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I Heard A Song, by Imogen Hartland in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Colt Price for sharing his story, "The Chase," which was inspired by the illustration, I Heard a Song, by Imogen Hartland. Once upon a time there was a boy named Berry who decided to go on a cruise. When he got on the boat it started to sail away, but he didn't have time to give security his ticket. So security was after him, and  he dropped his ticket in the ocean. He had to escape. Berry soon realized that he had to get off the ship. "How am I going to get off?" he thought.  He ran to the top deck as fast as a cheetah. Berry saw a rock next to a lighthouse. He didn't have a choice so he got ready to jump. "Stop," yelled a pesky security guard."Just show me your ticket and you won't go to jail." "Well,"said Berry,"what's that?" He pointed. While the security guard was distracted, Berry jumped. The security guard turned around. "Where'd you go?" the guard wondered. While the security guard thought for a little bit, Berry swam vigorously to the rock. Once he got there he went in the light house. He found some fish to eat. It would last about two days, but he might be there for a lot longer. He had to find a way to shore and fast. He started to explore and eventually found some sticks. He made friction and started a fire so he could sleep and cook the fish. The next morning a boat came by, but they didn't let him on. He just ate and started exploring again. Berry found a rope and hook. He got an idea. He started to tie the hook to the rope. It turned night, but he didn't sleep. Soon that same boat came by. He threw the hook with the rope still attached. The hook landed on the boat. Berry pulled the rope and hooked it to the boat. He tied the rope to the lighthouse and walked across. Once he made it to the boat he unhooked the boat so it could go. He got to shore, he ran home, and he stayed there a while. Eventually the security forgot about him, so he didn't have to face a consequence for not giving them his ticket. Colt Price is 9 years old. He likes to play video games and soccer. He is a Christian. There are four people in his family. His sister does cheer and his dad works for a freight liner company. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? The fact that he was stranded in the middle of no where stood out to me in the illustration I chose to write about. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? My favorite author is Chip Jett, and my favorite book is The Secret of the Old Mill. What is your favorite topic to study in school? My favorite topic to study in school is math. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? The most interesting thing I learned recently is the story of D.B Cooper. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I am currently reading a Hardy Boys book called The House on the Cliff.

flower and fairies, by Annette Hashitate in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Joanna Turner for sharing her story, "The Flower" which was inspired by the illustration, flower and fairies by Annette Hshitate. One spring day in a forest with the most beautiful flowers, a little fairy named Lily went for a walk. She saw a beautiful flower and decided to sit on it for a bit. She heard someone in the distance so she hid. She saw someone but they weren't like her. He didn't have wings. "Hello, what are you?" "Hello. I'm a human. My name is Luke. What are you?" Luke asked. "My name is Lily. I'm a fairy," she said. "That's a pretty name," he said. "Thank you," Lily said. They talked for hours and then Luke asked, "What's it like being a fairy?" "We get to fly and do magic," she said. "We?" he asked. "Oh there's a bunch of us, "she said. "Where?" Luke asked curiously "I can't say," Lily said.     "Why?" he asked. "I just can't," she said. "Oh ok," he said sadly. Then Luke had to go. So Lily went home. The next morning, Lily woke up bright and early. She went to Luke's house but no one was there. Then she saw a note that said, "I'm sorry I had to move. Maybe we'll find each other." Lily went home and cried. She didn't go to school. She went and sat on the flower where she and Luke had met and talked to herself. "Why did you have to move?" she said to herself. "Why couldn't you stay?" she asked. Then she heard someone. "Luke?" she whispered. "I'm here! I had to run here, my mom said I could stay at our old house," Luke said. "I'm glad. Why did you have to move anyway?" she said. "My mom got a new job where I was going to move," he said. "Oh that makes sense. So you're staying?" Lily said. "Yeah, I'm staying," Luke said. "How?" Lily said.  "A kind person at the thrift store let me work there. So I have money for food and clothes," he said happily.                                                "Why did your mom get a new job?" Lily said. "I don't know but she likes it better than the old one,” Luke said. "I'm just glad she let you stay here,” Lily said. "Same,'' Luke said. Joanna Turner is 9 years old and in 3rd grade. She loves to read and her favorite book is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban . She loves animals and has a cat and a dog. She also has two older brothers, one is 12 and the other is 17. If she could travel anywhere in the world it would be Hawaii. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? The fairy,and the boy sparked my idea. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? I'm not really into comics. What is your favorite topic to study in school? Math or writing. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? Everybody thought the Titanic couldn't sink but it did,because the men didn't do what they were told like usual. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I'm reading The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn. Yes I do recommend this.

