FANTASY & Historical BOOKS FOR CHILDREN, Mid Grade.,

1/19/12

T. J. FROG (An adult fairy tale.)

Most of my  writing relates to children, or young Adult readers.  But some of my short stories are written for adult reading.  I entered my short story, T. J. Frog, to  LitU: Unearthed which is an on line anthology that celebrates and brings to the surface some of the best up-and-coming authors in the literary world. This collection of short stories features new and self published authors. , including myself.   


What happens when a beautiful lady kisses a frog?  You can read T.J.Frog by buying the book at https://www.smashwords.com/extreader/read/124502/50/litu-unearthed


(http://clipartmountain.com/linkclips/froglinks.htm)

T. J. Frog (An adult Fairy Tale.) 

   

1/7/12

Four To Get Ready Puppet Dialogue # 5: I Wish I were Never Born.


This is Lindy Leo Lion who was the resident puppet in the Four-To-Get-Ready Preschool for sixteen years. He was designed and made by my daughter, Mary.

FREE TO COPY 
January's Free contribution.  In January many teachers post the children's baby
pictures to celebrate new beginnings.  This dialogue fits in these discussions.


Every preschool/kindergarten classroom should have a
school puppet friend. This puppet is introduced to the
students at the first of the year and only the teacher uses it.
(It is a tool not a toy) Have a puppet story time at a specific
time each day. Teacher should use her actor’s voice .. try to
speak differently when speaking for the puppet. In my dialogues
the puppet is a lion, thus called “Lindy Leo Lion”. You may
want to use another type of puppet. Use the same puppet each
time and be sure you give it a name that will interest the students.
You may want to put on a bit of music that will remind the
Students when it is the Puppet Story time.Please feel free to 
copy off and use. I only ask that you list me as the author and 
that you leave a comment if doing so. It would be nice for me 
to know if these free stories and dialogues are useful to you.   
M.C. Arvanitis 




Four To Get Ready PUPPET DIALOGUE # 1: 
I Wish I Were Never Born.
By M. C. Arvanitis 

 TEACHER:  (Hold puppet’s head down. look over the puppet.) You

 look rather unhappy this morning. Is something wrong?

 LINDY: Everything is wrong! I woke up with a headache.  I didn't 
             have any milk for my breakfast cereal. I. forgot to prepare for this morning’s
             story time. I wish I had never been born.

 TEACHER:  It would be a different world if you hadn’t been born.

 LINDY: Well, no one would miss me.

            TEACHER: You are right. We couldn’t miss you if you hadn't been
            born because we would never have known you. We have to know
            someone in order to miss them. But since you have been born and you
            are our friend we would miss you if you were not here.



LINDY: Would you really miss me?


TEACHER: Of course, we would. I remember the first day we met
you, when I introduced you to our class. Don’t you remember?




LINDY: Yes, I remember. I was so shy of meeting the children.

TEACHER:  Do you remember how the children made you feel better
by singing with you? After that whenever you were around us you
made us all feel good with your songs and stories.
                                   
LINDY: Well, yes, but sometimes I still feel useless. I wonder why I
was born.   (Have puppet bow its head as if sad.  Use a sad voice.)

TEACHER: We all feel that way once in a while, Lindy, but we
have to remember that each of us was born for a reason. We each have
special things that we can do. You were born to share your stories and
songs with us. If you hadn’t been born we wouldn’t be able to hear your
stories and sing your songs.

LINDY: You mean if I had not been born I wouldn’t be able to be here
with you and the children?

TEACHER: That is exactly what I mean. You were born so you
could be here with us and make us laugh and sing.

LINDY: And dance!

TEACHER: (Laughing) Puppets can’t dance. They don’t have legs.

LINDY: I can if you’ll help me.

TEACHER: Do you really want to dance?

LINDY: Oh yes.  I was born to boogie--to twist--to do the hop--to
cut the rug--to trip the light fantastic.  Where’s the music? Where's the
music?

TEACHER: Well, if you think you can dance I have some music
right here.  Come on everyone. Lets dance with Lindy.
            (Play quick stepping CD and dance around the room moving
the puppet to the beat. Encourage children to dance with the music.)

