Max冬冬

I wanted to make Christmas very special just for you, so I made a Christmas wreath.

I wanted to decorate some Christmas cookies just for you, but I couldn't stop tasting them.

I wanted to find a Christmas present just for you, but there were too many toys to look at.

So I asked Santa to bring you a special present instead.

I wanted to wrap the baby's present just for you, but the tape was too sticky.

I picked out a Christmas tree just for you...but it was too big to take home.

I wanted to carry the Christmas balls just for you, but the box was upside down.

So I got out the Christmas lights, but they were all tangled.

I wanted to put the star on top of our tree all by myself...so Dad helped.

On Christmas Eve I tried to go right to sleep just for you, but I was too excited.

I didn't want to make you get up too early on Christmas morning...

...so I brought my toys upstairs to show you.

Merry Christmas Mom and Dad.

I am the star

that shines in the east,

I light the stable

for man and beast.

I am the donkey,

soft and gray,

I carried his mother

from far away.

I am the ram

with my curly horn

I guard the stall

where the child is born.

I am the ox,

strong as steel,

before the only son

I kneel.

We are the shepards

who watch the sheep,

tonight a holy watch

we keep.

We are the wise men,

gifts we bring

for baby Jesus,

our newborn king.

I am Mary,

the mother mild,

how I love

my tiny child.

I am the baby

asleep in the hay,

and I am the reason

for Christmas Day.

Long ago and far away, there lived a princess.

On her birthday the queen said, "I promise to give you any toy you want."

"I want a ball made of gold," said the Princess.

"There are no balls made of gold," said the Queen.

"But a promise is a promise," said the Princess.

So the Queen had a ball of gold made for the Princess.

One day the Princess was playing with her ball.

But the ball fell into the pond.

"I have lost my ball made of gold!" said the Princess.

She began to cry.

A small frog hopped over to the Princess.

"I can get your ball back," the frog said.

"Frogs can't talk!" said the Princess.

"Well I can!" said Frog.

"I will get your ball back," said Frog, "But only if you make me a promise."

"I will promise you anything you like," said the Princess. "You can even have my crown!"

"A frog has no need for a crown," said Frog.

"What do you want, then?" said the Princess.

"I want you to promise to be my friend," said Frog.

"Easy!" said the Princess. "I will do that."

So Frog jumped into the pond.

He got the ball back, just as he had promised.

"Now we will be friends," he said.

The Princess grabbed the ball.

She did not say 'thank you' to Frog.

"Hey!" said Frog. "What about your promise?"

But the princess just ran away.

Later, as the Princess ate her supper, she heard a sound.

"What's that?" said the Queen.

"Nothing," said the Princess.

"Open the door!" said the Queen.

"No, please don't!" said the Princess.

The Queen opened the door.

"Oh no!" said the Princess.

Frog came into the room.

"Good evening," he said.

"What do you want, Frog?" said the Queen.

"I want the Princess to be my friend, just as she promised," said Frog.

"I can't be friends with a cold, wet frog!" said the Princess.

"A promise is a promise," said the Queen.

So Frog sat at the table and ate supper from a plate made of gold.

"Now will you go back to the pond?" said the Princess.

"A real friend would let me stay," said Frog. "A promise is a promise."

So the Princess took Frog up to her bedroom.

"You can sleep in this nice box," said the Princess.

"A real friend would let me sleep on her pillow," said Frog.

So the Princess put Frog on her pillow.

As he sat on the pillow, magic happened.

Frog grew and grew.

He changed into...a boy!

"Who are you?" said the Princess.

"I am a prince," said the boy. "A witch turned me into a frog. The only thing that could turn me back into a prince was somebody being a good friend to me."

"But I was a bad friend," said the Princess. "I didn't like you at first."

"You were a good friend," said the Prince. "You gave me food. You even let me sit on your pillow."

The Princess and the Prince became real friends.

They liked to play with the ball made of gold, but they never went near the pond.

When they grew up, the Prince and Princess got married.

They promised to love each other for ever.

And they did love each other for ever and ever.

After all, a promise is a promise.

You woke in the morning in such a bad mood...

then sat at the table and fussed with your food.

But then you blew kisses and waved from the door.

I love you, I love you, my dinosaur.

Out in the sandpit you threw lots of sand.

You ran from the slide, after slapping my hand.

But you suddenly turned with a smile I adore.

Oh, I'll always love you, my dinosaur.

You moped through your nap time and slept not a wink.

You flooded the house when you played in the sink.

But you got out the mop and then cleaned up the floor!

I love you so much, little dinosaur.

Off in the car, you kept kicking my seat...

and when we got out, you were dragging your feet.

But you held my hand tight when we walked in the store.

I'll love you forever, my disonaur.

Dinner disaster!

You made such a mess!

Would you stay up past bedtime?

The answer was YES!

But when you smile sweetly and hold back your roar,

when you kiss me and hug me once, twice, even more...

...that's when you give love, and I know this is true,

because that's how a dinasour says I Love You!

Mom said, "We have too much stuff that we don't use. It is time for a yard sale."

"We can find lots of stuff to sell."

We went to the garage. It was full.

I said, "Let's look in the basement. There is a lot of stuff down there to sell."

Then Dad and I looked in the attic. Something made a spooky noise.

I was brave, though, because it was just our kitty.

"Hello, Kitty!" I said.

Dad and I found lots of great stuff in the attic to sell.

Little Sister only had one old doll for the yard sale.

"You'll never make any money that way," I said.

I cleaned out my whole closet.

I found so many things to sell.

Mom said, "Just pick a few toys."

We made signs so everybody would come to our yard sale.

We put them up everywhere, but it was too windy.

The day of the sale finally came. Our yard was full of critters.

