Studentsxpress Winter 2016

AUTHORS IN THE SCHOOLS PRESENTS

If I could be any animal I would be a lemur. Why? Because you get to hang around upside down.

Who doesn’t want that?

Plus you can do cool back flips and stuff.

In my opinion a lemur is the coolest animal.

—Diego L.

next issue: diversity

WE CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH. Through positive community support, children have opportunities to learn from adults and each other. Thank you to StudentsXpress for providing a creative magazine in local schools that encourages children’s writing, reading and expression. To all those who have given their time, support, and hearts to promote a brighter tomorrow through youth literacy — we thank you.

To learn more, go to: chicagotribunecommunitygiving.com facebook.com/ChicagoTribuneCommunityGiving

• What makes you different than anybody else?

• Why do you think it is important for people to be different?

• When someone doesn’t agree with you, how can you handle it so you both are happy?

• Give an example of a time you got along with someone who was different than you.

• What are the positives of diversity in Chicago and the world?

• What is something you learned from someone who is different than you (grew up differently/has different beliefs/doesn’t look like you)?

• Draw a picture of what diversity means to you.

Please turn in your submissions to your teacher or rachel@studentsxpress.com by Jan. 20, 2017

www.studentsxpress.com Publisher Rachel Switall Magazine Group, NFP President Rachel Switall rachel@studentsxpress.com Rachel Switall Editor, Art Director, Advertising Director, Director of Marketing Bonita Sanchez-Carlson President & Executive Director Near South Planning Board 312-987-1980 Printer Topweb, LLC 5450 N. Northwest Hwy. Chicago, IL 60630 773.975.0400

Dear Readers, love this issue! My family recently adopted a kitten, Zoey. She has added so much joy and love to our family, and we just adore her.

Growing up my family had four cats and a dog.

I had a special bond with my cat Goody. She used to follow me to school and sleep on my pillow. She also liked climbing on my mom’s car. One day, my mom was driving down the street and a car going the opposite direction slowed down as it neared. They rolled down their window, so my mom rolled hers down as well.

The woman in the car said, “Do you know you have a cat on the top of your car?” Of course my mom didn’t, but—not wanting to look clueless—she said “Yes.” That probably confused the woman, but she drove on.

My mom carefully turned the car around and brought Goody safely back home. I am so thankful that woman told my mom she was up there! Who knows what would have happened! In this issue you will read about all kinds of animals and some of the funny things they do too. Enjoy!

—Rachel

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Happy holidays from Authors in the Schools (AIS). We certainly hope you use this time to do plenty of fun reading. Visit your local library and take time to explore some of the books written by our wonderful AIS authors including Jim Aylesworth, Marlene Targ Brill, Debbi Chocolate, W. NikolaLisa, and Judy Fradin. Think about stories you would like to write in preparation for the writing competition coming up in 2017.

Winners receive certificates at our Young Authors Ceremony in June at the Printers Row Lit Fest—Sunday, June 11, 2017. But most of all, keep submitting great pieces for future issues of AIS’s StudentsXpress publications.

Cordially yours, Bonnie Sanchez-Carlson President & Executive Director, Near South Planning Board

Balanced

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My favorite animal is a lion because I act just like one and we have the same attitude and we like to fight. What the lion would say is hi would you like to be my best friend and I would say yes and we will become the best of friends.

Chanelle I like the cheetah because they are fast and pretty.

My favorite animal is a bat because they are always asleep in the day and wake at night. When I was younger I watched a lot of vampire movies and bats are always around vampires, and bats are always in a dark and scary cave and the smallest noise can wake them up. I think it would say I want your blood. Something like that because vampires turn into bats sometimes.

—Lovie C.

My dog’s name is Rocky. He is a boxer mix with a pattern on his fur called brindle, and it looks like tiger stripes. He is about one and a half years old. He is playful, energetic, and huge! I want you to understand how important he is to me.

I love my dog. He is a big, cute, furry puppy. I got him in July 2015. He was only 4 months old. I was there for his first winter, his first time seeing snow. I trained him and took care of him. I trained him to give me his paw like a high five and trained him to do basic things like sit, lay down, stay, and go. He will let me hug him and loves it when I pet him. Sometimes he won’t listen especially if he is distracted by treats, but he is always there when I need him.

I have been with him since he was little, and have grown to love him and accept him as not just a dog, but as part of my family. He is my loyal, funny, furry best friend and I wouldn’t trade him for the world!

Sienna My favorite animal is a lion because I like how it roars. My last name is Lyons and a lion is a predator like me. I am a predator in football. I like a lion because a lion is a king of the jungle. —Kentreal L.

I would be a lion because a lion is the king of the jungle. I would not be scared of anything. —John S. My favorite animal is a butterfly because I love the way it comes from a little cute caterpillar then grows and grows then it turns into a cocoon for a little bit. Then, Poof! It turns into a really beautiful butterfly. Then the white butterflies that I see the most are so pretty, with the way it fits in with the pretty flowers. If all the butterflies could talk I think they will alert each other of danger or tell each other when another caterpillar is being made into a butterfly so they can welcome it.

—Demya M. My favorite animal is a lion because my birthday is in July and I am a Leo. Leo’s animals are lions. —Kaniya J. My favorite animal is a horse. They are fluffy and they are cuddly. They have beautiful manes and tails and beautiful color skin. They are very big and weigh 100-200 pounds and they’re very tall and they are fast.

They can pull a wagon all the way to California and they eat carrots and apples. They drive a horse and carriage. They look like they are in a circus. They are wonderful and when they have babies they are so so so so cute. I love horses. They are fun to play with and you can ride on them and dress them up for a big game.

—Akasha F.

Jeremiah

It’s a...kitty cat.

Say “meow.”

Kadence

My favorite animal is a dog because he’s just like one of the family.

Melanie My favorite animal is a bear because it hibernates and eats fish.

Yorkies are small dogs and they are very popular. Many people love to own them. They are intelligent too, but a little stubborn. These furry pets are difficult to house train and are very aggressive toward other animals. No matter what, I love Yorkies.

Yorkies are intelligent because they alert their owners when there is danger. That is a very good thing. They have a great sense of barking so they can scare away criminals so that makes them good watch dogs.

Yorkies come in different types of colors and textures. These dogs have non-shedding coats and are good for people who have allergies. Their fur is thick and beautiful so you should brush them a lot. Yorkies are usually small, but some can get a little big.

Perhaps the best reason to like a Yorkie is they are cute and cuddly. Many families are attached to these dogs because they are so lovable. Owners of Yorkies are always outside playing with their dogs. Yorkies are active when they play. They run around the yard and come back and they never get mad. They lick your face when they are happy.

Did you know that at one time Yorkies used to control rats and other animals in textile mills and coal mines? They were very useful dogs at one time. Now Yorkies are just popular dogs because they are intelligent, come in many colors and textures and they are cute and cuddly. Yorkies are my favorite kind of animal. —Cherish S.

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My favorite animal is a lion because he’s the king of the family and the jungle.

Micah

A wolf is my favorite animal because their teeth are sharp and their eyes turn red and I like when they say Ohooooooo!

—Kenion W.

My cat Peggy likes to go up in my bunk bed and drink the water I have in my cups every night. I am the top bunk so she has to climb a ladder to get in my bed. Peggy is actually very good at climbing my ladder too. One night when I was sleeping Peggy went up in my bed. She went and sat on my head while she was drinking my water. I felt something soft so I woke up and saw a paw on my forehead. Then I heard kind of a weird sound.

That sounds was her drinking my water. I started to pet her, but then she went out of my room and I went back to sleep. The next day I thought it was a dream, but then I realized it was real. —Dylan S. My favorite animal is cats because they’re so tiny and fluffy and cuddly and they kill mice that are in your apartment or house. —Anissa T.

My favorite animal is my dog. It’s because he’s very peaceful and he makes me happy each time I pet him because he wags his tail that means he’s happy and when he’s happy I’m happy. —Thomas D. My favorite animal is a hedgehog. I like hedgehogs because they are cute and when my mom was younger she had four pet hedgehogs. If I had a hedgehog I would bring it outside on the grass and play with the hedgehogs. I would have a cute My favorite animal is a parrot because it’s black hedgehog. I love animals. They are my super one of the ONLY animals that can repeat extra very favorite animal. That is why hedgehogs what you say! I also like it because they are are my favorite animals! —Molly R. very colorful. If I had a pet parrot I would use My favorite animal is a panda because when I was it to make whatever I say echo, which would little my mother bought a stuffed animal which be very funny. I would name it Copycat be- was a panda and I thought it was so cute to me cause it would like to copy. Those are the and ever since I was little I started to like a panda. I think the panda would say “don’t I look awesome.” reasons I like parrots. —Oscar —Denise B. My favorite animal is a cheetah because cheetahs are fast and smart also they look cute. With their eyes they can see a lion from far distance that’s why I like cheetahs. If my animal could talk I think it will say I am going to eat you. This is what I think that he would say. If I could be an animal I would be a cheetah because they’re fast and cute and they can hunt prey and see danger for their babies like if lions want to eat the little babies. —Marcus D.

I have a pet named Choreso. He is a guinea pig. He is important because he loves me.

He also doesn’t bite. When we got him we drove him home with us and when we got home we fed him then all of us went to the living room and when we came back he tipped his food bowl over! It was very funny.

My favorite animals are tardigrades. Tardigrades are practically invincible and can live in extreme sustainablilities. Tardigrades, a.k.a. water bears, have been sent into space and have come back as healthy as they were before. They even had babies! Do you want to know the tardigrades’ trick? Whenever living sustainabilities become too extreme, they curl up and power down. They basically die until living sustainabilities become maintainable. Tardigrades can live up to 30 years in a freezer!

I like tardigrades because they are the strongest, but smallest, animals that I have ever seen.

They are mighty minis. Tardigrades inspire me to be strong even though I am kind of small for my age. They are also very cute! They have 8 legs and are microscopic. They are definitely my favorite animal! —Maysa B. Winter 2016

Mad do x K.

My pet named Cody is important to me because I think of him as one of my best friends. One time Cody and I were playing fetch with a ball in the house and I threw the ball over the couch.

(Ok my couch is basically my height, so it’s high!)

He jumped on the couch and then jumped over the couch and caught the ball in mid-air!