Saguaro Bird, by Jess Burbank in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Matthew Lau for sharing his story, " The Heroic Roadrunner, " which was inspired by the illustration, Saguaro Bird by Jess Burbank. There once was a roadrunner that lived in a very pretty cactus. The roadrunner's name was Rooper. His friends and family laughed at him and made fun of him for living in a cactus. Only sister and brother didn't. They said they were a family so they would always be with each other and work together. One day they encountered a sandstorm. Everyone was running, but Rooper didn't. Everybody yelled, "Rooper get over here!" But it was too late. The sandstorm consumed the cactus he was in. They came back to their houses. They were surprised that he survived. His sister recalled he survived a less dangerous sandstorm, but they all thought he was lucky. Now they all started living in cacti. Rooper's cactus was in the middle. One day a brawny sandstorm came and knocked down all the cacti except Rooper's. People think his cactus is legendary, but others think he is lucky all the time. Matthew Lau is 8 and in 3rd grade. He likes going ATV-ing and fishing. He would want to go to Maine if he could travel anywhere in the world. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? It stood out to me because It gave me an idea for a good story. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? I don't have a favorite. What is your favorite topic to study in school? I like Math and reading,but If I had to pick It would be Math. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? I can't think of anything interesting I learned recently. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I most recently read I Survived the Children's Blizzard . I'm trying to read the whole series,and I recommend both the book and the series.

Spring Jig, by Kathryn Powers in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Leonor Mitchell for sharing her poem, " Flower Garden, " which was inspired by the illustration, Spring Jig by Kathryn Powers. We are also excited to feature two illustrations from Leonor for our Inspired by Illustrations series. We hope you will use these illustrations as creative sparks to craft new poems and stories. We encourage you to share your drafts, brainstorms, or reactions to the featured artwork in the comments below. Thank you to Leonor for sharing her artwork with Little Thoughts Press! Love is for everyday. Go grow! Love and grow. We need to go, go grow! Go Love. Magical Forest in glitter Curly Rose in metallic Leonor Mitchell , aged 6, works hard on writing songs. She likes the colours purple and orange (for now). She considered herself a nature girl. When she grows up, she wants to become an engineer. Leonor lives in England with her Daddy, Mummy and sister.

The Bone Witch, by Jessie Lehson, in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Connor Streetman for sharing his story, " The Scariest Dream, " which was inspired by the illustration, The Bone Witch by Jessie Lehson. In the middle of the forest there was a house made out of animal bones! There lived an old lady. Outside for some reason she had a dead rat tied to a string. The old lady came out with a wooden stick but this was unexpected because it was the middle of the night, but she came outside to look for more animal bones because the bone house wasn't finished yet. But she also had a bone of an animal's head. But she needed more than one bone to finish the bone house. She needed a lot more bones, but she encountered another human. The old lady said, “Who are you?” The mysterious person responded, “I am a hunter.” The old lady was a wise old lady. She responded, “No you’re not.” Then out of nowhere the hunter ran into the deep dark woods, but the old lady wanted to find out who he really was so badly that she followed him. So the old lady went into the woods and she looked for him but she couldn’t find him. She called out, “Where are you!” The hunter didn't come now, but the old lady was desperate to find him. She yelled again but this time even louder, “Where are you!” Now her voice hurt, so she went deeper into the woods. She found him and they went back to the bone house to get warm and eat. Conor Streetman is 9 years old and currently in 3rd grade. He loves to read, write, sleep, and play games. The places he would like to go in the future are Japan or Hawaii. He likes football and basketball. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? I chose the picture because it gave me inspiration for my story. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? My favorite book author probably has to be Jeff Kinney for his Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. What is your favorite topic to study in school? My favorite topic is probably science. Even though we barely do it, it is still fun to learn how things happen and the cause of it. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? I think it has to be the D.B. Cooper mystery. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I would recommend this book to others and it is called The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn.

