~~ITH
EMPHASIS ON
A Creative Project
ire sen te(~ to
the Honors Com!:li ttf;e
Ball State Teachers College
In Fulfillment of
t~e
Requirements
for I. D. 499
and Partial Fulfillment of
Requirene~ts
by
Karen Dianne Sr'i th
i<dY 1964
ACCEPTANCE SHEET
I r2corlr:end that t:ds creat:Lve project be accepted
in
fulfillr;lf.:~'..t
0:1' re;uLJ:'(;:E'1ts fo:c gr.s.c;u3.tion 'eli t,::: ]onors.
Dr.
:;ilclrf"~d_
~ss't
BaIlon
Prof. of Education
ACKNOWLEDGIvlENT
I wish to thank Dr. 11ildred DaJ lou fO:':18:::'
su.g~c
s tions
I~
•D • S •
TABLE. OF CONTINi'S
Page
I.
II.
ABSTRACT ...........•.......•...............••
IN'rRODUCTIO~J
•••
~
••••••.••. ' • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
III.
PART I
Review of Related Literature ••••••••••.•.••
IV.
PART II
Creative Stories for Children ............. .
V.
PlL.1T III
Children's Reactions to the Stories •••.•..•
VI.
VI I.
SUHl1ARY AlTD CONCLUSIOIJ
.. ... . . . . .. ... .........
B IE)LIOGR_il.PIIT ...•.............. ~ ............. .
i
iii
ABSTRACr
Tl-:.e first p;,.rt of t:lis t!1esis is a
t~-:.e
various cuJ.tuI'·:.l
reading interests.
::;-:,j :-1i;li 'fl.
Primary
'2'1
S~li)rt
review of
influence c::Jildren' s
c~ildr2n
watch
tel~vision
T"'ler"~fore,
learn ouch about s oace a-:ct tJeir'odern world.
t-~ey
lH",-
com~~':::lct
i.ction stories ,:..net science bool::s.
grade c{lildr'm arc
re::u1ing
t\-18
is
popular
~ost
gr(~'"_t
The type of lj_teratlJre t!lat
a certain age
physic~l,
or sirls reflects the
l·~iddle­
collectors of tlings an:5 enjoy
many sl'?ries books.
fo~
3nd
~roup
and for either boys
psyc~ological,
an~
socio-
logical phenosenon of the tines.
) . dult critL::s
on
chLldr''::[l'::'~
c~lOices
of
favl~'>rites.
BUDp%i~
W~0
i~
fi;l(~
cl~it~?ria.
1)e~t
it
to
c3iffLctl.l:~
:=:ilildr'~'-
bO)t:s ::,-nl often
t .le )f
~
C~100se
~is~~tisfied
makes a jack-a-lantern of him.
bOD}i:S
bc:.sed
di::,li1<:e :YL:lny critics'
t:~eir
Autl:o-y's 0: c',il(lr'J:1's boo};:s
-:.~s
selE~ct
i,u~~t
pumpki~
m'Tn 1'1.st1'1(3
urite fro:'! -'::;heir
(11)
"The Day Before Eas ter" tells of a little girl 'Aho
believes the Easter Bunny didn't escape from a burning brush
pile until she discovers three candy Easter eggs left under
"Eerie the Owl" is the story of a young boy who
a tree.
nearly st3.rves a screech owl unintentionally.
HE~
selfishly
tries to keep him for a week that he might win a prize in a
pet parade.
In "To Catch
D.
Fisht! a boy believes he is really
grown-up until he is faced with the tasl( of bai ttng his own
hook to catch a fish.
The final part of this thesis is a brief summary of
the reaetions of ehildren to the four stories.
Each story
was read to two different classes at Burris Laboratory School,
grades K-4.
Each teacher 'Was given t:le same eight leading
questions to guide the children's responses
cussion.
i~
informal dis-
'fhis experiment was conducted to discmTer the grade
level for each story and the children's opinion about each
story.
INl.'RODUCTI01~
~lhe
impetus for completion of
in Ii tera ture
'1J,"l:::
t~~e
ti:-ti~
author I s sincere de sire for se If-
expression through creative writing.
to bring pleasure to
otl-~er~;
ne ces si tn ced di scoveri!1g
hear or read
i':;~f)e
~':;11e
products of
rhe cre2cive project
education m2jor
a~d
classroom.
al~t~lOr
The author also hoped
'dho [Tight re:J.d her 1:lOrk.
H~O
reactions of tho Sf
t~nc
~ill
intere st to elE::T:lentary ddldre!1.
The
creative p'oject
This
night
author I s cre:::l..:;j_vi ty.
be
ge~red
to stories of
The author is an elementary
feels she could use her stories in the
shs.res the desire to learn with
c~1il­
dren and realizes their need for individual ple2:3ure from
reading Ii tera Lure.
She believes
v/riting
t~::J. -~
S~-lort
s corie s
not only will fulfill her personal desire for s€lf-expressio!1,
but will give her project meaningful projection
~~rough
focus
on her chosen profession.
Before beginnin,s her
9roj(~ct;he
little a.:,out tilE: liter_;.rJ' needs
.1~1Cl
author found she knei'!
i 1terests o:f
V
c~ildren.
'dhs_t cultural influences ,lffect re:dinc tastes?_Il12t types
of books ::,_nd star: f:O:S do c f lil(lrf:fl likc, best
arH:1
1'/hy?
1mV' ';1011
(iv)
dee per under s ts.nding of
possess more of
The
t~e
aut~orls
exposed to..;hose
essential in
~:'·)r
~.his
1ry~lities
will
w~rk
';!l10n
co~pleting
backgroU!lc., bc'r' stor to:3 '.'1J I
c~ildr~n
h~ve
little
it is 1..Jri t ten.
this project.
have ench of her stories re
Burris Laboratory School.
look for.
~he
va].u~
unless it is
l'i'.<?:ir reac:;ions
author
pl3~s
:11'(-';
to
to two different cls.s."es at
~heir
re~ctions
will be recorded
by the teacher or a ps.rticipant during group discussion of
eac!} story.
In sUInnary the author plans to satisfy her personal
desire for self-expression only after this desire has been
given direction through related reading.
To discover if she
has in any way satisfied the literary needs of children, she
will arrange to have their reactions recorded.
In
ef~ect,
thi s third intended procedure 'dill be a learning exper ience
for the :luthor.
(2 )
Many wonderful things result from the interaction of
books
a~d
cl1ildr'c'n.
children and zive
exprt'-;ssed in books
stax!ding.
Books strengthen tl1C' i>'1aginE:J. tion of
the~
something to think about.
u~i te
pEople in a
coml~:on
Th8 ideas
language or under-
Humor in books brings people togetl:.er and helps
develop tolerance.
Books \vhich children kno"J by heart 6i ve
them a cl2rtain seCiJ.ri ty, ',rhile other books broaden and expancl
their interests.
Books also satisfy
needs of children.
also be the saddest.
e~otional
and aesthetic
The favorite book of some children may
It is pleasing to repeat the poetic
and beautiful words fo~nd in books. l
During the past '1uarter century there have been distinct trends in
ch~ldren's
literature.
of interests fields of children has
A general widening
oc~urred.
Authors have
re s ponded by proc:ucing a va s~ v2.riety of storie s, i:Jcluding
fa~tasy,
poetry, nonsense, old and new, here Hnd there stories.
Children I s 111'i ters have experimented in numerous fields and
written about many topics--from snakes to atoms.
Host impor-
tant, authors \'Jrite about 'vlhat interests children now.
Stories
of covered wagons and Indians are w.ning in popularity because
of the changing times. 2
Perhaps nothing in recent years has had such a profound
effect upon society and re&ding trends as television.
lines are less distinct in our free
~nd
Class
easy atmosphere where
~enner, Proof, p. 17
2Helen Ferr:Ls, l,'J'riting Books for Boys and ,Girls, p. 11.
nearly every fa~ily has access to a television set. l
Both
ci ty and country children are g:lining ne-vI knowled.:;e of all
types of people anc cot:lmon interests through television.
Times have changed for everyone.
Things are telescoped,
hurried, speeded up.2
The literature of our society is thus affected.
dren, and adults as well, want their
sto~ies
Chil-
fast-moving,
with action at the very beginning and little description.
They \'Jant compact stories.
These traits resemble those of
the most popular television programs.3
In at least one
i~portant
aspect, however, out cul-
ture lags behind the technological advancement of television.
The approved word lists
w~ich
children's writers refer to
were compiled in the 1930's from words already in print. The
lists do not include words com"only used by ci'Lildrr:n today.
Children entering
~he
first
bring with them a large
gr~de
sight vocabulary f.:::'()Tn television including many scientific
and
s~ace
te~ms.
They have a very good knowledge of such
things as jets and rockets. 4
An interesting example is
t~e
space story abo1Jt trav01 to the moon.
author of a children's
In deseribing the deep
depressions on the surface of the moon, he 'JJ.nted to use
t~1e
IFisher, Intent, p. 43.
2Fenner, Proof, p. 132.
3Ibid., p. 34.
p.
25.
4Nancy Larrick,
A Teacher's
Guide to Children's Books,
(4)
word "crater," but it
~1ot
1J:?S
on the
'Therefore, he selected the 1...rords
cribe a crater.
11
~ight
\Vord list.
dish lt and "hole II to de s-
Children ',lOuld l\:no1;l
ear, and even though they
;~p)roved
~he
',:ord "cratE'r" by
not recognize the word in
print the first Gine, they 'Jould remember it because it
held special rne~ning for ~hem.l
Television is especiJ.lly important to young children
learning to read.
1hey
of the dramatic but
li~e
wi~h
to adult television.
stories
wit~
sparkle and a touch
na condescension because they listen
The stories must have action, strong
plot :.t!lc1 convin~ing chac':1,c tel's. 2
Primary c:!i lc1re::"
a ver2.ge of t'.'!en ty hours of tc:levi sio':1 Heekly.
It,';!
'-.;ch an
Thus, t,l:.ey
becol!1e Il:Ore cri ticcLI and specific ill voicing thei:r favorite
tooics concerning what is re~d to them and what they re~d.3
Television whets the curiosity of children to seek
f acts in their rea( ing.
'r:ley love s tr;.ight forw:::" .:-l informa-
tion about sCience, frorr:
pre~listoric
times to space tr:ovel. 'r
lelevision moves too quickly for 'lost children to absorb
everyc
&~uides
~ilJ.g.
They v: nt to
of~hc
better
telev~:~iol1
Teacher's
2 Ibid • , p.
C).
31'
.,
~.,
29.
-r,
l-.J •
tjr:"
41'
.d
p. 1).
~.,
~)tuc1y
certain
~l1'ogr':::)''1s
Guic~_'3,
sub.jE:cts~b
·;nr'
C'l.()OSE
t interest
re13te:c!
1
for 1'"_t +-pr
b OOr~S
'-',
S71Jr1'T
'J
''''J
•
1
of fir s t grader s, Dr. "st"ler ;,dl:1Er founel three tre:;.i ts com"on
in tne ':10nes of t·l.e children 'i.vho p;3ssed
The youngsters
r ec':.:J
to
·;:.(2~·n,
haY16led:.~le
'0001\:.=;
l'n
rec:rciness tests.
the home,
parents
~heir
'-,.nO (:h,:: childrey. '\vere encouraged to td'::E' part
in the family conversations. 2
0:"
...
books
j";~lC
Children must have
befor:: tlley develop tIle enthusla.;."TIi
~o
b~ckground
2
read on their
ovrn.
Begi~~i~~
deeply.
re~~ers
cqn reason for
They pos;;ess a knOlllledge of \T01'ldly
exceeds their re:"'.dL1[; .:;.bili ty.
in adul: relationships.
make
~hehlselves
on(~
;~i::ljor
readi:-lg.
