Each of the following is from an unpublished manuscript:
Excerpt
Sacha's Passion For Fashion
Story summary: An inspiring story about a determined, creative boy working hard to become a fashion designer.
Sacha is obsessed with designing clothes. When Nanny offers to teach him to sew, he discovers it is a complicated and sometimes painful process. But he never gives up, and now Dad wants to wear his creations!
In a little yellow house, on a bright pink rug, Sacha is drawing.
‘There, and there! This… and that!’ he says, adding the finishing touches to his design. He holds it as far away as his arm will allow and narrows his eyes. He shakes his head; no, it’s not quite right. He won’t stop until it is perfect.
Sacha uses pencils of every colour. He has 24 pencil sharpeners. His favourite is the shape of the Eiffel Tower that his dad found in a thrift shop.
‘You’ll be a great fashion designer, son,’ says Bert. ‘If you want to be, that is. I’m happy baking bread.’
Sacha draws in books with plain paper. His favourite has a cover photo of rainbow ribbons that his mum bought from the museum.
‘You’ll be a superb fashion designer, sweetie,’ says Bernice. ‘If you want to be, that is. I’m happy teaching science.
Sacha has felt pens of every hue. He has a paintbox with twelve tiny squares of watercolour. His favourite colour is called viridian, which looks like the shiny green emerald on Aunty Prue’s ring.
‘You’ll be a famous fashion designer, Sacha-star,’ says Auntie Prue. ‘If you want to be, that is. I’m happy writing books.’
Sacha has fabric of every variety draped all over his bedroom. His favourite is the slinky red velvet that Nanny found in her bottom drawer.
‘You’ll be a better fashion designer, darling’ says Nanny, ‘if you want to be, that is, if you learn to make your own clothes. That’s what I used to do.’
Sacha’s eyes light up!
In a little yellow house, on a big brown table, Sacha and Nanny are at work.
Sacha chooses one of his designs.
He stands still while Nanny measures him.
Nanny explains how to make a pattern from his drawing.
Sacha pins the pattern to the fabric.
‘Ow! I pricked myself!’
But he doesn’t give up.
...
Sacha's Passion For Fashion
Story summary: An inspiring story about a determined, creative boy working hard to become a fashion designer.
Sacha is obsessed with designing clothes. When Nanny offers to teach him to sew, he discovers it is a complicated and sometimes painful process. But he never gives up, and now Dad wants to wear his creations!
In a little yellow house, on a bright pink rug, Sacha is drawing.
‘There, and there! This… and that!’ he says, adding the finishing touches to his design. He holds it as far away as his arm will allow and narrows his eyes. He shakes his head; no, it’s not quite right. He won’t stop until it is perfect.
Sacha uses pencils of every colour. He has 24 pencil sharpeners. His favourite is the shape of the Eiffel Tower that his dad found in a thrift shop.
‘You’ll be a great fashion designer, son,’ says Bert. ‘If you want to be, that is. I’m happy baking bread.’
Sacha draws in books with plain paper. His favourite has a cover photo of rainbow ribbons that his mum bought from the museum.
‘You’ll be a superb fashion designer, sweetie,’ says Bernice. ‘If you want to be, that is. I’m happy teaching science.
Sacha has felt pens of every hue. He has a paintbox with twelve tiny squares of watercolour. His favourite colour is called viridian, which looks like the shiny green emerald on Aunty Prue’s ring.
‘You’ll be a famous fashion designer, Sacha-star,’ says Auntie Prue. ‘If you want to be, that is. I’m happy writing books.’
Sacha has fabric of every variety draped all over his bedroom. His favourite is the slinky red velvet that Nanny found in her bottom drawer.
‘You’ll be a better fashion designer, darling’ says Nanny, ‘if you want to be, that is, if you learn to make your own clothes. That’s what I used to do.’
Sacha’s eyes light up!
In a little yellow house, on a big brown table, Sacha and Nanny are at work.
Sacha chooses one of his designs.
He stands still while Nanny measures him.
Nanny explains how to make a pattern from his drawing.