I ran outside.

"Wow, Dad!" I said. "Who would want THAT thing?'

"I think Mrs. Rhino wants it," said Dad.

I sold a bunch of broken toys for three dollars.

Little Sister sold her old doll for ten dollars.

We almost sold my favorite bear by accident.

I saved him.

Everyone stood in line to buy Mom's chocolate chip cookies.

My sister and I got to eat them for free.

We had the best yard sale.

Mom made the most money.

Her cookies are great!

We went to the beach, just Grandma and me.

I wanted to set up the beach umbrella, but the wind was too strong.

I flew my kite instead.

I bought hot dogs for Grandma and me, but they fell in the sand.

So I washed them off.

I found a nice seashell for Grandma, but it was full of a crab.

I wanted to blow up my sea horse, but I didn't have enough air.

So Grandma helped a little.

I told Grandma to take me way out in the deep water, but not too far.

I put on my fins and my mask and showed Grandma how I can snorkel.

I dug a hole in the sand for Grandma.

Then I covered her up and tickled her toes.

I built a sandcastle just for Grandma, but a big wave came.

Grandma said that's what happens to sandcastles, and we will build a new one next time.

On the way home Grandma was tired, so I told her I would watch for our stop.

We had a good time at the beach, just Grandma and me.

This is Olivia. She is good at lots of things.

She's very good at wearing people out.

She even wears herself out.

Olivia has a little brother named Ian.

He's always copying.

Sometimes Ian just won't leave her alone, so Olivia has to be firm.

Olivia lives with her mother, her father, her brother, her dog, Perry, and Edwin, the cat.

In the morning, after she gets up, and moves the cat, and brushes her teeth,

and combs her ears, and moves the cat, Olivia gets dressed.

She has to try on everything.

On sunny days, Olivia likes to go to the beach.

She feels it's important to come prepared.

Last summer when Olivia was little, her mother showed her how to make sand castles.

She got pretty good.

Sometimes Olivia likes to bask in the sun.

When her mother sees that she's had enough, they go home.

Every day Olivia is supposed to take a nap.

"It's time for your you-know-what," her mother says.

Of course Olivia's not at all sleepy.

On rainy days, Olivia likes to go to the museum.

She heads straight for her favorite picture.

Olivia looks at it for a long time.

What could she be thinking?

But there is one painting Olivia just doesn't get.

"I could do that in about five minutes," she says to her mother.

As soon as she gets home she gives it a try.

Time out.

After a nice bath, and a nice dinner, it's time for bed.

But of course Olivia's not at all sleepy.

"Only five books tonight, Mommy," she says.

"No, Olivia, just one."

"How about four?"

"Two."

"Three."

"Oh, all right, three. But that's it!"

When they've finished reading.

Olivia's mother gives her a kiss and says, " You know, you really wear me out. But I love you anyway."

And Olivia gives her a kiss back and says, "I love you anyway too."

I can get out of bed all by myself.

I can button my overalls.

I can brush my fur.

I can put on my socks...

and tie my shoes.

I can pour some juice for my little sister...

and help her eat breakfast.

I can pull a duck for her.

I can drive my truck.

I can ride my bike.

I can give a drink to my bear.

I can kick my ball...

and roll on the ground.

I can pound with my hammer.

I can sail my boat.

I can look after my little sister.

I can help Dad trim a bush...

or ice a cake for Mom.

I can look at a book and find a mouse.

I can color a picture.

I can put my toys away...

and get into my pajamas.

I can brush my teeth.

I can put myself to bed...

but I can't go to sleep without a story.

Good night.

Baboon met Tortoise. He wanted to play a trick.

"Come to my house for dinner," said Baboon.

Tortoise walked slowly under the hot sun.

He took a long time to get to Baboon's house.

When at last he got to Baboon's house, he was hot, he was tired, and he was hungry.

"What took you so long?" laughed Baboon."You are too late!"

Baboon had eated all the food.

Tortoise was angry. He had walked a long way and he was hungry.

So Tortoise made a plan.

"Come to my house for dinner tomorrow," said Tortoise.

When Baboon got to Tortoise's house, Tortoise said, "You must wash your hands first.

Go to the river."

Baboon set off across the mud to the river and washed his hands.

When he got back, Tortoise said, "Your hands are all muddy. You must wash them again."

So Baboon set off across the mud and washed his hands again.

When Baboon got back, Tortoise said, "Your hands are all muddy again."

Once more Tortoise sent Baboon to the river.

The smell of dinner made Baboon hungry. He ran back from the river acrosss the mud.

Baboon was hot, he was tired, and he was hungry.

When he got back, Tortoise laughed, "What took you so long?"

"You are too late," said Tortoise, "And your hands are still dirty!"

Tortoise had eaten all the food.

Foolish Baboon!

When my little sister saw me riding my skateboard, she said...

Me too!

Then I had to help her ride.

I had a paper airplane that I made myself. But my little sister saw it and said...

Me too!

Then she threw it in a tree.

I went hiking with my friends and my little sister said, "Me too!"

I had to carry her because she got tired.

When my little sister saw us playing football she said...

Me too!

Then we had to be too careful.

When the snow fell I got my sled and went to the top of the hill.

Guess what my little sister said.

I went skating on the pond. My little sister said, "Me too!"

She doesn't know how to skate, so I had to hold her up.

There was one last piece of cake. My little sister said...

Me too!

I had to cut it in half, even though I saw it first.

When I went fishing she said, "Me too!"

Then she caught the biggest fish.

I went to my secret tree house. My little sister said...

Me too!

Mom said I had to help her up.

Everything I do my little sister says, "Me too!"

Today my little sister had a candy cane of her very own.

So I said...

Me too?

Guess what my little sister said.

You too!