Chey
~hey
ad:;ust;:lent~o
nu~:t
~uite
n~;"jsr:::
th:J.t L.1.r
'1':-:ey need '\,·m.rnth 0.1'10, st'.c;'ri ty
arc
intelli~ent,
ins'.lre
:mc'~es~:
18.:'-1'1'1 to :lIter their
sensitive,
in :3::11001
dor::.in~~nt
~md
in
egotistic3.1
attitudes for Tore effective ~roup work. 3
Children bE'ginnini'; to re,::,(:1 s':ill rrlust h,v(:' :VYlY books
reJ.d
~o
(em.
r-
'::'1'
.
~.,
:1
.docks ,-vit!] pictures on every p __
~c
ure
be~:t,
"""0 •
p. ,!,
jJ e:")J. Poi!1dexter Colby, The Children f s Book Field, p.
')0
L'...) •
'
l
-0
~J.
of
trtl tions.
Suspc~se
sjoul~
be
:l:.d
actio'!.
brief_~d
cle~r.
depecdent clauses. 2
t~-:rough lanlju2.t:e
;~ven
"os-'·
'A'-'
.I.J
th:1 t
:.:;hougl'.
8.
~:1U::'
~~Y~d U'1.c
t convey convincing
Jeginnin~
l'mnorJ..-~'1~·
11_....
l,,-I. .....) ,
hooks
~ust
'
be
er-
~~i~~en
t}le
contpnt
__
....... _ . .must
.
~""'De:-41
,-.-I._tJ:.--
is picture-r;u.ldng clncl rhythnicdl.3
111ul ti tude of .juvenile Ii teriJ.ture is
published eacj ye r, it is still difficult to find suitable
books for priric::.ry children
to re2d but not b2byish.
i~O
~hey
ree;.::l.
Books r:ust be
e:;.~)y
e rlOugh
cnould contain good illustr2-
tions but cc:nnot te "lerrly pictl...1.r2 booles.
same tirle
they ~ust s2tisfy the ~pecial needs und interests 0f c~ildren.4
Children '.T.nt
E~
hanptorl Press
':!:'..3
for
t~F
':tory, not nerely Hords to r.;,'3.o_.
the f
J.r~;
lColby, Childrenrs, p.
79.
29.
3Larrick, Te~cher's Guide, p.
'+Ibid., p. 30.
Brock-
t publishi'::; house to produce books
young, Slovl, or rrluct::mt rs<:ier.
2 ~.,
Ib 'rl
p.
~'}'e
27.
2~~
do~estic
episodes
(7)
in their stories ~ive children plenty to think about. l
2~oungsters
of stories.
~~irst
in the:
Anir::.':_l stories,
three
~rG.des
exa-~~~e01:1ted
like special types
hU;-lOr, legencs, fc.iry
and folk tales, "no_ fantJ.sy a:''2 favorites.
_they 111-<:8 stories
about children like thenselves and childrpn in other lands.
Stories based on American history are also well received. 2
Pri~ary
crdldren in
re~~ding
childre~
diff~r
in some
ch:::_r~J'tErist~cs'nd
w~ys
:t·eadin~.:;
from
inter~ediate
preferR'lces. The
intere:=:ts of prinnry c!lildren seer:'. to be less diver-
sified than the interests of older c>ildren.
Perhaps this
is bec?.use books of a wide variety of topics hE-v,:: not been
\-1ri t~en for
youngE~r
c~'lildren.
Sexual differences in
tastes, too, apDe'.r to be slight.
gr::::.de rea.:;Llg
in
re:-'_lin~~
:_:bili~y,
t:::, ::te:;.
'::;i-wC'e
:;~:::,e
re~,c1ing
:ven though distj_nct books
but fe\{ Sl'liH'P SI?X differences
SCience, action <:.:.ni adventl.;!'I:; rEmairl top
In t::lli[:en('e see::;
1.:;0
hav,,: very littlE' effect on type:3
;\ wide re ~-'-'_'.ing
ronge is
o~
evide~t
the ::;:::c'e
]n the inte'mediate grades, and books written
topic~;
but
:~t
differe'.1t re::Lding levels ;:'hould be
IFisher, Intent, p. 43.
2Larrick, leacher's Guide, p.
31.
3Ibid., p. 84.
p. 184.
L~George -vI. l'Jc..rvell ,:Iha t Boys and Girls Like to Read,
(8)
provided.
!ve~
so,
SODe ~right
children will read hard,
t~en
easy books; slower children will nttenpt harder books. l
Children a;e :dne to t'lelve thrive on an 1mbounde,d
enthusiasm.
fheir fast-growing thinkinc ability is sparked
by ses.rching curiosity. - Children in grades fo').r to six understand their world and are quite
·t • 2
1
fra~k
in their questions about
These pre-adolescents are rebellious.
They want to get
as far from babyhood as possible, and they can't seem
it fast enough.
~o
do
They seek knowledge, adventure, and mischief
both in life and in books.3
ihe years between age nine and twelve comprise the
~ajor
reEding arre of children.
Before age nine
c~ildren
not possess the ability to read all they want to.
do
After age
twelve there is never enough time for recreational reG.ding,
for homework and
time.
0 ~her
ac"-:;ivities take up much of their free
In this period of their lives many children
c~n
and
do read and thoroughly enjoy books. 4
Certain sUb.jects should be kept from t:1esc; cLih1ren,
yet they should not be thvn.rted in other topics.
.2hey should
not be encourazed to retd :3.bout emotional, intellectual, or
poli tiCll si tU~l siems to "\'lhich they r-:'spond bu:t cannot understand.
Nevertheless, they do not like things kept fron them
lLarrick, Teacher's Guide, p. 53.
2Colby,
Children's, p. 31.
3 Ibid ., p. 30.
4 Ibid •
that adults think snould be.
For example, illness and death
'O
0 reaulng.
-'l 0
1
should not b e exc 1 u d ea' f
rom
~nelr li ves or t'Delr
Books for this age group
text and illustrations.
shor~ld
appe2,1 through both
The possible subject rr.atter is bound-
less, but. the length of sentences and extent of thought must
be tuned to the children I s level of cor:rprehension..
s: auld be alive
~ith
become involved
i~1
ou~
the plot in
action and
characters.
re~l
Fiction
Children
the :ttmosphere of a good book ar;d carry
deter~nining
outcones.
Hon-fiction :7'ust be
authentic, clear, and int8ros~ing.2
Children in the four
not general
inforJ:1~tion
favorite topics.
in
sh to sixth grades liLe spc;cific,
~~eir
8hilJrcn 0f
books.
c~is
fro:] bas'::'!:'>3.1l c3.rd..' to sec; <"ells.
a ted
1:T~ ~~;l
2ge
They consrlt encyclo-
~re
.tl1ri
leolby, Chilc1ren l s, p. 31.
2Ibid.
4 ~.,
1 , °d
p.
collec-
They
bf~coOie
cot ~3. tched
buy or read every book '"va:Llable.
in that series are good.
3Larrick,
~re~t
This hobby affects t,-:eir
t:l'c' var irms f;erie s of books.
to cer t3.in tOllics
~lso
.-, 0,
iJulae,
p. :/r'3 •
'J.'hf"'Y
(10)
saries books
re~~
widely
"
"1
_.
.
I
-~
'··1 J_::'""'
,=.,.'
'".l
fnr
esp~cial17
of sl=
(,
1- •
bo
l ....,
,··11.
C ol'~1
.
,
Dr :",l1;e
Y>
,...
C'--·/
",(, ... t of
f\
.. . ." 4'
f'
'- _
_. J.. 1,
.~"
~
'-, " f - l
.,
l' e ~~ 1 is::; ::
i .' j' 0,~ _: l).·.·~. r
~
•
_
FJ
O
_
,
'.1,' e,",
1-. '_-' .',-,
L
".J
~,s,.,
~
••
;
,,")
()l). ~
('
l~p
l·"
',' ('
~,
~~ I"', I "J' .t:...
._i
__
_
,----,--_ .,-------
I., ~'rlrlpr
J.
~
,.
_.
,
Proof,
,
.
I', ........
~ i ;" .
.
,
,: or 1,<' ~
',1-·...
~",
.C
I I
'1
;"t' .. _ . ;~.1'
,_,
, ' ..
n l"
co -:- 0
~"
>
l' e'::,,)
"
Biogr~,9ldcsrL~
scor i8 s.
arc very popuL.r.
er..,j o~,7ed ,coo.
,
S t-o-~"'
~_ p.
v
_ ,:'
I~
f
-::-)'
,0 e
~
___
__
l10nf ~c cion nature
Storie::: cLoout p3.triotisr:i
(' .
~'l .
;',
"Lf
a
n-.r~
',,",
S
1'\,0,',;
L .2,
,',"
ci(;)1ce books
:-~olid
'ye,
a:;,'c
:lilE: cOEiicc)oolC; re'd by t.lwse children often
generul poetry aboue
n~~ure
~irls
~nd
fairies is rejected
do not lIke stories
of self-s:."rifice, rOnlentic love, or
or: storj(?s of cour:.~e::;':"lJ:1 >er012m.3
\lTritten
~)
re ,1ing :n other rel~to6 books. 2
encour'
sto~ies
,--..
,~or
,I"
c 1 -1':::-'
v_,,' 1. v;::;:
./
boys, 'ill1il(, boys Hill
'''"0
.L
r
.. ' r 1:'
.::,',
:,. 4
c~e
Boys
no~
s(1-:ti,';'~E'nt:::i.l
2Ibid., p.
m
.L
..
I
E'aC':'-ler
s
'-"
d
~~,
['ead. bOl')ks ':Iri tr::'c. ex-
hloderatel~
for rS2dins in
p. '7 ?~
5'5.
3norvell, :.J[,at .3oys::!.Dc: Girls, p. 179.
4L:lr~c1ick,
QL:..
cit., }).
51.
sto-
It is inter'es ~in,,; to 3.lOte
grJ.oes four to six, '.:mrJ their in ~eI'("S':, declines.
IIJarrlCl(,
.,
wili
~bout
Gil'ls enjoy
(.,
') \
\..LL)
rec,ding,
l'
"(,4... 'oJ
8"8 c; t i n 'Yj' ''''.1 ~e r~ 1
~.-
....... _\.,. .
-.::,~
ch3r~c~8rs,
older nen dnd boys as
:lniTLls i'1. books.
_.4
.....
~.
They enjoy hun'.Jr,
Boys don't like raEbli r
;
~s
and wild
r.1ys~ery,
well as tame
r'3.trio'~ism
6escription, didacticism,
fairies, ron,TItic lovi:;, SYFll)dCl1y anCl self-sacrifice, physic],l
weakness, or lack of aggressiveness in stories.
indifferent
toV!:~rd
brief description,
:~he
[hey feel
supern:,.tur:Ll, Ii t-
er'..1.ry quality, ,{ne. wO:Jen or girls as minor cYJ.?,rac:ters.3
Cer t.Jin i:lo.g3.Z1ne s art'.:' favor i te s of boys.
as
Nec!la:'.ics would
l8:lc~
t.h.E:; list.
types of magazines are liked by
co~ic
books,
general adult
girls
I
boy~1
and c3rs, and
In order of preference t'lr;se
b~ys:
other science
Ga~azines,
magazines, news magazines (Weekly Reader),
mag~zines,
magazine s. 4
~uns
:::: inc(:! t>ley
general children's
m~gazines,
and
Although there are no surveYE; awdlable
to verify this st.J.tement, it is believed that Mad magazine is
lNorvell,what Boys and Girls, p. 167.
2Ibid., p. 177.
3Ibid.
4 Ibid ., p. 165.
rapidly becoming the most favorite magazin0 for boys.
books.
0"-
like lively adventure but
~hey
s:ories of :lome
and
b~bies
as
a~d
}irlf:
as t_'ler',es.
~mimals,
Chey favor Den, women, older children,
charicte~s.
self-sacrifice
it be focussed
sC:--lool life, domestic pets 3.nd
ar~d
or love and romance.