LINDY: (Out of breath.)  That was fun. It made me tingle all over.
It’s so good to be alive. I’m glad we all were born. But now, I’m tired. I
think I’ll take a nap.

TEACHER: I hope you will come back tomorrow because we would
really miss you if you didn’t. 

LINDY: Oh, I’ll be back. I can’t wait until I tell you my next story.
Good-bye everyone.
            (Retire puppet to its place.)
                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

11/28/11

THE UGHLIES, a preview of "The Legend of ELPanda Paws.

Excerpts from my now published fantasy for middle readers. Chapter Book, "The Legend of ELPanda Paws.
You can now purchase the book at SmashWords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/120937
To get there click on the title.  


Soon to be on Amazon and Barns & Nobel.  

 "When the Panda wakes she finds herself between two creatures. She can tell by their horrible smell and looks that they are not human. Narrow dimmed eyes glare at the cub. One of the creatures pokes her with a stick. She cries out. The creature laughs evilly. “Just what we need to get even with those stuck up ELVanites, right, Ferocious?”

Yeppers, Usser, this one will spread the negative disease for sure.“ The other creature’s laugh is even more evil than the first. He whacks the terrified cub across her rump. Fear and sorrow, mixed together, fill her heart with a terrible ache. She wails for her mother but to no avail. The Panda cub is lost in a strange land and captured by the evil Ughlies. There is no way out.

Illustration by Mariah Matthews 

11/6/11

FENNER FIVE POINT

FENNER FIVE POINT

Most of the millions of stars in Fenner’s galaxy have eight light points but once in a blue moon a star is born with less than eight. Unfortunately, Fenner has only five light points. That doesn’t keep her from trying out for the First Star Contest each year. But as time goes on and she never wins she becomes discouraged. She stops trying and drifts off by herself. One dark foggy night she floats low over the earth's ocean. She cannot tell if she is moving up or down. When she sees the gray blue of the water she thinks it is the foggy sky -- that is until her light points hits the cold water. With a loud sizzle her lights go out forever as she sinks slowly to the ocean floor. 


THE PEEK-A-BOO DRAGON


THE PEEK-A-BOO DRAGON

FREE TO COPY 

     Christmas is coming. Are you wondering what to get for that littlest one in your family? Older babies to four year olds love to play peek a boo. Copy off my Peek A Boo Dragon story poem and add a dragon puppet. Be sure to use a friendly looking dragon, not scary. (Works good with any puppet or stuffed animal just change the word ‘dragon’ to whatever puppet you have.) Read the story inside, outside, where ever while playing peek a boo.(see the story line.) Older preschoolers can play the game with others too. Remember this is free to all parents, grandparents, teachers and any one who want to share.  All I ask is that you COMMENT when you copy it and  acknowledge me as the author.
                                   
http://clipart-for-free.blogspot.com/


PEEK A BOO DRAGON
by
M. C. Arvanitis

I am the Peek a Boo Dragon and I've come to play.
I can peek a boo with you just any old day.
Peek a boo, peek a boo, peek a boo boo boo.
Whenever you'll let me I'll peek a boo with you

I am the Peek a Boo Dragon and I can play peek a boo
With your brother, sister, and especially with you.
If your grandma or grandpa is home they can play.
Just hide behind the door--then jump out and say.
Peek a boo, peek a boo, peek a boo boo boo.
Whenever you'll let me I'll peek a boo with you.

I am the Peek a Boo Dragon and I'm here to say
I will play peek a boo on a bright sunny day.
We'll peek a boo your shadow when it's on the run.
It'll peek a boo back in and out of the sun.

If snow is on the ground and you build a snowman
I'll come and peek a boo him if you think I can.
But if he just stands looking at me and you
I think he doesn't like me to play peek a boo.
Peek a boo, peek a boo, peek a boo boo boo.
Whenever you'll let me I'll peek a boo with you.

If your day is boring and you don't know what to do.
Come and find me and I will peek a boo with you.
Call up your friend to come over to play
We'll play peek a boo for the rest of the day. 

Be careful of the lamps and things sitting around.
Cause if you peek a boo wildly and knock one down
You may be sent to your room for a time out.
But if happens to you don't sit alone and pout.
Just call on me. You'll feel better if you do.
Whenever you'll let me I'll peek a boo with you.

