Granny Gertie’s Wish List

by Dulcinea Norton-Smith, Lancashire, UK

Granny Gertie didn’t bake cakes or knit scarves. Granny Gertie was a world famous explorer.

When Lucy was 3 years old Granny Gertie went swimming with sharks in the Solomon Sea. She wore a sequined swimsuit and swished through the slippery seaweed.

When Lucy was 4 years old Granny Gertie went to round up reindeer in Russia. She wore red rollerblades and a rainbow raincoat. She roared and raced around the rumbling reindeer.

When Lucy was 5 years old Granny Gertie gave Lucy a piece of pink paper. “When I was a little girl” said Granny Gertie “I was scared of many things. I wished I was brave. This is the wish list that I wrote of the things that I wished I was brave enough to do. If you can be brave enough to do all of these things I will give you a super special surprise” (more…)

There’s a Dragon in the Library

by Nancy Julien Kopp

Wilhemina Higgins’ long braids bounced as she ran down the narrow tunnel the bookshelves made in the Westlake Public Library. Her untied shoelaces slapped against well-worn sneakers. Past the Js, Ks, and Ls she flew, slowing only slightly as she rounded the corner.

Her heart thumped when she spied the dragon waiting at the end of the row of shelves. She screeched to a sudden stop.

At first it was silent then the monster snorted a little, lifted its huge head, took a gigantic breath inward and fell silent again.

Wilhemina swallowed and took one step back. Before she could turn and retrace her path, the enormous dragon reared back on its hind legs, threw its massive head backward, and breathed out with a whoosh! Smoke curled from its nostrils, and flames poured forth from the great mouth. The dragon clawed the air and flapped magnificent wings. The green and purple scales that covered the beast from head to toe gleamed under the library lights. Its amber eyes glinted like cut crystal. (more…)

Tucker Turtle’s Topsy Turvy Hiccup Day

by Angie Doria

(Original story idea Ryan and KaeLynn Winn)

It was just another lazy day for Tucker Turtle. His best friend Birdbeak was sleeping on top of his shell. The sun was shining. Tucker was thinking about a cool swim in the gentle, flowing creek.

“HICCUP!” Tucker blurted.

Tucker’s shell spun round his head. Birdbeak was tossed high into the air.

“NOT the hiccups,” Birdbeak sighed. “Quick . . . hold your breath as hard as you can.”

Birdbeak helped Tucker hold his snout closed. One, two, three, four . . . Tucker HICCUPPED again.

“If these are hicc-UPs,” Tucker said, “Don’t I just need to find the hicc-DOWNS?”

“Right,” Birdbeak said. “Where do we find them?” (more…)

The Magic Paintbrush

by Christine L. Villa

Alexa loved to paint. Just looking at watercolors made her smile.

“Oh, so many wonderful colors to choose from,” she often said.

The colors reminded her of all the beautiful things around her. Whenever she swept a paintbrush on a drawing paper, it made her smile even more. Alas, when she tried to paint a flower, it looked like a red ball of fire. If she tried to paint a tree, it looked like a green monstrous giant. If she tried to paint the sky, it looked like a blue puddle of cow poop. Alexa’s greatest desire was to be able to paint the beauty she saw all around her to share with others, but she just couldn’t paint.

One night, Alexa had a dream. She smiled when she saw the beautiful bright colors splattered across the sky. Then something lightly brushed her hair. It woke her up. Right in front of her was a paintbrush sitting at the edge of her bed! (more…)

Big Tooth

by Scott Searcy

Each sunny afternoon, Hamilton and his little brother, Wells, ran down the gravel lane to the lagoon to get a glimpse of the large, scary alligator they called Big Tooth.  One look at the old gator, and you knew why they named him Big Tooth.  He had one gigantic, crooked tooth hanging out of his scraggly mouth.

The two always sat on the edge of the big lagoon waiting for a visit from Big Tooth.  The old gator never disappointed the boys.  He popped up each time flashing that big tooth and scaring the brothers all the way home.  The screaming always turned to laughter as the pair reached their front yard.  They would fall into the grass ready to wrestle and giggle about the adventure.