~refer
Girls
sympLthy.
~Hs3.pprcve
beco~e
involved in plots of
Similar to boys,
t~ey
like mys-
of blooc'ly, violent a.cti::m, des-
selection of books.~
enjoy
to some extent.
aCE:
~roup.
At the same
_uc~
~yp0
of story is popular for a certain
:ven so it
:L::
ti:~e
1J()o'=~',
C'O-,i:,C
(lifficult ::m,l
f":.iry
U',EOi.J:1C1
stDrie~
and magic tales
attract fewer readers. 3
lI'Yorvsll, l-v"hat Bo'[s a::.1ci Girls, p. 177.
2 -.JJi.,
Ib · p. 1/6
b.
3 Ibl(:
. •
1
to assign spe-
(14)
betvleen years s:lOuL1 i'clude 3i ble
f _.bJe s,
lec;',nds,
Tyl::;'.S,
r~ories
well as books on
~~~
Several of
~hesG
tion and discussion.
F&iry tales
~rc
J.
sense
simply;ol~;.
i")f
hobjies.
F2ctual books about
clssses of books deserve s)8cial atsen-
=o~e
~he
of then have been old flvorites for
first stories
hU'll0r,
l~c
3.ni1'1::~1
of oc;her L:nds ,mel peoplE, as
liecOlT.e the gateway to all great I
V:.'.t r
ie s, f:.iry cc_ 1e:),
tales , poetry, Ji.o ~raphy,
~lero
and adV8:l.ture stOl'ie2, s
c~~fts
S~IJ1.:'
iter~~
',-"'"
lomestic natp in
~old
ture.
to
chiJ~ren a~d
F::;.~i. ry
t·.lE' ~
of~'e-r
l__ es .-'0'"
,_ . . .1.. 2
f~iry
tales makes the magic
F;:tiry t:':.les:::..re
lLarrlck, Teacher's Guide, p. 180.
2Fenner, Proof, p.
54.
3Pisher, Intent, p. 73.
is a li12gical 1'1nd vlhic:l all long for but never sec.
In the
foregrolU1d is the comfortable v:orld of pots an(l ::)ans:;o be
[Hade mugical.
ThE
true wr iter of f c:dry t::-,lE's nove s
\'li t~l
eaS8
froe the world of reality to that of fantasy.l
~ap)enings
?he
in traditional
f~iry
cone concrete in ';he minds of c}1ildren.
ha'lE1ting
pe~1ing,
just out of
visio~1S
re~,c::..
tales do not be-
rl~ey
ar~'
beset by
They kno':J wn'lt is l1:lP-
feel t-(!'e nystery, but don It HlDt to seE' it.
these two
emotion~,
arouse
t'1e i r r"lder s.2
:iTl
apJJrehcnsion of
fea~
It is
Clni wonder, th2t al! good fuiry
tal~s
In he 1:' book Intent~ lill.on Re;"'ding
superna ':ural '."hich stil'l nouris:les ttle
'~:le
fairy tale tod.y.1I3
Fairy
t~le~
provide all people with a cert&in compcn-
sation for events th&t happen or
~o
not happen in life.
t2les are invr:)nte,j from:? natura.l desire to
i~agination
C!~;'3.nge
if it cannot be chang3d in fact.
Fairy
life in
A wish for luck
or some t;~ling ':7i t~-: raagic 1 pmlers ':Jill l.'!ake up for hUman lack
of ;ood fortune. 4
through fairy
Children and a0ults can lau~h at themselves
t~13s.
However, it is difficult to laugh at
fairies, for they are too
etherec~l.
IFisner, Intent, p. 78.
2Ibid., p. 70.
3Ibid., p. 72.
L~Ibid., p. 77.
~{umor
in fairy tales cones
(16)
best froD the more robust supernatur3.1 beings
leprechccUI1S, giants, arcd witches.
SUC:l
as broi-lDies,
These ch9r,':lcters are more
closely identified Ivi th tl~e hurran race. l
In other types of stories, too, childrpn find emotional
release through identificdtion of personal
or animals in stor ie!?
that others are
Sh~T,
::inori ty groups.
problc~s
with people
Children need the security of
hCl.ve f::mil:T problems,
DO~i1e~~tic
OJ:'
~mOltJi!lg
arr=: mEL'bers of
e~-d.
sodes 2.re e spe cially good storie s
8.
different kind of identification.
t'f'lca t·lon.~')
f or suc h 1'd en~l
Animal
Gooc~
animal stories
I'Thole environmen t.
t he
.1. ..... __
1~-...1,,~
"n rl
2.r~:~
not; only about
~ll
of us wish to identify ourselves
,>roU11J.'
ue:._ • 3
L
.... ' - . " " " : "
offer
stor~es
~.
fe~,:l
ani~als,
the~e
the
but:::.bout
:3.
wit~
The life of animals is closely related
to th,:; life of humans.
because they
ani~:al;:.,
l;lose
People anguis::: and re joice
'~o
of many
t':ern.
~'Tt th
anir:-;als
Intolerance of cruelty to
sto~ies,
may give ren insight into
cruelty to other oen. 4
There is SOlae deb a ;:e over the humanization of animals
in stories.
Ilarge:-y Fisl1er believes that " chj.ldrc:n can easily
be deluded by stories they read in e&rly years, and silly books
about animals are
meet.,,5
a~ong
the
Animals i'.1 stories
~os~
~oday
corrupting
infl~ences
use direct speech less often
IF'isher, Intent, p. 102.
2Larrick, Teac~er's Guide, p.
94.
3Kathleen Lines, Four to Fourteen, p. 53.
Y-Fenner, Proof, p. 106.
5Fisher, Ibid., p. 51.
they can
(17)
than in stories thirty years ago. l
like animals, there is no harm in
and a human name.
As long as animals behave
giving~hem hu~an
Characterization rmst be genu:Lne, accurate,
and not the least bit sentimental.
rnals in Beatrix
attributes
Pot~er's
A good example is the ani-
stories.
The animals behave like
thenselves masquerading as hU'lans. 2
\JJhen animals are humanized in stories, thE:! author is
usually trying to communicate a moral.
children this is inevitable. 3
the story
Even
t~le
wit~
In s '.:;or iE:! s for older
It is t~e fashion today to decry
a moral, but no story can be written without one.
adventure story of today proclaims
coura·~~e,
honesty,
and self-reliance in a different and less direct tone than
stories of tl1e nineteenth century.4
The c~1ief moral standard
that books try to teach children is to live honestly and usefully in the worle!. as t~ley f ir:d it. 5'
~-Iumor
a:::1d : vster:T sto"ies hold a special place in the
hearts of childrECm.
Humor is the most enjoyed reaiing charac-
teristic of bo,}} hoys a.!ld zirls.
Children love riddles, C.'lr-
toons and jokes, too, but only \'J'hen they are not adult hl.l.rnor.
6
The sus:pense ir: mysteries urges childrEm to seek solutions and
lFisher, Intent, p. 61.
2Ib·
. , p. 51.
--.JJ1.
3Ibid., p. 54.
4 Ibid • , p. 17.
-
)Ibid., 9·
,.
45.
t>r'en::ler, Proo!, p.
{.r::
.J ./ •
(18)
become involved i~ t~e plot. l
Old
~tories
and
L~e
classics are favoriteE of chiJdren.
The comnon univers·:J.l 1uality in them gives continuity from
The character and plot development
generation to generation.
provide long leisurely hours of recreation ard enjoyment for
all
a~es.
La'1lberton Becker in
l;~a-('y
the more one sees in
It is like
t~em.
but
-~,...--
S
1-1
t-
'r,·'ll'T!
'}-'-~J
1
HC,V I
A love of
-1
J"l~·-·l t~ve
t-l
~:"'.L
nf
..L.CI._
rea~inz
2
hill; the
I'OI'u.le.r.,
G:-dldren
clim~ing
'!le
Today it is a f.ClCt ):-.::.t fs.cts
Ci.J.
in Reading
Adventure~2.
,
and
::~rf-:
scie~ce
books are very popular.
is based on children's interests.
incl ncle inform::: tion a bt.HI.t
trUi~
thing S u1d f ac ts.
These
Books the. t
'"
yOUEg readers • .)
'lhe ophtlons of achlt
rri~~ics
of' chiJd:ren's Ilter3.tnre
~heir
ar D in
~
sp0ci~1
position.
lhey bring an experience of reading
\ enIler, Pr oof ,
",
c·Ibid., p. 181.
:)
~Ibicl.,
p.
literature very
lY~.
4-:8'i2:er, Intent. p. 11.
(1
C: )
... -'- ~!
::'r=.C(I~
they think children (1emand the
c' )~~ ,. -, -., _t" • 1
L
.i.I.
'--,
.,,'_
!
...-:-
~.
f·J.l~;e.
;,
/
S.
c: 111 t
~: t::.nd point; • (>
?-~..
-1- 1 :)~lel',
I
3I":orvE,11,
4 I i r~
')
1.
~.,
;:.
n
t
"-
EnG,
Ql2.
1).
L2.
cit., [). lS'l+.
140
,";.
5'Fer:r-iS, Writing :JQoks,
n
12.
..
(20)
It is most difficul t to under stand nelo[ children's
books as a child vrould understand them.
Criticism of chil-
dren's literature is also prejudiced by personal taste and
tiL~.
the passage of
There is a constant need to revise and
restate standards of children's 1ite-::ature because of the
grea t number of books published eac:'l year.l
shift, critics
t~eme,
mu~t
still judge books on luality of content,
plot, c~ar2cte~ization, style and form3t. 2
Style and con::.ent are tl/O
ties of a book.
"c~lildren
that
is stil: true
nage.
Though values
of~~le
most iP.1portant IJ.uali-
,:, irilalter Scott s taecd in
hate books
eve~
tod~y.
',!riters must
~1ave
tj"a~
~lis
1827 Journal
are written dov!"'. to then."
C~ildren
It
are ouick to sense patro-
respect for c:lildren's minds and t:,eir
concept:'_on of ~he world.3
In effect "childrrn nnst be addressed
a 5 if t~ley "rerH vl:J.lking be s:ide us, not in front or be~'1ind. 4
A 1elicate balanc0
~ust
be maintained between
~e
mes-
sage a story trier:' to tell and tll,,:: mee:lOd use r1 to tell it.
Authors definitely nust feel their stories.
a story to tell.
Yet
c~ildr8n
try to teach a le250n.
son
do not respond
l:Fis~:er, Intent,
2"
~ll)C k
r1"
ld ren
,\.-!ll
p. 12.
' s L'l t eral.oure,
- ...
p. 16.
jFenner, Proof, p.
~-Ibid., p.
3("\V.
r'
)Ibid. ,
0.
82.
~o
writers who
They becone too conscious of the les-
lose
cEF~
They must have
I
the' . in
Len
lO:::'JC 1
of peoI'le.
~hcy
try to cr0ate from
adult .self
2 Ib let.
· , , p. 23.
3Fenner, Proof, p. 195.
4COlbY, Children's, p. 30.
th~ir
own exnerience
~
-
-:
'\
(22)
-j-'- ~.1- PI'
- ""J c·
,
t::"'
.... J
l' (). n .. S
•
I
',-"
_~nyone ';!ho E:l1 t.erst:118 c~:iLl r S ':!or Ii, 'dllo ~~(:
dre3.l'S '..flU \·J.i:::_'- ~ in :"ome mc:::.surrc be(,(,,;-ne :-;er~ec!
into a chi 1.6.' s dre~J.ms J.n:-Ji:::;he~ \'rill i)l~oJduce
3. be t, Gel' ~),)olc :~IEEi :.~:lC: '.. i'i'l tel' -.':'0:: ' 1"' Le s •••
frO:J the L; JP Df :li~' :le('_d .2--Hargery Pi sher
,lhen 'Hi til::~ for c:lilrJ.l'c.n of
IF i ~11er ,.1..