Briley T.

Malia A dog is my favorite animal because you can love them and they love you back.

Amarion T. He’s a secret agent.

He stops his nemesis from destroying the tri-state area.

Olivia

My favorite animal is a giraffe because they are yellow with spots.

Maceo S.

Black bears can lift huge rocks.

Winter 2016

My favorite animal is a panda because they are so, so cute.

My favorite animal is a dog and if the animal could talk it would tell me why they hate cats and I like dogs because they are vicious.

Jeremiah G.

I remember my German Shepherd her name was Hanna. Ive had her since I was 4 years old.

Hanna was a bomb squad dog for police so she would help people by smelling a bomb.

She saved a lot of lives but before my family she had bad owners. I remember my dad saying “Be nice to her she had a rough life” meaning her owners hit her and left her without food sometimes. But let’s not pay attention to that, pay attention to how my family and I used to get toys and play with her (by the way she’s super super strong). Hanna always used to break her toys we have bought her over 15 toys there’s literally 2 toys that she can play with. A few more years later we got a kitty named Cloud then he got all the attention but Hanna still was loved. But then we had to give her away because my dad was the manager, my sisters and I were at school, and my mom was at work as well. So nobody could watch her but in July my dad gave Hanna to his friend Adam and his son who is four. They love her deeply. Hanna will still be in my family and my heart. —Anastasia T. If I can be an animal I would be a cheetah because they are not scared and they are very fast. —Yarmell R. My favorite animal is a dog because I used to have a dog and she was really a great dog. Her name was Hanna. She was really funny. There was this time where I farted and I was looking at her and then she farted. —Amara T. My favorite animal is a dolphin because they are playful and they don’t hurt you. —Mairem P.

Judgement

My favorite memory with my cousin’s pet dog Tiny was when every day I walked through her door Tiny always came to the door and jumped in my arms. Then we go play fetch. —Terrance M. If I could be an animal I would be a polar bear. They are big. They are strong and cute. Their skin is warm and soft and they are fast. You can pick which one you want to be. I like a white or brown polar bear. —Johniece S. My favorite animal is a dog because dogs are friendly and sweet and I always wanted a dog because they’re cute and because I am responsible enough to take care of them. If my dog can talk I would be happy and surprised because it is unreal for a dog to talk. I think it might say “Hello my name is....” —Symore A. I would be a cheetah because cheetahs are very very fast. The reason I like the cheetah is cause of the coat color and the speed. Cheetahs like to live in a sunny habitat and I like to be in the sun a lot. Cheetahs and I are similar because we are very fast, but cheetahs are faster than I am. I like the cheetah cubs cause they are playful and cute. That is why cheetahs are my favorite animals.

—Davion H-J If I could be an animal I would be a cheetah because if another animal tried to eat me it wouldn’t be able to catch me because I run so fast. Even faster than a car. And I can kill and fight. —Dakeera L. I had a nice dog named Black. He was always fun. I would put my hand under a cover and he would nibble me, or we would play fetch. I adopted Black as a puppy then he grew. He would always scare me because dogs can see spirits and sometimes he barked at nothing. It was like he was haunted. My dog was clever he would roll over, shake your hand, sit, and do tricks he was very fun.

Then we had to give him up. I loved my dog. —Kelsey S. I like cats because they are soft and loyal. I had two cats named Dink and Saul but they died. They made me happy when I was sad. I loved them so much. I cuddled with Dink every morning. They were my best friends and I miss them so much. —Blake M.

Markus C. Jeremiah S.

His first word will be Jeremiah S. Lily S.L.

I like sea otters because they are very smart and also super duper cuuuuute!

(Especially the babies) The reason they are so smart is because they use rocks to open clams. And when they are young they jump off of their mother’s belly, go down in the water and then pop right back up. Mothers also tie their babies down with kelp when they look for food so the babies don’t float away.

My favorite animal is a tarantula. I like them because they eat fascinating things. Some even eat large rats or birds! I also think they are cute. If tarantulas could talk, I bet they would say “Can you help me get some large rats, birds or insects?” —Adrian P. My favorite animal is the cookie cutter shark. They remind me of cookies. A cookie cutter shark might say “Do you want a cookie?” I also like owls so I can Mason H. fly. —Isabella R. My favorite animal is a llama! I know what you’re thinking I like a porcupine because why not a dog or cat. Well here is why. Number one: evthey have quills and ery night since I was two I slept with a llama doll. Number they fight dogs two: almost everybody loves dogs or cats. That is why I and they can climb trees. love llamas ! —Henry A. My favorite animal is a jaguar. They are fast and fierce and will eat and gobble you up in a flash. I want to be a jaguar. I will be fast and will be able to eat meat my whole entire life and that’s awesome because I love meat and eating it my whole life will be a dream. I have one dog and her name is Libby. She is cute and I want to spend as much time with her as I can because she is 11 and might pass on to the future.

She scares me when she falls down the stairs because she can’t really go up them yet. —Oliver C. My favorite animal is an owl. I find it interesting that they can turn their heads almost all the way around and upside down. I think I am similar to owls because I like taking naps in the day and staying up late. I have loved owls ever since I sewed myself a Halloween costume of one last year. Though I cannot fly, I watch over people like my dog. Owls are beautiful, but not perfect which is kind of like me. Owls have many similarities and differences from me. But as many times as I have tried, I could never turn my head around like one. —Dani F.

This is Shimmer!

I love unicorns.

Teagan C.R.

Sammy F.

My favorite animal is a penguin!

They’re just so adorable!

If I had one, that would be so awesome! I would name it Mr. Cuddles, and if he had a baby I would name it Jr. Cuddles.

If I were to become any animal, I would choose a dog because I think they are really smart and fun. I would also want to be a dog because I think it would be cool to understand what dogs say when they bark. Another reason that I would want to be a dog is because dogs have good hearing and smelling. If I were a dog I would be able to smell diseases, which is pretty cool. I would also not have to go to school every day, and I would be able to stay at home and play outside all day. —Delani G.

3

Ashrith A.

If I had to choose a talking animal, it would be a dog.

Now, that dog would have to be very intelligent to talk, so I imagine it would say something like “If a tree has bark, would it not be a dog? Or likewise, would I be a tree? My mother told me I had ancient roots connecting me to wolves waaaaaaaay back to the dawn of Earth, but was she serious?”

Jack B.

My favorite animal, as you may already know is the doge, dogo, tyke, man’s best friend, tail-wagger, Fido, pooch, bowwow, and puppy.

This concludes my daily rant.

My favorite animal is an ape because they are wild. Some apes are cool and some are unfriendly. I feel like apes bring life to Earth in some way that I don’t know. I have chosen this mammal for several reasons and I really think I can give you really good facts because that is how well I know my animal. Sometimes I feel like an ape can bond with human life and that is what is so interesting about this animal. One fact to start off the day is that an ape is our ancestors, we use to be and look like them back when dinosaurs and cavemen were around. —Dylan W. My favorite animal is a polar bear because they have a beautiful white coat of fur and they do everything on their own. I think my animal would say why couldn’t you put me in a warmer environment, and the bear would have a British accent.

If I could be any animal in the world I would want to be a monkey, because they can jump from tree to tree ,and they go places in a group.

When I was about five or six I had a pet dog. My favorite memory with my old dog was when my dog would sit out in front of my bathroom or bedroom door and be like my body guard. He would always be by my side no matter where I would go. —Mario T.

I love foxes, but my favorite fox is the red fox. I know you think about what the fox says. And back to the fox. They live in many different habitats including forests, grasslands, mountains and deserts. This is my favorite animal because they are fluffy and cute. The fox belongs to the dog family but they live in the wild and hunt their food.

Foxes are hunted for their fur. I like the red fox, but I would not want one for my birthday. —Kyjuan P.

Jaeda S. Mahiron K.

I love dogs...because they’re fun to play with and I love when they chase me. It is so so so much fun.

Henry H.

My favorite animal is the tiger because tigers I like giraffes. They stick out symbolize courage, ferocity, strength, loyalty, their tongues to eat leaves. and compassion. The tiger holds many unique characteristics and when they bond together, Owen it could even teach us a lesson of compassion.

If the tiger could talk, I would believe that this animal would give good advice, wise words, and loving facts.

If I could be an animal, I would want to be a My favorite animal is city hawk. These animals fascinate me with the a harp seal. I like them way they fly freely with grace and technique. because they are soft.

Their anatomy structure captures the eye. The I feel like I could sleep on one. wide wing span they have, and the slick speed they carry when flying can set a person into an My favorite animal is a zebra endless trance. To me, this animal stands for because they are understandwisdom and endurance, which makes it all the ing and caring. They also come in unique stripes! —Gracie T. more captivating. —Josephine M. I did have an animal for 10 years and she died. So I would have to say it would be important to me because it’s like a member of the family. You love them and get sad when something bad happens. A funny memory of my dog Mia is she used to steal dirty underwear out of the laundry basket. And she would walk Monkeys are great because down the stairs with them. A scary memory is when she got sick and fell down they like bananas because the stairs and could not get up. —Sal T. bananas are great!

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I had a pet rabbit named Jackson that died four months ago. He lived for ten years, which is a long life for a rabbit.

My pet rabbit was very important to me because he was very playful and I really enjoyed petting his soft and gentle fur. One of my favorite memories of Jackson is an embarrassing story. My mom brought Jackson to school for an Easter event. When one of the students was taking a picture, the bunny pooped on him. He was grossed out but everyone thought it was very funny.

My favorite animal is a tiger. He does not talk.

He eats meat, but he does not eat what people eat.

His name is Pufflupey. He is the last leader in the tiger family.

Don’t mess with him. He is tough. —Adrian A.L.

My favorite animal is a kitten because they’re cute, quiet and easy to take care of. Kittens love to be rubbed and love to be played with. They also love to cuddle. That’s why I want a kitten. And that is why my favorite animal is a cat.

Summer P.

Marjanay M.

My favorite animal is a dog. Why? They don’t have to go to school and they always get to take naps.

If I had a dog I would name it Cookie.

My dog is important to me because she is not just my pet she is my friend. I know she can’t talk but I know she is listening.

She is always by my side when I am sad.

