“What a Wonderful World” CLOSE Call
By: Tammy & Niko
Use Your Imagination
Louis Armstrong
Niko Bio Nicholas Cote (NIKO), is a student in junior high at St. Bernard School. He loves to read, and that makes him an excellent sounding board for his family members who write. He also loves history and video games, especially games of strategy that incorporate military history. This social kid likes to play basketball and hang with his friends. The short story Urban Rascals “What aWonderful World”, («Close Call») was his first attempt at crafting his own tale and he enjoyed the camaraderie of writing together with his mom. Tammy Young Coté – Bio Tammy Young Coté, is a children›s librarian, author, and freelance writer in Connecticut. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), participates in NaNoWriMo activities and meets with a writing buddy monthly to share projects and critiques also coaching students in writing and research. She teaches a week-long summer writing camp for junior-high students and engages with readers and fellow writers and educators via her blog at tammyyoungcote.com, on Facebook and Twitter @ tammyyoungcote.
CLOSE Call
“Oh, look Mom. These animals are cute,” Niko said, leaning in to get a better look at the display of crocheted animals behind the glass. “They are,” she answered. “I wish I had a collection like that,” he said almost to himself. His mom chuckled. “You don’t have any more space on your bed for more animals.” She patted him on the back and they moved off to the other displays in the library. 1
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fter the last people had exited the library for the night and only the evening lights glowed, the animals came awake.
“Oh man, so many great kids came through today,” said Lion. “I hope we get to go home with one of them,” said Gator. “I liked that kid Niko who already has a bed covered with toys.”
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aptain Bear stood at attention, “ If we go home with the kids, we can’t guarantee that we can keep the Troop together. Especially, if we leave it to the Grown-ups. The Sergeant and I have developed a contingency plan to ensure our safe passage to a home where the kids still play. Sergeant?” Sergeant Tedi nodded sharply. “Yes ma’am. The captain and I have long feared that video games will overtake all households and prevent kids from playing with their more traditional toys.”
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“Meaning us?” said Lion.“That’s right,” said the captain. “Oh no,” said the mermaid. “I don’t want to be in a display forever. I was made to play. What should we do?” “Leave it to us,” said the captain, nodding at Sergeant Tedi. “We have determined that our best chance of escape is the typical kid’s backpack.” The Sergeant paced the glass shelf, making eye contact with each of the crocheted critters on the shelf. 4
“Tomorrow, we will see who comes to the show. We will listen to all their talk and select the best home. The kid who most wants to play with us will likely be the best. At the end of the day, when the people are busy with the closing presentation, Captain Bear will direct us to the handpicked backpack.� The captain nodded in agreement. 5
“But how will we get out?” asked King Frog. “I can help,” said the Bat Boy. He leapt into the air, throwing a metal star at the display case lock. The hook disengaged and he pushed open the glass door. With a grin he said, “Nothing to it.” Sergeant Tedi said, “You would make a good soldier.” “If he learned to follow orders,” said the captain. “That’s always a challenge,” said the Bat Boy with a laugh.
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“Those who can scale the display case will simply make their way to the target while the people are otherwise engaged.” The captain strolled back and forth along the shelf, making sure that everyone was listening. “But what about those of us who can’t?” said the pink horse purse. “We planned ahead for you Pinkie. You are going to fly out with Rotor.” The sergeant gestured to the small plane resting at the far end of the shelf. “Rotor, we may need you to make a couple of trips. It might be dangerous.” “I’m on it,” said Rotor. “You can count on me.” “Good,” said the captain. “We’ll need to pair up, go with a partner to make sure that no one gets left behind.” They spent the rest of the night finalizing their plans, going over the strategy to make sure that everyone knew what to do when the time came.
