Beneath Enchanted Skies: Stories and Poems for the Young at Heart

By Vera Ogden Bakker

Filled with colorful pictures, Beneath Enchanted Skies by author Vera Ogden Bakker, offers a delightful collection of stories and poems designed especially for young children.

Bakker, a retired elementary school teacher, presents narrative and photos that stimulate and tickle the imagination. Journey through the pages and dance with leprechauns, hug with teddy bears, sing with gingerbread men, flirt with crocodiles, and fly with Santa Claus.

Through words and drawings, Beneath Enchanted Skies lets little ones experience the magic land of childhood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504915854

Vera Ogden Bakker

Vera Ogden Bakker loves children and books. She taught elementary school for twenty-six years. Her children’s books include “Puff’s Christmas Miracle,” “Legs,” “Garden Visitors,” and most recently, “Saving Grandfather Rabbit.” Her first book of poetry, “Borrowed Breath,” was published last year.

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2015 Vera Ogden Bakker. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 6/4/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1584-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-1585-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015908907

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.

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.

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Beneath Enchanted Skies

Some Lazy Saturday

Ethan, Melville and Brute

Trees on Parade

Donuts By The Dozen

Gingerbread Jamboree

The Magic Herb

Courtship in the Swamp

Winter Orphan

Colors on the Water

Catch a Leprechaun

Eager as Easter Sunday

Ralphie’s Big Feet

Jungle Party

Operation De-scent

A Visit From The Black Witch

Annie’s Christmas Star

Teddy Bear Tryst

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Some Lazy Saturday

Some lazy Saturday

I’ll float across the sky,

travel some place far away

and find new things to try.

I’ll wrestle a crocodile,

watch a windmill by the sand,

hula dance Hawaiian style,

play bagppipes in a band.

I’ll lasso a kangaroo,

fly a kite in old Hong Kong,

wash an elephant or two,

wind Big Ben’s loud gong.

When evening comes I will return

in plenty of time to be fed,

read a book so I can learn

and snuggle down in bed.

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Ethan, Melville and Brute

Ethan heard big footsteps behind him. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Big Brute Findlay had caught him alone, and there was no place to hide.

Hey, Kid. It wasn’t Big Brute’s voice. Ethan turned slowly. There stood a huge gray elephant, even bigger than Big Brute.

H-hey, Elephant. Ethan hoped the elephant didn’t notice his shaking knees.

The elephant raised his trunk. "My name’s not Elephant. It’s Melville Pachyderm.

W well, my name’s not Boy. It’s Ethan Page.

Do you know where I can get some strawberries, Ethan?

Uh, yeah, follow me. We have some in our garden. Ethan imagined how Brute would look when he saw Ethan with an elephant. They didn’t meet Brute, but Ethan waved to Tommy Jackson, who stood with his mouth open.

When Ethan got home, he told Melville to wait on the front lawn while he picked some strawberries. He knew Dad wouldn’t want an elephant walking in the garden.

Ethan brought Melville some strawberries. Melville took them one at a time with his trunk. As he put each berry in his mouth, he smacked his lips and rolled his eyes.

I do love strawberries, Melville said. Ethan, I’ve decided you can be my keeper. An elephant must have a keeper, you know. Melville sat down on the front lawn, and Ethan went inside to do his homework.

Ethan was right about one thing. Mr.