Stay Happy Children’s Stories: Book 1.

By Barnabas Gikonyo

All these stories are based on real life adventures and, perhaps the most heartfelt; these are among the thousands of stories that the author shared with his daughter Lois (to whom all these book series are dedicated) every night from the time she was around 2 years old to around 7 years of age.

Every night without fail, before going to sleep, the author would read children’s’ Bible stories, pray with her and narrate to her a true life story about his very adventurous childhood years growing up in Kenya. Having been born in the United States and having a great deal of intellectual curiosity and adventure, she found the stories unbelievably exciting. Amazingly she still does even as a young adult.

Over and above the stories, the books provide fun activities, word search, plus coloring and spot the difference activities that are sure to keep families at home and while traveling really engaged and having fun. These fun activities also have a learning component where the children learn a few important facts and principles about every topic covered in each story, but in a fun, non-traditional-class way.

The author owns the copyright to all the graphics. The names of characters and places have been changed to protect identities.

Barnabas Gikonyo, Ph.D.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664188747

Barnabas Gikonyo

Barnabas Gikonyo’s true life stories and an infectious ‘stay happy’ attitude continue to inspire many across the globe to a point where many have encouraged him to publish something to keep inspiring many yearning hearts for generations to come. Having grown up in the farming communities in Kenya, he learned most of his foundational principles from his everyday activities and, being a very adventurous kid he generated a repertoire of true life adventure stories that have left many, irrespective of age, craving to hear more. Perhaps the greater paradox is his educational and research experiences; in sciences. He truly stands out as a graceful talent in multiple fields. He graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois (2007) with a Ph.D. in organic and materials chemistry after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biochemistry at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. As a full time lecturer and SUNY Geneseo, NY, he has taught organic and general chemistry classes plus corresponding laboratories, and oversees the running of general chemistry labs. His research interests range from application of various polymeric materials as "biomaterial bridging surfaces" for the repair of spinal cord injuries to the use of osteoconductive cements for the repair of critical sized bone defects/fractures to pretreatment of hemp and fiber quality analysis to development of alternative/non-food biofuels. He has published a number of books on renewable energy with Apple Academic publishing company; 1) “Efficacy and sustainability in biofuel production, environmental and land use research; 2) Sugarcane as biofuel feedstock, Advances toward a sustainable energy solution; 3) “Fuel production from non-food biomass; corn stover, 4) Advances in Biofuel Production: Algae and Aquatic Plants. He is involved in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Math) initiatives at the university aimed at helping increase enrollment and retention of students from underrepresented groups in STEM fields. He, in collaboration with local teachers and instructors has helped develop mentorship programs that continue to positively impact, inspire and encourage students from underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Notwithstanding being an instructor, faculty mentor, award winning motivational speaker, (he previously gave a TEDx talk titled “The 7 Steps Towards Achieving Seemingly Impossible Dreams' through SUNY Geneseo TEDx), Barnabas is an avid golfer and poet. He is probably known best for his uplifting and original phrase, “Stay happy, you have incredible value.” These series of “Stay Happy” children’s books are not only based on his true life experiences, but they are also a selection from thousands of bed time stories he shared with his own daughter every night from the ages of about 2 to 7 years. Stay happy, you have incredible value. Barnabas Gikonyo Ph.D.

Book preview

Copyright © 2021 by Barnabas Gikonyo. 828673

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage

and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the

copyright owner.

This work is based upon the real life of the author. Other names,

characters, places and incidents either are the product of the

author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely

coincidental.

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

ISBN: 978-1-6641-8873-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6641-8872-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6641-8874-7 (e)

Rev. date: 09/07/2021

STAY HAPPY

CHILDREN’S

STORIES

Book 1.

Dedication:

These series of stay happy children’s books are dedicated to my loved and blessed Daughter Lois, without whom these stories would never have come alive.

Contents

1: THE PRICELESS PEA SEED AND THE HUNGRY CATERPILLAR.

2: STRIKING GOLD!!! THERE IS BURIED TREASURE IN THE HILLS!!!

3: THE ABSENT-MINDED SCHOOL BOY WHO BROUGHT A LIVE FROG TO CLASS.

4: THE CREEPY OLD MAN HIDING HIGH UP IN THE TREE.

5: THE MERCILESS CHARGING COW AND THE HELPLESS SCHOOLBOY

1: The priceless pea seed

and the hungry caterpillar.

Growing up on the farm in Kenya, life always had unexpected surprises. One season there would be an overabundance of food, the other, an invasion by migrating butterflies and the crop destroying caterpillars that would hatch from the eggs the butterflies laid on virtually everything green.

Nothing inspired a young me to work harder than the thought that one day, I would strike the proverbial gold at the end of the rainbow.

What would I do with the gold?

Where would I travel to? America? The moon?

Who really cares, I would have enough gold to travel to the moon and back, I mused constantly.

I had read stories about young kids who had received magic