Tag Archive: best kids books


This is the second in a series of Kid’s Poem blogs aimed at you, the Mom and Dad challenged. Enjoy!

 

FRIENDS

A Kid’s Poem by Terofil Gizelbach

(From “1313 Crabapple Street”)

Copyright Terofil Gizelbach, 2012

There’s an old oak tree where I like to play,

In a leafy glade, on a sunny day.

I call him Old Pete—

‘Cause all trees, y’know, have names.

He’s never told me what his is…

But I call him ‘Ol Pete just the same.

 

There’s a noisy Jay-bird nestng in Ol’ Pete;

He scolds the kids, living on my street.

I call him “Screamin’ J.”

‘Cause all birds, y’know, have names.

I’m sure he’s called me a few…

But I like Screamin’ J. just the same.

 

A great horned Owl lives in ‘Ol Pete’s bole,

And hooty-hoots at night, from his hole.

I call him Einstein.

‘Cause all Owls, y’know, are wise.

He’s smart just like his name;

I can see it in Einstein’s eyes

 

I never get tired of playing by Ol’ Pete.

Or if I do, I smile and take a grassy seat.

I call it my quiet time.

It’s good, y’know, to have nothing to say.

My friends understand without all the talk…

Pete, Einstein, and my Screamin’ J.

 

Other Kid’s Poems can be found on the “Young Reader’s Page.”

No Second Banana                                 A kids poem aimed at you, the Mom and Dad challenged. Enjoy!

 

NO SECOND BANANA

A Kids Poem by Terofil Gizelbach

Copyright Terofil Gizelbach, 2012

 

A banana spoke with another banana and argued with Mr. Pear:

“A ‘nanner’ is a wonderful thing, its flavor divinely rare—

An’ skinny is better than bestest ever and yellow better still!”

But Pear said “Poo!” and “Foo on you! It’s green that fits the bill!”

Now, I’m round, it’s true, and hard—not goo—and have a leafy ‘do’

But I’ll knock the socks off you, hoo-boy!

A pear tastes as grand as you.”

The first banana thunk tolerable hard and screwed his peel into a grimace.

Ol’ One Banana’s face was mean and his dot eyes filled with menace.

But Second Banana’s feelings were bruised and he soon began to bellow:

“So I’m squishy an’ soft an’ sugary mush an’ mostly pretty mellow—

And bend when I stand like a humbled old man and folks call me ‘yella’

But I’ll never be second banana to the likes of you, oh no!

Not to a green ol’ pear like you!”

Then hands swooped down and mouths opened and all were gone in a gobble.

And if this tale has a moral it’s mostly not to squabble.

For red or green or in between a fruit is still a fruit.

And round or thin, or yellow or blue, no one gives a hoot.

So if you’re hankering to knock the next guy ‘round because he’s short or tall…

Just remember he’s no second banana…

No second banana at all.

For another kids poem like this one, please visit the “Young Reader’s” page.

 

As I officially begin blogging in earnest, I am reminded of how I got here. The reason is, quite simply, teamwork.

Now you might ask exactly how teamwork factors into a writer’s life. It is, after all, a solitary profession. But the truth of the matter is–in writing just as in life–teamwork is incredibly important. This blog—indeed this website—would not exist without the assistance of my friend Tony Tudyk, a steely-eyed code cruncher if ever one existed. I provided the concepts for the site, and Tony told me if they would work—and provided the inspiration for the look of the home page too. I provided the content; Tony made sure it worked on the page. I did the artwork; Tony made it look great.  So you see without the help of Tony and his staff at Frankenstein Computers (and that means you, Scott!), this website would not exist. And my quest to bring back the kind of golden age science fiction, adventure, and kid fiction that made reading fun would have been slowed to a crawl.

Thanks for the teamwork, Tony. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Now that I’ve taken the plunge, it’s time I told you a little about me…

Overall, I’m probably pretty much like you. I always pick the wrong lanes on the highway or the slowest moving checkout line. I’d rather eat a good hamburger and fries than a whole bucket of escargot. I don’t like wearing shoes. I yell at the TV when my football team loses. I like the “Andy Griffith Show” and “Star Trek” and “Cheers.” I have a budget and have to watch what I spend. I stay up too late, and I don’t get as much sleep as I might like. I have days where I think getting out of bed was a mistake, and others I wish would never end. And I still have a boss that makes me crazy, only these days it happens to be my conscience. Which brings me to my work…

I’m a writer of Science Fiction and Children’s Literature. Wow, super glamour, right? I mean, dictating your latest potboiler into a digital recorder while your secretary transcribes your meanderings into the next bestseller…

Unfortunately, the reality is somewhat different. Despite how it is portrayed by the media, writing isn’t usually a particularly glamorous profession. For you aspiring writers, be aware that, at times, it can be a very frustrating job—one of hammering away at a sentence that just won’t pop, or at an idea that just won’t jell. It can be pretty lonely too. And the hours are long. And it doesn’t pay particularly well, unless of course you are a Stephan King. But ultimately I wouldn’t choose to be anything else. I feel very fortunate to be a writer; it is what I was meant to do. I’ve done everything from rolling egg rolls and throwing boxes into a truck, to running a major city’s budget. All have had their moments; all have made me happy at times. But when my writing rocks, there is nothing else that gives me such a high, such a feeling of raw accomplishment. That is what drove me during the late nights when my writing was my second job, and that is what still drives me now. I believe every artist is driven to create; just as every writer feels the need to write. We do it because we must.

Besides, grandmother was a professional artist. Mom liked to paint watercolrs and design clothes…

I guess it’s just in my DNA.

 

 

 

Another blog. Hoo boy. Seems like everyone has one these days, doesn’t it? It’s now possible to read in sublime detail about Aunt Brenda’s cat’s sixth toe, or another mindless celebrity’s latest stint in rehab, or the doings of people you would normally go out of your way to avoid. Not that there is anything wrong with blogging. To quote the statue from the movie “Animal House,” “Knowledge is Good,” and every one of us has something positive to offer—some life-enriching nugget to share. The trick is sharing something that people actually want to read. To give them something that will move them, or shake them, or make ‘em laugh—or even cry. Kinda like writing fiction or painting or art in general, I guess…

Unfortunately, I can’t always promise to “move” you here. But I will do my best to entertain you, and to share my world view with you—and, when possible, bring a little something to put a smile on your face, or put a silly or startling thought into your head. Science Fiction and Children’s literature at its finest excels at prodding the imagination. I hope my blog does too. And maybe even once in a while I might actually throw out something that will make you think about the world a little bit differently. Now that would make me happy.

Then again, maybe Aunt Brenda’s cat’s sixth toe has already changed your world view… I know I’m going back to revisit her blog.

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