First Pencil in Space

First Pencil in Space Adventures from the Writers’ Exchange [ g N.. g X -Þ i 1 @

Copyright © 2014 The Writers’ Exchange This chapbook is a collection of the kids’ favourite writing and art that they created in the Writers’ Exchange after-school programs during the winter and spring of 2014.

The Writers’ Exchange makes literacy exciting and accessible for inner-city kids through free mentoring and creative writing projects like this chapbook. All Writers’ Exchange programs are free for the children and families we serve, so we could not exist without the support of generous donors, including Bernard MacLeod, Megan Abbott, Marily Mearns, the Vancouver Foundation, Nancy and Ted Maitland, TELUS, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, the Central City Foundation, Lindsay Mearns, Claudia Casper and James Griffin, The Home Depot Canada Foundation and the Hamber Foundation. Thank you. And thank you to the amazing volunteer mentors who work with the kids in all Writers’ Exchange programs so that each child can succeed to the best of his or her ability.

881 East Hastings Vancouver, BC V6A 1R8 To read more great student writing, visit vancouverWE.com and our student blog, wewritersland.wordpress.com.

Editorial support by Andie Design and layout by Claire Balderston, clairebalderston.com project of

Coast Capital Savings Credit Union supports after-school programs at the Writers’ Exchange.

Printing for this chapbook was generously donated by Hemlock.

THANKS!

Thanks to the 36 fanta stic volunteer mentors who helped with the Writers‘ Exchange 2013/14 a fter-school program: Andie, Annie, Bára, Brittany, Bryan, Caitlin, Charlotte, Colleen, Courtney, Dylan, Gloria, Grant, Ivy, Janse, John, Karolina, Kyla, Laura, Linn, Liz, Manpreet, Melissa, Michelle, Molly, Napasorn, Patrick, Patty, Prabhi, Rachel, Rosalinda, Sam, Sara, Stacey, Steffi, Teghan and Tera

TA BL E OF CONTENTS Animal Adventures 2 The Pigs, by Mateo 2 Roco Loco and Tentacles, by Fritz 3 Fluffer Puffer, by Nico 3 Cat Dream, by Holly 4 A Field Guide to Muggins, by James 5 The Super Dog, by Lucie 5 Wild Kratts (Cheetah Racer), by Hannah Messages from the Future 6 Mr. Bad, by Cienna 6 Future Tetsu, by Jerry C. 7 The Pink-Stained Dragon, by Lili 7 Future Jerry, by Tetsu 8 WWE, Year 3456, by Robert 8 A Fourteen-Year-Old Who Knew How to Skateboard, by Brayden Weird Worlds 9 Weird World, by Severin 9 Blobman, by Johnny 10 My World, by Samarah 10 Planet Blob, by Dylan 11 Loompa Soompa Doompa Croompa Shroompa Land, by Esmée 11 The Mad Wizard, by Carter 11 Big Eyes, by Legend Sorta Science 12 The Lab Rings!, by Kevin 13 Bubachuba, Numna, Shelby, by Alex 14 How I Got a Million Dollars, by Quinten 14 What Is Snow?, by Hendrix 15 What Snow Is, by Emma 15 Tiny Assassins in the Clouds, by Dragon Mixed Media 16 Apple, by Saskia 16 Riddles, by Reegan 17 Life is Just. . ., by Clara 18 Thomas and Friends: A Rock, Paper, Scissors Story, by Jerry D. 19 Illusions, by Ombú

first pencil in space

Animal Adventures The Pigs

By Mateo, age 8, and Patrick, his volunteer mentor There once was a pig that loved to eat slime. One day something happened. . . He found two hundred million money and more money and more money.

And the pigs were happy and excited. They bought more slime, with fish on it. Yum yum.

“I like it so much,” said the yucky pigs.

The slime store was not open and there was no more slime, so the pigs found slime on the ground. That is gross.

The next day, the store was open and they bought lots of toys, and they bought a big friendly pig. The other pig didn’t like slime.

He liked toys and water.

