Stories & Fun Stuff for

Little Kids
Big Kids
Wannabe Kids

Opener

How to ...

Take a Bath

by Stella

Spoonbill

What should I do?

I was shocked, so shocked that instead of shouting out to Wally to stop and give me an explanation, I simply stood still in the water.

At first I thought I might cry. Then I got angry. And then I thought, maybe Wally is right: I am dirty and need a bath.

But aren't all Roseate Spoonbills like me dirty because we're always stirring up mud looking for delicious creatures to eat? Do we need to take a bath?

What should I do? Maybe I should ask someone else's opinion. How about Barbara Blue Heron?

Why not?

A Bath is Fun ... Really?

"I overheard what Wally told you," she said. "Maybe he thinks a bath would help make you look your best. And I think it could also make you smell your best."

"What! ... Smell! Do you think I need a bath, too?"

"Maybe it's not about the need for a bath," said Barbara, "but more about the fun and reward from a bath."

"Fun? Reward? What do you mean?" I asked.

"Rather than telling you," Barbara Blue Heron said, "why don't you go try taking a bath in the lake and find out for yourself. Then maybe you'll understand what I mean."

The Test

I moved slowly to a place on the lake where I could have some privacy, not that I had decided yet to take a bath, but just in case I did.

Maybe I could first test the temperature of the water for a bath.

Good, not too cold. But why is that other bird down there in the water looking at me and doing the same thing?

Now, what should I do next? Maybe I take a mouthful of water and spit it all over my body. Nah, that won't work. My body is so big it would take forever to get clean. And how would I clean under my feathers?

I know what to do. But I'm somewhat afraid. I first need to make sure no one is looking.

The Plunge

What I have to do next is simple: just jump into the water and get wet all over my body. But, wait! What if water gets in my eyes or up my nose? What if I don't like being all wet? What if...?

Too many excuses, I told myself. Stop thinking and worrying, and go for it.

Okay, on the count of three: one, two ...

No, maybe on the count of five: one, two, three, four ... wait! Maybe on the count of ten.

Before I got to six, I dunked myself into the lake without thinking. I was taking a bath! Me, actually taking a bath. Now what do I do?

Time to Fly

That was fun, and I like feeling and looking so good. It's like a reward. Fun and reward: that's what Barbara Blue Heron said. She was right.

I'm so excited. I'm going to show myself off to all my friends ... and maybe to my cousins ... and maybe to ...

But, let me first ask you: Do you need a bath? Why not talk with Barbara Blue Heron. If you can't find her, ask someone else big, like an adult or maybe a friend. Nah, don't ask a friend.

This is Stella Spoonbill saying, goodbye for now.

Other Bathers

A Robin would prefer some privacy.

Bathing in a pail outdoors is more fun than a tub at home.

“Is this the start of the line for baths?”

“You bathe first.” “No, you first.” “No, you.”

Title Page

How to ...

Hide

by

Arnie Alligator

Resting and Thinking

I was resting by the lake on a sunny afternoon and listening to my friends in the distance playing hide-and-seek.

But I didn't want to play that game because ...

... well, because I'm a big animal who moves slowly and I always seem to hide where everyone can easily see me. And that means I am the first one to be found.

Besides that, my friends like me but they also know they should not get close to alligators.

Under water

“Okay," I said, “turn your back so you don’t see me hide, and I’ll try another place.”

I moved to my secret place on the lake, slipped into the water and went under to hide. “Glug, glug,” I said to let Barbara Blue Heron know it was time to look for me.

I thought this was a good place until I heard her say, “I can see you. You’re not deep enough, and if you go deeper, you won’t be able to breathe.”

Step Four: Fly Away

Barbara Blue Heron was waiting for me.

“Maybe you’re not the best at hiding,” she said, ”but I know something you would be really good at.”

What would that be? I asked.

“Calling,” she replied. “You have such a large mouth and a big voice that when you make a sound, everyone far and wide can hear you. You would be very good at calling everyone to play hide-and-seek, and then telling them when the game is over. Why not give it a try?"

Other Not-So-Good Hiders

A moose hides behind trees. Doesn’t work.

A Sandhill Crane shouldn’t even try to hide.

A hiding bulldog can’t hide its tongue.

An elk blends with limbs … almost.

How to Tell (Write) a Story

Message for Adults
“How to Tell a Story” is an exercise to stir the imagination. It is adaptable for young children and older youngsters. For non-reading younger ones, you will want to lead them through the activity and may want to write down the stories they create for them to hear and possibly change later. >>>

What’s important is to help the child understand how to begin a story in a way that captures attention, to share details in the middle part that keeps the reader/listener’s interest, and to wrap up the story with an ending that makes people want more.

Opener: How to Write

How to Tell a story

Isn't it fun to tell stories to your friend or an adult? Wouldn't it be special if you could keep those stories somewhere besides in your head.? Then you could read or hear them later and smile?

But how do you tell a story, and especially one that is interesting and fun for everyone? It's not too difficult but you may want to go get a big person to help.

Click the right arrow (>) when you are ready to start.

How to Begin

How to Begin

The beginning of your story is very important. You have to say something that is exciting or funny or unusual -- anything to make people want to hear more of your story. And you want them to feel like they are right there with you

Here is an idea for the beginning of a story.

Remember a place where you went and had lots of fun. How about the beach? Now get a picture in your head of you on the sand, and there are birds nearby.

Pretend that the people who are listening to your story are behind you watching and listening, but no one can see them.

