Here are a few examples of some of the children's stories I have written. Each one is a bespoke snapshot, a portrait in words, written just for each child.
This is a story written for a very lovely granny from Grannynet. It is a story I wrote for her two grand-sons who are 15 months old. With the information she gave me I came up with a little story about them learning, practicing and then singing Happy Birthday to their Grandpa (which was a special memory for the family). Here it it:
Eli and Fin loved to dance and sing, they jumped and swayed almost every day, they’d sing and shout while they played about.
One day they danced a dance and sang a song so different from the rest, everyone said it was their best! It was a special song, for a special day, they sang it in the best of ways.
It was a song they’d learnt from Mickey Mouse: so good it made them stomp and shout! He came to teach them while they snoozed, they sang the tune till the sun shone through. Mickey Mouse said "practise this song for 7 days long!"
So every night they would get their sleep ready to practice their singing technique. They hummed and swayed while they played, practising hard for that special day.
One morning, while making a mess with their gloop (it was so much fun it made them whoop), their Mummy came to say it was time, which made them fizz with excitement inside. With a flurry they tidied their things away, for this was no time to play.
Eli rushed off to get ready, singing the song, he felt all heady. Fin on the other hand, sat and ran it round and round his head for a minute or too, then off he flew!
They were finally ready, they breathed in deep, their arms swayed to the rhythm of the beat. They waited: the answer machine went BEEP…BEEP …BEEP….
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR GRANDPA,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!
Fin and Eli sang loudly with their Mummy by their side, all filled with pride! The song they sang, sounded so sweet, crystal clear you could hear them sing after the beep! When they had finished they breathed a deep sigh, they were both so pleased, Fin and Eli smiled wide.
Eli and Fin loved to dance and sing, they jumped and swayed almost every day, they’d sing and shout while they played about.
One day they danced a dance and sang a song so different from the rest, everyone said it was their best! It was a special song, for a special day, they sang it in the best of ways.
It was a song they’d learnt from Mickey Mouse: so good it made them stomp and shout! He came to teach them while they snoozed, they sang the tune till the sun shone through. Mickey Mouse said "practise this song for 7 days long!"
So every night they would get their sleep ready to practice their singing technique. They hummed and swayed while they played, practising hard for that special day.
One morning, while making a mess with their gloop (it was so much fun it made them whoop), their Mummy came to say it was time, which made them fizz with excitement inside. With a flurry they tidied their things away, for this was no time to play.
Eli rushed off to get ready, singing the song, he felt all heady. Fin on the other hand, sat and ran it round and round his head for a minute or too, then off he flew!
They were finally ready, they breathed in deep, their arms swayed to the rhythm of the beat. They waited: the answer machine went BEEP…BEEP …BEEP….
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR GRANDPA,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!
Fin and Eli sang loudly with their Mummy by their side, all filled with pride! The song they sang, sounded so sweet, crystal clear you could hear them sing after the beep! When they had finished they breathed a deep sigh, they were both so pleased, Fin and Eli smiled wide.
This is a story commissioned for a little girl's First Birthday. Her Mummy gave me a lot of information about this wonderful girl. I got a fantastic idea of who she is and this is what I came up with. Happy Birthday Edith!
Edie Bear didn't care that she had red lipstick all through her hair. It was far too splendid doing Olga's make-up, just like a grown-up, to have a scowl across her face, it was Ace!
Now, Olga on the other hand, didn't seem to understand, her smile went from up, to upside down. Edie Bear tried to cheer her up, despite still doing her make-up. First she tried to dance around to the sound of birds in the background. But still, Olga Owl had a scowl.
Edie Bear showed her a book, but it was no good, she wouldn't look! Not even the one about the Owl Moon! No hoot, twit twoo! Olga Owl still had a scowl.
Edie Bear sang a song, hoping Olga would sing along. She knew it well, so Edie Bear started to yell …If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it clap your …but her wings didn’t do a thing. Olga Owl still had a scowl.
