Hatter: 5:35

Stir it, stir it, stir it around. Stir with your foot and drink it off the ground. Lick it and lap it slurp it up right now. Spin, spin, spin, then take a bow. Oh uh where did you come from?

Jonathan: 5:54

Uh just down the path through the trees.

Mad Hatter: 5:57

My goodness! You gave me such a shock. Such a fright!

Redge: 6:02

Oh, uh, we're sorry. But now that you're here, tea? Tea? Anyone?

Mad Hatter: 6:07

Tea?

Alice: 6:08

Oh yes, please!

Jonathan: 6:10

Uh cup for each of us, I think. Thank you.

Redge: 6:13

Jonathan, is there time?

Jonathan: 6:15

Uh I think we still have time.

Mad Hatter: 6:18

There's always time for tea.

Alice: 6:21

Are you in a hurry?

Redge: 6:23

Oh no no.

Jonathan: 6:24

Of course not, no.

Alice: 6:26

Great! Then there's time for cake too. Do you have any?

Mad Hatter: 6:30

Cake? Cake?

Alice: 6:34

Yes?

Mad Hatter: 6:35

I always have cake. Always, always, always. Now, where did I put it? Uh cake! Where are you? Hmm Cake? Cake Oh this hat? I can't think with it on.

Jonathan: 6:53

Oh!

Redge: 6:54

The cake!

Mad Hatter: 6:55

The cake? Where?

Alice: 6:58

It's on your head!

Redge: 7:00

It was under your hat.

Mad Hatter: 7:02

Oh! I should have known! I'd do all my best thinking with cake on my head. Here you are!

Jonathan: 7:10

Good thing there wasn't a candle.

Redge: 7:12

A candle! Great idea, Jonathan! Then it'd be a proper celebration.

Mad Hatter: 7:18

Celebration? Did you say celebration? Oh we must blow up balloons!

Alice: 7:25

Oh yes!

Redge: 7:26

What fun!

Mad Hatter: 7:42

And we must have games, games, games!

Alice: 7:49

cat! Just like my cat Dinah!

Mad Hatter: 7:53

Don't say cat! Don't say cat!

Mouse: 7:56

Did somebody say?

Mad Hatter: 7:57

Uh no, no, uh, Mr. Dormouse. Uh, no, not at all. Uh uh go back to sleep.

Mouse: 8:04

Oh, okay.

Alice: 8:08

This is wonderful! You've all saved the day! Thank you for turning it around. Everything's so much better now!

Redge: 8:18

course.

Alice: 8:19

Maybe it'll be the best birthday yet. 

Mad Hatter: 8:22

Wait. Birthday? A birthday?

Alice: 8:26

Yes, today's my birthday!

Mad Hatter: 8:28

Oh no, no, no, no, no! No cake for you.

Alice: 8:33

What?

Mad Hatter: 8:33

Give me that!

Alice: 8:35

Why?

Mad Hatter: 8:40

And no balloons, no no, pop the balloons, pop up. Uh, no balloons, not on the birthday. No, no, it's all wrong.

Jonathan: 8:54

What are you doing?

Mad Hatter: 8:55

I never celebrate birthdays, only un birthdays! Then you can celebrate 364 days every year, you know?

Jonathan: 9:06

But what about the 365th day?

Alice: 9:10

Yes, what about your actual birthday?

Mad Hatter: 9:13

Your actual birthday? That's reserved only for birthday bummers.

Alice: 9:20

Birthday bummers?

Mad Hatter: 9:22

Yes, yes, the day when everything goes wrong. Will go wrong, must go wrong, has to go wrong.

Alice: 9:32

I don't understand.

Mad Hatter: 9:34

You can't appreciate the other 364 unbirthdays if you didn't have a birthday bummer, or two, or three, or twelve on your actual birthday.

Alice: 9:47

I think I've had enough bummers, thank you. The white rabbit won't celebrate with me, and now this! There's nothing to do now but wait.

Jonathan: 9:57

Wait?

Redge: 9:58

Wait for what?

Alice: 10:00

Just wait for this day to be over.

Jonathan: 10:03

Yes, uh, bye-bye. Go be a bummer somewhere else. Come back on your unbirthday. I'm happy to celebrate with you then. Uh goodbye, goodbye! Huh. Now where was I? Oh yes, uh, one lump, two lump, three lump, four. I'm sorry, Alice.

Alice: 10:22

Me too. I thought that was shaping up to be the best birthday party ever. lost again.

Redge: 10:30

I just wish we could find the white rabbit's house. 

Cheshire Cat: 10:34

If you don't know where you're going, any path will you there. Even this one.

Alice: 10:43

The Cheshire Cat!

Jonathan: 10:44

Was that path there before?

Redge: 10:47

Uh, definitely not.

Alice: 10:49

Maybe the Cheshire can help. Is this the way to go?