When it's time for lunch and you don't want to eat.
You don't like the veggies or even your meat.
You can play peek a boo with veggies --just wait.
When no one is looking hide them under your plate.

But your mama may play this little game too.
Finding the food will be her "peek a boo." 
She'll laugh when you tell her I hid it for you.
"That peek a boo Dragon is too smart to be true."
Peek a boo, peek a boo, peek a boo boo boo.
Whenever you'll let me I'll peek a boo with you.

It's time for your bed but you don't want to go.
Don't spend time crying and carrying on so.
Just crawl under the covers and pretend to do
The peek a boo, with me and the sandman too.

Morning will come quickly if you close your eyes.
And when the sun is climbing in the daytime skies.
The Peek a Boo Dragon will came back to play,
and we'll peek a boo, peek a boo all of the day.
Peek a boo, peek a boo, peek a boo boo boo.
I'm the Peek a Boo Dragon and I'll peek a boo you.
     Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek a boo!
To make your own Dragon Puppet go to

http://www.ehow.com/how_6594544_make-dragon-hand-puppet.htm
To buy a dragon puppet go to
http://www.musicmotion.com/product.htm?pid=434276
or
http://compare.ebay.com/like/380378384819

Add a book to your gift.
Baby Dragon by Amy Ehrlich
Buy from Walmart
http://www.walmart.com/ip/8808845

(Pink and Yellow Dragon Graphics from http://www.dreamstime.com/)

10/31/11

Tambu, The Colorful Turkey


Tambu Turkey wants to make friends with the other animals in the barnyard. But no one wants an ugly brown turkey around. No matter how he tries to change himself he can not get the approval of the others, until he learns the magic of getting others to accept him.   

10/8/11

MERLE SQUIRREL AND THE SCARECROW

 FREE TO COPY

OCTOBER's free story (from my Back Yard Friends) to download and read to your preschool children. Good for Teachers, Parents, and Grandparents.  


(graphic taken from
  http://akidsheart.com/holidays/thanks/tclip1.htm)