She is a loyal pet to me. She is nice to me. Sometimes she plays with me and my sister. I also have another dog. He is a lazy wiener dog. He is long and skinny.

He likes to look out the window and take walks. He is important cause he is my family and friend and is happy. I also have a fish. He likes to swim in his tank and be happy all the time. He likes when we feed him. He is important cause he is cute and friendly. —Natalya M.

Gabrielle B.

My favorite animal is a giraffe because their name and my name starts with a G and they are tall like me.

Claudia Lyric

Jaydan L.

If I could be any animal I would be a dragon. I know dragons are not real but they’re really cool, not because they can fly it’s because I can breathe fire or the other elements. I would also be a penguin, just because penguins are cute.

My spirit animal is a jaguar. I would be a jaguar because I could be free. I would live in the jungle, and I would attempt to make a tree house (but miserably fail).

My name would be Astrid. I would like to hunt. Play-fighting or actual fighting would be my hobby. I would love to discover new places but not tell anyone about so I could make them my own.

My best friend would be a wolf named Natalyah. I would be her only friend because other animals were afraid of her just because she was a wolf.

I would also be lazy.

Winter 2016

Molly

My favorite animal is a king cobra because they are poisonous. If Thomas E. this animal could talk, it would say “sssssssssstand back.” Cobras’ enemies are mongoose, people, large birds, and honey badgers.

Their prey are lizards, birds, other snakes, and rats. The king cobra . f ly tter is the largest venomous snake in the world. One bite from a cobra u b I drew a kid can kill up to 20 people or 15 mice. —Jayden S. Hi. My name is Makenzie. My favorite animal is a dog because they are soft, cute, and some even keep you safe. If a dog could talk I really think it would say, “Who are all these people?” My favorite animal is a lion because it roars —Makenzie H. very loud. And it’s the king of the jungle.

About one year ago I had a cat and sadly now he is dead, but my biggest memory with him was when I got him. My I have a cat that is eleven years old. Her dad, me, and my brother were looking for the perfect pet name is Lucy. She is very lazy. She likes to and we found him! The next day we arrived at Paws and sit on my fuzzy Cubs blanket. We got her went in to pick him up, and after we got him we had to go from our neighbors in Wisconsin. to Pet Smart to grab like a scratching post, bowls, food and a They found her in their lawn bed. After that we brought the cat home. We were thinking one morning but they could of names and then our dad said “How about Blackhawk?”

He Kori R. not keep her because one of said Blackhawk cause the Hawks just won the cup and he them was allergic Luke O. was a full black cat. My brother and I said “Great idea!” And by to cats. One of my I love peacocks because the time we got home and everything ready for the cat we memories with Lucy of their colors and feathers. played with him (we also got him toys while shopping). And was when she that night we snuggled with him. —Hunter S. flopped down the front stairs like a slinky.

Joey is my pet. Joey is a miniature schnauzer. Joey is gray and white. Joey is also picky. Joey is a good dog when my dad is at the house. Joey’s food drawer has everything we need but when Lara we run out of Joey’s food we fill it. When we run out of Joey’s Abbie G. medicine or treats we go to get more at Petsmart. When Joey’s hair gets out of control and we can’t brush Joey we take Joey to the groomer. Joey tries to tear up his pillow no matter what.

If I could be any animal When my dad is here Joey doesn’t do nothing. Joey doesn’t in the whole wide world drink his water when it’s dirty. Overall Joey is a smart and good dog. —Savannah J. I would be a monkey!

I would be a monkey Sinaiyah R. My favorite animal is a dog because I have a pet. She is a hamster. Her name is because they are it is very fun to play with. When you Snowball because she is the color white and super cute! have a ball in your hand you can she rolls up in a ball. She always runs on her throw it. The dogs will catch it. wheel. One time she even flipped!

Sequoya D. This is very fun to do.

It was so cool. I kept on watching her.

Dogs are nice to pet. I love dogs.

My favorite animal is cats, because they are pretty and furry.

Kamiyah

My favorite animal is a rabbit because they are soft.

Lunden Winter 2016

Elias A.

I would like to be a peregrine falcon because I would like to be fast and when I dive I will go even faster. Plus when I am hungry I can go fast and snatch what I am going to eat.

I have a dog and he is important to me because he loves me all the time. He protects me and is always excited to see me.

If I can be any animal I would be a tiger beThe funniest things my dog does is when he runs with his butt cause they are cute and they are mean. They down and burps after he eats. He is very clever when he gives might be playful and very fun to play with. I me his paw and brings me his empty kong toy to be filled with like them very much. —Camarianna C. treats. —Caitlin H. If I was an animal I would be a cat because if they fall they land on their My favorite animal feet. If they are being catnapped they use their claws. —Phakapon M. is a porcupine I am a snake. I bite p because I call eo My favorite animal is a zebra because they pl my grandpa are so beautiful and unique. What I think porcupine.

Danny S. some questions a zebra would ask are, —Davis S. “Am I white with black stripes or black with white stripes?” —Aryanna G.

e.

Megalodon

I have a dog named Milly and she is the cutest dog in the world. Milly is about 3.5 years old in human years, she is a Yorkie mixed with Shih tzu. I’ve had Milly with me for about three years now. She has black and blond fur and on her paws the fur is white as snow. She looks the size of a toy dog from the store but she is irreplaceable. She is important to me because she is my bestie/sister and I love her. She is sweet and sassy since she barks so much but she is still the best. I couldn’t ask for a better best friend/doggy. —Taina R.

Rebecca Kimora C.

My favorite animal is a dog because they are so cute!

One of the funny things about my pet is that my iguana ran up a tree and it would not come down until my mom came in then it came down. It was scary and funny but it was real scary. —Dequane M. If dogs could talk, I believe that they would be very humorous. They would constantly have tons of jokes to tell and would always be the life of the dinner table.

Very frequently, they would ask you to pet them. The first thing they would say after they wake up and the last thing before they go to sleep would always be “I love you.”

Currently, I have two pets and both are dogs: one female dog, Chloe, and one male dog, Dante. They are beyond important to me! Part of the reason they are so important to me is because I love them so much and they love me even more than I love them if that is even possible! I have had an infinite amount of memories with my dogs. One of my favorite memories I had with Chloe, my female dog, was when she did something so clever which made me think that she had the brain of a human! It occurred one day when my family and I left her home alone in her cage. Somehow, someway she figured out how to push out the bottom of her cage and squeeze through an opening. After she escaped out of her cage, she must have went into my parents’ bedroom to lay on their bed because that is where I found her. How funny this was! Quite frankly, my pets are more than just pets; they are members of my family! —Lexi A. If I could be an animal I would be a cat. Because I would have 9 lives. And I could jump from the top of a building.

And I can sneak around.

I would be a black cat.

And I could be invisible.

If you are a black cat, you could blend in with shadows.

Beamish

5

e ss Tr

a L.

My favorite animal is the Rainbow Fish because of the many Patience colors it has on its scales and I am a swimmer. Just like the rainbow fish I stick out amongst my peers since I don’t do the same things they do and therefore I stick out. I like that it’s different than the others and that’s what makes it so interesting.

My favorite animal is a penguin because they are cuddly and fluffy. Penguins are smart and inspiring animals. Mr Popper’s Penguins is my favorite animal movie. So penguins daily bob for fish in the Atlantic Ocean. The penguins are mammals that make nests and breed. The penguin mothers go out on long trips and leave their eggs with the father. In conclusion penguins rule. —Olivia R. Praise I picked the dolphins because they are a very intelligent speI writed a animal. cies. They love humans and their fellow dolphin mates. They A swimming animal. love fish and small animals that live in the ocean.

In the sea.

Dolphins are one of the most beautiful animals in the world.

Lizard and also a jellyfish. Dolphins are mammals. The name dolphins refers to the species that have a rubbery feeling skin that’s hairless and this Takarionn G. helps them swim through the water. To me dolphins are the most interesting thing ever seen. —Raquel W. Wolves are my favorite animal. The reason I say this is because wolves have confidence and pride. I like them because you can find them in movies. The Jungle Book and Red Robin are two movies where wolves rule. My last reason for liking wolves is My favorite pet is a lion. that they are survivors. They never back down.

Wolves are smart and because of that they are very confiDeJanae B. dent with pride. They travel in a pack and they use their size to gain advantages with the other animals. Wolves are top hunters and they share their food with their families. —Alonte A.

My favorite animal is a tiger because I like when it roars and how it lays down.

One of my memories from my pets is my turtles Penny and Gumball. What they did is they hissed at my sister! When they hissed at my sister I started laughing so hard then my sister went to my mom and screamed mom the turtles hissed at me!

My mom said to my sister that turtles can’t hiss I think? Only snapping turtles. The End! —Lucy A.

Ma’Kayla M. My favorite animal is a dog because it helps you when you can’t see and they can help understand if you can’t hear. They can also save your life when you are sinking in the water and they are very good swimmers and they can see stuff that we can’t. Dogs are helpful. This is why I like dogs. —April M.-P. My favorite animal is bunnies because they’re cute and fluffy and soft. If it could talk it would probably say stop touching me leave me alone. —Shakia O. I like dogs because I like to walk them.

My favorite animal is a tiger because he can eat anything that messes with him. —Parker

Sophia B.

Kailey B. Dragon Strong, Wise Flying, Soaring, Playing Amazing magical creature Lizard

6

Jennifer

My favorite animal is a manatee because they live under the sea and because they are so cute.

A turtle is my favorite animal because he can play with me.

I like to pet him. —Kayla J.

My favorite animal is a bird because they’re colorful.

Zulene G.

My favorite animal is a panda because they are quiet.

My favorite animal is a dog because it is cute.

One day in my house with my dog Macys we took a walk for a while, then we played. Then Macys got crazy. She dragged me on the grass and it hurt. Then Keilly S. we went back inside.

Lauren V.

Elephant Oh, why would you want to take my life for my tusks?

To make jewelry out of which I feel is not a must. You’re killing my species and now I’m endangered. And now I feel like the only people that think I’m “valuable” are rangers. Oh, why would you want to take my life for my tusks? I’m more than just ivory and such. —Aniah K.

One day I was at my grandma’s house. We were having a barbecue party. My uncle had his chihuahua named Max with him. Since we were having a party we had some family friends over. One of them brought their small, white dog named Coco.

