On Gramma’S Rocker: Animal Tales and Other Short Stories

By Ann M. Bondanella Filutze

This treasure trove of short stories offers tales of friends and animals that come to life and features important lessons about friendship, sharing and more.

On Grammas Rocker shares a treasure box of childrens tales filled with short stories that make friends and animals come alive and help your child learn lifes most important lessons through fun.
Go to the palace with porcupines who learn their manners. Follow a curious girl into a boys-only tree house and discover a real hero. Meet a new fire truck named Flash who wants to befriend a unique dog at the fire station. Sit in the shade with Blanket and Sombrero as they compete for the first-place prize in their village. Stand guard with Ring the doorbell as he tries his bestrain or shine. Travel with Cup and Teabag from the sunny south to the cold north until they finally reach their relaxing destination.

These stories bring you and your children unusual companions who become friends as they meet each challenge before them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Apr 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781462404995

Ann M. Bondanella Filutze

Ann Bondanella is the president of RELACS—Religious Education, Literature, and Consulting Services. Her experience with children includes many years of teaching, tutoring, and mentoring. The parents of five adult children, Ann and her husband enjoy being grandparents to sixteen grandchildren living in both Pennsylvania and Indiana.

Book preview

On Gramma’s Rocker

Animal Tales and Other Short Stories

Ann M. Bondanella Filutze

To My Devoted Mother Amazing Grace,

And to All the Children in my life,

All God’s Children

Copyright © 2013 Ann M. Bondanella Filutze.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Inspiring Voices books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Inspiring Voices

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.inspiringvoices.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0498-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0499-5 (e)

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 4/5/2013

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CONTENTS

The Fire Truck and The Dog

Broomstick the Sweeper

Doe, White Dog, and The Painter

Father Mouse’s Great Find

The Friend and the Watchdog

Hero and the Hideout

Hop The Bunny

Little Leaf’s Fall

The Mole and Her Dinner

One at a Time, Two at a Time

Pine Cone Wilma’s Seed

Pony and the Fear

The Porcupines and the Queen

Rackie the Lone Raccoon

Red Apples

Ring, The Doorbell

Rocco, The Lonely Rock

Roy And The Rainbow

Sparrows at the Altar

The Accordion and The Dream

The Blanket and The Sombrero

The Boy and The White Balloon

The Candle and the Lamp

The Chair and The Man

The Child and the Carriage

The Church Mice and The Gold

The Cup and The Teabag

The Flower, The Child, and The World

The Ocean and The Island

The Singer

The World Came to Hear

The Softest Bear

The Wind and The Tree

The Yellow Slicker and the Child

The Fire Truck and The Dog

In the fire station garage sat a shiny bright red Fire Truck named Flash. He was brand new, and he had just moved into the fire station. He looked around the garage and wondered where everyone else could be. Just then Flash heard the engine of a big older truck. It was returning from a big fire that the firemen had put out.

Flash watched as the tired old truck got washed. The old truck’s doors were open so the insides could get dusted. Just then a long dog jumped out of the truck. The dog was white with black spots on his ears, back and legs. Flash liked dogs so he called out, Hi, Dog! I’m Flash the Fire Truck. What’s your name?

Dog did not answer but went straight to his bed.

Flash called to the Dog, Are you tired after working at the fire? Dog still did not answer. Flash thought, Dog must be too tired to speak.

Soon a fire call came in and the trucks got ready to go. Dog saw Flash’s door open. All at once, Flash felt Dog jump up on the front seat. Flash heard the seat belt click. He was happy that Dog was going with him on the fire call.

Sirens blew as the red truck raced through the streets. When they arrived at the fire scene, the fire fighters worked hard to put out the fire. Dog and Flash were happy when the fire stopped burning.

When they got back to the fire station, Flash drove into the garage. Dog was coughing from the smoke and dust. Are you okay? Flash asked. Dog again did not answer. He jumped down and ran to his water bowl. He drank some water and then went to his bed to rest.

Flash the Fire Truck was full of soot and was getting washed on the outside and dusted on the inside. He looked at the big old truck next to him. I wonder if Dog speaks to the other truck, Flash thought. I will ask the old truck.

I have talked to Dog but he never answers me, said Flash. Do you know how I can get him to speak to me? he asked the older truck.

The big truck listened to Flash and chuckled. He said, Dog is a fire dog. People call him a Dalmatian. Dog is very friendly.

Flash was puzzled. Friendly? he asked. Then why doesn’t he speak when I talk to him?

The older truck answered, That is because Dog was born deaf. That means he can not hear us talk.

Flash had more questions. If Dog cannot hear, how does he know when to jump in and go with us?

The old truck said, When Dog sees our lights, Dog knows it is time to go to work. When he sees our doors open, he jumps in for the ride. Now every time Flash turns on his lights, Dog comes running to him. Dog sits straight and tall with his seat belt fastened. Flash learned that friends sometimes do not need words. They can use signs!

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Broomstick the Sweeper

Broomstick leaned lazily against the wall of the long hallway. When the sun comes shining through the window, my work will begin again, she thought.

Each day was the same. The rays of sun pointed to the dust and dirt on the floor. The woman took Broomstick by the waist and began sweeping away the dust and dirt. Broomstick the Sweeper coughed as the dust flew. The woman pushed harder. She pushed poor Broomstick left and right along the dusty hall. No matter how Broomstick tried to keep it clean, the floor would