The Adventures of Big and Yellow

By Erika Nyhagen and Frank Nissen

If you've ever loved a teddy bear, you know they have lives of their own. In The Adventures of Big and Yellow, Big Teddy and Yellow Teddy, two well-loved bears, learn about friendship, compassion, and change while exploring a deserted truck farm. They discover that friends come in many forms and colors, and can be found in the most unexpected places.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543910865

Book preview

An Unlikely New Friend

When the sun came up the next morning, Avery whisked Big and Yellow off the washing machine and handed them to her mother, who gave them a good scrubbing in the washtub. Then Avery carried them into the backyard to the clothesline, where Avery’s mom hung them up to dry. By their ears! Right next to Avery’s shoes.

So there were Big and Yellow, dangling from the line, water dripping from their legs and arms. They faced the back of a house that looked very much like Ronnie’s. The difference was that Ronnie’s house was white, and this house was yellow. There were a few small windows and one big one, and two cement steps leading to a small porch by the back door. Yellow could see Avery’s small face peeking out from the big window at the far end of the house. She had tears in her eyes, watching her new friends hanging there, drippy and sad, helpless until they dried.

These clothespins are pinching my ears, said Yellow.

How long do you think it will take for us to dry? asked Big. He knew Yellow would have an answer. She always did.

I don’t know, said Yellow. I’ve never been this wet before.

I wonder if this is what it is like to fly, said Big.

It wasn’t a question, but Yellow had an answer anyway. I would imagine there is more up and down and moving around involved with flying. But the ground does look far away. What do you suppose would happen if we fell?

I imagine we would have a very good bounce, replied Big.

The day warmed as the sun rose in the sky. Yellow felt her fur drying, and Big thought his stuffing was a bit lighter.

Can you see what’s behind us? asked Big.

I’ve tried looking, said Yellow, but I can only see a little from side to side. I see more houses, and fences between them.

Then, without warning, something large and black landed on the line, causing Big and Yellow and Avery’s shoes to bob up and down. They had a visitor.

Hey! Been hanging around here long? said a squawky voice.

Not long, said Big. Who are you?

"Who am I? Name’s Diego. Do you live here on the clothesline? Diego made a strange clicking sound with his rather long, pointy beak. Haven’t seen you two around these parts before."

We just got here yesterday, replied Big. "We fell into a puddle, and now we’re drying out. How did you get up here?"

Who, me? I flew, said Diego.

"You know how to fly?" asked Big, more interested now.

Sure! I’m a crow. All us crows know how to fly. It’s a bird thing, you know.

Why do they call you Diego? asked Yellow.

The crow clicked his beak again. He looked at Yellow, then at Big. Because I’m from San Diego, he said. Grew up in the city and around the beach. Lots of good things to eat there if you know where to look. Around here, Diego pointed his big black beak toward whatever was behind them, "they just call me