My Children’s Book
Many years ago, I taught preschool and kindergarten at a Montessori school. During that time, I was able to observe many of the endearing qualities of children and their personalities and behavior. However, sometimes children were not always perfect either. Once I remember a little girl during share time describe a time she and her father were walking in the forest when they found a deer. She went on to say that the deer allowed them to pet it and then they rode the deer. Naturally the other children were in awe, but one of the teachers asked the girl if the story was really true, and she replied emphatically that it was.
Another thing I became aware of was that when children played together in pairs, they got along pretty well. However, when three children got together it was sometimes a problem because one was often left out. This was never more prevalent than it was for the game “monster.” This game was cruel because one child was designated as the monster, and the other two children would run away from the child every time they approached the monster. What this did was create a situation where the monster was always alone.
This situation was so striking to me that it inspired me to write a children’s book that would be fun but also educational for children because I believe the “monster” game is pretty common among children on playgrounds. In my children’s book called I’m No Monster Samantha May, I describe the whole problem, but I have one big dilemma. I wrote the words beautifully with each line of the story, but the book needs to have illustrations. Since I can’t draw, the book remains incomplete. Nevertheless, I thought you might like to read the book and see how it could be effective in shaping children’s attitudes and behavior. (It’s kind of like when a family introduces a new child into the home with some storybooks that help the children prepare for the new baby. In addition, when a three-year-old is misbehaving, a book called Tippy’s Naughty Day, about a naughty puppy, can be most helpful.)
Below is my children’s storybook, published in my new book called, The Jagged Edge Anthology, where virtually every line represents one page:
I’m No Monster, Samantha May
Georgie and Samantha May
Loved to skip
and swing all day.
They spent their mornings in the yard
On the slide
and monkey bars.
Georgie loved to play and laugh
And knew his sister was his friend.
Then some girl friends came around:
Sue and Heather-new in town.
Samantha thought the girls were great,
And little Georgie learned their names.
But then the girls said something cruel,
Something they had learned in school.
“Let’s play monster,” Susie said.
“When Georgie comes, we’ll run away.”
So all three girls began to shout,
And little Georgie screamed as well.
He chased them past the apple tree,
Through the yard,
And down the street.
He ran so fast:
He had to rest.
Then all the girls ran on ahead.
“I’m no monster, Samantha May!”
But all the girls still ran away.
Finally, Georgie stood and cried
Because the girls ran off to hide.
“I’m no monster, Samantha May.”
But all the girls just ran away.
So Georgie walked back home by noon,
And he was hurt and lonely too.
“I’m no monster, Samantha May!”
So Georgie played alone that day.
But late that cloudy afternoon,
Samantha’s friends were finally gone.
She walked back home alone and sad
because her friends had been so bad.
She thought of Georgie and the game.
Then, at last, she felt ashamed.
She climbed upstairs to see her brother,
Saw him cry,
And knew the trouble.
“I’m no monster, Samantha May.”
But then his tears got in the way.
“You’re no monster, I’m the one.”
Samantha said and held him close.
Georgie smiled and felt much better
Because his life was back together.
“You’re no monster, Samantha May!
You know I love you anyway!”
Then the children played like friends
And Georgie laughed and smiled again.
I hope you enjoyed reading my children’s book and that you can imagine how good it would be with illustrations. Thanks, for taking the time to read it. Take care and I’ll see you next time!
(Please remember these are my own ideas, and I’m not attempting to persuade anyone to change theirs.)
Quotes:
“Be leery of silence. It doesn't mean you won the argument. Often, people are just busy reloading their guns.” ― Shannon L. Alder
“Everyone longs to be loved. And the greatest thing we can do is to let people know that they are loved and capable of loving.” – Fred Rogers
“Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero to me.” – Fred Rogers
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