On one particularly sunny day, Hamilton and Wells raced home from school.  They dropped their back packs and took off for the lagoon and another hair-raising encounter with Big Tooth.

As the two impatiently waited for Big Tooth’s appearance, Wells lost his balance and fell in the cold, yucky, green water.  He was not a good swimmer.  (more…)

Activity – Overcoming Fears with Your Children

In today’s story, Grandma Gertie’s own awesome adventures inspire her granddaughter to overcome some of her own fears.

Here’s an activity that will help your children overcome some of theirs!

1.  Make a list with your child of all the things you are each afraid of.

Are you afraid of bugs?

What about heights?

Worms?  Spiders?  Snakes?

Explain to your child that it is natural to experience fear.  Being afraid of things oftentimes helps us stay safe.

If you weren’t afraid of scorpions, bees, spiders and snakes, for example, we’d probably get stung and bitten a lot more!

Some fears, though, can be overcome.  In overcoming them, or at least learning how to deal with them, your confidence and self-worth grow.  Especially when done in a safe environment, with a parent.

2.  Talk it over. 

Ask your child if there are any fears on their list that they would like to overcome.  Talk about ways that you can overcome those fears and make plans to do it together.

3.  Do it! 

Worms is a great example of a safe fear to overcome.  Go out in the yard together and see what you can dig up.  Get dirty and have fun!

Afraid of heights or falling?  Do a “trust-fall”, where a big brother or dad catches the child as they close their eyes, fold their arms and fall straight backwards.

Remember, don’t push your child to do something they’re not comfortable with.  Keep it safe and fun.  And don’t forget to overcome some fears yourself!  Leading by example is always the most powerful way to teach.

Circus in My Backyard

by Gina St. Cyr

“Mom, why can’t I go to the circus?” David sniffled.

“Because you are too sick.  I’m sorry, Sweetie, we are just going to have to find something else to do.”

David pouted and went to lie down on the couch. He looked out the window at his mother’s garden. He thought to himself, It is such a beautiful day, I wish I could do something fun. He watched a spider float on a breeze and started to imagine it flying on a trapeze.

Grabbing a magazine off the table he rolled it up, put it to his lips, and said, “Ladies and gentlemen watch as the swinging spider spins her delicate web.” (more…)

The Nice Ogre

by Austin Owens

Once upon a time, there was an ogre by the name of Norff.  He lived in the forest outside of a small village.  He was a nice ogre, and this is important because most ogres are not very nice.

Norff loved his house and really loved the village.  It was a cute little village; just the kind you’d find in a fairy tale.  When Norff first moved into his house, he thought the people of the village could look past his ogre self and see that he was really nice.  But they couldn’t see nice.  All they saw was ogre.

Norff tried dressing up in a nice suit and tie, so that the people of the village might see that he was really nice.  But they couldn’t see nice.  All they saw was ogre. (more…)

A Home for Sparks

by Mariah Deitrick

“How’s it going today, Sparks?” Firefighter Mike asked.

Sparks whined and covered his head with his paws.

“Smokey, the new puppy, is coming today,” Mike said. “He’s a Dalmatian like you.”

Sparks whined again. After ten years, he was being replaced by a rookie.

When the new puppy came, Sparks stayed away. Smokey sniffed him, but Sparks didn’t move. He didn’t want Smokey to think they were going to be friends.

Even though Sparks didn’t like Smokey, the firemen did. They played with him all day. Nobody paid any attention to Sparks anymore. He didn’t even get a pat on the head as they passed. He could leave and nobody would even notice. He needed to find a new home now, one where he would be loved as much as the firemen used to love him. (more…)

Chocolate Chip

by Crystal A. Moore

Chocolate. From the time Chip Munk woke up, he chomped it and chugged it. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate. He was sweet on them all.

So one day, while Chip was at home, slurping and burping, his friends came over to give him a big, whopping piece of their minds. (more…)