I was in the basement with cousins playing around. The two dogs came down to the basement side by side. They barked at each other as if they were talking. We all looked at them to see what they were doing. The next thing you know they had both of their front paws on each other’s shoulders. They were standing like humans and started to spin around. They looked like they were dancing and it was the funniest and cutest moment ever. This was one of my favorite moments of my uncle’s pet that I will always remember.

Lauren M.

When I was little I had a dog named Indy. He was a retired race dog and he was really old but he was a very nice pet. He doesn’t live with me anymore but when he did he would sometimes let me sleep on him.

Sometimes I miss him.

Talia

I love my fish because every time I walk past with food he looks at the food and I want him to say “bubbles!”

If I was an animal I would be a squid because they have so many arms.

—Elliot M. If I could have any animal as a pet I would have a puppy that was all mine because if I shared it with my little sister she would think it loved her more but it would really love me more because it would be mine.

—Winnie Z.

My cat Charry is very funny. She loves to be carried on my back and she is silly because she runs very fast in the dark and she acts all crazy in the dark. She wakes me up in the morning because she gets in, she just comes in my room and lays on my stomach and touches my face with her paw. —Arwyn B.

My favorite animal is a horse. Horses to me are the greatest animals ever. They can do amazing things.

You can ride them and become a dynamic rider! Horses are dangerous, but helpful. In the past they carried things around, including humans. They helped in wars, and for fun. Horses are soft and powerful. You would feel protected. Horses are strong, and very muscular, but they are sweet, just like the sugar cubes they sometimes eat. —Iris R.

I had a dream last night that danced in my head. Like I was a colorful peacock, displaying its array of flashy feathers. I was a monkey in a tree canopy, eating a type of red fruit. Humming birds swarmed around it, sucking up the sweet, tangy juice. I jumped out of the canopy, started swinging from branch to branch. I then fell from the trees, not used to this way of getting around. When I came to, I was in an African Savannah. Based on my striped black and white tail, I knew I was a skunk. The odor hanging around me was unbearable! Yuck! I could have fainted. So I did. I woke up in a cold place. Icy cold. Mounds of cool crisp snow piled up on top of ice. Then I noticed a large mound of white flakes moving towards me. Except this pile of snow had arms, legs, a wet black nose, and a dead mangled fish hanging from its jaw. Uh-oh. A giant polar bear was moving towards me, dropping the fish at my paws. Wait, my paws! So I fainted again. Then I finally woke up, and my brother walked in eating a banana and scratching his brown, furry head. Wait, furry head?! Ahh! —Helena P.A. Winter 2016

Madeline B.

My favorite animal is a frog because I think they are cute and I like the way they move. If this animal could talk, I think it would say, “Stop saying ribbit, that is not what we say, we say croak.” My pet is a frog and it is important to me because it is my favorite animal, a frog, and his name is Malvin and I rescued him from a pool filter. My favorite memory is when Malvin jumped on my dad’s head.

Mia G. Khalid My favorite animal is a bird because they can fly.

Kaylah H.

Josie S. If I had a pet it would be a cat with a cape and mask and it would talk like us humans, and its name would be Instant Cat. Anthony H. One of my favorite animals is a snow leopard because they are so cute and fluffy!

The wolverine is known as an evil animal.

I drew to show they aren’t evil but they are cute nice creatures.

Nakayla W.

One time my dog stuck his paw in my back gate and opened it. He is clever. Also, my favorite memory was when I got him. We drove to the middle of nowhere and met someone and then we got him. —Moira W.

I don’t have a cat or dog. I dream of a tiny white puppy with a small purple ribbon around its neck, with beady little eyes that make you want to curl in a ball. I start my day and feed her. I end my day and feed her. I put her in her sleeping cage decorated personally for my tiny white puppy. I don’t know what I’d name her. A name very special to me. I’d love her to death, but not death. She should be alive. If only my parents agreed with me…. —Hazel

I drew a dog I know what would be cool, dragons. Just imagbecause I like dogs and they are very cute. ine you’re sitting under a tree and then an egg hits your head. You think that’s a bird egg so you Paisley A. just sit and watch it. It then starts to crack and then just a wave of heat hits you. Then you see this little lizard comes out. It then flies away and dog you never see it again. Until the next year then it comes to visit you. That’s how I think dragons are snail going to be. It’s all going to start by a little egg.

—Alexander B. Winter 2016

My favorite animal is a dolphin because I think they are beautiful creatures and I like how they protect you and are harmless. If dolphins could talk and I met one I think it would say, “Do you have any fish?”

I have one dog, her name is Roxy. She is important to me because I had her for four years and she became family. I remember one time, we had just gotMy favorite animal is a lion because they are so vicious and show ten her. My dad was laying on the couch and when no mercy for other enemies, it makes me think about basketball.

I put her down she sniffed around a little at first but I would be a lion because it is king of the jungle and can’t be then jumped on top of my dad and sat on his head. beat.

She looked so cute, I even took a picture. That is the My pet will be important to me because I am lucky to have one. best memory I have of her. —Bella L. So once I was over my dad’s house I was playing with the dog so I threw the ball by the pool and my dog jumped to get the ball and If I had to be an animal it would be a cheetah. The only reason I would want to be a cheetah is because fell in the pool. —Tyron S. they are really fast. So when there are animals trying One animal I really like is the tiger. Tigers are amazing animals. to get me I can escape really fast and get away from They are brave, beautiful and helpful. them so they don’t hurt me. If there is a shooting goOne reason why I like tigers is because they are brave and fierce. ing on and people are hunting I can get away really Tigers can mostly fight any animal in the world. They never back fast so they don’t kill me either. down and all the other animals are afraid of them. Tigers are exMy pet dog was really important to my family and cellent hunters. They sneak up on an animal and can easily crush I because we had tons of fun together and we got them at one time. Tigers protect other tigers when they are being to play around and do funny things. My dog was the attacked. best pet ever. When my dog got older it was hard for Another reason why I like tigers is because of the way they her to play around with us in the house. The funnilook. Tigers are beautiful animals. I love their colors of orange and est thing I did with my dog was when it used to do black. Their thick fur is so soft which makes it pleasing to look at. backflips and I would do it too with it. —Anthony T. In the winter, the black stripes on the tiger really stick out against My favorite animal is a dog because they can protect the snow. It’s a very pretty sight to see. you and they are loving. My pet is a dog and his name Tigers are very helpful. Tigers live in a group and they take care is Duke. I take him on walks, I feed him, and I play of each other. They are just like a real family. When there is danger, catch with him. If Duke could talk I think he would say tigers alert other tigers so they can prepare for it. At night, tigers thank you and then ask me questions about what my work together to hunt with their families. life is like as a human or what I do every time I walk Tigers have always been my favorite animal because of the reaout my door. sons above. I am very interested in learning about them. I love My dog, Duke, is very important to me because I their way of life and how they interact with their habitat. Tigers have had him for most of my life. I got Duke after my are truly amazing animals. —Marcos V. other dog died and he has been with me ever since.

My favorite animal is a bird. I like birds because they are intelli- A funny story about my dog, Duke, is when I was 8 gent and interesting. Birds come in different varieties which make years old and I had to bring him upstairs to give him them even more interesting. a bath. I picked him up and he jumped out of my The main reason I like birds is because they are intelligent. hands, so I picked him up again and brought him upBirds are intelligent because they can fly backwards and can hum. stairs. I put him in the bathtub and started to run the Most animals cannot do those kinds of things. Birds exhibit a wide water. I turned away for one second and he jumped range of intelligence. Many of them have incredible memories. out of the bathtub and ran all the way downstairs, They don’t forget much so that makes them smart. slipping down some of the stairs like it was a slide. I I hope someday I can own a pet bird. I learned a lot about birds had to chase him around the house but I finally got and they are colorful, interesting and intelligent. —Tyra P. him and gave him a bath. This is one of the funniest moments I had with my dog. He is very important to Kitties and dogs are CUTE me and to my family. —Sophia G. except when my dog is being Lucas H. My favorite animal is the red fox because the fur has mean to my kitty. great bold colors and they look fearless and they are —Chase H. pretty. —Desiree L. My favorite animal is a dog.

Tiger sharks are my favorite animal. Tiger sharks live I’ve wanted one for at least in open seas, in the bottom. Tiger sharks are very rare, five years! Dogs might take that means they are not seen that much. They eat over the world some day if fish, squid, shrimp, sea turtles, and people. you think about it. I mean —Dorian O. they’re all over the place on I want a puppy because they are cute and they are the internet, social media, and very small. They are like babies when they eat dog everywhere around the world. food and when they play. —Kamiyah M. I still want a dog though If I could speak to a donkey it and so do a lot of people. would say “Let’s go chill and eat My favorite animal is a bunny because they are —Kyra D. some waffles yo.” snuggly. —Nivea My favorite animal is a cat because I would be able to defend myself. I think if a cat can talk, they would say they are not mean, they are just very protective of itself and family. If I could be any animal on Earth, I would be a bird because birds get to fly and travel all around the world. I would also be a bird because I would get to eat bread for all my life. Birds are pretty colors. —Gabby L.

7

Sammy M.

If I can be any animal, I would be a grizzly bear in the forest because it reminds me of myself in a couple of ways. Some ways a grizzly bear reminds me of myself is because I always like to have a big meal of food especially with meat like steak. Like what bears do, they eat big heavy meals before a long rest during hibernation. On weekends I always like having a great, long, and satisfying nap because no matter what I do after that nap, I feel like I can run across the whole country on my own. That’s what I would be if I was any kind of animal.

My favorite animal is a dog. I love dogs because they are adorable and they are fun to play with and all dogs have cute faces and eyes.

Also the puppies have a cute growl. —Aniya C.

Aniya C.

George D.

Anika

My dog is Curtis.

He does playful tricks for me.

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Dap

Elephant Addy M.

My cat spit up on my sister.

My favorite animal is a dog/puppy. They are so cute. If my dog could talk I think it would say “How you doing” like Wendy Williams. I A giraffe would call my dog Puff because my old dog Harper M. was named Puff. —Jeremiah P.

T.J. C.

My favorite animal is a cheetah because they can run fast.

If I could be any animal I would be a cheetah because they run fast and they can hop over a car.