Edie Bear then tried to sing a different one: Row, Row, Row your boat gently down the stream, if you see a crocodile, don’t forget to scream … But she didn’t hear a scream, not a hoot for her favourite nursery rhyme. Olga Owl still had a scowl.
Edie bear enlisted help; she got Louis off the shelf. Perhaps his monkey-ing around might do the trick …he swung from side to side and around her head, while Edie played her shaker and jumped on her bed. BOUNCE … SHOOKSHOOK … BOUNCE … SHOOKSHOOK …But still they couldn't make her turn that frown upside down. Olga still had a scowl.
Then … Louis had a good idea, he smudged lipstick on Edie from ear to ear! As Edie Bear danced and pouted, smiled and sang and was happy about it, Olga Owl 's frown turned upside down....they had stopped her scowl!!
Together they went, hand in hand and hand in wing, to make it down to the gathering. All could see the mess of red, but as it was her Birthday, nobody said, and just sang Happy Birthday to Edie instead!
Edie Bear didn't care that she had red lipstick all through her hair. It was far too splendid doing Olga's make-up, just like a grown-up, to have a scowl across her face, it was Ace!
Now, Olga on the other hand, didn't seem to understand, her smile went from up, to upside down. Edie Bear tried to cheer her up, despite still doing her make-up. First she tried to dance around to the sound of birds in the background. But still, Olga Owl had a scowl.
Edie Bear showed her a book, but it was no good, she wouldn't look! Not even the one about the Owl Moon! No hoot, twit twoo! Olga Owl still had a scowl.
Edie Bear sang a song, hoping Olga would sing along. She knew it well, so Edie Bear started to yell …If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands. If you’re happy and you know it clap your …but her wings didn’t do a thing. Olga Owl still had a scowl.
Edie Bear then tried to sing a different one: Row, Row, Row your boat gently down the stream, if you see a crocodile, don’t forget to scream … But she didn’t hear a scream, not a hoot for her favourite nursery rhyme. Olga Owl still had a scowl.
Edie bear enlisted help; she got Louis off the shelf. Perhaps his monkey-ing around might do the trick …he swung from side to side and around her head, while Edie played her shaker and jumped on her bed. BOUNCE … SHOOKSHOOK … BOUNCE … SHOOKSHOOK …But still they couldn't make her turn that frown upside down. Olga still had a scowl.
Then … Louis had a good idea, he smudged lipstick on Edie from ear to ear! As Edie Bear danced and pouted, smiled and sang and was happy about it, Olga Owl 's frown turned upside down....they had stopped her scowl!!
Together they went, hand in hand and hand in wing, to make it down to the gathering. All could see the mess of red, but as it was her Birthday, nobody said, and just sang Happy Birthday to Edie instead!
This is a story about a little boy who was making his mummy very tired by not sleeping at night very much. This is a story about all the fun things that he could do during the day to help him think it was a much better idea to sleep at night-time. He loves playing and particularly likes bubbles and trying to crawl. Since the story, he has now mastered both sleeping and crawling. Lucky Mummy! Here it is:
Felix gave his Mummy such a fright when he slept through all of one night,
she heard not a peep,
not a squeak,
What was she to think?
He'd forgotten to say, he'd decided to play all of the next day,so needed a few more winks.
There was so much fun that had to be done; he was soon to be one, life had just begun!
There was joy in the toy that was just right for a boy,
Fun on his tum to get ready to run,
Delight in the kite which he flew with all his might,
Rapture in the capture of a ball, which wasn't small,
Cheer in the smear of the paint in his ear,
Glee in the pea he was trying to squeeze,
Laughs in the bath with the boat that wouldn't float,
Awe in the soar of the bubbles tumbling down to the floor,
Snuggles and cuddles with Mummy and Daddy galore!
Bliss in the kiss from his Mummy and Daddy,
As Felix fell in to a deep, deep sleep,
He smiled at all the memories he had to keep.
Felix gave his Mummy such a fright when he slept through all of one night,
she heard not a peep,
not a squeak,
What was she to think?