Start Story

Maybe Start your story

You could start your story by saying, “I was at the beach and saw birds."

That might be interesting to your friend or adult but maybe not interesting enough to make them want to hear more.

They want to know about where you are, about what you are doing, and about the birds. They need to know "details."

So, tell us exactly what you're doing on the beach.

Are you walking or sitting? Is there one bird you are looking at more than the others? Is it near you or far away? What color is the bird? Does it have a name?

More Details

Tell us More Details

Try this:

“One time I was sitting by myself on a beach in the morning, and I saw a bunch of birds near me. One of the birds was looking at me. It was black-and-white.

I remembered that the bird was called a Laughing Gull. My uncle told me that. He is really smart about birds.”

That’s interesting. What else did you notice about the bird?

Maybe …

“But this Laughing Gull was not laughing.”

Middle Dance with Me

The Middle of your story

We are all excited and want to know what happens next.

Tell us what the Laughing Gull said when you asked why it was not laughing. And that answer will get you off and running for the middle part of your story.

The Middle is the longest part of your story so you have to work hard to keep everyone interested.

Here is an idea of what you might say in the middle of your story.

Dance Wings Up

More of the Middle

Laughing Gull said to me. ‘I only laugh when I’m dancing. Dancing makes me happy. Can you dance with me?

Sure, I said. What dance should we do?

Let’s do the Gull Gallop, my new friend said.

Okay, but you will have to teach me because I don’t know the Gulf Gallop dance.

It's really easy, said Laughing Gull. First, stand up. Now, lift up your arms high. I don’t have arms so I lift up my wings, Laughing Gull said with a giggle.

Ending

The Ending

The Ending is where you know you have said everything you want to tell, and you say goodbye.

Here is a possible ending to this story …

When we finally stopped, Laughing Gull said, thank you, my new friend, for dancing with me and making me laugh.

Thank you, too, my good friend, I said back. I had lots of fun. Can we do this again tomorrow?

Sure. Meet me here about this time?

We said goodbye to each other. Laughing Gull flew away, and I walked up the beach excited to join my friends, tell them my story, and teach them the Gull Gallop dance.

Rich Skaare Goodby

Great Job!

Hello. My name is Richard Skaare. I love to tell stories, and I am glad I had a chance to show how you, too, can create great stories.

Remember these three important parts of your story:

Come up with an interesting Beginning that keeps people wanting to know more of your story.
Write a Middle part that tells everyone about your special adventure, but not too much so it bores them.
Finish up your story with an Ending that makes your friends want to hear or read your story again and again.

Be sure to write down your stories or get someone who can do it for you.

That's it. I know you can do it. Happy writing!

Stories coming soon ...

How to Drink
by Woody Woodstork

A Woodstork looks like a water-guzzling boxer. But drinking water when friends are watching makes Woody Woodstork take a different approach.

How to Eat a Fish
by Odessa Osprey

Eagles and Osprey love fish. What they don’t love is being watched while eating, and especially dislike having their photos taken. Odessa Osprey tells you all about it.

How to Fly
by Pedro Pelican

Brown Pelicans look prehistoric and clunky when they take off and land. White Pelicans have a bit more grandeur. Pedro Pelican show you all of the tricks of take-off and landing, some pretty, some not.

The Heronymus Heron Story ..

Tom Leigh, long-time illustrator of Sesame Street and Muppet books, says …

“The story of Heronymus is clever, warm and engaging and encourages children to think about their world in a very different way. It also brings them closer to the natural world as they get to know and appreciate Hero.
A wonderful book.”

If you liked the stories of Stella Spoonbill and Arnie Alligator, you're going to love this book by me (Richard Skaare) and my friend Jan Williams.

Heronymus Heron Discovers His Shadow (and a Whole Lot More) is an unusual children’s book about a clever bird who felt different and alone — that is, until his shadow convinced him otherwise.
This engaging, highly visual tale about a likable heron encourages children to celebrate what makes them unique, treasure their relationships, and value our differences. Hero’s journey is one of discovery that invites children to find the hero in themselves and others.

You can find our book in hardcover, paperback, and eBook here on:

AMAZON

And Here's More Fun

The Joy of Horses

When I was a kid, I wanted a pony. So did my friends. But none of us got one. They cost a lot of money and, besides, I lived in a city where it wouldn’t be easy to ride a horse.

But years later, my family and I spent our vacation at a ranch way out in Wyoming. It was so much fun and lots of memories. Take a look as some photos below from that trip, and read the interesting facts I learned about horses.

Think about how you can spend time getting to know horses. And be sure to take your camera.

What I didn't know about horses

Emotions

Horses have emotions, which they express through their ears, eyes and nostrils to express their mood.

Kids

Within six hours, horse kids – they’re called foals — can stand and gallop within 24 hours.

Sleeping

Horses can sleep lying down but also when standing by locking their legs to avoid collapsing.

Seeing

When a horse’s ears are pointing in different directions, they probably are also looking at two different things.

Zeboid

A cross between a zebra and a horse is called a zebroid, and a zonkey is a combination of a zebra and a donkey.

Weight

The heart of a standard 1,000-pound horse weighs 10 pounds but its brain weighs less than two pounds.

Sources: gutzbusta.com;

Can You Name These Birds?

Some of these birds you might know right away. Others you can find in books at your local library. But here’s a great source. Go to Cornell University’s Merlin website https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/. There you can take a photo of a bird on this page and learn its name and all kinds of facts about that bird.