—Daylin S. Charlie M.

My favorite animal is a dog. I would be a dog because dogs are a girl’s best friend. My pet is important to me cause when I’m lonely he would come get on me.

When my dog did something funny was when he licked my best friend and he kept doing it for the whole time we were at the park. —Caila H.

My favorite animal is a puppy. I like puppies because they are soft and fun to cuddle with. Puppies are delightful and they make me laugh. I like to play with my grandma’s puppy. He makes me happy when I am sad. I can’t remember his whole name but I know that it begins with an “M.” His fur is brown and black and he has bright, playful eyes. When “M” sees me, he jumps on me and licks me with his tongue. This makes me feel grateful to be alive. I like talking to “M.” He is a great listener. I love puppies. They keep me calm.

Puppies are a great pet to have. I hope that one day my mom will get me a puppy. —Christine W. The animal I would like to be is a hawk because it can fly. Also, it’s a big animal so no other predator will eat me. When I’m flying I could see the whole city.

I would fly on top of buildings and look for other friend mates. This would be interesting because most animals do not fly and this is a blessing to fly.

—Janyra B. My favorite animal is a jaguar because they can attack an alligator.

—Amir If I could be an animal, I would be a cheetah because they run fast and they can beat a lot of animals running. Cheetahs are powerful and they can catch lots of animals. Cheetahs are survivors and they know how to protect themselves. Cheetahs are my favorite animals. —Donald D. Max M.

Elliott K. Chester the Fish One day, my nieces, my little brother and I were going to a party, by the end of the parMy favorite animal is ty we were given a goldfish. All of our golda hawk because my fish had different stripes. By the time we got favorite team is the home, we were so excited that we had goldBlackhawks. Also they If I could be any animal I Platypus are my favorite animal fishes. We left our goldfishes and we went are very rare to find. Also would be a mouse because they are the only mammal outside. When we came from outside, we all they usually fly in the My favorite because they’re small and started to play with our goldfishes. to lay eggs. animal is a horse. mountains so keep your can hide in places where All of our goldfishes were kind, friendly, eye out for hawks.

A story about my snail is that it had no one can find them. and funny. Chester always does tricks in his It starts with H! Oh no! The mouse is being babies. It had 32 babies.

I would like to be a bowl and out of his bowl. He was always imDay 1: 32 babies chased. She must hide. portant to me because he was my pet and I turtle because I can Day 2: 30 babies have to feed him and take care of him always. be in the water all I will always be at his side. day and on land then My favorite animal is a Day 3: 25 babies turtle because they are Day 4: 19 babies The next morning, my nieces left to go when it is night I can back to Iowa. My most favorite animal is a go back into the water. slow peaceful herbivores. Day 5: 15 babies goldfish. The reason why I like goldfishes is Olivia B. If it could talk it would Day 6: 4 babies have a slow, clear voice. Day 7: 0 babies because they have cool pattern stripes, they swim fast, and they eat healthy fish food. My cat loves me, at least I think she does? —Nathan S. We figured out that the algae sucker That’s why I really like my pet Chester the I can’t really tell. I mean she follows me ate all the babies. fish. He would always be my best friend and around everywhere, I wake up to her nuzzling my face while purring, —Sam S. and when I come home from school she walks over to me.

But does she the best pet I would ever have.

My favorite animal is a dog and When it was nighttime, I was hungry. I really love me? Does she do all of those things only because I feed her? my favorite breed is a chihuahua. looked in the freezer. I saw Chester died in Well... It’s hard to say, I did get her last week. —Katherine T. the fish bowl. He was upside down. That was I actually have a pet dog and If I could be any animal I would be a cat with she is a chihuahua. Also if I the last time anybody ever saw Chester. dragon wings. This is because I love cats and I could be any animal in the Instructions: taking care of a pet is hard. Just want dragon wings so I put them together. Cats world I would be a Saint Berask for help. —Jamarr S. are really cuddly while dragons have such cool nard because they are so big Ramon L. Hi. I’m Lizard the talking smart wings, they are both such cool animals. and FLUFFY! Every day on my lizard. I am here today to tell you I’d want to be a turquoise cat with dark green birthday I have a dream that guys to stay in school and get an wings. I would have purple stripes along my fur I am a dog, running around education and then you become and purple polka dots on my wings. I would stealing people’s food. what you wanted your dream job. want my fur to be soft and silky and shiny.

—Ivana B. Sylvia F.-R.

8

Aaron P.

If I were an animal, I would want to be an African Wild Dog because they are little fur balls when they are born. They like to play with each other, and they have a cute bark.

African Wild Dogs have big ears, which they can hear from about a mile away. This makes them great hunters because they can hear an antelope or a gazelle grazing in the grass. They are smarter than domestic dogs. African Wild Dogs are also called “Painted Dogs” because they blend in with the long African grass.

Patrick K.

One day me and my tiger are walking and the land is breaking and we will fall into a lava pit.

Lucas R.

Alright, if I was a fire breathing dragon I would breathe it on my sister. She never stops talking!

P.S. I would so do that.

My cat loves me and he rolls over whenever I touch him. He always make me feel better when I’m sad. He also loves to be outside! —Liliana R. Winter 2016

Cordell P. Olivia B. A cheetah is my favorite because it is the fastest animal.

My puppy is fun.

My favorite animal is a dog because they are so much fun. I have a dog and he likes to play. He likes to run and chase me. He knows how to go up and down the stairs. My dog licks me when he is happy. He always wags his tail when we are having fun. —Darien W.

I like giraffes.

My favorite animal is a tiger because they are majestic and beautiful animals. Tigers symbolize strength and dignity. Tigers usually help each other out. When they help each other they both accomplish something.

They show us to always help each other. If a tiger would talk I think the tiger would give me advice of how to be a better person. I also think the tiger would help me with my problems like how to solve them.

I have three pets, they are all dogs. I have one girl and two boy dogs. They are important to me because they keep me company. My dogs never let me feel like I am alone. They stay by my side in bad times. They make me feel happy! When they are around I forget about the situation and I think about them.

One funny memory was when my dog Lola tried to get in the kiddie pool. When she finally got in she thought it was a bed and went to sleep. She then woke up when she was getting wet by the water. She then realized it was a pool and not a bed. She tried to get out and then she started to enjoy the water.

She start to swim around. She was so happy that she didn’t want to get out. —Jackie O.

Caitlin S.

I would be a monkey so I can climb trees because I Jessica V. like to climb stuff. My favorite animals are a dog and Taziyah D. a lion. I pick dog because I love their eyes and they are funny. I picked a lion because they have nice and smooth fur and I like when they roar. I think they would say “What’s up.” —D’mari G.

I like ducks because they are cute.

A dog is my favorite animal because I can teach him tricks. —Shamaya The wolf is such an agile creature. It has a long tail that helps its balance when it runs and its paws make it seem like they bounce. Their eyes are so beautiful and alert. It could probably find you in an instant. The wolf is brave and usually travels in packs. Like a loving big family. They fight together, sleep together, and hunt together. They are fierce and brave. Not only are they quick on their feet, but they are also alert and have a great sense of smell.

The wolf is loyal, like the descendant—the dogs. They are lovable and quite an animal to look at. Their sleek fur is like spikes as it helps with the movement in air. If this animal could talk I think it would tell me to be brave and loyal, it would tell me the animals around me and the prey that are near.

If I could be an animal I would be the wolf. I want to be part of a group. The wolf is so mysterious, loyal, loving, alert ,and agile. I want to be all of those things. To be strong with a group and to always stay together. To rely on others and others rely on me. To be as quick and as fierce as a wolf. —Emily M. I would be a tiger or cheetah because I would be able to scare my little brother. He is soooooo annoying. He annoys me every day. If I was a tiger I would scare him and make him pay for everything he has done. Whenever I tell on him I get in trouble. If I were a cheetah, I would say, “Annoy me one more time.” But he would just ignore me.

But if I tempt him he would run away. I would laugh so hard. Maybe I will turn into one…. —Sophie H.

I personally love all animals, but my favorite by far is a dog because they make me smile.

If I could be any animal it would be by far a bald eagle. I would like to be a bald eagle because they fly, for one, they are massive birds and they are strong.

One of my favorite memories was with my dog named Georgia. I was in my pool with my friends and my dog was on the porch. She was walking around the edge of the pool then she accidentally fell in. She Your favorite animal might be something normal like couldn’t swim at first so we helped her. —Michael G. a dog, bird, cat, panda, horse, and others. My favorite animal is something completely different. My favorite I like cats because they are animal is a donkey! I like donkeys because when I was interesting animals. I also like them a toddler I liked the movie Shrek. I always liked the funbecause they play a lot and I like Tony G. niest character the best. The funniest character is a donhow they meow. Cats are also key! I also like donkeys because when I think of them it sneaky and have keen eyes.

Unfortunately, I can’t get one reminds me of when I was little. I loved those days! That because my mom is allergic to is why I like donkeys. —Julia F. them. I like to draw cats. If I were an animal then I would be a giant panda. I would want to be a giant panda because I would be able to give I’m a frog on a log jumping throughout the swamp. I people big hugs and eat bamboo all day. Even though I got mad hops when it comes to eating my prey. My would be endangered I would be relaxing all day long. I friend Froggy-e tells me I’m the next air frog, but I tell would be able to have a jaw so strong it could break conhim, “Just another day of the frog life.” —Gilbert crete, so if any intruders come then I could just bite them, If I could be any animal I would be a hedghehog be- if the hug doesn’t work of course. My little giant panda cause they’re cute and they’re good at protecting babies would be adorable, and they wouldn’t have anythemselves. They have really awesome spikes on their thing to worry about because their mother would always back. They also live with their family. —Mario P. be there to protect them. —Natalie Y. Winter 2016

If I could be any animal, I would want to be a dog.

Monkey Dogs have great senses of hearing, sight, and smell.

They could smell things that no one else can. For ex- I choose a monkey because ample, they could smell another dog that walked in they are cute. They are soft and if a monkey will talk the same place that they did. However, humans canhe or she will ask me for not smell this. I think it would be awesome to have better senses like dogs. I also want to be a dog be- food or something to drink. cause dogs can live stress free. Since they have short term memory, they do not remember the mistakes they made or bad things they did. This would be great for me because I often regret a lot of choices Ava R. I have made. If I could forget them, all my problems would go away!