Roco Loco and Tentacles

first pencil in space

Fluffer Puffer

By Nico, age 9

What to do when you encounter a Fluffer Puffer: • Do not be fooled by their cuteness. They are dangerous.

• If you see one. . . run! Go home. It can’t get you there.

• They can’t breathe indoor air. They can only live outdoors— only outdoors. They do not have arms or legs. They float. They are carnivores! They live in trees. They live on their own.

• So be careful when you are playing outside. Keep both eyes open at all times. Play close to your house, and be prepared when you are outside.

• Don’t ever think that one is being friendly. Don’t make friends with one. They are very tricky little fellows, and they are not gentle.

So, take this advice: be prepared. Good luck.

Cat Dream

By Holly, age 6

Once I found a Roco Loco. It floats in the Atlantic Ocean. I named it Rolo. It goes crazy if someone litters. It picks them up and throws them in the garbage.

Once I also found a plant in the Pacific Ocean. I named it Tentacles. He grabs people if they litter and throws them into a t-rex’s mouth.

There once was a cat. And she loved to go and look for her mother.

Her mother said, “You need to eat, please.”

But then one day, she ate popsicles and chicken and eggs and rice and sushi and milk. Then they had to go to the park. But something went wrong.

Her mother said, “Let’s go to the library to get some scary books.”

Then the cat had a bad dream that the mom had a broken heart. So her mom took her to the park again, where she had a nap and dreamed she was a princess cat.

2

3

By Fritz, age 8

first pencil in space

Animal Adventures The Pigs

By Mateo, age 8, and Patrick, his volunteer mentor There once was a pig that loved to eat slime. One day something happened. . . He found two hundred million money and more money and more money.

And the pigs were happy and excited. They bought more slime, with fish on it. Yum yum.

“I like it so much,” said the yucky pigs.

The slime store was not open and there was no more slime, so the pigs found slime on the ground. That is gross.

The next day, the store was open and they bought lots of toys, and they bought a big friendly pig. The other pig didn’t like slime.

He liked toys and water.

Roco Loco and Tentacles

first pencil in space

Fluffer Puffer

By Nico, age 9

What to do when you encounter a Fluffer Puffer: • Do not be fooled by their cuteness. They are dangerous.

• If you see one. . . run! Go home. It can’t get you there.

• They can’t breathe indoor air. They can only live outdoors— only outdoors. They do not have arms or legs. They float. They are carnivores! They live in trees. They live on their own.

• So be careful when you are playing outside. Keep both eyes open at all times. Play close to your house, and be prepared when you are outside.

• Don’t ever think that one is being friendly. Don’t make friends with one. They are very tricky little fellows, and they are not gentle.

So, take this advice: be prepared. Good luck.

Cat Dream

By Holly, age 6

Once I found a Roco Loco. It floats in the Atlantic Ocean. I named it Rolo. It goes crazy if someone litters. It picks them up and throws them in the garbage.

Once I also found a plant in the Pacific Ocean. I named it Tentacles. He grabs people if they litter and throws them into a t-rex’s mouth.

There once was a cat. And she loved to go and look for her mother.

Her mother said, “You need to eat, please.”

But then one day, she ate popsicles and chicken and eggs and rice and sushi and milk. Then they had to go to the park. But something went wrong.

Her mother said, “Let’s go to the library to get some scary books.”

Then the cat had a bad dream that the mom had a broken heart. So her mom took her to the park again, where she had a nap and dreamed she was a princess cat.

2

3

By Fritz, age 8

first pencil in space

first pencil in space

A Field Guide to Muggins

The Super Dog

By James, age 12

A Muggins is a creature that does absolutely nothing helpful to humans. Muggins is actually an Old English word for “foolish”, or “numb-skulled.” So I created this creature to embody this word.

It’s a completely foolish furry blob with eyes and a mouth, that eats rocks.