 MERLE  SQUIRREL
AND  THE  SCARECROW
by
M.  C.  Arvanitis


Merle Squirrel clapped his hands together as he looked at his pile of acorns. “Those acorns will taste really good when I wake up from my winter’s nap,” he said.
Bitty BlueJay swooped down from the oak tree. “Don’t you know you can’t leave them lay on the ground? The crows will eat them all before you wake.”
“Oh dear. Where can I hide them from the crows?” he asked.
The crabby jay flipped her wings, “That’s not my problem,” and she flew to her nest on the top of the tree.
“She’s right, it is my problem,” Merle said to himself. Rachel Robin hopped by with a fat worm in her mouth. When she heard Merle she gobbled it up. “What is your problem, Merle?” she asked.
“If I leave my acorns on the ground the crows will eat them. Can you help me find a place where I could hide them? “
Rachael shook her head. “Sorry, but my family and I are leaving for the winter. It is time for us to fly south. See ya.” And she flew away.
Merle looked up at Ollie Owl, who watched him from his hole in the tree. “Ollie, can I hide my acorns in your place? If I leave them on the ground the crows will eat them.”
“OOO, sorry, no room.” Ollie disappeared back into his hole.
Merle looked all over the farm for a place to hide his acorns. Wherever he looked either another squirrel had claimed the space or it would not be dry enough to keep acorns through the winter.
He continued to search. Each day brought him closer to winter. He was getting desperate. Then he spied a strange looking object standing in Farmer Ann’s cornfield. It had a wide brimmed hat, arms that stretched straight out, a large jacket and baggy pants flopping in the wind. He jumped on the arm of this thing to see it closer. The head was a pumpkin with a face traced upon it. Why this must be the new scarecrow, the one that Farmer Ann made each fall to scare away the crows,” he thought.
He greeted it, "Hello, Scarecrow.” The scarecrow didn't answer. "Guess you don't feel like being friendly, huh?” No answer. Merle was about to jump to the ground when he noticed the scarecrow's jacket pockets. They were wide and deep and no one would ever think of looking in them for acorns.
"Say, could I hide my acorns in your pockets for the winter?" he asked.
The scarecrow didn't answer.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
Still no answer.
"Well, than, I'll consider it a yes." Quickly Merle ran his pile of acorns. It took him all day to carry the acorns in his mouth and placed them in the scarecrow's pockets.
When he finally had the acorns stored he climbed back onto the scarecrows arm and look into its pumpkin face. "Thank you for letting me store my acorns in your coat pockets. I am going to take a short winter nap now but when I wake I will be hungry. The acorns will taste very good when the snow covers the ground and there is nothing else to eat. If you get hungry you may have a few."
Merle climbed up to his nest in the oak tree. Just as he settled down for the winter he saw a big black crow fly near. The scarecrow waved its coat sleeves and the crow flew away. “Good,” he thought. That Scarecrow will keep my acorns safe.
Early in the spring, Merle’s tummy began to growl. He woke up very hungry but he didn't worry. He knew where to find some acorns. Quickly he jumped to the scarecrow's arm. "I've come to get my acorns,” he said.
The scarecrow didn't answer.
"Thanks for looking after them." Merle reached his paw into the pocket. The pocket was empty. "Well, I did say you could eat a few, I guess." He reached into the other pocket. That pocket was also empty. Merle jumped on the scarecrow's arm. "Did you eat all my acorns?”
The scarecrow didn't say anything, but Merle noticed that its face was sort of puffy.
"You did eat my acorns. I said you could eat a few. I didn't say you could eat all of them." He swished his fluffy tail in anger.
At that moment a big black crow zoomed down to reach its beak inside the scarecrow's pocket. It reached to the bottom but came up empty. It tried the other pocket and finally flew away with an empty beak.
"So it was the crows that ate my acorns. Oh dear, I'm so hungry. I'll starve before the new acorns are ready for dropping." Merle started to cry.
The scarecrow's jacket moved back and forth in the breeze. But wait, its pumpkin head was moving too. It shook so hard that the hat fell off. Merle jumped to the lowest corn stalk in fright. He looked down at the scarecrow’s head. He saw a big hole in top of the pumpkin where Farmer Ann had removed the seeds to carve its face. He looked again. The head wasn't empty. It was full of his acorns. 
" Merle jumped back to the scarecrows shoulders and planted a big kiss on the pumpkin’s cheek. “Thank you for keeping my acorns safe.”
 The scarecrow said nothing but if you were watching very closely you could see the mouth curve up into a smile.
Merle climbed on the pumpkin head and contentedly ate his fill.
Every year after that Merle Squirrel stored his winter supply of acorns inside the scarecrow's head where the crows could not find them. 
---------------------------------------


Song to sing: “Shoo Scarecrow”
(To the tune of "Little Brown Jug.") 

(Children stand with arms out feet flat on the floor. Only body moves. They sway back and forth as they sing. At the end they throw their arms out and up as if shooing the crows.)  

Fly away crow with coat so black
Fly away crow and don’t come back,
I’m standing here so the corn can grow,
So fly away, fly Away, Fly away crow.
SHOOOOOOOOOOO
---

BOOK SUGGESTION:  To use with this story,
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
by Linda Williams, Megan Lloyd (Illustrator)

COLOR PAGE
Merle Squirrel
This can also be made into a movable picture. 
Cut out a pattern for the tail, two arms, two legs
and the acorn.
When pieces are colored or painted cut them out,
punch holes in where they would fit on the body
and fasten them to the body with barbs.  You need
three barbs. (Small bend over holders) Glue the
acorn to one of the hands.




 If you enjoy these free stories and activities tell your friends and fellow teachers. I will present a free story and activity each month.   M.C. Arvanitis.   