I have two dogs, a girl named Marley, and a boy named Sobe. Marley is six years old, and Sobe is seven. My two dogs are very important to me. Whenever I am feeling down about myself, all I have to do A pig is my favorite animal because they are small is look at them and know that they think I’m perfect and cute. A pig is one of the way I am. They are always so loving and caring.

However, at the same time they are very protective the cleanest animals. If the animal could talk, I think of me. One time as I was walking Marley, she saw a I could have a full squirrel walking toward us. So, my dog chased it up a tree! Looking back at this, I can see how my dog put conversation with my pig. my safety before her own. She didn’t know what the Marshaun squirrel was capable of, yet she protected me. I am thankful for my dogs every second of the day. I can’t imagine life without her! —Brooklyn M. Zzz… BAM! I was just chilling in my cage until I saw a small boy with an orange shirt. He fell in my habitat!

I must protect him with my furry, silverback male gorilla muscles. I sprinted over to the boy. I heard people above me screaming. I was tremendously afraid. I ran with the kid for a good ten minutes. There seemed to My favorite animal is a dog be zookeepers looking at me. I turned behind me just because they are to see a red dot on my head. My eyes turned black. I protective and because they just wanted the small boy to be okay. —The One and are like furry humans and Only Lord Harambe —Jack they understand humans.

A funny thing my cat did is sucking my pillow! Once Cats don’t. I really don’t like when I was sleeping I woke up in the middle of the cats because they don’t night and my cat was sucking my pillow! It was so really do anything. funny! —Ivy R. My favorite animal is a dog because they are nice.

You can also have them as a pet unlike bears. You cannot have a bear as a pet. I had a dog throughout my life. He was special to me because he lived up to 14 years old. I had him all my life. A year ago when I was at a store my dog peed on the floor. I was so embarrassed. My dog was brown, white and had black sploshes. —Allison L. My favorite animal is a cow. It’s my favorite animal because it has black spots and it makes ice cream. If this animal could talk I think it would talk really slow and it would moo a lot. If I could be any animal I would definitely be a cow. I would do a lot of cool stuff if I was a cow. It would be really awesome. —Brayden R.

Isabel C.

Once my dog Beignet picked up her bowl, then put it in my room, and flipped it over.

9

Victoria

If I could be any animal, I would like to Kaitlin K. be a giraffe because they are giant. I would also like to be a giraffe because I would have a super long neck and that would allow me to see the stunning horizon at sunrise and sunset. It would also be cool to be able to reach the tops of very tall trees. Also if I was a giraffe then I would be very graceful so I like puppies because they that I don’t fall down because my neck are cute, fun to play with, would be very difficult to hold up while and you get to train them I’m strolling around. If I was a giraffe, I to be good while would have very long angelic legs that they are young. would make me very speedy when I Layla A. would gallop around the plains. That was why I would very much like to be a giraffe.

Kacey R. I like cats because they’re nice and I had a cat ever since I was 1 so that is why I love cats.

—Talleda P.

If I was an animal I would be a dog because they can do whatever they want all day.

I love my dog. My dog’s name is Missy and she is like family. Every time my grandfather comes over, he has leftovers for her.

She is so spoiled. She’s used to table food.

My uncle told before he left he tried to give her away and she came back twice.

My grandmother said she meant to stay.

—Gemarion B. I have a shih tzu and she is important to me because I’ve had her for at least five years and she protects me and my family like one time our dryer caught on fire and everyone was sleeping and she barked loudly to wake us up and warn us. —Miyanna J.

It was late at night.

I was tired of studying.

So I closed my eyes and My favorite animal is a lion because my name is Zion. —Zion P. rolled over. Soon Ladysuper is a butterfly. She is my personal hero. I allow Dogs are friendly, some are violent. Dogs are fluffy, some fur is tough. her to help others. She is very determined and will say enough, it was all There are different types of dogs—pitbulls, boxers, K-9. They do differand do whatever she needs to, to save a life. She loves darkness. Eventually I ent things. Some dogs are trained different. My favorite type of dog is a coming to the rescue for a kid or anyone that’s in danger. She woke up, only to find husky. What is yours? —Aaron W. something big and furry walks and flies everywhere looking for kids to be rescued. She’s very good with kids and will do anything to keep them out of The animal I have researched and worked on over the last week is a laying on my legs. It harm’s way. MESS WITH KIDS, DEAL WITH LADYSUPER! lion. I picked this animal for several reasons. One reason I like the lion is took a minute for my —Briana C. because I love wild animals. Lions are wild mammals that live in Africa. vision to settle. So when I shifted one of my legs, the They are different than most wild animals. Sometimes they are calm, furry creature startled, got up quickly. I was face to face My favorite animal is a rabbit, but mostly they are ferocious. because they are cute with my cat Mauii (Mow-ee). At first I thought he was Another reason why I like lions is because they take care of one an- an alien. With his big eyes staring straight at me. I and adorable. other. They are always looking out for family members and they help scratched Mauii’s neck. “You silly cat,” I whispered.

—Erial M. them all the time. Lions hunt for other animals and they provide for all of the other members of the family.

I have 2 birds. They are very My favorite animal is a dog. I really want Lions are amazing animals. I have seen many of them in zoos. People pretty. There’s a boy and a a dog! The best for me would be a little, always look at them because they are so unique. —Patrick C. girl. Their names are Lilly and licky, playful, loving, lapdog that loves Nitty. Nitty is green. Lilly is yelto play in water! Dogs are funny and my Taphany S. My favorite pet is my cats. I had my cats low. they don’t really do anydog would always make me feel better. I for about four years now. I have two cats.

This is my pet cat. thing but chirp. —Raquel R. love dogs! —Chase M. I have a girl and a boy. The girl is having —Molly D. kittens. But she ran away because there I fly across the world. I see the brutality of nature and man Jordyn R. were too many cats there. My mother’s alike. My feathers are a symbol of great people. But still, I fly friend’s cats were there too because she and soar every year. I see the seasons change and change, had to watch over them. The boy cat had and the people with it. I saw them rise and prosper. Even in stayed there. They came into my life and hardship they pull through. I am the bald eagle and I’m always give me happiness and joy. there to sight. My feathers rally the American people, who are So the cat had her kitties. We saw her one day outside. After about always ready to fight. —Jake C. 2 years one day she had left. I was so sad. I love those cats so much. I Flamingo was so grateful for them. Then, I found the boy cat outside. I took him I walk tall (like really tall). I stand there waiting for someone to Olivia G. in the house. I really love him. snap a photo so I can curl up my neck. Or when guards put up Pandas are my If I was a lion I would always scare off other animals. I would like to roar barricades so kids don’t run towards me and get attacked. At favorite animals all the time. I know that I would not like to eat their food because they night nobody comes, they never visit, throw food, or take piceat different types of animals. If I had to pick an animal to eat, I would from when I was tures. I’m a grandma now and the kids never come by, only on My favorite animal a little kid. choose a cheetah because it’s skinny and I would not want to get fat. holidays and 2 times a month. I have a husband named Greg. The species of the is a monkey!

Pandas are red panda I might not be able to catch a cheetah but I’d maybe try to sneak and He always nags and wants coffee. “Greg” and “Tina” was carved fascinating animals.

—Ronan H.A. eat a cheetah. I would not like to be a lion but I think that they run the onto a flamingo tag we both have. That was my random story I’m so happy that jungle. Roar! —Tyriana J. about Tina the Flamingo. —Ashley J. Micah pandas aren’t The animal I’m going to talk about is my pet dog Pudding. She is a very My favorite animal is a chinchilla because they’re so cute and being hunted in fluffy. Animals can also just be annoying. For example my pargood dog. She’s playful and she is a very small dog which is so cute. I the wild anymore. had her since I was 8. She is the best dog I could ever have. She doesn’t Mia D. ents’ friends have a huge dog and the dog did not want to go home but they had to go home so the dog just sat on the bite. When you get to know her she will like you. She always begs for I love lions because My favorite grass. They could not just pull him because he was huge. If a treats. When she does something bad I tell her to go lay down and she when I was 6 animal is a chinchilla could talk I think it will make baby sounds like goo doesn’t do it again. When you get to know her you will like her too. human because I went to Disney goo gaga. I have a cat and I like cats but they’re not my fa- My favorite animal —Kamarria W. World and saw a vorite animal. I only saw a chinchilla one time in my life but I am a human! is a lion. I like lion stuffed animal it was amazing. That was my favorite and only memory of a I love my pet cat! My cat is gray. Me and my cat play ball. I love my cat —Oliver B. lions because and I got it to keep. chinchilla. —Julian V. so much. —Keyonte D. they are funny.

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Winter 2016

Charlie J.

My favorite animal is a panther because they are all black and black is my favorite color. Also because they just seem so smooth and furious. If a panther can talk I think it will probably say I want to eat you or might say I’m hungry. I think that because a panther is in the cat family and when people think about big cats like lions and tigers the first thing that’s going to come to mind is scary because they eat people and meat. —Ashley A. Noah O.

My favorite animal is a snake because snakes are my favorite to draw and they are beautiful. They are brown, green, yellow, red, blue, and black. Sea snakes are also really cool with their interesting swimming patterns.

Sea snakes hide in crevices and hunt for prey. They are able to swim without fins. They have very interesting colors and different sizes for each different species. Snakes are already cool without going out of the water.

Now, crawling out of the water like a Green Anaconda, we’ll hit the earth. Snakes live in trees, swamps, underground, tall grass, and under rocks. Snakes can swallow their prey whole or bite it, or even strangle them. Anacondas go out of the water and strangle crocodiles!

Now, you might understand why I like snakes. They are so diverse in many different ways and are beautiful! They make a great predator and can even be a pet.

Augustin M.

I would want to be an octopus because they have eight brains and three hearts. They can also blend in to hide from sharks.

My favorite animals are snakes because I like all their colors and I like that they slither around.

—Caiden M. My favorite animal is a bat because it uses echolocation, which is how they communicate. Which I find very interesting, personally. What I also find interesting is how bats, (even baby bats) can see in the dark. And last but not least, I also like bats because I LOVE Batman!

