YEEK the EMU By Julienne Monteiro Illustrations by Ulises Ceballos
To Miss Debbie and the teachers and staff at ACS Doha International School who help us learn new things about ourselves everyday.
This book was inspired by the works of author Sheena Knowles and illustrator Rod Clement. ACS Doha International School Doha, Qatar March 2013
There once were twelve emus who lived in the zoo, One was Edward and Edwina was two.
Then Fluffy and Scruffy and Sniffly-Sneeze, And Fatty and Footloose and Knobbly Knees, And Lollipop Legs and Shortening and Squeak, And last, but not least, the one they called Yeek.
Yeek was curious, always ready to seek, Exploring each hole with the tip of his beak. Then one morning, Yeek though about his name, “Why am I called Yeek? It seems such a shame.”
He walked to where the lions were, They would like to chat for sure.
One spotted him and happily said, “Isn’t is a wonderful day out here Ted?”
“It sure is,” Yeek said with a lie, ‘I’m off to see zebra,” he said with a sigh.
He never did quite like his name, He always thought it was weird and lame.
“Hey Tom!” called the zebra, “Let’s go for a run. We’ll see who comes first, it’ll really be fun.”
“No thanks,” Yeek said with a lie. “I’m off to see elephant,” he said with a sigh.
The elephant trumpeted, “Good morning Will, Why don’t you come over to chat and to chill?”
‘Sorry, I can’t,” Yeek said with a lie. Add he headed for home with a long, heavy sigh.
‘Mother! Why did you name me Yeek? It make me feel a bit like a freak.”
Edwina looked at Yeek eye-to eye, She knew he was about to cry. ‘Your name is actually quite unique, For you are my one and only Yeek.”
A name’s just a name. There’s no reason to hide. What matters most is what’s on the inside.