Stories for Kids
by
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"....When she finally got to the edge of the Spruce Forest she crawled in under the broad branches of a huge old tree where the wind and the snow could not reach. She scattered the corn on the ground. "Enjoy your breakfast, little birds," she said. Then she rested there, safe from the raging wind outside. She thought of the birds that would find all the big yellow kernels of corn in the morning. The baby grouse would be almost grown up now. She pictured them running about, pecking at the food. She smiled at the thought. "It’s good that I got here. Now they will have enough to eat." When she crawled back outside the snow was thick. The wind whipped at her face. An icy blast sent a shiver through her body. She tightened her hood and looked around. It was hard to see because the snowflakes blew into her eyes. She strained to see through the storm. There were no tracks! Her heart beat faster. She looked everywhere. But the drifting snow had filled in the snowshoe tracks while she was under the tree. There was no trail to follow home..."
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About the Book
Most of the stories take place in either the White Mountains of New Hampshire or near the waters of Buzzards Bay and Nantucket Sound. The author’s sensitive appreciation of the natural beauty of these places brings to these tales a calm simplicity and pastoral environment so beneficial for children. He has captured the fun and excitement that children of all ages find in exploring the natural world. Two stories, "Turtles Can’t Dance," and "The Rabbit, the Turtle and the Lady Bug," reflect the moral lessons of traditional fables for younger children. In "The Mosquito, the Frog and the Witch," he recreates the traditional fantasy of a prince and princess while allowing the reader to practice a number of sound effects and gestures. "The Snowshoes" and "The Campfire," present portraits of children interacting with nature, and drawing strength from our heritage of Native Americans. Indeed, a fundamental theme in all the stories is the need for children to accept the simplicity and integrity of nature, animals and the outdoors as an anchor for their own personality and inner strength. The two stories involving Penny, while not entirely autobiographical, are based on his experience with the bafflement of children and parents faced with the mysteries of OCD, ADAD, and other anxiety disorders and learning disabilities. These two stories emphasize the concepts that such problems are to be taken in stride, that their existence is no one’s fault, and the important thing is to spot them early and to find the right treatment. There are a couple adventure stories, one set on the water off Martha’s Vineyard and Woods Hole and one in the forests of New Hampshire. Finally, there are a couple vignettes of grandmothers and aunts along with even a couple kid friendly, fun-recipes. And there is a seasonal Christmas poem that starts in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, but takes the youthful sleigh drivers to all seven continents. They struggle so "--the good kids get presents, and lots of toys, cause it’s important to reward, all the good girls and boys."
About the Author
Bill Greene has written educational texts and case books for schools and colleges as well as numerous articles for professional magazines and newspapers. In this book he has drawn extensively from his experience with young children, the art of storytelling, and the practice of reading out loud–with primary concern for the three to ten year old. He believes that while stories can teach or illustrate certain moral lessons and manners, the major purpose of children’s stories should be to entertain–to delight the mind and senses of the child. The wide variety of tales in "Stories For Kids," reflects Mr. Greene’s interest in children as evolving, learning, individuals. The settings and themes illuminate his dedication to the outdoors and the simplicity and integrity of nature. When he can’t be gardening or on a boat, he works at his homes in Northumberland, New Hampshire, and South Dartmouth, Massachusetts with his wife Catherine and his youngest daughter, Whitney, along with several dogs, cows, chickens, and a pony. On a personal note, he compares the efforts exposing his nine children and thirteen grandchildren to reading as his major life sport, and estimates that during the past forty-five years he has logged over 4,000 hours reading to children. And suspects that when he gets to the Pearly Gates and has to look back for some redeeming acts, it will be those hours that prove most enduring and important, as well as the most pleasant.