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he next day, the library was again filled with families enjoying the displays and chatting happily. The military bears watched carefully, listening to every word. The captain almost forgot to stay frozen when Niko returned with his backpack toward the end of the day. Sergeant Tedi stifled a grin and gave a small nod to Gator’s questioning glance. Target acquired! When the people all sat for the final presentation, the Captain gave the order in a harsh whisper. “Move out! Niko’s backpack is the object. Stay with your partner!” 8
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usy with their secret maneuvers, none of the toys paid attention to the presentation at the front of the crowd. Rotor took Pinkie down to the ground and flew along the floor to avoid notice, depositing the horse purse behind the back row of chairs. From there the other animals, who had made their way silently across the floor and under the seated crowd, could pull her into the backpack resting below Niko’s chair. The speaker was talking about the crocheted toys, about the creativity instilled in the handmade toys and the love that goes into such an effort. “When toys are made with this amount of love, they need to be treasured and loved for always.�
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ergeant Tedi took notice of the speech for long enough to realize that the speaker was wrapping up. Rotor was still going back for his second passenger, the mermaid. She signaled to the captain, pointing up to the frightened mermaid still resting on the shelf in the display case. All the other animals were squeezing into the backpack, but stopped to stare at their friends still trying to get out in time. The speaker went on, “Our letter contest allows children to write what’s in their hearts, how they love these creations. As you know, the winner of the contest will take home the whole collection.” Sergeant Tedi gasped and stared at the captain. Rotor had stopped on the glass shelf, too shocked to take off. Those already in the backpack held their breath.
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“We are pleased to announce the winner of this year’s collection.” The speaker’s voice filled the room as the crowd stilled, waiting to hear the winner’s name. “For the best letter, we recognize a young man named Niko,” the speaker boomed. “Please come up and receive your certificate while I read the letter.” As the crowd applauded and the boy moved to the front of the crowd, the animals sped into reverse. “Fall back,” the captain shouted. “We need to be back on that shelf when he gets his reward. Stay with your partner!” Rotor took off to retrieve Pinkie and all the other animals scrambled to get back in place. The mermaid was smiling and cheering with the 11 crowd of humans.
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ach of the crocheted toys made it back before the crowd moved to the display. Niko stood in the front and gazed happily at his new collection. His mom patted him on the back and said, “Hope you can find room on your bed for these.” “There’s always room,” he replied. 12
WHY WISDOM IS EVERYWHERE Author:
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Cecelia Pamfo
10 years old
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Urban Rascals African Children’s Book Club
“Use Your Imagination”
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Cecelia BIO
My name is Cecelia Pamfo, I am 10 years old. I am chocolate in Complexion I attend Happy Home international School I come from GomoaNyanyano. I am in class five The subject i like best is English The food i like best is rice and stew The game I like best is ampe My pet name is God will provide I have two sisters and two brothers I like school very much. Her Parent’s Name’s are: Isaac Pamfo, Patience Pamfo
A long time ago, an Angel named Cecilia, gave Mr. Spider, all the Wisdom in the world, stored in a huge Pot. Angel Cecilia told Mr. Spider, “You have to share this Pot with everyone�.
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Every day, Mr. Spider looked in the Pot of Wisdom and learned different things. The Pot of Wisdom was filled with Ideas and Skills. Mr. Spider then became greedy and said to himself: “I’m not going to share the Treasures of Knowledge with anyone. I will keep all the Wisdom for 2 myself”.
So he decided to hide the Pot of Wisdom on top of a tall tree. He took some vines and made a strong string.
He then tied the string around the Pot, leaving one of the ends free. He then started to climb the tree.
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He was struggling, as he climbed because the Pot of Wisdom kept getting in his way. Mr. Spider’s Son was watching his Father, struggling up the tree. Mr. Spider’s Son said to his Father “Dad, if you tie the Pot to your back it will be easier to cling and climb the tree.”
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Mr. Spider then tied the Pot of Wisdom to his back and continued to climb the tree. Mr. Spider said to himself, “Climbing is now much easier than before�.
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When Mr. Spider got to the top of the tree, he became angry and said to himself. “A young Son with some common sense knows more than me, and I’m the only one who has the Pot of Wisdom”.
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Then Mr. Spider became angry and threw the Pot of Wisdom down from the top of tree. The Pot of Wisdom broke in very tiny pieces. Wisdom was flowing everywhere.
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Angel Cecilia was very Happy, to see People finding the scattered pieces of Wisdom, picking them up and taking them home to their Families and Friends. Angel Cecilia said to herself, “This is why Today no one person has the entire World’s Wisdom, People everywhere share small pieces of Wisdom, when they ISDOM W Exchange Ideas”.