T"l'!-J'='.
'-''''-It , p. 100.
_~..
,')
''-Ib
. d . , p. It,r .
__
l_'
3Fenner, Proof, p. 223.
:::~ll
levels of r:'l turi ty,
BILLY B1JNFKIN
Billy 3umpkin
l<::in.
ae
WEtS
c:. pu:'pkin, 3. jolly fat round pum!1-
lived ,tlith all his alJnts and uncles and cousins and
brothers and sisters in a
bet\vee~-::.
[lis home
The
war~
t~e
gre~G
"~3.de
afternoon sun always soaked into his
~i~
and t[].ey ·.:ould
VI ~vc
w~isper
proud.
;:;~leir
,:,llen'1
to the corn stalks
bro:c,o leves abov!' ':1i8 face
Yes, Billy 1"as co:::fo::,t:.ble, rFsting
~llly ~dS
~nd
feel strong
te~der
hi,' hot enough to get 3. s'LLl1burn t·:10ugh.
ever he felt too hot, he would
necl~by,
Billy liked
corn s :'alks, but sOT'letir,les he \v8..s unhapDY.
skin during the d2Y and made
sun Ylever
green corn field.
')[J
;lis
n:.;.d
,)f dirt.
lonely.
tryiYl['; to sleep 1J':eYl :2il1y "Inn sei to talk.
'~'lle
pumokins l,1ho
, -
I"
,-\,
.
I
i-Ie
~!uch!
tll3.t
I C:on't
won't
t~lk
to
~~.
Billy tugged
Ih~e
it
rulled 3: he scooted in
3~d
,:8
puffEr5 out
,
("'
unap.
Q
t la s t!
;'!l~::.t
other punpkins 1,Ioilld
try to
~lC
g::-t_lii1~
rolled
sec~
could
hit:' if he left
h~
nO'd
All thE
(0':'
oChey hToulcJ
to st,.y, but 1".'.E :l3.d to get cluayo
~li:sElf
the corn st;:c,lL:s.
rl[~.rlt
cC
into
t:1E
;:,j/dle of
lay very s :::il1.
t~lC
No one
::1e \v:{itcd
stre;:::-t betvlecn
h~,j
SE''::'l hin.
1hey're all asleep he thougit.
1I0h, 'ilell,
care if they jo
i:l:lCl t
s~e
me.
cJ.o I care, II Billy v:mrmured.
i'~ley're
III don't
not my frialds anYl'lJ.y.
I';'n
go ing co le:.( ve thL scorn pa tcll and fine1. sone friends of my
o\vn
0
If
./i th t:na t Billy rollcd::;.nd bumped 60wrl :.;n.e cornfield
street and made a very lotl.et rukus
0
.:e
rolls:-i
f:~,s ~cr
and tried
(3)
to skip over a vine, but he tripped
nose •
~~he
s urpr ised
ether r,umpkins s
~o
out ',{nere he
fell flat on his
in ''lander; tl'1ey v!ers too
I illy ooly s tOf'ed long enou.gh. to fi~ld
Spe9.L.
s, tl1r"n
\1,;"
~arer5_
a~d
bu~npe('i3.nd
rolled on, over tl1''= clods
of diY't.
"Thu-bump, thu-bump.
Roll s.nd jump.
Don't stop now 'til you're
Over L e hump. II
Billy sang as !1e puffed a.nd rolled up
hill.
de could
hill.
Just a
Sf~E'
t~,C
slan~~ing
t_:e:;;reen pssture on the knoll of the
lit~le
farthor he thought.
~:
last he re3ched
tLe barbed wir',,- f (mce and rollec_ slOl{ly under it.
his side exhausted.
~I[';LU
3e sighed and took deep
'.111_.,t'
2
t~Flt?"
as she :peeked fro:: hE:r ne st.
squeJ.l-;..ed
3.
_-Ie lay on
bre~th~.
mother field nouse
Her babiE's sque3.l:d ':!ith de-
light.
lILet me see.
Les
~lp
see.
,'Jhat is it?'''
lilt's only a pumpi'.in whose lost from his home."
"Can we pLLY "litl:. him, play 1.'lith him?"
"Of course, my de3.rs.
The baby
Billy.
~ice
=i'.l.Ve yourselves a th,e."
squealed with joy and cliubed upon
Their claws tickled Billy's face, and he
jiggled his body.
lau~hed
and
"At last I've foun: SODe friends," he said.
rhe mice were frightened by his booming voice and his
bouncing body and held on tig~ltly to his smooth round body.
"Ouch, Ouch!" cried Billy.
"Scat off my back.
are like needles pricking my skin."
Your clavls
(4)
The baby mice leaped from his back and scampered to
their nest.
Billy moaned at ehe thin scratches allover his
body.
They dien I t hurt much, but
bro~\:en
and sC3.rred.
patch.
nOvl
his smooth body was all
:Ie looke: longingly at
;~he
green corn
corn tassles and leaves seemed to wave him back
~h2
home.
II?Jo, I canlt go back now.
They I d laugh and make fun of me.
I must §;o on."
\'!hat would everyone say?
;:~o,
I can I t go back now.
=-1e slm"ly rolled to the top of the hill, then
stopped and looked
dow~
at the little valley below.
He saw
some great tan-colored animals grazing near the creek, but
he wasn't afraid.
"They must be the cows that Farner Dale taILs about
when he comes and looks at his corn, or maybe they're the
pigs •
,Jell , I I 11 jus t rell down and see ,v-ho they are. II
Billy slowly turned a somer saul t and rolled he::'.d over
heels down the sl ope.
'das going much too fas t . I e tried
-'18
to dig his stem into the ::;round to slow down, but he only
went fa,ster and fls cer.
Finally he shut his eyes and only
hoped he I·muld stop before he reacned the creek.
Thud!
Suddenly he rocked to a halt.
"NooOODO!"
the beast above him yelled.
It kicked
clods of sod into Billy's face as it tore across the field.
IIl'~oooooo!
pasture.
w~ile
Moooooo!" the a::1imal blared to the others in the
They all began to run in wild circles.
After a
they slowed down and cautiously walked toward Billy
wi th their heads lm..;ered.
Billy stared at the beasts that
surrounded him.
"Don't hurt me," pleaded Billy.
I'm just a pumpkin
who's come to find a friend."
"A pumpkin?" they all laughed.
IIIf you want a friend,
then why not go back to your corn field?"
"vle're cows.
'l'hey ehuckled,
How can you be friends with us ?Do you eat
grass or chew your cud"?"
11
l,1e 11 , no," Billy replied.
The cows all kicked up their heels and bellowed with
laughter.
One of them lowered his
he~d
and
bu~ted
Billy
several feet.
" te.
'
•• ey, wal"t a mlnu
11:.1
The cows thoug0t
~his
""":on'+d 0 that'.
_
v
great sport and one by one booted
and butted poor Billy across the field.
Billy near the creek with her nose.
escape.
I'll pop.'11
One of
nudged
Billy saw his chance to
Two big bulls were coming toward him.
stop to think twi(:!e.
~hem
Billy didn't
He turned 3_nc1 -,vi th a rolling lUIlge thre\v
himself into the cool creek.
I'he vfa ter felt sao :::hing to his cuts and bruises.
ire
held his breath for a few minutes and rested in the soft mud
at th2 bottom of
~he
crpek.
He tried to
but could bart::ly 1love :m inch.
c~ange
positions,
The sticky r-:ud held him fast.
With his last ounce of strength Billy puffed out his cheeks
and tugged his weight to one side.
hard roc%.
ie landed ker-plop on a
Ths sunfish and minnows swan around in circles
kissing his face.
Billy c0u16 scarcely hold his breath a minute longer.
(6)
How would he get out of
~he
cre0k?
on which he was lying moved.
He was so surprised
almost forgot to hold his breath.
and
the water.
t~1en
the mud-rock
Billy wrapped his stem arolLYld
the edge and held on ti:;htly.
upVlc:~rd,
t~en
Just
t~12,t
he
The rock moved slowly
t;~e
Billy's he2,d popped above
surface of
He gulped deep breaths of fresh air.
The rock :noved closer to elle bank, then 3/:tually
pulled itself from the water and tilted its side.
~;rass.
bounced onto :he
"~1hi.lt's
Billy
t~1E'
a ['ellm·j like you doing in
bo:.tom of the
creek?"
".{'ny~
,. .lho are you?"
Billy spluttere(J.
"I' m:lilly the Turtle.
I knovl \:.There you belong.
I've seen you in larmer Dale's corn field.
Whatever made
you run ai·ray?"
"I'n: lonesome," sobbed Billy.
"I want a friend.
Can you help 11":e?1I
"I'd sure like to be your frien(} Tnyself, only I live
in the
wa~er
part of
th~
time.
You'd never last very long
dO'vln under. II
lI1;Jho c:::.;,n be my fri;:md then, Tilly?11
bruis0~
The turtle looked at 3illy's cut,
his tear-stained face.
Let
r~:.e
"Well, I
s:::"lin,g l:1.y life.
~;e
e•
c~ues'--
llVou
......
<::1P"{.:>
c()nl.-'l
'-. .....l...........
'."" l."
"l"e
.:,
\,...
>..J.;
_~\,
body and
f'r'l' (,n,::_.,.J
','~l'll~r.
_
_
. .,. .....
if you'd roll
it's ':orth c;, ;:;ry.
I eOlJ.lcl:1't haVE
-:l~.-;lcl
Tb.ank you, Tilly, for
my bre:;.tl' much lO:lr:.:cr.
(7)
too fr i. ~.;l1Clly
rJe,!1
to
.~
~
laughed.
h(;
t;~lc
,.,
':"I
l n
b:;.:cYl."
"Thanks,
sts.·~ted
~Ijlly.
to roll,
So 10ng,1I Billy
'J.Lj~urn ·.~m·l::--l~hE'
1t!(/.v8r]
~:i:3
level path.
.HE?
ste,.: ane!.
moved slmoJly
so his bruises wouldn't hurt so much.
At last he came to the b03rd fence around :11e barnyard.
It
lookin=:;
tow.3.rC~
llCiiTJ
':ICiS
:3. t i t .
Lcd '..rl1i t8 :md l:i..'.JC Billy feel bet ter just
liE-: slid under the
botto:~:
board and rolled
small speckled animals pecking at gravel in the
SO],,(
dr i ve\>Jay •
"}1ello,1I h(:;
come to
oJ,--
5r(·~eted.
"I'm 3illy Bumpkin, and I've
your friend."
"Clack, clack.
You look like a purr:.pkin to
'1(;,
II
one of
::~en
said.
!I~h:,.t's
rigclt, I am," Billy anslvered.
look much like myself no',-, , II he saLl, touchin:.;
III kYlol,v I don't
.:'clS
cuts and
bruises wich his stem.
lI.iell, in t:1.:J. t ceJ.se, we like pumpkins. II
"Oh, you do," sl:1.ilcd Billy hap:.dly.
"Yes,
1:18
do.
..Ie
, ' re
' . c k ens,
Crtl
' 'de like to ea.t
:::L~~Q
pumpkins!"
"Oh, no!" cried Billy, trying to hide :ctis face.
1:'he chickens all hop-s ::epped tov12.rd llim and began to
peck
~~e
bruises on
~lS
face.
,
( P, \)
Billy cried in pain.
fl1Jro'ut'
\'
'_,
"'rouf'
iV,
,
..L, no .lll
"0~-,
c:l1cken~;
I eVRr
~
';'".:,'1,
r,', ,:,' I
~
';:..J
re sen d l~lE;
.
in~,LL·lir((~tLo~lS.
flevr
~eave
A sharp cry
11
,.,.
"Help!
my
s~fe
home in
~he
Help! 11
C~::'fi'te
.:.-~ or
Billy.