MERLE SQUIRRELAND THE SCARECROW

graphic taken from
  http://akidsheart.com/holidays/thanks/tclip1.htm


MERLE SQUIRREL
AND THE SCARECROW
By
M. C. Arvanitis

Merle Squirrel looked all over the farm for a place to hide his acorns he had collected for the cold winter days ahead. He needed a place where no one could find them. He looked in the corncrib. He looked in the hole in the cottonwood tree. Another squirrel had taken that spot. He looked in the old worn out pail lying in the trash heap. That would not be a good place to hide acorns for the winter. Whereever he looked either another squirrel had claimed the space or it would not be safe enough to hide his acorns.
He wished he had started earlier but he had been so busy learning to jump from one branch to the other that he had forgotten that Squirrels were supposed to store acorns for their winter food. So now here he was with a pile of acorns and no place to store them. He looked at the sky. It would be winter soon and if she left the acorns on the ground the snow would cover them.
He continued to search. Each day brought him closer to winter. He was getting desperate. Then he spied a strange looking object standing in Farmer Ann’s cornfield. It had a wide brimmed hat, arms that stretched straight out, a large jacket and baggy pants flopping in the wind. He jumped on the arm of this thing to see it closer. The head was a pumpkin with a face traced upon it. Why this must be the new scarecrow, the one that Farmer Ann made each fall to scare away the crows,” he thought.
He greeted it, "Hello, scarecrow”. The scarecrow didn't answer.
"Guess you don't feel like being friendly, huh?”
No answer. Merle was about to jump to the ground when he noticed the scarecrow's jacket pockets. They were wide and deep and no one would ever think of looking in them for acorns.
"Say, could I hide my acorns in your pockets for the winter?" he asked.
The scarecrow didn't answer.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
Still no answer.
"Well, than, I'll consider it a yes."
Quickly Merle ran to the oak tree where he had left his pile of acorns. All that day he carried the acorns in his mouth and placed them in the scarecrow's pockets.
When he finally had the pile of acorns stored the scarecrows pockets, he climbed back onto its arm and look into the scarecrow's pumpkin face.
"Thank you for letting me store my acorns in your coat pockets. I am going to take a short winter nap now but when I wake I will be hungry. They will taste very good when the snow covers the ground and there is nothing else to eat. If you get hungry you may have a few."
Merle climbed up to his winter’s nest in the oak tree. Just as he settled down for the winter he saw a big black crow fly near. The scarecrow waved its coat sleeves and the crow flew away. “Good,” he thought. The Scarecrow will keep my acorns safe.
Early in the spring, Merle’s tummy began to growl. It rumbled so loudly that it woke him. He woke up very hungry, but he didn't worry. He knew where to find some acorns.
Quickly he jumped to the scarecrow's arm. "I've come to get my acorns,” he said.
The scarecrow didn't answer.
"Thanks for looking after them, anyway."
Merle reached his paw into the pocket. The pocket was empty.
"Well, I did say you could eat a few, I guess."
He reached into the other pocket. That pocket was also empty. Merle jumped on the scarecrow's arm. "Did you eat all my acorns?”
The scarecrow didn't say anything, but Merle noticed that its face was sort of puffy.
"You did eat my acorns. I said you could eat a few. I didn't say you could eat all of them." He jumped up and down in anger.
At that moment the big black crow zoomed down to reach its beak inside the scarecrow's pocket. It reached to the bottom but came up empty. It tried the other pocket and finally flew away with a loud caw coming from its empty beaked
"So it was the crows that ate my acorns. Oh dear, I'm so hungry. I'll starve before the new acorns are ready for dropping." Merle started to cry.
The scarecrow's jacket moved back and forth in the breeze. But wait, its pumpkin head was moving too. It shook so hard that the hat fell off. Merle jumped to the lowest branch in fright. He looked down at the scarecrow’s head. He saw a big hole in top of the pumpkin where Farmer Ann had removed the seeds to carve the eyes and nose and mouth. She looked again. The head wasn't empty. It was full of acorns. His acorns. 
"You saved my acorns from the crows. Thank you. Thank you so much!" Merle jumped back to the scarecrows shoulders and planted a big kiss on the pumpkin’s cheek. The scarecrow said nothing but if you were watching very closely you could see the mouth curve up into a smile.
Merle climbed on the pumpkin head and contentedly ate his fill. He wasn't going to starve after all.
 Every fall Farmer Ann gave the scarecrow a new pumpkin head. And every fall Merle Squirrel stored her winter supply of acorns inside the scarecrow head--where the big black crows could not get them.
---------------------------------------

9/13/11

HURSHAL LOST



Clip Art link:
from FotoSearch.com
 FREE TO COPY

                                                               HURSHAL LOST
                                                                                 by
                                                                      M. C. Arvanitis
                                                                           