Sacha pins the pattern to the fabric.
‘Ow! I pricked myself!’
But he doesn’t give up.
...
|
Excerpt
My Castle Has A Moat... And I Can't Swim! Story summary: A sandcastle is a great hiding place for an imaginative little boy when it’s time for his scary swimming lesson. But without a bridge over the deep watery moat, how will Sam get home? A story about how to be brave when you’re feeling scared. Sam is in the sandpit, digging sandy valleys, Smoothing sandy mountains and scattering sandy rain. Dig dig dig... smooth smooth smooth... scatter scatter scatter… ‘It’s time,' says Dad, ‘for swimming.’ Sam quickly builds a castle, a big, strong castle On the top of his mountain. 'I CAN'T. I’m in my castle!’ Dad looks, then gives a nod. ‘You are very good at castles.’ Sam puffs out his chest. ‘I’m the best at making castles!’ Sam is in the sandpit, digging sandy valleys, smoothing sandy mountains. Dig dig dig... Smooth smooth smooth… ‘Get dressed,’ says Dad, ‘for swimming.’ Sam quickly builds a tower, a tall thin tower, On the very, very top of his big, strong castle. I CAN'T. I’m in my tower!’ Dad looks, then gives a nod. ‘Fantastic tall, thin tower.’ Sam twinkles his eyes. ‘I’m the best at making castles and the best at making towers!’ Sam is in the sandpit, digging sandy valleys. Dig dig dig… ‘It’s TIME,’ says Dad, ‘to GO.’ Sam quickly digs a moat, a deep, watery moat Round his big, strong castle with its tall thin tower. ‘I CAN'T, coz there’s a moat… and I can’t swim.’ Dad looks, and shakes his head. ‘It is very deep and watery, But I can’t see a bridge… how will you get home? (Illustrator note: Sam is imagining his moat as real) Sam peers in the moat, the deep watery moat. His lip starts to tremble. 'Dad, I can't swim!' And he wishes her was home, with his snugly old blue teddy and his mum and dad and granny, in his sandpit in the sun. 'Bring-ring!' goes the phone. 'Whee-eee' goes the vacuum. Sam hears the sounds of home and thinks, I must just TRY. He demolishes his tower: POW! He crumbles down his castle: BOOM! He thinks, I can do this. I'm going to JUMP in. ... |
Excerpt
The Smiley Little Pebble
Story summary: Lucy is bored. ‘There’s nothing to do.’ Even the ant, snail and moth in her garden won’t play. When her frustration threatens to overwhelm her, Lucy finds a small stone that looks like a face, and Lucy’s imagination takes flight. Her day is transformed. A story about being bored and the power of a playful imagination.
Everyone was busy, too busy to play.
Lucy sighed a big sigh, stomped a big stomp and marched down the steps.
‘There’s nothing to do!’
Lucy lay on the grass.
She gazed at the sky, listened to the trees, looked at the steps and saw… an ant.
Its legs were wriggling, its body was jiggling, and Lucy began giggling.
‘Hello!’ said Lucy. But the ant said nothing… and hurried away. Lucy picked up a twig, and snapped it into bits.
She gazed at the sky, listened to the trees, looked at the steps and saw… a snail.
Its body was sliding, its foot was gliding, and Lucy began smiling.
‘Hello!’ said Lucy. But the snail said nothing… and slipped away. Lucy pulled off a leaf, and ripped it into bits.
She glared at the sky, scowled at the trees, frowned at the steps and saw… a moth.
Its wings were fluffy, its feelers were tufty, but Lucy was sniffly-snuffly.
‘You’re just a boring moth,’ she said. The moth said nothing…but did not fly away.
Lucy gently picked it up. ‘Hello, little Moth.’ The moth lay very still. ‘Don’t be scared.’
It was soft. It was light. She turned it over. It was empty inside.
‘There’s NOTHING to do!’ Lucy snatched up a pebble to SLAM at the steps.
Then she stopped.
There were two little eyes and a smile on its side. Lucy squealed in delight!
‘Hello!’ said Lucy.
