LITTLE MISS PERFECT – Children’s Story (Complete)
Imagine a fifth grader name Elena who strives to be perfect in every subject. She brags to her classmates about the “Excellent” stickers that she receives on all of her assignments. “I’m the best student in the class!” she boasts. Elena becomes flustered when her class nemesis, “Cheese-Boy,” receives an “Excellent” sticker. She become furious when she received a “Good” sticker on the same assignment. Accustomed to receiving the highest praise in class, Elena is frustrated by her sticker and interprets her “Good” effort as being average, which will never do.
In Little Miss Perfect, Elena strives to impress her favorite teacher by setting herself apart as the best student, best artists, best athlete, best musician, best everything in the class – All of which is exhausting and alienates her from the other students. This heart-felt, humorous story serves as a commentary on how society can pressure people – of all ages – to be perfect, especially in the classroom. Although obtaining good grades can serve as a measure of academic effort, it’s equally as important to recognize that being “perfect” doesn’t make you better than anyone else. In the end, Elena discovers that combining the strengths of others on a group project can create the greatest reward.
Just a Little Sideways – Children’s Story (Complete)
Meet a feisty youngster who wakes up one morning to find that their world has become slightly off kilter, leaning just a little sideways to be exact. It’s not unusual for a child to experience changes about themselves as they mature, changes that most people would label as “normal.” However, what happens when you experience a change that people around you find challenging to accept? Your life can shift in a way that makes it difficult to be in your own skin. In the story, Just a Little Sideways, the main character, Elena, experiences an unexpected, physical change. She tries to figure out in her own way how to adjust to the less accepting world around her. In her mind, she’s just a bit sideways, nothing terrible. Why would anyone have a problem with it? The story is well suited a young audience (age 5-9), however, it would be enjoyed by anyone who has ever felt that they were different in some way. The book celebrates that difference and encourages the reader to embrace things that are “new” about them.
LISA BALDERSTON 