•
,n"c Ip , 11")'
,r . le'Q' •
,01 ]...'L'I
" \',.:,1
~:::LIJ.y
~orn
bhi~d
froE!
cl'r::d
~-'i)t
open :clis
patch he thought.
sC".ry r:Lcle.
d.()1;J~l. 11
thing
Billy
l~.nclcd wi~h
lIjhy, it'
T':1is r'.us::
E~
[.
l)e
t~ud
PULlpkin!
on the sharp
lID·..reVer in
Far' .cr D'lle' s son
I:;h'-'
thcll6~l'
~ravel.
':,'01'1("
11~ .. d
In:ope:l.ed to
l"~im.
The boy pickr'd
in his
ar~s.
Surely
not~ling
':JOrse could llappen.
pump:dn and c::.:rried it gently
s~ell
new things as they
de lih'ed II/hi te.
nc~red
It mctde him feel
The boy set Billy down on a low place near the
house and left llil1 for
somet~ing
all
t~le
Eilly could
a big '.;'li te building.
good inside.
u~J
10 it
Dilly .T.'lc' t
Billy
'.1:111
t~:J"t
a
in his hand.
:':3.
fe ,;[ cinutes.
Soon he returned with
The boy took ths long silver thing
and cut a great eircls around Billy's stem.
(9)
Billy ws..s so surprised he didn I t even thi::1k about
the cut in his
hec~d
hurting him.
The cuts and bruises
tingled with a dull pain, but he felt nothing from the deep
cut in his head.
iie lifted
t~le
Billy just sat
stem from Billy's
Billy's insides.
t~ere,
watching the boy.
and began to scoop out
he(~_d
It felt cool and refreshing to Billy.
He
didn't feel so fat and bloated anymore.
Next the boy wiped his blade on a cloth and cut a
V-shaped wedge on top of Dilly's eye.
He thought it "-lOuld
hurt and waited for the pain, but \vhen the boy removed the
section, Billy could see everything more clearly.
was bright and fresh a1:.d colorful.
The world
Billy could hardly I·mit
until the boy cut out the other eye.
fhe world was even
more beautiful.
The boy cut Billy's nose out.
good things in the house much better.
by 'I,o,ha.t was happening to him.
He could smell the
Billy was fascinated
He vlanted to shout because he
was so happy and because he felt like a new person.
He tried
to shout, and then the boy did something to help him.
He
took his knife and rlade a long curving line alrr;ost reaching
to Billy's chin.
squeaked with joy.
The wedge fell to the ground and Billy
The boy looked at Billy as if he couldn't
believe he had heard a pumpkin talk.
Then he shook his head
and went inside the house.
Billy suddenly felt very sad, for his new friend had
left him.
He wanted his stem back on top of his head.
He
(10)
fel t cold inside
vJi thout
his hat.
Soon the boy returned
carrying a short stick with a flame on the end of it.
placed the lighted stick inside Billy.
warm and happy.
Instantly Billy felt
The boy picked up Billy's stern cap and set
it securely on his head.
his broad smile.
He
Billy looked at the boy and smiled
The light in his eyes beamed into the twi-
light.
nWhat a long day this has been," sighed Billy.
it was ,!lor eh it."
that the heat
w~s
"But
:-Ie looked a t his bruises and cuts and
beginning to heal :hem.
sm."
He remembered the
frisky mice who had cut him and 'ehe bully cows who had butted
and bru:ised him.
TIe thought of the silly fish ",rho had tried
to kiss :-dm and the pesky chickens who had tried to peck him.
Billy remembered all that had happened to him as he
sat on the front porch step.
into the dark night.
"None of that for me,tI he glowed
"Boys are the only friends for pumpkins!"
I'd=- J:\Y 8LFOli.2 EASTER
Carrie
~eld
onto her father's finger
S~'le
doun the gravel rO'ld.
~1is
they walked
stipped every r)t:ler step in her
mud-red boots tryi::lg to rna tch his stride.
a small caD in
28
::1er fa th"'-r swung
other hand and vrhistled as he waJlked.
warm Nee.rCD '.;ind ',-lhipped past
a faint odor to Carrie.
frocn the
t:-~em
sir~_e
_~_nd
The
brought
She screvled up her nose and 8.sted,
"It's g,:lsoline--here in the can."
rrVlhat's :it for?"
"It's to help the brush piles bV.rn
bet~er."
"Oh."
She tossed her head, and her dark curls bounced as
she skip?ed.
She couN Sf.."e tLeir nel" h0use set :Ln a corner
of the hToods 2nd looked b.J.ck
Grandpa Fisher's.
there ,
':;0
see how
"Come on, Dc::.ddy.
fB.Y'
..:-!.urry.,
t:'ley I d coJ:18 from
Ae're aJlmost
s:1e
sh 01). ted , runnl'
n g ahe::;.d.
.
• ~
II
Just then a rabbit darted
halted in surprise.
acro~s
tlLook,=jaddy!
the road, and Carrie
Look at him run!"
"He sure is in a hurry, all right."
lI
ne y,
Daddy.
Do you suppose he could be the Easter
Bunny?" she asked excitedly.
"Oh, he could be."
"Maybe he's out trying to see where the houses dre so
he ,don't get lost tomorro':l Hhen he comes."
Her bro',m eyes
(2)
were round, and she was breathless as she spoke.
~is
She watched
white tail bob up and down uS he disappeared into the woods
by their house.
"Oh, hurry, Daddy!"
She tugged at his arm.
"Let's
see where he went."
lie kept ehe same s Gride.
II'"Je night scare him away,
and then he '. !Ouldn' t2om,:: tomorrow.
You \vouldn' t "!ant that
to happen, would you, Carrie?1l
"0'n, no!"
'rhey soon stood in the sticky mud of the dri ve-'iJaY.
The front yard was criss-crossed with tractor tred prints
where Carrie's
had dragged the trees from the clearing.
fat~er
The soft yard was cluttered
~ith
dead branches that had bro-
ken from the tree s and roots th3. t he had grubl'ed out.
Today
Carrie 'Nas goins to get to help :)ick up branches and burn
brush piles.
She
e3.g:::r to s tart and ran across the yard
VLS
to\vclrd a large limb.
She tugged at it, but it "']Quldn' t budge.
Her father laugi.1ed as he set the gasolinE can under the
sweet gun tree.
'er e, ,.''''
..........
UCi..J.J.le.
'I'G
Let 1:1e help you."
They ':!orke::l steadily for over an hour.
Carrie tossed
small branches ort top and sometimes poked them into the sides
of the brush piles.
She picked up a long rough branch and
pulled it behind her as she walked toward the largest brush
pile near her father.
She
stu~k
the branch into the brush
pile and a crying squeak came from within.
jabbed the si.:.ick in a li t:tle deeper.
"Daddy!
Daddy!
Come here!
U',mat is it, Carrie?"
Startled, she
Again the sound snueaked.
Listen!"
(3 )
"Come here, Daddy.
Listen."
),gain
S~1e
"Did you hear 'n.im.
he's stuck.
I think I found the Laster Bunny.
poked the stick, and the squeak was louder.
lie ran in here w:"len I sC:3.red. him.
Ho1t' C3.n we get him out?"
Now
She looked at her fa-
ther all...xiously.
"I:/hy don't
vIe
just walk away and leav
him alone.
l1aybe he'll get loose."
"But, Daddy.
run away?
VIha t if his leg's broken, and he can't
Haybe he'll come out if I call him.
Here, Bunny,"
she called softly.
Her father picked up the last few
them toward a brush pile.
piles of branches.
The yard was
rhe afternoon
dows across the yard and
~ade
SQ~
branchE~s
do~ted
and threw
with several
sent long slanting sha-
the brush piles look like moun-
tains.
"Has he come out yet, Carrie?"
She shoved the stick in slowly, and the s lueak sounded
louder than before.
"He's still in there, but I can't see
him. II
"Keep trying, Car'r>ie.
I'll be back in a minute to
help you. 1I
A few minutes later Carrie heard a crackling sound
behind her.
She spun around.
blazing 1:1i t~ fire!
T . . .ro of the brush piles Ivere
Her fa t!~er slvung the gasoline can over
another brush pile, then he set it down behind
hi~.
watched as he reached in his pocket then stood on
as he struck the rna tch on his heel.
She
one foot
.de tossed ':.he match into
(4)
t~le
brush pile, and it burst into fldmes.
Carrie looked around her.
on fire but hers.
oline can.
All the brush piles \·:ere
Her father came closer, swinging his gas-
1I0h, no, Jaddy!
You dan't burn this one.
'rLe ,:.a;::;ter Bunny's inside! II
you remc:nber?
Don't
She backed up
with her arms outstretched, protecting the brush pile.
~ier
father laughed as he set she can d01J!11.
Don't get so excited.
while the
[as.~er
1I0h, Carrie.
I wouldn't burn your brush pile, not
Bunny's ins ide. If
Carr ie s igi'.ed 'Ni th relief.
going to get him out?
IIvJell, then how are vre
Could v.Te move all the brush over on
the ones that are burning?"
"No, Carrie, I
We've zot to get
you
w~at.
can
':'-~
of a
tIT:
b2c~
ai'rc.cid
'~ha t
\vould take too long.
to grandpa's before dark.
Let's go into the house and have a snack.
l;ch ::;h;:; brush pilss from inside.
':l~.y
Maybe
to get the bWIny to cor:'E.' out, or mayb
1;!~lilo \'l8
out all by himself
1I:,'ie11, okay.
out, '.,.rill
I'll tell
t
\.,rf3
We
Ciln t>·ink
he'll get
re ;;one. /I
You '.Jon' t
b~J,rn
this onE: 'til he ;ets
3."OU?1I
/lOf cour se
:'IJ t
Carrie
glad to go
W~S
•"
insi~e
and eat.
Every day ttey
took tine out to snack on candy, cookies, or pretzels whenever tr:,ey Here hungry.
t!10Ugllt the l"aster Bunny
Car" i.e wasn't hungry today, but she
jus:~
'light 1.-rork hi c l;self free if t:ney
stayed inside long enough.
Her fa ther reached high into the cabi::12t above tlle sink
( 5')
for
box of pretzels.
~~e
They S2t on a sawhorse
e~ting
~he~.
The 'Ii/alls of the 1-:i tcl1e~ 'derE" ':overF.'d \.:i th;' L. s t;;r board, and
half of :he woodwork was nailed in
i~
Several boards lay
a corner of th6 kitchen, and wood shavings
ne2r
t~e
wdlls.
i'hey ate silently for several
Ehen her father spoke.
a
pl~ce.
bit for
ie.
'1'>le11
'Je' 12..
r1iOVe
II :Je
.J
11 ,\JUo_
(' '" T' - "l'
'_ n\...'.
gat~ered
dust
~inutes.
I guess I'd
the: sa':Thorse and lumber :into
ehe O'1:[ler room."
"S ure ,
pilE',
11
l1-wn
c~"n ~'!e
see
Gunny brush pile'!
11'-'1' ~aster
tlOh, he c::;n I t uurn it," shE.' :·r:.i186.
~o~ld~'t
'til we
s till in
t~lere.
bru:::~.:.
l-~il~~.!Len
~ot
t~~
taster Blulny out!
II
I
C:::Xl?
out. II
I just know he's
it '..'8.:::."
L-:
t:~o::or!li ng,
s~~e
~,·!ould
l:no\-l for sure he
vl8. S
s~~fe.
But
Carrie c-Jrned her he;.d away fro!1:h" :)ur-'1ing brus:,-
back
~~l;:'
tec:~:rs.
her boo:;, Llen
311(;
8:_8
:;Jr~:ssed
s~oO~l
2.
Gum ball into
~he
Inu,::1 vii th
on ic "-lith all her 1;leight..::'hrough
blurry eyes ShE; sen'l sOIi'etl"lin; lying in a clump of s;rs.ssy ,.,e8(1s.