—Kiedon M. Winter 2016

My favorite animal is a dog. It’s my favorite animal because it can bite. When it barks it might be saying can you rub my tummy.

If I could be an animal I would be a dog because I could help blind people. One day I had a dog, it was a girl. My friend was scared of it. I let her off the leash to play and my friend ran from her. Then she My favorite animal is a dog. I like dogs because they are fun to play with. If chased him and he was screaming and my dog could talk he would say that he likes me rubbing his tummy. If I could crying. Then I caught my dog and put her be any animal I would be a dog because they are sweet and likable. My pet back on the leash. —Antonio F. is important to me because when I’m mad he puts a smile on my face and he My favorite animal is a pigeon because always makes me laugh. I remember when me and my dog played IT and I was I like the way pigeons walk. Waddle with always it cause he would always catch me and I couldn’t catch him and always one foot, waddle with the other foot. They when the ambulance truck rings he howls until he can’t hear it anymore. I love always walk like that. I also like them bemy dog and this is why I wrote about him. —Caurie H. cause they are very small, and they won’t

My favorite animal or pet is a cat. I like cats because I think they’re cute, fluffy and cool. I have a cat. His name is Ezra Ishmael Johnson. He is a little bit frisky. He loves tuna and beef too. If he could talk he might say “give me tuna please” or maybe “I love my family.” He is important to me because he loves me and I love him. He also licks and nuzzles me when I get home. Also one time he climbed up our banister! Another time he batted my fish tank and scared a ton of fish! Also whenever he drinks his water he bats his water to test for the depth. He is an orange tabby. He is my favorite cat in the world. My second favorite cat is my friend Grayson’s cat. Grayson’s cat is named Nigel. I think he is a gray tabby. My favorite memory of Ezra is when we let him out of the box that we drove him home in when we first got him. He was only a tiny kitten then. He was very cute.

My favorite animal has got to be the mimic octopus out of the many bizarre creatures that are upon this earth. The mimic octopus is great when it comes to surviving the grasp of a predator as its unique ability saves it from danger.

As its names suggests, the mimic octopus is able to copy a creature, since it’s a water creature most likely a fish, and use it as its self defense. People have seen the fish change to dangerous fishes that are known to kill with their venom.

This has really put my interest towards the creature because of such a unique ability that it possesses.

The animal I would choose to be is the mimic octopus since it has a unique ability to change its form into anything that it could turn into. You can compare it to being the lizard that can change its color, the only difference is that I can copy color and shape. Being able to change into a different form is awesome and different in the many ways you can use this ability. —Kirk J.T. It’s cold, dark, and lonely in this dumb jail cell and it’s been a few weeks, days maybe even MONTHS. I see my reflection in the glass. I mean nothing to anyone. I’m just a rat who’s gonna be snake food sooner or later. My time is running out and there’s nothing I can do. I heard footsteps coming from far, more than one human. I think my time had just run out but I was wrong. A little girl picked me up and held me tight with love in her eyes. She insisted I was the one. She called me Jasper the Rat. I couldn’t be happier. They packed my bags and off I went to my new home. I see it in the corner of my tiny eye a home for me and it was much bigger than the last. I meant something to someone, finally, I have a family. —Chloe W.

My favorite animal is a lion because they are very surprising. ROAR! Some of them yell.

But others sit there waiting for their prey to walk by. If I had a lion for a pet I would take it for walks and feed it wild elk. Of course this is not realistic but it is fun to imagine! If I were a lion I would want to tell other lions to only kill if they are hungry, but it is hard I remember when my dog Eloise was little and when we were taking her for for the most powerful mammal in the world her first walk around the block, she tripped on concrete and wiggled around to listen sometimes! —Camryn D. to get up then it looked like she was saying “Nothing wrong here! I’m alright!”

I love my dog. Her name is Speckles. I named It was an adorable moment! —Ryan G. her that when she was just the size of dad’s shoe, and her nose was all speckled. Her entire body shakes when she wags her tail. It can be a burden when she barks. But in the end I still love her. Her overbite is adorable and she brings a toy over to me every time we come home from school. She licks my face and I feel she does it just exactly when I need it. I love my Speckles. —Olivia P. If I could be any animal, I would be a dog.

Dogs get so much love from everyone. They are “man’s best friend.” Sometimes dogs are treated better than humans. I believe dogs can sense the good and bad in people and I think this would be a great sense to have.

Dogs are well cared for and their owners make sure they are safe and well fed.

—Francesca G.

My favorite animals are dogs. They are funny and they can do tricks. Most dogs are very fast. My dog is faster than me. The main reason I like dogs is because they are loyal and they can be your best friend! —Luke M. I have a pet and she is very important to me because she comforts me when I need it and gives me love and kisses when I need them. She protects me when I am afraid. She also protects the house and the rest of the family. She is fun to play with and we race around the yard all the time. I take her for walks and try to teach her tricks. Her name is Zola and I consider her one of the family.

I also had a pet named Keiko who lived with my dad. He also protected me since I was a baby. He was a great dog, but he ran away. When I was little, Keiko would let me ride on his back like he was a horse. He always protected me and loved me. He even killed animals that came into the yard that he considered a threat to us. No trespassers allowed in Keiko’s eyes. —Andrew A. If my dog named Bella was able to talk, she would say pet me pet me pretty please because she loves to have her belly rubs especially when you feel sad, she’ll cheer you up by rolling around on the carpet and running into walls or just squeezing right next to you while you’re lying down or sitting. —Jacob L.

bother anybody. Today, or tomorrow.

They also never stay when you don’t want them to stay as long as you shoo them.

—Lucy D.

My favorite animal is a horse because it’s brown and that’s my third favorite color and because I wanted to climb on a horse when I went to Ecuador. I wanted to climb on a horse but I can’t because the horse was far away from home. —Shirly O. Gavriel T.

The collared lizard is my favorite animal because the collared lizard is the fastest lizard in the United States of America. The collared lizard is impossible to catch or be eaten. The lizard is so fast that the wind lifts their front body up, and the collared lizard uses their back legs to jump the air. The lizard also uses its tail to manage their movement in the air. The lizard has very gorgeous colors on its body.

My favorite animal is a cat because they jump on you and purr. —Londen

Ben L.

I would like to be a giraffe because then when I want to be alone I could warn them with a kick.

11

If I could be any animal I would be a fox. Why because the fox is beautiful. Their bright red fur is just absolutely amazing. They can run free and do whatever they want. They’re away from the world, free from responsibility.

I do have a pet. He is a dog named Dexter. He is a miniature pinscher mixed with a douche hound. One of my favorite memories with him is when we first got him. We picked him out, filled out the paper and took him home. He was so scared. When we got inside he didn’t know what to do. After a while he got used to us and is now very close with us and follows my mom all over the place. —Marissa C. My favorite animal is the alligator because I like the way it looks. Its back looks like a bunch of green triangles which I always liked. If this animal was able to talk I think it would tell everything it saw “can I eat you.”

I have a pet dog named Lucy. She is important to me because I love her and she is described as my baby puppy.

A funny thing she once did was when I once put a piece of bacon on her back and she spun in circles to get it.

—Dominic M. If I could be any animal it would be the salmon because they are a huge fish however they don’t attack humans or living things. I loved fishing for these amazing fish when I was in Alaska but I caught only seaweed. These animals are always in groups and I have the most fun when I am with my friends. I also love swimming but only in a lake or ocean, never in a pool because I feel like I am a fish swimming in circles. The last reason is I love eating salmon because it tastes fantastic. You can prepare it in many ways like raw, grilled, fried and so much more.

When I was younger I had two betta fish called Mario and Luigi. I loved these fish and they were always good to me and were never sneaky. One day I was feeding them and then walked away. Then my parents yelled at me saying I didn’t feed the fish because the two were in their feeding positions so they could get fed. So I had to feed them again.

That was the day they got doubled the food. —Connor B.

Dia G.

My favorite animal is a zebra because of its stripes. If a zebra could talk, it would say “I wish I had Rainbow Stripes!” If I could be an animal, I would be a pet turtle. So I could chill by the rocks or swim in the water whenever I want! I have a pet beetle named Blinky. I love misting it. He likes lettuce and cabbage, I feel he likes lettuce more. It’s funny how he rolls over in the soil.

Julian D.

I drew a wolf with some wings because I love wolves.

I drew this animal because I think it looks cool and beautiful.

Tallulah S.

If I could be any animal I want I would be a cheetah because it can run very fast and it can eat everything and if someone tries to attack it can run very fast away. —Jamari R. My favorite animal is a leopard. Leopards can catch their prey in water and land. They can run fast on land. If it could talk I think it would never talk that much because it is always after its prey and needs to be quiet in order to catch its prey. But if it could talk it would maybe say “You can run but you can’t hide.” —Deneka B. My dog is important to me and I love her so much. She is important to me because she always makes me happy when I am sad and she is so sweet. When my dog accidentally answered my sister’s phone my family thought it was very funny. —Anjail G. My favorite animal is a cat. I like cats because there are so many different kinds of them. They are cute and funny and they can jump really high.

Cats come in different colors like brown, black and gray. Some have more than one color which makes them unique. They have paws like no other animal. Those paws have very sharp nails so you have to be careful around them. I have a cat. Her eyes change different colors when she’s moving around our house. When she gets really mad, her eyes start to glow.

Cats are definitely fun to play with. They curl up with you at night which makes you feel warm and cozy. Cats love to purr and when you see that it is fun.

My cat jumps really high and that is fun to watch. When she tries to get her food from a cabinet, she jumps high. You never know when she is going to jump. It just happens and it happens fast.

Cats are special animals. I love them very much. They are different, cute and funny and they really know how to jump. —Tyreanna S. I would want to be a wolf because they are very strong and wise. They protect their family even when they don’t want to. They are the largest out of the dog family. Wolves live and hunt for their pack. They are known to roam large distances of almost about 20km in a single day.

Damaria J.

My pet once shedded on my head!

