Friends are Free

By Catherine Johnson

This books helps children see the importance of always telling the truth as well as the meaning of a true friendship. It addresses that one may consider themselves beautiful, but there is always someone else even more beautiful and talented. In conclusion, how becoming overconfident, indulging in self-praise (bragging) can lead to isolation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781646540013

Catherine Johnson

CATHERINE JOHNSON, Ph.D., is a writer specializing in neuropsychiatry and the brain. She cowrote Animals in Translation and served as a trustee of the National Alliance for Autism Research for seven years. She lives with her husband and three sons—two of whom have autism—in New York.

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Inside and Outside

Inside and Outside

A Story of Thazur

In a village in Africa, in the land of Zaramay, lived a family of many people and villagers. In this village, there lived many children of all sizes and ages. Well, this one village child, who was very funny, decided he would play in the Land of the Animals. Many of the animals were big and ferocious, and the village chief always told the children to stay away from the Land of the Fearful.

The animals were very beautiful and one day would grow into brave, territorial, strong warriors of their land. The animals traveled in packs and lived in beautiful prides.

Thazur was a curious child, and even though the village chief had told all the children and warned them many times and said, Do not go near the village edge because just beyond the waters are many fierce animals who live in the Land That Belongs Only to Them.

One day, Thazur decided he was bored with playing with the other children and wanted to seek adventure on his own. Even though he knew he was forbidden to ever go into the outside world and he knew that he should not, he decided to let his curiosity get the best of him.

Baba, may I go to the Garden of Plenty and play with the other children? I have finished my duties for the day, and I wish to join them for fun.

Yes, Thazur, Baba said. You may go now, but remember to stay within our bounds.

Thazur laughed to himself and never joined with the other children in the garden. Just as his father was going about the daily chores and Thazur thought that no one was watching, he left for the outside land to the Land of the Fearful. Thazur had been to the Land of the Belong only without the knowledge of his parents a few times. One extremely warm and sunny day, he was walking by the stream much too close to the Land of the Fearful, and he shouted to all the villagers, Roayah, roayah, for a couple of times.

All the village warriors and families came running to his rescue, and Thazur shouted again but in a laughing tone.

Thazur said again and again there ain’t no lion over here, there ain’t no lion out here, and he said there ain’t no lion over here roayah, roayah! Thazur laughed and laughed and headed back toward the village.

All the warriors and families went stomping back to the village to attend to their daily work and chores. The chief said, I have told that boy many times to stay away from that land and that one day he will only hear the sound of one hand clapping.

Thazur’s family was angry too. He had taken them away from their work because it was harvest time, and