She s ~ooped to see
t~ey
were real.
1ilha t i t
She could
-."F::lS
t:lel1 touched cheL to see if
h~rdly
believe her eyes.
on the ground ';[ere three candy :;.. 3.S ::;er eg:; s.
QuiC}~ly
There
she
grasped them in her hands and ran to her smiling father.
"Look, Daddy!
See ':That the iascer bUIWY left me!
He did get out of the brush pile after all!!!
'::::ERI:2 THE O\lJL
C~'!ris
and frnie pushed their lunch
other on the seat.
a bloop, and
~he
bOXES
next to each
The dusty orange school bus bounced over
ir trJ.err;;os bot tles ra ttlsd lnside.
Chris scooted
back in the seat and looked at Ernie.
h~LVf
"Hey, [r'1ie,
~rnie
Limpit.
slumpe6 his
you got a
~Jet
si:~oulders.
He's such a!1 old dog.
yet for the parade?"
"Nope, nothing blJ.t old
I c,:m't t3.ke hi?l."
1I',1hat ab,)ut your goldfish, -r!1ie?"
"No,
~hG.t
1-1011.lo.n'1: Hork eit:ler.
got to have a pet :hat can do a
Fall
~iarvest
~rick,
D2.y is ,just five days away.
Gosh, C!lris, I've ,just
or one that's unusual.
I'VE got to have a
pet for the parade. 1I
III'd let you share .Jo-Jo Hith i71e,1I said Chris, "only
it's against
~h9
rules.
Besides
I'~
the only one who can
ride hir: ,:!hen he does his tricks.1I
The bus le".:'.ed around the cornpr :3.nci st.::.
road
(:;0
Chris' :1011Se.
"Look at hi')] go.
,tC(~
("0\'11"1
Jo-.Jo stopped Zl'azing, tossE'd
ae learned to do ;:ha t :::tIL by
tho
~:is ~leE.d
~l
i.use 1= ."
said Chris.
1I=le surE
i,,~
a sLle:.rt pony," said Ernie.
ThE' bus ,jerked to a halt as Chris grabbed his lunch.
bucket and jacke t.
liSe e you !:;omorrO\v! II
(2)
"80 long, Chris. 1f
Ernis moved closer to chs window of thz bus.
He
squinted into :he sun as hp watch0d Chris climb the fence
to pet Jo-Jo.
Jo-Jo is a smart pony thought Ernie, and he can do
all :,dnds of tricks.
If I only had a pet that \vas different
from anyohe elses, maybe I could win a prize.
I wouldn't
have time to train a dog or cat now to win the prize for the
most talsnted pet.
Ginny ililler's Angora cat will probably
win the most beautiful pet prize.
But nobody's got an unusu-
al pet.
The bus churned up dust clouds as Lrnie ':.ho}..lght and
thou;:;ht about a pet.
~e
\v,,}s still thinking that night at
supper.
"Lrnie, for heaven's sake.
Stop playing ,/lith your
food and eat sone supper. 1I
IINot hungry."
Ernie moved his fork in circles around
the spinach and pork chop.
wvJha t 's the rna t ter, son? II
"Dad, It's
the pet parade.
jU3;~
:hat old Limpit isn't good enough for
Se limps so bad he couldn't even
w~lk,
and
he can't do any thing. II
"Well. Ernie, why don't you go to the creek and
c~ltch
yourself a frog. 1I
"Oh, anybocy
c~n
do that.
By pet's got to be different
than anybody elses."
"Well, k.eep thinkin;, son.
You'll come up ':lith
(3)
something."
After supper
scraps out
~o
helped his mother by taking
~rni~
Limpit in the shed.
He was still thinking
about a pet as he opened the door and
It ',vas dark, but he knew
get up from his bed in
w~ere
~he
~he
Limpi twas.
corner.
inside.
ste~ped
He heard him
7he dog leaned against
Ernie's leg as he ate, and Lrnie bent down to pet his back.
"How are you, fella?"
"EEEeeech!
ELEeeech!"
Ernie grabbed Limpi t 's body close to him.
that?"
"Ima twas
Lrnie crouched to the floor and looked around him,
his eyes wide.
"ELEeeech!
EJ::,Eeeechl"
Ernie searched
glared down at him.
t~e bea~s
SloHly he
overhead.
in{"~hed
to\ifrd the door, opened
it a crack, and slipped into the safety of
He took a deep
breat~
Two dots of light
t~e
then ran like a rocket
dark night.
tow~rd
the back
door.
"Dad!
shed!
Hurry!
:Jad!
Come quick!
There's something in the
Bring a flashlight.
Let's see ',·,hat it is!"
They hurried back to the shed and opened the door
slowly.
"You should have heard it, Dad.
It was the spookiest
sound!tt
"EEEeeech!
E:.Eeeech! II
"There it is again, Dad. Up there."
to the two dots of light.
Ernie pOi!lted
His father held the lantern up
(4)
over his head.
"vJhy it's a baby screech owl, Ernie."
"ilow'd he get in here?1I
liRe must have COf,le in
'y,!~en
it was still light and then
couldn't find his way out.1I
"EIey, Dad!
wl'Jhy,
Can we
',~TLatever
l~eep
for?"
"For the pet [lJ.rade!
have a Jet like him!
him?"
i-le'd be perfect!
Ho one \llould
Could we keep him in here, Dad, 'til
after the parade Saturday'?
Could we '2 II
1I0h, I don':; knovl, l_rnie.
=1:0\-1 itlould you feed hin.1I
IIOh, put sor1e food around in here.
He
flYid it. II
CQ 1.l1d
liDo you kno'" whs_t O\'lls e2t?11
II ,'/ell , not exactly.1I
fres~l
IIThE::Y ea:;
riJ.'.V ;r;ec1..t like fii?ld nice. 1I
IIdell, couldn't '\.;e put some ra'IV meat in here?
l~lec).se,
Dad. 1I
II,Jell, I don't kno'IV,1I he shook
just;~r:l
"Couldn't I
II~Jell,
I
gU(~SS
~lis
head.
for a day or tvJQ?II
there's no harr:; in trying. 1I
His face
broke into a smile.
IIGee, thanks, :;)ad!
for
~he
Yippee!
now I can vlin
~he
prize
most unusual pet!1I
They closed
windows were shut
~he
door carefully and made sure all the
tigh~ly.
1he next Dorning on the school
bus Lrnie sat on the ed::;e of his seat as the bus rattled do,.;n
the hill
j~o
Chris' house.
~.rnie'
s red frecLl 9s spread over
l
( 5)
his face in a broad smile.
gus s s 1,vho. t?
I've got a pet for the pa-
rade!"
"~'lhat
is
i~?
~'lhers
did you get it?"
Chris heard the '\.,rhole story of the discovery of the
owl and
t~e
pla~s
to feed it.
"Gee, that's great, Ernie."
off~he
"aey, Chris, why don't you get
bus at my house
tonign,t and see him?"
"Sure
thin:~."
of~'
That after'loon the boys jumped
~
into
ehe bl;S and rushed
rnie' s house to get so ne ra1rl hamburger from the refriger-
ator.
lhey put it on an old lid
a coffee C ,n and headed
fro~
S~lEd.
toward the
"',Eeeech!
"See,
-:~-,ere
EJ: Eeeech!"
he is.
:Jp in the rafters!"
"Can you C'3.tch hiGl yet, Ernie'?"
"NO
",
,
but w>2're goin:; to try this evening.
to get used to us first.
The
eyes.
screeC~l 0\'11
"
follm'Jed the boys vIi th his rouIld golden
They moved slowly tow_rd a shelf on one side of the shed
and set the can lid of raw
hambur~e~
ne~r
"There, he'll see it here and eo. t.
day
nOVl
:-i:e's got
tha +: he I s be en insi.de \"i
":lhat ar' you
~;oi'1;:;
~o
;~hout
the front.
I .~
I
S
been over a
food," Trr,ie
c::.ll =lir:1, :rnie':d'
~:~.i'2.
( f,.. 'IJ
bee:~
,,"cere
Ee's sure
n.,
lI"e
'J
,
got big e3.rs,1I
:::hrts •
S~~i(l
.Ie'11 c;all him Larie.
it.
~o
pOSE:d
31)el1 it IIEerie."
wc.~nt
It's a perf0ct
be spool:y :1n.d eerie.
.Je'd be':ter go
2.l0\<[,
01.'1ls are supfLt:e.
Only 'de' 11
Chris • . :e vlOuldn't
hiD to get Ei.fra.id of us. 1I
Tne boys slipped1uickly OlJt of the door Clnd nade sure
it was latched socurely.
fha next Torning on
~he
bus Frnie
could hardly wait to tEll Cnris thE news.
1S , I h e 1;;
II Ci~·
clr
1
·
nl~
u.
him and finally CGuzht
even
t::..~
1 as t Dlf;h.
. - t
D·"J.d m. d I surrounded
-Ie vrQ sn 't ,..:ild at all.
~t~.
,""-~
idn f t
to peck me."
How did he li>_e his .har~lb'J.r ger '? II
gre3. t, l:.:rnie!
"Oh, he did.n't eat ruuch of it, but maybe he \'1asn't
hUIlgry. "
"Cm..ll:: be.
in the parade?
~Iey,
:"J:'nie, how are you going to carry 11im
If you need
~
bir~
c~ge,
I thihk we've got one
up in the attic."
"No, silly, 1':-;; ;;')ing to h:.lve 11in :perc> on my arm vlith
a cord around :11s foot, like the fs.lcons you re,ld about."
I could
AnYVla.~i
"Do you
thinl~
"Sure.
If I coul::l hold him last night, don't you think
teJ.c~l
he'll do it oka.y?"
hin to perch by Saturday?
That's three days.
lle' s a very S'13,rt bird. II
Chris couldn't scay after school to
Ernie llOpped off' trlG bus and ran to
~l1e
S08
sl:ed.
L_E owl, but
_~e
eased him-
self insi:1e and looked up i:l::'O ::h·=: rafters for Eerie.
':ie
( 7)
whistled softly.
his
fli6.~t
fluh,
touc~ed
hts
~rou
sto~;~ach
)l~:3,cej
~n0
;larn~
throu~h ~ ~indow o~
sec n:e,
t·~ere.
it
i'or '::'ib.:i.ng to
around his neck
~;o
'lust be Zl:...c1
si!'lc"? th'3Y
sla~ted
'.r~1iE:;
upv::J.r- jus:-, in tir:2 to r:iss
Chr~s
I shead.
jrnie si'1iled.
II
Ernie felt funny inside
2.~Jout
at Ernie.
the shed.
;he
'
.'.-" ODd.
!he late aft0rnoon sun
A
l~~~e
grotes~ue
sha-
11J.ietly, half to ':ii::.sElf.
For :he next two days :rnie went to the refrigern:or
owl.
He ah:ays [ave the old hamburzer that Eerie didn't touch
gul~ed
to Limpi t ':!ho
it dOvn"l in one bi se.
Thursday evening at supper hi s
lI~r
LO\.V I S
t , "rnle.
.
.
nlS d'
~le
,.
<)
~a tl1"'~r
a ::kcc1. abou t. the
iave you been feeding hin every
day?"
"Sure, Dad.
Ivery day I tate hirr.
SODS
ra.w ha"'lburger. II
=rnie 2idn I t feel th-:-. funny feeling in ilis stoY:1ach quite as
much
~ith tha~
lie.
After all he thought, I do tahe him ham-
burger every day even if he
c~oe
sn It eat i
~.
(8)
"Dad, could yo'). help
only got Friday left to
te'lC~l
"Of cJurse, . ,rnie.
,,'8
]hey entered th0 shed
light high to
f~nd
"='.:=eeech!
toward
irnie.
~he
c3,~ch
"0
hi)'1 to
i-:..irr. a=~::~in toni'~ht?