The pebble said nothing… just grinned away. Lucy cradled her pebble, feeling thrilled to bits.
Lucy smiled at the sky, smiled at the trees, smiled at the wall… and smiled at Pebble.
‘Okay Pebble, let’s play!’ And Pebble said something that only she could hear.
...
The Smiley Little Pebble
Story summary: Lucy is bored. ‘There’s nothing to do.’ Even the ant, snail and moth in her garden won’t play. When her frustration threatens to overwhelm her, Lucy finds a small stone that looks like a face, and Lucy’s imagination takes flight. Her day is transformed. A story about being bored and the power of a playful imagination.
Everyone was busy, too busy to play.
Lucy sighed a big sigh, stomped a big stomp and marched down the steps.
‘There’s nothing to do!’
Lucy lay on the grass.
She gazed at the sky, listened to the trees, looked at the steps and saw… an ant.
Its legs were wriggling, its body was jiggling, and Lucy began giggling.
‘Hello!’ said Lucy. But the ant said nothing… and hurried away. Lucy picked up a twig, and snapped it into bits.
She gazed at the sky, listened to the trees, looked at the steps and saw… a snail.
Its body was sliding, its foot was gliding, and Lucy began smiling.
‘Hello!’ said Lucy. But the snail said nothing… and slipped away. Lucy pulled off a leaf, and ripped it into bits.
She glared at the sky, scowled at the trees, frowned at the steps and saw… a moth.
Its wings were fluffy, its feelers were tufty, but Lucy was sniffly-snuffly.
‘You’re just a boring moth,’ she said. The moth said nothing…but did not fly away.
Lucy gently picked it up. ‘Hello, little Moth.’ The moth lay very still. ‘Don’t be scared.’
It was soft. It was light. She turned it over. It was empty inside.
‘There’s NOTHING to do!’ Lucy snatched up a pebble to SLAM at the steps.
Then she stopped.
There were two little eyes and a smile on its side. Lucy squealed in delight!
‘Hello!’ said Lucy.
The pebble said nothing… just grinned away. Lucy cradled her pebble, feeling thrilled to bits.
Lucy smiled at the sky, smiled at the trees, smiled at the wall… and smiled at Pebble.
‘Okay Pebble, let’s play!’ And Pebble said something that only she could hear.
...
Excerpt
Lily McGileagh's Colourful Ways
Story summary: Lily does things differently to her siblings and is proud of her uniqueness. But her parents make constant comparisons with their other children and Lily begins to worry that they won’t love her if she isn’t the same. This rainbow-themed story is a celebration of difference about the importance of being an individual.
Lily McGileagh likes breakfast in bed,
But crumbs in the sheets make her parents turn red.
‘Oh Lily!’ they say as they make her bed neat,
‘Why can’t you eat at the table, like Pete?’
‘I am ME,’ Lily says, ‘and I do things my way.’
She nods her head firmly, ignores what they say.
Lily McGileagh is fearless with courage,
She climbs up the fruit tree and splat! goes an orange.
‘Lily!’ says Mum as she gets her down quick,
‘Why can’t you ride on your scooter, like Nick?’
‘I'm ME, Mum’ says Lily, ‘I do things my way.’
And wishes she’d stop her comparing all day.
Lily McGileagh will roar, growl and bellow.
‘I’m a lion!’ she says, leaping, but Dad just sees yellow.
‘Oh Lily,’ he moans as he covers his ears,
‘Can’t you play quietly or read books like Liz?’
‘I'm ME, Dad,’ says Lily, ‘I do things my way.’
But secretly wonders, perhaps I should change?
Lily McGileagh likes watering the beans,
But the mudpies she bakes turn her parents quite green.
‘Oh Lily,’ they sigh as they clean up the mess,
‘Why can’t you stay clean and tidy, like Jess?’
‘I am me,’ Lily mumbles. ‘I do things my way.’
But worries intensely and tries to behave.
Lily McGileagh likes trips to the zoo,
But the penguin parade makes her parents turn blue.
