The BEST FRIENDS In The SEA

The BEST FRIENDS in the SEA

Written & Illustrated by KATIE BEATON

To Dana, my very best friend,

And the journeys we’ve taken together.

Elizabeth Street Books

The BEST FRIEN Text & Illustrations Copyright Š 2013 KATIE BEATON. All Right Reserved.

NDS in the SEA Written & Illustrated by KATIE BEATON

Gather ‘round dear fishies, Gather ‘round my chair.

Gather ‘round to hear the tale, Of one courageous dare.

There was a time when I was young, When I, no bigger than a pea, Had set out on a journey to find, The Best Friends in the Sea!

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When I started on my journey My age was only two, And that's when I found, just outside town, A fish that looked like a shoe.

He said, “I've heard of a friendly place.

It is across the sea.

Come with me, I'll take you there, It's where I want to be!�

But the journey was tough, the water was rough, And my shoe friend said to me, “I'm sorry my friend, my journey must end, But my buddy you'll always be!”

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When I left my shoe friend, My age was only three, And that's when I came, on the side of the lane, Upon a fish that looked like a tree.

She said, “I've heard of a friendly place, It is across the sea.

Come with me, I'll take you there, It's where I want to be!�

But the journey was tough, the water was rough, And my tree friend said to me, “I'm sorry my friend, my journey must end, But my buddy you'll always be!�

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When I left my tree friend, My age was only four, And that's when I met, beneath a fisherman's net, A fish like a bug on the floor.

He said, “I've heard of a friendly place, It is across the sea.

Come with me, I'll take you there, It's where I want to be!�

But the journey was tough, the water was rough, And my bug friend said to me, "I'm sorry my friend, my journey must end, But my buddy you'll always be!"

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I swam and swam,

For a long time.

Finally, I reached the place, That I was told would be, Full of the very, very best friends, Anyone could find in the sea.

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There were smiling fish and crying fish,

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And angry fish and laughing fish.

There were eye fish and ear fish,

And dog fish and deer fish.

I stayed there for a while, Until I could finally see, The best friends in the whole wide world, Were a shoe, a bug, and a tree.

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I swam and swam for a very long time, I swam through day and night,

I swam through waters dark and gray,

And waters clear and bright.

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When I found my old friends, My age was only five.

I found my shoe, my tree and my bug, And then we danced a dive!

I said, “I went to the friendly place, Way across the sea, But you're my friends, I'll stay right here.

It's where I want to be!�

And so you see dear fishies, You need not travel far.

To find good friends, just be a friend!

Look around you! Here they are!

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Elizabeth Street Books Katie Beaton is a writer from the village of Creemore, Ontario.

It is difficult to not be inspired by a place this green and flourishing.

This is Katie's first published title. Watch for MISS IRINA'S GARDEN coming soon.

Text & Illustrations Copyright Š 2013 KATIE BEATON. All Right Reserved.