He'd forgotten to say, he'd decided to play all of the next day,so needed a few more winks.
There was so much fun that had to be done; he was soon to be one, life had just begun!
There was joy in the toy that was just right for a boy,
Fun on his tum to get ready to run,
Delight in the kite which he flew with all his might,
Rapture in the capture of a ball, which wasn't small,
Cheer in the smear of the paint in his ear,
Glee in the pea he was trying to squeeze,
Laughs in the bath with the boat that wouldn't float,
Awe in the soar of the bubbles tumbling down to the floor,
Snuggles and cuddles with Mummy and Daddy galore!
Bliss in the kiss from his Mummy and Daddy,
As Felix fell in to a deep, deep sleep,
He smiled at all the memories he had to keep.
This is a story for a brother and Sister. It was a joint present on the birth of new baby girl. This was a quick turn-around after she was born to be given as a present in time. Here it is:
William dreamt of a girl called Emily, she was sweet and kind, and made him chuckle funnily. They would play games and drive at the end of his bed; surely it wasn't all in his head?!
He practised with his little doll: he washed him, fed him, put him to bed, but Little Willy's doll said nothing at all, didn't smile or shout or run around with a ball. So he dreamt in his head of Emily instead....
Emily dreamt of a boy called William, who'd look after her when she got scared but also let things be shared. When she thought of him she would sing a song, while she waited, those 9 months long! She practised her kicking ready for a ball; she practised her rolling ready for that hill; she practised her tricks for when he was six; she practised flipping for when they'd go swimming; she shut her eyelids practising playing pirates on a pretend desert island …
Then...
When she was ready, and she just couldn't wait any longer,
She popped out to say hello to her Bro!
It was the 15th April and Will felt such a thrill: he had a real life sis, a real life Emily, that he could call His.
As he looked at her and her at him, all they could do was sit there and stare, while he gently played with her hair. They sat there together, their dreams had come true, no more need to make do.
There was so much fun waiting to be done, so many games and climbing frames; plenty of nicknames, or a few scrapes along the way - but hey- they had loads of time for all the games and the japes, they had their whole lives to fill in the gaps, even fit in time for a couple of naps...
So for now they waited and cuddled with Mummy and Daddy, dreaming up all the games that would be funny.
William dreamt of a girl called Emily, she was sweet and kind, and made him chuckle funnily. They would play games and drive at the end of his bed; surely it wasn't all in his head?!
He practised with his little doll: he washed him, fed him, put him to bed, but Little Willy's doll said nothing at all, didn't smile or shout or run around with a ball. So he dreamt in his head of Emily instead....
Emily dreamt of a boy called William, who'd look after her when she got scared but also let things be shared. When she thought of him she would sing a song, while she waited, those 9 months long! She practised her kicking ready for a ball; she practised her rolling ready for that hill; she practised her tricks for when he was six; she practised flipping for when they'd go swimming; she shut her eyelids practising playing pirates on a pretend desert island …
Then...
When she was ready, and she just couldn't wait any longer,
She popped out to say hello to her Bro!
It was the 15th April and Will felt such a thrill: he had a real life sis, a real life Emily, that he could call His.
As he looked at her and her at him, all they could do was sit there and stare, while he gently played with her hair. They sat there together, their dreams had come true, no more need to make do.
There was so much fun waiting to be done, so many games and climbing frames; plenty of nicknames, or a few scrapes along the way - but hey- they had loads of time for all the games and the japes, they had their whole lives to fill in the gaps, even fit in time for a couple of naps...
So for now they waited and cuddled with Mummy and Daddy, dreaming up all the games that would be funny.
This is a personalised story about a boy called Sam. He is 11 months old and absolutely loves jumping! He is a curious little man, his Mummy is from Australia and his Daddy calls him Sam, Sam the Man. Here is my bespoke gift:
Sam, Sam, he was The Man, he could jump like nobody can!
One day he jumped so far, he bounced up, up and away
and made it to Timbuktu for the day.