Common Muggins Fact: Must eat rocks before maturity, or it will float away Call: Gui! Gui! Gui! Scientific Name: Muggus Hoppus Diet: Strictly rocks before maturity, and then a variety of berries Hazard: Will bite if cuddled Note: Will become Muggins Rage if angered

4

By Lucie, age 10 The dog was named Bukwight. He was an ordinary dog, but not for long. . . One day when Bukwight was eating his food, he saw a light in his garden. When he saw the light, he was very curious. When the light landed in his garden, it was really silent. He went outside and looked for the light, but he couldn’t see it. He looked all over his garden and he still couldn’t see it. Bukwight was so surprised that he passed out. When he woke up, he saw a bone. Since he was a dog, he chewed the bone, and inside this bone he found a treasure map. To be continued. . .

Wild Kratts (Cheetah Racer)

By Hannah, age 8

I ♥ animals.

I ♥ Wild Kratts because I ♥ Martin. They are hilarious and they have a smart engineer.

5

first pencil in space

first pencil in space

A Field Guide to Muggins

The Super Dog

By James, age 12

A Muggins is a creature that does absolutely nothing helpful to humans. Muggins is actually an Old English word for “foolish”, or “numb-skulled.” So I created this creature to embody this word.

It’s a completely foolish furry blob with eyes and a mouth, that eats rocks.

Common Muggins Fact: Must eat rocks before maturity, or it will float away Call: Gui! Gui! Gui! Scientific Name: Muggus Hoppus Diet: Strictly rocks before maturity, and then a variety of berries Hazard: Will bite if cuddled Note: Will become Muggins Rage if angered

4

By Lucie, age 10 The dog was named Bukwight. He was an ordinary dog, but not for long. . . One day when Bukwight was eating his food, he saw a light in his garden. When he saw the light, he was very curious. When the light landed in his garden, it was really silent. He went outside and looked for the light, but he couldn’t see it. He looked all over his garden and he still couldn’t see it. Bukwight was so surprised that he passed out. When he woke up, he saw a bone. Since he was a dog, he chewed the bone, and inside this bone he found a treasure map. To be continued. . .

Wild Kratts (Cheetah Racer)

By Hannah, age 8

I ♥ animals.

I ♥ Wild Kratts because I ♥ Martin. They are hilarious and they have a smart engineer.

5

first pencil in space

Messages from the Future Mr. Bad

first pencil in space

The Pink-Stained Dragon

By Lili, age 11

Once upon an hour, on May 7, 3004, there was a new teacher in room C201 in the primary building. His name was Mr. Bad. On the first day of Mr. Bad’s career, I was feeling nervous because who would want a teacher named Mr. Bad? Mr. Bad was green with purple spikes running down his back, and he had a big blue wart on the tip of his chin.

On the fifth day, Mr. Bad turned out to be a bad teacher. If we were practising our cursive writing and if we wrote our d less than a quarter of a millimetre, he would send us to the principal’s office.

The twenty-first day of him being our new teacher, he was the one who got sent to the principal’s office, because he had no good reason for us to go to the office.

So then we got a new teacher named Ms. Goofy, and I was not worried about that.

In 2014—five million years ago—the evil pink fireflies ruled the Earth.

In the Kingdom of the Pink Lightning Bugs, the most rare and beautiful flower in the world was harvested and stored in the Royal Garden. This flower could grant power over the world to the one who touched it.

The evil pink fireflies ruled over the Earth for thousands of years until May 15, 2014, when the courageous purple fish of the Kingdom of Purple Tails attacked the evil pink fireflies. This was known as the War of Pink and Purple. In the end, the purple fish defeated the evil pink fireflies. Five days after the war ended, the purple fish returned to their underwater kingdom.

On October 17, 2014, all the humans were released and fifteen-year-old Timothy Gem discovered the flower on his bedroom windowsill. He touched it and became the supreme ruler of the Earth.

Future Tetsu

Future Jerry

By Cienna, age 8

By Jerry C., age 10

In the future, my best friend Tetsu’s face will be wrinkly, and his hair will be really, really, really, really, really long. In the past, Tetsu had short hair. He ate a carrot three minutes ago. Tetsu and I will live for 1111 years.

6

By Tetsu, age 10

Jerry is my best friend. He is very fun. We met in kindergarten and became best friends. We were in kindergarten to grade 4 together, so we’ve been in the same class for five years! I think in the future, our faces will be wrinkly, we will still be buddies and we might be roomies!

