Chilly Billy by Headline Books / Zoom Into Books

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Born on a cold winter day, Chilly Billy frolics with the other lambs. They decide to go under the fence and make fun of Billy...even nicknamed him 'Silly Billy,' because he wouldn't follow them. Find out what happens...and why Billy wasn't so silly after all. Known for her lessons from nature, Melinda reminds her readers they need to question their choices. It's easy to "follow the flock," but sometimes the outcomes are not desirable. The grass is not always greener on the other side. Sue Ann Maxwell Spiker captures the beauty of the story through her artwork. "Having worked with sheep for 65 years, I found Chilly Billy to be a most interesting story that accurately brings alive sheep farm life in the winter and spring in West Virginia. Lambs are curious, follow a leader, and easily get into trouble. The lambs find exciting adventure can be dangerous and they were saved just in time. This book is a good lesson for children ( Chilly Billy wasn't so silly after all)." -Reverend Calvin Mccutcheon-He sheared his 100, 000th sheep at the WV State Fair in 2014 at the age of 77.

ISBN 13: 978-0-882658-30-5 $16.95 CAD 21.20

781882658305

5 1695

Nelinda chambers illosl1atedby

SfJiker Maxwell ; Sue Ann '

Chilly Billy Melinda Chambers illustrated by Sue Ann Maxwell Spiker

Chilly Billy by Melinda Chambers illustrated by Sue Ann Maxwell Spiker copyright ©2015 Melinda Chambers All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any other form or for any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage system, without written permission from Headline Books. To order additional copies of this book or for book publishing information, or to contact the author: Headline Kids P. O. Box 52 Terra Alta, WV 26764 Tel: 800-570-5951 Email: mybook@headlinebooks.com www.headlinebooks.com www.headlinekids.com www.MelindaChambers.com Published by Headline Books Headline Kids is an imprint of Headline Books ISBN-13: 978-0-882658-30-5 Library of Congress Control Number: 2015936999

PR I N T E D I N T H E U N I T E D STAT E S OF A M E R IC A

ther and bro s r e b m Cha s Melinda with their lamb Author iker John Sp

Dedicated to those who choose not to be swayed by their peers to do things they know they shouldn’t. This book is in memory of my father, Lynn Spiker, WVU County Agricultural Extension Agent in Lewis County for 33 years.

Deep in the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia, it was lambing time at Farmer Lynn’s. It seems the most likely time for lambs to be born is in the middle of the night when the snow is the deepest and the air is the coldest.

Farmer Lynn had taken all the precautions he could, making sure his ewes were in the barn protected from the chill of the wind and from predators like coyotes. He also made a point of checking on them regularly, even in the middle of the night, to be sure if a lamb was born it wouldn’t freeze. It was an unseasonably cold night in midJanuary when farmer Lynn made his usual trek to the barn. The fresh-fallen snow already covered his tracks from his last trip only a few hours earlier. The wind whipped his face as he tried to shield his head in his heavy parka, but he was still chilled to the bone. 5

Slowly opening the barn door, he was not surprised to find a newborn lamb still wet from birth.

The ewe was busy cleaning the lamb, but she still couldn’t stop the ice from forming on his ears. Farmer Lynn softly nestled the newborn in his warm parka, drying the lamb off at the same time.

Then with his gentle hands, he gave the lamb back to his mother, helping it to nurse for the first time. Farmer Lynn didn’t make a habit of naming his lambs, as he usually identified them by their number. However, he couldn’t help but name his first lamb of the season, “Chilly Billy.”

Since this lamb signified the official beginning of lambing season, Farmer Lynn set up a cot and added warm blankets so he could be close by when needed. With the gentle touch of Farmer Lynn, the mothering ability of the ewes, and the watchful eye of the family sheep dog, Shep, the lambs flourished and were soon ready to be let out of the barn.

Seeing daylight for the first time was very exciting for the lambs as they jumped stiff legged around the field enjoying the extended space to play.

Each day was a new adventure on the farm for the lambs. They took great care to explore every inch of the field. But one day they noticed the fence that surrounded the field.

“I wonder what’s on the other side of the fence?” one of the lambs questioned the others. “Doesn’t the grass seem greener on the other side?” He shot a sheepish look at the ewes who were busy eating grass when the thought occurred to him. I think I’m going to check it out.