When there he found a Koala's Poo and
wondered if anybody knew if Koala's came from Timbuktu?
Sam, Sam, he was The Man, he could jump like nobody can!
One day he bounced so high
He bounced all the way through the Sky
And made it to La Lune!
When there he met a Polar Bear and they sang a little tune,
they sang and sang till it hit High Noon.
Sam, Sam, he was The Man, he could jump like nobody can!
One day he bounced so hard indeed
That he tunnelled down past all the weeds,
Past all the dirt, through the Core and much much more.
He bounced and jumped till he made it through
And found himself in Woolloomooloo!
He'd made it to the Other Side, he cried!
Back and forth he jumped and bounced,
Back and forth in the Earth he went.
As the World went round and round,
Sam, Sam went up and down.
Sam, Sam, he was The Man,
He could jump like nobody can!
Sam, Sam, he was The Man, he could jump like nobody can!
One day he jumped so far, he bounced up, up and away
and made it to Timbuktu for the day.
When there he found a Koala's Poo and
wondered if anybody knew if Koala's came from Timbuktu?
Sam, Sam, he was The Man, he could jump like nobody can!
One day he bounced so high
He bounced all the way through the Sky
And made it to La Lune!
When there he met a Polar Bear and they sang a little tune,
they sang and sang till it hit High Noon.
Sam, Sam, he was The Man, he could jump like nobody can!
One day he bounced so hard indeed
That he tunnelled down past all the weeds,
Past all the dirt, through the Core and much much more.
He bounced and jumped till he made it through
And found himself in Woolloomooloo!
He'd made it to the Other Side, he cried!
Back and forth he jumped and bounced,
Back and forth in the Earth he went.
As the World went round and round,
Sam, Sam went up and down.
Sam, Sam, he was The Man,
He could jump like nobody can!
This is a story about a curious little boy called Cai. His Mummy told me he is also obsessed with flying (his mummy is from Japan) and how things work. She also said that he can also get a bit frustrated when he is learning something new and can't do it. Here is what I came up with:
Curious Cai liked to explore, he was always putting his head round a door. When he saw a fly one day, flying up, up and away, it wasn't just a buzzy thing to him; it was a wonderous flying machine, a king of the sky, a marvellous fly!
How does he do it Curious Cai thought, as it took off out the door ...
Curious Cai wanted to be King of the Sky, a Marvellous Cai, not a marvellous fly!
First he tried to ride up in the sky using a kite that he did fly, but found he only floated just like a boat did.
Then he tried a helicopter ride but found it only went from side to side.
Then he thought a bouncing ball might do the trick but it did not stick, All it did was bounce and fall and bounce and fall till it stood still.
A paper plane he thought would be a blast, but it didn't last the take off, it was just too light and he too heavy, Oh what a shame about the paper plane.
What about a rubber band? That would ping him off the ground! Alas, it just snapped and hurt, his little bottom fell in the dirt.
Then he tried to rocket up on his rocking horse, but back and forth he rocked and rocked, but it never rocked off its sockets, he might as well have used his pockets.
Curious Cai felt furious inside! Oh Why oh Why could he not fly?! But then ... he saw this Plane go SWISH and ZOOM and he thought, I can tame this thing that flew! Up and up into the sky he went, faster than the fastest fly, round and round and upside down went Cai. He was King of the Sky, he was THE Marvellous Cai, not just a Marvellous Fly!
Curious Cai liked to explore, he was always putting his head round a door. When he saw a fly one day, flying up, up and away, it wasn't just a buzzy thing to him; it was a wonderous flying machine, a king of the sky, a marvellous fly!
How does he do it Curious Cai thought, as it took off out the door ...
Curious Cai wanted to be King of the Sky, a Marvellous Cai, not a marvellous fly!
First he tried to ride up in the sky using a kite that he did fly, but found he only floated just like a boat did.
Then he tried a helicopter ride but found it only went from side to side.