My favorite animal from the wild is an owl because owls are Reid P. One of the animals that fascinates me lived millions of years ago. It cool looking and they could fly. I mean who doesn’t want to was a prehistoric sea monster, known as the Liopleurodon. It could have the ability to fly? The owl would probably not be too grow up to 80 ft long, with a head 16 ft long and jaws 10 ft long! sociable but the owl would probably be the politest in the It lived in the Jurassic Period and was large enough to swallow wild. The owl would just talk to the others with kindness. sharks! Well, actually, that is what I thought it was like until more If I could be any animal I would want to be an owl, too. accurate research came out. It was actually only 5 to 7 meters long, One reason why I would want to be an owl is because I This animal dated before the T-rex. and its jaws could grow up to 1.5 meters long. Their weight could wouldn’t want that much predators to hunt me down. They be up to 2.5 tons. Still, it was a ferocious predator, and is still one of My favorite animal is a turtle (I are also cool looking animals. Imagine being able to turn my favorite animals. —Nolan T. would say dog but I bet almost your head all the way back. That would be awesome!

My favorite animal would have to be dogs! I mean, who couldn’t everyone is doing that so I’ll go —Adalyz C. love dogs?! They are so soft, cuddly, loving, adorable, and make you My favorite animal is the dolphin. I can give you 3 reasons with #2). The reason I love turtles feel better when you are sad. I have a dog myself. He’s a yellow lab is that... wait... why do I even have why I like them. Dolphins are smart. They have a very big and my favorite thing about him is how he always jumps on the brain and it is bigger than most animals. Their brain is simi- to explain? They’re turtles! What’s couch! It’s adorable! He leaves one foot on the ground so my parnot to like?!?!

But jokes aside, I think lar to the human brain so that makes them smart. ents don’t tell him to get off. It’s so funny! That’s what I love about they’re awesome because of the Dolphins are sea animals, but they are mammals. This dogs! —Logan P. way they walk/run.

It’s like a little makes the dolphin unique from other animals. Dolphins can hold their breath long under water. They have a hole waddle! When I was in Florida I saw If I had a pet I would definitely choose a dog. I would take care of some baby turtles “waddling” into him and play with him. I really want a dog but my mom is allergic so to blow water out.

I can’t have one. I feel really bad for her. We could get a non-allergic Dolphins are friendly. You can find them at the Shedd the ocean after being born. dog but she still said no. —Liam F. Aquarium in Chicago. There they play around with the visi- —Durham S. tors at the museum.

My favorite animal is a wolf. I also like wolves because I also have a dog at home. A lot of things I own have In conclusion, the dolphin is my favorite animal. I love some dog/wolf related things on them. I think that they are beautiful and majestic creatures and that they them because they are smart, unique and friendly. should not be hunted for sport or randomly hunted. Also, their fur is very beautiful and that is another —Camerin S. reason why they are my favorite animal. —Grant P.

12

Gerald B. I like butterflies.

They’re so pretty.

Kathryn C.

I like dolphins because they are fun.

Rayonna M.

My favorite animal is a cat because it’s cute and adorable. The fur is so sort and comfortable it’s like a pillow.

Tyson T.

I want to be a shark because they can swim fast.

And they eat a lot of fish!

Tamaree D.

If I was an animal I would be a tiger. First it has the letter “T” just like my name.

Then, I like them because they have stripes.

Zach L.

A dragon can breathe fire.

Winter 2016

My favorite animal is an otter. This is my favorite animal because they are friendly and adorable. Otters also swim which is one activity I love to do. If otters were able to talk I think they would discuss the events that take place in their daily lives.

I own two dogs—a bulldog and a teacup chihuahua. They are both very important to me because I have grown up with them and they are a huge part of my childhood. My dogs are very energetic and loving.

I couldn’t ask for better dogs. One funny memory is when my dog, Georgia (the bulldog) ran up to a priest and starting barking at him. —Mackenzie G. The king cobra is so feared because it is a venomous snake. The king cobra hunts during the day. King cobras have a reputation for having a bad temper. King cobras are the largest venomous snakes in the world. King cobras are capable of raising 1/3 of its body.

—Maurice F. If I could be any animal I would be a camouflage lizard. I could blend into anything. I would be able to sneak up on insects and stick out my tongue and bite them. —Quron J. I have two cats. The old one’s fat. Her name is Shiva.

They are both divas. The young one’s name is Sukie.

She is kind of kookie. They look the same. They’re both pretty tame. They’re black and white, and occasionally, they fight. All of this is true, that’s why I’m reading this to you. —Alina S. I would be a cheetah because I would be able to speed past all of the cars and I would win all the races.

—Jesse G.

Tyrell G.

I chose a bird because I would want to be able to fly and see the world.

My favorite animal is a wolf because it’s fierce. The wolf might be angry and mean. It might say “If you come near me I would hurt you.”

The animal I would be is a wolf because wolves are fierce and fight for what they believe in.

—Torrence F.

Do you know what the best animal on the planet is? Here’s a hint. They are the largest member of the cat family. They live mostly in Asia and Africa. That’s right, a tiger. Tigers have many interesting attributes including distinct colors. They are also fierce and brave.

When you see a tiger, the first thing you notice about them is their distinct colors. The reddish-orange coat with dark brown and black spots is truly beautiful.

Those are the most common tigers that people see, but if you are lucky enough, you might be able to see the occasional White Tiger and those colors are slightly different.

Something else that sets tigers apart from other animals is what they eat and how they get their food. Tigers are large predators and are prey to none. Tigers are carnivores, meaning they primarily eat meat. Some examples of what they eat consist of deer, elk, and lynx, but what they eat mainly depends on their environment.

When tigers get their food they have to be fast. They sneak around the environment until they see the animal they want. Then they swiftly run up to it and catch it. The prey never has a chance. Tigers are fast and furious.

Some people don’t like tigers because they are afraid of them. They think tigers are too aggressive. No matter what people think about tigers, they are incredible animals. —Tania W. There are millions of animals in the world. My favorite is the American Bald Eagle. If this animal could talk I think it would talk about how it is an endangered species. I think it would also tell people to not hunt it.

If I could be an animal, I would be the American Bald Eagle. This my favorite animal. The American Bald Eagle has no predators and it cannot be hunted. This bird is the United States of America’s national bird. This means a lot to me. —Carmine G.

Charisma M.

My favorite animal is a peacock because its feathers are beautiful.

I would be a swan because I could swim gracefully.

My pet Bigeyes is always there when I need him. He keeps me company and is there when I’m sad.

My cat sounded like a parrot for a second and that was funny.

Gabe B.

Hi my name is Larry, Larry the ant. Every day, I have to worry about being stepped on and that is very scary.

So far I’ve lost three best friends to a human. Also whenever I go to school all the big animals like the spiders and grasshoppers make fun of my height. Most of my days are like that but a lot of them are sleep, eat, school, and then sleep. When I get older I will have to work with the big ants harvesting food. It’s a hard job but all the ants work there. —Tyler R.

My cat. He ran so fast I almost fell down.

If I were an animal I would be a cockatoo! The number one reason why I would be a cockatoo is because they are so beautiful and when I would want to spy on them they would be totally fine with it because I would be so beautiful. Another reason that I would love to be a cockatoo, is that they can poop on whoever they don’t like which would be pretty awesome if you wanted revenge on someone. The final reason why I would want to be a cockatoo is they live in warm places and I could use a getaway from Chicago! —Emily B.

My favorite moment with my dog was when she was sliding down the slide.

—Kennedy P.

At my house I have 2 gerbils and their names are Winnie and Cocoa. Winnie is gold and white and Cocoa is black. They both love to eat sunflower seeds and chew cardboard. They chew the cardboard into shavings so we don’t have to put shavings in. They also have an upper deck that they poop on. So we only have to clean that for poop and not the whole cage. —Cormac A. My favorite animals are giant pandas. Here are some facts about them. Giant pandas are one of the most shyest and rarest animals. Giant pandas don’t hibernate. Giant pandas have the largest teeth of all carnivores. Giant pandas are good climbers and great swimmers. Giant pandas sleep for about 2 to 4 hours a day. Giant pandas live in the wild for about 20 years. Giant pandas eat 20 to 40 pounds of bamboo a day. —Simona M. Animals can be cute and funny. That is why a lot of people have them as pets. I think that animals can be lovable, but also can be kind of scary. Lions, sharks, and other animals can be quite scary.

I love cats, dogs, and fishes, but you never know what’s gonna happen with a cheetah or something like that. —Zachary S. You Are An Animal Most people are scared of animals. Lions, tigers, bears oh my! Well doesn’t that mean you’re scared of yourself? My friend (Not going to say her name) said “I hate animals!

I don’t care what they are, I hate them!” So does that mean you hate yourself? She always takes pictures of herself, so I’m confused, but don’t worry about it. Soon humans will no longer exist and animals will rule the world. —Briana M. Having my dog Larry is really important to me because I love him and he loves me. He gives me kisses and he always loves attention from me when I give him belly rubs and butt rubs. Every time he gets out of the shower, he goes crazy and spazzes out! That is what happens when he gets out of the shower. A favorite memory of my dog Larry is when we went to the dog park for the first time. It was the day after my family got him and we wanted to see what kind of playing and energy he had in him. Another memorable moment I have had with him is when he gave me a scar. I know it sounds crazy, but I will remember it for as long as I live (also because it is a scar and it will be there forever). —Milo S. If I could turn into any animal I would turn into a hedgehog. My reason is because they are small, furry, and vicious. Everyone thinks they’re bad but they’re harmless. If I was a hedgehog right now I would do whatever I wanted to because they love to roam free. That’s why I want to be a hedgehog. —Henry M.

ANIMALS Word Search C V R D M Y D R X D Y E H S E T H N D E E A O J Q V L B S R L A E K R E Q U G R S T J H J K Q N E B I D M K L C R L K M N O I L T N B A G D A U G T M M P U F Y A P B E I J T N J N S E S R U A H N M M O Z N N G F R O G N P I P L A T Y P U S N Y X T O P T L N S L E A O H L R H I U U R O N U S O N C S X E O C E F F A R I G E D T I R V R C V J K C B F S M A O F X O J D I E W A Z B Q C Y P K P V G I R N W T X D I G N U Z L I Z A R D U J N C I T F S M

Can you find these words?

BEAR BIRD CAT CHEETAH

DOG FISH FROG GIRAFFE

LION LIZARD MONKEY OCTOPUS

PANDA PANTHER PLATYPUS PORCUPINE

RABBIT SNAKE TURTLE UNICORN

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