}-;erC~1
on
I've
lny:~.rnl."
C.O'.!1 t::-:; tonis'·lt."
~uickly
and
~uietly
and held the
owl.
EE::eeech!"
The ball of
3e ducked as th0
owl~t
:f'e3.thE~rs
s1;looped
sailed over jis head
and flew to his perch.
":1:e sure is a nervous lit tIe rascal."
"Yeah," Ernie replied.
"He mus t be gra t.:::ful to you fo:' feeding him so rlUch,
son."
E::-nie felt the funny feeling in his s to;nach as he
glanced at
t~e
shelf and the empty can lid.
shifted to Limpit.
eyes and thumped
.L'hen hi s eyes
The old dog looked at him with tired
~ds
tail on '.::he2arth floor.
For fifteen minutes they tried to catch the owl, but
he flew among the rafters
~nd
screeched his weird cry.
"I don't kno\v, son, if you can have him per ch on your
arL1, or not.
He SEems to be a lot Hilder tr.an last time."
"'dell, Dad, if I have to, I sup-pose I could put him in
a cage.
:~aybe
he ,,·:ould be bet Ger off' there."
Ernie
t~lOught
about how the owlet darted for his head each tiL1e he Clms
inside
I had a
~he
shed.
ci.~ge
It would be a lot safer for
~e,
too, if
he thought to hirr:se If.
Friday af ternoon
~'-rnie
stepped down fro;1 t":.e bus and
walked slowly to\'!ard Glle :'1ouse.
:Iis red jacket Ivas slung
(9)
carelessly over his shoulder, and his sandy hair dipped low
over
he
eyebroit!.
~lis
tosse,~~
~le
let the front door bang be:ind him as
his retder on th'2 couch.
r efr iGe [,el tor for Eore
~1anbur;er,
1e st,J.rted to'vTJ.rd tte
then he c.langed his nine.
and walked out the back door.
1I",'lha t' s t11t3 use of gi vin; i t
bled to
as he neared +;he SliE:d.
l1i~Jself
Eerie would eat something though.
s~ape
for
to Li.mpi t, II he mur:t-
E~ll
~omorrow.
catch some nice.
~aybe
III sure 'io '. /ish
I have to have him in good
I could get the old tom cat to
That probably wouldn't work though.
Owls
like to swoop down and catch live miee. 1I
~rnie
for
en~sred
the shed ani looked up into the rafters
owl.
;~he
"Eerie, 'Jlhere are you'? II
There \Vas no sou.nd.
owlet.
The rafters showed no sign of the
Ernie hoisted himself up on some boxes to try and sec
the owl.
The afternoon twilight revealed only darkness.
Then from the far corner Ernie heard a faint cry.
IIEeech.
(~uickly
sound.
"Eech. II
Eeech."
The sound was almost a whisper.
Ernie climbed across the rafters toward the
'rhe cry grew softer.
Then Ernie saw the
owl, a ball of ruffled drooping feathers.
As Ernie came clo-
ser the owl remained on its perch and tucked his beak deeper
into the ruff of gray down about his neck.
Ernie gently wrapped his fingers around the owl's body.
The
fea~hers
crushed and matted together.
All Ernie could
feel was his tiny body, the size of a hen's egg.
(10)
"Ieech," cried the owl weakly.
Ernie held the O\ITI carefully in one 'lfl.nd as !ie eased
his body from the rafters.
his hand.
He raised
~he
tiny bird was motionless in
He could feel a faint heartbeat
!~he
a~ainst
owl's head with his finger.
blurred and half closed.
his palm.
It's eyes were
Slowly he removed his finger, and
the owl's head fell limply into the downy fea. thers aro1Ll1d
its neck.
Suddenly Ernie felt the f1LrJ.ny feeling in his stomach.
Then it moved up to hi s throat and s"'ar ted his
Eerie, don't die, please!
go Monday.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to
st.~.rve
He carried the owl outside
hands :,-iide.
Ernie swooped
h~s
"Go
a~lead,
"Oh
,
I should have let you
you. II
~~e
shed and opened his
IIThere you go, E:erie; you' re
lay in his hands.
E~ye s.
Eerie.
frE~e!"
Fly!
The mlTl
You're free!1I
hands upward, and the owl fluttered a few
feet but fell to the cyround.
The owl lay on his side in the dry grass.
hin up and hurried toward the nearest tree.
himself up on the low branches.
Ernie picked
Se quickly lifted
Caref1;11y he placed Eerie
on a sturdy branch and
1tl2
c:ched intently as the owl dug his
talons into the bark.
Then the owl onened his eyes a slit
and seemed to stare into Ernie's eyes.
thers and
pivo~ed
his neck.
"Go ahead, Eerie!
cli~bed
He ruffled his fea-
Fly!
Fly!"
;;rnie
plE!2ded.~~e
down from the tree, his eyes on the owl.
al minutes he s ~ood benes. tll the tree.
For sever-
2he mill f la T)ed his
(11)
Vlings~
"LEeech!"
"Go
a~lead!
You can do i
~rnie
The owl looked at
fro:'-~~~lC
turr..eci and swooperi
faltered and. he
vE~ered
~! I~
for several long seconds then
br::mch.
.i:'or an instant his ','lings
t01:lar:::'. t~c grounc1.
se2med to be lifted on at
~ir
curre~~.
wings s:eadily as it Eoar0d up
~owar~
1:'(;11 his body
The owl flap0ed its
t~e
~ickory
:rse
~t
the
edge of the clearing.
"Eeeeech!
Ernie
~le
Leeeech!" The 0'.11 called. to th-:: 'Noods.
snil~d
after
~he
owl and looked at the
had clisappeD.rec' into the leaves of the tree.
turned
~'d
whistled for
Limpi~.
spotw~ere
ihen he
~'O
CAi.'C~{
A FISH
Ds.vid hUllcr. . ed oV8r, flashlight beamed on the ground,
hunting niehtcrawlers.
feet as he vJalked
b2.c~~
f~e
;:~nc1
dark vet grass tickled his bare
forth :3.cross the yard.
"Ho1tl nany
ha.ve you got, Jad?" he \·Jhispered.
"0~~,
about half a can.
"Just a
\lOrC, eyes on
~1inute ~
t~E
spot
Ho\<! about you'/"
one~
lhere'sa big fat
~arked
by his
flashlig~t.
ie bent
down carefully GLd in one 1uick motion pressed his
agains t; the red neck J.nd held
out. "
'lJorm
Gently the boy
2.~;
tugg(-~d;
t~le
'cr::t~.der
thrr~b
f irnly 3.g ~L1S t.
he felt a slight ripple
it du.g deeper into the grou..Yld.
iL~;!!~
The boy reL. X' d
l:i~
hold for an ins ten t; t;nen when he felt the vJOrm release its
;r i9, he pulled i
~
fro"l the da r lp soil i..Ji th skillful finger s.
"There, thE;;. t make s t':Ienty-seven for
~:e,"
he said proudly.
wi-Iere,Jad, put the', '.lith yours, i.j.nd let's see how many vre've
got!"
David nelp the flashlight 'dhile his father poured the
'crawlers into the Idrge pork and beans can.
dirt fell among -she slir':lY 'dorms vhich '{,ere all
He
watchp~
his father settle the
wor~s
S~all
'~ied
clods of
in kno t s.
in tje large can
b~
(2)
tapping it against his palm.
poured
t~le
Then h€ tilted the can and
cra'0!lers into his open hand, letting the dirt
t
sift through his fingers.
Loo~{
1I','JoW!
at theo!
Do you think \Ve've got enough?"
oug~~t
"Yes, I think one big can
noon.
to last us all after-
You really fow1d a lot of nice one s, David."
liDo you think I can
C',l tch 8.
river
C~i t
as big as this? II
He stretched his hands far apart.
"I don't know, David./le'll see tomorro'd,1I he grinned.
scooped up a handful of loose sod fran the tulip bed along
the fe'l'e and s;r' nkled it on the 'crai;ler c: •
IIRiCht
3;rlSS.
no'! thOU~l:-l HE"
-:ie, vid
d bet :.;e1' 3et sone
:3.ddecl SODe
s~lUt-eye.1I
The two ':.'J.lked si,:'e by side int-he d:3-I'kne s s to\13.rcl the
light at the
b~ck
the nig::1t sky.
of
~he :·aL~y
could see.
door.
30th were silent.
I·:Lll'loDS \)f'
',Jay.
;~in::-
~avid
looked at
st-,ps bIen l lE,,1 into th::' band
L:_;,rger st_rs -cr8
SC3. t ~er('d.is
L:.r as
He hrctrd tl1e miclni3 'It breze in the ';loods then
felt it softly touch his body.
It was warm and
meGlber the b·ilmy·rinds on the river.
~ade
Ivere suckers anyt·ny?
them back.
mo~
II;Iey
H
,
ho~
H:nlJl"1mn!
He could 'caste it already.
to fry them!
you t\1l0, did you fill up the can'?"
greeted them at
c~e
'.fnat good
You couldn't ea t them and had to throw
But a catfish!
knew just
him re-
He just had to catch a
IIcatll bigger than all the suck2rs he go'c last; time.
His
~1€
His oother
screem door.
"You bet, dam.
Look.
'vJant to see?"
them into his hand halfway through the door.
He began to pour
(.3)
"No you don't.
Back outside," she lau:;hed.
"I believe
you."
"Here, David, let's leave the can on thr- step 'til
It should be all right unless Skippy knocks it over."
~-:orning.
"Oh, he '}[on't.
de likes \vorms, and besides 1.1e'S asleep."
"And that's just \rIhere you should be, ny boy.
to bedvlith you.
Upstairs
Be sure to take a bath first."
"Okay, Hom.
Good night. 'Night, Jad."
"Good night, David. 1I
Golly, didn't she think he knew enough to take a bath
without being told.
5is parents were okay,
treated him like a baby.
He rolled over, and the moon
blink it "ras so bright
hi';'~
He covered his
~eud
they
so~etimes
Javid lay in bed listening to the
muffled talk of his parents.
made
bu~
shL~'ling
through his vindo'!!.
with his soft feather pillow and fell asleep.
David stirred and heard his pillow plop to the floor.
lie opened
clock.
s~irt
~1is
eyes a creel:.
It was 6:30 alre_dy.
:\ beam of
li~sht
fell on the dlarm
Quickly he dressed in jeans,
and sneakers and tiptoed down the creaky stairs.
sw~t-
His
dad \vo1.:'.ld be up at seven to do the chore s, and he didn't want
to wake him.
Mom got to sleep a little longer, but breakfast
was always rEady by eight.
He
slipped out the back door.
"They're still here."
"Whew!"
Jus t then Skippy bouncled arou.."tJ.d the
corner whinning happily and
,,\T~J.gging
his t,ail.
You didn't hear me open the door, did you?
you see our 'crdwlers?"
[:,e breathed.
_1,
f!~I1.·
fell..J...u.'" •,
Look, Skip.
Jid
rhe dog snif _'ed the can und turned
(4)
his
~ej.d.
collie close to
1
•
(·.. lID.
David dumped the can upside dO\"n on the cenent step.
The cylinder of wor2S slowly sprawlc'd in &11 directions.
Big
nightcrm-.rlers diEentancled therr:sel ve s :::..nd dar tc (1 aero 3 s t>.'.e
'118 nlore lively 0:le8 1·:ere
tUf:lblinz off' the step c.nd onto the
1I:10U
L"J,
hi::
}J~tlrn
the
'cr~~ler
Ski}:.
for:l
fCi
arch E'loor.
Can::.; ::md help "'e!1I
secone:::;.
clof01y.
=t felt
'he; :;iny
dasp and cool as it wi~~led
sf~=~ments
in 1.. tS bod2' ;-·Jved in
i'he back 'oar slaF:,rled.
'crJ.-:lErs."
clo sed
:~h",;
lid.