flower and fairies, by Annette Hashitate in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Adaline Turmaud for sharing her story, " Lizzie’s Way Home with the Three Magic Fairies, " which was inspired by the illustration, flower and fairies by Annette Hshitate. One day, six-year-old Lizzie goes on a walk in the forest to pick berries with her parents and ten-year-old sister Rosie. As she is picking berries, her family walks ahead without Lizzie knowing. Lizzie looks up to see her family is gone! Lizzie has never been lost in her whole entire life (that she can remember)! Lizzie walks into the forest and looks around for her family. Then all the sudden, she sees her three fairy friends Alina, Cherryma, and Candle! Alina sees that Lizzie is sad because she can’t find her family and tells her, “I have to solve problems like this all the time. I can help you solve your problem of being lost!” Alina pulls out her wand and spins it in circles. This teleports all of them to the Creative Map Maker. The Creative Map Maker is a place where fairies work to make maps that can help kids who get lost in the forest. On the wall, they see pictures of all the kids in the world. The fairies make a map for each child in case they get lost and put a check mark by their picture when the map is ready for their fairy friends to give to them (like Lizzie’s fairy friends are doing for her). Alina sees her friend Sarah and asks her to help them find the map that was made for Lizzie. They all go together and look in the big basket of maps that the fairies have made. The maps are all in different colors and have the children’s names on the top of them. As they are looking in the basket, Candle finds Lizzie’s map! On Lizzie’s map they find the secret code they need to teleport Lizzie home. The code is 9229—the number of Lizzie’s house. With their wands, Alina, Cherryma, and Candle write 9229 in the air. WHOOSH! They are all teleported to Lizzie’s house! When she gets there, Lizzie hugs her parents, her sister, and her dog very tightly! Lizzie feels excited and happy to be home with her family. Lizzie says bye to her fairy friends and says, “Thank you and I hope I’ll see you soon!” Lizzie then goes inside with her family where they all cuddle, read books, and drink warm hot cocoa together. Adaline   Turmaud is 6 years old. Adaline is French-American. Adaline likes camping, traveling, dance (hip hop in particular! She does hip hop competitions!), drawing, and sparkles. Her favorite colors are pink, purple, green, red, yellow, aqua, and white. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? This story stood out to me because I like fairies! I thought of the story because the girl is in a forest and with the look on her face she looks lost.  Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? My favorite picture books are High Five by Adam Rubin and The Book that Can Read Your Mind by Marianna Coppo! My favorite singing artists are Sia and Ava Max.  What is your favorite topic to study in school? Monarch Butterflies What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? That the cocoon of a Monarch Butterfly is called a chrysalis.  What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I just finished reading Mini Mermaid Tales: The Dolphin Dream by Debbie Dadey. Yes! Other kids should read it!

Saguaro Bird, by Jess Burbank. in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Lowell Biller for sharing his story, "The Shrimp," which was inspired by the illustration, Saguaro Bird, by Jess Burbank. Once upon a time, there was a cactus who was friends with a bird, and right now they are fighting a big shrimp.  “Shoot your spikes at it!” said Birdy.  “Okay, Birdy!” POKE! “We beat it, Cactus,” said Birdy. “Now let's eat cake and celebrate that we—oh no!” “We what?” “Look behind you, he’s still alive!”  “Wait, that’s a different shrimp!”    “And it is super fierce,” said Cactus. “Look out!”    The shrimp whacked Birdy with its foot.  BAM! “Oh no!” said Cactus. “Your wing got injured by the shrimp. Let’s get home, Birdy.”  They ran super fast to their house and they locked the door. “Phew,” said Cactus. “I have some tools to fix your wing.” “Oh no, he’s gonna destroy our home!” said Birdy.  BAM! “Don’t worry, I built another house that is more secret than this house,” said Cactus.  “Let’s go to the house!” said Birdy.  Birdy went inside Cactus’s hole. It was very cozy. They ran to the secret house. “We made it,” said Cactus. “I don’t have any more spikes.” Birdy poked his head out of the hole. “I can’t see anything,” said Birdy.  “Don’t worry, Birdy. I found the light switch.” “Phew,” said Birdy.  And then Cactus found some tools to fix Birdy’s wing. “Isn’t that great, Birdy?” said Cactus. “Yep,” said Birdy.  THE END Lowell Biller is a first grade student. He's seven years old, and he likes reptiles, video games, movies, pugs, baking treats, eating treats, Ghostbusters , and Minecraft . Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? I like cactuses! I liked how the bird lived inside the cactus. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? I like the books I make! I also like the Battle Bugs series. What is your favorite topic to study in school? Science! What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? I learned what congruent means! What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? Battle Bugs # 5, The Cobra Clash . I would recommend it!