‘Oh Lily!’ they moan as they chatter and freeze,
‘Why can’t you just feed the ducks, like Elise?’
‘I’m just me,’ Lily whispers, ‘I do things my way.’
She is SO disappointed but tries to be brave.
Lily McGileagh flies fast like a pilot,
She zooms through the plum trees and stains her clothes violet.
‘LILY!’ scolds Mum as she takes her away,
‘WHY can’t you act like the others, today?’
Perhaps they don’t love me? thinks Lily, and wonders,
Should I just change so I’m more like the others?
She has a BIG think. I am different, that’s true,
There’s nobody like me who does what I do,
But I’m good at being different, at making a mess,
At climbing and flying and baking I’m best.
I’m quirky and perky! I’m fun and I’m silly!
Mum and Dad need to see that there’s only one Lily!
Lily McGileagh says, ‘Please Mum and Dad,
I need you to listen, your words make me sad.
Often you grumble and often you groan;
I WISH you’d be happy with me, and not moan.
I’ve thought about changing, I worry a lot,
But I need to be ME; being ME’s all I’ve got.’
{This is an excerpt from my unpublished manuscript. Please get in touch to read the full story or to discuss publishing. }
Lily McGileagh's Colourful Ways
Story summary: Lily does things differently to her siblings and is proud of her uniqueness. But her parents make constant comparisons with their other children and Lily begins to worry that they won’t love her if she isn’t the same. This rainbow-themed story is a celebration of difference about the importance of being an individual.
Lily McGileagh likes breakfast in bed,
But crumbs in the sheets make her parents turn red.
‘Oh Lily!’ they say as they make her bed neat,
‘Why can’t you eat at the table, like Pete?’
‘I am ME,’ Lily says, ‘and I do things my way.’
She nods her head firmly, ignores what they say.
Lily McGileagh is fearless with courage,
She climbs up the fruit tree and splat! goes an orange.
‘Lily!’ says Mum as she gets her down quick,
‘Why can’t you ride on your scooter, like Nick?’
‘I'm ME, Mum’ says Lily, ‘I do things my way.’
And wishes she’d stop her comparing all day.
Lily McGileagh will roar, growl and bellow.
‘I’m a lion!’ she says, leaping, but Dad just sees yellow.
‘Oh Lily,’ he moans as he covers his ears,
‘Can’t you play quietly or read books like Liz?’
‘I'm ME, Dad,’ says Lily, ‘I do things my way.’
But secretly wonders, perhaps I should change?
Lily McGileagh likes watering the beans,
But the mudpies she bakes turn her parents quite green.
‘Oh Lily,’ they sigh as they clean up the mess,
‘Why can’t you stay clean and tidy, like Jess?’
‘I am me,’ Lily mumbles. ‘I do things my way.’
But worries intensely and tries to behave.
Lily McGileagh likes trips to the zoo,
But the penguin parade makes her parents turn blue.
‘Oh Lily!’ they moan as they chatter and freeze,
‘Why can’t you just feed the ducks, like Elise?’
‘I’m just me,’ Lily whispers, ‘I do things my way.’
She is SO disappointed but tries to be brave.
Lily McGileagh flies fast like a pilot,
She zooms through the plum trees and stains her clothes violet.
‘LILY!’ scolds Mum as she takes her away,
‘WHY can’t you act like the others, today?’
Perhaps they don’t love me? thinks Lily, and wonders,
Should I just change so I’m more like the others?
She has a BIG think. I am different, that’s true,
There’s nobody like me who does what I do,
But I’m good at being different, at making a mess,
At climbing and flying and baking I’m best.
I’m quirky and perky! I’m fun and I’m silly!
Mum and Dad need to see that there’s only one Lily!
Lily McGileagh says, ‘Please Mum and Dad,
I need you to listen, your words make me sad.
Often you grumble and often you groan;
I WISH you’d be happy with me, and not moan.
I’ve thought about changing, I worry a lot,
But I need to be ME; being ME’s all I’ve got.’
{This is an excerpt from my unpublished manuscript. Please get in touch to read the full story or to discuss publishing. }