\t hi:3
nr:d Davhl :.nd
( 5)
In an hou:-
the Black
~:~Ylgus
.•
~ler,l
year on his eleventh birthday
D~vid ~ould;et
u elf for his
enou::;h yet
C2.1f
~r~c~
re3.dy.
if
,go
but my s to"'ich
tl~lO
£' or
:it's
breakf as t. !I
.. I I n 'Ji til you.
I
I f;j
st:_trveo.! II
the woods panting.
the house David sniffeC the 0ir.
Eurry uP, Dc:.:.d,
David lif ted
II
~i1e
t~e
called over hi s
lid on the c
,rl
of
~:hou10er.
I
cr::~1.,'ler
co •
It the back door
IIJust
c!lecldng, II
he grinned at his father b€:llind hir;1.
Tiley l,'rere
almos~
jelly please, Zorr.
the river?"
finished '.dth breakf,:.1st.
"Pass the
::1:ey, Dad, '.{,,,at time are ",Ire le.aving for
(6)
"I
t":lOUg~lt
t~e
fence back by
He'd go about tIVO.
woods this
·,Je've got to lleno that
~orning.
I'~
c~ttle
afraid the
might break tilrou:::;h any (;i, ~e."
":{mv- IDng 'd111 it tate?"
, It'll t2J:C all morlllng, a.nd tha t' s if ':le ',,rork
fa::~
t."
IIlilhat tim(; do you 1.vCint dinner then, dear?"
H!e'll trJ to be back between 12:30
rhe morning went fast for
in pla:::e ""hile
pricked
I~im
~..is
dad D:1.ileci it
~avid.
~Lnc.l
t~e
de held
securE~ly.
"'hen he v!asn It c·<reful.
1:00."
"iiow
barbed 1Jire
T(~0
~'1uc:h.
fence
"lore, :-Jad?"
"Oh, another t\·!enty feet oug:J.t to do it.1t
Soon they were finished, and David drove the tractor
back to the
b~r~.
lfter dinner
to get til!':' fishing tackle.
on
~~;"l6
iurriert out to the shed
c;lee~ced
poles and tas :~e':i the lines.
bobber s and
t~ckle
I-h'
~e
hook~l
the hooks and
siYll~ers
l'here l,fere enough extra
in the tackle box.
~Ie
laid ths pole sand
box in the back of the pick-up and returned to
~he
house.
"All set, Dad," he cc,lled from the screen door.
"Okay, be right out."
David picked up the Cin of
wai~ed
'cr~wlers
Skip.
They
utes.
Soon his father got in the cab, and
and called to
patiently in the truck for several mint~ey
were on their
way.
It was five miles to Little Buck River, and David
kne\v the
t~le
rO~ld 'f(~l~..
L'he t!'ees ':lere alMost 2,11 b"LlShy ,-.ri th
ir ne'li! sr'?en leave s.
Th~)
na;~rO\v
black-top follo':led the
fence along the fields.
neat rows.
Far~ers
The crossroads
,:LS
Tiny shoots of corn
~ere
filed in
were disking the soil for soy beans.
,jus.; ahea.d.
road which becarre a lane.
They turned
of:~
on a gr?vel
It ended abruptly at a wire fence.
Mr. Eiller was nice co let them fish on his land any tire
they wanted thought David.
The pick-up eased to a stop, and David dnd Skip hopped
out.
3is father closed his door, and they all met at the
back of the truck.
ge t the Llckle. II
"Her(', IJavid, you carry the b::lit,_md I'll
They climbed ove-l' the fence that Skip had
already crawled under and started across the
p~sture.
river flowed on the other side of the thicket.
lhe
Really it
wasn't quite a river, not as big as the Ohio anyway, but they
co call it a river.
still liked
shallow as
Creek, but their favorite fishing hole was
Willo~
a gentle deep
In sor::e places it was as
be~d
where the big river cats liked to laze in
the sun.
David's steps quickened as they neared the thicket.
The I'mI'm river wind smelled muddy.
ne s s beyond the tree s.
the thicket and broke
He could hear the still-
:.;:'hey follovled a narrow path through
t~rough
the underbrush on the riverbank.
He smiled as he looked down che river.
It was deep after the
spring rains, but the current was perfect for fishing.
de
could see their clearing downstream at the broad bend.
They
walked among
tr-~e
the fishing hole.
sycamores along the
Skip
w~s
b~mk
un til they were at
barking at birds in the woods and
(8)
wouldn't be back until they were ready to leave.
bE~
wvJhere do you 0hink the big one s will
"Just about
anyw~~ere
you
wan~
to fish.
today, Dad?"
Let's bait up
and have some fun."
David took his pole, u...'lfastened
and let out a little line.
hook from the reel,
~he
de snapped on a red and white
plas tic bobber about five feet from the sinker.
had just finished the same motions.
du~ped
~-Us
father
He reached for the bait,
the 'crawlers onto his palm, and chose two long dangly
ones. ,"Here, David.
See if you can bait your own hool..;:."
David took the can and turned it uJ)s:Lde down in his
hand,
i~itating
his father.
He held the bottom of the can
against his stomach so he could find a good 'crawler with
his free hand.
Ivorm in hi s
rj
:Ie set
t~le
g-ht hand.
can on the ground and held the
It felt funny cra'N'ling inside his
loose fist •. He picked up his hook and opened his fingers •.
The wiggly worm felt cool and slimy and left a wet trail on
his palm.
de brought the hook close to the head of the 'cra,·rler.
The 1!lorm touched the hook and turned aside.
mo~ionless.
3e stared ac the 'crawler.
heard Skipy bLrk.
From the woods he
His tI10Ughts returned to early morning.
Skippy and he haG had such fUn pLlying
\-1i tt:
bered how they had all brawled so fast to
Skippy had touched t'len with his wet nose.
I
cra~:!ler nO·~l
Dcl.vid stood
in his hand.
It I s body moved
them.
fi~~
::-ie renem-
Jirt and how
Je looked at the
in~)erfect
rhyth:1.
"Coee on, David; hurry up.
I thought you'll/anted to
catch a b:Lg riv,,:c:r cat."
~fuat's
~he
nacter with ne t .ought David.
., s •
Dad do this hundrEds of "l'ne
He's always
for me.
I can I t do it!
.\-
But I--I ca:1' t do it!
squirmed in his palm as he closed his fist
"David are you re:}.dy?"
I've seen
b~ited
ove~
my hook
The 'cra1.'ler
it.
He hearo no reply 2nd turned.
"\'Jha t' s the r:1a t; ter, son?"
"Nothing. I,ll his voice cracked.
stretc:l1ed his ·:;.rms toward
~1is
father.
Slowly the boy
"Dad, could you?tI
he began.
The fa tYler 10, ,kec:. at his son. . He seemed so small.
He stood chere in fromt of him, expectant, uns:dlir:g, his
eyes searc hlng.
Gralualli he reached for
~he
hook ,-md 'dorm.
He
"Sure, David. 1I
The boy
""h"nk's
''-'d
.L . u.
.
,
.-1" •
\01,,',.3
sile 1 t.
1
de took the pole from his father.
I--I don't knD'.v W:Ht l1apl)8ned.
how ccul(n't do it.
Ha~tbe
next; ti'·e."
IIYcs, Ds.vici, naybe next tine."
son and fc.'.r dOvln the river.
I just so:ne-
3e 100kE:d :Jast his
Skippy barked.
"vJell, son,
think you can catch Lla:: big one'?"
"Just \..,iJ.it and see,"
lines into the river.
Javid smiled as ;:'~'ley CQst their
DISCUSSION Quf:STrONS TO GUIDE PUPIL REACTIONS
1.
How did the children react in general to the story?
2.
30w well did
3.
Did they seem to identify in any way with the characters?
4.
How did the children react to this bype of story?
~hey
like the characters?
a. ',las it too or too young for the cllildren?
b. Other.
5.
How did they react to the style of writing?
6.
70 vlha t extent did:he lack of pictures or illustrations
affect the children's like or dislike of the story?
7.
\'Jas the length about r igi-lt, too lonG, or too short for
the attention span of this class?
8.
Did the class have any other reactions or comMents about
the story?
A
F-G
1
G
1
G-.L:.Jr'
Attentiveness
F
G
Cnaracter
1.1
"
K
General Reaction
Idcntjfic~tion
r<
B
2
'+
~
G-E
"
E
G
G-LT'-
G
G-E
L
G
G
F-G
G-E
G
0
r<
G
,-
l~
,
G
G-E
G
G
I
G
r
F-G
F-G
F-G
G
G
F -1.1
,'"
F-G
1.1
G-E
F-G
'"
.
G
IJ
G-E
G
'J
('
.J
G
to Age Group
G
Reaction
,Jriting St.;;>;
\.]
0
G
Reaction to Conversation
F
G
F-G
F-G
,ford C'loice
E
G-F
G
G
F
Reaction to Lack of Illustrations
F
G-F
F
F-G
\.]
Ability
G
E
F-G
F-G
G
Length
P
F-P
G
G
F
~.,nding
G
G
G
G
F
~o
Visualize Story
,
\.]
\.]
, F-G
I
F -1.1
ro
r<
-
~\--BILLY
B--T~-!r>
D:~"t{
C--EERIl~
~G"-.FC)RF~
THE OV/L
D--TO C,H'C;:l ;1. FIG]
..
~
P--Poor
BmlPEEJ
J'A~/r~
:.1
r:;
2
\.]
I Suitability
~o
D
v
F--Falr
G--Good
1--Excellent
0
;
~
,...
,..,
,.,
G
IJ
;J
}i'
F
F-G
'"
Upon completion of this creative project
feels the intended
t:18 survey paper
c~ildre:l,
~hair
(1)rpose~:
LiE:
.]. utr.ol'
llave beE'::i 3.chieved well.
t~ese
~:~~ories
in varyinG ci.egree:=-.
~~!.
and other
t~l~:ir
accepts.nce
1\ certai t ,. a::e 6rouP seeT:S
.'heir COffir,-.en ts
tion l:1i
'.::'l'rough
rea~ing.
The reactioYl2 of t>; c:dlclren indica te
ofcnc
author
les.rned much about pre se::lt-day
habits and hobbies, and how
cultural factors influence
t~e
SilO'.{
sOY'e irIen tifica-
charc1.c t:! r s and pupil pc:..r ticipa tioD in the plot
developL1en~.
The creative project in itself was most r0warding.
~he
author's desj.re for self-expression was both satisfied
and incre3.sed.
expression.
This experience 'vws more th:;':1 just a crea.tive
Ehe author now understands and appreciates the
attitudes of chiliren
write1:1ore stories.
tow~rd he~
work and is encouraged to
':::;,)10:;',
Je-c'!l
Yor'l~:
:~ en~l os r,
r2~1C
P :l~r l',:"i :': •
tJ01'111
'-"
~
Ii ..A.J'
F'i:<lC:.' .,~I';ery.
,1;~ t ~ S, - In c • ,
rlUC;'~,
Franklin
'::ll::n'~ot :~;:: S.: ~J.nd Your!!:; 1 ~~'oT.'i s [~.
ChildrC?ll '..2. Li tera.Cl.H't. Ui illS. Lle::ent:1r-.1.. ::;;cnool.
1;e\'1 York: :::-1"011:;, Rine!1s.r"c ':t:'-,}J Jins:;on, IS61.
~'22 IL.gcs.
LarriC}~,
N':tECY.
i
I'e3.~ller I
Coluf,1'ous, O~'"lio:
316 pages.
s Guide to Children IS Books.
,:113.r1e8 E. ;Ierril Books, Inc., 196,,).
Cambridge University
~iJhd t Bo_~ and Girls Like
l'~oI'ristoHn, 1~e1..! Jersey:3ilver Burdett
1 c'/r::8
3G6
P"l ae S •
/.
•
norvell, George:.
~b
.co 'E{ead.
Cor:1pc::.ny,