7

first pencil in space

Messages from the Future Mr. Bad

first pencil in space

The Pink-Stained Dragon

By Lili, age 11

Once upon an hour, on May 7, 3004, there was a new teacher in room C201 in the primary building. His name was Mr. Bad. On the first day of Mr. Bad’s career, I was feeling nervous because who would want a teacher named Mr. Bad? Mr. Bad was green with purple spikes running down his back, and he had a big blue wart on the tip of his chin.

On the fifth day, Mr. Bad turned out to be a bad teacher. If we were practising our cursive writing and if we wrote our d less than a quarter of a millimetre, he would send us to the principal’s office.

The twenty-first day of him being our new teacher, he was the one who got sent to the principal’s office, because he had no good reason for us to go to the office.

So then we got a new teacher named Ms. Goofy, and I was not worried about that.

In 2014—five million years ago—the evil pink fireflies ruled the Earth.

In the Kingdom of the Pink Lightning Bugs, the most rare and beautiful flower in the world was harvested and stored in the Royal Garden. This flower could grant power over the world to the one who touched it.

The evil pink fireflies ruled over the Earth for thousands of years until May 15, 2014, when the courageous purple fish of the Kingdom of Purple Tails attacked the evil pink fireflies. This was known as the War of Pink and Purple. In the end, the purple fish defeated the evil pink fireflies. Five days after the war ended, the purple fish returned to their underwater kingdom.

On October 17, 2014, all the humans were released and fifteen-year-old Timothy Gem discovered the flower on his bedroom windowsill. He touched it and became the supreme ruler of the Earth.

Future Tetsu

Future Jerry

By Cienna, age 8

By Jerry C., age 10

In the future, my best friend Tetsu’s face will be wrinkly, and his hair will be really, really, really, really, really long. In the past, Tetsu had short hair. He ate a carrot three minutes ago. Tetsu and I will live for 1111 years.

6

By Tetsu, age 10

Jerry is my best friend. He is very fun. We met in kindergarten and became best friends. We were in kindergarten to grade 4 together, so we’ve been in the same class for five years! I think in the future, our faces will be wrinkly, we will still be buddies and we might be roomies!

7

first pencil in space

WWE, Year 3456

first pencil in space

W e i rd W or l d s

By Robert, age 9

Across North America, WWE is one of the most famous wrestling organizations. But how will it be in the future, say in 3456? Will there be FD (future dimension) projections on giant LED screens?

Will there be holographic screens? Will the actions of the wrestlers create firework images? Will there be flying chairs for the audience? Electronic chairs? The future is now!

A Fourteen-Year-Old Who Knew How to Skateboard

Weird World

By Severin, age 11

In Weird World, everything was weird. The cars had thirteen really small wheels and two big ones. The buildings were all either curvy or spherical. The people all wore flip-flops with red socks, t-shirts and green shorts. The people’s heads were on backwards and their skin was green. There was one boy who was weirder than every body else. His name was Sam. He wore blue jeans, a white tank top and Converse runners. His skin was blue. His parents were so proud because their son was the weirdest. He became the king of Weird World. He changed people’s style and put their heads on right. Everybody loved Sam!

By Brayden, age 8

Blobman

Once upon a time there was a fourteen-year-old who knew how to skateboard. He went to Strathcona Skatepark. He learned how to hardflip, 360 flip, tre flip, laser flip, varial kickflip, quad kickflip and varial heelflip. He won a new skateboard, and he went to the Plaza to set up his skateboard, where he met Nyjah Huston, Ryan Sheckler, Mike Mo Capaldi, Sean Malto and Cory Kennedy. They had a skateboarding contest and he won $1900.75. He came in first place, and then he went home and played with his Xbox Skate 3.

The Blobman comes from the pipe. He eats all food. He lives in a world that’s name is the Land of All Blobs. Blobman’s enemy is Evil Blob. They have been enemies for five years. Blob Man is 26 and Evil Blob is 27.