Then he thought a bouncing ball might do the trick but it did not stick, All it did was bounce and fall and bounce and fall till it stood still.
A paper plane he thought would be a blast, but it didn't last the take off, it was just too light and he too heavy, Oh what a shame about the paper plane.
What about a rubber band? That would ping him off the ground! Alas, it just snapped and hurt, his little bottom fell in the dirt.
Then he tried to rocket up on his rocking horse, but back and forth he rocked and rocked, but it never rocked off its sockets, he might as well have used his pockets.
Curious Cai felt furious inside! Oh Why oh Why could he not fly?! But then ... he saw this Plane go SWISH and ZOOM and he thought, I can tame this thing that flew! Up and up into the sky he went, faster than the fastest fly, round and round and upside down went Cai. He was King of the Sky, he was THE Marvellous Cai, not just a Marvellous Fly!
This a short story crafted for a little girl called Soldis who doesn't like having her teeth cleaned with a toothbrush. The idea was to write a funny story about all the horrible things she could use instead, so that a toothbrush didn't seem so bad. Soldis' Mummy likes 'cheeky' things so I played on the adult saying 'What the ...', as a tongue in cheek laugh for her parents. Here it is:
Mummy, Mummy! I want shiny white teeth, what can I use to make them smooth? Oh please, please, please tell me!
Why don't you use a stick my love? It'll be nice and quick, It'll get to all the bits, and then you're sure to get those Shiny White Teeth ... Oh Yuck, Yuck, Ick, ick ick! What the ...Mummy! It tastes funny, I want something other than that Uck Uck stick! Please, please, please help me!
Why don't you use a leaf my love? It'll taste sweet, it'll be neat. It'll make a clean sweep and you're sure to get those Shiny White Teeth ...
Oh Yuck ,Yuck, Ick ick ick! What the ...Mummy! It tastes funny, I want something other than that Uck Uck leaf! Please, please, please help me!
Why don't you try this bit of Moss? It's just like Floss, you'll say golly gosh! And it'll make that gloss for those Shiny White Teeth ...
Oh Yuck, Yuck, Ick ick ick! What the ...Mummy! It tastes funny, I want something other than that Uck Uck Moss! Please, please, please help me!
I'll tell you what Soldis, I know just the thing! It's this Brush, it'll feel lush. It won't bite but it might just clean your teeth alright ...
Oh Yum, Yum, Mmm mmm mmm, that brush feels lush on my gums alright! It's much better than those Uck Uck things! Mummy, Mummy oh Thank you for helping me!
At a quarter to Seven, she felt she was in Heaven, for Soldis had her Shiny White Teeth!
Mummy, Mummy! I want shiny white teeth, what can I use to make them smooth? Oh please, please, please tell me!
Why don't you use a stick my love? It'll be nice and quick, It'll get to all the bits, and then you're sure to get those Shiny White Teeth ... Oh Yuck, Yuck, Ick, ick ick! What the ...Mummy! It tastes funny, I want something other than that Uck Uck stick! Please, please, please help me!
Why don't you use a leaf my love? It'll taste sweet, it'll be neat. It'll make a clean sweep and you're sure to get those Shiny White Teeth ...
Oh Yuck ,Yuck, Ick ick ick! What the ...Mummy! It tastes funny, I want something other than that Uck Uck leaf! Please, please, please help me!
Why don't you try this bit of Moss? It's just like Floss, you'll say golly gosh! And it'll make that gloss for those Shiny White Teeth ...
Oh Yuck, Yuck, Ick ick ick! What the ...Mummy! It tastes funny, I want something other than that Uck Uck Moss! Please, please, please help me!
I'll tell you what Soldis, I know just the thing! It's this Brush, it'll feel lush. It won't bite but it might just clean your teeth alright ...
Oh Yum, Yum, Mmm mmm mmm, that brush feels lush on my gums alright! It's much better than those Uck Uck things! Mummy, Mummy oh Thank you for helping me!
At a quarter to Seven, she felt she was in Heaven, for Soldis had her Shiny White Teeth!