On their way home from vacation Anthony’s family stopped at
a motel for the night. Anthony hugged his teddy bear, Hurshal,
as he fell asleep in the motel bed. He was still asleep when Mom
carried him to the car early the next morning. He slept all the
way home.
"Wake up, we are home,” Mom called as they drove into their
driveway. Anthony was glad. Hurshal and he didn't like to ride
in cars for such a long time. He reached for Hurshal. His teddy
bear wasn't there. He looked on the floor -- No Hurshal!  
"I can't find Hurshal," he shouted.
“Oh he has to be here somewhere.” Dad looked all over in
the car. “But I don’t see him in the car anywhere.”
Anthony started to cry. Where was Hurshal? Mom took his
hand. “Don’t worry. We’ll find your bear. He’s probably
packed away in the luggage somewhere. We’ll look when we get
everything in the house.” But when all the suitcases and Anthony’s
back pack were emptied Hurshal was nowhere to be found.
Mom looked at Dad. "Honey, didn't you get Hurshal from
the motel?"
"I thought you picked him up,”  Dad answered.
Anthony shouted, "You left Hurshal at the motel?"
“Now calm down, I’ll call the hotel and see if they
found him.” When Dad clicked off his cell phone he smiled. “Good
news. The desk clerk said they found Hurshal and would mail
him home right away.” 
Anthony ran out to wait on the curb by the mailbox. Soon
Dad sat down beside him. "Hurshal won't be here for a couple
of days, you know. It takes time to mail a package somewhere."
"But Hurshal can't sleep without me,” Anthony sobbed.  
Daddy handed Anthony his new blue bear Grandma had given him
for Christmas. "Will this bear do until Hurshal gets home?"
"No!" Anthony threw the bear on the ground and stamped his
foot. "I want Hurshal."
"I'm sorry but you will have to do without Hurshal for a
couple of days,” Dad said.
That night Anthony couldn't sleep even when Mom rocked him.
"Let’s talk about Hurshal," Mom said. "What do you like about him?"
"I like the way he smells, and his raggedy ears and his
wrinkly nose."
Mom pulled Anthony’s nose and laughed, “Just like yours?”
She put Anthony into his bed and pulled the quilt up to his chin.
"Think happy thoughts about Hurshal and you'll be asleep before
you know it." Mom was right. Anthony thought of Hurshal and went
directly to sleep.
Two days later when the package came Anthony tore off the
paper. Under the paper was a shoebox. He was afraid to lift the
lid. What if it was someone else’s bear in the box?
"Open the box,” laughed Mom. Slowly Anthony lifted the lid. 
His bear looked up at him with his teddy bear smile. He hugged
Hurshal. "I'll never let you get lost again," he promised. And he
never did.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** (Note from author: Hurshal is a true story that happened to my grandson when he was a preschooler.)

C 2011 by M.C. Arvanitis (If using this story please leave comment.)
This story is free and may be shared so long as author is given credit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOW TO MAKE A TEDDY BEAR


To make Hurshal, the teddy bear, cut out two bears shaped as in the example.  Use felt and let the child choose 
the color he or she wishes.  Glue on felt eyes, nose, and a strip of red yarn to make mouth.  You can add felt 
buttons also if child wishes.  When all is dried, place the pieces together, and glue around the edges of the 
neck, arms, body and legs. (don't glue above ears.) When dry punch holes around the edges and let child sew 
the bear together with yarn from bottom of ears, weaving the yarn  under and over. (save enough to go up 
over the ears and head.) Do not tie the yarn yet. Carefully stuff the bear with cotton pushing it into the arms 
and legs. Let the child decide if his/her bear is a fat bear with lots of cotton or a skinny bear with less cotton. 
When stuffed close the top of the bear, glue edges, and continue to sew, Tie the left over yarn into a neat bow 
at the top .. or if the child doesn't want a bow tie it tight and clip off the left over. You can also make a neck
bow by placing yarn or ribbon around its neck. Now have the child choose a name for the bear. The more 
choices the child has in making the bear, the more the bear will belong to him/her. Some of my students 
kept their bears until they were grown.  
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~