8

9

By Johnny, age 9

first pencil in space

WWE, Year 3456

first pencil in space

W e i rd W or l d s

By Robert, age 9

Across North America, WWE is one of the most famous wrestling organizations. But how will it be in the future, say in 3456? Will there be FD (future dimension) projections on giant LED screens?

Will there be holographic screens? Will the actions of the wrestlers create firework images? Will there be flying chairs for the audience? Electronic chairs? The future is now!

A Fourteen-Year-Old Who Knew How to Skateboard

Weird World

By Severin, age 11

In Weird World, everything was weird. The cars had thirteen really small wheels and two big ones. The buildings were all either curvy or spherical. The people all wore flip-flops with red socks, t-shirts and green shorts. The people’s heads were on backwards and their skin was green. There was one boy who was weirder than every body else. His name was Sam. He wore blue jeans, a white tank top and Converse runners. His skin was blue. His parents were so proud because their son was the weirdest. He became the king of Weird World. He changed people’s style and put their heads on right. Everybody loved Sam!

By Brayden, age 8

Blobman

Once upon a time there was a fourteen-year-old who knew how to skateboard. He went to Strathcona Skatepark. He learned how to hardflip, 360 flip, tre flip, laser flip, varial kickflip, quad kickflip and varial heelflip. He won a new skateboard, and he went to the Plaza to set up his skateboard, where he met Nyjah Huston, Ryan Sheckler, Mike Mo Capaldi, Sean Malto and Cory Kennedy. They had a skateboarding contest and he won $1900.75. He came in first place, and then he went home and played with his Xbox Skate 3.

The Blobman comes from the pipe. He eats all food. He lives in a world that’s name is the Land of All Blobs. Blobman’s enemy is Evil Blob. They have been enemies for five years. Blob Man is 26 and Evil Blob is 27.

8

9

By Johnny, age 9

first pencil in space

first pencil in space

My World

Loompa Soompa Doompa Croompa Shroompa Land

By Samarah, age 5

What is your world called?

My world is called the North Pole.

List two of the laws in your world.

Only grown-ups allowed. No kids.

What do the things that live in your world eat?

They eat bugs.

What do they like to do?

They crawl.

How do they travel from place to place?

They fly.

What is the weather like?

It is cloudy.

What is the most famous thing that exists in your world?

A butterfly.

What is the most important thing that people from other worlds should know about your world?

Everything is bugs.

Planet Bob

By Dylan, age 7

One day I crash-landed. It was on the planet Bob. All the people were green skinned and had one eye and crazy hair.

They were aliens.

10

By Esmée, age 11

Once upon a time, there was a person named Zoompa Boompa.

He was an Oompa Loompa and his friends were Bloompa, Doompa, Kroompa, Soompa, Troompa, Choompa, Gloompa, Doompa, Shmoompa, Poompa, Joompa and Roompa Shroompa. His friends all worked in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. They all ate chocolate for the rest of their lives and lived happily ever after in Loompa Soompa Doompa Croompa Shroompa Land.

The Mad Wizard

By Carter, age 8

Once upon a time, there was a crumb and a wizard found it. He was very mad! The wizard was so mad that he enchanted it. The crumb flew away and the wizard was happy again.

Big Eyes

By Legend, age 8

Once there was a clown with big eyes. He had a pet with a long nose, and a big friend. They ate popcorn and pop. For fun, they played cards. They lived on the street together in a home that they made against someone’s window.

11

first pencil in space

first pencil in space

My World

Loompa Soompa Doompa Croompa Shroompa Land

By Samarah, age 5

What is your world called?

My world is called the North Pole.

List two of the laws in your world.

Only grown-ups allowed. No kids.

What do the things that live in your world eat?

They eat bugs.

What do they like to do?

They crawl.

How do they travel from place to place?

They fly.

What is the weather like?

It is cloudy.

What is the most famous thing that exists in your world?

A butterfly.

What is the most important thing that people from other worlds should know about your world?

Everything is bugs.

Planet Bob

By Dylan, age 7

One day I crash-landed. It was on the planet Bob. All the people were green skinned and had one eye and crazy hair.

