Archive for the ‘Children’s Stories’ Category

Posted on September 28, 2011 - by Gary Applegary

Fibbety Frog

What makes a frog suddenly go from “ribbet, ribbet” to “fibbet, fibbet?” The answer is just ahead, in the true story of Sally Frog. Read it out loud, by yourself, or with your young one(s).  As you read each verse, guess the final rhyming word. Enjoy!

 

 

FIBBETY FROG

 

Out on the pond there live some frogs.

They hop over rocks and sit on logs. 

They also swim across the bogs,

And love when it rains cats and…

POODLES!

 

 The Hopper family has a little girl,

They love her more than the entire world.

Keep her toenails pink and her lashes curled.

And warn her to avoid where trash is…

THROWN.

 

 The Hoppers keep Sally safe and sound.

They warn her of dangers all around.

Tell her to stay where she’s easily found,

And when trouble comes, away to…

JUMP!

“Sally,” they say, “you must recognize

Which bugs to eat; which kinds of flies.

How to catch the ones that are just the right size.

But stay away from those glowing…

LIGHTNING BUGS!”

“Please listen, Sally, to your mother and I

You must not ever, no never, eat a firefly.

And I will tell you exactly why..

If you do, you’ll get sick, why you might even…

CROAK!”

 

 But one bright and sunny day,

A firefly flew Sally’s way.

“Don’t eat it,” she could hear her parents say.

But this time Sally did not…

DO AS SHE WAS TOLD.

 

 Soon the firefly was in Sally’s tummy,

It tasted awful, not at all yummy.

Because she felt like such a dummy

Sally decided she would not tell her…

MOTHER.  

 

 “I’d better hop back where I belong!”

Said Sally, “It’s time for sing-along!”

But when she joined the ribbeting throng,

Sally was scared – something felt…

NOT RIGHT.

 

 Sally’s tummy was all a rumble

The firefly inside began to tumble.

She was certain all could hear the grumble,

And instead of croaking, she could only…

MUTTER.

“Sally, you look extra green to Ma and I!”

Said Pa, as he came ribbeting by.

“Did you go and eat a firefly?”

“Oh no,” said Sally. “No, not…

ME.” 

 

 “FIBBET!  FIBBET!” Sally then said.

“FIBBET!  FIBBET!” Her face turned red.

“It’s RIBBET!  RIBBET!” The frogs all said,

“So why is Sally saying Fibbet…

ANYWAY?”

 

 “Ma, Pa, I told a lie.”

Said Sally with a tear in her eye

”I did go eat a firefly.

Will I fibbet forever, or will I

CROAK?”

 

 And then the fibbeting was done.

Sally belched and the firefly was gone.

A cheer went out across the pond,

And Sally promised to tell the truth from now…

UNTIL FOREVER.

 

 

The lesson of this tale should be no surprise,

It’s not about ponds, or frogs, or fireflies.

Kids – look your parents straight in the eyes,

And promise them you will never tell them…

FIBS!

 

RIBBET RIBBET

RIBBET RIBBET

RIBBET RIBBET,

RIBBET…

THE END 

 

 

Posted on June 23, 2011 - by Gary Applegary

Wee Shirley

It’s always a good time when Grandma comes to visit. 

This was from several years back to commemorate Grandma’s stay in Florida. So much thanks and love to Grandma. Miss her lots.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on September 24, 2010 - by Gary Applegary

Vera Glum

Vera Glum might even be someone YOU know… Enjoy!

VERA GLUM 

Vera Glum was unable to smile.

Through silly, through zany, she’d frown all the while.

***********

You could tickle her, dance with her,

Do all sorts of clowning,

But it just wouldn’t matter,

Vera Glum would be frowning.

***********

It started in her childhood,

No one’s quite sure how.

She was a little Glum then,

She’s a lot more Glum now.

***********

Vera’s permanent scowl

Scared everybody she knew.

So they all had a suggestion

What Vera should do.

***********

You see, they all figured,

Something had to be wrong.

For nobody had ever

Been so surly so long.

***********

They thought maybe a doctor

Could give her a pill.

But Vera WON’T go to doctors

Since they make her ill.

***********

And they rigged up a harness

To hold her upside down

So they’d wind up with a smile

Instead of a frown.

***********

So WHOOSH, up she went

Her blood rushed to her head

There WASN’T a smile,

But her face sure turned red.

***********

They invited her to the circus,

Begged, “Come with us, please!”

But Vera refused; she said

“Sawdust makes me sneeze.”

***********

“I’m allergic to tigers,

Jugglers, and trapezes

Are you trying to turn

My frowns into SNEEZES?”    

***********

Then they sent for a clown

In came Uncle Zappy.

He stumbled, he tumbled,

Vera STILL wasn’t happy.

***********

And her friends just kept bugging her,

Until finally…

She came to see ME,

Midas Welby, M.D.

***********

So I put her through tests,

Hooked her up to the scope.

Her laugh-er was healthy.

There HAD to be hope!

***********

I said, “Mrs. Glum…

Vera, if I may,

I will make you smile

There MUST be a way.”

***********

Then I told my best riddles,

I went right to work.

But I ran out of material,

And got not a smirk.

***********

I did gags, puns, and pratfalls,

Like the others had done.

Vera stayed just as stern

As when we’d begun.

***********

Everything had been tried,

That was quite plain to see.

One final thought

Then occurred to me.

***********

You are glum, ‘cause you’re Glum!

Vera Glum, can’t you see?

Let’s make just one change,

And how happy you’ll be!

***********

So I sent for a notary,

Who then changed her name.

And yet STILL Vera Jolley

Scowled just the same.

***********

Well, I’d done all I could.

I’d tried every joke.

I said, Sorry, I’ve failed.

And then suddenly, SHE spoke.

***********

“Young man,” she said,

“I have something to say.

There is nothing to fix!

I LIKE being this way.”

***********

Vera Glum CAN smile,

She CAN laugh. She CAN play.

She just doesn’t want to.

And that’s just OKAY!

***

THE END