Stories and Other Stuff for Kids of All Ages: Book 1

By Judy Wolfman

Children of all ages enjoy hearing a story read to them—sometimes the same one over and over. Reading aloud is more than reading words. It involves some simple theatrical skills by using your voice to sound like a character in the story. This makes the story come alive and is more interesting to the child.

The stories in this book are appropriate for all ages, from preschool through adulthood. Some of the stories are funny or silly, some may touch a child’s heart, and some provide information a child may not know. But all the stories are enjoyable.

There may be times when reading a story is not possible, like while driving a car or walking through a store. That’s when the story can be told using your own creative adaptations. Whether you read or tell a story, make it a fun time for you both. Enjoy the stories!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781546274933

Judy Wolfman

A retired elementary teacher, Judy Wolfman has had many books, plays, magazine articles, short stories and poems published. Most of her works is fiction for children, but some is historical fiction for all ages. In 1989, Judy became a professional storyteller and has told stories at various venues, including foreign countries and on cruise ships. She founded a reader's theatre troupe that performed throughout York County, Pennsylvania. Judy now lives at Country Meadows, where she conducts a variety of workshops for the residents. A mother of three grown children and four grandchildren, Judy resides in York, Pennsylvania.

Book preview

ALL BECAUSE OF BUZZARD

An adaptation of a Native American Legend

Long, long ago, before people, animals could talk. This was also a time when birds had no feathers. In fact, they had nothing covering their bodies. You can imagine how funny they looked to each other.

Ha, ha, said a small bird to one of the bigger ones. You really look strange.

Have you looked at yourself lately? the bigger bird asked. You don’t look so great.

Because they had nothing on their bodies, the birds shivered from the cold winds in the winter. And in the summer, when the sun sent down its fiery heat, the birds felt as though they were baking.

Eagle, Chief of the Birds, was not at all happy with Creator, who had not given the birds any covering for their bodies. We need to send a messenger to Creator and ask Him to give us some clothing.

So, Eagle called all of the birds together, and when they all arrived, he stepped up on a big rock and explained why he had called them. It isn’t fair, Eagle said. Creator gave all the other animals clothing. He gave the bears warm fur coats. He gave snakes scales to protect them. Turtle has a hard shell. Crocodiles have thick skin. But we have nothing. All of the birds agreed, and thought Eagle’s idea to send a messenger to Creator was a good one.

Now, Eagle said, who will be our messenger?

The birds looked at each other, hoping that one would be willing to make the trip. Finally, a small bird said, I’m not very big, but maybe I could fly to Creator. The little bird looked up to the sky and said, On second thought, I don’t think I can fly that far.

A slightly bigger bird stepped forward. Maybe I could do it. But Eagle looked at him and shook his head. No, I’m afraid the journey would be too difficult for you, too.

One by one, each bird said it would be willing to try, but for one reason or another, none was able to make the long trip to Creator. Eagle was disappointed, and again asked for a messenger. Who will go?

One of the birds noticed Buzzard standing alone, away from the others. He pointed his wing at Buzzard. Buzzard could do it. Buzzard is big and has large strong wings. And he can fly higher than any of us.

The birds went to Buzzard. Please, Buzzard, be our messenger. Go to Creator and ask Him to give us clothing.

Who me? Buzzard said. I’ve never flown that high before. I don’t know if I can.

Sure you can, the birds said. You’re the only one that could make the journey.

Wellll, Buzzard said, realizing that the other birds were counting on him. I’ll try. But I have to get ready for the trip. The birds squawked and screeched with joy.

For the next three days, Buzzard prepared for his long journey by eating his favorite food - dead field mice, squirrels and other small animals. While Buzzard ate, the other birds gathered around a big fire, where they burned tobacco and sent their wishes and prayers up to Creator.

Finally, Buzzard was ready. All the birds gathered around and watched as Buzzard flapped his wings and flew higher and higher, until he was out of sight. After a long while, his wings felt heavy. It was harder to move them up and down. Buzzard was tired.

I can’t go any farther, Buzzard said. Maybe I’ll turn back and go home. Then he remembered how his friends were depending on him to get clothing from Creator. I can’t disappoint them, he thought.

Just then he caught an air current that came by, and drifted on it. When he was rested, he continued to fly upward toward Creator. Soon he came to the sun, which was like a big ball of fire. As Buzzard passed it, the skin on the top of his naked head burned red.

Owww, he yelled, that hurt! But he kept going.

At last he came to the place where Creator lived, and landed right in front of Creator.

Hello, Creator. I’m Buzzard, messenger of all the birds. They sent me to ask you …

But Creator interrupted. I know why you are here. I heard the prayers and wishes of the birds, and am ready for you. Creator pointed to a pile of colorful suits. Here are fine clothes made of feathers for you to take back to your friends.

Oh my! Buzzard exclaimed. They’re beautiful. Look at all the colors – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, white and some with lots of colors. My friends will like these very much. Thank you, Creator.

I’m glad to do it for you and your friends, Creator said. And Buzzard, I know how hard it was for you to fly to me, so it is only fair that you have the first choice.

Buzzard was pleased. You mean I can take any suit I want?

That’s right. But, you may try on each suit only once. If you do not like it, put it aside. But, you may not return to it. Then, when you find one you like, that will be yours.

Creator left, and Buzzard picked up a blue and white suit from the top of the pile, and stepped into it. It had a cap that covered his burned head, and a small, fancy crest that stuck up on top. He looked into the heavenly mirror.

Hmm, not bad. Blue is a good color for me. I like it. Then he looked at the pile of suits. This is the first suit I’ve tried on. There may be another one that would look better.

Buzzard took off the blue and white suit, and that was the one that later went to Blue Jay.

The next suit was a very bright red one, with a tall crest. It, too, covered the burned spot on his head, but when he looked into the mirror he wasn’t happy with what he saw.

This is too bright. An animal would see me right away, and I’d end up being dinner. He took the suit off, and it later went to Cardinal.

A little brown suit was next. Not much to it, Buzzard said, but he tried it on anyway. Then he saw the orange vest that went with it, and put it on. This is more like it. But, as he looked at himself in the mirror he wondered if the vest would soon go out of style. So he took it off and that suit went to Robin.

Buzzard tried on all of the suits, but none suited him. Some were too bright, or too dull. Some had feathers that were too long, or too short. Some feathers were too dark, or too light. None of the suits seemed to be what Buzzard wanted.

Finally, Buzzard reached the last suit. He held it up. Yuk! he said. This is the ugliest suit I’ve ever seen. It was a dirty brown, and the feathers were not shiny or neat like the others. It looks too small, Buzzard said. But since it was the last suit, he had no choice but to put it on.

Buzzard stepped into it. He pulled and strained, and strained and pulled. Finally it was on, but it was very tight. He looked in the mirror and noticed that the suit didn’t cover his legs, his neck or the red burned spot on top of his head.

This is terrible. I can’t wear this. It’s too small, and doesn’t look good at all. Then, Buzzard had an idea. I’ll go back to Creator. I’m sure he has other suits I could try on.

Buzzard found Creator and showed Him the suit. "As you can see, this suit doesn’t look good and is too small. Do you have