They were aliens.

10

By Esmée, age 11

Once upon a time, there was a person named Zoompa Boompa.

He was an Oompa Loompa and his friends were Bloompa, Doompa, Kroompa, Soompa, Troompa, Choompa, Gloompa, Doompa, Shmoompa, Poompa, Joompa and Roompa Shroompa. His friends all worked in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. They all ate chocolate for the rest of their lives and lived happily ever after in Loompa Soompa Doompa Croompa Shroompa Land.

The Mad Wizard

By Carter, age 8

Once upon a time, there was a crumb and a wizard found it. He was very mad! The wizard was so mad that he enchanted it. The crumb flew away and the wizard was happy again.

Big Eyes

By Legend, age 8

Once there was a clown with big eyes. He had a pet with a long nose, and a big friend. They ate popcorn and pop. For fun, they played cards. They lived on the street together in a home that they made against someone’s window.

11

first pencil in space

S o rt a S c i e n c e The Lab Rings!

first pencil in space

Bubachuba, Numna, Shelby

By Alex, age 8

OK, so Mike was sleeping, right? He woke up and found two bagels on his book and he remembered right away—his dad was gone! His dad always gave him bagels for breakfast.

He noticed a hole outside, so he wanted to check it out. He got into the hole and fell to a lab.

He saw his dad’s picture there. He said, “Wow, this place is awesome.”

He found another room that said Ring. He found a golden ring and the door opened. He saw his dad?!

His dad had a ring that was silver. He turned around and gave him a hug.

Then they started battling a monster. They combined both rings and killed the monster. Then they journeyed on.

Their goal was to beat the ultimate Ring God, but he had a ring sword so they battled on. They reached the Ring Tower. They found the God and he almost blinded them. His body was filled with gems and his ring sword was so shiny you couldn’t see the blade.

They both said, “Lez go!” and then combined their rings and also the mum’s ring to make it stronger. Bam! It defeated the God. They got a note that said, “Go to the end and you will be back home.” They made it home!

One day Shelby was in a lab. This was a blood and DNA lab.

Shelby saw some unique creatures there. One was just a clump of slime, and the other, a ball of fluff.

Just as Shelby was about to say hello, she saw a scientist injecting needles into the creatures. Shelby thought this was mean, so Shelby broke his glass tube and broke the other tubes.

Then the clump of slime said, “He ha Bubachuba!”

Soon they were out in the woods.

Shelby said, “Uhh. . . Should we introduce ourselves?”

“Yeah!”

“Oooohhhh not as interesting.”

“Uhh. . . I’m Shelby, and you?”

“Bubachuba!”

“Uhh, OK. . . You?” “Numna.”

“OK, so why?”

“I don’t know.”

Meanwhile. . . “Where’s Bubachuba?”

“I don’t know.”

“Up here.”

Shelby looked up a building.

“Hello.”

“Hi, come down.”

“OK, now. . . eat some cake!”

Splat.

12

13

By Kevin, age 11

first pencil in space

S o rt a S c i e n c e The Lab Rings!

first pencil in space

Bubachuba, Numna, Shelby

By Alex, age 8

OK, so Mike was sleeping, right? He woke up and found two bagels on his book and he remembered right away—his dad was gone! His dad always gave him bagels for breakfast.

He noticed a hole outside, so he wanted to check it out. He got into the hole and fell to a lab.

He saw his dad’s picture there. He said, “Wow, this place is awesome.”

He found another room that said Ring. He found a golden ring and the door opened. He saw his dad?!

His dad had a ring that was silver. He turned around and gave him a hug.

Then they started battling a monster. They combined both rings and killed the monster. Then they journeyed on.

Their goal was to beat the ultimate Ring God, but he had a ring sword so they battled on. They reached the Ring Tower. They found the God and he almost blinded them. His body was filled with gems and his ring sword was so shiny you couldn’t see the blade.

They both said, “Lez go!” and then combined their rings and also the mum’s ring to make it stronger. Bam! It defeated the God. They got a note that said, “Go to the end and you will be back home.” They made it home!

