Two Fabulous Stories

By Liesl Holford

I am going to write about two crazy stories I read.  I will compare and contrast ” “Dinosaurs Before Dark” by Mary Pope Osborne and “Fortunately The Milk” by Neil Gaiman. There are some similarities in these two unusual stories.Both stories are crazy and cool. First of all, both seem to go back in time. Both stories include dinosaurs. In both stories there is a good dino, professor steg and the pteranodon. In both stories they didn’t expect to time travel.

Although both stories have a lot of similarities, there are specific differences. In “Dinosaurs Before Dark”  Jack and Annie use a tree house to  travel through time. In “Fortunately The Milk” the father uses a hot air balloon to travel through time. In “Dinosaurs Before Dark” they only travel to one time period. In “Fortunately The Milk” he goes to many time periods.  In “Dinosaurs Before Dark” a boy and a girl travel together. In “Fortunately The Milk” only the father travels. In “Dinosaurs Before Dark” it all happens when Annie runs off. “Annie raced alone into the woods. Jack looked at the sky. The sun was about to set. Come on Annie! But Annie had disappeared.” In “Fortunately The Milk” it all happens when aliens take him away. “I heard a strange noise that seemed to be coming from above me. It was a noise like this: thumm thumm. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshal Road.”

In conclusion, both stories were very exciting to read.  I enjoyed the fact that Jack took notes about the dinosaurs and learned a bit. I also like that the dad went through so many things just to his children a breakfast! My favorite was “Fortunately The Milk” because he fought aliens, pirates, indians, a giant volcano, and wumpires! Also he made friends with a talking dinosaur! “You poor children. he said I will walk down to the shop on the corner. I will get the milk.”

Photo Credit:http://www.fieldnotesmagazine.com/laura-gossman/tegu-imaginative-play-and-purposeful-profit/

Operation Save The Environment

By Liesl Holford

The article I will write about is called ” A Toy Company For Change” by Allee Manning.  This article is about a toy company that tried to help people and the environment.

Chris and Will Haughey always wanted to help people and volunteered to help communities. ” As kids, the brothers regularly volunteered to help communities in need.”(Manning) They wanted to help people from Honduras who lived in poverty.” Then in 2006, Chris visited Honduras, a county where more than half the population lives in poverty, oft the second time. He returned home with a plan to help.” (Manning) They decided to make a toy they had seen in Germany but added a modern twist making it magnetic. “The brothers decided to build children’s blocks, drawing inspiration from the traditional wooden toys they discovered on a trip to Germany. Then they set about finding a way to put a modern twist on a classic favorite – by making the wooden blocks magnetic.”(Manning) When they cut down trees the always planted more in return to make it equal. “The company also plants one, two, or three in place of every toy set that is produced.”(Manning)

In conclusion, the Haughey brothers always try to help Earth and it’s people. They will make a big change in the future, people will always respect them.

Two Startacular Stories

By Liesl Holford

I am going to write about two awesome stories I read. I will compare and contrast “The Ballad of Mulan” by Song Nan Zhang and “The Mysterious Giant of Barletta” by Tomie dePaolo.

There are some similarities in these two crazy stories. Both stories are tremendously cool. First of all, Both stories include war. In both stories the people believed in Mulan and the statue of Barletta. Both Mulan and the statue of Barletta wouldn’t give up. Both characters are confident in what they are doing.

Photo Credit: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/mysterious-giant-barletta#cart/cleanup

Photo credit: http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/B253

Although both stories have a lot of similarities, there are specific differences. In “The Ballad of Mulan,” Mulan faught in war. In “The Mysterious Giant of Barletta,” the giant tricked the soldiers. In “The Ballad of Mulan,” Mulan came to war. In “The Mysterious Giant of Barletta,” the war came to Barletta. In “The Ballad of Mulan,” Mulan was prepared for war. In “The Mysterious Giant of Barletta,” the town didn’t even know about the war. In ” The Ballad of Mulan,” Mulan lives in Japan. In “The Mysterious Giant of Barletta,” the giant lives in Barletta Italy.

In conclusion, both stories were very exciting to read. I enjoyed how Mulan took her fathers place in war because he was growing old. I like how Zia Concetta said good night to the giant every night. “…Buona notte, Colosso-good night, Big one.”(297) My favorite was “The Mysterious Giant of Barletta” because the Giant loved the town so much that he actually saved it!