Fire Dragon, by Finn J. in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Ellis Biller for sharing his story, "The Dragon," which was inspired by the illustration, Fire Dragon, by Finn J. Once upon a time, there was a small village. It was a nice place. But then, the villagers realize that every night, one sheep disappears. The villagers decide to have one of them stay up all night and watch the sheep to see what happens.  When the villager named Bob watches the sheep, he gasps when he hears a loud, whooshing sound. To his terror, he sees an enormous dragon land on the ground near the pen where the villagers keep the sheep. The beast is red and scaly with a forked tongue. When it breathes, small sparks fly out of its mouth, giving Bob a hint that the dragon breathes fire. The dragon lifts up a leg, which shows Bob long, sharp claws.  The dragon grabs the sheep with its claws and takes to the air, slowly flying away towards a cave in a mountain. Bob steps backwards to turn around, but he steps on a twig, which makes a loud snap! Even from a few yards away, the dragon's head jerks around to face in Bob's direction. The creature drops the sheep, and flies directly towards Bob!  Bob runs and alerts the villagers! The warriors grab their weapons and run towards the dragon! But the dragon lands and swats them back with its large wing. Then the dragon lumbers through the village. It breathes fire on one house, then steps on another. The people who live inside run out of their homes just in time!  The warriors get back up and run at the dragon once more. The dragon slices its wing at them, but one warrior slides under the wing and stabs the dragon’s leg.  The dragon roars in pain, then grabs the warrior and flings him far. It looks like a devastating blow, but the warrior lands in a lake and survives because the water breaks his fall. The other warriors grab spears, bows, and arrows and attack again. One spear flies through the air and hits one of the dragon’s horns and breaks it off. The dragon is forced back to the mountain by a rain of spears. Most just bounce off its tough red scales, but a few of them hit the dragon’s wing, letting the beast not be able to fly.  The dragon climbs back into its cave. The warriors follow. All except one of them wait before entering. The dragon knocks a large rock from its cave down the mountain. It hits the one warrior, and he falls all the way down the mountain.  The dragon thinks that it was only the one warrior who came, so it comes back out of its cave.   “Charge!”  All the warriors jump out at the beast and shoot about thirty-five arrows at it.  ROAR! It roars in pain and retreats into a side tunnel.  “How do we stop this beast for good?” the warriors think. “It will just come back out.”   But then the warriors get an idea. On the mountain there is a large heavy rock. They roll it to the mouth of the cave. It is so heavy the warriors need to call all the villagers to help them roll the stone. They hear the dragon come to the mouth of the cave. It tries to push the rock out of the way, but it doesn't work. No matter what the dragon tries, the rock stays put. The monster is trapped for good. All the people of the village have a large party to celebrate. Ellis Biller is a fourth grader who is ten years old. He likes Ghostbusters , monsters and dragons, reptiles, mythology, Minecraft , video games, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? I really liked the dragon. I like monsters, and I like writing about them! Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? I like graphic novels, including the Power Rangers graphic novels.  What is your favorite topic to study in school? I like the Advanced Learning class at my school. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? I learned that people don’t know where the word “pug” (for the dog breed) came from. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I have been reading the Nnewts series. I do recommend it!