One day Shelby was in a lab. This was a blood and DNA lab.

Shelby saw some unique creatures there. One was just a clump of slime, and the other, a ball of fluff.

Just as Shelby was about to say hello, she saw a scientist injecting needles into the creatures. Shelby thought this was mean, so Shelby broke his glass tube and broke the other tubes.

Then the clump of slime said, “He ha Bubachuba!”

Soon they were out in the woods.

Shelby said, “Uhh. . . Should we introduce ourselves?”

“Yeah!”

“Oooohhhh not as interesting.”

“Uhh. . . I’m Shelby, and you?”

“Bubachuba!”

“Uhh, OK. . . You?” “Numna.”

“OK, so why?”

“I don’t know.”

Meanwhile. . . “Where’s Bubachuba?”

“I don’t know.”

“Up here.”

Shelby looked up a building.

“Hello.”

“Hi, come down.”

“OK, now. . . eat some cake!”

Splat.

12

13

By Kevin, age 11

first pencil in space

How I Got a Million Dollars

By Quinten, age 12

This is how I got a million dollars. Jen gave it to me. . . She’s rich, okay?

Well, even more than rich. I keep the money in my pocket, and with it, I will grow a money tree. Don don don. Stop, you’re scaring me.

What Is Snow?

By Hendrix, age 9

Snow is little white sand that falls down from a tropical island in the sky. When it snows, the tropical island is dropping the white sand. When the snow is on the ground, it turns into water. Then the snow goes back up to the tropical island in the sky because Harry Potter uses his magic.

14

first pencil in space

What Snow Is

By Emma, age 9

Hippies are playing Minecraft in the clouds. Rocks fall on them and their iPods. They get sucked back to the clouds if they fall out.

When they fall, that is snow. They go to the washroom and that is also snow. That is why I don’t like snow.

Tiny Assassins in the Clouds

By Dragon, age 10

My theory is that there are tiny assassins who live in the clouds and will come to Earth to capture and freeze humans back into the clouds. The humans will fall from the clouds and shatter into a million pieces.

15

first pencil in space

How I Got a Million Dollars

By Quinten, age 12

This is how I got a million dollars. Jen gave it to me. . . She’s rich, okay?

Well, even more than rich. I keep the money in my pocket, and with it, I will grow a money tree. Don don don. Stop, you’re scaring me.

What Is Snow?

By Hendrix, age 9

Snow is little white sand that falls down from a tropical island in the sky. When it snows, the tropical island is dropping the white sand. When the snow is on the ground, it turns into water. Then the snow goes back up to the tropical island in the sky because Harry Potter uses his magic.

14

first pencil in space

What Snow Is

By Emma, age 9

Hippies are playing Minecraft in the clouds. Rocks fall on them and their iPods. They get sucked back to the clouds if they fall out.

When they fall, that is snow. They go to the washroom and that is also snow. That is why I don’t like snow.

Tiny Assassins in the Clouds

By Dragon, age 10

My theory is that there are tiny assassins who live in the clouds and will come to Earth to capture and freeze humans back into the clouds. The humans will fall from the clouds and shatter into a million pieces.

15

first pencil in space

first pencil in space

Mixed Media Apple

By Saskia, age 9

To watch Saskia’s amazing stop-motion movie and more videos by young Writers’ Exchange filmmakers, visit youtube.com/vancouverWE

Riddles

By Reegan, age 9 1. What runs but never walks?

2. Why did the pirate get his ears pierced?

3. What has two eyes but cannot see?

By Clara, age 11

The moment when My life began, When I started to Stand And. . . and. . . and. . .

Well, it’s a long story.

It’s hard to tell the whole Story now that I’m 11 But I’ll try. . .

So where was I? The moment when my Life began. . .

Uhhh. . . umm.

I don’t remember what I did. It’s such a Long story and I’m too Lazy to start it.

I’m not like those people Who like to talk All day about their lives.

Blah blah blah.

OK. I’m just going to change the subject.

Answers: 1. A river 2. Because it was a buck an ear 3. An icicle

Life Is Just. . .