Magic Taco

By Liesl Holford

Photo Credit:
http://beautiful-wallpaperss.blogspot.com/2007/06/beautiful-cartoon-design-wallpapers.html

Once upon a time I was staring at the sky,

Then all a sudden came a taco flying by!

I tried to grab it,

But it just threw a fit.

So I sang it a lullaby,

But he stole my pink hair dye!

I chased him to the barber shop,

But he cut of all my hair on top!

The taco flew to my house,

And stepped on my pet mouse.

So he stopped by farmer Joes,

But then he sprayed me with a hose!

I’ll keep chasing him, I won’t give up now,

The taco ran and made me milk a cow.

He ran into the library,

And made friends with Mister Larry

He’s quite hairy.

That taco and Mister Larry made a rebellion,

They called it the Selion!

I’m still chasing that taco, no way I’ll give up,

No way you’ll distract me old pottery cup!

Now Taco and Larry are terrorizing the city,

Even that poor kitty!

Now all I can do is hope that they stop, and be done,

Today I definitely had enough fun!

Mary Cassatt

By Liesl Holford

Mary was born on May 22, 1844, in Allegheny city.

Mary  went to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts for 4 years.

Mary painted in the style that the Salon encouraged in which it had to be perfectly finished and properly traditional.

In 1868, she exhibited her work in the Salon, which was every painters dream.

Mary loved Paris so she moved their.

When Mary was invited to show her work with the impresionist group, she accepted.

One painting she exhibited was called “The Cup of Tea”.

Mary liked to paint people in natural poses and familiar settings.

Her favorite drawing subject was mothers and their children.

In 1886, she started making prints.

In 1893, Mary was chosen to make a mural, but the mural was lost.

Although she moved to Paris, she still considered herself an American.

As Mary grew older her health and eyesight began to fail.

By 1914, she had stopped painting altogether!

Mary Cassatt was in her 80’s when she died in 1926.

My Trip To Aquatica

By Liesl Holford

Photo Credit:http://newanaheim.com/2013/05/31/aquatica-seaworlds-waterpark-a-unique-summer-experience/

The most fun time in my life was this summer. In August with my brownie troop, Matilda, Dalia, Emma, Aika, Taylor, Annika and some parents went to Aquatica. The morning we went was very, very exciting because this was my very first time going to Aquatica. I got up, I put on my bathing suit, and ate a breakfast of pancakes. But my mom said we were not leaving ’til ten o’clock. When it was time I rushed to the car. My brother wanted to go but he’s not in my troop. We finally arrived at Aquatica! It took a while for the whole troop to arrive. Once we got in, one of the parents got us a cabana! In our cabana there was a refrigerator, fruit, and a locker. First we went on a bunch of enclosed and open air slides. They were really fun! Next we went on ones with floaties you can sit on. Now those were awesome! Then we went to 3 that totally freaked me out, I couldn’t even go on them. One went straight down, the other one was slanted with two big bumps, the third one went straight down too but it was enclosed. The only people brave enough to go were Dalia and Emma, they went on the one with the two big bumps. Then we went on one that could fit four people! That was my favorite! Our last ride was called the Lazy River, it was a very relaxing ride, I liked it! Today was the best day ever. I can’t wait until we go there again!

Photo Credit:http://www.takegreatpictures.com/photo-tips/photo-tips-and-techniques/humor-shots-by-russ-burden

Peanuts Adventure

By Liesl Holford

Peanuts is a mouse who lives in the ceiling, above a small family with one boy and two particularly nice parents. Peanuts is a light brown mouse who likes wearing earmuffs. Peanuts never takes off his earmuffs. He has a comfy bed made of tissue paper. Peanuts plays tricks on the family, like going under a loaf of bread and walking around, floating bread! He can also turn on thefire sprinklers! Every night Peanuts dreams of going to China! Peanuts likes wearing a hat made of construction paper, he thinks it’s comfy. He has a mini jet pack.

