The second-, third-, and fourth-graders at the Magellan School this summer are dreamers and thinkers. They wish for dogs, cats, and even colorful frogs! They dream of cats in a Candy Cane Hotel. They pretend that they are dogs who go crazy when the doorbell rings. Have you ever imagined that you were sucked into a mirror? Have you ever dreamt that you were a fire alarm or a great white shark? Well, they have. Have you ever tried to console a pig with no tail or stop an angry cow from saying moo? Well, they’ve done that, too! We all know someone who refuses to clean their room, but have you ever seen the piles stretch across the United States? Although we had our share of laughter, these students also wrote serious pieces about war and losing beloved pets. In one short week, these thoughtful children explored their imaginations and shared heartfelt stories.
I am so proud of the time and attention they’ve given to their craft. I see a bright future when I observe these students playing piano in the mornings, revising pieces with their peers, or reading books until their hearts are content. It is a future filled with dreams, wishes, and the words it takes to explain them all.
Jena Kirkpatrick
Badgerdog Teaching Artist
The Cat Problem
One day I told my mom I wanted a cat.
My mom said, “I will think about it and I will tell you
after we go to San Francisco.”
So, we went to San Francisco and saw my cousins,
Jonah and Kegen.
Then, we went on a road trip to Disneyland
and stayed at the Candy Cane Hotel.
Then we went back home.
Then I asked if I could get a cat and she said
she would think about it.
Eileen Do
I’m a Dog
I am a dog.
I like to be petted, and I am white and brown.
I go to the park and play fetch.
I’m well-trained.
I see people, wet grass, and other dogs.
I chase the tennis ball.
I could dream about my owners petting me all day.
I am scared of coyotes.
I don’t like it when my owners leave me,
but I like it when they come home and pet me.
If someone rings the doorbell, I go crazy.
Sajan Gupta
Dream Puppy
My name is Anjali, and I want a puppy like this:
It will have fur, but I won’t be allergic to it.
The puppy will be small and adorable.
It will live forever, and I will name it Kenzie.
Kenzie will be my girl best friend.
She will be as soft as a blanket.
Kenzie will be playful and won’t like cats or kittens.
When dry, she will smell like lavender.
When wet, she will smell like chocolate.
Kenzie will eat and drink everything, even chocolate, and won’t die.
She will bark as cute as a puppy can.
When she comes running into my arms, it will sound like little raindrops.
Anjali Mahajan
Through My Mirror
Last night, I went through my mirror.
It was quite a sight to see my hand go through the mirror.
It was a delight when it was morning.
I screamed, wiggled, and shouted.
It seems I could not get out.
Sydney Nelson
Fire Alarm
I am a small, red fire alarm.
I live in schools, classrooms, homes, and buildings.
I smell smoke.
When there is a fire, I make a really loud ring, ring sound that kids hate.
I say, “Fire! Fire!” on the outside.
I am as big as an ant, but as small as a book.
Through the day, I sense fire to keep people safe.
I smell smoke and I hear people.
I feel safe and I see rooms.
I feel the wall.
I taste fire and smoke.
I am afraid I might drop and shatter.
I dream of saving people’s lives.
I like seeing kids learning.
I hate smoke detectors.
I do not like it when kids cry or take me off the wall.
I have had a great life.
Sophia Nikazm
I Wish I Was Anything
I wish I was a bird that was blue
and I could fly so high.
I wish I was a dog that was a boxer
so my owner would follow
my command.
I wish I was a great white shark that
could eat lots
of prey.
I wish I was a queen,
so everyone could
follow my command.
I wish I was
everything.
Prajna Parajuli
An Army
An army shields yellow like the sunrise
Armor shining like the stars
Feet stomp the ground like drums
Swords gleam like diamonds
An army in the Persian Gulf of Alexander
Against the army of Persians
Nathaniel Rostvold
Calysta Would Not Clean Her Room
-after Shel Silverstein’s “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out”
My sister Calysta would not clean her room. She played games, did puzzles, danced, sang, and did everything but clean her room. So trash, dirty clothes, and toys filled her room. You couldn’t even sleep or open the windows, and you couldn’t even walk in the door!
Nobody even talked to her or played with her, but they did say, “Clean your room!”
But she did not listen. The pile got even bigger. The pile filled the whole United States. Nobody could move or anything.
Then she realized that it was bad not to clean her room, so she cleaned her room. Now she always cleans her room every five days.
Miralei Storer
The Frogs in the Rainforest
Once upon a time, there lived a rough frog. He was red and green. One day, he met a red and blue frog, and she was soft. They both liked each other.
One day, the red and green frog named Phillip took the red and blue frog named Sophie to the beach.
Sophie met her father there. She never knew she had a father.
Sophie asked, “Who are you?”
He said, “Sophie, I am your father.”
Then, Sophie and her father went to go to a party.
Phillip was all alone. He said, “Sophie, congratulations on finding your father.”
Sophie said, “Come with us to the party.”
Phillip said okay. And they all lived happily ever after.
Simone Strong
Begging My Dad for a Dog
I am eight years old. I begged my dad to get me a dog, but he said no.
I’ve been begging for a dog since I was at least five years old. When I was seven, I got a trial. If I could take care of a puppy, then I could keep it. But I failed.
Then, my dad promised me I could get a dog when I turned eighteen. I complained to my dad that this was too long to wait, that I wanted a puppy now.
Right now, I still beg my parents to get me a puppy. I did research on a dog that I want. It is called a dachshund. It’s a long dog, and it can be flexible. I still think that I can get another type of dog besides a dachshund if I beg my dad hard enough, but I try not to push it. I still really want a puppy.
Amanda Tang
The Bad Day
I was angry, as mad as a bull,
and also sad as the color blue
because they dared me
to stop a mad cow saying moo.
I was as blue as a water bottle,
I was red as an angry face
and then I just saw the mad cow gaze.
I was disappointed as a cat,
I felt heartless as a person would be.
I am angry now,
that you can see!
Elise Josephine Tjiptadjaja
Norman
One Sunday after church, when we got home, I started to clean up the living room. My dad went outside to feed Norman, our guinea pig.
But when he went outside, guess what he saw? He saw that Norman was dead!
After that, he came in to tell us. My mom and I started crying. That night, my dad was so sad that he did not even eat dinner.
Also, when he found Norman, my sister, Iman, was asleep. The next day, Iman asked, “Where is Norman?”
I said to her sadly, “Norman, he… he died.”
Then she asked in a really surprised voice, “What?”
Norman was a nice guinea pig. He was white, brown, and dark brown. We loved him a lot.
Ian Xu
No Tail Pig
I am a pig. I have a great life.
One day, a male pig in my pen said, “I have no tail!”
When everybody realized this, they all went away.
He said, “When people pick me up, I feel like they are going to eat me. I don’t feel good having no tail. It feels very weird. I look like a hot air balloon without a tail. I tried to make a tail out of hay, but I do not have hands. When I roll in the mud pit, I get a little happier. When I wash off, I see my back, and all my happiness goes away. I am a pink pig with a little bit of hair on my back. My nose gets bigger every day. I see green grass. I feel rough hay. I smell fresh air. I taste tasty garbage. My hope is not to get eaten. My dream is to have a tail. My fear is becoming bacon. I dislike having no tail.”
Iman Xu
unbound 