16

17

first pencil in space

first pencil in space

Mixed Media Apple

By Saskia, age 9

To watch Saskia’s amazing stop-motion movie and more videos by young Writers’ Exchange filmmakers, visit youtube.com/vancouverWE

Riddles

By Reegan, age 9 1. What runs but never walks?

2. Why did the pirate get his ears pierced?

3. What has two eyes but cannot see?

By Clara, age 11

The moment when My life began, When I started to Stand And. . . and. . . and. . .

Well, it’s a long story.

It’s hard to tell the whole Story now that I’m 11 But I’ll try. . .

So where was I? The moment when my Life began. . .

Uhhh. . . umm.

I don’t remember what I did. It’s such a Long story and I’m too Lazy to start it.

I’m not like those people Who like to talk All day about their lives.

Blah blah blah.

OK. I’m just going to change the subject.

Answers: 1. A river 2. Because it was a buck an ear 3. An icicle

Life Is Just. . .

16

17

first pencil in space

first pencil in space

Illusions

By Ombú, age 10

My name is Ombú and I love illusions. If you don’t know what an illusion is, it’s a thing that tricks your brain into seeing something it’s not.

This is an illusion: Duck or rabbit? (Look upside down if you don’t know what I mean.)

If you look carefully, the sticks sticking out can be a duck’s beak or a rabbit’s ears.

By Jerry D., age 11

18

19

first pencil in space

first pencil in space

Illusions

By Ombú, age 10

My name is Ombú and I love illusions. If you don’t know what an illusion is, it’s a thing that tricks your brain into seeing something it’s not.

This is an illusion: Duck or rabbit? (Look upside down if you don’t know what I mean.)

If you look carefully, the sticks sticking out can be a duck’s beak or a rabbit’s ears.

By Jerry D., age 11

18

19

HEY, GU YS!

As an author of a Writers’ Exchange book, you are invited to sign up for our FREE summer programs at the Writers’ Exchange home base at 881 East Hastings Street.

We run programs for kids in grades 1 to 3, 4 to 7, and 8 to 12.

For more information, ask Jennifer for a signup sheet, call her at 604-428-8228 or go to vancouverWE.com.

Copyright © 2014 The Writers’ Exchange This chapbook is a collection of the kids’ favourite writing and art that they created in the Writers’ Exchange after-school programs during the winter and spring of 2014.

The Writers’ Exchange makes literacy exciting and accessible for inner-city kids through free mentoring and creative writing projects like this chapbook. All Writers’ Exchange programs are free for the children and families we serve, so we could not exist without the support of generous donors, including Bernard MacLeod, Megan Abbott, Marily Mearns, the Vancouver Foundation, Nancy and Ted Maitland, TELUS, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union, the Central City Foundation, Lindsay Mearns, Claudia Casper and James Griffin, The Home Depot Canada Foundation and the Hamber Foundation. Thank you. And thank you to the amazing volunteer mentors who work with the kids in all Writers’ Exchange programs so that each child can succeed to the best of his or her ability.

881 East Hastings Vancouver, BC V6A 1R8 To read more great student writing, visit vancouverWE.com and our student blog, wewritersland.wordpress.com.

Editorial support by Andie Design and layout by Claire Balderston, clairebalderston.com project of

Coast Capital Savings Credit Union supports after-school programs at the Writers’ Exchange.

Printing for this chapbook was generously donated by Hemlock.

THANKS!

Thanks to the 36 fanta stic volunteer mentors who helped with the Writers‘ Exchange 2013/14 a fter-school program: Andie, Annie, Bára, Brittany, Bryan, Caitlin, Charlotte, Colleen, Courtney, Dylan, Gloria, Grant, Ivy, Janse, John, Karolina, Kyla, Laura, Linn, Liz, Manpreet, Melissa, Michelle, Molly, Napasorn, Patrick, Patty, Prabhi, Rachel, Rosalinda, Sam, Sara, Stacey, Steffi, Teghan and Tera

First Pencil in Space Adventures from the Writers’ Exchange [ g N.. g X -Þ i 1 @