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CITY MOUSE AND
VILLAGE MOUSE Written by
Richmond Akorful 9 year old boy
Urban Rascals African Children’s Book Club Director and Editor: Kofi Quaye
“Use Your Imagination”
Drawings by Richmond Akorfula
Richmond Akorfula BIO My name is Richmond Akorful, I am Eight Years Old. The name of my School is Royal Pillar International School. I am in Class Three. I am dark in complexion. My Parents are Gifty Fynn and Godfred Mensah. I have one Sister and one Brother. The Food I like best is Rice and Stew. My Best Friend’s name is Prince. My Hobby is Reading Story Books. I like Watching Television on Sundays. The Game I like best is Playing Football. The Subject I like best is Math. I come from Gomoa Nyanyano in the Central Region. I want to be a Teacher in Future.
A long time ago, there were two Mice. One live in the City
and one live in the Village.
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Village Mouse always go out to look for food, he gets Peace, because there are no Cats there.
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City Mouse gets the best food to eat, but he gets no Peace because of a Cat in the House. He would always run away from the Cat.
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One day City Mouse found no peace, he went to visit Village Mouse. City Mouse visited Village Mouse for 7 days, and didn’t have anything to do.
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City Mouse said to himself “Village Mouse is too quiet for me, I’m going back to my beautiful house in the City, and I’m tired of looking for food in the Village everyday”.
City Mouse decide to return to the City to live in his beautiful house with plenty food. When City Mouse was leaving, He said to Village Mouse “Good Brother, Come and visit me, I am sure if you come you will be happy�.
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One Month later, Village Mouse went to visit City Mouse. City Mouse lives in a Beautiful House and eats Good Food. One evening, after taken their food, the two Mice sat down to talk.
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All of sudden they heard,
Meow Meow Meow Village Mouse became afraid and asked City Mouse, “What is that?” City Mouse said, “That it is a Cat. Let’s us run away before he hurt us”. They ran to hide.
After the Cat went away, Village Mouse said to City Mouse “My Good Brother, Thank you for inviting me to your house, but I am going back to my Village.
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You have a Beautiful House and Good Food, but you have no Peace. I want to live in Peace, Calm and Quiet, not always living in Fear and being scared all the time�.
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Crochet Characters by: Vicki Frederick & Bernadette Albern (Bernie) WWW.URBANRASCALS.ORG DEDICATIONS
My Everything and Loving Husband for 47 yrs. Schimeon Frederick (A Disable Veteran) and I are URBAN RASCALS ELDERS/BABY BOOMERS/VETERANS.
OUR Circle of Real Love & Support
Our Children-Schimeon Frederick Jr. (Tiger (Son), Rahjeeb Frederick (Large Rahj (Son), Tanganyika Frederick (Tangy (Daughter) Our Daughter In Laws-Denise Frederick, Tiffany Frederick, Divya Frederick Our Grand and Great Grand Children-Schimeon Frederick IV (LiL Schim), Schimaya, Brandon, Diamond, Amari, Royce, Aven, Ramses, Tzipporah Shawnette Our Friends and Family–Tammy Young Coté & Nicholas Coté (Writers), Jamie & Gloria Doyle, Rev Denise Knight (Sister), Aquila Knight (Niece), Katrina Frederick (Niece), Codey Fuquay, Kevin Richardson (Nephew), Kofi Quaye, Christopher McIntosh, Mitch & Karen Brathwaite, Shawnette & Naeem Burns, Joyce Owens, Sean R. Mattingly, Georgia D.N. Robinson, Tony & Elsie Wong, Bernadette Albern (Bernie), George & Lizette Bettinger, Desmond Hannibal (Broward Florida AfricanAmerican Research Library & Cultural Center - Display)
WELCOME Urban Rascals CEO
Urban Rascals Globel Children’s Book Club
Credits:
Writers: Richmond Akorful, Nicholas Coté (Niko), Cecelia Pamfo Director for Urban Rascals African Children’s Book Club & Editor: Kofi Quaye Editors: Vicki Frederick, Schimeon Frederick, Tammy Young Coté Book Designer: Sean R. Mattingly, www.SRMGraphicsAndPrinting.com Graphic Art Illustrations: Victoria Allen Crochet By: Vicki Frederick, Bernadette Albern (Bernie) Broward Florida African-American Research Library & Cultural Center-Display: Desmond Hannibal Urban Rascals CEO: Tanganyika Frederick WWW.URBANRASCALS.COM Face Book: Urban Rascals Publisher : Urban Rascals Global Foundation