Colors Galore, by Charlotte M. Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to extend our Inspired by Illustrations series to feature illustrations by young artists who submitted their work to Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure. We hope you will use these illustrations as creative sparks to craft new poems and stories. We encourage you to share your drafts, brainstorms, or reactions to the featured artwork in the comments below. Thank you to Charlotte M. for sharing her artwork with Little Thoughts Press! Please enjoy this interview with Charlotte where she shares a bit about her artistic interests, book recommendations and more! Charlotte M. is 9 years old and enjoys being creative in everything, especially drawing and painting. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your illustration? What made you choose this subject? What story do you imagine your artwork is telling? When I was little, I loved to draw and use my imagination with everything. When I put these colors on a page, I ended up seeing a woman in the art. Colors can make anything you imagine - I think the story my artwork is telling is don’t be afraid to take a chance on throwing colors on a paper and seeing what happens. What is your favorite thing to draw? How does creating art make you feel? I like drawing portraits of myself and my future style. It helps me to relax when I have big feelings. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? I love the illustrations in The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels, and Dork Diaries . What is your favorite topic to study in school? History, art, and writing. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? I learned that airplanes can’t fly into space because there is no air in space.  What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? Dork Diaries and The Baby-Sitters Club - I would recommend both!

I Heard A Song, by Imogen Hartland in Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories a work of art can inspire. We're excited to feature stories and poetry by young writers who submitted their work for this theme. Thank you to Nathan Boatright for sharing his story, "Thoughts," which was inspired by the illustration, I Heard a Song, by Imogen Hartland. My mom makes me do everything! She makes so mad it makes me want to run away and never come back. To get it off my mind, me and my friends went for a walk. Out of nowhere I had a thought. What would it be like I lived on a rock? Would it be peaceful? I went home and thought nothing about it. When I woke up I was on a rock stranded in the middle of the ocean! It was horrendous! As days passed I saw millions of boats but none of them stopped for me. I had to consume raw fish, and soon I got delirious and fell off the rock. I screamed, “Help!” But no one answered. Until I heard a sound. It was a dolphin. It helped me get back on the rock, and it swam to the bottom of the ocean, and brought me a drone that was sealed in a bag. To my surprise there was no water in the bag, but it had no controller. So I went to sleep, and when I woke up I looked beside me. I saw the controller to the drone, and batteries. I flew it up in the air. It looked so high it could touch the top of Mount Everest! It took about one hour for somebody to see it. I got picked up by a rescue boat and got sent back home. It took about two days to get home, but I got home safely and was reunited with my family. I told my mom sorry. She forgave me. Until this day it haunts me, but I live a happy life now. Nathan Boatright is nine years old. His favorite food is pizza and favorite dessert is yogurt. If he could go anywhere it would Japan. Our Ekphrasis Adventure issue is about using visual art as inspiration for poetry and storytelling. Can you tell us about what stood out to you in the illustration you chose to write about? What in the image sparked the idea for your story? I started out with the t-rex,but I decided to do the boy on the rock. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? I would love to shout out R.L Stine.  What is your favorite topic to study in school? My favorite topic to study is math. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? The most interesting thing I have learned is what interrogative means. What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? The book I was reading was a Goosebumps  book. It was called Be Careful What You Wish For .

Choo Choo Ride, by Emery L. Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure is an appreciation of artwork and the poetry and stories art can inspire. We're excited to extend our Inspired by Illustrations series to feature illustrations by young artists who submitted their work to Issue 10: An Ekphrasis Adventure. We hope you will use these illustrations as creative sparks to craft new poems and stories. We encourage you to share your drafts, brainstorms, or reactions to the featured artwork in the comments below. Thank you to Emery L. for sharing her artwork with Little Thoughts Press! Please enjoy this interview with Emery where she shares a bit about her artistic interests, book recommendations and more! Emery is 5 years old and aspires to be an illustrator when she grows up. She loves drawing and playing with her toys and friends. What is your favorite thing to draw? How does creating art make you feel? I like drawing cats and bunnies. Drawing makes me happy. Do you have a favorite artist, or a picture book, comic, or graphic novel that you love and want to shout out? Carina Felina by Carmen Agra Deedy and Little Dog Lost by Monica Carmelo are my favorite picture books right now. What is your favorite topic to study in school? My favorite subjects in school are P.E. and art. What is the most interesting thing you recently learned? The most interesting thing I learned about recently was soldiers.  What book are you currently reading or read most recently? Would you recommend this book to other readers? I read Little Dog Lost a lot. I would recommend it. I love it!