Lowering his back as far as he could, he slid under the fence and emerged on the other side. Seeing how easy that was, the other lambs followed him eagerly, which is what lambs do―except for Chilly Billy.

Maybe it was because he was the first to be born, or maybe because he knew there was a reason for the fence, but he chose to stay behind.

“What’s the matter, Chilly Billy, are you too afraid to cross to the other side? I think you should be called ‘Silly Billy’ instead.” With this, the other lambs jumped in the air, twitched their tails, and laughed at poor Chilly Billy. Not liking to be made fun of, Chilly Billy began to think, If I go over, they’ll quit making fun of me. But should I cross the fence just because they want me to? Since they’re gone, there’s much more grass on this side, and it looks just as green to me. Besides, I don’t know what could happen on the other side of the fence. So Chilly Billy was glad to stay where he was.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the fence, the lambs soon got bored and decided to wander some more. One of the lambs found a path that led around the side of the hill, so he decided to follow it. In the sheep world, when one sheep goes somewhere, the others soon follow, one behind the other. Instinctively this is what the lambs did. One by one, each followed the lamb in front of him, until all had rounded the bend.

It didn’t take long before they were deep in the woods. The lambs were quickly becoming disoriented as they realized it was now evening and time to be heading back to the comfort of their mothers and the safety of the barn. Where was Farmer Lynn? Where was Shep? Where were their mothers? Their only hope was with Silly Billy, who didn’t seem quite so silly at the moment. The path they followed had quickly disappeared. The excitement of running free didn’t seem quite as much fun anymore. It didn’t take long for each lamb to place the blame on the other. “I was just following you.” “Well, I was just following everyone else.”

No one was willing to take the blame and no one was able to make the situation better. By now the stars were beginning to shine and the air was getting chilly. Just when things looked like they couldn’t get any worse, they heard the howl of coyotes in the distance, which sent an additional set of chills down their wooly backs. Life seemed over for the lambs, as they hung their heads and waited for fate to take over. But wait...what was that noise? Was it a coyote getting closer or was it Shep’s bark? Was that a light in the distance? Yes...help was on the way. 23

Coming around the hill was good ole Shep, closely followed by Farmer Lynn and Silly Billy― no...I mean Chilly Billy. What a welcome sight. The lambs sheepishly looked at Farmer Lynn, knowing they had done wrong. Maybe there was a reason for that fence after all.

Back in the safety of the barn and nestled close to their mothers, they gained greater respect for Chilly Billy. He made the better choice, even though they made fun of him. “Wow, we’ll never call him ‘Silly’ again.”

That night the lambs and their mothers slept soundly. Shep guarded the barn door in case there were any more thoughts of escape, and Farmer Lynn was able to get a good night’s sleep, knowing his flock was back under his protection. The only one who couldn’t sleep was Chilly Billy, who lay awake thinking about what could have happened.

It’s fun to have friends, he thought to himself, but sometimes you need to separate yourself from the flock. With that thought, he, too, was sound asleep.

About the Author

Award-winning author Melinda Spiker Chambers grew up with a flock of sheep behind her house. She fondly remembers waking up in the middle of the night from the “baas” of lambs her father had put in a box next to the heater to warm up because they had been near death from the cold. Her previous books, We Are Whoo We Are, The Day the Snapdragons Snapped Back, Fraidy Cat, And We Helped, have all won Mom’s Choice Awards designating them among the best in family-friendly products. Melinda is a retired educator, with degrees from West Virginia University and Ohio State University. She has worked as a WVU Extension Agent, as a middle school teacher, and as Nutrition Director for Hampshire County. Melinda currently lives in Hampshire County, West Virginia, with her husband, Byron. Together they have two children and five grandchildren. Melinda currently volunteers her time as a Sunday School teacher, creative writing teacher, 4-H volunteer, counselor, and mentor. She is also available for school visits.

About the Illustrator

Award-winning illustrator, Sue Ann Maxwell Spiker, lives on a livestock farm with her husband, John. Besides being an active mother and grandmother, she also assists with the farm work which includes the family’s flock of sheep. A graduate from Glenville State College in the field of art, Sue Ann is known for her life-like watercolor paintings. Teaming up with her sister-in-law, Melinda, she has been able to bring the written word to life through her beautiful illustrations. Sue Ann and her family own and operate a guest house, Sunny Pointe, and she is also active with her church and community.

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