One day when Peanuts was riding his jet pack around the house, he suddenly felt hungry. So he set down his jet pack and scurried to the kitchen. The kitchen had not been cleaned for a long time, so there was a lot of crumbs. Peanuts spies a bread crumb, makes sure the mom isn’t looking, and runs as fast as he can. But the mom saw and ran for the broom! Peanuts grabbed the crumb and ran as fast as his little feet could carry him, but the broom still caught him. Peanuts was sent outside. Peanuts looked for another way in, the only way he saw was the rain pipe. He climbed and he climbed but it was no use, it was too slippery. Why, oh why did he set down his jet pack? Just then a slinky cat appeared. Peanuts ran and ran but ended up in a jar because he wasn’t looking where he was going. The child had caught him! But the child  ran straight into the house! Peanuts was carried into the child’s room and was caged. In the cage there was a small tortoise. All the tortoise did was munch on lettuce. A few minutes later, the child was packing all of his clothes and putting them in a bag. Peanuts was sad about the whole day,he had lost his jet pack, and lost his hat! He wished he could go back to his ceiling home. But then the child picked up the cage and put it in a car along with the bag. A lot of things went in the car. Suddenly the car began to move and very fast. Peanuts did not like this at all. Then the car came to a stop, it had driven to the airport. Everything was put in a big plane. The plane flew up and down and all around. Peanuts grew dizzy, he felt like barfing. Finally the plane landed, it landed in a magical place.

Peanuts had no idea where he was at first, but then it came, he was in China! Peanuts always wanted to be in China! They stayed at a condo on a hill. Right before the family left, Peanuts escaped the cage. Now he lives in a cheese factory in China!

The End

Photo Credit:http://www.higherheart.com/product.php/Goddess-Diana-Card/3911/0

Magnificent Diana

By Liesl Holford

Diana is the most interesting roman goddess. Diana is the goddess of the hunt, moon, and wild animals. Diana is responsible for fertility and childbirth. Originally Diana was queen of the open sky and a possible sun goddess in addition to being a moon goddess as her name means light.

Men fought to the death for the honor of becoming one of her priests. Diana’s parents are Jupiter and Latona and she has a twin brother Apollo. Diana’s weapon is a bow and arrows. Diana is accompanied by a deer. Diana’s Greek name is Artemis.

Diana dislikes men very much. Diana is independent. Diana’s festival is celebrated on August 13th.

Diana is a very interesting roman goddess.

Obnoxious Howler Monkeys

Photo Credit
https://prezi.com/z1uhlpeilzuc/copy-of-black-howler-monkey/

By Liesl Holford

Howler monkeys are funny animals! Howler monkeys have hairless faces. Howler monkeys have thick short noses. Howler monkeys have saggy chins and large lower jaws. This helps them with their loud howl. Howler monkeys have tails that are longer than their own body! Each kind of howler monkey has different colored fur. Like, the red howler monkey has red fur.

Howler monkeys live in the most magical rain forests of the world. Howler monkeys live in the rain forests of North America, Central America, and South America. Howler monkeys also live in these countries: Mexico, Belize, Brazil, Argentina, Panama, Costa Rica, Parguay, Guatemala and Bolivia. Howler monkeys live in the canopy of a tree.

Howler monkeys have a very eccentric reproduction cycle.When female howler monkeys are three years old they begin to mate and have babies. Female howler monkeys usually mate with dominant males of the group.Female howlers may have one baby every two years. Howlers will mate any time during the year.Female howler monkeys will show signs they are ready to mate. The females skin will swell and look pink, they sometimes flick their tongues at males, these are the signs. After age two the babies take care of themselves.

Howler monkeys have unusual behaviors. One member of the group is usually the leader. Howler monkeys will howl or growl to warn other groups to stay away from their homes. Howler monkeys groom each other. The howler monkeys call can be heard from one mile away!

Howler monkeys have a crazy diet! Howler monkeys are herbivores. 75% of a howler monkeys diet is made up of leaves! Howler monkeys also eat seeds, flowers, and fruits. Their favorite food is small berries and figs. Howlers will sometimes climb down from the canopy to drink from rivers or ponds.

Howler monkeys are endangered. Hunters try to catch howler monkeys for their meat. Baby howlers are caught to be sold as pets. Sadly most of these pets die. Howler monkeys are fascinating creatures!

Beautiful Grand Teton By Liesl Holford

Grand Teton is by far the most amazing place in the United States of America. When you enter this beautiful national park, you could see the enormous blue mountains of Grand Teton. The sweet, crispy smell of pines fill the air.the amazing dark blue water brightens with the beautiful reflection of the sun. The big, snowy, magical rocky mountains gleam in the sunlight.The graceful and silent deer softly graze on the grass.The wonderful blue skies light up the world with peace.

Forests full of life show how beautiful our national parks are. There were some small pencil like clouds in the distance. A giant ocean of pines cover the land, I just want to dive into it! The views are amazing on the mountain. Its like you could see the world! There are cool breezes. I’d want to go there every day!

Photo Credit:
pixdaus.com