A photograph of Little Thoughts Press Issue Nine: Go Wild featuring the story "Save the Polar Bears" by Sarah Atherton. Sarah Atherton’s debut picture book, Bella’s Butterflies , was published by Sage’s Tower Publishing in June 2021. She has been featured in her local newspaper and on the Reading With Your Kids podcast. Sarah won the #KidlitChuckleChallenge 2024 and the #SpringflingKidlit contest 2023. Sarah was a picture book mentor for the WriteMentor Summer Mentoring Programme 2023. She lives in England and works as a special educational needs coordinator in a primary school. Sarah loves cats, coffee, and wildlife. Little Thoughts Press: I have such a fondness for stories that use epistolary elements. The Jolly Postman was one of my favorite books growing up. In your story “Save the Polar Bears,” a kid, Grace, learns that polar bears are in danger of extinction and sends a letter to the Arctic asking the polar bears how she can help save them. Can you talk about why you chose letter writing as a framework for this story? There’s a lovely little twist at the end. Did you have that idea in mind from the start or did it develop as the rest of the story came together? Sarah Atherton: I chose letter writing as a framework for "Save the Polar Bears" because I wanted to get inside the mind of an inquisitive child and I wanted to make the connection possible for long-distance communication. I kind of had the twist in mind from the start because I wanted it to be real. I liked the idea of children perhaps believing that the polar bears were answering Grace’s questions but then wanted it to finish with a touch of reality. Little Thoughts Press: I think, more than ever, it feels important to combat doom about the future by providing young readers with examples of agency and the ability to effect change in the world. “Save the Polar Bears” offers many specific actions kids can take to help protect wildlife and fight climate change, and even the inclusion of letters brings to mind the idea of a letter-writing campaign, which is an accessible way for kids to share their concerns and try to influence policy decisions. In this story, you address climate change and the threat of extinction. In your picture book, Bella’s Butterflies, you write about managing anxiety. These are tough, serious topics. In writing for children, how do you balance tackling difficult and distressing topics with proactive ideas that readers can draw from and utilize in their own lives? How has working with children influenced your approach to writing for a young audience? Sarah Atherton: You’re right – these are tough, serious topics. I think more than ever, we are educating children to be real-life warriors to help with real-life problems. Working in a school, I see first-hand how proactive children can be with a little guidance from adults. Children are remarkably resourceful and they inspire me every day. Little Thoughts Press: Issue 9: Go Wild! is about bringing attention to endangered and vulnerable animal species, and spotlighting conservation efforts that can help protect wildlife and their habitats. First, what is your favorite animal? And second, what are some things that you and your family do to help care for and protect wildlife and the natural world? Sarah Atherton: My favorite animal in the wild is definitely the elephant. They are so playful and they have amazing strength. My family and I are all members of a zoo near to where we live and by being members we are helping to fund wildlife conservation. We are also National Trust members which is Europe’s largest conservation charity. Little Thoughts Press: How did you get started writing kid-lit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for kids? Sarah Atherton: I have always enjoyed writing. In 2018, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I started writing for children as a distraction to what I was going through. The most challenging thing about writing for kids is standing out from the rest – there are so many great books for children out there, almost everything has been done before so you have to find a way to be different. What I find most rewarding is the pure enjoyment of coming up with an idea and then seeing the reaction of my critique group. Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Sarah Atherton: Oh my goodness, I had so many favorites! I was (and still am) a real bookworm. I loved Dr Seuss, Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton and Roger Hargreaves, author of the Mr Men series. Little Thoughts Press: And what about today? Any kid-lit writers you love and want to shout out? Sarah Atherton: I have a huge list of writers I love! Featuring heavily on that list are Mo Willems, Ed Vere, Jeanne Willis and Morag Hood. Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers? Sarah Atherton: I would say, follow your dream and write because you enjoy it. Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Sarah Atherton: I will be a mentor for the 2025 summer mentoring programme organised by Writementor. If you’re reading this and you are a picture book writer, please consider sending me your work. I’d love to hear from you.