Cheshire Cat: 10:53

You'll know when you get there.

Alice: 10:56

Uh-huh. But which way do we go?

Redge: 11:00

I guess we might as well try this new path.

Jonathan: 11:02

Might as well. Uh Aren't you coming, Alice?

Alice: 11:06

No, I think I'll just wait here until my birthday is over. I don't want any more bummers today.

Redge: 11:12

Oh, but Alice, please. Even a bummer on your birthday with friends can't be all

Jonathan: 11:20

Just one more try, Alice.

Cheshire Cat: 11:22

Good or bad, the road always leads you forward, never

Alice: 11:30

Thanks, Redge. Thanks, Jonathan. I guess we can give it one more try. Just one. It is nice being with you, even if everything's been going

Redge: 11:41

That's the spirit. One more try.

Alice: 11:44

One more try.

Jonathan: 11:46

Let's do it.

Redge: 11:48

This way.

Cheshire Cat: 11:49

See you soon.

Alice: 11:52

I'll never understand that cat.

Jonathan: 11:57

Lots of riveting frogs. I can hear them, but I can't see them.

Alice: 12:02

Hmm, I've never been down this path before. I think I would remember all the riveting frogs.

Redge: 12:09

There's so much overgrown moss. The frogs must be hiding in there.

Alice: 12:14

Wonderland is full of surprises. it's the White Rabbit's house!

Jonathan: 12:21

The froggy road led us straight here.

Redge: 12:25

Oh, it looks so nice! They did a wonderful job with the renovations. The house is in tip-top shape.

Jonathan: 12:33

Cozy yet modern.

Alice: 12:35

I can't believe we found it!

Redge: 12:37

I just love what they've done with the garden.

Jonathan: 12:41

Is that a koi pond?

Redge: 12:43

Yes, but instead of fish in the pond, I believe those are little jingle bells. How cute! Isn't it cute, Alice?

Alice: 12:55

Yeah, it's cute.

Jonathan: 12:58

Come on, let's head in.

Alice: 13:00

I don't know. Does White Rabbit really even want me here? He ran away from me all day. 

Redge: 13:06

Well, let's at least knock on the door.

Alice: 13:09

Alright.

Jonathan: 13:10

Knock knock.

Crowd: 13:13

Surprise! Surprise! It's a me!

White Rabbit: 13:18

Happy birthday, Alice!

Alice: 13:20

White Rabbit! And all my friends in Wonderland? What are you doing here?

White Rabbit: 13:26

Thank you, Redge and Jonathan, for stalling her. I was late for the very party I was meant to be

Alice: 13:33

Party?

White Rabbit: 13:34

Happy birthday, Alice! Surprise!

Alice: 13:37

For me? You didn't forget after all?

White Rabbit: 13:41

Of course not! I just need to put the finishing touches on the decor for your birthday tea party.

Redge: 13:48

Happy birthday, Alice!

Jonathan: 13:50

Happy birthday!

Alice: 13:52

Redge, Jonathan! Did you know?

Jonathan: 13:55

Well that's why we were here in Wonderland.

Redge: 13:57

For the party! We RSVP'd weeks ago.

Jonathan: 14:01

When we saw the white rabbit frantically dashing about, we he must need more time.

Redge: 14:06

And the Cheshire Cat gave us a hint that everything must be ready to go.

Cheshire Cat: 14:11

I love dipping my tail in everywhere I can.

Alice: 14:16

I can't thank you enough. How very special!

White Rabbit: 14:19

Now come. Anyone want some tea and cake?

Alice: 14:22

Oh yes, please!

Jonathan: 14:24

Sure, thank you.

Redge: 14:26

Certainly.

White Rabbit: 14:27

Oh wait! Oh no! Oh no no no no no!

Jonathan: 14:32

Oh is everything okay?

White Rabbit: 14:34

I forgot to boil the water for the tea. Ah, what a bummer.

Redge: 14:39

A birthday bummer?

Alice: 14:41

A birthday bummer? How perfect!

White Rabbit: 14:44

Perfect! Did she say perfect?

Jonathan: 14:47

We'll explain later.

Redge: 14:49

Let's get inside. Happy birthday, Alice. 

Jonathan: 14:55

This has been a Jon in Character production. This story was written by Monique Hafen Adams and edited and produced by Molly Murphy. Special thanks to Sabrina Glow from Glow Girls Kid and Teen who performed Alice and Rose. All other characters were performed by Jonathan Cormur. Sound recording in production by Jermaine Hamilton at Grove Soundworks. We love hearing from you. Contact us at DorkTalesstorytime at gmail.com or text feature as a safe way to reach out. You can find even more ways to reach us in the show notes. Now, go be the hero of your own story, and we'll see you once upon a time.

Theme Song: 15:45

So gather your squad...